It's a...

GIRL!!!!!  Ashlynn Jean decided she was done baking and made her grand entry into the world on Thursday morning.

The days leading up to her birth weren't very different than any of the other days previous.  We had our last prenatal meeting with Victoria, our doula on Tuesday evening.  We went over all the details one more time of our birth plan, and what we were to do when we thought/knew we were in labor as far as contacting her, etc.  Jayce came down with a fever Tuesday evening, that carried then on through Thursday. He wasn't himself (probably due to the fever), but he wasn't overly sick either, and Tylenol did a great job reducing the fever after dosing.

Wednesday I went to work, and ended up having to walk down to court for the afternoon.  Fortunately the two trials I had slated to go on Thursday either plead out, or were continued.  Wednesday afternoon and into the evening I had frequent Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing out of the ordinary.  They were uncomfortable but not painful or time able.  I was able to fall asleep without too much trouble or abnormal discomfort.

Around midnight, I woke up to use the restroom and discovered that I was mid contraction.  Felt like a long lasting, strong Braxton Hicks contraction.  I thought nothing of it, let it pass, and fell back asleep.  At 1 I was up again.  This time the contraction woke me up, again not painful, just very strong and uncomfortable.  I let it pass and rested, waiting to see what would happen. Another one came about 10 minutes later, then another about 12 minutes after that.  I realized I was hungry, so went downstairs to get something to eat and drink, thinking maybe that was part of the problem.  They didn't stop and hovered between 8 and 12 minutes apart.  I still wasn't convinced that they weren't just strong Braxton Hicks contractions.  Yes, they were very uncomfortable, but they weren't overwhelmingly painful.  Mild, controlled breathing got me through.

At this point I woke up Justin to let him know what was going on, and that I was going to draw a bath to try and relax an see if they stopped or slowed.  He went back to sleep and about 2 or 230 I got him up asking for some tea.  I was still having contractions between 7 and 10 minutes apart.  We talked in between contractions to help get my mind off of the fact that another one would probably be coming soon.  I can't say enough about how much this helped me out in this early stage of labor.  It allowed me to relax and calm down and not tense up or brace myself for the next one (a big issue the last time around).  About 3 or 330 (this is where I lose track of time) we decided we should put Victoria (and mom) on alert, given how quickly things progressed with Jayce's labor.  He went down to get the phone and the number for Victoria, while I called mom.  I labored with Justin a bit longer then somewhere around 4ish we called in the troops.  Mom arrived first, and thankfully Jayce was still asleep.  She was able to sit with me and talk to me between contractions while Justin finished gathering our hospital bag and the remaining items that either weren't packed or didn't fit (i.e. Boppy, pillow, camera, etc).  Victoria arrived shortly after, and Jayce woke up. Mom and Justin took turn taking care of Jayce while Victoria stayed with me (with either Mom or Justin).

While mom and Justin were huge helps with the between contraction labor part, and providing some of the physical help during contractions, I can't begin to explain how amazing it was to have Victoria to help as well.  She was able to instruct me and correct my breathing to work with the contractions, get me to relax my shoulders and legs during (I apparently tense up my entire body, which fights the contraction), and just calmly talk me through the peaks.  With her assistance I was able to find a comfortable position that allowed me to rest in between contractions and handle the actual contraction better.

Since this was a Thursday morning, we (and by we I mean Justin and Victoria) started talking about when to leave for the hospital around 530 (contractions were 2-4 min apart).    The hospital is about 25 miles from our house, with only one major freeway as the main route (also it is the main artery for almost everyone heading downtown).  It was decided that we should go before traffic backed up too bad, rather than waiting (since Victoria was going to be driving separate, and wouldn't be able to use the HOV lane like we would).

We left for the hospital about 545, and arrived at 615 (much better than the hour it took when I was in labor with Jayce...we went during rush hour).  I got to triage, and was 6-7 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and baby was at a 0 position.  I wasn't going home.  They wanted to start an IV and hang a bag of pitocin.  I declined the pitocin (contractions were 2-4 minutes apart, lasting over one minute, I don't think I needed any help there).  They were okay with me declining but asked to put a line in (not hooked up to anything), but that way in case of an emergency, they had access, and didn't need to start a line later.  I agreed to that.  I knew at least Victoria would keep an eye on it and make sure if it wasn't needed, it wouldn't be used.  I requested a labor room with a bath tub, and was told they'd see what they can do, as they have been very busy the last few days.

Luckily they had one available.  They got me back to my labor room, and Victoria started the water in the tub while they got the room set up.  They checked me again and I was 9cm with a lip of cervix all the way around, and baby was still at a 0 position.  Since my OB was still en route, they allowed me to get into the tub provided I told them if or when I got the urge to push (they don't allow water births in the hospital - which is fine, I have no desire for one).  I was supposed to have a baby monitor on but all the portable ones were taken.  Luckily we had an amazing nurse (well two actually since we arrived at shift change, and the first nurse stayed about 30-45 min late to get the second nurse up to speed and aid in the transition) who allowed me in the tub without the monitor while someone else tracked one down.  The tub was amazing, and made the contractions so much more manageable.

Somewhere around 715 I started to feel increased pressure at my tail bone and we decided it was time to get out of the tub.  My Dr. had just arrived (he was en route anyway due to a scheduled c-section at that hospital at 730, luckily for us).  He checked me and broke my water, and determined the baby was still at a 0, but that I was almost 10 cm, and unfortunately baby wasn't quite in the right position.  Rather than facing down, she was facing one of my hips.  They had me push through my next contraction on my side to help move her through the birth canal and hopefully help her turn in the process.  When that contraction was over, I was checked again, and cleared to push till she arrived.  She had "turned" into the ideal position, face down.  I pushed through 3 or 4 contractions, and her head came out, face up (something about my babies, they like to trick the Drs and pretend to be properly oriented when they aren't).  During the next contraction, Dr had me reach down and pull her out and onto my chest.

