Baby Jenny ~ Art by Scott

This will be backdated to November 1970 

Early artwork of Mr. Scott Edward Westra ... pencil sketch drawn when he was just 6½ years old. The muse? A new baby sister. According to this detailed sketch, Baby Jenny was quite the crier, with tears streaming down her face. Look at those tiny toes. 

This paper masterpiece was found preserved in the baby book for Scott Westra.

Check out photos and a history of Baby Jenny,

... and other instances of ART by the wonderful Westras!

Also of note ... the BACK of the artwork. Dad/Lamar worked at Unisys, a tech company. Always thrifty, he would bring home piles of this used paper for the kids to draw and color upon. Much of the early artwork from the Westra Siblings had this unique canvas ... rows and rows of numbers, with the holes on the sides. Endless pages of paper, perforated end to end, but still together, until torn for individual use.

Jenny Joins the Family

Just an interesting note ... here on Google's Blogspot, posts can be backdated, but the furthest back you can go is ... (drumroll please) 1970! Will I backdate this all the way to 1970? We shall see :) 1970 is when all the important stuff really started! The birth of Jennifer Lynn Westra.

Jenny was about 8 days late, so my parents went ahead and came to Richland, thinking surely she would be born any day. It was almost time for them to go back home before she was finally born. It was the middle of the night when we went to the hospital, so we didn't even wake my parents to tell them we were leaving, and they would be there to tend our 3 kids. Back then, new mothers stayed in the hospital a little longer. 2 or 3 nights? But since my parents had to leave and I wanted them to be able to hold her lots, I came home early, after maybe 1 night. So this was my hardest birth emotionally afterwards, coming home to 3 little kids, plus the baby. My parents left in about one day. And I really didn't get the help I needed being away from family and all. I don't think either Dad nor I really knew what to expect in the way of needing help after having babies. So he would come home from work and go out in the yard to work til dark. Born Tuesday at 2:35 am (the other three had all been born on a Monday). I have already written about Kadlec Methodist Hospital. 3 to a room. Get out and crank up your own bed. A young girl smoker in the middle bed--another reason to go home early. 6 lbs. 10 oz. 20 inches.

Information from the baby book ... 

• Room 413B
• Dr. Robert E. Chase (Dr. Gard also listed)
• Looks like - Mom/Chris
• Eyes - Blue, Hair - Light Brown
• First Smile - 4 weeks
• Slept through the night at five weeks.
• Crawled at six months
• Walked at 11 months

Scotty's Sacajawea School

 This will be backdated to 1970

It's always fun when you make the news! Proud parents clip out the articles and fold them to be set aside and preserved. Such was the case when the Sacajawea School in Richland Washington was featured in the Tri-City Herald on Thursday, September 24, 1970. This was young Scotty's school. You can see that Mom/Margie added some personalized notes to the newspaper clipping, pointing out Scott, his teacher, and the "3 team-teaching cluster" of grades 1-3.  In Dropbox, the picture of the paper is in the Newspaper/Documents folder, and it can be enlarged quite a bit to see the details if desired. 

Here's a close-up if you wanted to read the actual article ...

Interesting to note, that if a child is mentioned in the article, in addition to their name, their home address is listed. This was similar to birth announcements in the newspaper ... in the future, this would be unheard of due to safety and privacy concerns!

Here's a note to little Scotty before school started ...

... a little worse for wear over 50+ years. A few smudges and stains. The "Primary Green" section. School starts at 9:00 and ends at 2:45 - with a full hour for lunch, but encouraged to "eat at home" the first week before lunch is officially served at school?

Here's the end of year report for Scott's 1st grade year ...

Here's some of Mom/Margie's memories ...

I remember Scott went to Spalding Elementary first for kindergarten and was bussed. It was further away. There was also a Sacajawea Elementary school. Then they built a new Sacajawea school quite close to our old house in Richland and also to our new house in Richland. Then Scott went there. And Chris went to Kindergarten there. as I remember, both Sacajawea schools were in operation one year, so they called them Sacajawea 1 and Sacajawea 2.

The budget was so tight at the new school, parents were encouraged to donate computer paper that was used on one side but blank on the other side, so they could reuse it. And we had to furnish pencils, markers, etc. (which is the norm now, but I think it was new then--that the schools used to furnish those things-----if my memory is correct).

Then Scott was entering third grade when we moved back to Utah in Aug. 1972. We lived at my folks for a bit until our furniture arrived and I had to drive the boys to school at Woodstock. I remember the first day of school, I couldn't find a parking place and was nervous, but Scott said, "Just drop us off and I will find Chris's 1st grade class and take him there. They had a list by the door of each class of the students in that class. I will pick him up at his class after school and you can pick us up at the flagpole."

I had debated about having Chris repeat kindergarten at Woodstock. He was so little for his age and just going to turn 6---making the Sept. 10 deadline by 5 days. I thought there wouldn't be any stigma about him repeating because it was in a different state, so few would know. And in Washington, they didn't teach reading in kindergarten, but just "reading readiness." But in Utah, they did teach reading, so he would start behind the other students. But I really didn't want another year of 3 pre-schoolers at home, so went ahead and put him in 1st grade!

That year Chris went from the slowest reader to the best reader in the class by the end of the school year. The principal awarded him a big book (about cars, planes, and automobiles, as I remember). Chris was scared and overwhelmed to go to school lunch. So his teacher Mrs. Clark would help him pick up his lunch tray and take it back to their classroom and eat lunch with her. After while, he was able to handle the lunch room. Mrs. Clark's husband had Meniere's disease really bad and so she had to get her teaching degree and go to work to support their family.

She did the individual reading charts where parents wrote when titles of 20 books as their child read them and then rewarded them with a little storybook for each 20 books read. That's what I copied with the grandkids. Chris was always competitive and I credit these reading charts with him reaching the best reader award! I think maybe Mrs. Clark moved to 2nd grade and had him two years, if I remember correctly.

Scott had Mrs. Silver for 3rd grade. I think all of the other kids had Mrs. Bullock for 4th (old and not that great or fun!).

Jen correction ... Mrs. Bullock taught 3rd grade. If you did something bad, you'd have to write up "I will never _____________" 100 times. I never had to do that though ... I was an angel. My main memories of Mrs. Bullock was her introduction of two of my favorite books, "Baby Island" and "Sonny Elephant" during reading time. My fondness for those two book overshadows all else, so my memories of Mrs. Bullock are good.

