Birthday Girl

A gal I work with, Angie, brought her extra birthday cake to work today. You see it was her young son Kolby's birthday last weekend, and the person she ordered the cake from delivered the wrong cake. We got to eat the mistake! Angie said they teased Kolby, age five and expecting a Spiderman Cake, with the originally girlie looking cake before showing him the real one. The reject was tasty though! If we had done that to Jud, he would have snapped!

Both Amy and Jud looked forward to selecting what was going to be on their birthday cake each year. Cheryl Purdum - the wife of one of my bank co-workers was the baker and artist. She could draw a quarterback in frosting better than I could with ink! One year she made Amy a haunted house cake with pretzel fences. It was way cool.

Today is Amy's 28th birthday. This is the anniversary of one of the happiest days of my life. We were expecting our baby earlier. She (or he...we didn't know what we were having) was due on October 7th. But the doc told me from about mid-September on that it could be anytime. And I believed him!

We lived in Osage, Iowa at the time, but were doctoring in Mason City - after a miscarriage that was determined to be a molar pregnancy. I'd never heard of such a thing. It's when tissue that normally becomes a fetus, instead becomes an abnormal growth. Because of that condition, I'd had a D&C in October 1984, and had to avoid becoming pregnant again until the doctor told me it was okay. During that time, my best pal Vic was growing larger and larger - pregnant with her baby who turned out to be Kelli. It was a tough time for me. I wanted a baby too!

After traveling with Gamble Robinson, I started a new job in Osage at the woolen mill, Fox River early in 1985. Shortly after that, I took another pregnancy test to find out if fetal tissue was still growing inside me, left over from the molar pregnancy. Fortunately, the test came back negative. About a minute later, I was pregnant again! So Amy and Kelli ended up being born the same year, but are different classes in school.

My pregnancy the second time was pretty easy. Especially compared to my co-worker Becky who suffered morning sickness throughout most of her 9 months. I just felt a bit queasy and used that as an excuse to eat lots of starchy stuff. Of course I was nervous the second time around - after the sad first pregnancy. We were so happy when we heard that reassuring heartbeat the first time. Then - we had a scary time when we went to Veishea in Ames and I got food poisoning. I headed back to the clinic Monday to hear that heartbeat again. The tough little nugget lived through my night of heaving. I gained something like 46 pounds with that pregnancy. I was huge - a beached whale. We'd been through Lamaze classes - we were ready!

My doctor felt sorry for me when I started to limp. The baby's head had begun to put pressure on my hip. He scheduled me to be induced at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Mason City on October 9th. Paul and I got up bright and early and drove the 30 miles southwest. The check in people said "nope" no room in the inn. Their birthing rooms were full and I couldn't have a baby that day. Our doc, Dr. R. Bruce Dunker wasn't on call again until the 14th. I cried all the way home. Dammit - we had called our people to tell them we were having a baby!

It was a looooong weekend. I was a sad sack. Finally Monday rolled around (all three of my children were born on Monday - what does this mean?) and we made the trek again. This time - bingo! We got a room next to a screamer. They broke my water and hooked me up to a monitor - so Paul could notify me when I was going to have a contraction. Thank you very little! I did needlepoint. Still, it took all day. The screamer pooped out a kid and it was our turn to be in the fancy birthing suite. We'd even brought along our whole audio cassette collection - so I could listen to relaxing music. Right. Paul knew the World Series (St. Louis vs. Dodgers) game was on, so that's what he watched while I was on another plane. Of pain.

I don't think they ever offered me pain meds. The doc brought an Intern in - she was from Romania or some other Eastern Bloc country. They decided at some point that they were going to need to yank on the kid to get her out. The Intern used the biggest freaking shot I've ever seen. I remember they saying - we can see a head! Forceps were used. Delivering the placenta was not fun - nor the uterus massage post birth. But none of that mattered once I saw the prize! It was 7 p.m.ish by then.

Baby Girl's first Apgar (post birth exam) wasn't the greatest. I think she got a bit stressed with the whole forceps thing too. But Amy rebounded nicely and scored well the second time. That was her name - and she looked it! We had talked about Lindsay. And Stephanie. But we nailed it - Amy means Beloved.

