What's the haps @ 2 Inyo?

2005 July 14 (Thursday): You can call me Grandpa Mel! We just heard from Kevin that Sharon gave birth to “little Mel”, officially, Melina Johnston at around 2 p.m. today. She was born in the Santa Rosa Kaiser hospital, and weighed in at a respectable 7 pounds, 2 ounces. Mother and daughter, and we assume, father, too, are doing well.

It is 12:34 a.m., Friday, here, but sleep, as you can well imagine, is not easily forthcoming after a wakeup call of this importance. Rickie, that is, Grandma Rickie, is trying to sleep, but I know she is in bed just thinking of all the wonderful possibilities for this, our first, grandchild. What a wonderful occasion!

From Rickie’s interpretation of Kevin’s information, Valerie and Kevin were to have dinner Wednesday evening with Sharon. Bill had a major, as in career enhancing, presentation that day, and was expecting to be home late. Sharon called Valerie and Kevin and told them to come earlier as she was having some contractions. They took her to Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco as planned Wednesday evening. The hospital was full of expectant mothers, had some difficult births and seemed understaffed. So, after refusing to (1) go home and sit it out, or (2) driving to the Kaiser Hospital in Santa Rosa, Sharon got an ambulance ride to a nicer, quieter, fully staffed and just-waiting-for-Sharon hospital. From then on, nature took its course, Sharon and Melina did the work (always the women), Bill, Valerie and Kevin provided comfort and support, and we ended up with a wonderful granddaughter. Bill was with Sharon during the birth. I’m sure we will hear more as things settle down, and Mom and Dad begin to learn of the impact on the rest of their lives that a child makes. And, of course, the impact on our lives and that of my mother (Great Grandmother), and on Bill’s parents and his Grandmother.

Yes, I started a journal on the 11th, and will get it out soon. And, knowing my son, and son-in-law, I will probably have some of Melina’s first pictures to share. Until then, buona notte. What a great day! And, we hope Bill's presentation went well.