... and just for fun, back to the newspaper shared at the start. You've seen one side, featuring the photos and article. What's on the back? Ads ... which are always interesting, as prices and commodities change with the times. Portable radio anyone? A black and white TV? Typewriter stand? Wig care or a diet scale ... your local Pay 'n Save is the place to shop!

Uncovered Archives ~ Margie's Presidency

Primary Presidency that is... looking through old papers, artifacts and other memorabilia, this church document was discovered. A little "getting to know you" about Mom/Margie as she moved into a new calling, Primary President. 

Here's Mom's memories she wrote up when she saw this document ...

Dad has been working on our church callings through the years and looking for clues here and there in letters and journals. Wish this had a date on it, as to when I served as Primary Pres. in Richland. Clues: 6th year there. We didn't have Jeni yet, so it was before Nov. 1970. Dad said he thinks he has this on his callings timeline. Primary was held on a week day. Right before this calling, I was serving as Jr. Sunday School Co-ordinator in Richland. This calling no longer exists. Kind of like Primary Pres. of the Jr. Sunday School. Primary age Children met in Jr. S.S. in the Primary room on Sundays.

Teens & Adults went to SS and children to Jr. SS on Sunday mornings. Sacrament was served in Jr. SS as well as in adult SS, which had opening exercises in the chapel, then they went to classes. Jr. SS had a sacrament table and did the prayers and everything there in the Primary room, as well as in the chapel for teens and adults. We had opening exercises, talks, and sacrament, and then classes. Families came back to Sac. mtg. around 5 or 6 p.m. They had sacrament passed again. This went to 1980, so maybe you kids remember it.

In Richland, when I was called to be Primary President, and had never worked in the Primary, I accepted thinking it couldn't be too hard, probably just like Jr. SS Coordinator, except over Primary. The former Primary President came over to our house on St. Street. She was moving out of state. She told me all about the different class names and inservice and quarterly-type activities, etc. and I was completely overwhelmed---all the names were like Greek to me. And she would not be around to answer any questions I might have.

I was in my mid-20's, with 3 little kids.

After she left, I sat down and just cried! The phone rang and it was one of the current Primary counselors. I wasn't able to hide that I was overwhelmed and had been crying. I think her name was Dixie Partridge. Anyway, she said she and the other counselor would be happy to stay on and help while I was "learning the ropes." So they did.

Later when I was called to be Primary President in the Cottonwood 11th ward, I was a few years older and more experienced and wasn't so overwhelmed.

California Summer 1969

Back in 1969 ...  Dad/Lamar's CSC job needed some employees to develop software at the main computer science corporation headquarters in El Segundo. So from July 19 - September 25, 1969, Mom and Dad had a Los Angeles summer.

• The Flight: The company split up the families heading out onto different planes ... "just in case" something happened (if there was a crash, they didn't want to lose everyone). Not a comforting thought for Mom/Margie on her first flight! Mom recalls Scottie  being very excited, and saying, "When are we going to blast-off?"
• The House: It was hard to find somewhere to rent for only three months. They spent a week in a hotel while they tried to find a place. Mom had a cousin (Diana Brady Coleman) who lived nearby and there was a house close to her for rent. Mom was so disappointed when someone got to it first.  Here's more memories ...

From Dad: 5951 INTERCEPTOR, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045. We lived in this home while we were on a temporary assignment in Los Angeles, working at the main Computer Science Corporation building in El Segundo, 2 miles away.  We rented a small house and moved in on 25 July. The house had two small bedrooms, and a garage. It was located almost in the middle of the Los Angeles International Airport. It was quite noisy when certain runways were being used. At first, Scott would run outside excitedly every time a plane flew close over the house, but soon we became oblivious to the noise. Most of the area was bought out by the airport for demolition, but we rented from one of the hold-outs, We rented for $225 per month, paid for by CSC, plus rental furniture. We took the bare minimum of clothes and household items, so housekeeping didn’t take up much time, even with 3 little kids.

From Mom: We finally found this old house on the L.A. airport property, that was going to be razed to make more runway. At first the noise was so loud every time a plane took off because we were so close. Scott (age 5 1/2) loved it and would run outside to see the airplane. Dad said he could identify all the types of airplanes. After awhile, we didn't even notice the sound. The coat closet in the house, we never opened. It stunk so bad if we did---like something dead in there! With minimal belongings, there was not much to do as far as housework. So it was very boring and hard for me to just tend 3 preshoolers all day with no friends or much in the way of toys while Dad worked. I read every Agatha Christie book there was in the library closest to our place, but it was even hard to read and watch the kids closely at the same time. The ward was really excited to have us--then when they found we were only there for 3 months, they didn't go out of their way much to get acquainted or invite us over or anything.

Visiting Mom's cousins in Cali ... summer 1969

Karen and Lisa Coleman, daughters of Mom's cousin Diana Brady Coleman 

Diana was Mom's same age. Daughter of Bertha Howell and Lloyd Brady

But, while in California, might as well take advantage of area attractions! There was a trip to Knott's Berry Farm (pictures below). Then the family flew to Sacramento for a side trip in late August, then a trip to Disneyland (pictures at top). Wendy was just 18 months, so the folks left her with Mom's cousin. Chris had just turned three ... if they'd gone before his birthday he would have been free. There was also mention in the Dropbox memories/calendar of a trip to Universal Studios, but no pictures ... pictures of Knottsberry but no mention of it on the calendar. Maybe it replaced the planned Universal Studios trip?

Then it was back home to Washington and the house on Saint Street, September 26, 1969. 

Scott was a little late starting kindergarten at Spaulding Elementary.

Creative Cakes ala Margie

I (Jen) have some memories of mom having cake decorating supplies. Of her making royal icing, and teaching me to make roses. When we'd go to the store, I'd love to stop at the bakery department and watch the ladies there decorate the cakes. I'm fairly certain I said that was what I wanted to be when I grew up ... a cake decorator. Mom had taken a class before I was born. Here are her memories ...

Several of us in our Saint Street neighborhood took the class. So the teacher came to the Kosorok's home, so it would be handier for all of us. One evening a week, we would go there (2 doors down from us) and bring our cake, with the base frosting on, on a turntable, for ease in decorating, along with our Wilton tips and bags and little jars of paste colors, and buttercream frosting to decorate with. We were taught to color frosting by dipping a toothpick in the jars of paste coloring and then use the toothpick to add the color to the frosting, adding more with a clean toothpick if needed. The color was more concentrated and you needed less, using the paste colors. The teacher said using the liquid coloring would make your frosting too runny. Then I got pregnant with Jeni and with morning sickness, I had trouble working with food/cakes :-) .

