Family Makes Room for One More

If I had been gambling a week ago Friday, I would have put my money on the number eight and won big. Even though I was too busy to go to the track, my lucky streak couldn't possibly have been more wonderful.
At 8 p.m. on August 22, I gave birth to my eighth child, an 8-pound, 8-ounce beautiful baby boy. He came into the world with a healthy body and an abundance of red hair.
The joy I felt at his arrival astounds me. Being blessed once again with a child seems like a gift only a greedy person would expect. I hoped and prayed that this would be another healthy baby and my heart is overflowing with gratitude that we received one.
It took a day and a half to decide on a name for the baby. My son Patrick had been lobbying to call him David Letterman, after the late-night TV talk show host. Colleen was putting on the pressure for Davy Jones, after one of the Monkees. My doctor suggested Ron, after President Reagan.
We vetoed all of these excellent suggestions and gave him the name Matthew Conroy, His father says Matt Cavanaugh sounds like a great name for a quarterback or a pitcher.
Matthew's four brothers and three sisters came to visit the afternoon after his birth. They arrived, accompanied by Grandma Cavanaugh, bringing flowers and candy. After washing their hands and putting on the protective gowns, each one took a turn handling the new baby while the new daddy took pictures.
As delighted as the kids were with the new baby, Matthew did have some competition for attention. My hospital bed and the box of candy also were strong attractions.
Pete was pushing the button to make the head of the bed rise. Mike was standing on the mattress and pushing the button to make the foot of the bed go down and Johnny was pushing the buttons that elevate the entire bed.
In the meantime, Maureen and Machaela were trying to get the bed's side rails to move. In case you were wondering, I wasn't in bed while all this was going on.
When the kids' hands weren't on the control buttons, they were in the candy box.
One of the hospital nurses said to me, "You and your husband sure are excited about the baby. You would think he was your first one. It's nice to know you haven't become matter-of-fact after having so many children."
After talking to the nurse, I thought that it's easier to become excited about each additional child we have. We already know that there is room in our hearts to love one more and now that Matthew Conroy has arrived. we can't wait to get to know him.
I'll let you get to know him, too.
September 9, 1986