Tag Archives: Dr. Ira Cole

So you got your laundry (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Dec 26, 27 & 28 rec’d. Also John and Mark each received theirs today. Thanks a lot for the picture. Altho I recognized only one face I was glad to get the group picture. That will be something to keep and for you to look at after you are home – You can tell us then all about everything and everybody. So you got your laundry and cokes. I had written that I had a surprise in the box & that was it. I was afraid those cokes would stop off before sailing. The pictures for Lentz was in a box I mailed for your birthday but is was sent before the laundry box so it may be last. In that box I put a camera & two roll of films also various other things. I do hope you get it and all the letters I have written the last two months.

I am trying to rest a little and write at the same time. Clara M. came today to help and I couldn’t relax very well while she was here, but she just left. She is good help and I am having her come once a week now. After having

[page 2] taken so much sulfa I was afraid my blood count would be down but while in Cole’s office yesterday his nurse made a count and it wasn’t bad, but I had my liver & B along so he gave me a shot. He examined David and found he had a sore throat. He had been running a temp again since I had my last “round,” so I am giving the baby neopronticil. What a mess, but his temp is going down – was just 99 2/10 at 2 P.M. The strange thing about it you (I) would never know he had anything wrong if I hadn’t taken his temp. Well he did sound a little nasal and that was why I took his temp. He eats regularily – and takes all his bottle every time besides pablum every morning. I was afraid he would be hard to get along this week because the boys talked to him so much last week but he has been fine. Has found his hands and plays with them so much. He chews his fingers sometimes like he might be getting ready to cut teeth, but there isn’t any sign of teeth. Sucks left thumb. Weighed 12 – 9 oz.

I called Dorothy this morning and she said the Johnson’s have a 8-11 boy.

[page 3] I wanted to tell Dorothy you got the cokes. She knew when I sent them. We were afraid they wouldn’t get to you. John and I decided then we should have sent you some dry ice so you could have them cold – might do that sometime.

I saw Dr. Ade again yesterday and he treated my throat and I am to go again Fri. It feels good but he says he want to see me again. In case you haven’t some of my previous letters I had a throat infection. It would come & go – I thought I was all over it after I tool sulfathiaziole but it came back and I had a sinus infection too – so I went to see Dr. A. and he treated me and now I feel much better. After looking at my throat and treating it he said the baby had good resistance to get by as he did – with only a slight temp & sore throat. Now please don’t worry about us, we are all better and hope to stay well. After this at the first sign of a sore throat I am going to Dr. A. and have a treatment. He and his wife are in the same office now and he has rooms & rooms. The waiting room is very large so they can have several waiting and it doesn’t seem like they are so rushed. However I think he is as busy as ever. I think he said a Dr. Holliday or maybe Halloway is back. He has been

[page 4]abroad and is I suppose home on leave. I mentioned in last night’s letter that I got a new coat. It is just plain black seal but what I liked and it was on sale for $108.95. I looked at several different kinds but this suited me so bought it. Also got a silly hat that will do for spring. You would like it – it is “red.”

Mrs. Zell went with me and did some shopping for their 3 girls. She bought snow suits for each and her total bill was over $40⁰⁰ – but wraps are being made with poorer material all the time and she was afraid to wait until next fall to buy. I should get Mark a new coat now too. He needs one – is wearing John’s old coat now.

I bought a new innersprings mattress for David’s bed (the one Mary Parttens loaned me) and Mark has wanted a new mattress for a long time. He didn’t say much because it was for David but I think he would like one too. I told him I wouldn’t get one for him until he quit jumping on his bed. John doesn’t say much.

David has been good all afternoon and seems to want some attention now. John is practicing on the sax – Mark did practice on the cornet but is now eating candy – about all the Christmas candy is gone —

Love
Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at:  https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/11/so-you-got-your-laundry-gladys/

Black Seal Coat (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 4 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Will dash off a line and try to get it off on the night mail. This has been a busy day. Went to Laf. this morning – Had an appointment with Dr. Cole at 11:45 and Dr. Ade 3 P.M. and was to go to the Rotary meeting tonight. Dr. Ade didn’t get to me until quite a while past 3 and it was 6 PM when we got home. Clarice came to get me and I was giving the baby his bottle, so she took the job while I cleaned up a little. After making the baby comfortable (burp & dry pants) I went with Clarice to the dinner. Dr. Phillips or maybe it is Prof.

