My Son's Daughter Evie

My Son is 1.5 years younger than my oldest Daughter, which I'm staying with to help her through a custody battle. I help out with cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and moral support. Hopefully next year we can move back to Oregon, I miss my home state so much!

Before moving to Oklahoma with my Husband to help my Daughter out, my Husband and I lived in Eugene Oregon and my Son lives in Estacada Oregon my hometown. I grew up in Estacada and lived there until I was 40 years old. I moved to another state to go to college and never looked back. But I still visit for 2 reasons, I have family there and Estacada is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenic areas in Oregon.

My Husband and I lived in Eugene because we found a beautiful little hobby farm that was perfect for retirement. Estacada is a 3 hour drive north of Eugene and my Son would bring his Wife and my Grandson to visit or we would make the trip over to Estacada.

In of 2013 my Son's Wife, I'll call her L. in this telling, was expecting her second child and went into labor early. Fortunately her doctors were able to stop the contractions and she was regulated to bedrest and I came down to stay with them for a month, helping out with childcare, cleaning house, and cooking. I didn't know L. very well at the time, having lived in Chicago, I was far away from my family in Oregon. My Son and L. have been together since highschool, at the time of Evie's birth both were in their mid 30s. L. and I bonded over conversations fashioned to keep the mind from dwelling on the fear of losing ones child. She is an amazingly strong and steady person, a great Mother and Wife, my Son is a lucky man.

It was a tough go, we all thought Evie wouldn't make it. She was diagnosed with a genetic problem that caused the mother to abort the child early. I can't remember the name of the disorder. Both parents were under incredible pressure and I did what I knew how to do best. Keep the house in order and try to keep the routines normal in times of distress.

Evie beat all odds, her Mom gave birth naturally, she was born a month early. Amazingly the child was healthy, near normal body weight and in normal range for everything else a newborn needed for a healthy start in life. She latched onto the breast easily and was a breast fed baby. The relief we all felt was indescribable coupled with the joy of meeting a new life.

The genetic disorder can cause development delays and other problems. However Evie is a healthy little girl, completely normal in every way, my Son, his Wife, and Evie's big Brother are doing well. To be healthy, happy, have a comfy-cozy home, that's all one can ask for in this life.

11 x 10 inches, drawing paper and pencils 2014

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