6 Years Ago on November 13th.....

.....I was 4 days overdue with my first baby. It was a rainy, overcast day in Las Vegas. I woke up around 2:00 in the morning with some pretty regular contractions (and was leaking amniotic fluid) Finally around 6:00am, Layne and I decided we should go in to the hospital. When we pulled into the the parking lot my contractions stopped and we seriously thought about going to grab a hot chocolate instead of go into the hospital. I think we were both a little nervous and had NO idea what to expect.

To make a long story short, I was in labor until about noon (and not being very nice to Layne)when Kennedy's heart rate started dropping. I was not making any progress and the nurses started getting worried. Shortly after, the doctor came in to tell us that they would have to do an emergency c-section. I remember the anxious look on Layne's face and when the doctor left for Layne to get "suited up" Layne told me that I didn't have to go through with it. I really think we did have to go through with it. I said a silent prayer and felt comforted that everything would be all right. It helped to know that my mom had 2 c-sections and I felt very at ease as they wheeled me to the operating room.

Minutes later I was hearing my doctor singing (yes, he was a strange doctor), "it's once, twice three times wrapped around her neck" in reference to the umbilical cord. Then I heard a LOUD cry and the doctor said we had a beautiful baby girl. He was so right. I couldn't believe how perfect and tiny she was (5 lbs. 6 oz.) I couldn't hold her, but the nurse came and put her little face right up to mine and she looked intently at me like she knew who I was. I've never seen a newborn so alert and aware as Kennedy. My mother-in-law used to say when Kennedy was a baby that when she looked at you it was like she could see right to your soul.

Layne got to go with Kennedy and the nurses. He gave Kennedy her first bath and then we just held her and knew that our lives would never be the same. And they haven't been. We had no idea how much you could really love and care for someone else. We had no idea how hard being a parent would be. We had no idea how much sleep we would lose. We had no idea how many messes we would clean up. We also had no idea that children were such a miracle. We had no idea that we could smile and dote on someone so much. We had no idea how much joy that little girl would bring into our lives. We still have no idea, but we have gotten a good glimpse. We love you, Kennedy!