The nurses loved her hair and brushed it into a little Mohawk swirl on her head that was adorable. I could never imitate it though...of course. I would try - but she'd end up having a spike. Not cute. I had never felt right holding babies before - but this one fit right into my arms. Paul used the phone in the room to call our parents - grandchild number 22 for George and Laura. Number 2 for my folks.

When they wheeled me into my hospital room for the night - I couldn't quit smiling. We had a baby! Paul left to drive back to Osage. I don't think I slept all night. When they brought Amy in the next morning - it was confirmed - she was real! And adorable. And I felt like I'd been hit by a truck - a 9 pound 7 ounce truck. Even my fingernails and teeth were sore - were they having contractions too? Geez. Hemorrhoids, sitzbaths - the whole bit. Those days we stayed in the hospital several days. We checked out on Thursday, when my Mom magically appeared from A-town. Paul purchased a mint green sleeper with a deer on it for his little girl to ride home in. The nurse selected Amy as the bath model baby, I was so proud, I recall. And I've never stopped being proud of my baby ever since!

 

Just like that - gone again!

Amy took off this morning after a few days at home. We had a good time - as usual, during her visit. I wish Jud could have come too - but he's been running himself ragged traveling. Today he takes off for Virginia for a few days for work. So it didn't work out to get the whole fam together. ;>(.

Yesterday we kinda dragged Amy out of bed early, though she said she automatically wakes up anyway. We treated her to breakfast at the Waveland Café - a place she'd not visited before. We secured the last three spots at the counter. She liked it of course. Who wouldn't? Unless you're a big fan of expensive chains like Perkins. Hey - I like Perkins too. But I have a weakness for joints like this! The waitresses call everyone "Hon", the wall paintings are sweet and the political signatures and the wall are impressive. Not to mention the window paintings!

Check the chicken eating chicken - above it says "Dude that's just wrong"

Next, we stopped at the Farmer's Market - though not for too long because it was darn chilly! Amy has discovered a new love - Dutch Letters! Flakey pastry with almond paste filling. Yum. We picked up more of that excellent bacon too, along with tomatoes and green beans.

On our drive home, she texted her pal Kelli Behr Hoskins who lives in Minneapolis - only to discover Kel was on her way to DSM for a wedding! A bit later we drove back downtown to see Kelli and Toby - newly married in June. How fun and random is that!?! I spoke to Kelli's mama (my college roomie Vicki) in the meantime. We got caught up - since we haven't talked since Kelli's wedding.

lifelong pals - Amy and Kelli

Last night we hit the Cheesecake Factory. I know - it's a chain. But it's close and we had a good waitress. she even brought a crew over to sing Happy Birthday to Amy, despite the fact that Cheesecake doesn't usually do that. Good thing they didn't know that Amy's bday isn't until the 14th! Amy's friend Rachelle came with us. Those two are always funny - laughing about hijinx from the past.

Rachelle and Amy

Today is a drizzly, catch up kinda day. I should go pack for my trip to Council Bluffs tomorrow - the annual Recycling and Solid Waste Conference. Looking forward to seeing the trash peeps! Paul will get some more hunting in. And painting! Let's hope congress comes up with something so he can get back to work this week.

Gone Baby Gone

She's gone again - but this time she's stayin' stateside. Amy left this afternoon when we got home from work. She's heading southwest to Crestonia to stay with the Wilsons for a night. That should be interesting! She don't know nothing 'bout no babies! And they have a new one.

My baby - when her hair was fiery red, and my original baby - Bucko

I'm afraid I was the same way. My sister Susi and Vicki Behr with daughters Leslie and Kelli were models for me before I had my own kids! I did very little babysitting as a child. Pity the poor fool that hired me! I remember staying at the Mormans (across the back yards) a couple times. I must have been a desperate last resort. The Mormans - Paul and ?, had older kids. I remember their son  - Paul Junior? He was out of the home I think when his parent decided to adopt a couple younger kids - Eric and Julie, who must have been 3 and 4 or so when I stayed with them. I was probably 12. I think I mostly wanted to play with their older brothers cool model train set! I never stayed with a baby.

I don't think I ever held a baby on purpose (somebody probably jammed one into my arms once or twice through the years) until really I started to pay attention to tiny humans - when Paul and I thought about having one. I held my adorable little niece Leslie when we went to Cindy and Bolder's wedding in Vail in August of 1984 - Les had been born a mere 4 weeks prior.

