Tracy's 25th

Today I want to tell about my daughter, Tracy.

As in the past I have given an overview of the birth of each of my sons.

I will do the same for my only girl.

This wonderful event happened July 16th, 25 years ago.

It was a Sabbath, Larry wasn't feeling very good so I stayed home from church to be with him.

Larry and I were just resting for awhile. He started to feel better so we decided to take a walk down to lake La vista .

It was a nice day, a little hot, but the trees along the path offered much shade, and we sat on the lake side, observing the ducks. I could tell that my baby, was going to come soon, but didn't know if she was going to be born that day, or maybe the next. We weren't there very long and strolled back home. Larry was good company and kept my mind off of things.

Dad had taken the other 2 boys to church and returned.

I had just finished eating lunch when I really began to feel like this was going to be the day.

I mentioned to dad that I thought this was going to be it. Well, he had already decided he was going to take a nap, which was his regular way of doing on the Sabbath.

He went in to rest, the boys were playing, and I went into the living room to lay down for a while.

I wasn't there very long, and then I knew, this was not some small thing, that was going to go away.

I got dad up and told him we have to go to the doctor.

He sort of wanted to wait. I told him, NO we were not going to wait.

We got all the boys rounded up and in the car. We took them to Veda Mitchell's home here in Columbia and dropped them off.

We then headed down to Jefferson City, where our doctor had told us to meet him.

We walked into the hospital, and waited, then the doctor came and examined me, and told me we had better go on down to the clinic, in Tuscumbia, where we had arranged for this birth to take place.

I guess, at this point, dad was pretty excited, he actually can drive fast.. can you imagine that? The Doctor had a jeep he was driving, he flew past us going many more miles an hour than us.

On the way there, the pains had really picked up speed, and I hoped we would make it. After all the boys each took 17 hours to make their entrances. But I guess Tracy just wasn't wanting to hang out in a small, dark , damp place.

We arrived at the clinic, and I was put into the labor area, and examined again. I don't think we were there for more than an hour.

We had taken the Lamaze classes at the university hospitals and clinics, and so we were using all the techniques they taught us. Or I should say I was.

There was only the doctor, nurse, dad and I at the clinic. I really liked having no other emergencies taking place, and the quietness of the place. It was really nice.

Well, we finally went into the delivery room, and had one of those birthing chairs, that you sit up in, like a recliner, with a cut out area underneath. let me just say this, that is the only way to have a baby. it lets gravity help you. With each of the boys, I was laid flat on my back and had to actually push uphill.. to get them here. So the birthing chair is a real nice change. This was absolutely the easies birth ever. I was even telling the doctor jokes, and he was joking too. Dad was being a good support too. The birth was perfect.
Dad got to hold her first, then they gave her to me.
While I was having her, I thought "oh no, what if its not a girl, and its a boy", not that I wouldn't love it, its just that I never even considered it would be a boy, as I already had 3, and my church friends had given me a baby shower, and everyone bought girl stuff.

As it turned out, I had nothing to worry about, It was a girl.

The prettiest little person you ever saw. She had rosy cheeks, and such a quiet disposition.

I felt wonderful, and I wanted to get up and take a shower, but they made me stay in bed for an hour, and drink a 7 up. After that, I got up, took a shower, and dressed. Then I dressed Tracy in one of her little gifts; a pink gown, and wrapped her in a pink light weight blanket, and off we went to the car.

We stopped in Jefferson city to show John and Cherry and the boys, and they had fresh squeezed lemon aid for us to drink, then we heading home, stopping off to get gas, and met our neighbors that lived across the street.

Then we came to Columbia, and showed the boys, and then went to Grandma and Grandpa Trumbo's house.

They weren't there, so we waited. It was their wedding anniversary so they had gone out to eat. When they got back they were very happy to see their new little granddaughter.

Tracy shares her birthday with my brother Lyle, my brother-in-law, Bob, my nephew's first wife, Sharleen. I talked to my brother Lyle and he said to tell Tracy, "Happy Birthday".