[page 2] from Purdue gave a talk on the geography of the War. He had some hugs maps and it was a very interesting talk. Ira said he was glad I could attend the meeting and wanted me to tell you they are still going strong. The banquet room was about full, of course that was due to Rotary Anns being present, but the meeting was well attended. Mr. Byrnes, Homberg (Nu Joy manager) & Mr. Zell were taken into Rotary. Bob was looking around for Ed Johnson and when he couldn’t find him wondered if he was by any chance in Watseka – D. White was also a guest tonight, so Bob asked her and she said Ed was probably in Watseka, that Dr. M. was called down to Johnsons about 5 P.M.

[page 3] Maybe in my next letter I can give you a report.

After I saw Dr. Cole I had to park the baby some place until after I could see Dr. Ade so went to Algoods and left him there. They were getting a V-mail ready to send to you when I was there. Showed me the greeting you sent them. Myron Keith looks like he did when they were here last summer. I took him a little suit. I didn’t get my Christmas shopping all done and didn’t send them any greetings so got the suit for Keith today.

Since school was dismissed before Christmas the children didn’t get to have their gift exchange until today. Jimmy Sammons had Mark’s name and gave him a sailor pin.

Gladys modeling the black seal coat & new hat - January 1943

Gladys in new coat & hat

[page 4] I almost forgot – I at least got me a coat – I had time between Doctors to do a little shopping. It is black seal – I am afraid you won’t like it but after looking over everything I decided it was what I liked better than anything else for what I wanted to spend – (110⁰⁰) And a new hat – It is rose colored and hard to describe as hats are but it will last thru till spring so I won’t have to worry about a hat later on.

Gladys & David - January 1943

Gladys holding David

It is about time to feed David & I had had such a rushing day will be glad to get to bed and get a little relaxation. I’ll have a picture taken with my new things and send you one so you can get a fair idea what they look like. Will try to write better tomorrow.

Love
Mother

P.S. Your first letter came Sept 22 – However I had rec’d 6 before it came.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at:https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/07/black-seal-coat-gladys/

We went to Lafayette (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Jan 3 -1 1943

Dear Daddy –

I missed getting a letter out Sat, but we went to Laf. and when we came home was too late. I wanted to go see Dr. Ade about my throat – it wouldn’t get over being irritated. I also wanted to take David down for Dr. Cole to see but he couldn’t see me Sat. and I am planning to go tomorrow morning. That sounds like a lot of travel but Dr. Ade wants to see me again tomorrow. My throat feels much better since he worked on it and hope another treatment will fix me up. I feel better generally too. I am going to have a blood count made because after taking so much sulfa I probably need some shots. Clarice kept David for me yesterday but of course I’ll take him along tomorrow. She said he was very good while she had him. He is that way most of the time. He is on the bath table now kicking and looking around.

[page 2] When we came home Floyd & Ruth were here to spend the week-end. They have been traveling around so much hadn’t been able to get any laundry work done so they brought their washing along and did it. Floyd is to take his physical and if he passes will be in the Army. They will probably write you if and when.

I told you about the bed Mary Parttens loaned us for the baby. They brought it in yesterday and Floyd set it up. We have it in the den and it looks like the piano will have to go to the living room because it makes the den too crowded. I think I’ll make a real nursery out of the den since David has to have his things downstairs.

Five letters came yesterday which brought your mail up to Christmas Eve. I am so glad you found the batteries. Also glad you rec’d as many boxes as you did – since that was all you could have for Christmas. Now maybe you will get the other boxes I sent. It’s odd you have never received any letters from Funks. I know they have written to you and sent you a box for Christmas

[page 3] Just had a caller – Eleanor Towers – she came to see David – and the rest of us. So many came after we came home from the hospital but this was her first visit.

The weather seems to be changing some. It has been raining & warm but the wind is blowing and I believe it is getting cooler. Floyd was wishing for sunshine today. He brought his movie camera along and wanted to get some good indoor pictures. We have some photoflood bulbs we used so maybe they will be good. He took some of the boys out in the yard and some of all of us in the house. He had some developed that he had taken down in C.C. He has a screen & projector so we got to see some scenes from the farm with your Mother, Dad, Clarence, Ralph Glendon & Kenneth and one of Bob. I don’t know when we will get to see these he took today, because if he goes in the Army can’t tell where he will be sent. Dorothy Salter’s husband and Herschel Steiner are in the same C.B. camp

[page 4] in Rhode Island. I think Hilda said Ed was being sent to a camp in R.I.

We have eaten so much candy – received some nice boxes for Christmas. Floyd & Ruth brought the boys – John & Mark each a can of peanuts and then opened them and we have been eating them – I would much preferred to send them to you. Hope you get the ones I did send in your birthday box.

