December 18th: Baby Sister Day!
Today our baby girl arrived! Maia Marie Wainright was born at 11:15am on December 18th. We were scheduled to be induced at 7:30 in the morning. Dad arrived bright and early to watch the kids, and we went by Panera for a little breakfast. We got there in plenty of time, even though we got a little lost in the parking lot at the hospital. My doctor tried to break my water, but either my fluid was low or it had been leaking because nothing really happened. They started the pitocin drip at 8:30, and it really didn't take very long! Eric, Mom, Barrett and Jennifer were all there at the beginning. We had a nice time chatting, and then Barrett and Jen left once the pitocin started really working. The nurse checked me around 10:45 and I was at a 4/5 and fully effaced. She said that was great progress, since I started at a 2 or 3. She had me switch positions to my side. Well, if you notice the time of her birth, you can see it didn't take long after that for her to be born. My doctor didn't make it back in time! That was fine though, I didn't really notice. I don't really want to hear or see or say much of anything during labor, I'm too busy focusing on relaxing. I had a little stadol when she checked me. She told me, "Just tell me when you think things are getting serious, you're not really acting like someone that just went from a 2 to a 5." Well, answering questions isn't really my best skill when in labor, but just a few minutes after that I started feeling the contractions in my back. I remembered from the first times that it wasn't long after that that I started wanting to push, and sure enough, just a few contractions later I was ready! They called for the doctor on call and she caught her just two pushes later. I'm pretty sure I was babbling, something about feeling like I needed to raise my hand and ask permission to push, because it was just unbelievably fast! I was just at a 5 half an hour before. When she was born, I was struck by how dark her hair was. I'm not sure if the other kids had that much hair, and if it was dark it didn't stay that way long.
Maia was well aware that this wasn't the day she'd picked to be born, and she let us know her objections. She especially hated getting her temperature taken. Every time she'd get this really high pitched squeal/scream. She wasn't even bothered that much by her shots! She latched on a few times, and then got too sleepy to care much about nursing. She got to meet her Grandma, Aunt Jennifer, and later Jen brought the boys by with dinner for us and cake balls made by the boys for the nurses, so she got to meet some cousins. Dad brought Serenity and Donovan to meet their sister. Serenity adores her already! She called her the cutie-est baby ever! She was talking up a storm and then looked at me and said, "I am talking to MY baby." I'm not sure she wants to share. She got to hold Maia, but she was a little alarmed when Maia started crying, worried she'd done something wrong. We reassured her that crying is just the only way tiny babies have to talk, and told her she should just try to let go if she starts crying. She wanted her back right away then. Donovan got to hold her too. He went right for her toes, patting them very gently and carefully. So sweet!!! I love our family!!!
Serenity and Donovan spent the night with dad, enjoying dinner with Rosario's family, and Serenity had her party day at dance. She got to dance in her pajamas and had cookies and drinks. She was excited to dance for Papa!