Avery Noelle Black has arrived!

I have no idea what will happen with these pictures. I am feeling a bit computer challenged right now.

Well, our sweet little baby girl has finally arrived. It sure was rough getting her here, but I suppose it is worth it in the end. We love her so much, and she is so cute and sweet.

Now for the story. I woke up at around 3:45 a.m. on Thursday February 1st (which was my actual due date) with contractions. This was new to me since my water broke first with Logan and I didn't really start having contractions until I was at the hospital. We dropped Logan off at my friend Hillary's house around 6:45 a.m. and headed to the hospital. My contractions were 5 minutes apart. When they checked me I was still only dilated to a 1, and only about 30% effaced. Very frustrating. At around 1 or so they broke my water and hooked me up to pitocin. By 3 p.m., I was dilated to a 3 and thinned out more. I was able to get an epidural at this time too. From there on I continued to progress about a cm an hour for several hours. I was very excited when I actually passed a 6! I got stuck at a 6 with Logan, so it was very exciting to venture into uncharted territory.Well, I reached an 8...and that was very exciting! However, things went downhill from there. I stayed at an 8 for about 4 hours, and the last time they checked me, at about 12:15, I had actually gone back to a 7. I cried when I realized I wasn't going to be able to have a VBAC, and that c-sections are my only option now. I was so hopeful! Things were going so well, and I knew I had so many people praying for me, and cheering me on. I just knew for sure I was going to be able to do it...especially after getting to an 8! I was so disappointed and let down. I am crying even now as I am typing this because I am still so disappointed. It's hard to know that for every other child we want to have, i have to go through this experience. It isn't pleasant, and it will take a lot of preparation to be ready to go through this again.

Anyway...back into familiar territory. I had the c-section (which is another story for another day) and baby Avery Noelle was delivered at 1:14 a.m. on Friday February 2. I missed her due date by just a few hours. The doctors and nurses all had to comment (and it sounded like surprise) about what a big girl she was! A whopping 8 pounds 15 oz.! She beat her big brother Logan by 3 ounces. He was 8 lbs. 12 oz. She was 20 1/2 inches long, and apparently had a head circumference of 15 cm. That's my birthing problem right there. A small pelvis, meets a big head equals no exit. She has light hair...more strawberry blond than anything, but definitely more like my hair color. She has a sweet little face, with delicate little features.

The whole day after she was born I was sick and nauseous again. I couldn't hardly move my eyes without the room spinning. It wasn't until about 5 in the evening that I started to feel pretty normal and could actually talk and not puke.

I stayed in the hospital until Monday morning, Feb.5th. I got home around 1 in the afternoon. My mom is here to help take care of all if us, so I am very grateful for that. Already my hormones have caused a few emotional breakdowns. I am having a hard time getting comfy...I need the hospital bed that I can push the buttons to move me up and down. That's the hardest part for me.

I will try and post more pictures later. For now...go to the hospital website to see her pictures. Here is the link:

http://www.growingfamily.com/webnursery/babypage_view.asp?URLID=3C4X4F5J1H

* We chose to name her Avery because it is my mom's maiden name. I picked Noelle for a middle name because I liked it and it sounded pretty with Avery. And most importantly, it felt like it was the right name for her!