For many years, I made gingerbread houses with you kids each Christmas, that we decorated with Royal icing, and all sorts of candies. Not sure if we still have any photos of them. Then you would each get to eat yours after Christmas.

We also made sugar-mold eggs with you kids, with little "scenes" inside, and decorated on the outside. We made all different sizes. One year, your Grandma Westra/Burgener made sugar mold eggs for all of you and mailed them to Richland to you for Easter. They are a lot of work, but very fragile. They arrived all broken. I felt bad since she had gone to so much work and effort. I can't remember if I told her they broke in transit. Probably not, as that is not my nature.

I don't have specific memories of making and eating gingerbread houses, but I remember there was one (the same one? different ones?) on a white pedestal plate on the piano for many years. I definitely remember the sugar-mold eggs. I LOVED those. Loved peeking inside and seeing the little scenes set up there. Later when I married, I bought some molds and little figures and such to make some ... but then I never did.

Welcome Wendy!

When Wendy was at Snow College, age 18, she took a class that required the students to write up an autobiography. Here's what Wendy wrote (based on her baby book and interviews with Mom) ...

It was 8:15 on a Monday morning when a miraculous event took place on earth. I, Wendy Westra, was born on April 29, 1968. My parents were excited to have a girl after having two boys and had had my name picked out for five years simply waiting for me to arrive. At eight pounds I outweighed both my older brothers. The nurses fussed over my long dark hair and formed little curls on the top of my head. The first night home I very considerately slept the whole night through. I have loved sleeping from the day I was born! At six months I was a very active baby. I turned over and over, got around in my walker, and started crawling. At ten months I stood up for the first time. My first words were “Mama” and “Dada.” I became very attached to a pink thermal blanket and wouldn’t sleep unless I was holding on to it tightly. By the time I was 19 months old, I had been on five round trips by airplane. I haven’t been on one since, and have always wanted to. At age 1 ½ to 2 I began to take all my stuffed animals to bed with me. Luckily now I only take one stuffed animal to bed!

Mom added some memories ...  Since Chris's labor and birth was so long, I stayed home too long with Wendy and was only at the hospital a half-hour! She was my quickest birth and weighed 8 lbs. I remember being out in the sunshine planting a flower bed at our new St. Street home the day before she was born, outside the sliding glass window area of our family room. Born on a Monday. Never missed a week of church.  Regarding Wendy sleeping through that first night home ...when I woke up the next morning and realized that she had not woke me up in the night, I panicked, thinking crib death, and rushed to her room, so relieved to find her alive and peacefully sleeping! Regarding the plane trips; in 1969 we were flying to California (my first time in a plane) for the 2-3 month assignment for Dad's work, a flight to visit Nelva's family in California, and our flight home from California back to Richland. I hadn't even remembered that we flew to Nelva's and back, while we were stationed in Calif. until you girls were working on this project (it was written in Dad's history of that year). Must have been quicker and cheaper to fly and allowed us to have more time with them.

From Wendy's Baby Book ...

• Blessed on June 2, 1968. Grandma Westra came from SLC for the blessing.
• Became very attached to a pink thermal blanket and wouldn't go to sleep without it (6 months to 18 months). 
• At 18 months, wanted to take ALL dolls and stuffed animals to bed.
• Gave up the bottle at 20 months old. 
• First words:  Mama, Dada
• Had been on five round trip airplane flights in the first 19 months.
• First two teeth at 7 months old. 3rd tooth not until 13 months. First dental visit at 3½ years old. First cavity at 6½. 

Originally - I hadn't found this "on this day" report for Wendy, so I Googled to see if I could find something similar. Then I located this file, but thought I'd include some of the other interesting facts I'd found from the year.

• 1968 was the year that the first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood aired, providing a stable, warm cultural icon for generations of children. This was also the year that Planet of the Apes, starring Charlton Heston, was released in theatres. And one of the great bands of the 20th century, Led Zeppelin, performed live for the first time in October of this year. In another more mild development, Yale University announced this year that women would be admitted to the university, making it a coeducational institution.
• This year was also an important one for space exploration. 1968 saw the United States launch Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission and an important step toward the Moon landing. Apollo 8 followed not long after, when Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William A. Anders orbited the Moon. These men were the first human beings to see the far side of the Moon.
• 1968 will be mostly remembered, though, for the death of two major political figures in the United States: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Martin Luther King, a major civil rights leader in the United States, was murdered at The Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4th. In addition to mourning across America, King’s murder sparked a great deal of civil unrest in an already tense environment. Robert F. Kennedy, brother of assassinated president John F. Kennedy, was a U.S. Senator from New York and was a presidential candidate in the Democrat Party. While campaigning for his party’s nomination in Los Angeles, California, Kennedy was shot on the evening of June 5th. He succumbed to his wounds on June 6th.

A Birthday FOUR Scotty

At the end of 1967, little Scotty turned FOUR years old. Looks like there were at least nine kids there, plus little Chris. Mom is there in the picture helping out with some craft, and it looks like there was another woman assisting also (I'm sure the extra hands were needed with that many young kids!). Lots of balloons, and probably a homemade cake (this was a little before Mom got into her Creative Cakes, although the one pictured is pretty cute!)

You can read more about When Scott Was Small and get a peek a some live action birthday party (when he was six years old) ... back when video was just coming on the scene!

1967 - Annual Recap

 

1697 ...Major News Stories include Worlds First Heart Transplant, the first ATM,  the first Super Bowl (Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs). There were strikes by US teaching staff for pay increases. The Vietnam War continued, as did peace rallies and protesters against the war. Muhammad Ali was stripped of his boxing world championship for refusing to be inducted into the US Army.   Twiggy became a fashion sensation and mini skirts continued to get shorter and the Beatles continued to reign supreme. The movie industry produced "The Graduate" "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Cool Hand Luke" . TV shows included "The Fugitive" and "The Monkees" and color television sets become popular as the price came down and more programs were made in color.

On the Westra homefront ... the young couple (Marge, turned 25 & Lamar who turned 30) said goodbye to their little home on Rainer Street where they had lived when both Scott and Chris were born. They moved to their new St. Street home, which was only a few blocks away and was even in the same ward. 

Chris was a New Year's Baby, learned to crawl, walk, talk and he celebrated his first birthday. Little Scott started pre-school and turned four at the end of the year. In the "history" in Dropbox, it is noted that Grandma Lucille came up to visit in August, but it looks like there must have been a family trip to Utah earlier in the year as there is a picture with Margie's folks and grandparents (and Grandma Lucille) too. 

Margie was pregnant with Wendy the last half of this year ... and back in Utah, a little boy named Rick Jensen was born. Those two wouldn't meet until years later, but it was 1967 where their story began.

