The Best Part

The best part about going to the hospital...

besides getting this:


out of this:


is an unlimited supply of these:

HaHa

When Grandma Jill was visiting Brooklyn patted her head and said "Grandma has nuff hair. Dad doesn't have nuff hair. That's so funny. HAHA"
My favorite things she's into saying are "that's so funny" and "that's a good idea".

When the girls get out of the bath tub they like to put a towel over them and pretend to be rocks. Mackenzie was being a rock the other day and wanted me to sit on her. I told her I was too heavy. She said if a hippo sat on her it would smash her flat but I would just brake all her bones.

Charlotte's Birth (For those who missed it)

I'm not planning on sweetening this up or condensing so consider yourself warned...

I dropped Robert off at the airport at 11am and ran some errands. My mom got to my house a little after I did. I realized that I seemed to be leaking. I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination but decided to call my nurse. She said to go get checked at labor and delivery (at IMC). I didn't really think anything of it but grabbed my purse and decided to run over since my mom was there with the girls.

As I sat on the table waiting for the nurse I was soaking the table and I knew my water was broken. This was about 1pm. The nurse double checked to be sure it was amnionic fluid under the microscope and confirmed and she told me she'd put me in my delivery room. Wait, I can't leave? I would have at least eaten lunch. And finished packing my hospital bag.

At this point I thought they would have to start me on pitocin because my contractions weren't any different than usual. I knew Robert didn't have his layover until 3:50pm so I had to wait to tell him what was going on. The nurses were all great about trying to delay things so I could try to have my husband there. I had to have 4 hours of antibiotic because of a + group B strep test before they would want to start me. So they got started on that but after a couple of hours, around 4pm my contractions were strong enough that I knew they would not have to use pitocin and the baby would come when she wanted- dad or no dad.

I have been planning on having a natural delivery this time but I started to question whether I would be able to. I thought I was going to do most of my laboring at home and things just were not going as I had planned! I got our trusty babysitter Whitney to come take over with the kids so my mom was with me and my nephew stopped by which was a great distraction. I was able to go through a lot of contractions while we were visiting. After Kevin left, the nurse checked me and I had gone from a 3 when I came in to a 6. I think this was around 6pm. Things were getting more painful but I just tried to relax by body as much as I could. Finding out that I had progressed to a 6, I had more confidence that I could go without the epidural. I loved being able to get up and move around or go to the bathroom if I wanted to. Although because I had the i.v. for the antibiotic I still had to deal with that.

I made it to an 8 and then I got in the shower. The nurse just told me not to stay in too long. The shower was so helpful for me. I lied down on my left side and did my rainbow visualizations while my mom rubbed my back until it was time to push. The nurses pretty much had me decide if it was time to call the Dr. because he needed 10 minutes to get there and then I had to tell them when it was time to push. That part was new for me because the 2 times before I couldn't feel the pressure of the contractions telling me it was time.

I pushed for 10 minutes, through 5 contractions. I only know this because I asked the nurse afterwards and she looked on the monitor to tell me exactly how long. If I were guessing I would have said I pushed for an hour- the hardest hour of my life. Seriously, I didn't think I was going to be able to push this baby out. I didn't foresee pushing being the absolute most difficult part for some reason. Maybe because I've heard people say that you want to push when you feel all the pressure. Just before 9pm, Charlotte finally came out they laid her down on me. I could not have been happier. What a miracle! Then the Dr. told Grandma Jill to cut the cord. Way to go Grandma! I thought the hard part was over but delivering the placenta was very intense. The Dr. had to push on my abdomen and the darn thing just seemed to be stuck. They gave Charlotte a quick rinse and did her evaluation while I worked on afterbirthing and getting stitched up (which I didn't even feel with a little local numbing stuff). I was a little worried because she was so quiet but her APGAR scores were 9 and 9 so she was great.

Then it was time for skin to skin for the first feeding. I loved this moment because I felt like she knew I am her mom and I love her. Charlotte was honored then with a special guest...her dad! He thought it was a miracle and he probably thought it was a breeze. We were so grateful for our new, sweet, healthy baby.

The girls

We've been asked if Charlotte looks more like Mackenzie or Brooklyn. To me, it's a toss up. Charlotte's eyes are more like Brooklyn's. I just think they were all such beautiful newborns :) but I wouldn't be the one to ask.


Charlotte

Charlotte

Brooklyn

Brooklyn

Mackenzie

Mackenzie

Funny Story...by Robert

This is my first time every blogging and I'm not sure how to start out describing the birth of our 3rd child but I thought since I'm the one telling it I'll call it a funny story.

Friday started out like any other day. Karin felt fine, but ready for the baby to come, and I was preparing to take a quick trip to see BYU play Florida State in Florida. I know you're probably thinking what husband leaves his 9 month pregnant wife to go to a football game? This idiot does. She wasn't due for 10 more days, what were the odds that she'd go into early? Obviously I miscalculated what the odds were.

Karin dropped me off at the airport at 11am and while saying good bye I said "call me if you have any kids while I'm gone." I landed in Atlanta just a couple hours later and called home. To my surprise Karin's mom said she was going into labor. I couldn't believe it. I immediately started trying to find a flight back. I ran to a Delta customer service counter and told them my wife was in labor and I needed to get back to Salt Lake NOW. There was a flight in 5 minutes but they had already closed the gates and I couldn't get on that one. The next flight was at 6:45pm and would get me to Salt Lake at 8:45pm. I was told this flight was over booked and that I wouldn't be able to get on it. I actually ran to 4 different Delta counters hoping one of them would help me in some way. I asked them to put me on stand by or anything. I thought if they would do that I would make a plea to passengers boarding the flight and hope someone would give up their seat. Everyone I talked to at Delta said the same thing that I wouldn't be able to get on that flight. The next Delta flight left around 8:45 and wouldn't get me in until 10:45. There were 2 seats left on that flight but I wanted to get home sooner. I won't tell you the cost was but I'm pretty sure I could have flown to Hawaii for cheaper.

