Happy 2nd Birthday Darci Rose

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my special little girl.

I remember her birth very well. Seems like the births of my babies are so etched in my mind.

I had been on bedrest with her for 6 weeks. We had been in and out of Labor and Delivery many times to get checked and stop labor. I had gotten to the point that I wasn't on strict bedrest anymore and I had had a very nice baby shower thrown by a big group of friends the previous day. Bret was getting ready to go to church and play the organ for Sacrament Meeting. I asked him not to go. I told him that I just had a feeling we would be headed to the hospital. He was a little frustrated. We had gone in and sent home so many times. My contractions picked up to 3 minutes apart and off we went. The took us into the very familiar triage room and checked me. I was 4cm and 100% effaced, which was no change since the last time we were in. It's kind of funny. MOST women who are 4cm and 100% effaced are getting into a great labor pattern. We really thought they would just send us home, but I was so uncomfortable. Then the nurse said she was checking us in and putting us in a Labor Suite. It didn't hit us that we were staying. She got me hooked up to the monitors and took the appropriate blood work. She asked me if I wanted my epidural. I asked if I was allowed to have my epidural because I didn't want to go home numb. She told me we were there to stay and if the epidural slowed things done then they would break my water. OHHHHH... we were there to STAY!!! She probably thought we were so dense. I called my parents and my best friend, Becca, and told them to get there if they wanted to be present for the birth. The OB on call came and broke my water and I felt instantly better. I had a major excess of amniotic fluid. She came fast after that. In fact, she came so fast that she bruised her head against my pelvic bones and it didn't completely go away for weeks after. She came out so purple I thought she wasn't breathing. But she was perfectly healthy and placed in my arms. 6lbs 13oz.

There was such a sweet spirit in the room. Darci Rose Armstrong was born on the same day, but 30 years later, as Darci Pingel... my one and only sister. She died in my dad's arms 6 short days after being born. I've been saying since I was very young that I would name my first daughter after my sister.

Darci you are the happiest, sweetest little girl. Your whole family loves you so much. I think your Dad and brothers would do absolutely anything for you. You are so curious and inventive. We look forward to many smiles more from you.