Mr & Mrs Menendez

Chapter 10 - Baby

When Camilla fainted at her aunt's house in the Summer of 1977, after they performed at a show, Carola came to her aide, and helped her on the couch. She ran an ice pack over her head, and put her legs on a chair, while Camilla rested. No one had any idea why she fainted so suddenly.

Carola knew this lady doctor who was a lovely woman, Dr Heidi Lindqvist, whom she worked with during her midwife years, she also knew Camilla when she was a little girl so there was love there too. So one morning, Camilla met with her at her office, and thankfully nothing was wrong. In fact it was great because Camilla was PREGNANT! That explained the fainting. She realized the baby was conceived that night in Sweden before they went to France. She couldn't wait to tell Lyle.

"Well, what are you so thrilled about, my angel?" He asked that night when he came back from practice, at seeing Camilla so happy and joyful as she went to kiss him.

"I am pregnant, älskling!" She said, excitedly,

"You're pregnant?" Asked Lyle, slightly taken aback, and Camilla eagerly nodded, "We're gonna have a baby!" Exclaimed Lyle, hugging her, and touching her still flat stomach as a way of saying they were going to protect the precious child, growing in Camilla's womb. The next day when Carola and the family came for lunch, they told them the happy news, as well as Lyle's family in America. Joy was everywhere!

They were so excited about becoming parents, but also a little nervous, as people can be. But if there was one thing for sure, it was that they were going to be way better as parents than their own parents were, especially Lyle's. They would protect the child, and love and nurture the child to the best of their abilities.

Everyone shortly returned to Finland, as Camilla's pregnancy started to progress. Camilla planned to give birth at a luxury birthing center, own and operated by Dr Heidi Lindqvist, and she permitted Carola to be the one to assist Camilla and deliver her baby.

Apart from the fainting one time, Camilla's pregnancy was a breeze, no morning sickness, no nothing, and she even performed on television with Carola once during her pregnancy.

But now, the baby was coming so they went to that exclusive birthing center where the doctors allow Carola to deliver Camilla's baby given her past work with them. Camilla wore her pink night gown, as it was the coolest for her body as she knew she'd sweat during the birth.

The room was beautiful, and Dr Lindqvist told Camilla, "You just relax here darling, and if you need anything at all, just holler. Don't be shy dear." Camilla agreed. Dr Lindqvist did her best to make Camilla feel comfortable before leaving the 4 of them to it (counting the baby!).

But for now everything was calm, even though the contractions were painful. She lay her head in Lyle's lap while he stroked her, and her legs rested on Carola's lap while she stroked them, and each of them held her hand through the pain on the contractions.

Then, Camilla lay on her back when Carola told her she was ready to push. So while Lyle held her hand, and Carola lovingly encouraged Camilla, she pushed through the pain, screaming and sweating but at the same time excited about this precious baby!

"One more time, my darling you're doing so well!" Encouraged Carola as the baby finally came out! It was a little baby boy! His name was Patrick, he was born on March 15th, 1978. Lyle and Camilla looked at their baby as Camilla held him in her arms, determined to be the best parents they could be, and not make the same terrible mistakes.

Camilla rested for a while, then a few hours after the birth, the family went home. Lyle and Camilla were young but great parents. They loved their precious little boy very much, and he was a good baby, too. He didn't wake up much during the night, though Camilla fed him anyway.

When the baby was a few months old, Camilla and Carola worked on their next album, while Lyle would prepare for a brief tour of America.

In November, they went to Los Angeles to visit his family for Thanksgiving dinner. They loved the baby, and little Patrick was a happy baby. Erik was happy to see them too, and happy to be home for Thanksgiving, taking a break from school and tennis.

This was a lovely Thanksgiving. And everyone had a lot to be thankful for.