The much awaited month of December had finally come and Frances was getting closer to her due date, the 17th. On one cold, snowy day, she and Fred bundled up so they could go to her doctor's appointment.
"Why does Dr. Walker's office have to be at the very top of the hill?" Frances complained. "Of all the places to keep a stinkin' doctor's office! Why does it have to be at the TOP of the hill?...How in the world does he expect to get to his patients on a day like this?...Or have them come to him?...I mean, c'mon now!" She ranted and raved.
"I know, honey...Don't worry. We'll get there..." Fred said, trying to keep her as calm as he could, but it wasn't really working!
Just then, Dickey boy, the horse her parents had given them, made a complete stop and stood at the bottom of Walker Street.
"Oh NO! No way, Dickey boy!...I know Ma always did this, but not me!...Not in the middle of winter and certainly NOT while I am nine months pregnant!" She yelled at the horse. "I'm NOT getting out and leading you up this icy steep hill, you stupid horse!...YOU'RE supposed to lead us! Not the other way around!" Frances sat there, as the horse didn't move an inch, for a solid ten minutes, YELLING her lungs out at the lazy horse! "I can understand doing that in the summertime, but in the middle of winter? December! The COLDEST stinkin' month of all!...I am in no way even able to WALK all the way up the hill, you stupid horse!...I'm not doing this!" You see, years ago, Franziska Gilch Gruber, for one reason or another, would take trips up the hill with Dickey boy, and as the horse would stop at the bottom of Walker Street, Franziska would say to Frances, "Now watch this..." and she would get out and LEAD the horse by the reigns, all the way to the very top of the hill!
"Are you done yelling at the horse?" Fred asked, smirking and trying not to laugh.
Frances let out a frustrated breath..."Yes...I'm done."
"Don't worry...I'd NEVER make you walk up this hill in your condition...I'll get that horse to move one way or another!" Fred said determinedly and yelled commands and cracked the reigns. Finally, they started moving again, very s-l-o-w-l-y up the hill, and made it to the top where they saw the familiar sign, "Chester H. Walker , M.D."
"Thanks honey...I'm sorry I've been so grouchy!" Frances said, laying her head on his shoulder, and Fred put an arm around her.
"Its all right...I understand. I bet I'd do the same if I were in your same situation." Fred said, softly rubbing her arm.
"Want to come in with me?..." Frances smiled.
"Of course..." Fred smiled, got out and gently and carefully helped his wife down from the buckboard.
"Why hello Mr. and Mrs. Lay!...How are you feeling today, Frances?" Dr. Walker smiled.
"Fat n' sassy!" Frances replied, laughing.
"Well, after the baby...the weight will come off. Every woman's different. Some say it just melts right off...but stick to good eating habits and good exercise, and I'm sure it'll be no problem...as for your sassyness, Fred will have to take care of that one!" Dr. Walker laughed.
"Ha! Its a partnership, him and me...With my Pa and me...it was a dictatorship!" Frances laughed.
Dr. Walker laughed and guided her into the other room, with Fred waiting in the front room. He began to ask her questions and examine her. Everything was just fine with her and the baby, but Dr. Walker soon came to the conclusion that this baby wasn't quite ready to be born...on its due date, at least...but soon after that, he figured.
"Just have someone come get me when you think you're in labor...and I'll let my daughter and granddaughter know that you need them...I'll be there sometime after the baby is born...To check the baby over, take measurements and weight and such..." He smiled.
"Thank you, Dr. Walker."
"You're welcome...Now I hate to be the bearer of bad news...but I have something to tell you...I won't be the town's doctor any longer...My son-in-law is taking the job over...I'm going back to being a farmer. I miss my dairy farm."
"I understand...When will you be leaving permanently?" She asked.
"In a few months...Don't worry. I won't head off now!" He laughed. "You and that baby will probably be my last patients." He smiled.
Fred and Frances headed back down the hill, and instead of going home, they stopped at her parents' place. Franziska wanted her daughter with her in her last days...and possibly, last few weeks of her first pregnancy. The 17th of December soon came, her due date...and no baby! The 18th passed...and no baby. December 19th came and went...still no baby! The 20th of December had arrived and that night, Frances thought she might be in labor.
"Ma..." Frances said, walking out of the bedroom. "Could we get Dr. Walker...or Mrs. Clark and Helen? Somebody?" She asked very calmly.
