Here is one of her first photos.
Todd and I went to the hospital Saturday morning so that I could be induced. The process of actually starting labor took quite awhile, but by 6pm that night my contractions were very uncomfortable and things were really happening. At 7 pm I had my epidural and she was born at 10:38. I only pushed for a little over an hour, but this was hard on our baby. She kept rolling head up (facing my tummy) when she should be head down (facing my back) to be born. As a consequence, Dr. Ehama called in her husband an OBGYN that is known for taking on risky pregnancies and deliveries for more assistance. He had to use the forceps to turn Avery more than once since she kept rolling. The forceps left a mark on each cheek that was very visible at first, but within 24 hours have really seemed to disappear. I would say that it was a good labor and delivery.
Here she is sleeping pretty peacefully with Mom. She has very long slender fingers and toes, she gets them from her Daddy. But her full head of dark thick hair is from her Mama. We both think that she looks a lot like Mason. My Dad brought Mason up to meet his baby sister the day after she was born. I was holding her on the bed and Mason climbed up next to us. Todd and I were telling him about her and Mason says, "Baby" and leaned over and kissed her. It was of course, the most adorable thing that a mother could ever see! Then he said, "hair" and patted his head (sign we've been using for hair). I think that even Mason was impressed with her thick dark hair.
My parents both say that she looks very similar to how I looked when I was born.
Proud and very protective Dad napping with his little girl
Long slender baby toes
Unfortunately we didn't get to bring our baby home as expected. She has a very high amount of jaundice and has to stay under the bilirubin lights for awhile. I was discharged because my insurance will only let me stay for 48 hours after birth. Todd and I came home about 10pm Monday night and will be back tomorrow morning early to see what her latest blood test revealed and also to find out what Avery's Dr. wants us to do. He was thinking that she might be under double lights for today, tomorrow single lights, and then home Wednesday with lights that they send home with us. It was very hard to leave her, but I truly believe that she is in very good care.
My Dad has been having a really good time with Mason. A funny thing that happened while we were in the hospital was my Dad put a blanket on Mason's feet while they were watching cartoons and Mason kicked it off, so my Dad replaced the blanket and Mason kicked it off again. The third time that my dad replaced the blanket Mason looked at him and shook his finger at him and said, "No, no." We laughed when we heard this. I love this story.
Congratulations! Avery is so cute. I can't believe how much hair she has. Much more than Cooper has at 5 months. Good luck, I hope she makes it home soon.
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