Our radio is getting a little off – I think it needs a new tube. It blurs and hums sometimes. Dorothy said theirs had gone out entirely – you remember they got theirs when we got ours. I’ll see Geo T. about it. Maybe he will have some new tubes. Just wish I could send you a radio but they aren’t for sale any more.

The boys are listening to Gildersleeve and it is about time for David to get a bottle so must get this finished.

– – Just stopped to put the bottle on to warm and from the sound of the thumb being sucked I think he is ready for supper

Love
Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/10/05/we-went-to-lafayette-gladys/

Protected: Heard they are not going to slice bread (Gladys)

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Protected: Received 12 letters today (Roscoe)

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Protected: Flashback – September 17, 1942 (Gladys)

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Protected: Monday Morning (Gladys)

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Protected: Wow! Gladys gets catty (Gladys)

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My 6 cents worth (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Dec 22 1942

Dear Daddy –

Rec’d 3 letters this morning. I wish I had sent you several small boxes for Christmas. Maybe you would have gotten one. I had a letter a few days ago in which you told me what to do about Otto Paul – I finally got around to calling Boonie & told him to send the pills. This weather again – Yesterday looked like another blizzard but it calmed down and now it looks foggy and the snow is dirty and the roads are so slick the school buses didn’t go out so no school today. John didn’t feel so good and I had kept him home in bed. My throat was sore again this morning so I called Dr. Cole. He said to give John 1 sulfothiozole every 4 hrs and told me to get neo-pronticil for my throat. Neither of us have a temperature but John’s cold hangs on and this throat condition has been coming & going for some time. I thought I was entirely rid of it but it was present again this morning. I am not down but don’t like to be bothered so much and afraid it might develop into something if I don’t get it checked.

[page 2] I talked to Jack Byrnes about writing to Mead-Johnson and he said if I would bring a letter head to him he would write to the Co for me. I started David on Pablum yesterday. He was hungry after his 2 P.M. bottle. Arlene had called me and wanted me to come down and stay with her boys while she went to town – Louise was out. So I bundled David up and went down. She had a new box of Pablum so she opened it and I gave him some. He was satisfied then. This morning I gave it to him just before his 10 A.M. bottle. Arlene commented on how well he ate it. I said that was because he knew what a spoon was for – having given his orange juice that way – however I had to quit the orange juice because he threw it up every time after I had increased the amount. I am giving him the Vit C tablets now. He weighs 11 ½ lbs. He is taking 13 oz carnation – 17 oz water – 2 ½ tbsp Dextri – in 24 hrs – Even if you have forgotten about baby formulas – you can see he is getting pretty strong milk for a 3 mo old baby – but he wasn’t satisfied with a weaker mixture so had to increase it – He has normal stools and is good so that must prove he can take the richer mixture

[page 3]Mark’s ice skates came today and I gave them to him so he could be learning. He was very thrilled over them but he didn’t stay at the pond very long. He was sure he could just get on those skates and do the figure eight.

John says he is hungry so that must indicate his cold isn’t making him feel so bad – but I am going to insist on keeping him in bed today.

We went to the band concert last night and the wind was blowing and the snow drifting over the sidewalks with a layer of ice under the snow so you know the going wasn’t easy. I haven’t tried to get the car out of the garage this week. The streets especially ours are so slick I am afraid I would turn around trying to stop. There is some traffic but I notice the cars go rather slow. The band concert was very nice. We took Bobby Funk and he enjoyed it very much. When I was there (at Funks) yesterday afternoon I took Donnie up and changed him. I never saw such a baby. It doesn’t

[page 4] seem possible for him to be so big at 4 months. However I told you once before about Elizabeth & Bud Wilson’s baby – at 3 months he weighed 17 lbs and looked like he was 6 mo. old. Our David isn’t like that but he is developing very normally – makes an average ½ lb a week gain.

C. Foulks just came and brought the children some gifts – I didn’t have hers ready yet – in fact I haven’t had a chance to finish my Christmas shopping. This weather I have been talking about has been a handicap.

I tried to call Floyd & Ruth to tell them we would stay home Christmas but they didn’t answer so must be on a company trip. I wrote to your Mother that we would stay home. I ordered a chicken today and it is a fry so John, Mark & I will eat our Christmas dinner at home. Since David is satisfied with milk & Pablum won’t bother him much about special days.

