New Addition

Jack and Audrey,

The day has come and gone and three have become four. What sweet addition that is!Welcome to the family, Audrey!Your due date was May 27th and, like your brother before you, you were late. Also like your brother before you, it took an eviction notice from the womb to get you here. :)You were scheduled for induction on Friday, May 29th. I woke with barely any sleep (up by 4AM so excited to have you) and the hospital postponed your induction. I threw my own personal pity party with an invitation of one and cried away most of the morning. This pregnancy became pretty uncomfortable by the end - I felt sick all the time, I was swollen beyond belief and I was uncomfortable and in pain most of the time, but no labor.Finally, I decided that was useless and so Clay and I headed out to lunch with Jack. It had been a long morning and no call to come in so we decided not to wait around anymore.The call from the hospital finally came around 2. We packed up Jack with his overnight bag and went to Grandma Mary's where he spent the rest of the evening and the night while we headed to the hospital. I was in the room with the Pitosin drip by 4:30. By 9:30, there still wasn't much progress, so I started to ask myself what I could do. I am not a big person when it comes to pain, but I put up the head of the bed and put down the feet of the bed and by 12:30AM March 30th, I had progressed to 4 cm dilated. I called my Dad and told him, and he said that he probably had a couple more hours so I should call him back.I needed this to happen faster so I asked the nurse what else I could do and she suggested sit indian style until I was ready. By 1:05 or so, I was in a lot of pain and the nurse confirmed I was at 10 cm. I called Dad and he arrived in 14 minutes and my Doctor shortly after. I started pushing and Audrey arrived at 1:27AM on May 30th. What a beautiful baby you are, Audrey! You reminded me immediately of your brother. There are differences between the two of you, of course, but at this point in time, it's kind of hard to pinpoint what they are. Jack loved you right from the first moment he saw you. He wanted to bring you home right away. He explained to Daddy that Mommy's have to stay at the hospital, but the babies can go home. So it was fine if I was a missing component, but you needed to be with him. You have won over all of us with your grunts and squeaks and you are quickly upset if you are hungry and the food isn't immediately there in your hungry little mouth.You are incredibly alert for such a little one! Of course, you are entranced by light and dark contrasts and you are quick to find those and stare, but you do also seem to notice the shapes people's faces and will occassionally try out a cute little coo that melts me. Jack is smitten, doesn't want the other children in his room to touch you and he's very careful with you, wanting to snuggle and kiss you and help you by bringing you your binky or your teddy bear. We are all very lucky to have you in our family, Audrey, and are so excited that you are here!Love,

Mommy