Jerome Bernard Houston - Online Gedenkwebseite

Born in Butler Pennsylvania on December 26, 1978.

The rustle and crackle of gift wrap filled the air. The morning was dim and gray, but it was not noticed by my little ones. They were too excited about what Santa left for them. Crinkled wrapping paper was strewn upon the floor with ribbon trailing along with it. New toys were everywhere with delighted children sitting in the middle of it all. I sat back on the blue velvet couch taking in this holiday scene. My husband trying to quickly put together a toy for an impatiently waiting child who instantly shrieks with delight when he hands over the assembled toy. My little ones Matthew, Renee and Maxine. The joys of my life. Every Christmas I wished I could give them more. I wished....my daydream is suddenly interrupted. You see I was heavily laden with child. I recognized what was happening, labor had begun. This is my ninth month and I am at the point of “anytime now”. As my husband and the kids cleared away the wrapping papers I announced, “There’s one more gift to be opened.” My husband looked up at me. “I think I am going into labor” I said. I called my doctor. He told me to eat nothing and stay in bed. “Come to the hospital,” he said “when the pains cease.” Dad was in charge of the day now. I know he served up breakfast ‘Dad style’. He saw to it that the kids were bathed and dressed for the day. At this point in time I do not remember if I had a Christmas dinner prepared. But I am thinking that I did. I do not remember much about that Christmas day. I just remember the mild labor pains. I remember my husband coming in from time to time checking on me as I rested in bed. I remember dozing off only to be jolted out of my sleep by a pair of screaming sisters who were trying to settle a disagreement. I could hear my husband putting a stop to the situation by saying, “You know your mother is not feeling well”. Finally the house is quiet. Baths are done and pajamas are put on. Three of the sweetest kisses in the world are planted on my cheek. I kissed each one of them good night and off to bed they went. Only the little one yet to come has not settled down for the night. We had a plan of action for the trip to the hospital. All of the kids’ coats, shoes, hats and gloves were lined up at the door. This had been the nightly ritual for the past 2 weeks. My husband finally went to bed and I slept lightly. It is 6 am and the labor has stopped. Everyone was up. I called the doctor and we prepared to leave. Thank goodness those hats and coats were at the door! In Butler Pennsylvania you could always count on snow at Christmas and this year was no different. There was plenty of snow and ice on the hilly roads. As my husband was helping me into the car my water broke. “Oh no” I said to my husband, “My water just broke”. The man sprang into action! He shoved me into the car and it seemed to me children were being tossed into the back seat at lighting speed. I knew what was on his mind. Our second child, Renee, was born at home under similar circumstances and I don’t think he wanted to go through that again. My husband navigated the icy roads with skills that would make polar bears jealous! All he wanted to do was to get to that hospital quick. He had to run red lights and stop signs along the way. If he stopped completely he might not be able to get going again on the ice. It was after one of these red lights that a policeman stopped him for running through it. My husband explained the situation and we then had a police escort to the hospital. We arrived at the parking lot. Out jumps my hero husband and he dashes into the hospital and returns with a nurse and a wheelchair. Away we go, leaving my three joys behind. It is decided that I am to close to delivering to go through all the usual preparation, so I am wheeled straight to delivery. After a short wait, the OB nurse comes in. She was wearing a bright smile. “So, you must be the mother of the three children in the car.” she said. “Yes I am.” I replied. Then she told me this story. “I am just coming on duty. I saw the car with the doors flung open and I heard children crying. I knew something was wrong and went to the car to find out what was the problem. I got in the car and closed the doors. The two girls were crying but the boy was just sitting there, cool as a cucumber. So I decided to talk to him. What happened? I asked the boy. Well, my mother was going to have a baby and she just couldn’t wait! I could not help laughing. I then proceeded to calm the girls down. By that time your husband arrived at the car.” I laughed at her story, and then I said, “Yep, that sounds about right. That’s my Matthew, always cool as a cucumber. And my girls, they are the excitable ones. Thank you for calming them down.” Jerome’s birth occurred without any drama. He had a soft cry, just enough to let you know he was here. He had the sweetest face. He would look at me with his big brown eyes as if he knew all would be well. I believe he came into this world with his thumb in his mouth. For two days I did not get a good look at his face because he had his thumb in his mouth and his fingers covered his cheek. All I saw were his brown eyes. Life at home was like a circus I’m sure. Lots of questions for Dad, the daily chaos of three young children, temper tantrums, more questions for Dad, hunts for shoes, socks and gloves and disputes between siblings. A friend of ours looked after the kids while we waited for my mother to arrive from Maryland. My husband found a moment to breathe when he came to the hospital to see his new son. The son born on his birthday, the day after Christmas. “What did you name him?” he asked me. “Well, I like Jerome and I like Bernard but I cannot think of a middle name to go with either one.” I said. “Why don’t you just name him Jerome Bernard?” my husband said. “Good idea” I said. And baby made six. Jerome Bernard Houston December 26, 1978 Butler, Pennsylvania Parents - Theron and Toni Houston Siblings - Matthew Renee Maxine

Passed away on May 7, 2008 at the age of 29.