Lydia Stuart has joined us!
First order of business: pictures of the little one
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| Moments after birth |
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| What is this outside thing? |
Birth Story - by Ben
I took off work a week prior to the Lydia's due date. All three of Lydia's older brothers came roughly a week prior to their due dates so in my naivete I assumed that Lydia would follow suit. The "1 week prior to due date" passed without a birth, the following day passed, and the third day passed without a birth. Wendy's OB examined her and declared that the baby would not join us anytime soon and scheduled an induction for 2 days after Wendy's due date.
I felt slightly foolish for taking the time off before birth; however, the boys and Wendy loved having me around. The boys played with me, worked with me, and created a cardboard castle. The family even took a day trip to Medford on Thursday. Wendy did not have to cook meals and took many naps. After three days of me being home Wendy expressed that she felt so much more rested and now felt like she actually had the energy to have the baby.
Lydia took Wendy at her word and that night around 10:30 PM Wendy started to have contractions. At 12:30 AM Wendy came down to inform me, watching an Avenger's movie, that Lydia planned to join the family. I expressed delight...and went to bed.
At 4 AM Wendy woke me up, based on the timing and intensity of the contractions it was time to get ready to go to the hospital. Only one problem; all the people that we had arranged with to stay with the boys while we went to the hospital all were unavailable. Fortunately, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has a ministering program. We called Debra and Darrell Schofield, the couple who ministers to us, at 4:15 in the morning. Being the saints that they are; they immediately agreed to come over and watch the boys.
After they arrived Wendy and I "rushed" to the hospital; following all speed limits of course. Upon arrival the staff escorted us to the "triage" room to evaluate the labor's progression. Wendy had already dilated to 9.5 cm. They moved us immediately into the neighboring room, the resident OB never left the room, and the on-call OB hurriedly was called. Shortly after the on-call OB arrived he suggested breaking Wendy's water and the baby would be born. They broke Wendy's water at 6:00 AM and Lydia was born at 6:04 AM. All 7 lb 13 oz and and 21.25 inches of little girl. I joke with Wendy that it was the easiest labor ever...for me. All I had to do was drive her to the hospital.
I hung around for an hour to enjoy the little one; then rushed home to take care of the boys. We still had no babysitters available. I arrived home to find that the Schofields had dressed the boys, prayed with the boys, fed the boys breakfast, and had fed the cat. The boys actually did not need much taking care of; but were glad to find out they had a new little sister.
