Lainey is here!

Lainey Kaye Stice was born Tuesday, March 24th at 1:11pm. She weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. I am VERY happy to be holding this baby in my arms and be done with pregnancy!

Labor went well, and was actually my fastest/easiest. I was induced and began pitocin at about 8:30 am. I was dilated to a 3 and 60% effaced upon arriving and having steady and somewhat strong contractions of my own. The nurse said I was in prelabor. Every time I've ever been induced they tell me I would have had the baby that day anyway! Works every time! I felt the strong pitocin contractions start around 9:00. The Dr. broke my water at 10:15.

When the contractions got uncomfortable I used the heat pad I had brought from home to relax my lower back. Which did a great job, I actually didn't feel pain from then on with contractions all the way up to a 5-6. The nurse anesthetist was waiting outside my room for nearly an hour to give me my epidural. But I didn't want to be such a baby that I got it before I ever even hurt. And I didn't want it to slow my labor down by getting it too soon. On the same hand, it stinks to get one when you're actually IN a lot of pain. And as fast as things were progressing for me, I'd hate to get the epidural too late or assume a 10 wouldn't hurt too bad if a 6 didn't hurt, and find out how wrong I was! So I gave in around 11:45 and the anesthetist came in. I was blissfully numb and happy in no time.

Less than an hour later I was at a ten and feeling the urge to push. The nurse called my Dr. who took about 15 minutes to get to the room, just in time. I couldn't wait much longer. I was blessed this time around, it took less than 8 minutes (3 contractions) to push Lainey out. They placed her right into my arms and everyone made quick bets on her weight. She looked pretty big! I heard some 9's thrown out there for guesses. She was 8# 6 oz. My biggest baby so far. And 4 days early, so I'm glad we induced early. They gave her a 9 on her apgar test.

My mother in law had watched the kids from the night before on and brought them to the hospital to wait in the waiting room while I pushed, and be there with Todd and I when she was just born. As soon as the Dr. was done doing everything she needed with me, the kids came in and Brielle just beamed so bright I would've thought her heart would have swelled right out of her chest. She was so proud and excited to have a baby sister. Ashton, on the other hand, was not so excited. In his defense, it was nap time and lunch time, but he would NOT sit by the baby and I on the bed for a picture, would not say her name, would not even LOOK at her. We bribed him to be in A picture with Todd holding him by giving him a Jolly Rancher. But that was all he was budging for us.

Lainey was a little fussy for the first few hours. She wasn't liking all the poking shots, prodding fingers, thermometers, goop in her eyes. But by the evening when the medical staff left her alone, she was much more peaceful. She slept all night with just one forced feeding, she might have even gone without that if I had let her continue sleeping!

The next day was Todd's birthday. He got his present a couple weeks ago- the online purchase of a book collection. So I didn't give him any other presents, but I did ask a lady who makes awesome cakes to make one for Todd and have it delivered the evening we came home from the hospital. She does an amazing job. It was a massive German Chocolate cake, Todd's favorite. And he got to take home a baby girl for his birthday.

She's been very sweet. She did have a stomach ache the first night home and kept us up most of the night trying to console her. But she's been an angel ever since. She also won't open her mouth very big- for the life of me I can't make her, so she's been a bit of an uncomfortable nurser. We'll work on that. We feel like, out of all our kids, she looks the most like an even mix of both of us. Brielle and Ashton were total Stice babies. They are all very differently looking from each other, to us, with their own unique looks. It's so fun to see how many looks two people can create! We are so happy to have her home and just stare at her sweet little baby face all day!

Brielle has been very helpful so far at home. Ashton took a day or two to settle down his sudden obnoxious behavior. He was testing us right off the bat. But he's more himself today and even full of kisses and loves for the baby. We've tried to be consistent with him by giving him the attention he feels threatened to have lost, but still being firm and not letting him get away with murder. He's taking it all in strides, but I'm proud of him for making some efforts. He's a sweet boy. We're all loving having Daddy home this week to help me and be with the kids. My mom will be here for a week starting Monday. Brielle is ecstatic about that.

We're really making our ward work this week! I guess three of us from the ward had our babies on the same day! I almost expected them to not be able to bring in dinner, but they're amazing. They've fed us all the same. I'm shocked that Lainey will have two buddies with the exact same birthday from church. How random is that!? And the Sunday we bless Lainey will be in sane. Two other babies were born last week. And several more are still due days from now. We may need to show up to church 2 hours early just for seats!