Chapter 15 - A Life Well Loved

Happy St. Patrick's Day. I actually tend to forget this day, I guess because I'm not Irish, but in any case, I hope you enjoy the day.  Here is another excerpt from A Life Well Loved. This is about Harrison and Ella Mae's middle daughter who become very sick at one point in her life, although you won't find out what was wrong in this particular chapter. It's been quite the journey writing this second installment of my mother's family's story. I didn't think it would take me long at all to write it, but, as with the first book, this one also took a lot of research. It not only involved researching of the family, but even things like the dates of WWI and WWII, when certain songs were published, treatments for certain illnesses, and much more. Even though it slows down the process, I do love the researching aspect of this. It not only helps me to better understand how people lived in the early 1900s, but beyond that, it has helped me to better understand my grandparents and their parents, something I never dreamed would be possible. I'm very proud of the family from where I come. I can only hope they would be proud of my presentation of their extraordinary lives!  Thanks for reading. 

~~ CHAPTER 15 ~~

The war raged on with the US still staying out of it for now, and the families on North Hill continued on with their busy lives. It was sad for everyone to think such devastation and death was taking place across the ocean when life was going so well in this little part of Akron on North Hill. America did eventually enter the war on April 4, 1917, although they were not fully involved until the spring of 1918. Harrison and Royal registered with the draft but were exempt from serving, since they were the sole providers of their families.  Harrison’s younger brother, Walter, did serve, but thankfully came home unharmed. His other brother, Fred, also registered, but not until September of 1918. The fighting had ended the previous month.  Emma was so grateful that none of her boys had been harmed or worse during such a terrible time.

Right after the start of America entering the war brought the birth of Blanche and Roy’s first child, a son, Lester, on April 22, 1917. Everyone was thrilled to have another baby in the family.  “Well, I see you will be carrying on the tradition of having boys,” Harrison laughed as he hugged the new father soon after the baby’s birth. A few years later, on December 27, 1919, the newest Limric, Vivianne, was born to Blanche and Roy.  “I guess I was wrong about those boys,” Harrison chuckled, remembering what he had said to his brother when Lester had been born.  “My man, I think we are destined to bring girls into this family,” and they both laughed as they shook hands and agreed it was meant to be. 

Harrison and Roy, along with the wives and children, spent a quiet evening at home on that New Year’s Eve.  All of the kids were fast asleep as 1920 began, everyone remarking how fast time seemed to be moving with the dawn of a new decade.  They all wondered what the 1920s would bring.

The year started out well enough with daily life continuing on as it had before.  Harrison was still working at the local lumber yard, singing with the quartet on occasion, and Ella Mae was enjoying her children and absolutely loved taking care of her family. It had been over five years since the birth of Olivia, so she had resigned herself to the fact that they probably would have no more children. She was hoping to have a large family, but she was very grateful and felt very blessed with what she had and felt her prayers had been answered with her Olivia and Beth.

In early May, it was a beautiful spring Saturday, and the girls were outside playing with their dolls in the backyard, as Ella Mae was baking pies for the usual Sunday family dinner.  Beth noticed that Olivia was not really playing and kept rubbing her forehead as if she had a bug bite or something she was trying to shoo away from her face.

“Olivia, are you all right? Why do you keep rubbing your head? I don’t see anything flying by your face, if you think there’s a bug there or anything.” Beth crawled over to her sister to see if there was anything on top of her head, and when she felt her forehead, even at her young age, she could tell she was feverish.  They had been playing under the apple tree in the shade, and even though it was a pleasant day, there was a little chill in the air with the slight breeze.  Beth knew Olivia should not have felt that warm since they were in the shade, and it was cool enough that they were wearing sweaters at Ella Mae’s insistence.

“My head hurts,” Olivia said as she started to cry.  “It’s hot out here.  I want to go inside now. Can we go in? Don’t be mad, Beth,” and Olivia continued to shed tears, as she was certain her big sister would be unhappy that she didn’t want to play anymore.

