August had passed and it was now the end of September. The 30th, Fred's 27th birthday to be exact...What Frances thought was strange was that she kept having more fainting spells all through the month of August and into the next month...She never fainted before! So figuring something might be wrong with her, she decided to make an appointment with Dr. Clark. She had Freddy all ready one morning so she could take him to her brother and sister-in-law's place. Fred was just about to walk out the door to go to work at the iron factory.

"Bye sweetheart." He said, giving her a kiss. "I'll be back before suppertime."

"Are you sure you don't want to take something along? I can make you something, you know."

Fred chuckled. "No need, hon. You know I don't eat lunch!...Just make sure supper's hearty." He grinned, winking at her.

"Like it never is!" She smiled at him, a hand on one hip as she had Freddy on the other. "I feed you pretty well! You've put on ten pounds since we've been married!"

"Mostly muscle." He grinned.

Frances tapped his torso. "I think there's a little bit more than muscle there, honey." She laughed.

"Like I said...mostly." He laughed. "All thanks to your good cooking."

Frances laughed and closed her eyes as she kissed her husband. "Love ya." She whispered and smiled at him.

"I love you, too...I've got to get going..." He gave her another kiss. "Goodbye."

Frances grabbed him by the arm and gave him one last kiss..."Never say goodbye..." She whispered. "For you and me, its always...'See you later.'" She smiled.

Fred gave her a crooked smile. "See you later, then." He whispered, gave her a quick peck on the lips and went on to work.

Frances look down at little Freddy. She smiled and pressed her forehead against his. "Well,...are you ready to go to Uncle Joe and Aunt Nona's?" Freddy smiled and let out a little squeal that made Frances laugh. "C'mon, let's go then..." So she walked, while balancing Freddy on one hip, over to Joe and Nona's house. She set Freddy down on the floor, to which her brother Joe went right on over and played with Freddy and kept him occupied, while Frances took a few minutes and talked awhile with her sister-in-law.

"Thanks so much for watching him while I'm at my appointment, Nona..."

"You're welcome...and I hope everything's okay. You' ve had me worried with those fainting spells of yours."

"I don't think anything's wrong, Nona...but the fainting spells had me worried too, a little. Last Tuesday, my goodness...It was the worst! I had just picked up a jar of mandarin oranges, the Chu's you know, who immirgrated here from China gave the mercantile a huge shipment and I thought I should try them, and anyway, the next thing I knew, I was flat on my back on the mercantile floor! It was so embarrassing, because everyone was standing over me, just staring at me! I think that Mr. Royce picked me up and got me to Dr. Clark's office...He was so worried about me, I guess I scared him!"

"Its a good thing it happened there, and not while you were with Freddy..."

"Yes...And I don't what I'd do if it did!"

"You still have that sick feeling too?"

"More than just a feeling, Nona! I've been throwing up...I didn't want to tell Fred, I didn't want to worry him...I just thought it was a flu bug or something..."

"Isn't it?" Nona asked.

"I'm not so sure...but I'll find out today. Well, I guess I better get going.."

"Right, you wouldn't want to be late."

"Let me just say goodbye to Freddy and I'll be gone." She walked over to Joe who was on the floor playing with 9 month old Freddy.

"Bye-bye sweetheart. Mama's going now...I'll be back soon." Frances said, giving Freddy a few little kisses and hugs goodbye. She got up, and walked back over to Nona. Freddy knew she was leaving, and so he started crying. Big crocodile tears seeped out of his little brown eyes. They had changed from baby blue to deep brown in the last few months. It happened so fast that Frances wasn't so sure when they did change!

"I'm sorry, he's been going through some separation anxiety lately."

"How bad?"

Frances sighed. "Pretty bad...If it gets so you can't handle him, come get me." Frances started tearing up as she saw her 9 month old crawling over to her, bawling his little eyes out. "I hate seeing him like this..."

"I can imagine..." Nona said..."Well, you've got to get to that appointment of yours, Frances."

Frances knodded and smiled at her sister-in-law. "Thanks, Nona...I know he'll be fine. He'll be with you. He knows you well enough." And with that, Frances walked out the front door, though still hearing her son bawling his little eyes out. It broke her heart and she started crying as she walked the road to Dr. Clark's office. She made it up the hill to Walker Street and spent sometime outside the doctor's office and got a hold of herself soon and walked into Dr. Clark's office for her doctor's appointment. Frances told him the symptoms she had been having and he examined her.