"You think its labor?" Franziska smiled.
"Yeah, Ma...At first I thought I was having really bad backaches...but it feels different now. Are they contractions, Ma?" She asked...How was she to know? This was her first pregnancy! She never went through this before.
"I believe so, sweetheart...How bad do they hurt...and how far apart are they?"
"They don't hurt so much...Just feel like a little cramp. Like when I get my cycle...but then again, I'm pretty tough. I can take pain well."
"That you can..." Franziska said. "How many minutes apart are they?"
"About ten...maybe more. I'm not sure."
"Well, lets sit down in the rocking chair awhile and we can time them..."
Frances walked over and carefully lowered herself into the rocking chair.
"George?" Franziska called for her husband.
"Yeah?" George Sr. called from the kitchen. He was making himself a sandwich. He came into the front room with it, piled high with ham, cheese and all sorts of other things..."What's going on?" He asked, taking a bite.
"Put that sandwich down, George Michael!...Good Lord, is that all you do is EAT?...Go notify Dr. Walker or Dr. Clark...and then let Helen and her mother know we may need them tonight...It might be a good idea to let Fred know as well."
"Its..." Big George started to say.
"We think she is...Now go!"
George Sr. grabbed his hat and coat and headed out the door...He came back with Dr. Walker, and Fred as well, as quickly as he possibly could. Dr. Walker got all of his medical things and checked her over. Asking her questions.
"Have you passed your mucus plug yet?...Any bloody show? Anything like that?"
"Not that I know of...No sir. I've had a little discharge...but that's normal, right?"
"Yes...perfectly normal...Just let me know if it ever looks like anything out of the ordinary...Different coloration...foul odor. Could be a sign of a problem, is all...You don't have to worry though...Yours isn't, correct?"
"Yes sir, its normal."
"I just don't think this baby's quite ready to get here yet..." He laughed. "Give it some more time...Your body will know when its time, trust me...but this isnt it. The contractions you were feeling were most likely practice conractions...nothing to worry about. Just how God designed it to get your body ready for the real thing..."
"Thank you, Dr Walker...Sorry it was a...false alarm."
"That's quite all right...Its my job to see to my patients." He smiled. "See you in a few days, maybe."
"You all right, hon?" Fred asked, kneeling beside the rocking chair. His hand on hers.
"I'm fine...I really thought I was in labor! False labor, it was though...Sorry sweetheart."
"Want me to stay here for the rest of the night?"
"No, I'll be fine...You go on back home..." Frances smiled. "Get some sleep."
"You too..." Fred said and leaned in and kissed her goodbye. Said in German to her, "Ich liebe dich..." Which in English meant, "I love you..." and he went on home.
Christmas Day had come and gone and Frances STILL hadn't had her baby! It was the 26th and she was beginning to get annoyed...and a little bit worried...but mostly annoyed.
"Ma...This baby is 9 days overdue! I can understand a few days, but a week and two days already?...I just want to get this over with!"
"I know sweetheart...Your body will know when, and you're obviously not physically ready yet."
"I think I passed a little bit of my mucus plug a few days ago...it shouldn't be long now."
"That's a good way to be potsitive, sweetheart." Franziska smiled.
The 27th of December had come and Frances stayed in bed for quite awhile that morning...Her mother became a little worried about her...so she went into the bedroom to check on her. "How ya feelin'?"
"Horrible...I hurt all over Ma! I don't feel good at all..." She said, laying her head back on her pillow, her eyes closed.
"You just rest...Call for me if you need me, all right?"
"Okay...Thanks Ma." Frances smiled weakly.
"No problem..."
Sometime around midnight, Frances had gotten up out of bed, still dressed in her nightgown, though. She slowly walked into the front room and sat down in the rocking chair.
"You okay, sweetheart?" Her mother came and put an arm around her. Rubbed her arm a little. "How do you feel now? Did sleep help?"
"Not much...I feel the same." She titled her head back and had her eyes closed. Her mother noticed a grimacing look of pain on her face.
"Contraction?" Franziska asked.
"Yep..." Frances knodded. "I'm okay though." She tried to smile.
"Tell me when they get closer together and more intense..."
