Mommy Update!

Hello everyone! First of all...thanks for all of your comments. I just was able to go back and read what everyone said. We feel very lucky to have such wonderful friends who are so supportive! So, thanks! :)

So, things are going really well....I think just as they are supposed to. I was finally able to hop in the shower...feel much better! :) It's still very slow going for me! But, I've been told that that's very normal and that I'm making good progress. I still look like an old lady when I walk....but maybe it's more like a 92 year old instead of a 99 year old!

Okay, so there have been questions about why we had to have a c-section...and I thought Patrick already explained, so I didn't bother. But, apparently he didn't...so, I'll let you know.

When I was induced, everything (amount and intensity of contractions) progressed very quickly (as expected). After a while of this, Ava's heart rate was starting to decrease at times that weren't favorable. (There are times during a contraction that it would be perfectly acceptable for the baby's heart rate to decrease...like at the very peak of the contraction). But, Ava's heart rate was decreasing after the peak of the contraction, which they didn't like to see. So, we stopped the Pitocin and let her recover for a while....her heart rate was perfect without the Pitocin. The doc then said that she didn't think that Ava would continue to tolerate contractions...especially since they were still going to get significantly stronger. So, after a lot of talking with the doc and Patrick...we decided we didn't want to keep stressing and possibly compromising the baby, so that's when we decided to go with a c-section. So, 30 mins later, there we were in the operating room....getting ready to have our very own daughter! :) The whole OR experience actually was quite frightening for several reasons....but, in the long run, everything turned out alright. Post c-section, my doc said that after seeing the placenta and umbilical cord, she was confident that Ava most likely wouldn't have tolerated a regular delivery (even if we waited for labor naturally), and we'd most likely have ended up with a c-section no matter what. Basically her cord and placenta weren't providing her with enough oxygen for her to make it through the stress of the contractions. So, we're very lucky to have a healty, perfect, sweet, adorable little baby girl. Really....she is such a joy...and I love just looking at her. Totally love when she just stares back at me. She is such a sweet little thing...and just so darn cute!!! Can't wait to share her with all of you in person! Come down to Gainesville, FL for a visit! : )

See you soon?!?!?! :)