"I thought that was what it was, Dr. Clark...I had all the symptoms, but you know, I just wanted to be sure. It was interesting, my symptoms were completely different! My first, I had no morning sickness...this one, I'm always so sick! And exhausted!...If I am pregnant that is, you still haven't told me for sure." Frances said, as she was behind the changing screen, putting her tan skirt and blouse back on.

"Well, your calculations were in fact correct, Mrs. Lay...You're definately pregnant again." He smiled. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, Dr. Clark." Frances smiled as wide as could be.

"And as for your previous pregnancy symptoms being different from this one..." He began to say and paused, and then he spoke low and with a smile..."Every pregnancy is different...Well, looks like I'll be seeing you more often from now on...I'll make sure to let my wife and daughter know of your good news, okay?...Maybe they'll be able to make it for the birth this time." He chuckled.

"Well, my due date won't be in winter, in the middle of the coldest blizzard Dubuque has ever seen, this time around, will it?" Frances giggled.

"No...since you're due in April."

"What day do you think? I just want to be sure." She smiled.

"The later part of April. In the 20's I'd say."

"Thank you, Dr. Clark." Frances said, shaking his hand, paying him and went her way.

Frances was walking back to Joe and Nona's place to pick up Freddy so they could go home...She was thrilled to find out she was pregnant again! And yet, the doubts started setting in.

"How's Fred going to take this? Will he be happy?...He was when I was expecting Freddy...but with me getting pregnant so soon again? Oh, I just don't know!...Freddy's coming up on his 1st birthday in December! He's going to start walking soon...goodness, he'll be into everything! I can't be constantly chasing after him!...While being pregnant on top of that! I've been so sick lately! That's going to make things even worse!" Frances was talking to herself as she was walking back to Joe and Nona's. "What in Heaven's name are you saying, Frances? You were strong in your first pregnancy and you'll be strong in this one too! You can do this!"

Frances walked on back to Joe and Nona's place so she could pick up her son.

"How did the appoinment go, Frances? Any good news?"

"Very good news...but my lips are sealed." Frances grinned.

"No fair!...What a mean sister-in-law you are!" Nona joked with her.

"Yes, but you put up with me don't you?" She laughed.

"Oh we try!" Joe laughed..."I know it was hard growing up with you, sis!"

Frances smirked. "I think it was the other way around, my dear brother." She laughed.

Joe gave little Freddy back to her. "Thank you...Was he good?"

"He was adorable!...Did just fine with the separation anxiety. Joe got him to quiet down almost immediately."

"Wasn't just me...I caught him sucking on that little thumb of his. That was part of it." Joe said.

"Well, what did you do?" Frances asked.

"He sang him "Pop, Goes The Weasel!" Nona laughed at her husband..."I'm sorry Joe, but you can't carry a tune in a bucket to save your life!" She laughed, but put her arms around her husband of one year and a month...and she kissed him.

"Nevertheless, I'm sure he enjoyed it." Frances giggled. "He LOVES that song!"

"Joe had so much fun with Freddy!" Nona smiled...and glanced at her husband. "Loved hearing him babble and that cute little laugh of his! Its almost like he's starting to say something!...I enjoyed him being with us too, Frances. We lined up the suppertable chairs together and just watched him stand up and try to walk against them...He's so cute!"

Frances smiled. "He's been doing that a lot at our house too...The other day he tried standing up by himself without holding on to anything. He fell down and didn't try again yet, the poor boy."

"Oh my..." Nona laughed..."He'll try again I'm sure."

" Yes...Oh, and judging by the fact that Joe had such a good time with him, he'll make a great Papa someday...you just watch." Frances smiled. "And something tells me you two can't wait to have kids."

"In a few years!" Joe exclaimed. "Say five years from now...or more!" He said, going upstairs.

"He doesn't want kids?" Frances questioned.

"No...He doesn't..." Nona sighed. "Not so soon anyway. He wants to make sure we're ready."

"Well, you've done wonderful with Freddy!...I think you'll make wonderful parents someday."

"I'm sure you want kids, don't you?" Frances smiled, touching her sister-in-law's arm.

"Of course I do!...I love babies...and little kids! They're cute when they're that little! Freddy's age and older I mean...Oh, but I can see how Joe is thinking. I want to be ready for this too...don't want to just jump into it, you know!"

"Good for you...Don't rush it. You'll have a lot of time for this...Besides, these are the happiest years of your life."

"Very true...Well, I'll let you get on home." Nona smiled.

