SURPRISE!!!!! Okay so when I last posted on March 27th about being dilated and having contractions. Yeah well lets just say that the contractions kept coming on strong and by 5:00 that evening Deke and I were checking into the hospital to get ready to have a baby.
My mom was still in San Diego and unable to get out of work, Dave and Nalene were rushing back from a trip to Utah as fast as they could and Dad and Lisa had Hunter and Ave back at home and were trying to fanangle a babysitter so that they could come and wait at the hospital. They got me all hooked up and started monitoring me and getting my IV's and all that fun stuff set up.
Deke and I just talked excitedly as we waited to find out what time they were going to take me in. My c-section wasn't scheduled until April 6th so they did an ultrasound to check on the baby and do an estimated weight on her. Even though I was only at 35 weeks I was effaced to 70% because her head was so low and in position and was dilated to a 3.5. Dr. McKernan came in to see us and confirmed that we would definitely be having a baby tonight!!!!
She was scheduled to be born sometime within the 10pm hour just like Hunter. He was born at 10:55 p.m. We waited a few hours as the nurses did all the necessary preparations for me. As the nurses brought in the scrubs for Deke to scrub up to get ready to go in, in came Dave and Nalene. They had driven the 10+ hours from Utah that morning and managed to make it right before I went in. Dave and Deke gave me a beautiful blessing and they wheeled me in for the lovely epidural. I had had a lot of anxiety about having another c-section because the emergency one with the twins was so scary and such a blur. I can not express to you the calm, peaceful, healing difference of the experience of Emma's birth.
We went into the operating room and we were talking to Dr. McKernan and the nurses. The anthesiologist took pictures as they opened me up and took her out. (Deke said if he looked he thought he would pass out and I definitely didn't want to look) It was so calm as we excitedly gave our last guesses as to whether or not she would have hair and how big she would be. It was so calm and peaceful yet so exciting it was almost unbearable. Within a matter of only about fifteen minutes a beautiful high pitched little wail burst out into the room and a slimy, gorgeous little baby girl was held up high over the sheet for Deke and I to see.
Deke went over to cut the cord and get some pictures of her as I laid on the table and listened to her beautiful, healthy cries. She was born at 10:19 p.m. and weighed 6lbs 10 oz (which is actually pretty chubby for being 5 weeks early)
Then they brought her over and laid her on my chest and for the first time she and I were face to face. I couldn't believe how perfect she was! Her perfect little nose, full lips and of course those chubby little cheeks!! It was so amazing I don't think I couldn't even comprehend it all at that moment I was so overwhelmed with joy.
Deke and I had about two minutes together to look and her and meet her before they wheeled her off to get cleaned up and wheeled me into recovery. Deke went with her to the nursery to be with her and help give her first bath. Deke has always been a sensitive guy but I could not believe how tender he was with her. Every time he would pick her up or someone would hand her to him tears would start streaming down his face. Later the nurse from the nursery told me she had never seen a father show so much joy over his new baby.
Deke is such a wonderful man and an amazing daddy. I had to stay in recovery for an hour! It felt like the longest hour ever since no one besides Deke could come in and see me and I had only gotten to see the baby for those quick few moments. They finally got me into a room and settled shortly after midnight. I half listened to the nurses instructions as a I asked when I could see the baby. Moments later they brought her in and Deke laid her in my arms. I always thought that when this moment came I wouldn't be able to control the tears that would come. Instead my whole body burned with happiness and I could not stop smiling. I held her as close to me as I could and smelled her little head. I kissed her soft little hands and cheeks and smelled her sweetness over and over again.
I could not get enough of her, all I could say was "she is amazing, isn't she beautiful." She has quite a bit of hair especially in the back. It is dark brown but not jet black like Hunter's was when he was born. Sometimes she looks like Deke, she definitely looks like Hunter and the older she gets the more she looks like my baby pictures. The cheeks are exactly like Hunter's, it makes me wonder if all our babies will have those delicious chubby cheeks. As Deke sat next to me on the bed in the quiet of the night, just the two of us, I don't think in my most wonderful dreams that I could have comprehended the joy that we shared at that moment as we held her and looked at her.
After all that we have been through we were experiencing a miraculous tender mercy. Her birth could not have gone smoother and she being our fifth child is our first baby to have not seen a minute in the NICU. She is so healthy and strong and it was amazing to get to have her the whole time in the room with us. Over the next couple of days in the hospital we had lots of wonderful company and I struggled through getting her to breastfeed. Hunter took to it so easily and she had a little harder of a time getting used to it but now has fully adjusted :) I forgot how wonderful breastfeeding is and how bonding it is. Another interesting part of this story is about her name. We had several names picked out and yet after she was born we just couldn't decide which one fit her. None of them stood out to us. A day passed a we whittled down a few, another day passed and we were down to Emma and Addyson. Why in the world could we not just decide on her name? Our family called us routinely throughout the day to check on the name status and harass us. Finally the day we left the hospital the birth recorder told us we had until that Friday to decide or she would go down on her birth certificate as Baby Girl Burch. Deke and I decided that this was definitely not a shining parenting moment for us and knew we could not let them happen or we would surely be the worst parents in the world.
