Being in the delivery room for the first time early New Year's morning, Joe Russell finally got to share the experience of seeing one of his children born. Having been deployed overseas in Okinawa, …
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Being in the delivery room for the first time early New Year's morning, Joe Russell finally got to share the experience of seeing one of his children born. Having been deployed overseas in Okinawa, Japan, when his two oldest daughters were born, it was one of those experiences the Marine always coveted. The birth of Makynzie Faith Russell was met with much fanfare and not just by Dad. Born Jan. 1 to Joe and Anna Russell, of Warrenton, Makynzie was the first baby to be born in the new year at a SSM hospital in St. Charles County. "It was real exciting to see the baby as a newborn," Joe said. "That was pretty cool." Coincidentally, the closest Joe came prior to being in the same room when his wife was giving birth was when he happened to call her at the same time she was delivering their first child. For Anna, her husband's support was a shot in the arm to endure the 13 hours of labor. "It was so neat to have him around," she said. Anna's due date was Jan. 2, but her doctor scheduled for her to be induced on Dec. 31 at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake Saint Louis. Finally, at 2:37 a.m., Makynzie was welcomed into the world. She weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 21 inches long. Makynzie joins two older sisters, Kaydence, 2, and Lily Anna, 14 months. "(Kaydence) likes having a new baby sister around," Joe said. The birth of Makynzie did trigger a busy morning for the hospital staff. Three other girls were born before 4:19 a.m. Anna said it made for an exciting time for nurses who bounced from room to room. "Everybody was talking about who was going to go first," she said. Nonetheless, the couple wasn't aware that Makynzie was the first baby born at the hospital. "We were pretty surprised. We had assumed someone had a baby already," Joe said. The Russells received a gift basket consisting of toys and food donated from the hospital's gift shop. The goodies were delivered by Drew Rector, hospital president, and nurses later Friday morning. "It was nice," Anna said. Since the birth and the return home Saturday, Makynzie is doing fine as the family gets adjusted to the new addition. "We definitely have our hands full," Joe said. "It will be busy."