Shaking Things up a Bit

Good Sabbath morning to all.
I thought I would post a note about the earthquake that we had occasion to experience here Friday morning.
Dad and I were up having coffee and watching Fox news, and around 4:39 our couch that we were perched on started to move side to side, sort of a gentle rocking motion. Dad looked at me as if I had done something to cause this motion. But, Alas, I was sitting quietly, sipping my morning Joe, and trying to listen to the news.
At first I thought it was just me, being a dizzy dame, and then realized this felt faintly familiar.
Being I am from California, I realized what was happening. I looked at our entertainment center, and could see it slightly moving from side to side.
Now I would like to say that I was all wise and totally composed. Actually, I was wondering, if this thing was going to pick up intensity, or if this was just the first one, and a bigger one was to follow. At this juncture, dad gets up and looks out the door. What he was looking for I am not sure, but maybe he wanted to see if anyone else was up and had noticed it too. who knows.
Now Bella, our WATCH DOG, was sleeping next to me on the couch and she didn't even stir. (she obviously is not a California Dog).
My next thought was.. "OH no.. my china." I envisioned another earthquake to follow and went to the cabinet to protect my dishes.. Exactly was I was suppose to do if the whole thing toppled over on me, I am not sure about, but I was going to try. Aren't we all glad that didn't happen, can you envision the scene here. OH WELL !! The article in the evening paper could have read, " Woman Dies in Attempt to Save China". (OK so maybe that's not so funny after all, but doesn't it sound like a Nobel thing?)
Dad was checking for news, just to make sure it was indeed an earthquake, and not just our house settling.. anyway he had the TV on the fox news, he had his police scanner on, and I think even his handheld CB radio on. But he found nothing. I finally suggested to check the local station.. (HEY, made sense to me.. Fox is not local.. duh..)
As it turned out it was a 5.2 centered on the ill.-Ind. border, and was about 230 miles East or north east. Really anything more than 25 miles out, doesn't even get honorable mention. But that was our excitement.
I remember so many years, as we would prepare to go out to visit loved ones in California, that Grandma Trumbo, would always invite us over to dinner, the day before we left. She had mentioned several times that she was afraid that we might get into a big old earthquake. We never did, but she was concerned. One thing is for sure, she is a really good cook, and I really appreciated not having to cook the day before we left.
I found out that some of the people who live in trailers felt the earth move more than those in homes built on a slab.
One lady told me that she thought some deer had come up to her home, and was rubbing their behinds on her trailer.
Another lady told me that she could hear the lamp in her sons room rocking, and she thought his room was haunted.
Most people had good enough sense to be asleep and totally unaware that anything happened at all.
well, just goes to show, if you don't get up early enough, you could very well miss out on all the best excitement...


,

Middle Son

Today is the day I want to recognize my second born son's birth. Today, he turns 37. David was born on my youngest sisters Birthday.

The day he was born was a nice sunny springlike day. I knew about 2 am that this wonderful event would be taking place. I was staying with some friend in our church, as they were giving me a ride to the ST.Charles Still hospital for this momentous occasion. Recalling my first Son's birth, I figured it would be the same and so I had quite a long wait until I really needed to be at the hospital.

When everyone was up and around, breakfast was over, I mentioned I thought I need to be going to the hospital.

I cannot tell you the chaos that announcement caused. Although they know this is going to happen, it was still a very scary situation for those who still had to get dressed and get me to the hospital. Mr. Aires made the phone call to the hospital, then couldn't find his shoes. Mrs. Aires was hurrying around trying to make sure I had everything I needed to take with me, I had been packed for a month, but somehow everything had to be rechecked. Their sons were told to just got in the car and waited. It didn't take us more than 5 minutes to get going. I never saw so much action in my life. Mr. Aires, after a few worried looks, decided he needed to go to church, as it was a Sabbath , and he was doing the sermonett. I think he thought he needed to do all the driving, but eventually left it up to his wife. She and I didn't know what he was so concerned for, she had driven for years and never had any problems. We had to drop Mr. Aires, their two sons and Larry off at another church friends home, So they could all ride to church together.
Mrs. Aires and I broke the speed limit all the way to Jeff City.