Kelli, another cutie, was born the next February, and we got to be around her a lot. Behrs still lived in Ames then, and the old college gang gathered frequently. I was pregnant by that time so I absorbed everything Behrs did with the tiny tot. I remember taking her to North Grand Mall with her little fold out stroller - Vic and I had a heck of a time folding the thing out properly. Novices! As much time as I spent around other babies - nothing is quite like having one's own. And nothing is as rewarding as those first few smiles!



Harper Wilson - smiling at her daddy

Amy will be amazed at the amount of "stuff" infants come with! I hope she and Stormy get some time together to just hang out too - maybe Harper will nap. I must admit, I still can't quite get my mind around Stormy as a mommy! I bet people thought the very same thing about me!

After she stays with Stormy, Kyle and Harper for a night, Amy is off to see my second baby, Jud and girlfriend Kara in Kansas City. Kara has a nice apartment near Zona Rosa. I think Jud is excited to entertain his sis for an evening. They will have fun - KC is a great city. Amy will take off Friday morning to head for Denver where a new adventure awaits - apartment and job-hunting. If you know anyone who needs a graphic designer - let us know! I hear apartments are hard to find too.

We'll miss her, but treasure the time we had together!  Last night we lucked out and hit half price cheesecake at the Factory! They introduced S'mores cheesecake, which A and P ordered. I stuck with my fave, Tiramasu.

The wedding was perfect

Congratulations to the beautiful bride and her handsome groom. A good time was had by all, as the recording secretary used to say in the 4-H minutes. Amy left Denver the Monday before the wedding and drove through North Dakota - to cross another state off her list of places.

She stayed with Kelli and Toby that week - and was their wedding planner, by all accounts. The wedding program she designed turned out quite nicely. The kid does have a knack for that kind of thing. She's a trained professional you know! Kelli arranged for her to have a nice manicure.

Paul and I left our place just after noon Friday. We stopped for a cup of coffee with sis Carol in Northwood - at the Welcome Area near the Diamond Jo casino. It was nice to see her and get caught up on the Meyers kids. Then we were off again!

Moose (Steve) and Kay Wilt were already set up in the Country Inn in Northfield. Kay was having issues. It was too strange for her to be in a motel in Northfield! They almost always stay with the Behrs when they visit their daughters Jaime and Alyssa who attend the U. That's the University of Minnesota for those of you who don't speak Minnesotan. Jaime just graduated and will attend Physical Therapy School this fall. Lis will be a sophomore. The girls had headed to the city for a concert that night.

My pretty girl



Kay with Vicki and her mom Barb

 





 

Once Jud and Kara arrived, the six of us walked to Northfield's beautiful downtown to eat. It was fun having Jud there! He hadn't seen the gang for a long time, and they'd not yet met Kara. In the morning, the guys played golf early and the gals went to Behr's house to see the whole female wedding party makeup thing. Vic's mom Barb and sister Krista were there - it was so nice to see them. Amy's hair was done and she looked so pretty. They all had robes on, but Vicki's was extra special - it was a Lorraine Lingerie robe my dad had given her.

Lauren, Kara, Alyssa, Jaime

Kara and Jud



Kara, Kay, Jaime, Alyssa and I all went shopping downtown after that. I found earrings made of recycled inner tube and steel wire. Cool! There is also an oil and vinegar shop there - you can taste before you purchase. Very funky. We ran into the guys by the river - they were done with their golf game. After a rest, it was time to get ready for the wedding!

 

We got there early and were seated where we should be - near the front like we're family, of course. Prime photo position. Very classy ceremony - harpist, no organ and no soloist. The dresses were very pretty and Kelli looked regal coming up the aisle. Toby looked radiant awaiting her. I snuck a photo in during the ceremony, and then got some good ones afterward. Steve and Ann Hauser had arrived from the cities - another one of our college gang. I knew Moose and Steve before I met Paul!

 

Of course I made the fam get a group photo.