"I will,...don't worry!" She half-laughed. Frances was beginning to get a little scared, this being her very first pregnancy. She tried focusing on being calm...staying calm. She sat there for a few hours, with every 10 minutes or so, she felt pain in her back, and it came around to her abdomen in a wave-like sensation. Another one hit and the contraction stopped again and she let out a breath and felt her abdomen grow soft again. She sat there rocking in the rocking chair for awhile.
A little while later, she felt another...and then another one a few minutes later. Then they got a little stronger. Frances sat there rocking in the chair, her eyes closed and a look of pain still on her face. "Oh God..." She breathed.
"You all right?" Her mother asked.
"Yes Ma,...I'm fine. You know how it is...It just hurts." She said. "I'll be fine..."
"You're a trooper, all right." Franziska smiled...smoothing back wavy tendrils of her daughter's long reddish brown hair.
"Not feeling so trooper-ish right now, Ma...Good Lord, I hurt all over!" She whimpered, tilting her head back again.
"I know, but you're staying calm...that's good...Try and move around a bit...maybe that will help."
Frances got up and started walking around the room...She walked around the room for awhile. It didn't help.
"Ma, it makes it stronger!...It just makes the pain worse!" Frances cried, leaning against the wall. "Can't I try and lie down for awhile?"
"Of course you can..." She said. "Maybe it'll help a little."
Melania came into the room. "How are you feeling, Frances?"
"Like I'm in labor..." She stated. "I'm going into the bedroom to rest a little while."
"Come get us if you need anything..." Melania said.
"I will..." Frances replied and turned and went into the room and layed down for a few hours or so...
"Blizzard out there...Its really coming down now." Melania said. "Will Helen and her mother be able to get here in time?"
"I have no idea, Melania...I sent George out a few hours ago...to tell Fred and to let Mrs. Clark and Helen know she's in labor...He's probably stuck out there...If they don't get here in time, I'll have to deliver the baby."
"I'll help you...Whatever you need me to do. I'm here."
"Thank you...And George Jr. and John's here too...They'll be a big help as well..."
A while later, Frances came into the kitchen.
"Hey Sis, how ya doing?" John asked...he and Mary Jane were sitting at the kitchen table...There was breakfast on the table. Looks like George had made it, since he was at the woodstove.
"What time is it?" She asked, a little annoyed. "What day is it?"
"5:30 in the morning...December 28th..."
"Oh God..." She moaned. "Where's Ma? Or Melania?"
"In the next room..."
"Thanks..." Frances said and slowly walked into the next room.
"Hey...How are you?" Melania asked.
"Would you people stop asking me how I am?...I'm in labor to give birth to my baby. HOW am I supposed to feel?" She said, settling herself in the rocking chair. Her contractions had gotten much stronger and closer together. She was in a lot of pain...and couldn't do anything about it...except endure it. "I'm sorry I'm irritable."
"That's all right...We know how you feel..." Melania said.
"They're stronger, aren't they sweetheart?" Franziska said, noticing her daughter's painful expression on her face. Frances inhalled sharply and all she could do was knod, as tears were coming out of her eyes...She tried getting up again to walk around. "Oh Dear Lord!" Another contraction hit, and it had gotten stronger. Others followed minutes later. She tried making her way to the bedroom again, but her mother stopped her.
"Stay out here..."
"Can't I just go lay down, Ma?" She pleaded, tears falling down her cheeks.
"No, I think it would be better if you were out here. We'll, make up a place for you...George Jr.! John!" She called for her two grown sons...
"Yeah, Ma?" John called, sticking his head through the kitchen door.
"Go and get some straw and the blankets from the barn, please. Quick as you can..."
"All right...George!" John called for him, grabbed their coats and hats, and they rushed out.
"God, its really snowing now!" George Jr. exclaimed.
"Yeah!" John yelled through the icy, chilly wind..."C'mon! Lets get to the barn and get back as soon as we can!"
"All right!" George shouted back...and they made their way to the barn, got the blankets, and tried to find their way back to the house, snow and wind whipping at their faces, it was hard to see correctly...but at last they made it back...
Melania and Franziska got things ready and made up a 'bed' in front of the fireplace.
"Ma! I can't have this baby on the floor!"
"You can and you will!...Frances, we're in the middle of the coldest blizzard this year! That room is drafty and I don't want you getting sick!...You'd be better out here...We can use the fire for warmth and it'll keep you calm..."
