HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our "Birthday Kids"! Yes, Julie, I will still call you a "kid"; and Travis already knows that I haven't yet let go of thinking of him as my "little boy". Vivid in my mind this morning are the memories of both of you on the days of your birth: Julie -- March 5, 1977; and Travis -- March 5, 1984. Julie was supposed to have been born in February, and, it seemed to me, so far over due that I decided this baby was NEVER going to get here. March 4th was a beautiful, sunny day, and I decided to take Brad and Rod to a little Mexican Restaurant after school. I had decided it didn't matter if I had mega garlic breath. There was certainly not going to be a trip to the hospital. (Yes. I was worried about all of the nurses and the doctor possibly having to be bothered by my garlic breath! Oh, worry!) Anyway, of course I went into labor during the night! We called Grandma Slater, and she drove over in the dark of the night to watch Brad, Rod and Vince. Brad and Rod were "antsy" all day in school, and then they had to go to Primary, (which was held once a week after schoo). They were completely delighted when they heard they had a new little baby sister, not to mention the delight of her Mom and Dad! However, I had such a horrific headache for days, as a result of the anesthetic, I couldn't think of a GIRL name. (Ryan, you got the name we had chosen for Julie, 22 months later.) Aunt Arlene suggested the name, Mandy, because of a very popular Barry Manilow song. You all know the rest of the name story. We love you, Julie!
March 5, 1984 was also a beautiful, sunny day. The Slater household woke up that morning to the knowledge that there would be a baby coming that day. Travis actually was a week early, so I had a HUGE afterschool birthday party planned for Julie (23 little girls). Poor Sharon Hone took over, and Julie still got her party. That morning, Brad headed off to High School. He was a senior. Rod headed off to Junior High. He was in 9th grade. Before heading off to Barratt School, (1st grade), Julie opened her Birthday gift, which was a much-wanted Cabbage Patch Kid doll. Ryan was having a "Career Day" in Pre-School, so we dressed him up as a "Salesman", with briefcase, white shirt and tie. Katie was picked up in the School Van, and taken to the Utah School for the Deaf satellite unit in Orem. We had previously called the hospital, so they knew we were coming, but there were just some important family things to be taken care of first! The hospital finally called and told us in an agressive way that we needed to get me over there - fast! They ran a wheelchair out to the car for me, as they must have been standing at the door waiting. I was really humiliated! At that time, there was not a way to determine during pregnancy whether baby was boy or girl. So, no one knew if they were getting a sister or brother. At that time, Rod had just received his Eagle Scout award, and Dad had memories of many years of Pinewood Derby. When the doctor announced we had a fine baby boy, my first words were, "Oh! Another Scout!" Dad's first words were, "Oh no! More Pinewood Derbys!"
But we were thrilled, and Brad and Rod and their friends made frequent trips to the hospital to see their new baby brother, and Julie could not have been happier. She had her Cabbage Patch Doll, AND a "real live" doll on HER birthday! We love you, Travis!
We hope you both have a terrific day. You both deserve it!
Love, Mom and Dad
