My First-Born; My Son

What a great idea to go back in time and remember the birth of my first child; my only son, Coby. He is an incredible blessing in my life, in the life of our family, and in the lives of the people who touch his.


1. WAS YOUR FIRST-BORN PLANNED? No, but what excitement when we found out at the Doctor's office. No home prego tests back in that day. His daddy was in shock and the thought of having a baby was like walking in a dream for a little while until Coby's presence became more evident.

2. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? I was VERY excited! I think we just called our families. Creativity in announcing important happenings weren't as prevalent in the 70's.

3. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 19

4. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Went to the doctor for a pregnancy test because of obvious and traditional reasons.

5. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Our parents.

6. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Finding out the sex of a child before they were born was unheard of.

7. DUE DATE? I can't remember the exact day, but it was the middle of August. He came two weeks later on August 27, 1971

8. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Never; praise God! I got huge and was uncomfortable, but was never sick.

9. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? I don't remember any cravings, but that doesn't mean there weren't some.

10. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? People counting up the months to see if we'd been married over 9 months by the time Coby was born. Grrrrr.... I got pregnant after being married six months which is really sooner that what we had thought would happen, but really... how rude to be so nosey I thought.

11. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? A beautiful boy... others thought he had a cone-head, but I thought he looked perfectly beautiful from the moment he was layed up on my chest and I touched his tiny hand. Touching him was not allowed back then, but I did it anyway since they granted my request and didn't tie my hands down. How barbaric!!! Can you imagine?

12. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? Not at all. We would have been delighted with either and instantly loved our little boy.

13. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 30ish

14. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Not that I remember. There were friends and family who gave gifts, but not a shower.

15. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?

16. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? None, except that I didn't get to go to FR that year (Family Reunion in Colorado). I sat by our front screen door after my mom and dad left for CO and cried.

17. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? Just about 12.

18. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Darrell, but the hospital was just down the street; we could have walked if it weren't for those darn contractions.

19. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? The doc and a couple nurses

20. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? We went to Lamaze classes and though we did not have the support of any medical staff or family, we were able to do this up to a point. When I got so tired I wanted to give up and go home; stay pregnant for the remainder of my life, I was talked into taking Demerol which only helped in between contractions. I looked like a peaceful child sleeping every couple minutes until another contraction would hit. Lord have mercy!

21. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Yes, see above. It did not help the pain in my case.

22. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7lbs. 11oz.

23. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? 3:34 PM on August 27th.

24.WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Coby Lee; 'Coby' was a name that his Daddy thought was cool even before we met. He wanted to name a son 'Coby' because he thought it sounded like a good name for an athlete. 'Lee' is his daddy's middle name.

25. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 36 1/2 years. Amazing!!