"I guess I don't have a choice...Do I?" Frances said...making her way over to them..."Ma..." She said, in a slight panic.
"Yes?"
"My water just broke..."
"Are you sure?...Gushing...or just a trickle?"
"Gush...and it feels like it just keeps on coming!..."
Melania and Franziska got Frances to lay down before the fireplace, well, she was half lying down...
"George Jr...John...I need y'alls help. Get down beside her..."
"Yes Ma." George Jr. said and he got down on one side, with John on the other, supporting their sister.
"Ma, I can't let my brothers see me giving birth!" She wailed.
"They're going to have to!...I need all the help I can get! Plus if they need to hold you down."
"Hold me down!" She shouted...Frances REALLY was panicking now. Which made the pain even worse!
"Oh God, it hurts!" Frances wailed..."Ma, it hurts!...It hurts! Oh GOD, what have I gotten myself into?"
"I know it hurts...but you need to stay calm, Frances..."
"I can't!" She wailed.
"Yes you can...Now calm yourself!"
A strong contraction came again..."Damn this!...Damn this to HELL!" Frances sobbed.
George and John looked at her shocked.
"Frances!" John said, looking at her wide-eyed.
"What?" She snapped at him.
"You swore!"
"You're damn right I did!" She shouted. "And your point is?" Frances asked through clenched teeth.
"You NEVER swear!" George Jr. exclaimed.
Frances grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him towards her, so he was inches away from her face.
"If YOU...were experiencing...the pain I'm in right now...You'd understand!" Frances growled.
"Okay, Frances has mastered the word damn! What's next? The F word?"
"Shut. Up. John..." Frances said, breathing heavily. "All my life...you've been my favorite brother...and NOW you choose to be annoying!"
"Frances, ignore them...You need to concentrate."
"I am, Melania!"
"Just calm down, sweetheart..." Franziska said. "Melania...help me get her on her side, a different position will help."
"Easy...Easy now..." Melania and Franziska helped Frances lay down on her left side. Another strong, painful contraction came, and Frances gripped the blanket and tried biting it to keep from screaming from the pain. But still, soon the pain became quite hard to bear, and she would scream and cry and moan into the blanket. "My dear Lord, this HURTS!" She screamed.
"Frances, you're doing fine...You just need to calm yourself." Franziska said, soothing her daughter.
"I don't feel like I'm doing fine, Ma." She cried. "I'm in pain!..."
"I know, honey...I know you are."
"Ma...it hurts to have a baby...Doesn't it." 10 year old Mary Jane said to her mother. She was sitting at the kitchen table...a sheet was put up for privacy, but you could hear EVERYTHING coming from the next room.
"Yes...It does. But its worth the pain...You'll understand when you have a baby of your own someday..."
A small child-like panic hit young Mary Jane. "I don't want to have a baby..."
"You'll change your mind when you're older...They always do."
"Did you, Ma.?"
"Yes...I did." She smiled, holding her daughter and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"I'm scared for Aunt Frances...Will she be okay?"
"She'll be fine, sweetheart...Don't you worry."
"Here honey...drink a little water." Franziska said, lifting the glass of water to her daughter's lips.
Frances layed her head back and rested awhile, until again, she felt a strong contraction. It got to the strongest part of it, and Frances wasn't talking so much anymore. Her desire to do so was becoming less and less. The contraction had ended and Frances went back to talking a little...
"Where's Fred?..." She asked, tears staining her cheeks. "I want my husband..."
"With your father...Don't worry, they're safe. You just focus on you right now."
"Why isn't Dr. Walker here?...Or Mrs. Clark and Helen?"
"They couldn't make it on account of the blizzard, remember..."
"Oh..." She said between another contraction..."Right..." She breathed out deeply.
"Its all right, hon...Your Ma knows what to do..." Franziska smiled.
"Here, drink some more water..." John said, lifting the glass to her lips, and Frances took a sip if it.
"You don't have to be scared, sweetheart...I know what I'm doing...I've delievered a few babies in my time...and I been in actual labor 5 times in my life..."
Frances closed her eyes as she felt another contraction...She didn't say a thing, but the same painful expression was still etched on her face, and her nails dug into John's knee. She exhalled deeply again as the contraction had ended. They were getting closer and closer together and stronger and stronger...Sometimes with double peaks. Frances almost couldn't stand it, but she just had to lay there and endure it!
