First baby of 2011 born at KMC

COEUR d'ALENE - When the New Year's ball dropped in New York City, Kim Vernon was in labor at Kootenai Medical Center.

Several hours later, well into the morning of Jan. 1, she was still bringing her third child into the world.

"We were assuming she was going to come (Friday), but she took her sweet, sweet time," Kim said.

Finally, after 28 hours of natural labor, Randee Lu Vernon was born at 4:06 a.m. She weighed six pounds, one ounce, measured 19.5 inches, and she was the first Kootenai County baby of 2011.

"We managed to get one (New Year's) kiss in," Kim recalled, "then it was all business till 4."

Kim and her husband, Luke, live in Post Falls. They now have three little girls: the adorable Randee, 5-year-old Reese and 3-year-old Rylee. Kim will be discharged today, and the Vernons will return home for some much-needed rest.

For a woman who had just given birth that morning, Kim was in fine shape on Saturday. She wasn't even wearing a hospital gown.

"I felt great (when Randee was born)," she said. "It was such a relief. All the pain instantly stops. It was just a little longer than I had anticipated. But well worth it. And she looks exactly like her sisters."

Reese and Rylee adore the little infant, Kim said. They can't wait until Randee gets to Post Falls.

"They're completely in love," Kim said. "They think she's a doll. Our 5-year-old just wants to sit there and kiss her and love her."

Luke runs a landscaping business, and was out moving snow when Kim went into labor. On Saturday he had only slept seven hours over the past four days.

He plans to "Get home, relax, and go to sleep," and then watch Sunday's Seahawks game with his three girls.