The Arrival of Avery Sono

On December 14, 2009, our family was blessed with the arrival of our long-awaited baby girl!



Labor started in the wee hours of the morning, so I did my best to sleep through as much as possible. I got up around 5:00 AM and made sure this was it! We had had a false alarm the week before and I was not in the mood for a repeat of that. After much timing of contractions (and much pleading with God, Avery and my uterus), I realized that it was for real this time and started to get ready. Aaron woke up and the preparations began. My mom came over to sit with the boys and we were on our way!

After having a very tough and painful labor with Dylan due to high amounts of stress (well, and my water breaking and back labor), I was determined to get it right this time. I relaxed with every contraction (a bit of an oxymoron, I know) and just tried to get out of the way and let my body do its thing. It must have been working well, because when I got to the front desk to check in, no one believed I was in heavy labor. I had three separate nurses, as well as the admissions lady, ask if this was my first baby. "Um, no - this is my third."

All was going very well and after about two hours the doctor broke my water. For months I had been having an internal debate about whether or not I would have an epidural this time. I went natural with Gabe and had an epidural with Dylan. This time, I felt fantastic, but after my water was broken, the contractions kicked way up and I got scared. Even though my inner voice told me I could do it and also told me to have them check me before I got the epidural, fear won out and I ignored it and got the shot anyway. About 15 minutes later, I finally listened to that little voice and had them check me: time to push! After another 15 minutes, my doc arrived and three contractions later, with Aaron holding my hand, our baby girl was born! Even though I was disappointed that I got the epidural needlessly, it didn't matter one bit, because lying across my chest was the perfect, healthy 6lb 10oz, 19" little girl I had been waiting for. Another case of true love began immediately...