We had been expecting this big event for well over a month, as Davids due date was actually February 13Th.

It was another Sabbath, and I was going to labor again. Sometimes I think God wants us to learn things, so he really impresses them on our minds. This was another labor of love.

We arrived and was admitted to the hospital. I was put in the labor room, and the Doctor came in to check my progress. He seemed a little worried, but said it would be awhile before the baby would be born. He left the room, and then came in again in about 15 minutes. To check again. This time he said I was doing good, but that he thought the baby would be born face up, and was going to try and turn him. NOW , if you have ever had this done.. not fun... He did turn him, but, David had a mind of his own, he turned himself right back around. The doctor left the room and came back in and turned him again, and this time David waited until the doctor left the room and turned himself back over again. Now.. for those that don't know.. this little fella was doing rollovers .. not a lot of fun. he wanted to be born face up. I was a really concerned. So I asked Mrs. Aires to call the minister and ask for prayers. I can tell you the exact minute that phone call was made, because David just turned over and everything went like it was suppose to after that.

David was so cute, he had red curly hair, and the doctor wanted to trade me one of his three girls for him. I didn't want to trade.

We stayed about 2 days in the hospital, and then Mrs. Aires came to pick us up, and brought Larry with her. Larry couldn't go into the area where we were, so he waited with the receptionist, and as we came down the hallway, he looked and saw me holding David. The look on his face was priceless. He looked like I had giving him the best present you could give anyone. He was overjoyed!!. Larry was just one year old himself, and couldn't speak yet, But he said... OH! OH! OH!
And he was reaching for him. I let him look at David, and then he, ever so softly tried to take him from me. He wanted to hold his new play mate. David just slept through the whole thing.
David was one of those middle kids that had to learn how to get along with someone older, and someone younger. He always seemed to be having lots of things he had interests in. He loved to be the one in charge, and take the lead. He always seemed to collect things, like books, cd's, Pesie plastic cups ( he said he wanted to build a house out of them some day) and pictures that he took. He is artistic and that showed up very early in his life. He loves music and was great at the piano. He learned very fast which was very much a problem for his music teacher, as she said he was her hardest student, because she had to have new music for him each time he came to class. Most of the students work on a piece of music for weeks.
David was not afraid of a challenge, but rather relished the whole thing. Like when he was trying to learn to ride a two wheel bike. It was a 20 inch bike and he would take a chair out into the back yard, hold the bike while getting on the chair and mount the bike and then ride until he fell down. You see, he was only 5 years old, and not tall enough to get on the bike, but he didn't let that stop him, he was so determined. He was bruised all over from falling off that bike, but he did learn to ride it. ( dad told me to tell that story)
He was all boy, very fearless, and most determined. I never worried about David doing well, as he has what it takes to make things happen. He was a good student and has a real drive to learn and do his best and be the best.
His love of art, music, movies, and film combined with his drive ,has given him a great chance in this world to be a wonderful productive person, who will always do well, at anything he sets his mind to do.
David you have always made me proud and I love you .
All 4 of you kids are unique and have your own personal gifts. I am a very blessed mom indeed.