After hours and hours of being in labor, tears streamed out of her eyes as she lay on her back again..."Ma!...I can't...I can't do this anymore!" She lay there shaking in front of the fire, breaking out in a cold sweat. John and George Jr. took turns dabbing her face and neck with a cloth. "I'm in front of a blazing fire,...and I'm freezing!"
"I know...It won't be long now...Just hang in there, sweetheart..."
"Ma, I feel like I'm going to throw up!"
"I know..."
"My legs are shaking!" She cried.
"George Jr...John. Get a hold of her..." Franziska commanded and they grabbed Frances's knees and thighs...and held her.
Frances felt her body ready to start to push...but her mother told her to wait awhile. "Not yet...Give it some time...All its going to do is tire you out..."
Frances later felt another contraction...and then five minutes or so later, another one...and then nothing.
"Ma, they're spreading out again...No,...now I think they've stopped..."
"I know...Just rest and be thankful, sweetheart."
Frances layed her head back again, breathed deeply and rested awhile...until a few mintues later, she felt another contraction and the urge to push again.
"How much longer?" Frances wailed. "I don't know if I can take this much longer, Ma!"
"I know...It shouldn't be long now...I think you're about ready. Just hang in there...You can do it!"
Moments later, Frances felt another strong urge to push, and she started to, but stopped.
"Go on!...You were doing fine!"
Frances held her breath and started to push again...she let the breath out and her chest heaved as she gasped for more air.
"You did so well, sweetheart!" Franziska exclaimed...Frances leaned her head against John's shoulder and breathed again for awhile.
"Another one!...Wonderful! You're doing wonderful!...C'mon...another one!"
Frances beared down once again, held her breath and pushed.
"Ma, this is taking forever!" She said, breathlessly.
"I know it seems that way...Just hang in there, you're doing just fine..."
She pushed again, and let out a scream at the end.
"That's fine! Yell if you have too!"
Frances started laughing...and tears came again. "I have to do something!" Frances leaned her head back again and breathed awhile and felt the urge to push again, and so she did. Later, she did again, and yelled out in pain...She pushed once more...rested...and then later pushed again, screaming through it. She layed her head back again on one of her brother's chest and breathed heavily again...and rested awhile.
"Where's Fred?" Frances questioned. "I want him!...I want my husband..."
"You worry about you..."
"I want him here, Ma!" She started sobbing.
"He can't...And I want you to focus on you right now, Frances!" Franziska snapped at her.
Frances took a breath and felt the urge to push again. She did and then rested awhile, until she pushed again, minutes later.
"Why is it taking so long?" She wailed. "I want this to be over!" Frances shouted.
"I know...I know, sweetheart. It's almost over...Hang in there."
"I don't know if I can!" She wailed.
"Yes you can!...Don't doubt yourself!" George felt himself slipping, so he and John got a better grip on her.
Frances held her breath and pushed again.
"I can see the head...Honey, its almost over...Its almost over! You're almost done." Franziska exclaimed. "The baby's head is beginning to crown now!"
"What does that mean?" John asked.
"The widest part of the baby's head is starting to pass through her...Well, you know!" She shouted.
"Oh..." He said, straining his neck to see... but George Jr. was beginning to feel woozy.
"George Jr...don't you dare faint on me!" His mother said.
"Sorry Ma." He gulped. "I just don't know if I can take the sight of this..."
"Man up!" John told him.
"Melania! I need those hot compresses now! Or she'll tear!..." Franziska called. Melania rushed into the room with them, and handed them to Franziska...and she applied them.
"The baby's head is crowning!" Franziska exclaimed.
"Ma, I feel like I'm on fire!...Like I'm being torn in two!" Frances yelled.
"I know...You're not tearing, you're perfectly fine! Just stop pushing now..."
Frances did as her mother told her.
"Just relax..."
"I'm trying, Ma!" Frances said.
"The baby's head is out!" George Jr. exclaimed.
"Oh God..." John said, now he felt like he was going to pass out!
"John...I can't have you fainting on me now! First George Jr.? Now you?"
John did his best to stay strong...but it was hard for him.
"I never fainted!...I only felt woozy!" George Jr. exclaimed.