You can also check out the extended Westra news in Grandma Lucille's Christmas Newsletter.

When Scott Was Small ...

 

Scott squeaked into 1963 ... December baby. The next few years he got to be the center of attention for his folks. Small Scott pictures dominate the Dropbox folders for these years. Mom/Margie was good at keeping up with the baby book and recording milestones and memories. Here are a few ...

• Turned over alone at 23 days old
• Started smiling at 5-6 weeks
• Turned from back to stomach at 4 months
• Crawled at 5½ months
• First tooth at 6½ months (8 teeth by 13 months)
• Walked at 8 months
• First words (11+ months) mama, dada, ball, woof-woof, nose
• Taken off the bottle at 13 months 
• Favorite toys were balls, pop-beads, chatter-phone, push-chime
• At 21 months, could count to ten (usually leaving out 1, 5 and 8)
• At about 1 year of age you became very interested in animals. You loved to see them and point them out in books. One of your first words was woof-woof. At 13 months you began to like stuffed animals; your teddy bear, monkey and clown. At 17 months you started taking your monkey to bed with you every night. 
• When you were 16 months old, your mom and dad both got bicycles with a cute little seat on the back for you. You loved to go bike riding every day and would ask "Go bye-bye on bike?" Daddy would ride his bike to work and we would ride to meet him every day.
• You were an excellent talker, pronounced words well and had a large vocabulary. At 26 months you could recite the Pledge of Allegiance" all by yourself. 
• By age 3, you knew many songs, nursery rhymes and finger plays. You started Junior Sunday School and enjoyed it very much. Mommy was your teacher.
• Shortly before you turned four, we moved into our new home on Saint Street. You started nursery school and had your first "friend" birthday party. 13 children came. You were four when you went to the dentist for the first time. You were very good at the checkup, but had two cavities. You were so good and tried so hard to be brave. But when we went back for the second one you bawled and wouldn't let the dentist do one thing!
• Your first plane ride was December 1968 when we flew to SLC for Uncle Merrill's wedding. You had your 5th birthday while we were there. You thought the plane ride was great. After boarding the plane, you asked "When are we going to Blast Off?" We went on five round trips by airplane during that next year, and lived in Los Angeles, California for two months. Started Kindergarten at Spalding Elementary. You rode the school bus, which stopped right next door. 
• April 1970 (age 6) ... lost first two teeth. Bottom center (these are preserved in the baby book!) Started 1st grade at Sacajawea School, there was team teaching in 3-class clusters (there is a big newspaper feature about it). We bought a moving picture camera and our first pictures were taken at your 6th birthday party.

Here's footage from that event!

1966 Recap

 

In 1966 ... Chris came. There is already a post documenting this momentous event, but there were a few other items happening with the Westras this year as well. In Dad's Dropbox history, there is only a "Trip to Seattle" noted February 4, 1966 as far as getting out and about. Based on the photos though, that wasn't the only traveling done. In March, it looks like not only the Westra family, but Rex & Zada, went out to California for a reunion with Merrill, returned home from his mission. Pictures are at Nelva and Arnold's house, with little cousins Dale and Karie. Then it looks like the crew returned to Utah, and made the rounds with more visiting to the Grandparents. The group picture includes both sets ... Zada's mom and her husband (Hannah and Arthur Bohne) and Rex's folks. No Chris in those pictures ... in March, he was still a little bun in the oven. No Dad/Lamar in those photos either, methinks he was likely the photographer.

A little later in the year, Rex and Zada made a trip to Washington to be there for the birth of Christopher ... that's when Dad/Lamar caught the big fish! It looks like the Westras must have made a trip back to Utah, or Aunt Diane made a trip up to Washington, as those two families are pictured together (cute little cousins Chris and baby Brad, and Scott and Mauri). Photos of little Scott enjoying the Thanksgiving turkey. Grandma Lucille had written a Christmas Letter in 1967 mentioning that Steve had gotten engaged Christmas of 1966, and left for service January 1967 (so that picture was probably taken one of those times). 

1966 looked like a fairly full year!

Chris Came ...

Three years after Scott came into the world, he was blessed with a little brother ~ Christopher Mark Westra. 6 pounds, 7½ ounces, 19¼ inches long. Born at 11:42 am. You might wonder why there is a picture of Dad with a fish combined in the collage of photos of baby Chris, but it's because while the grandparents were up to see the baby, Rex and LaMar went fishing on the Columbia River and caught a steelhead that weighed more than Chris did!

Here's some of Mom's memories from the big day ...

Since Scott's labor was only maybe around 4 hours, I expected Chris to be even quicker. So we went to the hospital and I was dilated only to 3 and they sent me home. I was in labor all night with the pains 5 minutes apart and scared I would wait too long, but didn't want to be sent home again.  When I was admitted, I remember being in the delivery room and the pain was so bad, they gave me gas and put me "under" for a bit. When I regained consciousness, I recall thinking "somebody is screaming," then  realizing "Oh, it is me screaming...."  Chris was born on a Monday and I never missed a week of church. September 5th was Labor Day in 1966. The Labor and Delivery dept. was very overcrowded that day and there was no room to put me in after he was born, so my bed was just out in the hallway. I was sitting up and a nurse came by and said, "You shouldn't be sitting up!" She thought I hadn't had the baby yet and was in labor. Chris's was my hardest and longest birth, which surprised me because he wasn't that big.

Some memories from the baby book ...

• Dr. Robert E Chase. Nurse Beulah Liechty. 
• Kadlec Methodist Hospital/Richland, Washington. Room 419C. Receipt for payment $208.20, another for $2.00.
• Hair was dark brown at birth, lighter later on, very sparse on top, one inch in back.
•  Blessed October 9, 1966 in Richland 1st ward. When Chris was held up after the blessing, he spit up at the congregation. Two other babies blessed that day.
• Very spitty baby (more than any of the other kids). Had to have a burp diaper on every chair around the house to grab quick when needed.
• Red birthmark on the forehead.
• Sleeping through the night at three months. Started sucking thumb, would not take pacifier.
• Swaying and dancing to music at 15 months. 
• First words: Mama, Dada, Ball, Dog-Dog, Marble, Night-night. His speech was very cute when he was a bit older (age 3) as there were several letters he couldn't pronounce (s, r). 
• First flight - to SLC Dec 1968 for Merrill's wedding. Chris got sick on the flight down. 
• Loved the water - summer of 1967 (8-12 months old) he spent more time in the wading pool than Scott. Learned to walk in the pool!
• Illnesses - Roseola at 6 months old (March1967), Mumps (June 1970). 
• Noted Events: The war in Vietnam. The popularity of the Beatles. Fashion trends - long hair on boys, miniskirts, granny dresses, the twist (dance).

