Ava Kathryn's Arrival

Ava Kathryn arrived June 14, 2012 at 12:27 p.m. She weighed 7 pounds, 4.4 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long.  She is perfect! We were scheduled for a c-section June 14 at noon but we ended up at the hospital the night before around 10 p.m. I was having contractions but still had not dilated much, so after laying on a stretcher for 5 hours in triage they finally decided to move us to a labor room. The goal was for me to get some rest before the big day...well that didn't happen. We moved to the room around 2 a.m. and I watched the clock tick until day shift arrived.

I was so lucky to have a wonderful nurse and anesthesiologist! I was exhausted and a little nervous but they helped keep me calm. I got my epidural around 10 a.m. and am so thankful Dr. Moffat let me have it early. As they rolled me back to the operating room I was very nervous but before I knew it Dr. Moffat had made the incision and Ava Kathryn came into the world, butt first, exactly 4 minutes after incison was made.

Josh kept saying, "Oh my goodness, she's beautiful!"  I kept asking what she looked like. After they got Ava cleaned up ,they brought her around the drape. There she was with a full head of brown hair and big brown/hazel eyes. She has been so alert since the minute she was born.  After they finished sewing my incision, they rolled me back to my room where our families were. I tried my hardest to fight the exhaustion and stay awake but after 30 minutes or so I couldn't keep my eyes open. So I gave Ava a kiss and handed her over to her daddy while I napped.  When I woke up I felt much better!

People always tell you that you never know how much you can love a human being until you have a baby and it is so true! We have been blessed with a little angel. Overall she is a very content newborn. Ava has the sweetest disposition. She eats and sleeps (a lot)! I won't compain about that! Now that I've gone on and on about Ava I'll show you pics of our precious little girl!

Going home from the hospital

Daddy and Ava

Mimi and Ava

Meeting Bonnie and Clyde

Wearing the gown Ava's great aunt Rita made for her

Daddy and Ava on Father's Day

Ava with her Nana and Pop

Our little family

Mommy and Ava

Hope everyone enjoys the pics of sweet Ava! I take way too many but I don't want to miss a thing. Ava had her newborn pics made this past Thursday with Jason Davis. We saw a sneak peak today and the pictures are amazing!! It's going to be so hard to pick just a few to have around our house.  The session lasted 4 hours and Ava was an angel.  We have  a future model on our hands! : )

Since I will be home the next 16 weeks I hope to update the blog more often! Until next time...

Kellen Michael Meewes

Lauren, Brian and Ella Grace have a new addition to the family! Kellen Micheal Meewes was born Mother's Day at 11:40 a.m., weighing in at 7 lbs., .2 oz.

Proud big sister Ella Grace

We can't wait to get all the cousins together at the beach this summer!



Weeks 31-36

So the last month or so has flown by. We have biweekly doctor appointments. Starting at 32 weeks, every other Monday, they see how much Ava Kate weighs then on the other Monday they check my amniotic fluid to make sure there is not too much or too little. So far, so good. Ava Kate is growing like a weed! At 32 weeks, Ava weighed 4 lbs., 1 oz. At 34 weeks she weighed 5 lbs., 4 oz. Last week, at our 36 week appointment, she weighed 6 lbs., 14 oz. I hope she doesn't keep growing at this rate or she'll be huge!!!  I also go to the doctor every Thursday to test fetal heart tones. We've had good reports each time! These frequent appointments are due to the gestational diabetes. Overall, it has not been that hard to manage the GD...thank the lord!

As of 35 weeks, the doctor told me that I was barely 1 cm dilated and 0% effaced.  That appointment was on a Monday.  By Thursday I was 100% effaced and still 1 cm dilated. The nurse practitioner had us all excited that Ava Kate might be here sooner than we expected. Well we made it to our 36 week appointment with no baby. This past Monday, they checked me again and I was only 2 cm dilated. Ava Kate is also still breech so they don't want me dilating past 4 cm because she is at risk for having a prolapsed umbilibal cord. They also don't want my water to break, if at all possible! Once I get to 4 cm they will take me for a c-section.  No more progress was made this week, as of Thursday, so we figured it would be another week or so.

On Saturday, I started having contractions at 3 p.m. and they were pretty consistent for the next couple hours so I called the doctor and she told me to come on in and get checked. I really thought this might by the day that we get to meet our sweet little angel...well, we didn't. I was having contractions but when they checked me I was still only 2 cm. I tried not to get too fraustrated because I know the longer she cooks, the healthier she will be but it was a bit disappointing!  So the wait continues...

Recent bump pics

32 weeks

33 weeks

34 weeks

36 weeks

Rocking the bikini on the lake at 36 weeks...why not! : )

Last night at the hospital

Last night at the hospital

After leaving the hospital I was bummed so I figured lobster tails, filet and mac and cheese would make me feel better! : )

One day shy of 37 weeks

That's all I have for now...hopefully the next time I post, it will be pics of sweet Ava Kate!