Ava's Birth Story

On Monday, December 23, I started feeling like the baby might come.  I was always sitting on the edge of my seat thinking, praying, hoping she would come soon.  My body just felt a bit off and I was feeling a ton of pressure.  When Cory got home that night, just before 7pm, I told him I thought the baby was coming.  I called my parents and asked them to drive down to our house and stay the night just in case.  I started getting some contractions that really made me think they were coming.   After the kids went to bed Cory and I wrapped the last few presents and made sure all our bags were packed.   Then the contractions went away. 

My parents showed up around 9pm and we hung out, watched tv, and walked laps around my downstairs for 40 minutes.  Then we went to bed and the contractions became more consistent.  I hardly slept all night and was up timing the contractions.  They were not too painful, but they were uncomfortable enough that I could not sleep through them.  Finally, around 7am they were strong enough and close enough together that it was time to go to the hospital.  When we got checked I was a little more than 3cm.  They wanted me to be at 4cm so we waited an hour.  Sure enough I was a 4 and was admitted around 9am. 

The Doctor broke my water, and within 6 hours our baby was ready to come out.   The Doctor on call had 3 patients who were all ready to deliver at the same time.  We were the only ones who didn't know the gender, the other two were girls.  He delivered the other two first and then came to deliver me.  With two contractions I pushed our 8lb 6oz baby out to find out it was a "Dora."  We had told our doctor that if we had a girl, Genevieve wanted to name her Dora, so when she came out, he announced, "it's a Dora!!"  Our sweet Ava Rose came out at 2:52pm.  She was put directly on my chest for skin to skin contact and they kept her there for an hour.  It was such a special time for us to bond.  She ate for the first time and we just cuddled.  After an hour they took her to weigh her and measure her.  She did great through it all.  

I was completely shocked she was a girl.  I thought the entire time she was a boy, so that was really fun.  I loved not knowing the gender of the baby and I think I will do it again if we are given another child.  Life at home with baby Ava has been wonderful.  Sure we have had some tired days and there are always frustrations with feedings, but things are leveling out and we are just learning to balance life with three kids.  Joey and Genna are really great with her and have seemed to adjust rather easily.  I am so grateful for all the meals, family support, and phone calls we have received.  We are so blessed by such an amazing community.  Continue to pray for us as we transition into this new life!