Here's a little look at what else was going on in the world in September 1966 ...

 I just paid $1.09 for a dozen eggs in 2020 ... no inflation for eggs?

Check out the blog post "Baby Books and a Chris Questionnaire" for more memories of baby Chris!

The Life of Joseph Ate Westra

The Westra kids never knew their Grandpa Joe. Scott was just a baby when he passed away. The original history written by Grandma Lucille (I believe) is on family search, as are all these pictures and more. I've included the history here, but rearranged a couple of items and wanted to include a few bullet points of items of interest at the top ...

• Joseph was 6th of 10 children. Only four survived to adulthood (in the picture in the top left, older brother John is not in the photograph).
• Joseph and Lucille were born only two days apart, both at LDS hospital.  They likely "met" at the nursery there, and would re-acquaint 19 years later and be married for almost 30 years.
• Joseph and Lucille were engaged while he went on his mission to the Southern States.
• While he was a marble champion when young, golf was his passion, followed by fishing. He liked all sports though. Football in the fall, basketball in the winter. Baseball in the summer.

LIFE OF JOSEPH A. WESTRA Joseph Ate Westra was born October 23, 1911 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and died May 24, 1965 at the age of 53 of a Coronary Heart Attack. 

His mother was Geeske DeHaan, born February 23, 1878 and died August 16, 1955 at the age of 77 (see her history). His father was Ate Obe Westra, born December 5, 1868 and died December 11, 1946 at the age of 78.  There were 10 children born ...

• Wilhelmina was born in 1904 and died in 1908
• Obe was born in 1905 and died in 1907
• Egbert was born in 1906 and died in 1907
• John was born Dec. 31, 1908 and died in 1998.
• George was born in 1909 and died in 1910 
• Joseph was born in 1911 and died in 1965
• Allen was born in 1913 and died in 1914
• Alice was born Jan. 28, 1914
• Alma was born in 1915 and died in 1916
• Edward Paul was born July 23, 1923.

Of Joseph's seven brothers and two sisters, only two brothers (John and Edward Paul) and one sister (Alice Louise Heller) survived to adulthood.

Joe's father was called on a mission to Holland and his mother took a job at the Forest Annex to help support her family. She kept the school clean and Joe had to help bring in the coal for the stoves. His mother was real strict and they were never allowed to go in the front rooms unless they had company. She kept a spotless home. They always had a nice garden and planted lots of vegetables. They had chickens and a cow. At a picnic at Lagoon Joe’s mother was badly burned when coffee was spilt in her lap. She was in bed for weeks, and Joe had to come home from school each day and scrub the kitchen floor. They had a nice bungalow type home at 2256 South 8th East. It had a long front porch and the family enjoyed sitting out there and visiting friends and relatives. The Westras had lots of friends from Holland, and they would always talk Dutch. Joe never learned the language, but could distinguish some of the words. His brother John went to Holland on his mission.

Joe had Rheumatic fever as a child and was sickly. He had to stay out of school one year. He was a marble champion and won a Hubbard Denn Medal in 1924. He liked scouting and went on lots of scout trips in the summers, along with his brother John and friends George and Seig Springer. While growing up, Joe's friends were Boyd Ostler, Laird Snelgrove, Frank Howard, Clyde Furner, Seig and George Springer and Clyde Campbell.  

Joseph went to Salt Lake City Schools: Forest, Irving Jr., LDS High School, L.D.S. Business College and then took the LaSalle Extension Course in Accounting. His business acquaintances were Cal Rasmussen, George Weidner, George Webb, Jack Lake, Adam Jacobs.

Joseph and Lucille were 19 years old when they met on the 9th East Street Car which both of them rode to work each day.  It was 1930. Lucille and Joe would double date with Clyde and Audrey Campbell. He had a roadster and Joe and Lucille always sat in the rumble seat. They would go to the Old Mill in Big Cottonwood on Saturday nights and dance, go on picnics, play tennis, and go hiking. They were engaged December 24, 1931, and he was called on a mission to the Southern States from June 1932 to June 1934. Lucille waited for him to return to her and enjoyed writing to her missionary. They were both just shy of 24 on their wedding day.

Joseph was married to Lucille Erskine in the Salt Lake Temple, September 5, 1935, by Elder Charles A. Callis of the Council of the Twelve. They had a wedding breakfast at Aunt Ivy McAuliffe's, and a beautiful Reception at the Belvedere Lounge. They didn't own a car, so didn't go on a honeymoon, but had a lovely apartment at 1258 Emerson Avenue. Seven months before they were married they started buying furniture, and by the time September came, all their lovely furniture was paid for. 

In 1936 Joe and Lucille bought their first car. It was a Grey Chevrolet Coupe. They were so thrilled to own a car. Now they didn't have to take the streetcar or walk. He was working for Snelgrove Ice Cream Company in Sugarhouse at the time, and Lucille was working for the Government WPA at the building that houses Deseret Industries now.

They were married for 29 years and had four children, two boys and two girls.

• Joseph LaMar, born May 28, 1937
• Sharon Lucille born September 16, 1938
• Diane born March 10, 1943
• Steven Arthur born June 22, 1946.

Golf was Joseph's first love in sports - he lived close to Forest Dale golf course and caddied there for many years while growing up. He really didn't take up fishing until his son LaMar was 10 years old and was selling nightcrawlers. They didn't even own a fishing rod, but decided to go to Mill Creek Stream and try their luck. Joe fixed two willows with line, hook and bait. LaMar pulled in a 21 inch German Brown. He had his picture taken with the fish, as one of the largest caught on opening day. That did it. They went out and bought fishing tackle and have enjoyed the sport ever since.

Joe went on some wonderful fishing trips. Each opening of fishing season they would go to Fish Lake and camp out. His brother Ed loved fishing too. While on a vacation to the northwest, he went to Westport on the Ocean and fished for salmon with his brother John. He went on lots of fishing trips to Strawberry, Yellowstone, Wyoming and Montana. Now he enjoyed fishing as much as he did golf. He loved all sporting events, and would work the High School Basketball Tournament each year, as an usher.