First Born

First Born
Good Morning to all.
I don’t know why, but spell checker is not working, so please excuse anything misspelled . Enjoy Anyway!!
My last post was about my youngest son and his birthday.
Here it is February and I haven't posted for almost a month.So this post is about my First Born.
Larry will be 38 February the 14th.
I had been married almost 2 years when I found out I would be having my first baby. Oh what joy!! The whole experience was one big mystery to me.
Ya, I knew that my mother had had 13 babies, and lived.. and I had had all the normal instructions about babies, in high school health, and home economics classes. I still was very uncertain as to how this was all going to work.
When I became a new mom-to-be, I was sooo.. very happy that I would finally have a baby all my own, and will be able to direct its life and give it love and a happy home. This baby would have every advantage I could possible give it, at least that’s the idea I had.
We lived in California, on the Hoopa Indian reservation, where I quickly found out, that if you are not Indian, they do not want you living there, but, because, my husband was Indian,( Blackfoot) we were ok to be there. By that I mean, that if you were not Indian, you were seen as someone who doesn't belong. The Indians, who lived on this reservation, where themselves only part Indian their parents, parents, ect., had mixed with the Chinese, who had lived in the area, working on the railroads, when the rail lines were first being put in from California, to Utah!. (When I lived there, there really were only 5 known full blooded Hoopa Indians on the reservation). These people hung on to the fact that they were Indian, and they were the only ones allowed to be there, as the white man had already taken almost all their land from them. So, a white person living there was a threat to them. They had their own laws and their own ways, and you were not allowed to mess with that.
What they would do was let you come in and buy land, house, whatever. Then they would wait a few months. Then they would get a gang together, and go to your home, when you were gone, and burn it down.When you go to the police, who consisted of one officer, and one sheriff, who were more than likely related, you were treated with much concern. Everything would be promised, as to the fact that they would look into this matter and it will be dealt with. Then you wait, and guess what.. nothing ever was done about it. If you complained too much, you may find yourself sitting in one of the two jail cells they had, which almost always, was empty. After a while, most people just packed up and left.
Now, Back to the main topic!
The Hoopa hospital, where this wonderful event was to take place, had one doctor and a nurse and a couple nurses’ aids. The Doctor was a woman doctor, and she had, had an amazing life. She had done a lot of work in Africa in the Amazon area where tribes had been fighting each other with just a river to separate them. While I was in labor having Larry, she told of stories where she delivered babies in a boat, going down the rivers, and the tribes shooting at each other across the water, as the boat floated through the fighting. So see, I was in good hands. She wears her hair in long black braids, tied with buckskin straps and most of the time she had on regular clothes, and a smock, and she did wear moccasins.
When the big day came, it was a Sabbath, actually it was Feb.14th. The Doctor had told me that I was due on Valentines Day. Well I don't observe that as anything other than a pagan day, and was absolutely sure I would not have my precious baby, a gift from God, on a pagan day, and on a Sabbath day as well, which is a day to rest. But somehow, things didn't work out like I thought. Indeed, I started labor on Friday the 13th and 17 hours later Larry was born. He was born on the Sabbath, on Valentines Day. I, being very young in the Faith, was somewhat concerned for the fact that I labored on that day. I have since resolved that it was indeed a labor of love, which is allowed.
All that said, I was very very proud of this little boy, who was so very perfect in every way, whom I considered to be a big miracle, and God had given him to me. I remember feeling so proud, and finally getting to see this little person I had grown to love as I carried him, before he was born. I felt so much love for him, so protective of him and had this overwhelming desire to show him off to everyone. I couldn't wait to get out of the hospital, so I could get him home and start that wonderful journey, of being his mom.
God has blessed me with 4 children, and every one of them is indeed a miracle and every one of them is a perfect gifts from God.

