Happy Birthday, Ellen!

I can't believe I have a daughter who is 33 years old. I mean, I think I'm 33 years old ...

But I remember when she was born at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver. My labor was grossly mismanaged, and they suddenly hauled me into the operating room for a high forceps delivery; they never told me at the time, but now that I know what a newborn baby is supposed to look like, blue and rather lifeless isn't the way. They hauled her out, ran off with her, and deposited me in a hallway for recovery for 12 hours all alone. Then, all the enlisted men's wives were in 6-bed wards, lined up for inspection every morning. And, people wonder why I had my next two children at home ...

I was almost 19 and had never in my life held a newborn baby. My husband was just 22 at the time. When we arrived home from the hospital, with Ellen sleeping in her car seat, we pulled into the driveway and sat there and cried. But somehow, we kept her alive and raised a wonderful girl. My heartfelt thanks go out to an anonymous nurse, who, at Ellen's six-week checkup, told me that I seemed like a natural mother to her, and that we would be just fine. I don't even care if she said that to every mother who wasn't drooling on herself - it lifted me and sustained me when I needed it.

"Little Yellin Ellen" - We love you!!!