Sept. 17, 1968 (Tuesday) EXPECTED DELIVERY DATE. 5:30 p.m.-nothing and my spirit is very low. Lynn gave me a blessing tonight so that I might sleep. So, so tired.
Sept. 18, 1968 (Wednesday) Signs of toxemia showing up here and there. Don’t know what it is. Please come, baby.
Sept. 19, 1968 (Thursday) Morning finds nothing changed. Went to show at Stake House tonight. Painful cramps 2 a.m. blood, then more cramps all night. I think this may be it.
Sept. 20, 1968 (Friday) Dr.’s appointment. Went early. He says I have 48 hours. Went to bed at midnight having contractions every 12 to 6 minutes. Awoke at 3 a.m. - 2 minutes apart.
Sept. 21, 1968 (Saturday) Jeffery Christopher born at 8:49 a.m. 8 lbs 14 oz. So beautiful. What can I say at this time. My heart is far too full-even if these five lines could be 500.
Sept. 22, 1968 (Sunday) Nursed Chris for the first time this morning. Three more times. He really catches on. I believe that by the end of today he had my voice associated with the breast.
Sept. 23, 1968 (Monday) I get to go home tomorrow. So excited. Dear Lord, help me be a success.
Sept. 24, 1968 (Tuesday) Home with our baby. Such a beautiful sight to see Lynn holding his little one. Mom Bernhard here by 10 p.m. Long night-Chris awake.
Sept. 25, 1968 (Wednesday) Poor Mom. She’s gotten only two hours sleep since she arrived. Chris is really juggling feeding times. No regularity. Boy am I beat.
Sept. 26, 1968 (Thursday) Tonight Lynn gave Chris a blessing in order that he might become more regular in his habits of eating and sleeping. Thank God for the priesthood.
Sept. 27, 1968 (Friday) All day Chris has been on a perfect four hour schedule. Took a drive with Lynn. So good to be able to be alone with him for a while. Little Chris is so beautiful.
Sept. 28, 1968 (Saturday) One week and everything seems to be doing so well. Chris weighs 9 ½ pounds, my stitches are doing real well, my stomach is shrinking-Chris is settling into a schedule.
Sept. 29, 1968 (Sunday) Fast and Testimony Meeting. Lynn’s Mom went with us. Such a beautiful meeting. Felt so good to look skinny again. Well, not exactly skinny-but a lot closer.
(Here and now comment: Do I so sound like a 20 year old having a baby--having to include a note about being "skinny" again? Geesh.)
Here's Chris on his blessing day (8 days old):
Sept. 30, 1968 (Monday) To Institute class. Mom went home last night, all teary. Institute really good this morning. Poor Lynn. I hope he can survive on so little sleep-me too.
Oct. 1, 1968 (Tuesday) Tried so hard all morning to decide whether to quit breast feeding or not. Decided to keep on. Probably shouldn’t. No appetite to eat. Lynn so sweet to me. So good.
Oct. 2, 1968 (Wednesday) Chris’ navel came off. Earth shaking event. Lynda Gardner over last couple of days. Went home to day. Chris is so darling. So wonderful to have him here.
Oct. 3, 1968 (Thursday) Lynn only had one class today. So good to have him home. Chris really fussy. Went over to see Mom and Gene. My stitches 100% better. Love my family.
Oct. 4, 1968 (Friday) He slept really well last night. We got 8 hours of sleep! All day he cries though. . .unless someone’s holding him. He’s so precious. So glad it’s Friday.
Oct. 5, 1968 (Saturday) Eight hours last night, too!! Donna and Mom and Eileen came up to see Chris. We got him a pacifier-makes for a little more quiet around here. House is such a mess.
The following picture so captures how much fun we had together. Chris is about 3-4 months old.
Here's another view. You may note that in both of these we are in the middle of a bed. That's because we (the 3 of us counting Dad) lived in a very, very tiny married student housing unit. And our bed (the parents) was the main feature in the front room (which was most literally the front room, since the only other rooms were a tiny bedroom and bathroom in the back of the unit.) So, our bed served as the couch, the play pen, and the hang-out-all-day spot, while Dad was in school or at work (which was usually about 18 hours a day).
I just got a phone call, and I don't know how to save a draft. I've got a few more first year pictures to post.
Love ya all,
Mom
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