 

Greeting line

Love this shot

 

 

The reception was fun, though I ate so much I couldn't really do all my good moves on the dance floor. Of course nobody could tell...The fun thing was the photo booth set up upstairs. I've not heard of that before. We got a photo of the "gang" - all the Behr, Wilt and Goldsmith kids. We stayed until midnight, before finally giving it up. The DJ quit then anyway. A light rain was falling as we walked back to the motel. I'm sure the newlyweds didn't mind...

 

On Sunday we stopped at Behr's house on our way out of town. Jud and Kara took off before we did. It was hard to say goodbye to Barb and Jon - Vic's parents. Who knows when I'll see them again? Hmmm maybe Kelli's sis Lauren will get married next! Anyway - it was a very good time. And it really made me miss my buddies. We didn't get enough quality time with Vic and Fred. Or Moose and Kay for that matter. They all need to come to DSM to see our new place. First - my sis Cindo is coming with Bonnie. On Friday. Yippy!

Kelli and Amy a while ago

 

Hope you're having fun on your honeymoon Kelli and Toby. What am I saying - of course they are - they're in Mexico. They're newlyweds.  

 



 





Kelli is getting married Saturday

Toby and Kelli

I've known her all her life - and before. Way back when Moose would yell - "BEER" into Vicki's belly. We did shots of some awful liquor at Moose's backyard party in Ankeny right before Vic found out she was pregnant with Kelli. Yet she still turned out okay. (Kelli...I'm still wondering about Vic (my college roomie) - those college years took their toll on both of us!)

Kelli is a great person and I'm sure she will be a beautiful bride. Amy has spent most of the week with Kelli and Toby, her fiancé. The two met on Match.Com - not the most romantic story in the world, but hey, what ever works! It turns out their grandparents are all from DeWitt, Iowa - so it's meant to be. Though he grew up in Minnesota, Toby is a Hawkeye fan...and Kelli - she was born in Ames and both parents have Iowa State degrees. She's a Cyclone! Her dad Fred is still somewhat of a closet Hawk fan though...so she can live in a "house divided".

For more information on the happy couple, check out their website: Toby and Kelli

She's a beautiful young woman today - but to me, Kelli, in some way will always be this kid. Look for wedding photos next week.

Kelli and Amy at Bemidji?

The girls at VEISHEA

 

Kelli's getting married, a tale of friendship

Kelli and Amy

I've known her all her life! Kelli Marie Behr has been the trial child of our college group. Parents Vicki (my college roomie) and Fred started with trial child kitty cat Cato. They didn't do so well with her. We blame Moose - he terrorized the cat and helped make her kinda psycho when she was in her formative months.

Kelli was the firstborn child that any of us had - born 8 months before Amy. So she was our model. Vicki and Fred lived in Ames back then, and all of us - Moose (Steve) and Kay, Jane, Hauser and others got together fairly often at their first home. I was soaking up all things "baby". I had the cat thing down - since I'd had Bucko before Behrs got Cato. I knew cats. Babies were foreign stuff to me - I hadn't done much babysitting, and knew practically nothing about them.

Thank goodness for the trial child, Kelli and Behrs to train us, or Amy might not have survived. I must also give a shout out to Dr. Spock - his book was my bible. Kelli was the perfect girlie child - never wanting to get dirty, pretty much potty training herself. Amy - not. I'll never forget the time we went to a little playground near Behr's home in Northfield, MN where they have lived for 26 years now. Amy was around 2 years old - sitting in the sand under the swings digging her hands around happily. Kelly had gotten her hands dirty and wanted to go home and wash them, of course. All of the sudden Amy's hand scooped sand into her mouth! My kid liked dirty hands AND eating sand. Great!

Amy and Kelli grew us as close as cousins - I love that! Vicki is one of my closest friends. For four years at Iowa State University we shared everything together, as close as friends can be. After that - of course we didn't see each other as much, especially when we got married and had kids. But not matter how long it has been, when we talk, the years fade away and we can pick up where we left off.

Amy and Kelli never roomed together, but they've known each other since birth. They experienced day camp at Bemidji when they were 6 or 7. They spent the 4th of July in Ridgeland, Wisconsin together for many years. The girls were the oldest and bossed the other kids around when they went to a sitter's while the parents attend ISU football games in Ames each fall. When Amy attended ISU, Kelli would visit - as she attended St. Olaf College in her hometown. Amy says their relationship is similar to mine and Vicki's - they can pick up right where they left off.