The baby began to turn to work its little shoulders through, and Franziska helped it along..."The shoulders are out!"
"Just one more push, Frances...One more strong push and it'll be all over! All over!" Franziska coached. "You can do it!...I know you can!"
Frances mustered up all the strength she could, and pushed her baby out the rest of the way, immediately feeling a large gush of the rest of the amniotic fluid. Moments later, Frances soon lost herself in a sea of joyful tears when she heard her baby cry for the very first time! It wasn't so loud, but you could tell the baby had a good set of lungs!...Frances tilted her head back on George Jr.'s shoulder again and cried.
Franziska laughed. "Look's like this baby's a little sneak! Its legs are together...How are we to know what this little one is, huh?"
Frances laughed and smiled...with tears still falling from her eyes.
Her mother chuckled and spread the baby's little legs so she could see what it was. Her eyes went wide. "Boy!...Its a boy!"
"A boy!...Oh my word,...A BOY!" Frances kept saying over and over, and went back to crying her happy tears once more. "Let me hold him...Skin to skin!...My boy!" Frances smiled, and her mother lowered the baby onto his mother's chest, as Frances shifted the fabric of her nightgown away...Sure he was still covered with blood and other fluid and was all slimey, but he was HER baby. That was all that mattered to her that moment. "My boy." She said again and smiled. "I just can't believe it!" There she went back to crying again...she couldn't help it. She had a right to be emotional! "My boy..."
"We're uncles!" George Jr. and John hugged each other.
Franziska chuckled at her sons. "Boys...one of you check the time and date..."
George Jr. and John immediately looked at their watches..."Its 3:30 a.m.!...December 29th!" They both said at once.
"So many long, hard hours..." Franziska stated.
"I don't care...It was well worth it!" Frances said, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was glad to FINALLY hold her baby. Frances chuckled as she began to nurse him..."Looks like he has no trouble latching on! He's hungry..."
They waited a few minutes for the placenta to be delivered, Franziska cut the baby's umbilical cord, cleaned him up and wrapped him in a blanket and brought him back to Frances. "Have you thought of what to name him?"
"Fred George Lay..." She smiled. "I could never decide on a middle name...Until now."
"Fred after Pa...George after Grandpa." Her mother smiled.
"What about his uncle?...I'm George too, you know!" George Jr. laughed.
John, George Jr., and Franziska all started laughing...even Frances was...a little.
"Can we come in now? Mary Jane would like to see the little one..." Melania poked her head through the sheet. She's been up for hours...she couldn't get to sleep."
"I'm so sorry, Melania...I didn't mean to keep her up. Did I frighten her?"
"She was worried for you, yes...But don't you worry, Frances. Besides, the girl needs to find things out like this someday."
"But she's so young..." Frances said.
"Yes, I know...She's only ten, but she's quite mature for her age. She'll be all right." Melania reassured her. "Can she come in?"
"Of course." Frances smiled. Melania pulled back the sheet and Mary Jane walked in, dressed in her nightgown and nightcap. She walked over and kneeled down next to Frances.
"Meet your new cousin...Fred George Lay." Frances smiled, pulling back the blanket a little so Mary Jane could see his little face better.
"He seems so tiny..." Mary Jane smiled, gazing at him. She watched as he opened his little mouth in a yawn...and she caught a flash of a baby-blue eye. Mary Jane smiled with glee.
Frances chuckled a little. "He's winking at you, Mary Jane!"
"Looks like he'll be a little heartbreaker when he's older..."
"Oh Ma..." Frances laughed. She looked at her neice, exhausted. "Would you like to hold him?" Frances smiled.
"Oh no, I couldn't!" Mary Jane said. "I'm too afraid!"
"Don't be..." Frances smiled and shook her head.
"Can I, Ma?" Mary Jane smiled up at her mother.
"Only for a moment...I don't want you getting your germs all over that baby..."
"He'll be fine..." Frances said. She carefully passed him over and into Mary Jane's arms. "Just hold him...Support his head like that...There you go!" Frances smiled. "See? Nothing to be scared about...You're a natural, Mary Jane!"
"Don't get too excited...You won't be having your own for another ten years or so, Mary Jane..." Melania layed a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"I'd be 20! I'd be old enough!"
