* all ages
This is dedicated to my Mom.
Generations of Moms
By Steph
May 12, 2002
It was 5:15 and all the people at Crabapple Farm were asleep when the phone rang.
Being a mother of 4, 3 grown and one in high school, Helen Belden jumped to her feet to answer it. Phone calls at 5:15 am were usually emergencies.
She picked it up and said "Hello"
It was her son in law Jim Frayne, "Moms, we’re at the hospital. Trixie’s in labor. Everything is going well but she’s asking for you."
Helen said, "I’ll be right there. Tell Trixie I love her and I will be there as soon as I can get some clothes on and drive over. Becoming a mom on mother’s day how perfectly perfect as she and Honey would say. I love you too, Jim."
She hung up and went over to her husband who was awake and said "I heard. The baby’s coming. A few weeks early but not too early right?"Helen said, "3 weeks is not dangerous. I know everything was going well at Trixie’s last checkup. I talked to her last night. Oh, Peter our first grandchild. It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. I’ll go ahead to the hospital and you let Bobby know and come over later."
They hugged and kissed and Helen got dressed, quickly and a bit haphazardly but was soon on her way over to the hospital.
As she drove into the parking lot of Sleepyside Hospital, Helen was overwhelmed a bit with memories of her own 4 trips there.
27 years earlier her first. So nervous and so excited and it had taken so long! 18 hours but worth the wait. A healthy baby boy who took after his father so much from day one. She proudly remembered that Brian was now a doctor at the hospital and was hoping to be the pediatrician to examine his niece or nephew on delivery.
Two years after that her second son. A baby who took after her. And a bottomless pit for food from day 1. She remembered how he had always cried for his breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack anything and still did. She was so proud of him, working with her son in law on the farm program for the school which was 2 years away and teaching science at the high school.
And then 11 months later, her beloved baby girl. A tomboy and stubborn from day 1! She had come so quickly into the world so anxious to get out and going. She thought of her baby girl, now a grown woman of 24, college graduate, happily married and now about to give birth herself. She drove by the detective agency she had started with Brian’s wife, Honey a year earlier and smiled with pride.
And then 7 years later after they had given hope of having another, their youngest, Bobby. The future baseball star. So tall and so handsome and so determined and driven.
They were lucky to have 4 healthy and wonderful children and now a grandchild. The best mother’s day present she could have ever dreamt of.
When Helen arrived at the hospital she went immediately up to maternity where she saw her son in law pacing back and forth in front of one of the labor rooms. She thought of him as another son and when he saw her he yelled "Moms, you’re here!" and ran up to her.
Helen hugged him. "How’s Trixie?" she asked.
"The doctor is in there with her now. Everything is going well but she asked for you. We’ve been here since 11 last night. Brian is here on the pediatrics floor waiting to be called down. Honey is at their house waiting for news. Dan, Mart and Di are also waiting by the phone for news as are my parents, Regan, Miss Trask, heck the entire town of Sleepyside. I called you and then called Honey and she called everyone else. They all are going to wait until the baby arrives to make the trip."
"I know you and Trixie wanted to make it through on your own but I’m glad she asked for me. A girl needs her mother on a day like this." Helen thought wistfully for a moment of her own mother who died a few months before she married Peter.The doctor came out and said, "Everything is going well. Trixie is at 7 centimeters and 100 percent effaced. It should be soon. Settle down, Jim, everything is going well!"
The doctor left promising to be back soon and Helen and Jim entered the labor room.Helen walked over to Trixie and hugged her. "I heard from your husband and the doctor but I want to know from you how are you doing?"
"I’m doing fine," said Trixie, "but I needed you, Moms. My husband is driving me a little batty. The doctor said I could have a second coach. Do you mind being with me for the rest of labor and delivery?"
"Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. It would be an honor." She had tears in her eyes with emotion at being asked to be there.Jim walked over and they sat on either side of Trixie and helped her breathe through the contractions. Helen asked Trixie if she had asked for anything for the pain.
Trixie said, "I had an epidural. It was getting to be too much."
Helen nodded. "I never fully understood this whole idea of going through this without help especially if it won’t hurt the baby. This is the hardest thing you’ll ever do but also the most rewarding. I promise you it will all be worth it in the end."
It wasn’t too long before the doctor came in to check Trixie. "Trixie, you’re at 10!" he announced. "It’s time to go! Baby Frayne will be here at any minute."They headed to the delivery room where suddenly everything was a bustle of activity but not too long afterwards but seemingly a million years to Trixie and her mother and husband, in the middle of all the bustle and hustle they heard the most beautiful sound in the world, a baby’s first cry.
The doctor held the baby up. "Congratulations, Trixie and Jim, It’s a beautiful baby girl."
All three had tears in their eyes as the doctor placed the baby on Trixie’s stomach as they all caressed her and stroked her and whispered words of love.Jim kissed Trixie. "She’s beautiful. And perfect and looks exactly like you, Trixie-- actually both you and Trixie, Moms."
Helen said, "Trixie, she looks exactly like you did when you were born. I’m so proud of you and so happy for both of you and thank you for making me a grandma. Heck, I really like that word, Grandma."After Jim held the baby he handed her to Helen who was very proud to be the first person outside her parents to hold her granddaughter and was filled with an overwhelming sense of love and awe. "I’m your grandma, sweetie. Welcome to the world. You’re such a beauty." Then she kissed her and handed her back to the doctor.
Brian entered smiling "I heard I have a niece. News travels fast in this hospital."
He walked over and examined her and weighed and measured. "Just as I expected a perfect 10! 6 pounds 3 ounces, 20 inches long and everything perfect. I might be a tiny bit prejudiced, but she is the most beautiful baby to ever be born in this hospital present company possibly excluded."
