Alison

February, 1994

 

On Tuesday, October 5th, my baby girl, Eileen, had a baby girl, Alison Marie McCranie.      Now this was a thrill… thrill #15 … but nevertheless a thrill!

The hospital was Los Robles Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, CA.  Eileen and Tim had a waiting room full of family … fearing yet happily anticipating. Present were grandparents Elaine and Mike, Eileen’s teenage boys, Vincent and Gerard Gonzales, Tim’s sister Merrilyn and sister in law, Beverly McCranie, and two maiden cousins (with cameras). Dr. Dolph McCranie, a surgeon on the hospital staff was in the surgical room observing the entire time…  probably to encourage his young brother, Tim, during the Caesarian Section birth. But Tim was OK and a really proud first time father.  His words to us when they brought the baby up to the nursery were, “It was a miracle of love! Alison is beautiful, as is her mother. I love Eileen so very much for giving us this beautiful little girl, this gift of life.”

After expressing our admiration over the darling baby, we all headed downstairs to the surgery waiting room. Here we added up the results of the birth weight pool.  Most of us had selected weights within the 7 to 7#  15 oz. range. Alison weighed 8# 14 oz! Plus a 3# baseball sized fibroid!

Dr. Hillis decided it was safe and necessary to go ahead with removal of the uterus with the fibroid. It was 4:30 pm before the obstetrician came out to say Eileen’s hysterectomy surgery was over, things had gone well and she was now in the recovery room.        Prayers of thanks were in order.  We had to wait around until 7 pm to see mother and child.  Her husband and sons were so proud as they held baby Alison in their arms. Such a beautiful sight to behold!

A VISIT TO GRANDMA & GRANDPA” S

Little Alison Marie came to Pacific Palisades. She made a visit to Grandpa’s office for her second set of protective shots. Then Eileen and Tim brought  her to our house. We were going to babysit her while her parents went out to dinner. Alison is four months old.

You would think we’d never had any children as we tried  to appease Alison’s cries.  I think she may  be an opera  singer because her screams of frustration  were louder than  the sound of a radio at a construction site. What did she need?  A diaper change –  no; a pat  on  the back  to bring  a loud burp – not really; a walk about the house – maybe; a lullaby or Tylenol to make her  feel  better  after  the  shots – YES, YES.

She  finally  calmed  down,  decided  maybe  she  liked  us after all, and began to smile, laugh and make little noises. We  learned that she loves to be held in a sitting position so she can watch the movement of the TV.  She particularly liked it when  her Dad and Mom returned. Dad  gave  his  daughter a  big  hug  and  kiss, and  Mommy  began to nurse her as  Alison snuggled up and was comforted.

Alison  will  be  baptized  February  20th.  I  hope  she is kinder to the priest, Father Dick and to the godparents.