"Get yourself a husband first..." Melania smiled. "Now, give that little one back to his Ma and let her get some rest!"
"Grandma will take care of that..." Franziska smiled, taking the baby from Mary Jane..."Now, you just get some sleep, Frances..." She looked over at her daughter, and saw she had already knodded off.
"Poor girl had quite a hard time with this one,...no wonder she's exhausted." Franziska said, gazing down at her daughter, lying there...still looking like a precious angel...like she did when she fell asleep when she was a young girl. "She's strong though...Did well." Franziska said to herself.
Just then, the door flew open and in rushed Big George...along with Fred, Dr. Walker and Dr. Clark.
"Sorry, we got lost in the blizzard!" Fred gasped. "What day is it?"
"The 29th..." Franziska smiled...and Fred noticed she was holding a small bundle in her arms.
"She had the baby...What is it? Boy or girl? What is it?" Fred asked excitedly...and glanced over and saw her on the floor by the fireplace. "How is she?"
"She's just fine...Let her sleep, she's exhausted." Franziska said. "It'll give you time to get acquainted with this new little one..." She smiled. "Meet your son...Fred George Lay." She carefully slid the baby into Fred's arms.
"Gosh, I'm nervous!...Never held a baby before!" Fred smiled widely, looking down at his new son. He was overjoyed, and terribly nervous at the same exact time!
"You're doing fine, don't worry..." His mother-in-law said. "Just hold his head up a little more...That's it." Franziska smiled.
Fred carefully ran a hand over the baby's full head of light reddish-brown hair. All he could do was smile...it was like he couldn't wipe it off his face! He was so proud.
"Well, lets get this baby weighed and measured, shall we?" Dr. Walker smiled, with his son-in-law, Dr. Clark assisting. "You recorded the date and time when he was born, didn't you, Franziska?"
"Yes sir...3:30 A.M., Saturday morning, December the 29th..." She smiled.
Dr. Walker weighed and measured little Fred George, with Dr. Clark recording everything. "I'd say...8 pounds, 9 ounces...22 inches long...On Saturday, the 29th of December...3:30 A.M...assisted by Franziska Gilch Gruber."
Franziska beamed with pride watching them with her new grandson...
"Well done, Grandma!" Dr. Walker smiled. "Delivered a heathly and right handsome little boy."
"Thank you, Dr. Walker...Dr. Clark." She knodded to both of them and turned to her husband. "George?...How about you go up to the attic and get John's old crib."
"That'll do for now...I'll be getting around to make one for him soon..." Big George said. "C'mon George Jr. or John. We'll head up and get it." Big George and John headed upstairs.
"I've some of the boy's old baby clothes up in a trunk up there too! Could you bring that down too?" Franziska called up to them. "George Jr. go help them..."
"Sure Ma." Little George headed upstairs to them attic. They soon came down with the crib and trunk.
"Set it down somewhere, please." They did and she layed baby Fred George in the cradle.
"Ma?" Frances whispered, waking up a little.
"Hey beautiful..." Fred whispered.
"Fred...You're here." She smiled.
"I know I'm too late...I'm sorry, honey." Fred said, smoothing her hair.
"You couldn't help it..." Frances said weakly. "I understand."
"Did you see the baby?" She smiled, looking up at him.
"Yeah." He smiled at her, and leaned forward and kissed her softly. "He's wonderful...He's ours."
Frances smiled at him and tears began again..."We made that...God made that...but He used us to do it, Fred."
"I know...Its mind-boggling, isn't it?" Fred smiiled at her and looked over at the cradle and then looked back at her. "How are you feelin', huh?"
"Sore...Really sore and tired...but I'll be fine."
"Get some sleep..." He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
A/N: I made a little mistake before! Mr. C.H. Walker was not a doctor at all, but he was the proprieter of Walker's Dairy... It was his son-in-law, who's last name was Clark...he was the guy who was the dentist...but that's how awesome fanfiction is! You can mold certain things in, change the story here and there. I had someone say to me once, "So you're basically rewriting history?" and I told her, "No...Not really, because it never actually happened in real life! Just in my story it did..." Behold, the power of fanfiction! lol. :)
The little story about Franziska Gruber and Dickey boy is true! Too cute and funny!
Fred G. Lay, known as Freddie by his mother, was born on December 14th, 1912. I did not know this at the time of writing.
