The last few days, its been really difficult concentrating on anything indoors when the weather has been spectacular. Maybe the groundhog was right and we'll have an early spring. I do know that the weather here has been in the 60's (mid-Tennessee) and I have really appreciated it.
In the family history lore of my family is the story of a premature baby - 3 weeks early - born February 17 195! (yes, that is an exclamation mark, not a 1.) Three weeks early is nothing today in this age of great neonatal care, but in 195! it was something. The little girl weighed around 5 lbs and was 19 inches long. Can we say long and skinny? She spent the first week of her life in an incubator and her momma went home from the hospital without her. Finally, when she was about two weeks old, she went home to meet her family.
I am told that her older sister was not too fond of her at the time. This fragile little bundle was stealing her older sister's STAR status in the family - that of only girl and the baby of the family. Actually, no one talks about how older brother felt about her. He was already 4 years old and becoming quite the golden child. She was no threat to his only son status.
This third child grew into an awkward adolescent, and then into a crazy young adult. Late in her 20's she met the man of her dreams, married him, and they are living happily ever after. Yesterday was her 5?th birthday! Not bad for a preemie!
Copyright 2011, ACK for Gene Notes
Say "Happy Birthday" to that little preemie born in 195! for me, okay...
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