As a child, Joe suffered from a broken arm, and rheumatic fever. This may have been the cause of his heart problems later in life. In 1933, while traveling through the Everglades in Florida he was bitten by mosquitos and got Malaria. He was very sick for two weeks, and they gave him quinine and milk of magnesia with ice. When he got overly tired each summer the Malaria would come back again and he would be down for 2 weeks again. This lasted for 7 years. In 1945 he got a blood clot following an emergency appendectomy for a ruptured appendix and was in St. Marks Hospital for one month under oxygen. The doctors only gave him a 50-50 chance to pull through. President Richards came and administered to him and he recovered, showing the power of the Priesthood and faith that he would get better.

In 1957 Joe had Hypertension and was hospitalized for 2 weeks. His blood pressure was 230 over 130 on May 30th. In 1959 he had Bleeding Ulcers on Thanksgiving Day. In 1961 he had a heart attack in February. In March 1962 he had Bleeding Ulcers,  and in July of that year, he was hospitalized with wrenched shoulder and a broken hand following a roll-over car accident. In March 1964 he had another heart attack. In 1965 he had his third heart attack and passed away May 24, 1965. For his last stay in the hospital he went in on May 17, and died May 24. He said he would only stay one week.

Back in 1964 after his big heart attack, Joe was unable to work full time. He would come to the office when he was able, and they were very good to him. They continued his paychecks coming in each month. They finally had to bring in an assistant, Dale Curtis, to take over in purchasing. After Joe came home from the hospital in 1964, his good neighbor Coke Willardson would come over each day and give him a shot. She continued this all summer. Joe was beginning to fill up with water, and he had a geographic tongue. He had a hard time sleeping and he was taking a lot of medication every day for his heart. His appetite was poor and he was miserable. His cardiograms showed a lot of heart damage.

His father was Custodian at L.D.S. Business College. He and his brother John worked as Deseret Newspaper boys while growing up, and helped support the family. His father passed away December 11, 1946. His mother worked in the Temple after that. In 1950 she had a bad stroke, which left her unable to speak, and for 5 years she was this way. It was heartbreaking seeing her try to let you know what she wanted. She couldn't write either and was partially paralyzed. The family put her in a rest home, but she was not happy there. Joe would bring her up on Sundays in her wheelchair and have dinner, then take her to church and then back to the rest home. She died Aug. 16, 1955.

• Residences - Born in a home on 9th East, grew up at 2256 South 8th East, 1258 Emerson Avenue, 837 Sherman Avenue, 1261 Malvern Avenue, 246 East 21st South, 2740 Grandview Circle.
• Places of Work - Lauren W. Gibbs as a typist, Snelgrove Ice Cream as Ice Cream Dispenser and Manager, Garden Gate Ice Cream as Ice Cream Dispenser and Manager, Presiding Bishop’s Office, L.D.S. Church as Bookkeeper, Kennecott Copper, shift work during 2nd World War, Bingham-Garfield Railroad as Bookkeeper, Granite School District as Purchasing Agent, and was with Granite for 17 years until he passed away.
• Church positions - Elder, Seventy, High Priest, and Ward Clerk for 3 Bishoprics - Bishop H. D. Lowry, Bishop O. E. Aylett, and Bishop Feron Olson. He was also Sunday School Superintendent. His Wards - Forest Dale, Emerson, Wasatch, Hawthorne, Highland Park, Burton, Columbus, Grandview and Grandview II.

Joseph really enjoyed his mission and the wonderful people he met. He had a faith-promoting experience when he blessed a tiny baby with a growth on his head and he was healed. President Charles A. Callis headed the Mission. He got to love him and his wonderful family. Then President Callis was released and President Le Grand Richards headed the Mission. Joe lived right in their home. It was a wonderful experience. He was Mission Secretary. President Richard’s first mission to Holland made him acquainted with Joe's folks. He stayed right at their home and got to love them. They ran a laundry in Holland, and saved their money so they could come to Salt Lake City for their religion. They were converts to the church.

Joe and Lucille had a wonderful marriage and enjoyed their four lovely children.

• LaMar married Marjorie Norman June 29, 1962 in the Salt Lake Temple. They have four children, Scott, Christopher, Wendy and Jenny. 
• Sharon married Kent Amann June 27, 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple. They have three children, Randy, Ricky and Alyson. 
• Diane married Jon Mauss October 17, 1962. They have two children. Mauri and Brad. They lost one baby (2 days old), Leslie Ann, their second baby. 
• Steven married Diana Wathen June 28, 1967 in Frankfurt, Germany. They were divorced in July 1970. No children. He married Jan Thompson February 1, 1972. She has a boy Mike. As of August 15, 1973 this brings his grandchildren to (11). 

Joe was the first to leave this existence. What a wonderful homecoming with his mother, father, 5 brothers and 1 sister and his in-laws to greet him. He is working hard and making a place for his posterity.

Joe's siblings stories ...

• John married Melva Saunders in the Salt Lake Temple, and they had three children, Dorene, Jerry and Janet. John died in 1998.
• Alice married Paul Heller in October 1935, and they had two sons, Ronald and Bruce. Alica died in 1989.
• Edward Paul married Doreen Cobb in the Salt Lake Temple and they had four children, Kathy, Kenneth, Karen and Kyle. Edward died in 2011.

Sharon wrote a tribute too ...

Daddy loved fishing. He would go fishing practically every weekend during the summer when he was in better health. Quite often he would take the family along. And as most fishermen do, he would say he would be back at 6:00 but would really mean 8:00.  Lamar used to sell nightcrawlers when we lived on 21st South. Daddy would take Lamar to the golf course at night and help him catch worms.

Daddy was good at arithmetic. He would always help us with our homework. We probably never would have passed Algebra without him. 

 Daddy enjoyed doing things with the family. Every holiday he would take us all, and usually our friends too, to some resort for swimming and having fun. He would also take us, the whole family, on drives every Sunday; and we would always talk him into buying us an ice cream cone.

Although Daddy would take the boys fishing, he didn't neglect us girls. He was always willing to go with us to the daddy-daughter parties held in school and the ward. This meant a lot to us. He was always interested in the things we were doing.

1965 Summary

 

In 1965, the war in Vietnam continued to worsen and the Anti-War movement grew. On November 13th, 35,000 protestors marched on Washington. There was also continued civil unrest with rioting, looting and arson in Los Angeles. This was the first year mandated health warnings appeared on cigarette packets and smoking was looked on negatively. The latest craze in kid's toys was the Super Ball and The Skate Board. Fashions also changed as women's skirts got shorter men's hair grew longer as the miniskirt makes its appearance. The word "Hypertext" is created to describe linking in early computer systems and computer networking. (The People History)

On the Westra homefront, LaMar turned 28 in May 28, 1965, Margie turned 23 in November and Scott turned 2 at the end of the year in December. Home was still the house on 2031 Rainier in Richland Village. Joseph Ate Westra passed away 24 May 1965. The family drove to SLC the next day. The funeral was Friday, 28 May 1965, on LaMar’s 28th birthday. They returned to Richland 12-13 June 1965.