She arrived at 734am.  It was amazing.  After catching my breath I asked what it was (the umbilical cord was in the way when I pulled her onto my chest).  My Dr. said he didn't know, and I should look.  I lifted her up and immediately started crying, saying "it's a girl!!!"  Justin just looked at me in shock.  He was convinced throughout the entire pregnancy that she was a boy.

We waited for her cord to stop pulsing, then Justin was offered the scissors to cut, and he declined - So I cut the cord too (man that's an odd feeling, never realized how soft and rubbery it is).  She cried a bit but was calmed quickly on my chest during skin-to-skin with a warm blanket on top.  She took to breastfeeding shortly after, latching better (though not perfect) and quicker than Jayce.

Thanks to the at home assistance of mom and Justin, and the invaluable assistance, knowledge, and intuition of Victoria at the hospital, Ashlynn Jean arrived at 734am, weighing in 7lb 7oz, 20.5", via a 100% unmedicated, natural birth.  She and I are both doing great (given that she wasn't quite lined up properly for her debut, I still tore, but nothing like the tear Jayce gave me).

Given that L&D at the hospital had been swamped the day or two before Ashlynn's arrival, we hung out in our delivery room until about 4pm when a bed finally opened up in the post partum area.  Unfortunately it wasn't in a private room.  We got transferred to the only open bed in post partum, in a semi-private room.  My roommate had delivered the day or two before, not sure, but was blasting BET on the TV, and her and all her visitors were talking over the TV (and hogging all the chairs, Justin had to stand or sit on the bed with us).  Fortunately they got discharged about an hour or two after we arrived.  Even better, a private room opened up at the same time, so I got moved too (which I am eternally grateful for, found out when we were discharged that EVERY bed in the post partum wing was occupied, including all beds in the three or four semi-private rooms...lots of babies born this week apparently).

It appears Justin was more worn out than I was after she was born...

Justin hung around a little bit before heading home to make all the freezer meals I was planning on making on Thursday (had taken Thursday and Friday off of work to prep freezer meals and enjoy some family time before this baby arrived...she had other plans).  Mom kept Jayce over night, and didn't get a chance to visit given that Jayce was still running a fever (she took him to Dr. for us, and they said just keep hydrated and let it run its course, it's going around).  Aside from being a little off from the fever, Jayce seemed to have a good time with Grandma and Grandpa, and even got a little cozy in bed with them.

Feeling all better, and ready to see mommy, daddy, and meet Ashlynn!

Overall, Ashlynn is amazing.  When she's up and alert, she's content and independent.  Otherwise she's sleeping.  Only ever fussy when she's hungry (at least for now).  She is feeding like a champ, though we are working on getting some assistance with her latch - she latches on and eats great, but its a shallow latch (not correct) and is becoming quite painful for me.  We hope to have this corrected soon.

Friday morning Justin came back, and we sat around waiting for the Pediatrician and my Dr to come clear us for discharge.  Jayce had been fever free for about 24 hours (untreated with Tylenol), so mom and him came by for a visit.  He proudly wore his vintage Banner Good Samaritan "I'm a Big Brother" t-shirt that Uncle Chris wore when Uncle Allen was born (Grandma kept them).  He got to give his little sister a hug and kiss, and hold her (he even asked, well not verbally, but gestured that he wanted to hold her).  He posed for some pictures with his sister and me, then tried to push her away, he was done.  He did seem to enjoy the book that Ashlynn gave him for being her big brother and visiting though.  He started to get fussy, as nap time was approaching, so Grandma took him back to the house for a nap, and we laid around, napping until the Dr's came to discharge us.

Jayce couldn't wait to get home, nap time started in the car

Ashlynn was cleared to go around 2, and I was finally cleared at 5.  We got home to some very excited, and cooped up dogs around 645 and have been trying to adjust and find a rhythm since.  The most affected by this has been Jayce.  Friday night was a rough one, he didn't sleep well, and didn't allow me or Justin to comfort or soothe him.  Fortunately Ashlynn has been able to sleep through his crying so far.

Saturday was a quiet day here at the Narry house (well as quiet as it could be with a newborn and an 16 month old running around.  We are finding our rhythm as a family of 4.  So far we have been trying to keep Jayce's daily routine as close to normal as possible, and tend to Ashlynn as she needs it.  It's a lot of divide and conquer.  Jayce didn't sleep super well Friday night, all the excitement and changes on Friday overwhelmed him.  He did take two fabulous naps throughout the day on Saturday though (which almost makes up for him getting up at 4am and not going back to sleep).  We video chatted with Papa and Grandma Suzanne, and just hung out.

Today was a little more active.  While none of us really felt up for a trip to church, we did manage to get some stuff done.  We managed to video chat with Grandpap and Uncle Travis.  Jayce got to play in the water table a bit with Daddy.  Ashlynn and I had a visit from Victoria to work on her latch issues (still a work in progress - nothing diagnosed yet, but general consensus is that she may have a bit of a tongue tie - will ask tomorrow at our pediatrician appointment).  Then Grandma, Aunt Barb, Uncle Allen, Aunt Alex, Uncle Alan, and James all came over for a visit.  While I know I should have taken more pictures than I should have, I'm beat and only managed a few.  We are all pretty wiped out here.

So with that, I'm going to sign out till next week.  Got a baby who will be hungry within the hour, and then she's getting a bath and I'm hopping into bed for hopefully longer than an hour...  Good night and love to you all!