In true 4th child fashion, the post begins with links to the siblings stories. 😂 (Always sharing the spotlight, I suppose!) Previous Birth Stories: Cade, Reese, Cam
Rylee took us by surprise, a surprise that we kept quiet about for several months. Looking back now, I wish we wouldn't have done that. It's always easier to process something if you share it and have others celebrate alongside you. We "went public" with the news of expecting Rylee in early May when we were about 5 months along. It didn't really feel "real" until we shared our news!
I didn't take too many belly pics. This was June 14 at around 22 weeks.
Belly at the beach about 24 weeks.
33 Weeks
36 Weeks
Purchased a new crib but still had bedding from Reese just because I loved it so much I hadn't parted with it yet.
The changing table went from red to pink!
Hours before her arrival!
We were scheduled for a c-section (see previous birth stories!) on Wednesday, September 5th but I woke up Tuesday, September 4th at about 5am to my water breaking and some contractions. I had thought I might go into labor early the whole time but since we were just one day away I kind of thought, no, it's supposed to be tomorrow! I had plans to go to the mall with my parents and I knew my doctor wouldn't be back until the 5th. I decided to take a shower and get ready, throw the last items into my bag and make sure it really was go time. Maybe I was imagining it? Matt was already up and gone for morning basketball conditioning so I waited for him to get back home and then told him I think it's time to head to the hospital!
Reese was very concerned, apparently she had thought that we were going to have the baby at home. She didn't realize that we were going to have to leave!
I remember that w
e had to double back after leaving for the hospital because we forgot Rylee's bag!
It made us smile that we had to drive right behind a golf cart for a bit near the hospital. We arrived at the hospital around 8am and I was 3 cm dilated. At check-in in triage I had to give a urine sample and I realized I hadn't drank any water in quite awhile since I woke up to the contractions. I was wishing I had just downed some water a few hours ago. I knew this meant that getting an IV in was going to be difficult. And it was. They had 3 different nurses try and it was taking FOREVER. All in between contractions. I couldn't tell if the doctor (head of the practice I go to but not my doctor) was upset with me or the nurses but at one point after they finally got the IV in he was squeezing the bag of fluid trying to keep the process moving along. We went from waiting on him to finish up surgery to him waiting on us with the IV and bag of fluid.
But at 10:23am she was here! And she was perfect! I remember a sweet older nurse holding the warm towels to her to "pink her up." I'm sure it's just different protocol for different hospitals (Rylee is my only baby not at Olathe Medical Center) but here they kept having me confirm my name and what I was having done. Yes. My name is Jana Keeley and I am having a caesarean section and tubal ligation. Yes. Please.
When they had me check in I was a little confused about whether I should take my sports bra off or not...please tell me this happens to other people. You don't want to be the patient that has stripped down when that's not what they told you to do. Anyway it did interfere with our skin to skin a little...but I guess I know now for the future...haha!
Dr. Newman, Rylee, and my insides!?! Whoa, should have warned you on that one. Sorry about that!
Happy and oblivious to my exposed insides.
Matt got to ring the lullaby bells that play over the entire hospital when a baby is born! (I actually was throwing up as this was happening because the anesthesia always gets me a little.)
The welcoming committee arrived! Cam was thrilled that Baby Rylee got him some Elmo letters, just what he had been wanting!
Full bed, full heart!
It's fun that Matt's sister, Christy, was living in Phoenix for Mitch's Fellowship with this same hospital group that we delivered in during this me!
Cousin Keeley, the first cousin Rylee got to meet!
G-Mom and Papa and their 6th grandchild
And Grandma and Grandpa Keeley greet their 11th grandchild! (They now have 14!)
The neighborhood put a stork in our yard and organized a meal train where neighbors brought excellent food!
My friend and running buddy, Julie Grimm (who has since moved to Canada and I miss her every day!) brought Jimmy Johns and the best Trader Joe's candy as a treat to me!
The Hepker's had welcomed baby Brooklyn just 6 days before Rylee was born, also at Banner Del Webb hospital!
Pretty flowers for Rylee!
Love me some personalized outfits for the hospital. I just can't resist!
She loves to sleep with her arms up, just like her siblings.
Time to head home!
Dad is glad, he's ready for his own bed again!
As always, G-Mom had the welcoming committee on point!
Rylee has spent her first year and a half of life being a very sweet baby. She goes with the flow. She is content. She is patient. She is the ultimate 4th child and perfect fit for our family.
First doctor's appointment!
Lots of help and snuggles from Big Brother!
My friend Beth DeMund took some amazing newborn pics of Rylee and all the kids!
G-Mom stayed with us for most of September and it was a sad, sad day when she headed back to Kansas.
Luckily we had plenty of other visitors to help us out and snuggle Baby Rylee, like Aunt Kizzie!
Big Sister Reese was a big helper too!
She was NOT about the 1 month pics and really didn't even start smiling until two months old. She has been a quiet yet somehow still sassy spirit. She's also just a teeny tiny babe. At 18 months she wears 12 month size clothes and size 3 diapers. She doesn't talk much but still lets her opinions be known in one way or another. Welcoming Rylee at the beginning of basketball season honestly made for a tough transition time and I didn't really come up for air until March when Matt's season was over even though she was the best baby. She is such a blessing and we are so thankful for her! We just know one day she will be a world changer...like maybe a urologist perhaps!