Amy was thrilled to be asked to be a bridesmaid in Kelli's upcoming wedding. Kelli will marry Toby Hoskins next Saturday. Our whole family will be there, along with Moose and Kay and their daughters Jaime and Alyssa - more cousin-like friends. Jud and Behr's daughter Lauren are also close in age, but because of the difference in interests and the fact that we didn't get together as much - they didn't bond with each other like Kelli and Amy. It's been a very long time since we had the whole Behr, Wilt, Goldsmith clan together. Add in the Hausers, maybe Hustons and Jane. It should be a blast!

Congratulations to Kelli and Toby. You will be surrounded with friends who love you.


Yesterday I ventured to the Des Moines Farmer's Market by myself to pick up a special wedding gift for Kelly and Toby. Paul was busy and I was on a mission. The morning was gorgeous!

Flowers outside Federal Courthouse

Footbridge across the over-full river

Excellence Brazilian band

Love people watching

Bike shop on my way back to the car - you can see the spokes of a big wheel bike

Hail, Hail

Some of the gang was all here - in Ames for the ISU vs. Kansas State game. While our beloved Cyclones weren't victorious over #5 KSU (despite some great opportunities), a good time was had, as usual when we get together with these oldie but goodie friends.

First of all, a real Cyclone was forecast weather-wise, at least earlier in the week. I think those weather forecasters are just bored and were excited to get Iowans jacked up about rain and wind. It did end up raining, but the weather gods smiled down as it only misted a bit at the beginning of the game and the sun even tried to pop out a couple times. The wind they forecast didn't really even amount to much.

Pablo and I got up early - to much-needed rain in Crestonia. We headed north, arriving just before 8 a.m. Diana and I jumped into cooked eggs and heating up sausage for breakfast burritos. Moose and Kay arrived first - they came in from Chicago, but drove over to Cedar Rapids the night before. Mike and Paula Huston arrived from the LaCrosse area next, with Behrs arriving from Northfield (Kelli and Toby from Mpls) right before game time - 11 a.m.

McKims were nice enough to give us their two tickets so Mike and Paula could attend the game - the others had tickets to sit on the grass (which despite the rain, was not soaking wet). So we got to catch up with the Hustons during the first half. Mike was the Best Man at our wedding and he and Paul will go pheasant hunting in SoDak soon.

It was so cute when we arrived later than usual at the game - the guy that sits right by us (I regret I don't know his name...) said, "where have you been? I've been worried about you!" Ahhh we're missed.

Vic - first buddy I met my frosh year!

At halftime, I headed down to sit with the gang. No, I couldn't see the game too well - but that was okay. It was fun chatting. It was Freddie B's Birthday! At one point, Kelli Behr (Vic's daughter, Amy's age who brought her fiance Toby - we finally got to meet him, and yes, he passed the test) said, "Just look at this - how great, how you all have stuck together - college friends." It's true! We are the lucky ones.

One thing that helped is that Mike Huston invited us to camp at his family's farm at Ridgeland, Wisconsin to go tubing on the Apple River. So we took him up on it...for 15 years. Through those years, we got married, became young parents, and bonded for life. Our kids grew up like cousins. So even though we eventually got busy with school activities and didn't see each other quite as often, Amy and Kelli have a "thing" like her mom and I. They can pick up right where they left off, whether it was a month since they talked, or six. And now Amy has the honor of being a bridesmaid in Kelli's wedding next June.

Kel and Amy

The Wilt girls, Jaime and Alyssa are like littler cousins to the Behr girls. They went on vacation together. Our kids don't know them quite as well...but Amy did stay at their place in Chicago once. And Jud...he's a guy so he didn't try as much to bond, you know how that goes.

After the game, Mary Morman and her husband Cary came up to hang out with us. She was Kay's roomie in college. I have hung out with her in DSM. I was sorry Vic and my roomie Jane (lives in Waukee) couldn't make it. And Sal - who lives in Oregon.

But I think it's pretty cool. Aren't friendships grand?

Shout out to my Baby Girl on her Day 'O Birth. Hard to believe it was 27 years ago that she popped out (was pulled out with forceps) but then again seems like she's always been with us. We couldn't ask for a finer daughter.

Love you Amy! And so glad to Jud and Kara were able to be with you on your day.