All of us are joyful for our new baby girl! (Haha, get it?)

I finally made it to an induction. It made a very neat birthday. All 3 of our girls have a birthday on the first and a holiday.

It was very weird  being induced. I shaved my legs, plucked my eyebrows, bought a birthday cake, and finally waited for a phone call. We calmly headed to the hospital after I got the call at 12 while I was out getting lunch with my mom. After pitocin, doctor breaking my water, and an epidural, we waited a few hours and out came our beautiful, very purple girl. Now when I say purple, I mean purple! And after purple she went red, literally beet red (literally is used correctly here). Then finally pink. She's a chameleon!

Six babies were born at that hospital all around 5 o'clock. Apparently when Olive opened the door up in heaven they all came scampering out like a pack of puppies.

Not two hours later my mom brought the crew to see the new baby. Jessie pointed to her like "Wow, a doll!" Patrick keep his this-is-amazing silence. Auretta was smitten. And David was thrilled that mom had dinner to share! On the way home Patrick told grandma, "I love her and I don't even know her."

That all happened Wednesday and by Friday morning I was more than ready to go home. We were all packed up and everything ready to go. We had to wait for her doctor to check on one test. But when he called he had bad news. Her platelet count was low which is a sign of infection. So she'd have to stay for another 48 hrs to receive antibiotics. I bawled like a baby (Lack of sleep? Hormones?). But I was informed I could stay with her for only $25 a night. Awesome! But during that first night, we first found out that she would need some formula because she had dropped more than a pound and then 3 hours later I found out she had to stay under the lights because her bilirubin was up too high. With each new announcement I was a mess. Huge mess. I also couldn't sleep at all. So I was staying at the hospital to feed and hold my baby but they were feeding her and keeping her where I couldn't hold her. So with a very heavy heart I packed up my stuff and walked out of the hospital with empty arms.

But by the time I got home and hugged my other little ones, I was feeling much better. I went back every 6 hours to feed her. And before I knew it Sunday was here. I woke up early Sunday to go feed her thinking we wouldn't get her until that afternoon. But when I showed up they said wait around and the doctor will be here soon to discharge her. He showed up and I got to take her home. It was a good Sunday!

It was a good experience. I was killing myself to make sure Olive had what she needed but she was just fine. I needed to take care of myself and to do that I needed to be home. As I drove home with her making the squeaky newborn noises in the back, I thought about how my Friday was heart breaking and Sunday was joyful. I did feel a little over dramatic though. My heart goes out to those who have to leave babies for extended periods of time or deal with serious medical problems. Overall, it was a good learning opportunity.

All in all, I'm grateful for this new life and I'm grateful she is healthy and home. She is beautiful and sweet! It's only been a week but just like Auretta, I'm smitten.