When we brought her home to Hunter and Avery I felt like all the things I had dreamed about were coming true. Watching them with her so gentle and loving, so excited and giggling I couldn't stop the emotion. Sitting on the bed with all three of them my heart felt so warm and again an overwhelming sense of gratitude for a moment I at one time wondered if I would ever have. The kids continued to call her Emma and Avery had from the very beginning. We all talked as a family and decided she was definitely our Emma. To announce the end our our indecision we came up with a little idea and went to Staples and bought these name tags. Then we took some pictures and sent out an email with this picture:
Needless to say Emma is almost three weeks old as I am writing this post and she is nothing short of amazing and a miracle in our lives. She is a constant reminder of faith and prayer, hope and tender mercy. She is a wonderful, happy, beautiful baby and is definitely our rainbow after the storm. Thank you Heavenly Father that miracles still happen: we love you Miss Emma, welcome home :) :)
This last week the girls and I went to a RS Enrichment night that was a Mother-Daughter night. The theme was "My Three White Dresses." I was so excited about this night for two reasons. First because this is my first Mother Daughter activity to attend as a mom. 
Second with Emma's baby blessing right around the corner this theme seemed so perfect. Hopefully I will finish getting it sewed before next week :) I got the girls all dressed up in matching outfits which I love to do. I try to even find them matching headbands and bows if I can. 
They had the tables set up with lit topiaries and tea cups and saucers and beaded necklaces just like a tea party. 
One side of the cultural hall had blessing dresses, baptism dresses and wedding dresses displayed all along the wall as well as pictures. 
The other side of the hall had the food. All kinds of yummy small sandwiches, bite sized brownies, mini cookies and lemonade. Perfect kind of tea party foods :) My neighbor who is the enrichment leader and also a vinyl guru had taken a whole bunch of clear plastic cups and put an adorable pink crown on each one for every girl. .JPG)
Avery could not believe it. "Mom there is a princess crown on my cup...and it's pink!!" First we started out with dinner then some get to know you games. Then they had a very cute fashion show with girls modeling the various three dresses. We then watched a video montage of my three white dresses of pictures of girls in the ward.
I of course got emotional looking over at my two cute little girls imagining them on their baptism day and as beautiful brides. 
At the end of the night they gave each girl a vinyl saying to put on a wall or mirror that had a pink crown and said. "Have eyes to see what heaven sees in you." It was such a fun night and so special to have some fun just the girls. I look forward to many more "girls only" nights ahead. Love you Ave and Emma.
It's true. We are absolutely smitten with Miss Emma. She is such a good baby. I still find myself breaking out in tears multiple times a day just picking her up or looking at her I am so grateful to have her. 
Her precious little countenance has already brought so much peace and joy to our home. Deke and I continue to feel that she is going to be our little peacemaker. She has already brought our family so much peace and contentment. She is an angel.
She is really vocal and makes these cute little growly noises when she needs something. She turns quite vicious however when it comes time to eat and will latch on to the closest item. 
Recent victims have included the lace trim on her bassinett, a fabric flower on one of her outfits and my earlobe. 
She has the deepest beautiful blue eyes and we are enjoying how much she is staying awake these days.
She is really starting to focus better on objects including her favorites: the air vents in the ceiling and of course any fan. .JPG)
She saw her own hand for the first time the other day which cracked us up as she went cross eyed multiple times trying to focus on it. 
Every night when Deke gets home the first thing he wants to do is hold and cuddle her even before he changes or eats it is so cute. I am having so much fun taking cute shots of her. It is fun to have one that will actually hold still to be photographed. 
Hunter is her protector and meets to her every need. He is absolutely sweet with her. Avery love to experiment with her and see just exactly what she can and can't do. I included some close up pictures 
of some of her cute little parts to remember how cute her little hands and ears are and how chubby and delicious her little cheeks are. We are enjoying her so much...she is so adorable :) :)
She looks just like him. She is just the female version. I look at Hunter's baby pictures and can't believe it. It is so neat. Her loves her. Just like he loves Ave. He is so gentle and sweet with her. 
He always wants to lay by her and have her hold his finger. He tells me how cute she is and marvels over how tiny she is. He is really enjoying her. I love that he put his football in the bouncy seat next to her and it is pretty much as big as she is. 
Wish she could stay tiny for a long time. I love watching how tender he is with her. I know how protective he will be over her, and she will love him for it. 
I still feel like I should pinch myself to make sure this is real. We have a baby. She is healthy and safe and beautiful. When I wake up and look next to me there she is in the bassinet. Snuggly and sweet, tiny lips and perfect nose sleeping happily. 
I can't wait to hold her, can't get enough of her, never want to put her down. I could just sit and stare at her all day. My whole being feels a peace that I have been missing for a while. Even though I am getting up every few hours I feel like I am sleeping better than I have in a very long time. My heart and mind are not worrying and longing for a child. She is here, we are blessed..I am full of joy and contentment. It is real, and she is amazing. 