Thinking there was no way I could get on the earlier Delta flight I started to look at other options. I decided to check with United Airlines. I was checking my phone to see if I could find something else. I had about 6 messages my family was sending me texts and emails helping me look for options. That simple act meant so much to me and showed me how much they cared for Karin and I. I found a flight though United and thought I might be able to go through Denver and get in a littler sooner. I ran, took a shuttle, and ran some more to get to United Customer Service desk only to find out they didn't have any tickets left. At this point I was getting worried I wasn't going to make it back until late. I remember thinking I need help and I said a prayer. I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier but I felt comforted that prayer

Knowing that the United flight was not an option I decided I had better get on the later Delta flight that would get me in to Salt Lake at 10:45. I ran back to the Delta Counter and was told there was only one seat left and the price had gone up $300 in the 30 minutes since I last asked. I got the ticket and as I was about to leave I asked the lady if she would now put me on stand by list for the 6:45 flight. She put me on the list but told me that there were 8 people ahead of me on standby and that the flight was already full and that she doubted I would get on. She then said I had 11 minutes to get back to the gate before they would close it. I started running. By now I was just dripping in sweat. When I made it to the gate the last ticketed passenger was just getting on. There was a line of stand by passengers and I sort of just went to the front of the line hoping no one would say anything, someone actually did and asked me if I was a Diamond Member. I didn't know what that meant but I said "I think so". When I got up to the agent who I had already spoke to a couple of times earlier when I was begging to get on the flight. I told her I now had a ticket on the later flight. I again asked her if there was anyway I could get on the flight that was now leaving. She started typing and said "Somebody must like you." I looked up at the screen that showed all the standby passengers names and saw that my name was now the first name, ahead of all the other 8 waiting on the list. I'm not sure how it happened, but for me it was nothing short of a miracle. I got on the flight and didn't see any other stand by passengers get on. I was so grateful and thought back to my prayer.

Now that I'm on the flight all I can do is wait and hope to make it in time. As the plane started to make its decent into Salt Lake I went to the front of the plane and asked if anyone would switch seats with me, I was in the very back of the plane. I wanted to be close so I could off as soon as we landed. I told those in the front few seats my wife was in labor. Everyone sort of looked at me and then one guy on the front row gave up his seat for me. As soon as the plane door opened I was off again running through the airport. My sister Liz was waiting for to take me to the hospital.

As we got on I 15 I called Karin's phone, no answer. I then called her mom's phone. I asked her if I had missed anything. She said I had a new little girl. I was crushed. I wanted to be there so bad. I had just missed it by a couple of minutes. She told me she was healthy and that her and Karin were doing well. I showed up to the hospital minutes later only to have every nurse and doctor to remind me that I had just missed it. When I finally did get to see Karin and Charlotte I was greeted with big smiles, which made me feel so happy. I was so glad to see them and immediately fell in love with that little baby. Though I would have loved to be there I probably wouldn't have been a ton of help. I don't do to well in that setting. When Brooklyn was born I passed out while Karin was pushing and doctors had to attend to me for a couple minutes. Karin actually said it was nice to not have to stress over me passing out or anything. Luckily Karin's mom was there for her she is a champ and I owe her so much.

We are both so happy that Charlotte has arrived and is doing well. Though I could have made things a lot easier by never trying to go on that trip...it worked out pretty well. We have a health baby, I was able to see a small miracle as well as feel the love my family has for me, as they were all doing all they could to help get me back, and last but not least we have another "funny" story to tell people about the birth of our little girl.

Charlotte Pierce Smith

Born September 17 at 8:57pm
7lbs 3oz
20" long

We brought baby Charlotte home today and she is wonderful, healthy and oh-so-loved. I am feeling pretty darn good (for just having a baby). The delivery went surprisingly smooth and unmedicated as planned. (The play by play to come if I ever have the energy). My mom was with me through the whole labor (in hubby's absence) and was incredible and I will never be able to repay her for that.

A Single Moment

I have 16 days until my official due date. At this point I am waiting for that moment where I see my baby for the first time. See that she is real and precious and truly a miracle. It only takes a single moment to forget the 9 months of pregnancy trials. Right now I'm waiting- and not very patiently- to forget all these long long months.

Firsts

Today was the first day of preschool for Mackenzie and Brooklyn. They were almost as excited as their mom.

Brooklyn will be in the early 3's class with Miss Jamie. She's holding up 2 fingers because that's how old she is.

Mackenzie is in 4 year old preschool with Miss Leslie and Britney. She'll be going 3 days a week, plus karate after school on Fridays. I'm hoping the first thing they teach is to not use their moves on little sisters, especially the tiny ones. I can't believe she'll be going to kindergarten this time next year.


Last week was orientation for the kids at the Winner school. Each girl got to meet her teachers and paint the bag they will use for school. They use the bag to bring home all the cute cute things they make at school. Mackenzie had a surprise visitor come while we were in her class.


Another big first was our first BYU football game of the season. We had a blast. The girls were golden-as in we made it through the entire game and only had to get up once...though they may have consumed a month's worth of sugar in one sitting...and dad did have to bribe them to stay for the last quarter! Bert hasn't stopped talking about how fun it was. I'm so glad I got to go too because it'll probably be my only game with baby #3 imminent :)

At half time they honored past football greats and Elder Holland walked right in front of us.