The BABY SHOW prod#159 was the next episode into production
after WINDOW on MAIN STREET prod#158 .....

based on the production schedule
they did 10 episodes before they shot "THE NOTE " prod#169 explaining that Shirley went overseas.

They were probably taping these 10 shows in June & July & Aug
before the 3rd episode of the season "the note" aired
on 10-19-03.

They also came up with the idea of POP finding Edna's farewell note in a show taped that summer "Short on Time" prod#161
and shelved until it aired as 7th to last show on Feb 8 1983.

As fate would have it--
they were forced to re-use the note idea again 8 weeks later (in prod#169 "The Note") for Laverne explaining Shirley's quick departure from Burbank.

The wrote Edna out by saying she ran off with another man.
They taped this show while they waited to hear if Cindy Williams
would ever come back. Penny taped shows where Shirley
was just never mentioned.

When communications ended and Williams was fired
they had to write Shirley out -- and taped "the note"
YUp -- the writers had to repeat the FINDING A NOTE idea -
and this episode aired as the 3rd one of last season.

The POP/ EDNA note episode was held back and was not
aired til weeks later.

wow- lotsa people were leaving notes and running off that year!

Im ep #2 of 8th season
A WINDOW ON MAIN STREET -- Cindy Williams as Shirley
is visibly bigger -- Pregnant -- they reveal at end of episode
that "rabbit died".

The writers then wrote a funny episode where somebody gives birth at Pop's friend's funeral. "THE BABY SHOW"

I think this was going to be Shirley's slapstick delivering baby.

When Cindy walked off-- they probably called Vickie Lawrence in
to play a pregnant Sgt Plout and take over the "Shirley" parts
of script. So it was Sgt Plout who arrives at Laverne's apt
ready to give birth.

They probably wanted to tape the Shirley "BABY SHOW"
early since Cindy was asking for reduced hours.

They started writing Laverne / NASA / Chuck/ monkey episodes
thinking they had to fill in for the absence of Shirley with her newborn. Little did they know-- Shirley would not be back ever.