“I’m not mad, Liv,” Beth said as she took Olivia’s hand and giving her a smile.  “Come on. We need to go inside and tell Mama your don’t feel good. I’ll come back and get our dolls after we get you to bed, okay? I bet after you get under the covers and cuddle with your doll, you’ll feel better in no time.” 

“Okay,” Olivia said with a shaky voice as she kept crying. “I hope Mama won’t be mad at me for being sick. I don’t like telling her when I don’t feel good. I don’t wanna make work for Mama. Do you think she’ll be mad?” 

“Oh, Olivia, no one is ever mad at you for being sick. We all get sick, ya know. Did you ever see Mama get mad at us when we told her we didn’t feel good? Now stop being so silly. Remember how she tucks us in bed when we’re sick? That’s what she’ll do today, too. Come on. Let’s get inside. It feels like it’s starting to get more windy out here.”

They went through the back door and into the kitchen just as Ella Mae was putting the last pie into the oven.  She immediately saw Olivia was crying and wondered what had happened. “Did you two get into a fight?” Ella Mae asked. “Why are you crying honey?” When she saw that Beth was holding Olivia’s hand, she knew it was not a fight that brought them into the house.

“Olivia says her head hurts, and she feels really hot, Mama,” Beth explained. “She wasn’t  playing with her dolls, and when I asked what was wrong, she started to cry and said she didn’t feel good. We weren’t fightin’ Mama.”

“I know that, Beth. I thought at first you were, but I see you were trying to take care of your sister.” She knelt down in front of Olivia to feel her forehead.  “Oh dear, you do have a fever, sweetheart.  Let’s get you up to bed.” She picked her up to carry her upstairs. Olivia buried her head in her mother’s arms as she continued to cry. “Did you feel bad when you got up this morning?” she asked, wondering if this came on quickly or that she didn’t notice her behavior earlier in the day.

“I woke up in the dark, and my arms felt funny,” Olivia tried to explain through her tears. “And then my head started to hurt. I think I went to sleep again. I don’t know, Mama. It feels funny, like it hurts. I’m afraid to move my arms. It might hurt again. Did I break my arms?”

Ella Mae couldn’t imagine why Olivia’s arms would hurt in the way she was describing. She figured it was probably the flu, and she was feeling achy, but it did concern her, since Olivia had never described that kind of pain before when she was sick.  She decided after she got her settled into bed, she would have Harrison fetch the doctor just to be sure there was nothing else going on.  “I don’t think you broke your arms, honey. Remember when you were sick before, and you told me your body hurt? It’s probably the same thing again. You have the flu, and a few days in bed will help you feel better. Let’s get your jammies on first.  You want your favorite nightie, the one with the blue ribbons?” Olivia shook her head yes, and Beth got her nightgown while Ella Mae undressed Olivia. She put her in bed, and Beth gave her the doll she had been playing with outside as Ella Mae covered her up.  “You try to go to sleep, okay sweetheart, and I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.  I’ll come check on you in a little while, but you just holler out if you need me.” She closed the shades to darken the room but left the door open so she would hear Olivia if she cried out.

“Beth, would you go get your father while I check on the pies, please? He’s in the basement working on one of his wood projects. I don’t think he heard us with all that hammering going on. I want him to get Dr. Madison.” 

“Sure, Mom, right away.” Beth was feeling a little scared.  If Olivia only had the flu, then why would they need Doc Madison? She wondered if her mom knew something else was wrong but didn’t want to say anything. She and Olivia had both had the flu before, so she didn’t understand. She even thought she would probably get sick too, since they were always catching things from each other. 

She walked up to Harrison calling out his name so he wouldn’t be startled. “Dad! Dad, Mom needs you upstairs. Olivia is sick, and she wants you to go get Doc Madison.” Harrison had been so caught up in his woodworking that he never heard anything going on upstairs, nor did he hear Olivia crying. He immediately stopped what he was working on and headed upstairs behind Beth. He was also wondering why Ella Mae wanted the doctor to see Olivia, since usually the girls only came down with the flu or maybe a cold.  That wasn’t anything that the doc needed to see.

Ella Mae was putting the pie on the kitchen counter to cool as Harrison walked into the kitchen. “Why do you think Olivia needs to see Doc Madison? What’s going on with her?” Harrison asked with concern as he was washing his hands at the sink.

