Wednesday Memories

Why does it seem only like yesterday.

I had just finished my 5th year teaching while carry this first child. I never told anyone I was pregnant because in the early 70's I would have to leave teaching. So I used safety pins to keep my skirts and pants up and wore many large tops and sweaters. Many of my fellow teachers would remark how I was putting on weight. I would smile and say, "I just love to eat."

When the day would arrive I would have to make a decision to return to teaching or be a SAHM.

The day arrived 5 days early, my due date was August 6th. It was a warm Sunday morning and I awoke at 8am and I went to the bathroom and I had a showing, I called my Mom and told her, She said, "Go to the hosptial now", My DH called the number for my gynecologist, Dr Alvin Dirkin from Dirkin and Gendron and told the answering service that he was taking me in now. They told him this was my first child and I had plenty of time.He said "we want to be safe, her mother delivered her sister in the car on the way to the hospital."

We left for the hospital exactly at 8:15am and arrived at 8:30
I remember saying "Dear Lord, Please let Christopher John or Sherri Lynn come quickly"There were no test in the early 70's to deterninine the sex of the child. It did happen so quickly not even enough time to prep me. Our firstborn baby arrived exactly that Sunday morning, August 1, 1971at 9:30am (ONE HOUR!!)

JOHN MICHAEL CORBETT

7 pounds 11 ozs 19 inches

"WOW" I said I will have at least 5 more babies, this was a cinch."My first born child, was A BEAUTIFUL BOY, with lots of red hair and a strong cry. He was placed beside me and I was amazed that this beautiful little human being that my DH and I created with God's blessing. I was at St Joseph's Hosptal in Providence, RI. I had a private room which was possible with my teacher's insurance and my husband insurance. It allowed me to privately adore my little one. I wore a pink peignoir set, with fine lace and frills, "after all my GYN told me I was definitely having a little girl."
As a Corbett ritual I call John Michael every year on his birthday no matter where he is at 9:30am and we sing him "Happy Birthday.

Christening at St Theresa's Pawtucket, RI 8-15-71
As you can read he was named John after his father. We felt Christopher would be such a difficult long name to learn for school and the past 3 generations of Corbetts the first name was John and the middle named changed.

His father is John William, his Grandfather John Henry, his great grandfather, John Robert

Twenty-seven months later along came his sibling and our second, son Mark Alan. I was going to Rhode Island college, working on my Masters in Education. I actually carried this baby in June of 1973 to receive my degree. It was Friday, November 9th about 5:30 and I was getting sharp pangs. I felt I should check it out and headed to St Joseph's hospital in Providence. I was admitted because they felt I was ready to deliver as they timed me. I was prepped and went to the delivery room at 7:30 and left the delivery room at 8pm with no child. I was told that the activity has ceased and it was as if the baby went to sleep. I was told to remain in the hospital but it was okay for my husband to return home until tomorrow. My DH went home to be with our 27mo son and said he would be back tomorrow morning or sooner if the Doctor called.I remember having a night of little activity, no labor pains until the next morning. Mark Alan was delivered at 10:30am. I was actuallyinduced for the delivery to come quickly.

Saturday, November 10, 1973 at 10:30am MARK ALAN CORBETT was born.

7 pounds 9 oz 21 inches

As a Corbett ritual I call MARK ALAN every year on his birthday no matter where he is at 10:30am and we sing him "Happy Birthday."

Our first Christmas as a family, 2 sons, and a dog

December 25, 1973

My two sons, my life, my new career, being a Mommy and loving it.