Avery Grace Sayer

It's taken me so long to actually sit down to write this post. Mainly because I have a newborn and my 1 handed typing skills are a little lacking, but also because other than the actual events it's hard for me to put into words the actual emotion that came with this very special and yet unexpected day. So first the actual events...for posterity of course.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011. I had my 38 week appointment with my OB at 2PM. I was scheduled for a C-Section on 12/27 so this was going to be my last official appointment. 

Erick and I got there and the whole way there I was contemplating how I could convince my doctor to just put me out of my misery. I knew it wasn't going to happen. I even joked with the nurse about it. 

Dr Fiala came in and the appointment started out as normal. She started my ultrasound and started looking around. It was taking a little longer and I asked if everything was ok. She said that she "how would you like to have this baby tonight" of course I was a little freaked out and asked what was wrong. She explained that she wasn't really comfortable with the amount of Amniotic Fluid that she was finding and needed to deliver the baby today. She said she was going to call the Hospital to get a time for my surgery and would be right back. Once she walked out I tried to joke about how I as hoping she would just take the baby that day, but I wasn't really serious. I'm sure the fear on my face was super apparent as the tears came running down my face. I wasn't REALLY ready.When she came back she said that i was scheduled for 8PM and that I needed to go over as soon as we could to the hospital and they would hook me up to the monitors until it was time for surgery. We asked if we needed to go right then or if we could go get stuff from home. She said we had enough time to go home and pack a bag and get our affairs in order and then head as soon as we could to the hospital that they would be waiting for us. 

As we drove home I called my mom (in tears...) My parents planned on coming out on the 26th so they could be out in time for the baby. But this was unexpected and they were in California to spend Christmas with my sister.  

Once we got home I was in a total daze. I didn't know where to start. We didn't even have the car seat in the car yet. Erick's family had been in town until late Sunday night and I had every intention of finishing all the things I needed to do this week while I was off work. I had started packing a few essentials in a bag a few days before just to be ready, but I was no where near finished. I still needed to do laundry and put things together. I knew we didn't have much time before we had to get back to the hospital and yet I couldn't pull myself together. I just wandered around the house. Erick tried to help me the best he could. We didn't have arrangements made for the dogs since we planned on my parents being at the house to watch them, and it being just a few days before Christmas Camp Bow Wow was already booked up. So we turned on the lights and the TV, made sure they had food, Erick went and played ball with them and we just prayed they wouldn't be brats until the next morning when Erick could come home and check on them. Erick went and installed the car seat and put my bag in the car and I just sat on the edge of the bed and cried. I was scared out of my mind. Plus I am a planner and this was not planned!

One last picture as we were walking out the door on the way to the hospital (3:45PM)

When we got back to the hospital about 4:15, we went up to Labor and Delivery, the nurse at the front desk said she hadn't gotten our paperwork ready yet and started asking us for all our information and just then our neighbor, Shannan, appeared around the corner. She was working that day and heard we were coming in. She took us back to a room and got us all settled in and started me on all the monitors. We were going to be there for a few hours before the doctor came, it was really nice to have a friendly face in a frazzled time. 

Once they got me all hooked up with my IV and started monitoring my contractions. I was having contractions every 2-4 minutes and they were getting stronger as the time went on. If I wasn't having a C-Section that night I WAS having that baby one way or another.

Getting my IV put in.

Shannan told Erick that we still had alot of time before anything was going to happen and he probably should go get something to eat since he hadn't eaten all day and she didn't want him passing out in the operating room. He was only gone a a few minutes but it seemed like a lifetime. He came back with this cute flower for me. I loved it. It was suddenly getting really REAL! 

The flower Erick bought for me before I went in.

He had also called our friends the Felix's to see if Dan could come to the hospital before I went in to help give me a blessing. I was so grateful that was able to happen because after that I just felt a little bit of peace and calm come over me. I was able to breath and try to relax, even though my contractions were getting worse and worse. 

Finally the time came...

It was strange to me to walk back to the operating room on my own. Erick wasn't allowed to come in until I had my epidural and was all draped up. I was a little scared walking back there without him, but luckily Shannan came with me (her shift had been over for over an hour, but she said she was going to stay to be with us and take pictures) They got me on the table and the anesthesiologist started my epidural. It seemed to take forever to get it in and going. But once it was in everything seemed to go so fast. They got me laid down on another table, draped up, Erick came in, the doctor came in and off we went.

Trying not to puke...they had to give me a couple of shots of Zofran...man that spinal did a number on me....or maybe it was the fact that I was laying on a table having a baby...either way I felt like I was going to puke. (someone really needs to explain to me why there is a big pocket right in the front of these gowns, it's really not a convenient place to put anything)

Erick didn't want to look over the curtain. I don't blame him. I just appreciated him holding my hand. I felt so out of it, I couldn't remember alot of what was going on. It was a very surreal time. 

Waiting for baby.

Welcome to the world!! (at this point poor baby girl was still without a name)
Baby Girl Sayer: 12/21/11, 8:26PM, 7lbs 0 oz, 18 3/4 inches long.

Erick cutting the cord, he wasn't too sure he wanted to do it. (it's more ceremonial with a C-Section since the Dr has to cut it first)

She gets her feet from her mom. Poor girl is destined for a size 10.

All cleaned up and waiting to be wrapped up.

They let Erick bring her over to me.

Meeting her mama for the first time. I just couldn't believe it. It was amazing that that little girl came out of me. I'll admit it, I started to cry. 

  

Proud Papa!

 We honestly couldn't have asked for a better doctor. Dr. Fiala was such a blessing and we are so happy we found her. I am so sad we won't be able to have every baby with her. 

First Family Picture

We were so blessed to have Shannan capturing the moments for us. She stayed until we were all set in recovery and then headed home. I'm glad we had so many pictures because I didn't remember anything that was happening. 

We didn't spend as much time in recovery as I thought we would. But it was still late by the time we made it to our room. I had to be checked out, poked and prodded every 15 minutes for the first 2 hours, that was super annoying. So Erick took that time to cuddle with our little girl. He looks like he's upset in the pictures, but 30 seconds later he had drifted off to sleep.

It took us several hours to decide on a name, but in our hearts we knew she was an Avery.
Introducing:
Avery Grace Sayer