They all hugged"I tell you what," said Helen. "I'll let the three of you have some time together and I’ll make the calls for you. Brian I’m sure you have to do some doctor things too. I’ll call Peter and then your parents, Jim, and they can start a calling circle."
Trixie and Jim thanked her and she was off to spread the wonderful news.
Later in Trixie’s Room
Trixie and Jim had some time alone to ooh and aah over their beautiful daughter, count her fingers and toes and tell each other and their baby how much they loved each other and couldn’t wait for the future.
Eventually, Helen popped her head in and said, "Company’s coming. I called Peter and he and Bobby are on their way and the Wheelers are too. I’m sure everyone else will be here soon too. This is such a happy day."
Trixie teased, "And we promised you brunch at the country club today. I hope you don’t mind missing it!"
Helen laughed. "I’ll take a new grandchild any day over brunch at the country club. Besides the Wheelers are bringing over food!"Soon the room was filled with well wishers. The Wheelers brought food as well as champagne and the others brought flowers and it was the happiest room on earth.
The baby was passed from person to person as everyone got a chance to ooh and aah and say things like "I’m your grandma", "grandpa", "Aunt", "Uncle", "family groom" (Regan), close friend of family and honorary Uncle (Dan who had been decided would be called uncle by their children), former governess in sensible shoes (Miss Trask) paperboy, the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker, the Cubs bullpen, everyone who was anything. (Just kidding about everyone after Miss Trask).
Finally Mr. Wheeler asked the question everyone was waiting to ask. "Does my granddaughter have a name? We can’t keep calling her the baby for the rest of her life. It might get a little confusing especially with Brian and Honey expecting in December."
Jim said, "Well, the name has been under a bit of a debate. For months. 9 months to be exact. We decided against Mart’s suggestion of Felicity Francesca for a girl and Frederick Farnsworth for a boy last week."
Trixie smiled. "But looking at her I see a perfect combination of Belden and Frayne genes. The red hair and the blue eyes. So a name that combines the families would be perfect. Especially since Brian and Honey have already claimed Madeleine for a daughter. So we decided on Katje Helen Frayne after our mothers on this Mother’s Day,"Everyone agreed the name was perfectly perfect.
Soon Mrs. Wheeler said, "We brought some food, but not enough for everyone. I think we should let the new family have some time alone. We can all come back later but Trixie looks tired and so does Jim."
Trixie gave her a grateful look. She hadn’t wanted to seem an ungracious host but she was pretty tired. She just didn’t know how to say "Get out, you’re bothering me!" to people she loved.Everyone cleared out and left Trixie and Jim alone with their daughter.
"Trixie, you look pretty beat," Jim said. "Brian said they need her back in the nursery anyway for a checkup and I can go home and catch 40 winks. I’ll be back later. I’ll take Katje back myself."
By the time Jim was out the door headed to the nursery Trixie was asleep with a very contented smile on her face.
Jim walked to the nursery where Brian was waiting.
"She is a real beauty Jim. Everyone is so excited that she’s finally here."
"So are we. It was a long wait but worth it."
Brian examined Katje and pronounced everything fine and Jim decided to rock her to sleep. He was tired but so full of adrenaline that he didn’t want to sleep.He settled into a rocking chair with his beautiful daughter in his arms and rocked her to sleep while singing "Daddy’s Little Girl" and by the end of the song Katje was asleep and Jim was about to drop.
Brian said, "I can set you up in a lounge so you don’t have to go to sleep. It’s a very light day here. We’re the same size. I keep a change of clothes here you can use too."
Jim was thankful because even though everything was fine he really didn’t want to leave but he was also very tired.
Later That Night
Helen Belden returned to the hospital later that night by herself. Peter and Bobby had eaten and were home watching the L.A. Law reunion. It was such an exhilarating day she didn’t want it to end.
She headed up to maternity and to Trixie’s room. There she found Trixie sitting up in bed nursing Katje.
"Hi, Moms. I’m glad you came back. I have your Mother’s Day present with me. Jim went to get something to eat. He hates this hospital food. So do I, but we should be home in a few days."
"Do you want me to come over for a few days to help you out?" asked Helen.
"That would be wonderful. I need all the help I can get and you are a great example. I don’t have any idea how I’m going to do this!"
"Trixie, you’ll be wonderful. Just follow your instincts. And I will always be there for you. That’s the way moms are. I’m always only a phone call away."
They hugged and Trixie handed her a small wrapped package.Helen opened it and it was a necklace box and inside it was a necklace with the charm #1 Grandma on it.
"You can wear it officially now," said Trixie.
Helen put it on and they kissed and then Helen handed her a package and said, "I saw this a few weeks ago and had planned all along to present it to you on the day the baby came if it was a girl. I had a suspicion it was."
Trixie opened it and it was a music box. The figurines on top were obviously representing a small child with her mother and granddaughter. She wound it up and set it on the side.It played the Lee Ann Womack song I Hope You Dance.
"I always felt that way about you," Helen said," and that is just the way moms feel for their kids-- especially their baby girls."
Trixie said, "You always encouraged me to 'dance', so to speak. This song is perfect."They hugged as the song continued to play and they oohed and ahhed over Katje.
Finally it was time for Helen to go home, but before she did she had one more thing to tell her daughter. "These are the best days of your life and also all our lives. It’s the beginning of a new generation. Not only a beginning, but a continuation that goes back for centuries and will go forward for hopefully many more centuries. Every single person ever born in the Belden family, the Johnson family, the Frayne family, the Vanderheiden family and so on is part of Katje. She is the beginning of a whole new chapter--a beautiful beginning."
The End But the Beginning