“Normally I would just think it’s probably the flu, but she is complaining of pain in her arms that doesn’t sound like the body aches the girls usually get with the flu. She said it feels like her arms are broken. She’s afraid to move them. I don’t know what would be causing pain that she doesn’t want to move, so I want Dr. Madison to see her to make sure there is nothing else going on. I would just feel better if he saw her. Would you go get him for me, please Harrison? I’m probably being silly, I know, but just in case.”  Ella Mae wasn’t  one to worry that much or even fuss much when either of the girls got sick, because she knew kids just get sick as they are growing up, but she had a feeling this was different.  She prayed silently to herself she was wrong, but something felt off this time around. She knew she would feel better if the doctor would reassure her that it was only another round of the flu or a cold coming on. 

“Yeah, I’ll go get him,” Harrison replied as he patted Ella Mae’s arm. “I don’t think you’re being silly at all, honey. You always seem to know what’s going on with the girls when they get sick, so if this seems different, then something’s different. Mind if I run upstairs to check on Olivia before I go? I’m not saying you’re wrong about this.  I just want to see how she’s doing real quick, okay with you? It’ll help me tell Doc Madison what’s going on with her so he doesn’t think both of us are over-reacting or something.”

“That’s a good idea,” Ella Mae replied. “She’s been pretty quiet since I left her about a half hour ago, so maybe she’s even feeling a little better by now, and you won’t have to get him after all.”  They went up to Olivia’s bedroom and found her laying flat on her back still with tears in her eyes.  “Feeling any better, sweetie?” Ella Mae asked as she felt Olivia’s forehead.  She could tell she still had a fever, and seeing her tears, knew right away she wasn’t  any better.

“No, Mama. My head hurts, and my arms feel funny.  I’m afraid to move them. My legs hurt, too, but they don’t hurt as much as my arms do.” Ella Mae and Harrison looked at each other, clearly worried that this was not any flu.

“I’m going to go get Doc Madison, sweetheart,” Harrison said as he stroked Olivia’s hair. “I won’t be gone long, and while I’m away, I want you to try to sleep, okay? I know it hurts, honey, but Doc will be able to help you feel better. I bet Beth will read you one of your favorite stories, too, won’t you Beth?” he said as he motioned for Beth to come closer to the bedside.

“Why don’t I read you a few chapters from Little Women,” Beth suggested. “That’s one of your favorite stories and mine, too.”

“Okay,” Olivia said tearfully. Beth went downstairs to the built-in bookcase in the living room. The girls always kept their favorite books and games in that cabinet. She gave her dad a hug before he left the house. When she walked back into the bedroom, Ella Mae was fluffing Olivia’s pillows, trying to make her more comfortable. Olivia moaned a little any time she was moved.

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” Ella Mae said with worry in her voice. “Is that hurting you to try to move your pillows for you? I thought that would make you more comfy.”

“It just hurts, Mama. All over, it hurts,” Olivia said, trying hard not to move. Ella Mae pulled the covers up under her chin and sat down in the rocker next to her bed. Beth sat on the edge of the bed as gently as she could and started to read from Little Women.

Harrison was back with Dr. Madison about 45 minutes later. It seemed like forever to both Beth and Ella Mae. He could have just called the doctor, but he wanted to bring him back to the house and was worried he would only say over the phone that it’s the flu. “Dr. Madison, I’m so glad you were able to come by,” Ella Mae began before he even got into the room.  “Olivia complained of a headache this morning. She has a fever, and at first I assumed it was a bout of the flu. But she is complaining of aches and pains differently than before. She says she is afraid to move because it hurts so much. She keeps thinking her arms are broken.”

Dr. Madison didn’t want to alarm the parents, but he was concerned with the symptoms Ella Mae was describing. He never quite forgave himself for what happened to Robert, Harrison’s brother, back in 1902. He had remained the family doctor for all of the Limrics, and they never once blamed him for what had happened to Robert. After he was through with his examination of Olivia, he made a decision this time he knew he would not regret.