My memories of Denise’s birth are confined to just a few seconds of standing in Grandma and Grandpa Murphy’s family room, looking through the sliding glass patio doors at my parents pulling up in the driveway in our ’72 AMC Hornet, exiting the car, and carrying my new sister into their house. Obviously, this is where I was dropped off as my parents headed to the hospital. In addition, although I can’t remember it specifically, there is a great Super 8 film that my Dad took of my Mom and me getting out of the car and bringing Denise Anne into our Echo Hill front doors for the first time. This was taken on Tuesday, April 13.
The story began early on the morning of Thursday, April 8, when my Mom woke up twice with stomach pains, the first at around 3:00am and the second at about 5:30. The second time she actually got out of bed and went and sat in our living room. Dad asked if she was okay and she responded that it could be labor pains. The baby’s due date was April 15. Dad advised her to wake him back up if she thought she was in labor. She decided that this just might be the case so she phoned the doctor. They asked her if she could wait until the office was open at 8:00am. She said “not on your life, muttonchops” or something to that effect, so she was advised to head to the hospital.
My parents dropped me off at Grandma and Grandpa’s house at about 6:30am. They arrived at the hospital around 7:00am and Mom was immediately whisked off to the delivery room. A little girl was born at 7:28am in what may have been the world record for shortest labor ever. Almost immediately the illness my Mom had been feeling for the bulk of her pregnancy subsided. The baby, who was pinching one of her nerves, had seemed to drain all of my Mom’s energy and resources.
Dad’s hospital pass
Mom stayed an additional day in the hospital beyond the required five days, due to the fact that the baby, hereafter referred to as Denise – the name that I had promoted, could not keep her milk down. A sage old nurse at the hospital suggested that they might try mixing the milk with some rice cereal. It worked – and Denise has been hooked on rice ever since, despite the pleas of her boyfriends.
Denise’s stats
Here are a few frame blowups taken as we escorted the young Denise into the Echo Hill house for the first time. I am dressed in Cincinnati Bengals garb, looking dumb as ever.
On the occasion of the birth of Denise’s first daugher Megan on January 15, 2009, I have added the Super 8mm footage of Denise as she arrives home from the hospital
And just so Denise doesn’t steal all the thunder on my website, here is a photo taken just five days after her homecoming. It’s me looking debonair as all get-out on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1976.
1976 will continue…
Still just as cute…
Aaron
July 26th, 2007
Who me?
Brad
July 26th, 2007
Someone’s birth is always nice to hear about. But here’s a geeky technical question: how did you do those frame blowups from the film? They turned out rather well.
Peter
July 26th, 2007
Ah, I remember it well! I was so excited to have my baby girl. After 4 1/2 years of enjoying my son exclusively, and thinking I could never love another child as much, the immediate love for my second child was just as great – and the love continues on for both of my children and extends onto my grandchildren. I have been very blessed.
Mom/Barb
July 26th, 2007
I think that Denise should hereafter be retroactively referred to as “The Baby.”
Chris Tangeman
July 26th, 2007
This day was only the beginning for me…
"The Baby"
August 1st, 2007
This is so special Brad! I love the video too! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
January 16th, 2009