Kate Sarah Walton made her grand arrival on Saturday, May 25th, 2013, at 10:06 am. She weighed 8 lbs. even, and was 21 inches long.
The delivery went about as smoothly and quickly as I could have hoped for. It was great. My parents and little brother, Michael, arrived at our house around midnight on Friday night. I was already in bed, attempting to fall asleep, so I didn’t even see them. I woke up at around 3:30 am, and after laying in bed for awhile trying to go back to sleep, my nerves and excitement finally got the best of me, and so I just got up and started getting ready. I took a shower, made our bed, threw a few more things into my hospital bag, and checked on the kids. Dan gave me a blessing, and then we were off!
We checked into St. Mary’s hospital at 6 am. Right behind us was a girl clearly in labor, and I thought about how nice it was that I was being induced. We were led to the delivery room (room 13) and I was told to change into my gown, get comfortable on the bed, and that a nurse would be with me shortly. Around 7:00, the nurse came in and started my IV with just the saline solution. She wrapped the monitors around my belly to start monitoring the baby’s heartbeat and my contractions. I was having mild contractions every now and then, but nothing painful. My doctor, Dr. Paul, came in a while later to say hi and see how I was doing. She was the doctor on call for Memorial Day weekend, so that worked out well. She said they were really busy that morning . . . . a few C sections, a few inductions, and quite a few women who came in already in labor. She checked me and I was dilated to about a 3-4. She said she’d get the anesthesiologist in to me before he got busy with the C section ladies, which was definitely a good idea:)
The anesthesiologist came in at 8 am to give me my epidural. This is the part I’m always the most nervous for! I seriously get the shakes and can’t stop. This anesthesiologist was great though, I really liked him. He talked through the whole process, explaining things as he was going. It was as good as it could be. Once the epidural had kicked in, it was seriously smooth sailing from there. Dr. Paul came in a little while later to break my water and then the nurse started the pitocin. I was comfortable through it all and hardly felt a thing. When Dr. Paul came back in about an hour later, I was already dilated to a 10. She was surprised at how fast I had fully dilated. From a 4 to a 10 in less than an hour. “Wow, I think you’re ready to push,” she said. “Let’s try it through the next contractions.” Just a few pushes later, and she was out! It was so fast, I couldn’t believe it. She just popped right on out! So easy. Especially when I think back to my 3 hour pushing experience with Annie. The whole delivery was just so great, which I am extremely grateful for. I’m so happy I held out until my induction date, because Dr. Paul said that if I had gone into labor on my own, I probably wouldn’t have made it to the hospital, it was that fast.
Something cute about this hospital’s labor and delivery is that right after a baby is born they play a lullaby tune for everyone to hear. I remember hearing Kate’s lullaby and then one right after it. And then quite a few more throughout the day!
A few pictures. Here I am hanging out in my lovely gown. The clock says 9:45, so this was just 20 minutes before Kate was born. 
Getting all cleaned up:
All fresh and clean.
My parents brought the kids in the afternoon to meet their new baby sister.
And just like that we have 4 kids!! 
The happy grandparents!
Coming home the next day! Dan went to Sacrament meeting with everyone and then came to pick me and the babes up to take us home. We got home just as they were getting home from church. 
The kids had made this cute sign to welcome us home! 
It was so great having my parents and Michael here this weekend to watch our kids and see the baby. It actually worked out perfectly because Michael was asked to play in a basketball tournament here in Reno this weekend, so he and my Dad stayed busy doing that. He didn’t play in the Sunday game, but had two games on Saturday and one on Monday. He even scored a personal record of 31 points in one of the games! Go Michael! The kids are all wearing new pajamas that Grandma brought for them in this picture.
A few pictures of Grandma and Kate on Monday before they left:
Man, I am so happy this sweet baby girl is finally here! My heart is full as I stare at this precious gift from heaven. I just can’t believe she’s mine. She’s just perfect and I’m so blessed to be her mother. 
