Happy Birthday Lynnie!!!

I read to Lynn from my journal this morning, about the day that she was born... I warn, all the details are here because if my house were to burn down, that journal wouldn't survive but it will here :)...
November 24, 2002
Happy Birthday Lynn! She was born today at 9:16 am. She is 7 pounds, 12 ounces and 20 inches long. She has Merrill's eyes and nose. TONS of dark long hair. She is as Merrill would say, "adorable!". She's absolutely perfect! She is breastfeeding well too, when she isn't too sleepy. I had kind of a sad day yesterday. I was just going to miss being pregnant & feeling her move. I basically held it in all day. We went to Sandy's to eat with mom, dad, Joe, Jackie, the girls, and Clint. We all had a good time but I felt a little funny. I felt dizzy and a little crampy. I felt worse when we stopped off at Wal-Mart to get a couple of things. Merrill took my last "pregnancy picture" and I lost it. Just thinking that it was the last for this pregnancy made me sad! Merrill is so good though! He just loved me. We rented "Enough" and "Copycat" to bring to the hospital. Then I took a long bath and tried to relax. My pains didn't go away and my mucus was pink too. We relaxed and just waited. Merrill gave me such a beautiful blessing! He blessed me with everything I was concerned about. He also said how much my Heavenly Father loved me for bringing this spirit into the world. He told me I would be a wonderful mother, that I already am, so not to worry. He's so good! We got to the hospital around midnight but rode the elevator up and down a few times because we couldn't remember which floor labor and delivery were on. We checked in and got stuff rolling only to discover that I was 3+ centimeters and 80% effaced and I was contracting! We had a little scare as soon as I got hooked up to the monitors, her heart rate dropped and they had to lay me down and put oxygen on me. Mom and Kevin came around 1:00 am. I thought they had me on pitosin the whole time, but they really hadn't. I was doing it all on my own! So it would have been today anyway!Dr. Healy broke my water around 2 am. Around 4-4:30 am I got my epidural and then they started the pitosin. Merrill slept then and I did off and on too. When I got my epidural I was at a 4+. Around 5 am I was a 8. Ans things just kept going! At 7 am she told me I was a nine and we would push soon. That's when dad, Jackie, and Darlene came. I started pushing around 7:30 and Dr. Healy didn't get there till about 9 am. I got to look in the mirror and I saw her crowning and saw the shoulders pass through. Before I knew it, I had a baby girl on my tummy! Merrill did so good! He helped me push and rubbed my temples. He's so good to me! Everyone thinks she's so cute! She has chubby little cheeks and a double chin. She is mostly Mer but I can say she has my hands ;). Merrill held in all emotion until everyone left, then we both cried. It was the neatest experience! Right now it's 9:45 pm. We've had little sleep but are loving our time together as a brand new family. Everyone is so excited, especially Hallie. We are so blessed! We love you so much Lynn!Happy birthday my 6 year old! I love you!!!