Welcome Avaleen Rose!!!

I wanted to write all this down before I forgot.

It was a WHIRLWIND of a day. I had a ton of things planned over the next week, including 4 photo shoots, straightening up my house, setting up all the equipment for Ava, and getting my car detailed. Well, you know what they say, "The quickest way to make God laugh is to make plans."

Foster and I headed out this morning to go hear our little Ava on her Non-stress test and see her one more time before delivery next week on the u/s. She did GREAT on her NST. She passed with flying colors, and we were done in 25 mins. We then went to the u/s and she wasn't cooperating with the tech. Little Ava kept her face turned to the back so we couldn't get a good look at her face:-( The tech went about measuring her size, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid. She then left and said she would be back with the doctor. I didn't think anything of it, because I was supposed to see him anyway.  She soon returned and asked us to followed her to his office where he would speak with us.

When we got in there, he said "Your sugars look great! When did you last eat?"

 I thought the question a little strange, so I asked "Why are my ketones high or something? I ate around 730am,"

"No the reason I ask is because your fluid levels were low, and with your history, I am not the most comfortable with sending you home for another week. I was wondering how you felt about having this baby today?"

Foster and I looked at each other with wide open mouths and started laughing, "Well, I guess it is as good of time as any!"

He sent us on our way with instructions to be at the hospital by 1pm for a 3pm c-section.

I ran home to get my non-existent hospital bag (can I tell you I almost packed it last night but figured I had ALL week to worry about it?!?!?) while Foster headed to the office to tie a few loose ends. Then we headed out.

Once we got to the hospital, it was a lot of "hurry up and wait". We had our priest meet us and he did a blessing over Ava and I. I sat in the prep/recovery area until 3:45pm (there was some mix up with my blood draws that delayed us for a little bit (to my ED family, you gotta LOVE lab!!! lol).

JJ, Mom, Dad, my aunt, Dave's mom and his sister's husband (our brother in law) anxiously awaited in the lobby as we were rolled back. My sister, Bug, met us in the OR because she had been granted permission as a NICU nurse to be in the OR when her niece made her appearance! I was sooo happy to have BOTH Foster AND Bug with me!

The surgery went great. It was so much different than last time, because they drugged me up with Rosalynn since she had already passed. This time I was WIDE awake, and the tugging and pulling felt SOOOO strange. After taking their time getting to Ava, all of the sudden the doc calls Foster around the curtain to get a pic....she was breech, so her butt and legs were out, and they were holding her up by her legs. It is quite the funny pic, but I am not allowed to share it online b/c you can see her private parts and Foster doesn't like that idea:-) Sorry.

Then we heard it.....the sound that we never got to hear from Rosalynn, that sound that we have been praying for for 18 months. Her little cries. They were the most beautiful sound I have ever heard in my life. It was so surreal! I cannot even explain the emotions that went through me at that moment. I felt strangely at peace, but so filled with love and joy and sadness....our whole family was there, for I felt my precious Rosalynn there with us.

The NICU team looked her over, and noted she was having trouble breathing, so quickly wrapped her up, let Foster hold her momentarily, let me see and kiss her, and then rushed her off.

Unfortunately her little lungs are not quite mature. She had not produced enough sufactant, so she had to be intubated. It is sad, but she is a feisty one!! She is sooo precious, and you can tell she will be off the tube soon, because she is already fighting to breathe around it...which is a GOOD sign!

It helps put my mind at ease that Bug is working in the NICU tonight....almost like I can rest easy...ALMOST! lol.

I feel great. I have surprised all my nurses, I was up and in a wheelchair 1.5 hours after surgery. I am not in that much pain, and not wanting any pain meds as of right now. Foster is fast asleep next to me in the pull out bed...it has been a LONG day!

I have a few pics....the first is blurry b/c i had to take a pic w/ my cell phone of a picture on a camera screen, the second and third are of our baby girl in the NICU.....So without further ado, here is Miss Avaleen Rose 5lb10oz, 19inches long.