Washington D.C. - 1937

LETTERS
--------------------------------------------------
(L370125) Dorothy Griffin to Maude Griffin / Washington D.C.
(L370201) John Griffin to Mother / Washington D.C.
(L370806) Dorothy Griffin to Maude Griffin / Washington D.C.
(L370824) Dorothy Griffin to Maude Griffin / Washington D.C.

Dorothy was convinced when we were married that if we commenced having a family right away I would never get through law school and she was probably right. In fact I was pretty much in agreement. So it was not until September 27, 1937, three months after my graduation from law school that our first son Jon Robert was born. There was a very noted and outstanding obstitrician that all of the Utah girls were going to about this time, but he was as expensive as he was good. He had a young doctor working with him, named Roger O'Donnell. About the time Dorothy discovered that she was pregnant, Dr. O'Donnell decided to go out on his own. His prices were much more reasonable than the doctor he had been working with, so we decided to give him a try. The more Dorothy got to know him the better she liked him. He was also our doctor when my daughter Marian was born and even now (1958) When Dorothy goes back to Washington D.C. she always calls on Dr. O'Donnell.

Dorothy was in excellent heath all of the time she was carrying Bob and worked up until just a week or so before he was born. The last time she visited the doctor before the big event she was told that everything was ready and to be at the George Washington University hospital at 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 1937. By the time we returned from church Sunday noon, she had experienced pains and I began t wonder. We decided to go to a show later in the afternoon so as to take our minds off the coming events. He was a funny looking little mite with his head squeezed pretty much out of shape indicating a rather hard birth. When I saw him a few days later he looked much better and I was as proud a father as ever had his first son.


YEAR (FILE ) SUBJECT
---- ------- ---------------------------------
1937 (5012) John Robert Griffin - Baby Card
1937 (5019) John Robert Griffin - Baby Shower Card
1937 (5018) John Robert Griffin - Baby Shower Card
1937 (5017) John Robert Griffin - Baby Shower Card

Our obstritrition suggested we go to a a pediatrition to have the baby checked over and for advice on feeding, etc. There was a Dr. Smith that everyone thought was tops so felling that nothing but the best was good enough for our son we called him in. We found him to be another wonderful doctor. When we brought Bob home from the hospital he came out to our apartment and we sat down and he (the doctor) gave us about a half hour of good solid advice. One thing I'll always remember; after giving us a formula and a feeding schedule he said "remember you are feeding a baby and not a clock". He suggested that if the baby cried to be fed a half hour before feeding time, to feed him.

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