1982-1984

How in the world do other bloggers update on a daily basis? I realized that it's been nearly 3 weeks since I blogged. Maybe I just don't have enough to write about. Maybe I'm just too busy....

I'm going to try to build this blog from the beginning - well, mine & Marty's beginning anyway. Here we go....

Way back during the spring of 1982 I started working at Burger King in Watkins Glen. I worked there until Marty and I were married on September 11th of that year, and transferred to 7th North Street, Liverpool (north of Syracuse). Those two restaurants were owned by the same guys, so it was an easy transfer. We lived in Phoenix, NY at the time in a little apartment which was the 2nd floor of an old house. Downstairs were two even smaller apartments.

Marty and I settled into married life pretty easily. He worked as a mechanic at a wine distributor. Money was pretty tight - we had one car, and we didn't even have a phone for a long time! These days everyone has cell phones, so a home phone is unnecessary. Sure would have been nice back then! One of my bad habits was locking my keys inside the apartment. Of course, since we only had one car poor Marty would have to borrow a car from work, come all the way back to the apartment (about 15-20 minutes away), and use the ladder to break into our apartment to get my keys. It probably only happened 3-4 times, but I know it was rather annoying. I don't know why we didn't just give Mrs. Robinson downstairs a copy of that key. At this time in our lives we still hadn't achieved too much independence. By that I mean that we enjoyed going home most weekends. Marty would spend most of the day at his parent's house, and I'd spend it with my parents/sisters. I don't remember why we didn't want to stay in Phoenix each weekend - these days I'd love to have some time to just stay home.....

Sixteen months after our wedding, we received a phone call that Marty's father had passed away. This proved to be a turning point in our lives. During the time of the funeral, I began to suspect that I was pregnant. Sure enough, about a week or two later the doctor confirmed that we were expecting! Of course, we were thrilled, but the joy was tempered by the loss of Marty's father. Not everyone in the family was ready to share in our happiness. At the time I was pretty hurt by the reaction that we received by some. Now, of course, I can understand it but back then it was painful.

My pregnancy progressed normally other than the fact that I became HUGE very quickly. My due date was September 4th and by May when I was my cousin's Maid of Honor I looked ridiculous! It was difficult to convince people that I was only 5 months along! Marty had been applying for mechanic jobs "back home" since January. He really felt the need to live closer to his mother and younger brother. I was all for it! I didn't want to have my first baby and live away from family, either. Funny, we were less than 2 hours away from home and felt like we were worlds away.

Marty interviewed for a job at GoodYear in Horseheads on a Saturday, and they wanted him to start in one week. We were excited, but really had to move to make that happen! Sunday we spent looking for an apartment. We finally found one that we could afford, although it was in a terrible old building in Watkins Glen. It really was our only option other than moving in with Marty's mother. I was just a bit too hormonal for that to happen, so we took it. We drove back to Phoenix with my sister Donna and her daughter Tiffany (who had just turned two). On Monday we both gave our notices at work. We spent the rest of the week packing things up and getting ready to move. We had a cat that had kittens that week, too. I remember driving back down to Watkins Glen with the car full of Marty, Me, Donna, Tiffy, the cat & kittens and our stuff we couldn't live without. Everything else would get moved the following day (or two?) once we borrowed Don's truck. It was a crazy weekend, but in the end we got moved in.

We settled into a new routine. Marty took the car to work each day (a good 1/2 hour away or so), so I was stranded at the apartment. Often my sister or Dad would pick me up and I'd spend the day at their house. I was a very hot summer for normal people - and I was not normal that year! My feet swelled up until I couldn't wear my own shoes! I started borrowing Marty's and making him help me tie them. In July we decided that we didn't want to bring our baby home to that apartment, so we found a mobile home to rent. It was located in the country very close to Mom K's house, and still close to my parent's. Our landlord was a double amputee who lived next door. He and his assistant had two horses and a bunch of goats. Often the whole managerie would get out during the day and he'd call me to take a feed bucket up the road and convince them to make their way back home. Once, one of the horses stepped on my foot and purposely stood on it. I remember my swollen foot took months to return to normal!

As I said before, I was due on September 4th. I was sure I'd deliver in August just because everyone kept saying how big I was and asking me when I was due. I started thinking there was no way I was going to go that long. What did I know? I'd never been pregnant before! When September finally rolled around, I started getting phone calls. Lots of phone calls! My mother and sisters called quite often to ask how I was feeling, ask if I was in labor, ask what was new, etc. As though I wouldn't have called them immediately if something was going on! I couldn't believe that I was going overdue, but that's exactly what happened!

On the evening of September 14th, my back was killing me. I finally decided to go to bed at about 10:00 and hope that I could relieve some of the pain. I remember waking up just a few hours later and realizing that these pains were becoming very rhythmic. There was a pattern emerging here. Now, none of these pains were in my stomach - only my back. I didn't want to be embarassed by going to the hospital and being told I was in false labor, so I didn't tell anyone. I took Marty's watch off his dresser because I could use the little light on the face and start timing these pains. Sure enough, they started coming around 7 minutes apart. I woke up Marty (who wasn't sleeping very well anyway), and called my mom. It was about 2:30 a.m.

Eventually Dad convinced Mom that phone in the living room was ringing and after waking up enough to pick up the phone (not the alarm clock), she advised me to call the hospital. As she headed back to bed, my Dad (who had already started to get dressed), asked "aren't we heading out?". Mom replied that she had to work at the hospital the next morning and they'd go then. That was the end of Dad's night of sleep....he got up and made coffee.

I called the hospital, and in my excitement, told the person on the other end of the phone my symptoms and the fact that I was now 11 days overdue! She congratulated me and connected me with OB. Oops - I'd just spilled my guts to the receptionist! I then repeated my news to the nurse who answered, and she suggested we come in to be checked. Checked? Are you kidding? This better not be a false alarm!

After Marty hit every pot hole between the trailer and the hospital (and there were a lot of them), we arrived at about 3:00. A quick check convinced everyone that this was for real (thank God!). I was started on a pitocen drip to help the contractions come closer together. At this time, I was also explained what "Back Labor" is. It's due to the fact that the baby is face-up instead of face-down. The nurse said that my spine would feel like it was going to snap before I was done. What??? I guess that's why no one talked about it previously. I never once felt a contraction across my belly, as everyone describes. No wonder I didn't realize I was in labor! When mom and Dr. Tague talked at about 6:30 that morning, she asked him how long he thought it would take. Apparently, he said "by about 3:30", and Marty's eyes bugged out and said "THIS AFTERNOON?". Of course, I wasn't around for this discussion - it took place in the waiting room. Others have told me that the look on Marty's face was precious - I can just imagine!

Many hours passed. I spent quite a bit of time on my hands & knees doing "pelvic rocking" during contractions. This was supposed to help the baby turn over, but it didn't work. I don't remember how long I pushed (I tell Michael it was around 12 hours, but that math doesn't work!). All I know is that at 3:12 p.m. Michael David Kennedy finally made his way into this world. He was 8 lbs, 5 1/2 oz., and the most beautiful child! He had a fuzz of dark brown hair, and big cheeks. He was absolutely precious. The doctor withheld the baby's sex when the nurse was dispatched to tell my dad that we had a "big healthy baby". When dad asked the gender, they said that the parents wanted to announce it. Dad went down the hall to where mom was working and told her. She was a bit miffed to say the least. Marty and I did not know about Dr. Tague's little trick until he had us announce it in the hallway back to my room. At this point I didn't mind - I was finally done and was on my way to a well-deserved rest.

Life was about to get very interesting. Wonderful, but interesting!