She's here!
28 March 08

On Tuesday, I couldn’t decide if I was experiencing real labour pangs or not, so I sent David to bed and said I’d let him know in a couple of hours.
Sure enough, at 11 pm I woke David to say we had to go in to hospital. We got there before midnight, but Calista didn’t make her own arrival until 1.30 the next afternoon (Wednesday, 26 March).
The labour was long, but not too difficult. I stayed at the same point for at least 6 hours (very frustrating to be told I hadn’t progressed), but then everything started to move. We were both tired by that afternoon.
A friend — L — looked after the girls until Mel arrived down from the Sunshine Coast to take over. Thanks so much for helping out — we would have been stuck without your help! I owe you heaps.
During labour, I was blessed by discovering the two midwives in attendence were both believers. And one was the sister of a lady I know from my playgroup! (How’s that for a random connection?!)

In the hospital, when Brioni heard another baby crying in a nearby room, she pointed to the door and said “More Calistas.” Aïcha’s reaction to my feeding was “When I’m a lady, I’ll have milk-breasts, and I’ll feed Calista.”
Aïcha and Brioni were very gentle and wanted to take turns “holding” her in their laps. Brioni enjoys it for about 2 seconds then pushes Calista away. Aïcha lasts longer, kissing Calista’s head and snuggling her close.

Now that we’re home, we’ll try to establish a routine in the Babywise fashion that has been successful for us with both other girls. I’ll let you know how it goes!
L’s notes from March 26 are as follows:
Brioni was up at 6 am, and Aïcha was up a little after 7. Both girls had ceral for breakfast and fruit for morning tea. We have spent time swinging, playing and reading books (tonnes of books).
Aïcha’s pyjamas are folded in her bed and Brioni’s sleepsuit is on her bookshelf — I wasn’t sure if you wanted to re-use them tonight.
The only small problem we had was that Aïcha pushed Brioni when I was speaking on the phone and then pinched her arm when I was in the toilet. I asked her to apologise — which she did — but I wasn’t sure what you would want me to do (time out, etc.) so we just talked about it not being nice and the Brioni was hurt and it isn’t nice.
1 · Jenny, David, Cody & Kiley · 29 March 2008, 06:43
Congrats! She is beautiful! You are so blessed to have three beautiful little girls. You’re going to have so much fun!
2 · Carla and Andy · 29 March 2008, 20:39
Congratulations! She is very cute and she has hair! It must be lovely to have a newborn again.
3 · renee · 29 March 2008, 23:06
Someone asked me what her weight was…can you post it please?
4 · Anne · 30 March 2008, 07:53
Congradulations! How beautiful. Many prayers for much sleep.
5 · Namma · 30 March 2008, 15:46
There must have been some reason why I rang a couple of times yesterday and again today…a pity I didn’t catch you. Big hugs all round from Namma. Good work Lauren, all three little girls look wonderful. May the Lord bless and keep you safe always. How did you manage the 28th??
6 · Marisa · 31 March 2008, 21:42
Congratulations! She’s beautiful. And so are your other two sweet girls!
7 · Ree & Oli · 4 April 2008, 20:39
Congratulations Lauren and David! Sorry we’re a bit late on logging on but you have been on our hearts through the whole of March and have been regularly prayed for! We are very excited for you both and Calista’s two big sisters. Your new daughter is very blessed to be born into such a wonderful family and she is absolutely beautiful!
8 · Gwenda Darling · 8 April 2008, 21:01
Congratulations. The family I hoped for, the family your Mum and Dad had and the family your Great Grand mother had and loved. You are really blessed. 3 Lovey girls, No nursing home for you!!!!