Laine Turns 12!

My youngest daughter just turned 12. It's a bittersweet day, for sure.

I remember going into labor with her on the fourth of July, which that year happened to occur on a Sunday. My back had been hurting all day, and the fireworks had upset my schnauzer (Lucy) to the point that she had hurt herself on the gate, cutting her paw open. I put the dog on the bed and was trying to clean and debris the wound, and I couldn't get over how much my back hurt. I knew it couldn't be labor (wink, wink), because with Joe and Kelly I was exactly one week past my due date before I went into labor, I still had five days to go before she was due, and I knew what contractions felt like. After a few hours, the pain in my back became too intense to ignore, and I found myself frantically packing a bag to go to the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital, I discovered that I was in labor, all right...back labor because Laine was turned the opposite way from the way she was supposed to come out. Because the pain was so intense, they decided to give me an epidural, but they had to do lab work first. I grabbed the doctor's arm and told him, "I want the epidural NOW." I think he knew I wasn't kidding at that point, because he did what I asked. Laine turned around the right direction on her own and labor became much easier at that point. She made her appearance on Monday morning.

She has always been such a joy to me. She was the snugly daughter I always wanted (since Kelly was anti-snuggling), charming and full of energy. She was the earliest "laugher" in our family. She was always smiling and giggling about something. When she was upset about something, it was easy to calm her with touch...she loved for me to trace little patterns lightly on her hands, rub her neck, scratch her back or tickle her arms. (All those things are still true!) She has turned out to be a smart child, helpful, organized and conscientious in all that she does. She has a keen intellect, a personable nature, and a kind heart. She can sing beautifully and has tremendous acting ability as well.

I'm so blessed to have her sweet spirit in my home!