Annie Discusses Gordon's Birth
03/09/08 20:28
In one of her entries in “Reminiscences”, Annie
talks about things that happened while Francis
was away for one reason or another. Following is
the story of Gordon’s birth. Although she doesn’t
use those terms, it appears as though Gordon was
not only premature but also breach.
In one of her entries in “Reminiscences”, Annie
talks about things that happened while Francis
was away for one reason or another. Following is
the story of Gordon’s birth. Although she doesn’t
use those terms, it appears as though Gordon was
not only premature but also breach.
Our next baby was expected April 1, 1921. Frant was at the herd that winter and elected to let the herder come home for Christmas so he could get away March 1 and spend a month at home before the baby arrived and some time after. I had had a very hard time keeping that baby from the three month period and had to be very careful and curtail my activities considerably.
We had purchased a home in Orderville when Frant came from the military. Ether and Maurine were with me most of the winter.January 31 I felt very miserable and so took things easier than usual, but in spite of my care and attention, I awoke February 1 early and with a pain in my back. As the day wore on, it got worse, so we sent for Aunt Lettie Cox, the mid-wife. (Aunt Harriet had passed away and she had taken over her practice.) When Aunt Lettie came at 11 A.M., she said, “Well, it is two months yet until your time. Just make up your mind you are not going to have it today and go to bed and you will be alright.” I told her I had been trying since 4 A.M. to make up my mind that it wasn’t coming today but it was beyond that and it was coming.
She said, “Oh, just make up your mind and it won’t.” Had she made an examination, she would have known that the mind couldn’t control it, but she didn’t. She was on her way to Mt. Carmel to take care of Earl and Effie Sorensons twins who were ten days old that day, and she was to be paid that day. About half an hour after she left the house, the water broke, and the baby was on its way. Mother sent Edwin after Alvira Blackburn, but she had gone to Relief Society Meeting. He went up there and waited until some woman came to go an and asked her to send Sister Blackburn over. When she came she didn’t want to be alone and sent him back to get Mamie Chamberlain to help her. They had just entered the house and had not had time to wash their hands when our tiny, 4 pound, 7 month son arrived.
We sent word to Moccasin, Arizona to inform Frant about his new son. The man who took the message to him went prepared to stay with the sheep for a while so he arrived in about four days.
We named our son Gordon Francis. He was a beautiful baby with dark hair on his miniature head. His fingers and toes were so small that his nails looked just ike dolls’ fingernails.
Needless to say, I was delighted to see Frant. Aunt Lettie denied that there was any trouble at all. She wouldn’t bathe me or touch water except to my face and hands. Mother was afraid to defy her and help me have a bath so I suffered misery in my uncleanliness. When Frant came all was better as he was much like me, feeling that cleanliness is next to Godliness. We were much provoked at Sister Cox and wanted Sister Blackburn to take care of me but she said, “No. Aunt Lettie was a widow and that was her way of making a living.” She wouldn’t take anything for the part she had played in it. Had there been a Dr. present he could have turned the baby as they often do and prevented the tearing. Aunt Lettie came every morning or rather in time to get me and the baby tended by noon, then Mother invited her to eat with us. I didn’t begrudge her the food she ate, but I didn’t relish the awful stories she told of all the horrible things she had seen in her experience and it depressed me for days. When Frant came, that was changed, too, and we had a few weeks to enjoy our new son.
Our next baby was expected April 1, 1921. Frant was at the herd that winter and elected to let the herder come home for Christmas so he could get away March 1 and spend a month at home before the baby arrived and some time after. I had had a very hard time keeping that baby from the three month period and had to be very careful and curtail my activities considerably.
We had purchased a home in Orderville when Frant came from the military. Ether and Maurine were with me most of the winter.January 31 I felt very miserable and so took things easier than usual, but in spite of my care and attention, I awoke February 1 early and with a pain in my back. As the day wore on, it got worse, so we sent for Aunt Lettie Cox, the mid-wife. (Aunt Harriet had passed away and she had taken over her practice.) When Aunt Lettie came at 11 A.M., she said, “Well, it is two months yet until your time. Just make up your mind you are not going to have it today and go to bed and you will be alright.” I told her I had been trying since 4 A.M. to make up my mind that it wasn’t coming today but it was beyond that and it was coming.
She said, “Oh, just make up your mind and it won’t.” Had she made an examination, she would have known that the mind couldn’t control it, but she didn’t. She was on her way to Mt. Carmel to take care of Earl and Effie Sorensons twins who were ten days old that day, and she was to be paid that day. About half an hour after she left the house, the water broke, and the baby was on its way. Mother sent Edwin after Alvira Blackburn, but she had gone to Relief Society Meeting. He went up there and waited until some woman came to go an and asked her to send Sister Blackburn over. When she came she didn’t want to be alone and sent him back to get Mamie Chamberlain to help her. They had just entered the house and had not had time to wash their hands when our tiny, 4 pound, 7 month son arrived.
We sent word to Moccasin, Arizona to inform Frant about his new son. The man who took the message to him went prepared to stay with the sheep for a while so he arrived in about four days.
We named our son Gordon Francis. He was a beautiful baby with dark hair on his miniature head. His fingers and toes were so small that his nails looked just ike dolls’ fingernails.
Needless to say, I was delighted to see Frant. Aunt Lettie denied that there was any trouble at all. She wouldn’t bathe me or touch water except to my face and hands. Mother was afraid to defy her and help me have a bath so I suffered misery in my uncleanliness. When Frant came all was better as he was much like me, feeling that cleanliness is next to Godliness. We were much provoked at Sister Cox and wanted Sister Blackburn to take care of me but she said, “No. Aunt Lettie was a widow and that was her way of making a living.” She wouldn’t take anything for the part she had played in it. Had there been a Dr. present he could have turned the baby as they often do and prevented the tearing. Aunt Lettie came every morning or rather in time to get me and the baby tended by noon, then Mother invited her to eat with us. I didn’t begrudge her the food she ate, but I didn’t relish the awful stories she told of all the horrible things she had seen in her experience and it depressed me for days. When Frant came, that was changed, too, and we had a few weeks to enjoy our new son.