Bret Russell Wall came into the world in Fall River, Massachusetts. Paid for in full by the US Navy.
My story-
I had an easy pregnancy. I was working throughout the whole pregnancy at Burger King. Since they didn't have uniforms for pregnant women, I was allowed to make my own ugly gold smock-like shirt. :)
I gave myself two week off before his due date to prepare for his arrival and relax a bit.
My ex was living on the Navy base in South Carolina. ( I don't remember particulars, he was gone on a long cruise, came back and got transferred, but it was only temporary, so we decided not to move me at the time, or something like that.)
I think it was a Friday. I took my friend's child to the playground, pushed him on the swing and slide, and felt tired. I decided I still needed to go grocery shopping. At the store I felt I was 'spotting' and started cramping. I could tell something was wrong, and left the cart with all the food in it, and drove home. (no cell phones back then) I was too naive to think to drive to a hospital.
I called the doctor, and he said to come right in to the hospital. My friend Ann drove me so I wouldn't have to leave my car there. She couldn't stay with me because she had kids with her.
So I was dropped of, alone, having what they termed placenta previa.
I was whisked into a wheel chair, prepped, and in a delivery room before I knew it could even happen that fast. The nurses were whispering things to each other, like, "She's all alone". I didn't feel scared for myself, but was worried about the baby.
I swear it seemed to happen in less than 1/2 hour. They did the old-fashioned emergency C section, and I heard a baby cry. I actually asked them if someone else was in the operating room. I had no idea whatsoever that they could take a baby out of a woman that quickly!
They put him on oxygen, but said he was perfectly strong and healthy.
(His name had been chosen beforehand by Terry. He was going to name the baby if it was a boy, and I would name her it was a girl. I don't think we knew it was going to be a boy. The name Bret was not common back then, especially not in the East. It was chosen from the Western guys, Bret and Bart or Bert Maverick on either a TV show or movies)
I was not allowed to even sit up for 24 hours because I was given what they used to call a spinal, and if you sat up, it would give you terrible headaches.
I called my mom, and she said her and my sister would drive up soon. They tried to contact Terry, but he was AWOL, and they couldn't locate him.
I was in the hospital at least 4 or 5 days, so I don't know which day my mom, sis, and Terry arrived.
I do remember seeing angels flying around the clock in the hospital room, and I mean good old cute little winged angels like in Catholic pictures. So I am sure I had good pain medication.
Bret was an easy baby, and always a joy. I went back to work quite soon, and my sister stayed with me, so she worked days at Burger King so I could be home with Bret, and I worked the 3 to 11 shift, or sometimes 5-11 shift. Thus Kathy did have the crabby times, and she would walk Bret in her arms around the house for an hour sometimes at night to get him to bed.
I did nurse him till about 6 months old, without a pump, and stopped when he learned to drink a BK milkshake out of a straw. Yes, seriously. I then put him on that powdered milk stuff but he hardly ever took it from a bottle, so I do know by a year old he had no more bottles at all, and I don't think he was in a crib, either, but I am not sure.
For those who do not know, Fred also worked at the same BK< which is where I met him.
Kathy & Fred were dating by the end of the summer.
Bret was my life. We played Matchbox cars and blocks, took long walks, and went to beaches and playgrounds. When I broke my leg, he was 2, and capable of actually helping me.
Our time in New England was amazing together.
We moved back to Cleveland the summer he turned 3. By then he was very mature for his age, and made friends quickly, and unfortunately had to attend play groups and preschools so I could work, but he loved his teachers and the places he attended were wonderful. One year it was a Mormon lady from our ward who watched just him and her daughter.
Bret & I shared bunk beds in our one-room apartment in Cleveland, with donated furniture items, yellow plastic end tables from a grocery store Frank worked at, and a heater in the middle of the room, no shower, and lots of love.
There is lots more to tell of Bret's wonderful life. He was loved from the minute he arrived, and he always made me happy. He was a gift to me. Anytime to this very day, I smile when I see he is calling me.
Thank you Bret, for being such a great son!
