Lucy was born on Wednesday, but we waited until Thursday morning to bring the older kids in to meet her. Thanks to some powerful pain killers, I probably have rosier memories of this morning than Jeff does. I do seem to remember a lot of noise and chaos. And Jeff coming back later without the kids and stating that he really could have used some coffee before attempting to wrangle 3 kids and a newborn in a tiny hospital room. But look at that smile on Lyla... she was THRILLED to have a baby sister!


And Brock... what to even say about him?? He wanted to hold "baby Lucy" the most.






Brodey hung back a little more than the other two... I think it would have helped had I had Lucy dressed and ready when they came in. He took one look at her umbilical cord stump and was just too worried about her hurting to be able to touch her. The IV port still in my arm was a little much for him also... such a protector, that Brodey!












I love everyone's personality showing in this one: Brodey - worried, Brock - being silly, and Lyla - just pure excitement!













sweet big sister














They all loved rubbing her soft little head






























daddy and his girls

Well, I meant to get on here and post about the day Lucy was born before I forgot all the details... but it has been BUSY around here! She's almost two weeks old! I'll do the best I can...
Wednesday morning (one day past her due date) I woke up around 7:30ish... feeling small contractions, but that was not unusual... I had been feeling like I was in labor for weeks. I had my weekly app0intment that morning at 8:40 so Jeff stayed with the kids and I went to the doctor. I waited for Dr. Tag for a LONG time... I think it was about 9:30 when she finally came in. All the while contractions where getting a little stronger about every 6 or 7 minutes. Anyhow she checked me and I was at 4cm, so she told me I was crazy for going there instead of the hospital and sent me straight from there to the hospital. (except I had to go home first to get Jeff... Dr. was not happy to hear I had driven myself there in labor) So I headed home to get Jeff... called my AMAZING friend Ann to come stay with the kids... called my sister and cousin.. all the important people who had to know!
I don't know what time we got to the hospital... it was all very confusing... Kennestone Hospital had changed a LOT since we were last there. (surprising since it was only 19 months ago when Lyla was born!) So here I am in the picture after finding the labor and delivery department and getting all checked in... around 11ish.. maybe even 11:30am. Lots of contractions... not sure how often, Jeff and I have never been very good about timing contractions. I quickly changed clothes and laid down, water broke, contractions got much much worse... waited for what seemed like a long time for the anesthesiologist, just after he left I posted on facebook that I was in labor (not sure why... seemed appropriate at the time), that was at exactly 1:30pm (thank you facebook for the time stamp), just after that the doctor came in to break my water (thought that was weird since my water had already broken) and was surprised that I was already fully dilated and ready to push! So he left to "get ready", came back and chatted with the nurses for a very long time about a vacation in Denver... then FINALLY he was ready... pushed a few (maybe 3 or 4) times and Lucy Rae was born at 1:56pm! Although it was several minutes before we knew baby #4 was a girl because she was a meconium baby and was not breathing. Thankfully the respiratory team was waiting for her and they had her cleared out and breathing on her own pretty quickly. However she did NOT regain color very quickly so I am not posting any of the delivery room pictures of her because she was so blue they are upsetting to look at.
Other fun delivery room things: My sister had called our brother after I had talked to her in the morning so just minutes after Lucy started breathing (before they handed her to me or had weighed her or anything) they walked in expecting to find me still in labor! They were surprised to hear a baby cry when they came in. Fun for Lucy to get to meet her Aunt Lyndsay and Uncle Myles so soon after birth (again, not posting the pictures... still very very blue). Poor Uncle Myles thought he was coming to say hi and then heading to the cafeteria for some lunch while he waited. He gets disappointed when he doesn't get the whole waiting experience. :)
Anyhow, she weighed 8lbs 12oz and 19.7 inches long... we were surprised at how big she was! And so so so thrilled to have another baby girl.

Another baby GIRL!! There are no words for how excited this makes me... a dream come true. So many details to document before I forget... but I'm typing with one hand and holding a newborn with the other. This will have to do for now!