"Bye Nona..." Frances smiled and gave her sister-in-law a hug. "Can you wave bye-bye to Aunt Nona? Huh Freddy?...Wave bye-bye!" She smiled as she saw her 9 month old son wave. "Well, I'll see you Sunday in church, okay Nona?"

"Of course!" She smiled. "Bye now."

Frances took Freddy home and put him in her sitting room to play and then she went into the kitchen to get started on supper. She decided she was going to make Fred's favorite meal, it being his birthday today. She worked for a few hours getting supper on the table, with every now and then going into her sitting room to check on Freddy. She was in the kitchen when she heard Fred walk through the back door and felt his arms around her waist.

"Hello there." She laughed and moved her face toward his so he could kiss her on the lips.

"Somethin' smells good in here..." Fred said as he leaned in closer to her and started smelling her hair and near her neck and shoulders..."Lavender...mmmmm. Is that what I smell...or?..." His eyebrows furrowed. "Porkchops and mashed potatoes?...I smell that too." He laughed.

"Well, it is your birthday today...I wanted to make your favorite meal." She smiled.

"Oh, even mushroom gravy...Special, eh?" He said, dipping a spoon in the gravy and tasting a little.

"Yes! Now get out of that, or we won't have enough!" She laughed. "Besides...its your day and I wanted to make sure it was special." Frances said, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck as they kissed.

"Seems special already." He smiled.

"It is and its all ready...Sit down, okay?" She whispered. "I figured to have supper ready early since its your day."

"All right." He smiled at her at took a seat at their little kitchen table. Frances proceeded to set a plate full of two pork chops, drizzled with the gravy as well as a good sized portion of the mashed potatoes on the table. She also set down a tall glass of milk for him.

"Talk about special treatment." He grinned, and placed his hands on her arms and she leaned down and kissed him again.

"Its your special day." She smiled.

"Aren't you going to eat too?"

"Of course..." She smiled and sat down next to him, they prayed and began to eat their meal.

"So...how is everything?" Frances smiled.

"Wonderful...just wonderful, honey." He replied, taking a bite of a porkchop.

"And the mashed potatoes?"

"Oh, they're great."

"Not too much butter or salt on them?"

"They're perfect."

"Good...I'm glad."

There was a moment of silence until Fred spoke up. "Um...I've got a little bad news to tell you, sweetheart."

"What's wrong?" Frances asked, concerned.

"Don't get yourself uptight, okay!"

"Fred, I'm not!..." Frances almost laughed. "Just tell me..."

"They're laying folks off at the iron factory...John and I being two of them..."

"Oh no!"

"Now calm down! Don't worry...I've found another job! Pays better money too."

"That's good, we'll need the money."

"We always need money." Fred sighed.

"I know..." Frances said quietly. "Um, where will you be working then?" She asked.

"The Star Brewing Company..."

"Fred...you know I don't like that idea of you working at a place like that."

"Hey now, its not like I'm going to drink! That part of my life is over, honey. These lips haven't touched any alcohol since I was 20. I promise you, I won't go back to drinking...I'm serious! That's over for me now, I had one bad hangover, JUST ONE, and I thought, 'I'm NEVER doing this again'...and I haven't."

"I very proud of you, really, I am sweetheart,...but why take the job in the first place?"

"Because...it pays good money. Money we need." He said, swallowing the last of his supper.

Frances sighed. "I can't force you to do something or not to do something...Plus we do need the money. I do understand that."

"So it's settled then?" Fred asked.

"Yes...If you must." She smiled and changed the subject, while clearing the dishes. "Did you have a special day, then?"

"The most." He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Here, I'll take those, honey." Fred said, and took them from her and put them in the washtub.

"You know honey, there's more special days coming up soon." She smiled and began to watch the dishes.

"Yup...Freddy's 1st birthday in December, your 20th birthday in May...and our 2nd anniversary in April. See, I remembered!" Fred grinned and came behind her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"That's not all that's in April, honey." She smiled slightly.

"Gee...I can't think of anything! Am I forgeting something?" He asked, with his eyebrows furrowed.

"No!" Frances laughed. "No, you're not forgeting a thing!"

"Well, then what's coming up in April besides our anniversary?"

"Ummm, well,...I went to Dr. Clark's for a little checkup today. Just to check something out."

"Are you okay? Do I need to be worried or anything?"

"No...I'm perfectly fine." Frances smiled. "I'm pregnant again is all."

"You're what?" He asked, and she turned around and saw a smile on his face.

"You heard me, didn't you?" She grinned.

"Yes, I heard you!" Fred smiled. "I just can't believe it!"