Mark's Birthday

Good Morning to all my kids and friends.
This day, about 34 years ago, was a very cold wintry day, with icy roads and a little snow that had fallen during the night. The temperature was in the teens and the wind wasn't blowing hard, but it was very very cold.
So naturally, this would be the day, my third son would want to come into the world. January 11Th 1974.
I remember that day, as I had spent a week or so, with Connie Geotz and family, at her home here in Columbia, as she was the one that was going to drive me to the hospital when the time came to go.
About 6 am I started realizing that this would be the day to go to Jefferson City, to the Charles Still hospital where 2 year before Marks' older brother, David was born. I had the same Doctor and that was the hospital he operated out of. I don't think its called Charles Still any longer.
I waited for Connie to get up and around so she could drive me the half hour trip to Jefferson City.
Connie had to take her daughter Carrie to daycare, first and then come and get me. I was hoping she didn't get stuck in traffic, have a flat tire, or even a wreck. ha.
Connie was a cool as a she could be, but I was a little concerned, that I would not make it to the hospital in time.
We arrived at the hospital about 9:30 am. They admitted me and put me in the labor room. I told the nurse that I wanted to see the doctor. She said he would be around soon. About 10 :30 he showed up and check on my progress. Said it would be a little while yet, and left the room. It was about and hour later he came back and checked again. He said, we were getting there, but that it would still be a while yet.
Then about half a hour later, I asked the little nurse that had came into the room, If she would tell the doctor I wanted him to come. She said.. He will be here pretty soon.
Well I knew what that meant. It meant that would be at least another half hour.
I told her.. YOU NEED TO GET THE DOCTOR. She patted my arm and said, "It will be alright MRS. Good, the doctor will be here soon. "
I said.. FINE, then I grabbed one of my knees and pushed.. wow.. Mark was born right on the table. He didn't seem to mind one bit. I think he was just glad to be able to see daylight, finally.
The little nurse, just about lost it.. she turned and ran down the hall way.. yelling... Doctor, Doctor.... about a minute later.. the doctor arrived.. checked everything out, did what needed to be done, and said to me.. "Well , You just pop that fine young man out, didn't you?" I told him.. I asked the nurse for him, but she didn't believe me.
Anyway, the nurses, doctor and I just thought Mark was such a wonderful little baby. He was so sweet, and just sort of really looking around the room, trying to figure out what all the fuss was about. He did cry a little as the doctor sort of tapped his feet. But then he settled down and was wide awake just nice and calm.
The nurses made a big fuss over him, as they had put on his little bed, GOOD BABY BOY.
All of you boys were Strong babies, and could hold your head up right at birth. I never even knew most babies had wobbly heads, until I was around some of the other babies. People think I am nuts, but those that remember you boys when your were born, know what I am talking about.
Most of the babies born in our family are really strong at birth.
Anyway, Mark hope you have another great year, and I am so very, very proud of you for overcoming the smoking habit you had. I know it wasn't easy, but even at birth, when you were ready to do something, nothing would keep you from it. love you..
your mom

Some pics from our past

Today, I wanted to post some pictures of where our families, ( McGaughey's and Carlisle's
homes in Ireland. This is something not too many people have the blessing of seeing in their lifetimes. I Know that my dad, your grandfather McGaughey, never ever got to see where his mom and dad grew up, or ever to even meet his grandparents on either side of the family. Kind of a shame, in a way, but that was the reality of most people who had parents that immigrated from other parts of the map, back in the 1800's and earlier.

Grandma Rachel Elisabeth Carlisle, and Grandpa, Robert Henry McGaughey, lived in Northern Ireland, on Damoily Road about 2 miles from the town of Market hill .

Here is the road sign

travel on this now paved road for about 1/2 mile and come to grandpa McGaughey's home:

The white plaster part is the original home when grandpa was a boy. Back then it had a thatched roof, and dirt floors and rock walls. Through the generations newer products were used, but this is the original spot and house with the newer products put over top of the old. While we were inside the room, our tour guide, Barbra Ferguson, showed us some of the original walls. The mostly stone area was added later as the family grew.

This is a cupboard inside the home. The home is being used for storage now, but this is the original cupboard that was used in this home. Now I know how come I like yellow and roses so much. Its an inherited thing. This actually reminded me of one we had on our ranch in California when I was a girl growing up.

This is Tracy and me leaving the McGaughey home. You cannot imagine how happy I am at this time. To think that my grandfather, had gone though this door way so many times as he was growing up. Just amazing to me that I would ever be here.

This is the view from the McGaugheys home Eastward, the pole you see on the right, is the back yard of the Carlisle home. So the McGaugheys home was on the right side of the road and the Carlisle home was about 100yards up the road on the left.

The Carlisle home is now owned by another family. That's because, my grandmother was one of 8 girls, and there were no boys to leave the home place to. Her dad, Samuel, was a school teacher and taught both Catholics and Protestant students. That was quite an honor to be able to cross religious lines and stay in good standing with members of both sides. Grandpa was well educated, and well liked.

