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| 1977 |
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Born in Scottsdale, Arizona on May 18, 1977. Derek was our first child. He had a brother and sister from his dad. Derek's middle name is Rayburn, after my father. He didn't want to breathe right after his birth so Dr. Hale helped him. He weighed 6 pounds 12 ozs. He was so beautiful to us even though most babies do kind of look like old little people. I think it is because of lack of hair/teeth and probably because they squint so much because it is light! I made so many mistakes as a new mother but I also knew what it was to totally have an undying love and to feel defined. I was not just my parents second daughter, a second wife, I was Derek's MOM!
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| 1977 |
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Derek was a fussy baby but I learned taking a bath with him every night and swishing him back and forth in the water, which he loved, helped him greatly.
Derek had his blue quilt I made while I was in college, still have it. He also had a little brown bear my grandmother bought him that played Jack and Jill.
My father-in-law, Raymond Taylor, made a beautiful, large, cradle! Like no other. It sits on it's own stand.
I hope to have photos soon. Derek's slept in with us the first few months of his life and then in his own room across the hall. we left the doors open but put a screen door on his door to keep our two cats, Harley and Kitton, out of his room. He slept in the cradle until he was about 5 months old and then we bought a used crib but new yellow mattress from Sears.
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| 1977 |
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We had his bedroom painted yellow with pale green trim. I had gotten a blanket that had a little Holly Hobbie type girl, little boy, duck, and bear. With my husband's help and my father-in-law's jig saw, I drew copies of those 4 things in two sizes. We cut them out and I painted them to match the blanket. We put the four large ones on his closet door. Our first house we bought, the previous owners left a 4 door dresser. I painted it the same color as the cradle and a rocker. I glued the 4 smaller ones on the drawers. I guess that was my creative moment when I was preparing for my first child. We still have the dresser, cradle, and the rocker (but the rocker does need to be repaired. It has not done so well in the many moves).
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| 1977 ~ 1979 |
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With Derek being a fairly sickly child, he also was very sensitive to heat. I would take him outside for just a few moments and he would break out with a heat rash. I also could only put white cotton socks on him because anything else would give him a rash.
We later found out he was born with only one kidney. He had his tonsils and adenoids removed just before he turned 3. He was always getting bronchial pneumonia. During one visit to my parents in California, he was so ill we took him to see the pediatrician I worked for when I didn't know I was pregnant, Dr. Peyton. He told us to have his tonsils and adenoids removed as soon as we were able to travel back to Texas. The Texas doctor didn't think it was necessary but I insisted because I felt Dr. Peyton was the best doctor I ever knew and still feel that way. After the surgery, the doctor came out and told us that and his adenoids were so huge that he was only able to breathe out of his nose through a teeny hole on one side so he was a mouth breather. That explained why he would have his tongue on the edge of the cup when he would drink. I thank God for Dr. Wayne G. Peyton!
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| 1977 ~ 2001 |
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Will write more later about his life, siblings he loved to torment in a fun way. As it is with siblings, "It's okay for me to be mean to them but NO ONE ELSE better hurt them!" They all are loved, sensitive, loving, have values, honest, wonderful, and still ornery babies. Derek's life could not be told without my daughter forever, Jen, Derek's wife,.....
I LOVE AND MISS YOU DEREK!!!
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| December 2005 |
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I hope when I finally get more added, you will check back and get to know my baby, my firstborn, my Derek, and hopefully you also will love and remember him too. All my children are wonderful, a bit ornery at times, but they are more valuable to me than anything! I always said I would give my own life for my babies and that horrible June night, while driving home, I prayed for God to take me instead. He did not, I didn't know it was already too late so I am still here and plan on staying here for my other loved ones and to remind others that even though my son is now a real Angel, he still is very much a part of all of us, always will be a part of who we are, and will never be forgotten!
Peaceful Holidays
I pray
2006 brings peace! |
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| 2001 |
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Passed away on
June 27, 2001
at the age of 24. |
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