It was not the typically quiet New Year’s morning in the Family Birthplace at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West.
Instead of cheering in the New Year, labor and delivery nurses were cheering on moms who were about to give birth…and it was a four-baby race to the finish! Four little girls made their entrance to the world in Lake Saint Louis between 2:37 a.m. and 4:19 a.m. on January 1.
The first one to “cross the finish line,” now owner of the title, “First SSM St. Charles County Baby of 2010,” went to Makynzie Faith Russell of Warrenton. Makynzie is the third daughter of Joe and Anna Russell, who were delighted with their adorable addition, but a little disappointed that she didn’t arrive a few hours earlier. “Our daughter Kaydence is two and a half, and Lily Ana is one…so we were hoping they would have 2007, 2008 and 2009 birthdays,” said Anna. Their consolation prize, for having the hospital’s first baby of 2010, was a lovely gift basket delivered by hospital president Drew Rector and Family Birthplace nurses on Friday morning. The basket was donated by the hospital’s Healing Presents Gift Shop.
This is the first time that Joe Russell has been able to attend the birth of one of his daughters, all of whom were delivered at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West. He is a Marine, and was deployed overseas during the last two births. He said that being present for Makynzie’s birth was an experience that he can’t put into words. Anna said that having her husband by her side made her much more emotional the third time around. “And he wouldn’t leave me, so he didn’t miss a thing,” she added with a smile.
The cute couple, who have known each other since they were toddlers, have been married for four years. “We hadn’t seen each other for a long time, but got reacquainted four years ago while I was home on leave,” recalled Joe. “We were married three months later. And now we’ve had three kids in three years…I guess some people might call us inpatient,” he joked. Or, you might call them two happy people who know what they want, and decide to get it.
Now that their eight-pound, two-ounce bundle of joy has arrived, Joe and Anna say their family is complete. “I wanted four kids and he wanted two, so we comprised,” said Anna. Joe’s Marine duty officially ends in a few weeks, and he is currently looking for civilian work as a helicopter mechanic. Anna, on the other hand, already has a full-time job as the mother of three…including one daughter whose birthday will always be celebrated by the entire world. Happy birthday, Makynzie Russell!