October 27, 1989

Dear Family and Friends,

This Aldrich update is being brought to you by:

Philip Craig Aldrich, born October 17, 1989 at Humana Hospital-Clear Lake, Webster, Texas. He weighed 9 lb. 11 oz. and was 21 1/2” long!

It's been an eventful summer and fall . . . We added 4 rooms and a bath onto our house; visited Orlando/Disney World/Epcot Center; went home to Iowa in July; I took a graduate credit class in Math; Oreo had 6 kittens; we got hit by Tropical Storm Allison and Hurricanes Chantal and Jerry; and I started the school year with six weeks until due date: Friday, October 13.

On that day, I told my (very relieved) principal that Monday would be my last day for awhile. (Tuesday, my students were to be going on a field trip to the fire station and I did not feel like bouncing around on a school bus at the time.) On Saturday, Jon finally started feeling better. He had endured mononucleosis for five weeks, missing lots of work, having lots of doctor visits and blood tests, and begging me not to have the baby until he felt better.

Monday I returned to work with the usual chorus of, “The Great Pumpkin is still with us!” and “Haven't you had that baby yet?” I bid a fond farewell to my students and my divinely provided substitute, and hurried down the Gulf Freeway to what turned out to be my last prenatal visit. Since we were already past the due date, we decided to induce labor on Wednesday, October 18, the 19^th anniversary of Jon and my first date . . .

Meanwhile, I worked all over my house on Tuesday, feeling somewhat guilty for “playing hooky.” The carpet layers were scheduled to put carpet in the new part of the house on Thursday, so I was doing finishing work on the banisters and rails for the stairway, laundry, sweeping and dusting . . . the never-ending batter when you add on . . .

By early afternoon, I was feeling uncomfortable . . . I'd work a while and then I'd have to rest. There were contractions, but I expected they'd go away like they had so many times before already. I spoke to Jon on the phone and told him I was feeling uncomfortable. He said that he'd be in a meeting later that afternoon and gave me the phone number of a secretary that could reach him “just in case.”

By 3:00 p.m., I noticed a change in my breathing, and began to get the feeling that things were getting serious. I decided if I was having a baby today, I'd better have a shower and get changed. My neighbor Ane called on the phone to see if her son Jordan was here with Aaron. They had just gotten home from school and had gone straight to the computer to play video games. I told Ane that I did not think I would make it to tomorrow and she kindly offered to take Aaron along with her children to their dental appointment.

When I called Jon's number, I got the answering machine. I called again and the secretary answered and said, “Mr. Aldrich is in a meeting, unless this is his wife.”

“This is his wife!” I said. She ran off at top speed to get Jon out of his meeting. A brief eternity later, he got on the phone and said, “Just wait there. I'll come and get you.” I told him, “IU am leaving NOW!” It was 3:45 p.m.

I tried to call my friend Vicki to see if she could drive me. Her line was busy and I decided I could not wait. I called me doctor, and the nurse said, “Come in to the office so we can check you.” I jumped into the Honda, sped to their office, and got checked. The nurse made a swift phone call to the hospital to tell them to GET READY!!

When I finally made it to the hospital parking lot (past a 4-way stop intersection), a nurse who was leaving the hospital asked me if I was going to make it. I told her I was going to have the baby right here in the parking lot! She called to a young man standing under the building to quickly bring a wheel chair. She proceeded to roll me with lightning speed to Labor and Delivery on the third floor. The expert nurses were ready. My doctor arrived momentarily.

I was in position on the birthing bed at 4:16 p.m. All I could hear in the back of my mind was Jon's, “Please don't have the baby without me!” Approximately 10 minutes later, in comes Jon (with video equipment) just in time to see the baby's head emerging. At 4:32 p.m., we had the rest of him, Philip Craig Aldrich -------- two and one half hours later, the San Francisco earthquake occurred.

Jon brought us home on Thursday, October 19th. Now Philip and I are enjoying learning about each other. He's had a bit of jaundice and has had to be kept under special lighting, but the Dr. expects this to last only a few days.

Jon is staying home with us this week to help get the room addition finished and Philip's nursery ready. Rachel and Aaron are very happy about their younger brother – but argue about whose turn it is to hold him.

We thank God for our new baby. We also thank the many family and friends that have called, sent notes, gifts, etc. during this time.

Thank you all very much!

Jon Craig, Sharon, Rachel, Aaron & Philip Aldrich