On Dec. 4, 1928 Doris Jean was born. Mabel [Roberts, Jesse's wife] had quite a time and refused to go to the hospital. She was doctoring with Dr. McFarlin and should have been in the hands of an obstetrician since she was older (31) and then much smaller than now. She was in labor 48 hours or so before Dr. McFarlin decided she needed more and other help than he could give her and finally sent her to the hospital where she had a cesarean performed. Probably neither she nor the baby would have made it otherwise. Some of the doctors have thought some of Doris' trouble is due to the long labor Mabel had, others thought she might have had polio as she had a high fever and was quite ill when quite small. I imagine Mabel wished lots of times she had done what we all wanted her to do, been under an efficient doctor's care and in the hospital in the beginning. I was in bed the day Doris was born with a gall bladder attack. We had a big family Thanksgiving dinner that year as usual and I had this bad attack that night. I hadn't felt well all day and so tired by evening I went to bed without clearing the table too well, putting dishes away, etc. I was in bed 3 weeks. Aunt Mary came up the next morning and did what I should had done the night before - washed the table linens, ____, etc. I seldom ever leave my table not cleared and when I do I think of that night. Ella McKenzie was staying with us while I was sick and the day Mabel had the cesarean I cried about all day so afraid something would happen to her. I insisted Russell go to be with Jesse. It was such a relief when he came home and told us everything was alright. Grandma Roberts had hard going right then with Mabel and I both needing her, so she stayed with Jesse and Mabel and Ella McKenzie helped us out. Jesse came in to tell us about the new baby hoping she wouldn't have ears like the Russells but she did have. They were real noticeable until she had hair to cover them.

          end of part thirty-one

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