I feel a little on the dull side today so this letter may not be worth the 6¢ it takes to send it but I have stopped several times since I started and broken what constructive though I might have had. Will try to do better next time and get my 6¢ worth –

Love Mother

P.S. I called the enterprise about the visit of Uncle Wes & Paul Harris but they didn’t get give the item much space.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/09/6-cents-worth-gladys/

Forgot the pictures (Gladys)

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.

Dec 19 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

To begin with if you received the letter I sent yesterday you probably wonder what happened to the pictures I promised or rather said I enclosed – well I was in a hurry to get the letter ready to mail and forgot the pictures – so here they are. The weather today hasn’t done anything unusual but it looks like more snow will fall. This present snow is very dirty. After the slight thaw and freeze the snow has a crust that can be walked on.

I went to the class party at Hufty’s last night. My mystery Pal was Pauline Hiestand. Dorothy stayed with the children. The party didn’t hold so late so I didn’t have to keep Dorothy as long as I thought I might. Nick and Buddy came out after Nick closed the restaurant. I tried to go in the car but couldn’t get out of the drive way due to ice – I couldn’t get the car either way so I walked to the party. When Nick came he got the car out of the rut and put it in the garage. I haven’t had time to get it out today but have an idea it is still to slick to get out of the drive. We have had more continuous cold weather this Dec. than sometimes have all winter.

[page 2] Mrs. Washburn & Helen came up this morning to see me. I was getting ready to bathe the baby so they had a chance to see him awake. He was in a very good mood. Helen said how good he was. Since they have to travel when they can get train accommodations they can’t stay over Christmas, but leave Sun. I showed them the shells, necklace and moneys. Helen thought the necklace very pretty. I wore it to the party last night and everyone I showed it to thought it unique. I wore a while blouce so the necklace had a good background.

I had three letters from you this morning dated Dec 9-10-11. So glad you rec’d the pictures. After Christmas I am going to have Hubertz make some and maybe you can get a better idea of how David looks. He looks more like your baby picture every day – I think. I just gave him his bottle and he is feeling pretty good. He still doesn’t sleep thru at night without a bottle but he wakes up so hungry I don’t know what to do but feed him, so guess I’ll keep on until he can sleep through.

John is listening to the opera this afternoon. I was trying to write so sent him up to his room so I could concentrate better. He is to play for Sunday School – in the adult Dept. tomorrow. He was asked to play something so made a medley

[page 3] of Christmas carols. He didn’t go take a music lesson this morning due to having been in Thurs & Fri. He was glad of an excuse not to go because Miss Smith is using Bair’s piano and John says it is so badly out of turn he can’t endure the sound. Mr. Simons is in St. E. for observation so Miss Smith can’t go there now – I suppose Mrs. Simons has closed the house and is staying with her married daughter in Lafayette. I haven’t heard anything about what Mr. Simons trouble is.

Mark has gone to town to do some of his Christmas shopping and buy a few more greetings for me. I didn’t do much about greetings this year. I bought a few at the variety store and sent to friends & relatives we always send to. I sent 16 with pictures of David. I was going to send you one of those pictures but ran out before I was thru so thought I would have a better one made for you.

Had a letter from Ruth M. today. She said she would like for us to come over if possible. If it weren’t for this unusual weather we are having I would try to go over some time during Christmas vacation but with the baby so small I am in favor of staying home till warmer weather.

David received a Christmas greeting from Dr. & Mrs. Cole. Their greeting this

[page 4] year is a picture taken of their cocker spaniel out in front of their house by the sign post. You remember they have the sign post by the driveway. It has the outline of the horse & buggy with their name underneath. You mentioned taking the serum along when I take David for his shots – I had thought of that – because it is still good and will be then and it is the combined shots. I won’t take him for shots until March (6 mo old).

I told you in a previous letter the boys bought 5⁰⁰ each worth of stamps out of their 10⁰⁰ – I wrote to F & R about what a kick Mark got from the 10⁰⁰ – Floyd said he bet that 10⁰⁰ looked bigger to Mark than next year’s budget to Congress. I think John appreciated his just as much but he isn’t so much to demonstrate. You can appreciate that. After Christmas I am either going to buy a coat or put “my” money in a saving acc’t and also take out most of the bank acc’t and put on interest somewhere. We really don’t need enough in the checking acc’t only to meet the monthly needs and any allotment will take care of that I think.

I have the humidity up a little this afternoon due to towels, diapers, etc., on the radiators. The towels sour in the basement before they dry so bring them up here. You won’t get this until after Christmas so hope you rec’d some of the boxes –

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/04/forgot-the-pictures-gladys/