Sisters

Addilyn and Ella stayed with my parents last week to give me a little more time to adjust to having a new baby at home. They came home Friday afternoon.

I have survived the last two days with three kids on my own. It's all about timing things out just right because when Ava needs to eat, everything's stops!

Addi and Ella are very sweet to their new sister. Ella especially hovers and has to be right in the middle of whatever I'm doing with Ava. She wants to watch me feed, change, diaper, burp, etc. Ella is always asking if she can touch Ava and give Ava kisses. She calls Ava "sweetie pie." This just warms my heart.




Addi is a bit more reserved. She loves on Ava, but doesn't spend half the time Ella does hovering over her! I think she may be slightly bent out of shape.



This picture pretty much sums up my Addi the last couple days.

The twins also have to check on Ava in the stroller when we go for a walk. They also want their turn to push her.




Overall, I think Addi and Ella like having a new sister.







- Posted by Kelly using BlogPress from my iPhone

Two Weeks

Friday morning I took Ava in for her two week check. I was a bit devastated to learn that she hadn't gained any weight. The day we left the hospital she weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces. At her two week check Ava weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces. I sat in the pediatricians office and cried. (I'm blaming my poor hormones.) I felt deflated. I had been up around the clock nursing this baby, and she lost weight?!?!? The good news is Ava grew in length and measured 20.5 inches.
Ava's doctor asked if I was still using a shield to which I replied yes. I was told no more. After her appointment I took Ava home to feed her sans shield. A task I was dreading.
The lactation consultants lie to you in the hospital. Breastfeeding does hurt. It feels like your nipple is being attacked by a razor blade when baby latches on. It is toe curling, curse word muttering pain! The only thing that keeps me going is that sweet little face of Ava's. I know it's the best thing for her, so in the meantime, I'll mutter those words in my head and hope that I don't tear the arm of the chair off!
















- Posted by Kelly using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ava's Arrival

Saturday, March 10 started like any other Saturday. Slept in as much as one can with two three year olds, a busy breakfast followed by chores around the house and later lunch. Then I enjoyed a MUCH overdue pedicure with my cousin, Angela.

Ava was due the day before on March 9, but my doctor was skeptical that she would arrive before the next week. He even mentioned inducing me which is something I really wanted to avoid since I was induced with the twins.

Anyhow, the pedicure was awesome! Angela and I left around 2:00 in the afternoon and we were done around 4:00. She brought me home and headed home herself. Around 5:00 I started having contractions that were pretty intense. I grabbed some water (not that I hadn't already drank a gallon) and a couple of Tylenol and headed to lay in bed.

An hour of this had me telling Matthew he better take a shower, calling the on call physician (my doctor was out of town) and calling my parents. The on call doctor told me I needed to head to the hospital as my contractions were about 5 minutes apart and lasting about a minute.

I walked back to the bedroom to tell Matthew to hurry up because by this point my contractions were taking on a whole new meaning. I find my husband shaving his head! He asks me to make sure he doesn't have spots he missed in the back of his head! I thought I was going to stick that razor somewhere that the sun didn't shine!

My parents finally made it over, Matthew showered and we were on our way to the hospital. I tried very hard not to tell my husband to drive faster as my mom was following us, but I REALLY wanted to, and maybe I did. Things are a little hazy.

We made it to the hospital around 6:30, I barely made it through the doors and another contraction hit. I found the closet place to sit down which happened to be a wheelchair and before I knew it I was being wheeled up to labor and delivery.

I was admitted immediately, taken to my room (which happened to be the same room I labored in with the twins) and told to change. An IV was started and the hunt for the anesthesiologist began. It was a long wait as the nurses had to wait on blood work to come back from the lab before I could have an epidural. Also, the
anesthesiologist was in the ER.

It was a long, painful wait. My contractions were frequent and wrapped around my lower back. I wanted to cry and say bad words both at the same time.

I could have kissed that anesthesiologist after he got that needle in my back and I started feeling relief from the pain. It wasn't long before I was ready to start pushing.

At 9:43 p.m. We welcomed Ava Elise Hutchison into our family. 45-minutes of pushing and she was finally here! Ava weighed 7 pounds 1.5 ounces and measured 19.75 inches long. She was perfect!
















- Posted by Kelly using BlogPress from my iPhone