The Warrens in Action: She's Here

Welcome to the world, Ava Kay Warren!! Your parents are so excited you are finally here!!!

She's here!!!!!!!

Here's the story:

I was scheduled for an induction at 7:30am on Monday, September 24 (due to gestational diabetes they wanted to take her a week early...just in case). Sunday night around 10pm, we finally crawled into bed, anticipating the induction. I asked TJ "are you nervous for tomorrow?" His reply was "yeah, are you?" I said "yes, but why are you nervous? You don't have to give birth." His reply: "I just don't want to see you in pain." Less than 5 seconds later I said: "Ouch...(a few second pause)...I think my water just broke." Sure enough it had. Although we were prepared in many other ways, the one thing we forgot to do ever was look up the number for the hospital...oops! So, I called the Nurse-on-Call service to see if I could get the number. Once I finally got a hold of labor and delivery, they said to come in. Contractions started right when my water broke. I thought contractions would be about 15-20 minutes a part at first, but I was wrong. They were all really 5-10 minutes a part from the beginning. After getting my initial scan to see if I was in labor, we finally got booked into the room around midnight. I made it until 3am without asking for an epidural, but at 3am I couldn't take it anymore. Contractions were frequent and strong. I am sooo thankful both TJ and my mom were there--one for each hand. By 7am, I was completed dilated so the pushing began. At 8:43am she arrived!!! Overall, delivery went very smoothly. It was the most overwhelming, exciting feeling in the world when the staff put her on me for the first time. I cannot even put into words what I was feeling and I am sure TJ would say the same.

The first 48 hours have been amazing!!! As much as I wanted to get pictures uploaded, I couldn't get myself to sit down long enough to do so. We have enjoyed every minute of snuggle time with her. She sleeps pretty much around the clock and rarely cries. The most challenging thing right now is feeding as we haven't been able to have a latch yet. This morning we agreed to try formula so we could get some more food in her. I know babies need hardly anything until their stomachs start to expand, but both of us were feeling really bad, we thought she had to be so hungry.

We have enjoyed all of our visitors and thank everyone who has stopped by. We appreciate your love and support!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

We are planning on staying an extra day in the hospital until we get more comfortable with the feeding so we will go home sometime Thursday. The hardest part of being at the hospital is leaving our other "baby" at home--we really miss Oreo, but TJ has made it to the house on a daily basis and both my mom and TJ's mom have been staying at our house, so he is getting attention.

That's the update for now. We just love Ava so much and cannot wait for everyone to meet her. We think she is adorable and absolutely PERFECT!!!! And.....she has tons of hair!! :-) Enjoy the pictures!

Ava with Daddy and Grandma Kathy (Tuesday)

Daddy and Ava shortly after she arrived (Monday)

Grandma Kathy arrived about 10 minutes after she was born

Grandpa Ralph with Ava (Monday)

3 generations--Ava with Mommy and Grandma Cindy

Mom and a friend put together a "hospital survival kit" for us--great idea with the non-stick socks and kleenex

Ava shortly after birth (Monday)

Daddy and Ava shortly after her first bath (Tuesday evening)

Snuggle time with Dad!!

Look at all this crazy hair!!!

Ava and Grandma Cindy (Monday)

Ava and Grandpa Ralph (Monday)

Ava and Grandma Kathy (Monday)

Ava looks so cute in her ballerina sleeper--too bad it may be ruined for her first big blow out that Mom and Dad had to change first thing Tuesday morning... :-( We called for reinforcements from the nurse.