Averly Kathryn

Many attempts at family pic...this is the best we got :)

A picture of Emilynn a couple of days old.  There are similarities and differences.  LOVE!

Averly Kathryn finally arrived at 4:12 am on February 28th.  It was a crazy last couple of hours.  After having prodromal labor for 7 days that began about 3:30am every morning and stalled out, on Wednesday, I woke up to a little more intensity and hope that things would progress.  We went to the midwives that afternoon around 3pm only to have them send me home at 5cm, fully effaced, and tell me to have a glass of wine, take a bath and not go to work.  I did not go to work for the first night.  I planned to relax, but about 5:00pm, on our way to dinner at LaMadeleine's, contractions got super intense and took my breath away.  I made it through dinner, but we headed to straight to the hospital from there.  Once I got there, they weren't convinced they were going to keep me.  At 8:30pm they gave me an hour and told me that if I didn't progress and have consistent contractions, they would send me home again...Are you kidding me!?!  Thanks to my doula, Rachel and my hubby, we walked and an hour later, and MANY intense contractions and prayers later, I was a 7cm.  Yay!  I labored til about midnight and decided to get in the water.  I labored in the water for 2 hours at a 9cm with no water breakage.  The midwife finally checked me around 2 am and the checking broke my water.  However, my sweet pea would not come out.  I pushed and pushed for 2 hours believing that there was NO BABY in my body...  I was extremely tired because I had been up since 3:30am (24 hours) Wedensday morning.  I pushed on my hands and knees most of the time and then the midwife decided I needed to get on my back.  Once I got on my back, I pushed for 30 minutes and was able to push our new precious baby GIRL out.  She came out on the side of her head and body and had the cord wrapped around her several times.  To God be the glory, that NEVER compromised her heartbeat or breathing throughout the labor and delivery!!!  She had a huge bruise on her head and was 2 lbs heavier than Emilynn.  So positioning and size were probably the largest factors of pushing so long.  It was a HARD delivery, but also beautiful.  We are so glad to have her!!!