The LeBlancs: Avery's Birthday!!!

Sunday January 24th...I woke up around 11am. I was actually able to sleep in a little bit and decided to skip church to let Josh sleep in as well. I told him it might be the last time he is ever able to sleep in...haha. We got up, watched the Colts/Jets game, and just lounged around the house. I had been feeling some irregular contractions, but nothing that felt like labor. I had to work this night, so we took a little nap and I got ready for work while watching the Saints/Vikings game. I had Josh take some belly pictures before I left for work. I was 38 weeks and 3 days here:

I felt HUGE:

When I got to work we were not very busy, so I went into one of the rooms to finish watching the Saints game. What a game it was!!! For the first time in franchise history the Saints are going to the Superbowl!!!! During the game, I kept feeling more and more contractions. After it was over, I had Dede put me on the monitor and check me. I was contracting every 4-6 minutes and I was 4cm dilated! I was in LABOR! Dede called Dr. Hernandez, he said to go ahead and keep me and to start Pitocin at 0300. I was going to have a baby on Monday! I started making phone calls. Of course Josh and my mom both freaked out. You would have thought they were the ones in labor! Josh's parents had both just taken a benadryl after the game so they were drugged and couldn't drive! Josh got up to the hospital about 11pm. I was still feeling good!

Rachel and Dena came up to draw my blood!

I got my IV started, and we setteled in for the night. My contractions spread out after IV hydration and I stayed 4-5 cm most of the night. Dede started the Pitocin at 0300 and my contractions started coming a lot closer together. My mom got in at about 0430, she had driven straight through as soon as I called her.

At about 0530, I still wasn't THAT uncomfortable, but my favorite anesthesiologist was leaving at 0700, so I decided to get my epidural. That was such a crazy sensation! I couldn't feel ANYTHING from my ribs down. After I was nice and numb, Dede checked me again and my water "broke" I was now about 6 cms. Dr. Hernandez came in to see me at about 0700, I was 7 cm dilated and Avery was still pretty high in my pelvis (-2). We started turning me from side to side to help dilitation and help her to come down. I had a couple of variable as she was moving down. At about 0800 I was 10/100/+2! She was so low, Josh could see her head when they checked me. Dr. Hernandez was finishing a surgery case, so I just had to wait for him to get there. They told me not to cough or laugh or anything so I wouldn't deliver! This is us getting ready to start pushing! I still couldn't feel A THING!