Friday, June 5, 1992
I am expecting again. The baby is due January 18, 1993. Jared and Sarah are excited about having a nother sibling. Hopefully, this time everything will be okay with my pregnancy.
Saturday, September 19, 1992
I am about halfway through my pregnancy. We found it’s a girl. The doctor said everything looks good.
Sander called to let me know he was visiting with Mom and Arnie for a few weeks. He wanted to know if I would come over and say hi to him.
I was hesitant because of his violent past. I thought since we were both adults now, he wouldn’t hurt me. Elisabeth was on a mission for our Church in Georgia. But I knew both my mom and Arnie would be there, so I figured I was safe.
I asked Richard if he would go with me, but he said he had things to get done, then told me to bring Jared and Sarah. When I got there, Mom and Arnie were in another room.
I was not feeling well from my pregnancy, so I laid down on the couch. I asked Jared to hand me the TV remote. He did. Just then, Sander yelled, “Stop!” Both Jared and I looked at Sander, confused. Then Sander said, “Jared, I am going to teach you a very important lesson! You don’t ever take orders from a woman! Let’s do this again! Jared, take back the remote! We are going to teach your mother some manners on how to say please!”
Sander’s voice sounded awful. I knew when he got like this, he could get violent. I got scared. Just then, Sander made a fist and punched me. Sander was aiming for my stomach. I hurried and went into a fetal position so that he wouldn’t hurt my unborn child.
Jared assured Sander that he didn’t mind that I had not said please. This only agitated Sander more, so he took another swing at me. Since I couldn’t see a way out, I told Jared to do as Uncle Sander had asked. Jared started to cry. Through his tears, he pleaded, “Please don’t hurt my mommy!” I hurried and gave Jared the remote. I did what I could to stay calm and assure Jared that everything would be okay, that we needed to do what Uncle Sander had said, and that he was just trying to teach Mommy a lesson.
Sander yelled, “Say please!” I was about to say please, then Sander punched me again. Sander yelled, “Now repeat after me! Please! I said, “Please.” Then he said, “Please, hand. ” I repeated, “Please hand,” then Sander said, “Please hand me,” I repeated, “Please hand me,” then Sander said, “Please hand me the”, I would repeat, “Please hand me the,” then Sander said, “Please hand me the remote,” I repeated it just like he had instructed. After each word Sander had said, he would punch me.
I was afraid of losing the baby, so I stayed in a fetal position. At the same time, I was trying to calm Jared down and repeat what Sander was saying.
Sander was still punching me violently while he was saying, “This one is for Mom!” This one is for Trisha (his ex-wife), this one is for, and he would say the names of his past girlfriends. Then Sander yelled, “Say the whole sentence again, except this time say it louder!” as he continued to punch me. It was as if Sander was in a trance. I said it again, then I said, “Sander, I have said everything you have asked! I have learned my lesson! Please stop punching me!” Sander had a wild look in his eyes. Then he dropped his fist and left the room.
I hurried, grabbed Jared and Sarah, and said, “Let’s get out of here!” We ran to the car and drove home.
While we drove home, I told Jared that what Uncle Sander had done was not okay. I did my best to help Jared understand that I only said what I did to keep Uncle Sander from getting more violent.
When I got home, Mom called and asked me why we had left. I asked Mom, “Could you not hear all the commotion that was going on in the living room?” Mom said, “No, we didn’t hear anything.” I knew she had to be lying. I told her that Sander had hit me. She told me that she was sure I had overreacted and that we should have stayed. I was so frustrated. Mom told me to come back. I let her know I wasn’t feeling well and that I needed to rest.
Monday, September 21, 1992
I went to the doctor to make sure everything was okay with the baby. After the doctor had examined me, he said he was worried about the baby and told me to quit tending. I was to take it easy, or I would lose this one, too.
I dreaded telling the parents that I could no longer tend their children, but I knew it was for the best.
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