LaMar had a bicycle, and they purchased one for Margie too. Add a baby seat for Scottie and they would ride all around the town. Mom/Margie mentioned that Scott loved the bike and would ask "Go bye-bye on bike?" Mom wrote in Scott's baby book that Dad/Lamar would ride his bike to work every day, and that she and Scottie would go meet him. Mom also mentioned "I remember on the bike rides, with him in his little bike seat, he would give me directions on where to turn on our way to his friend Kevin Pickard's house, at such a young age. It was quite a ways away, with many turns, and I was amazed he could know the way and tell me!"

Why is there a picture of a volleyball included in the photo collage for the year? LaMar was playing on the ward volleyball team. He wrote "We won our stake tournament and went to Portland to play in the Regional Tournament, 18 April 1965. We stayed at a motel in Portland. We also played some golf in Portland. The flowers in Portland were gorgeous. Our ward volleyball team went to Salt Lake City to play in the all-church tournament, 23 April 1965. We got trounced by teams from Hawaii and Oakland, California. Those players hit the volleyball so hard that they sometimes split the volleyball." Being in Salt Lake, LaMar was able to see his dad one last time before he died. 

Pixy PinUps from Penneys

These cute pictures of little Scotty weren't unfamiliar to me ... I'd seen them before, and they are saved in Dropbox (1964). While going through the "kid boxes" from the folk's house, I stumbled upon the originals. They were still stored in the initial envelope, which added some interesting information ...

Pixy Pin-ups! I did a Google search of Dunbar-Stanley Studios to see what was available about them, and found some unusual results. There were several lawsuits listed, although they all seemed to be the same one (Dunbar-Stanley Studios vs Alabama) dealing with licensing and taxes. There was another article on an antiques/collectables blog that gave some additional information on the company (Portraits by the Pound) indicating a gimmick for sales, where they would weigh the child, and that was the basis of the cost! Looking at the envelope holding Scotty's pictures, it looks like here in 1964 at this location they had switched to a flat rate for said photos. 

Dunbar-Stanley Studios were the exclusive photography studio of the J.C. Penney department store franchise. Some larger stores may have had a full-time photo studio, but the smaller stores made appointments with Dunbar-Stanley to send out a photographer for a few days at a time, several times a year. J.C. Penney actually made the sale, sharing a portion of the profit with Dunbar-Stanley Studios, and all the film was shipped off to North Carolina for processing.

According to an interview in the Victoria Advocate (TX)  in 1960, the business was tightly controlled to make baby photography as effective as possible. 

 The company would only employ “…young and unmarried women, many of whom are recruited from airline hostess schools”, and their training went beyond just clicking a shutter. Training included child psychology, and by the end of their training, whether literally or figuratively, the employees are “required to dismantle and reassemble the camera with her eyes closed.” 

A 1966 “Help Wanted: Female” listing from Eugene, Oregon, listed requirements as “Single and over 18; High school graduate; Have good character references.”

The ad outlines the benefits as well: salary during training, a company car with all expenses paid, and after 3 years a free trip to Europe to employees with ‘satisfactory service’. This army of young ladies, high-tech camera in hand, cruised the backroads of America from J.C. Penney to J.C. Penney, trying to get kids to smile. They were certainly successful with young Scotty!

The ‘Pixy’ name remained well into the 1990s, but the current J.C. Penney portrait studios aren’t run by Dunbar-Stanley anymore. Still, when I Googled "Where can I get portraits taken" today... JC Penneys was the first option to come up!

1964 Summary

What were the big news stories in 1964? Well, in the world, the Vietnam War was going on, there were race riots in many big cities, the Beatles topped the charts, there was a huge earthquake in Alaska, the U.S. Surgeon General reported that smoking may lead to lung cancer, and the Boston Strangler was apprehended. A little closer to home ...  LaMar turned 27 in May, Margie turned 22 in November and Scotty was experiencing his first year of life. The Westra family was living in Richland Village, 2031 Rainier.

From Dad/Lamar's notes:  Easter Sunday was 29 March 1964. Vacation trip to Utah, 22 May to 7 June 1964. The trip to Salt Lake took two days. We stayed at a motel in Ontario, Oregon. The trip back to Richland took two days. We stayed at a motel in Mountain Home, Idaho.  We purchased a freezer, 28 Aug 1964, GE, $225. We still had that freezer until 2010 or so. Bought a Christmas Tree 14 Dec. $1.50 Margie was teaching primary.  Bowling on Tuesdays.

It looks like they got a lot of family visits in during the Utah trip. Pictures with Grandpa Joe and Grandma Lucille (and Cousin Mauri), four generation shots ... Scotty, Margie, her dad Rex and his dad Herbert.  Scotty, Margie, her mom Zada, and her mom Hannah. Apparently the guys (Lamar, Arnold and Rex) had success fishing too! Back home to Washington where Scotty learned to crawl and walk and talk (check out the "When Scott Was Small" blog post for details). 

More Scott pictures from 1964 ...

The Blue Sweater

Uncovering old photographs, this picture of Mom/Margie and baby Scott surfaced. This would have been early 1964. Fun to see Dad/Lamar's shadow taking the picture too. But it was the blue sweater that sparked some memories and conversation.

Margie: Dad(Lamar) had a sweater like that. He can't remember if he got it in Europe someplace (he didn't go to Norway during his post-mission tour) or through his friend Jim Peterson (who went to Norway on his mission) after Dad got home. Soon after we got married, Dad got a contact through Jim, and had a Norwegian lady copy Dad's sweater and make a matching one for me.

Jen: I totally remember that blue sweater - although I didn't know there were two of them, I just assumed you were wearing Dads!

Margie: It hasn't fit me for many many years, so I am not sure what happened to either of them or if they are around here somewhere. Dad's probably fits well since he weighs about 15 lbs. less than he did back then!

 

A Letter from "Scotty"

While the Westra's have had these classic photos of baby Scotty typing away ... until now, it was unknown what exactly he was writing up. That mystery has been solved as this letter was uncovered!

 

I *think* Daddy may have helped with the writing of this letter ... although in future years, we'd see some fun writing from Scott (check out Covid-Free world, Covid Limmericks, 2020 Father'sDay Invitation and Dad's Moles and his new verses to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"). While many things are recorded in journals and baby books (see "When Scott was Small" for tidbits from his baby book), a little letter like this includes some of the day-to-day things that could easily be forgotten. It's a fun peek at the past! 