Jason and Tracy on the road in front of the Carlisle home. notice the white home in the back grown, well, the McGaughey home is directly across the street from it.
This is one of the rooms in the original Carlisle home. The home was being used for storage, but we were allowed inside. There were several rooms, all small, and this room had a stairway to go upstairs.
This last picture is a long shot, with our tour guide and I standing at the borderlines of the property.

Were back !!

Hello all, We are back from our Feast /Ireland tip. Wow what a time we had.
traveling can be a great big informative experience. It is said that Ireland has 40 shades of Green. I agree with that. I never saw one rainbow while there, but I saw lots of friendly people with friendly, warm, inviting smiles. Sorry Mark, no leprechauns! If you ask for directions, an Irishman will tell you how to get there, then tell you again, and one more time just to make sure! Now that's service, with a smile!!
We met some brethren from Texas, a whole group from various parts of Missouri, and Canada, Britain, and other parts of the map. All our messages were informative, or/ and motivating. We had a dinner dance, with lamb as one of the meat dishes on the plentiful buffet. yummy cheese cake desserts, and even a fun game. we were placed at tables that had another countries flag as a centerpiece, then we had a list of questions we had to answerer, as a group, to see how much we knew about the other country. Surprisingly we actually did know some of the answers, but I don't think we were the winning table. I personally think it was a lesson in humility.
We visited the Waterford Crystal Co-operation! I was blown away with how many years it takes to become one of the people allowed to work on the production of the hand made glass items. The tour or the plant, I would recommend to anyone going to Waterford Ireland. Did you know that Waterford never sells anything with an imperfection in it. It is truly a work of art. they make trophies for sporting events, Chandeliers, as well as stem wear, bar wear, picture frames, and vases. some of the pieces I especially liked was the Violin, horse and carriage, lighthouse and the chess sets. Its really amazing to see all that detailed work that takes hours to produce. It takes over 20 years to become a master craftsman for Waterford. Then you are allowed to work on the trophies. It takes 5 years of training just to work on the production of any piece that is made there.
Now, I told you I would be trying the Guinness.. I did.. I have decided, I would not make a good drunk.. never mind its not morally good. Dad and I shared our first Guinness.. I let him have the lions share.. because.. yukkkk.. If that is a food.. I will be fasting a lot. Others did like it, and that was good for the Irish economy.
Now a word about Irish coffee.. now that's a whole nother story. One of the best coffees I had was in a pub named "Bailey's". While waiting for our waiter to come, one Irish local, suggested that if we get Irish coffee, make sure its made with Jamison's whiskey. Now I am not a drinker, have never really cared for anything in the way of alcohol.. but that was not bad at all.. But one is quite enough. I have come to the conclusion, that if you want good food.. the pub has to be named after a drink of some kind. ha. This Bailey's had the best steaks, all home grown, that we have had anywhere. As a matter of fact I had everything from fish to lamb, and didn't have a problem with any of it. by that , I mean, I am very sensitive to the stuff they put in our meats, here in the USA, and when I consume them , unless they are Organic, I usually end up with some NOT SO Fun, after effects.. but I ate right off the menu in Ireland and never had any reaction to any of the items. We also noticed that if we asked for something different than the way they normally make it, that the cooks went out of their way, to accommodate.. This made it all the more enjoyable for us.
It was interesting to note, that they are not any better at our geography than we are of theirs. At our Arklow Bay Hotel, where breakfast was included with our stay, one of our waiters wanted to know if Kansas was in Texas. I am still wandering if the Texas brethren were giving him a hard time. ha. And another thing I discovered.. I am not as weired as I thought.. they had beans from breakfast.. ha.. well.. we grew up with beans as one of the items for breakfast.. go figure.. my grandparents were both from Ireland.. ha.. now I know..
More in my post another day.. I got to go... my computer wants to update.. go figure.