...Ruth Kellogg was 29 in May, 1936 when she and John were about to have their second child. Back then, of course, they did not know the sex, but I've been told that they wanted a girl after having had a boy, Ken, in 1931. Ruth and John were living in the flat above Ruth's parents and brother Jimmie on Iowa Street in Chicago. The Great Depression was gradually receding, somewhat like the Ice Age. Most of this post is not in Pieces of a Life.
Wed., May 6, 1936
"Stuck to ironing until finished. Wrote letter to Ida Beal who, Charlie told John over the phone, is expecting second arrival in August. Mama visited at Decker's. Went to Doctor tonight. Gave me pills for a trace of albumin."
Ida and Charlie Beal were close friends of John and Ruth. The Deckers were good friends of Lottie Meredith. I don't know anything about the pills for albumin that Dr. Tucker gave to Ruth.
Fri., May 15, 1936
"Went downtown to Doctor tonight. He hinted there might not be another trip down there. On way home got ice cream cones."
Ruth was due on May 24, so would have had another appointment around May 22 - though it turned out that it was not needed.
Sun., May 17, 1936
"At 4 A.M. we arrived at hospital. At 6:12 A.M. baby girl was born -- 6# 5 oz. Left Kenny home asleep. It happened just one week early."
On this page of Ruth's diary I added a note in cursive writing and some decoration when I was 8 years old. It said "Birthday of Diane now 8" across the top and there was a circle around the date. That was done in 1944, during World War II.
Tues., May 19, 1936
"Baby is getting cuter every day. Named her Diane Meredith. Letter from Alice tonight. Jim & John came tonight. John brought fresh roses."
Women were in the hospital a week or 10 days back then. Kenny was 3 1/2 and would have been in the care of Lottie mostly with John in charge when he came home from work. Lottie probably made dinner for
Kenny and John too.
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