They say a kettle won't boil if you watch it, so it seemed Ava would never arrive. It was Friday May 1st 2009, Ava was already 2 days late for her arrival. We had our weekly appointment and it was the same outcome as the 3 weeks prior, a whole centimeter dilated!! Woooooo hooooooo (how exciting) :( !!! We scheduled an appointment for the next week and was assured by the doctor that we would see her again. I scoured the internet on how one can kick start the labor process. The doctor provided us with some tips: sex and walking. But we had been working on that since before Ava was conceived, I thought there had to be another way! I read on a couple of websites that eggplant helps with the onset of labor. So that night we went to Macaroni Grill and I ordered eggplant ptarmigan no pasta and extra eggplant, I ate it ALL! We arrived home around 6:30 and began work on the basement, our new favorite pastime! We spent 90% of my pregnancy completing the basement. By 1:30am on Saturday and I was ready to go to the hospital, we arrived prior to speaking to the doctor. She returned our call while we were registering for the hospital with all 4 bags in hand! She reassured me that I would probably be sent home. Being a rookie I craftily delayed calling the doctor prior to going and made the call on our way to the hospital, all I wanted was an epidural so I could go to sleep prior to Ava arriving!! We were escorted through the emergency room to triage. It was the first time I had ever been in a wheel chair. Sooooo............. it was confirmed that the doctor was right, she diagnosed me over the phone. I was sent home and told I was not in active labor and I was still ONLY 1 centimeter dilated. I almost lost it at the point, but knew that more pain would join me if I did not continue to concentrate on breathing and relaxing. On our way back to the car, Chris politely reminded me that we were about to take the walk of shame through the emergency room with all 4 bags in tow to head back home. We drove the mile home around 3 am and began the process of recording the time schedule of my contraction patterns. The next 3 and half hours consisted of showers, baths, bed rest and laps around the house. Chris made the call to my mom at 5:15 am and she was at the house by 6 am. At 6:30 am we headed back to the hospital, only this time in triage I was told I was 4-5 centimeters dilated. "THANK YOU JESUS!!!", is what came to mind and out of my mouth! All that pain was not in vain, OMG it's here, "Epidural PLEASE!!"...I am in a wheel chair again headed to the labor and delivery room where our daughter would later join us! The next 3 hours went fairly fast, I was hugging the side of the bed with my whole body, clenching tighter than a big girl's spandex shorts! I couldn't talk at this point, it was pure concentration and bereathing only! The anesetiologist arrived at 9:30 am, "YESSS!!!"...all worry of needles in my back were out the window. Within a minute I had sat up hunched over and ready to take it like a man. At this point Chris started to get more attention, I look up and the nurses are handing him crackers and orange juice! Daddy had got a little light headed, but quickly jumped right back into his doula role! Chris was the greatest coach a girl could wish for. His attention, determination, and coaching was superb (the nurses were are most likely still praising his efforts and his attitude). I questioned out loud whether the drugs were working or not, and Chris nicely pointed out that I was talking, it must be working.(No one had heard my voice for hours prior to the epidural!) Shortly afterward I was feeling like a brand new person! After receiving my happy juice, I was told I was 8 centimeters dialated-"WOW, she is almost here!", repeatedly raced though my head. For the next few hours Chris and I tried to relax but we were so ecstatic we both contacted EVERYONE in our cellphones to share the joyous information. We didn't have any visitors until 2pm. Ava was suppose to arrive around 1 pm but our doctor was busy in a Cesarean section so we were put on hold. At this point I was feeling great...no care in the world. We started to have visitors at 2pm. I was able to visit with everyone for 5 minutes prior to pushing and promised them all that I will push fast and hard so they don't have to wait long to see our little beauty. It was 3 pm and the nurse finally gave the go ahead to begin pushing. I had Chris' mother Jackie on the right side and Chris on the left holding my legs while my mother photographing the miracle of life! I had a great view too. I was able to view it all on a mirror. Once I was told to push, I pushed with everything I had and more. Then I hear STOP, Ok push, STOP. All I could think of red light green light! LOL! I was hoping I wouldn't be told to start over! The doctor then explained that she didn't want me to tear so she said a slower way to get the head out is coughing or laughing. I began to make a serious cough and everyone was amazed, "it's working"! Then I let out a comedic laugh and the whole room began to laugh, "it's working" I heard again; her head was emerging. We all continued laughing and, Pop!!! Ava's head emerged. The rest is history! Ava had arrived in the short time of 15 minutes!
