(Disclaimer: this blog doubles as a baby book/ scrapbook, so the following is long and detailed!)
Right before we left for the hospital, Jimi gave me a blessing, then we took this picture. I feel like we were so young and unaware of what a huge change having a baby would be. Look how unaware Piper is.
I started with a cervadill to induce labor. Talking with my nurse (Deb) we found out that her husband works at Basic High School too, and we instantly bonded. When Deb was done with her shift, she said she would make sure the next nurse I got was a good one. So we got Terry, and I really do think that Terry saved little Avery's life! She made such quick and good decisions. To sum it up, Basic High School rules everywhere you go.
My contractions were really weird - one minute apart without a lot of pain or dilation. I got some oxygen to try to slow them down. When that didn't work, we tried the epidural a bit early. The problem was that Avery wasn't dealing with my contractions very well.
Then Terry broke my water, and things really got scary. Avery's heart rate dropped so low it didn't register on the monitor. I didn't really know what was going on, but Terry was in super emergency mode. She called out, "I need Dr. Juarez!" I just remember whimpering to Jimi, "What's going on?" He of course did his best to be positive - when her heart rate started going back up, he gave me the thumbs up sign. But he was totally silently freaking out.
Dr. Juarez was at the other hospital, but he hustled over to DeLima. The minute he entered the room everyone instantly calmed down - he is the best doctor ever- and off we went to the operating room to have an emergency c-section.
During surgery they make you put your arms strait out like you're on a cross. I was shaking violently, and I couldn't console myself. I just wanted to be asleep or unconscious because I was so crazy with anxiety. The only thing I kept thinking was this would be over soon. Overall I don't remember much. Jimi came in ...there was music on in the background...the epidural guy kept telling me what to expect...Jimi put his hand on my forehead...
Eventually there was huge pressure on my abdomen as they tried to pop Avery out. Jimi looked over the curtain, and there was her head sticking out of my kangaroo pouch! I remember them exclaiming 2 - no 3 times! The umbilical cord was wrapped around my little ballerina's neck 3 times! I heard her crying and Jimi said, "She's perfect! She has hair!"
When she was all wrapped up they brought her to me, and I kissed her- Jimi said "her skin is so soft." Then she and Jimi went to another room while I went into recovery. While in recovery, they had to x-ray me twice because their instrument count was off. (I'm proud to say there are no instruments left in me)
She was much bigger than we expected. Dr. Juarez said even without the cord wrapped around her neck we probably would have done a c-section anyway.
The "after" picture. I'm still a little drugged and itchy.
You can't really tell what hospital babies look like because they are so bundled up with their little beanie on. In the middle of the night I unwrapped her to feed her. As I was burping her, I got my first real look at her with a clear mind. It surprised me how cute she was! I woke Jimi up - "She's so cute!"
And finally...
This may just look like pancakes to you, but to me, it signifies the first meal in 9 months that I could truly enjoy. I didn't have to take a "time out" to get my "sea legs", I could just eat and eat! Oh! the syrup and butter and sausage and orange juice and milk! Enjoying food is an unsung pleasure that I will NEVER take for granted. I LOVE FOOD!
Avery Jean Larsen
May 31, 2008
10:29 AM
8 lbs 8 ounces
This one cracks me up...she's just so proud of Avery
In her defense, she really is a beautiful dog. Sometimes we call her "professor's dog" when she lays down on the living room rug.
before...
after... 
the fruits of our labor...
