Introducing Pure Sweetness...

Picking up where we last left off...it was Thursday evening & I was headed into the hospital on Friday morning to be induced, unless Lucy came out in the night...and she didn't. So at 6 a.m. on Friday morning we called into the hospital to make sure the schedule was still clear...we got the green light to come on in. We called Jeff's parents to let them know it was "all systems go!" Then we got up & got dressed, did a load of laundry & got a few things squared away around the house...still nesting to the very last minute! By shortly after 7 a.m. we were heading out the door to the hospital. I am definitely not a morning person, never have been & probably never will be, but I must have been really excited because I was all ready to go before Jeff...this never happens! And here we are heading out the door to the hospital to meet our baby girl...

Upon arriving at the hospital, they showed us to our birthing room & things got started right away. I changed into the lovely hospital gown, filled out some paperwork, & was hooked up to the monitors. At 8:15 a.m., my midwife used prostaglandin gel to help get my contractions going. At that point, I was 4 cm dilated & 50 % effaced. I had to stay lying down for about an hour & then walk around for the next two hours. During that time the contractions went from sporadic to very regular & increased in intensity quite a bit. I was induced the same way with Darcy, but this time the contractions were a lot stronger a lot sooner and I was getting pretty uncomfortable by the end of the 2 hours. I also had more "back labor" this time which I have not really experienced much with my other deliveries. But I continued to pace back & forth in the room & pray & recite scriptures & sing hymns to myself to pass the time. At 11:00 a.m. my midwife checked again & I was 6 cm & at least 60% effaced. At 11:01 a.m. the midwife broke my water...and from that point on it was like a snowball rolling down a steep hill, fast! As soon as she broke my water, the pain went from bad to unbearable in no time. The contractions were intense & continuous, there was no break in between them. I had been planning to try this delivery without an epidural, but it was at this point that I told Jeff I didn't think I could do it...I asked for the epidural & was crushed that I would have to wait for an entire bag of i.v. fluid first! I'm not going to lie, it was the worst pain I have ever experienced & I literally cried out to the Lord for help! He heard my cry & answered...one of the nurses asked me if I felt like I needed to push & I realized that was exactly what I was feeling! I couldn't believe it was time to push so quickly! I was worried that I hadn't yet dilated enough or that the baby was still to far back, but I had to push. They quickly called in the midwife, but I was already pushing before she got there & they could see the head! And thankfully, after a few more minutes of pushing she was out...an intense, yet quick, 23 minutes after they broke my water! I had been walking around for days saying I just needed my water to break to get things going...but after how fast she came out, I realized how thankful I was that my water didn't break at home or Lucy may have been a home birth!                                          

So without further ado, we are so pleased to introduce you to the newest member of our family...

Lucy Jane

born at 11:24 a.m. 

Friday, March 11

8 pounds 10 ounces

19.5 inches long

100 % sweetness & love

Pure joy & worth every minute of the pain!!

God's perfect blessing, in His perfect timing!

First visitors, Yaya & Grandpa

And then...meeting the big brothers & sisters!!!

Drew isn't very interested at first

But two big sisters sure are!!!

Our 3 Girls!!!

Sister Love!

Big Brother Jack is a pro by now, but a new baby it is still exciting!

Sophie didn't want to put Lucy down!

I wish I knew what they were talking about here!

Aw, Darcy is taking her little sister all in

Finally Nana gets a turn!

But Sophie has to supervise!

By the way, HUGE thanks to the grandparents for ALL of their help with the kids on Friday & Saturday. We really couldn't have done it without you! We thank you & we love you!

Our little thinker

Darcy is such a proud big sister!

Now look who has realized there is a baby in the room...

Could there be anything sweeter?

Drew pointing out that "Baby" has a "Nose!" & "Eyes!"

And Drew has been fascinated with Lucy ever since!

I love all of the sweet questions as the siblings meet the newest member

Exploring God's precious handiwork, fearfully & wonderfully made! 

Protective big brothers!

And then they all discovered that the curtains are really fun to play in...

Peek-a-Boo!!

It's time for the circus to ride out...trying to get a shot of Mommy & all 5 kids...

Oh well...at least everyone is, um, in the picture...for the moment!

Our sweet Sunday School teachers stopped by to meet Lucy & pray over her! 

Later in the evening the cousins stopped by. 

Molly was eager to hold her!

Mallory was next

Then Emily's turn

Finally, Aunt Kelly got a turn!

Sweet, sweet baby

Already Lucy has personality!

All dressed up & getting ready to go home!!

Mama loves you!!

Ready for life beyond the hospital walls...look out world, here I come!!

I'll have much more good stuff to update you on in the coming days...like our sweet Drew's 2nd birthday today! But for now I wanted to introduce you all to Lucy! And right now she's getting hungry...and that's my department!

Children are a heritage from the LORD,
   offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
   are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
   whose quiver is full of them. 

Psalm 127:3-5