Here's a transcription if the typed copy is too hard to read ...

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

This is your little grandson Scottie writing you a letter. I just learned how to type last week so you’ll have to pardon any of my mistakes. My daddy just took a picture of me typing this letter and he said to tell you he’ll be sending it as soon as he finishes the roll.

This has been quite a hectic week for me. My first tooth is still coming in and is bothering me quite a bit. I’m quite restless at night and this cuts into my sleepy time; my folks have been missing a little sleep too. I really enjoy our new air conditioner; it keeps me cool man, cool.

My daddy has a holiday today so he’s been home working in the garden. I’ve been out supervising and helping once in a while. I took my shirt off and have been getting a nice sun tan. Lots of my little friends came to see me while I was outside, and some of us went for a little walk together.

Tonight Vaunn and Laurie next door and I are going to have a barbeque. We’re letting our folks come too, of course.

I like my walker better now; and, boy, can I ever scoot around fast!

We got a jug of root beer yesterday, and it sure is yummy. I didn’t know what I was missing all this time!

We went water skiing today, but my mommy and I were too chicken to try it. My daddy went up twice and got dunked once. My daddy and I both got sunburns. We went with Jeff and Craig Downs, and they brought their folks to help put in the boat.

I got up at 4:00 this morning and made my daddy get up and play with me. He and I typed up some genealogy information for Uncle John and we are enclosing it with this letter. Since I got up so early this morning I’m pretty tired so I’ll hit the crib early tonight. Be sure and return my letter and tell me all the news from Salt Lake.

Love you all,

Scottie

Check out more of what was going on the year this was written

... pictures and recaps in the 1964 Summary.

1963 - Move to Richland and Welcome Baby Scottie

1963 is called "the year that changed the world" by some. There was the historic March on Washington, Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech, and the early involvement of the U.S. in the Vietnam War. Beatlemania had started up. Then, on Nov. 22, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. On a more "Westra" note ... 1963 was the year the young Westra couple left Utah for Washington, and added their first baby to the family! LaMar turned 26 on May 28, 1963. Margie turned 21 on Nov. 7, 1963. Scott was born on Monday, Dec. 16, 1963.

In the Spring, Dad/Lamar was interviewing for a new job. 

Here's memories from both Dad and Mom:

From Dad: I started interviewing different companies for a job. There were three main possibilities: IBM in SLC, 14 March. Shell Oil in San Francisco, and Marathon Oil in Denver. In the summer of 1963, I went on two interview trips. One was by myself, flying to Denver, Colorado to interview Marathon Oil, and then Margie and I drove to San Francisco to interview Shell Oil Company. Then we accepted a job offer from General Electric in Richland, Washington, one of the three cities making up the Tri Cities. We moved to Richland, Washington on our first anniversary: 29 June 1963. We moved into a little house in Richland Village, 2031 Rainier. The house was on the corner. It had two bedrooms and a basement and a detached garage. We paid $79 a month for rent. 

 From Mom: Around the time of our first wedding anniversary, we moved to Richland, Washington. LaMar had 3 job offers, one in California, one in Denver, and the one in Richland. He visited Denver to interview, we both made the trip to California to interview----then accepted the Richland job offer from General Electric without even visiting there. I was 3 months pregnant with Scott. It was difficult to find a place to rent. Apartment complexes didn’t want people with children or expecting one. We finally found an old house to rent on Rainier Street. LaMar had to start work, so I had to spend the days in the empty house, waiting for the moving truck to arrive. I had morning sickness and ate barbecue-flavor potato chips while waiting at the house----I haven’t been able to stand them for the next 50 years! We had some nice young couples as neighbors and enjoyed life there. LaMar was a stake missionary and took classes a couple times a week, so I got tired of being alone a lot. I joined a ladies bowling league as I needed to get out of the house. Bowling Tuesdays.

The house (taken a few years later/Chris in the window)

It's always interesting to see how the different write-ups compare *Ü* What details are written down. Here's a little more from Mom and Dad, and more about Scott's birth:

From Dad: 22 Nov 1963 – President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was working in the plant, and everyone was in shock. Scott Edward Westra was born: on Monday, Dec. 16, 1963, 12:50 AM. Scottie was born in Kadlec Memorial Hospital, which had been built years before by the government. Margie and Scottie came home from the hospital, Friday, 20 Dec. Christmas 1963 We bought a Christmas Tree, 11 Dec, $4.

From Mom: Scott was born on Monday, Dec. 16, 1963, just before midnight, at the Kadlec Methodist Hospital. It was an old military hospital, all on one floor, with many wings. 3 women in a room. You had to get out of bed and go to the bottom of the bed and use a crank to raise or lower the bed. They didn't do epidurals in Washington--they were behind the times. The husbands couldn't even be in the labor or delivery rooms! I hated being alone in labor and in pain. I remember when the doctor told me "It won't get any worse than this" at one point. He lied! It was a fast labor and delivery. They had to wake LaMar up in the waiting room to tell him he had a son! I remember the ride home from the hospital, feeling scared that this little helpless baby was up to me to care for. My parents came up for a visit after he was born. After they returned to Salt Lake, I developed a fever and weakness on my left side and was re-hospitalized. They did a spinal tap, etc. to check for meningitis, etc. Our pediatrician arranged for baby Scott to be admitted also, so I could nurse him, and so LaMar didn’t have to care for him. The doctor put the bump on Scott’s ear as the reason for the hospital admittance. I had a couple more episodes of the fever and weakness over the next few months and my doctor had me go to a neurologist in Seattle. I was never really diagnosed—just “an inflammation of the brain.” It hasn't reoccurred but has left me with a slight weakness on my left side.

Mom wrote that "Christmas was just a blur for me in 1963, having a baby and all and going back to the hospital." Years later, Jen would have a similar situation with a December baby (Colton) and rehospitalization a week later (but it was baby Colton being admitted ... no excuse needed to let Mom stay, and Dad/Gray was in charge of taking care of four little boys at home!)

Adding to this post with a few finds from the baby book ...

Mom/Margie had mentioned in her memory that Scott was born just before midnight, but in the baby book, 12:50 am is listed as the time. Weight was recorded as 7 pounds 1½ ounces, but noted that it dropped to 6 pounds 14 ounces while in the hospital, and was 7 pounds 3 ounces at discharge. Length was 19½ inches and head circumference was 13½ inches. Not much hair. The baby book kept a very good history of weight and height over the coming years. There will be more to come in another post showcasing Scott!