"Now, why would I joke about a thing like this, Fred John?" She asked, looking at him, with her hands on her hips.

"Oh, you know what I mean!" Fred smiled, pulling her into and embrace and kissed her. Frances let herself go and kissed him back and ran her fingers through his hair and eventually let her hands fall on his back and rubbed his whole back. "How far along are you?" He asked her.

"Two months, Dr. Clark said." She whispered in between giving him a more passionate kiss.

"Oh, I love you!" Fred said, kissing her.

"I love you, too." She whispered, looking up at him and she leaned in and began to give him another kiss.

"Oh my!...Oh my, I'm so, SO sorry!" The back door had flown open, Frances turned her head back and both were staring at the opened back door...and there stood Franziska, totally shocked and embarrassed at seeing the two. "My word! At the rate you're going, you two will be saying you're giving me another grandchild! My goodness!...I'm surprised you haven't already!"

Fred grinned down at her and gave a look like, "Do you want to tell her now?"

Frances smiled up at him and placed another kiss on his lips...and left his embrace and went to her mother.

"Ma..." Frances smiled and grabbed her mother's hands. "I do actually have something to tell you."

"Yes..." She stated.

"Ma...Sometime in late April...there's going to be a new addition to our family. I'm pregnant again!"

"Oh my goodness! How wonderful!" Franziska smiled hugging her daughter. "How far along are you?"

"Two months." She beamed. "Remember the fainting spells I was having?"

"Yes, you scared me to pieces!...The one time in church, my Lord, I thought it was just that darn heat!"

"And what about when the barn burned down?" Fred questioned.

"Well, I guess it was just the start of it all...and wasn't just my nerves, and I just didn't know!...Sometimes, you just don't know...And boy, I sure didn't know!" Frances chuckled. "And, I also was having morning sickness...BAD morning sickness...I thought it was just a bad case of the flu or something, well, I guessed wrong!" She laughed.

"My stars, here sit down and rest yourself!" Franziska exclaimed pulling out a chair.

"Ma! I'm fine!" Frances laughed. "I'm perfectly fine!...So what did you come here for, Ma?"

"Oh, I don't know! For a cup of flour or something!"

"Okay..." Frances went and got a wooden measuring cup and filled it with flour and brought it to her mother. "Here you are."

"Oh, set that down on the table! I can get it later!...I have to tell all the family of your wonderful news!" Franziska said, racing out the back door. Fred looked at Frances, Frances looked at Fred and both ran to the back door...and both saw Franziska running up the road as giddy as a little schoolgirl!

"Ma!...Ma!...Oh mother, please be careful! I don't want you to hurt yourself!...And what if I don't want to tell everyone just yet!" Frances hollered out the back door.

Fred laughed and wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her neck..."They're all going to find out sooner or later." He whispered in between kisses. "Might as well be now."

Frances smiled at her husband. "I suppose so." She said, and both leaned in for a kiss.

"Wait just a minute! Your mother's only 49!" He laughed.

"Yes...and your point is?"

"You said she'd hurt herself! She isn't that old!" He laughed.

"Did you SEE the way she was running up the hill?" Frances laughed.

Fred laughed. "Oh, its a small hill...She'll be okay."

A/N:DUBUQUE STAR BREWING COMPANY. Iowa's oldest brewery. Founded by the Rhomberg family in 1898, Dubuque Star Brewing Company was forced to close along with other breweries with the beginning of prohibition. It reopened in 1933 with the repeal of prohibition. It is said the first barrel of beer brewed by the company was sent to Iowa's Governor Clyde Herring as a token of celebration.

Bottled beer was first produced by the brewery in 1935. Cans were first used in 1975. Dozens of labels were created including "Iowa Lager," "Holiday," "Dubuque Star," and "Dubuque Star Select."

The brewery was sold in the 1970s to Joseph Pickett and Sons, Inc. Joseph Pickett, Sr. was responsible for the modernization of the plant. Ownership transferred again in the 1980s when the brewery was sold to AGRI Industries of West Des Moines. They produced Rhomberg Beer until 1985. The efforts were not successful.

AGRI closed the brewery in 1983 claiming stiff competition from rival breweries and low profits.

Dubuque Star Brewery has been an important site of several motion pictures shot in the Dubuque area. In the late 1970s ZIGGY'S was used for several scenes of the Sylvester Stallone movie, F.I.S.T. The movie Take This Job and Shove It, starring Art Carney, was shot at the brewery during the summer of 1980.