When Grandpa and I were first married and decided to farm we moved into the tenant house next door to the big farm house. We were really fortunate to live next to Grandpa’s parents. They were so good to us and I learned a lot from my Mother-in-law Bessie Neal. She was always there when I needed some advice and was very helpful. I learned a lot about cooking from her and various chores around the farm. She was a good teacher. She also helped me learn to plant a garden and take care of it. My Dad was retired by then and lived in Cedar Falls and he used to like to come out to the farm and help me with the garden. It is always good to have parents around when you need help, even after you are married. We found that out. Grampa was glad to have his Dad around to help with the farming. Galen always got along so well with his Dad and appreciated his help!! We later moved into the big farm house when Galen’s folks moved to town.
We were so happy to find out I was pregnant with my first child in 1944. There was only one baby Doctor in the clinic in Waverly. This was during war time and a lot of the Doctors were called to help over seas. Dr. Hartwig was my Doctor and he was a very good one and very busy!I
In those days we did not find out if we were having a boy or girl until they were born. Carol Jane Neal was born on January 15th 1944!!
We named her Carol because she came close to Christmas so she was kind of like a special Christmas present. She was actually born two weeks after her due date so we were thrilled when she finally arrived. She was born in the evening on Jan. the 15th at the Waverly hospital. In those days it was the rule for the Mother & Baby to spend 10 days in the hospital before they went home. Dr. Hartwig came to the hospital every day to check on us. I could always hear him almost running down the hospital hall because he was such a busy Doctor. I was so fortunate to have Galen’s Mom to help me when we came home. I don’t know what I would have done without her. My Mom also came and stayed with us for about a week to help with her first Granddaughter. My parents were thrilled with their first Grandchild. I was excited to have a new daughter who was my first real relative since I was adopted when I was a baby. Carol has always been a Daddy’s girl. As soon as she was old enough to walk she followed him around and as she got older she used to love to ride on the tractor with him. Carol was a born farmer! She still loves it out in the farm!
Robert Ray was born three years after Carol. He was our only baby with dark hair and brown eyes. We were so happy to have a boy! Galen gave him a nick name right away. He called him Junior and the name stuck, we always called him Junior. We had a hard time finding a formula that would agree with him and the Doctor thought there was a blockage that the food could not get through so we took him to the hospital to have an operation for paloric stenosis. Little did we know that we would get a call from the hospital the next day that even before the operation he was having trouble breathing and wanted us to come to the hospital right away. That was the worst day of my life!. Robert Ray died later that day. What a sad funeral later that week! Robert was named after Galen’s best friend Robert Hickle. I am hoping to see our baby in heaven some day. I look forward to that. I will never forget what Carol (who was about 3 years old then) said to me. She said, “Don’t cry Mommy, you will have another baby some day!” (Robert Ray was born on December 17, 1947 and lived just 8 weeks, but he already had a personality and we loved him so much it took me a long time to be able to go up to the Shell Rock cemetary without crying.
Carol was right! We were so happy when Bill was born on March 27th, l949. He was such a cute baby and was an answer to our prayer!William Galen Neal was named after his Father and we liked the name William. We called him Billy for a long time. Bill was very special because a new baby son was just what we needed to help get over the loss of Robert Ray. Bill has been a wonderful son and brother and Grandson too in our family. When Betty was born inj 1950 that completed our family. We named Betty after Galen’s cousin Betty Rowley!
I think Bill & Betty were so lucky to grow up with their big sister, Carol. She was such a help to me because she seemed to really enjoy having a little sister and brother. Since I was an only child I know how lonesome it is to grow up without any brothers & sisters! I wish I could tell you about all the fun times we have had in our family. We really enjoyed being together and taking trips together through the years. It is always so special when our family and all the grandchildren get together. We have so much fun and so much good food!!
Just realized my anniversary is the same day Robert Ray was born!
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