Introducing Myla Avolene!

The newest member of our family arrived on Wednesday September 11th at 12:04pm.  We feel so blessed to have such a special little angel in our midst, and are so grateful she arrived safely and healthy.

Birth Story

My due date was September 7th, and I scheduled a back up induction date for Monday the 9th, but certain Myla would come before then. When she didn't, we geared up for Monday, but me and the girls caught a stomach bug over the weekend, and decided to cancel my appointment. Devin and I started having reservations about being induced, so we decided to wait a little bit longer before scheduling another appointment. 

Wednesday morning I woke up at 7 feeling a little achy in my hips, and Devin said it finally looked like my belly dropped. I asked Devin to work from home, just in case more progress happened. At 8:30 am, I started having contractions. By 9:30 am, they were coming in about every 3 minutes. I couldn't get a hold of my mom, so I called my SIL Michelle to come over. At 10 am both my mom and Michelle got to my house, and Devin and I were off to IMC hospital. After circling the parking lot for a parking spot (really?! No parking at a hospital?!), we got ourselves a spacious suite with a great view of the mountains. The nurse checked me about 10:30, and I was dilated to a 7, waiting for my water to break. I decided- meh, I'm already this far, I think I'll try out going natural, as long as I don't have to have an IV in. I paced around for about 20 minutes as the nurse hooked up the heart monitor, and did her thing. She checked me again and said I was at an 8, and it would probably go a lot faster when my water breaks. So I asked if my Dr. could break my water. The nurse said as soon as we finished the paperwork, she'd page him. So I answered the questions like "Are you allergic to medications? Do you have seizures? Have you ever had surgery? What's your favorite color?" etc.  The contractions were getting more intense and closer together, it was difficult to catch my breath. I was so grateful I didn't have a really perky nurse, that would've put me over the top.

About 11:15 Dr. Thackeray came in and broke my water. Wow! For the next few minutes my contractions were so much less intense without that pressure! However, they returned with a vengeance! Devin said, "We didn't even learn any breathing techniques!" Poor guy felt so helpless every time I'd bend over, hold my breath, and try to stay on top of the pain. I tried really hard to picture Myla saying goodbye to all of her angel friends, and prepping herself for earth. What an exciting event that was in my mind, and surprisingly helped until I reached the limit of my pain thresh hold somewhere around 11:50 am (the clock was the last thing on my mind). Fortunately, that was when I felt like it was time to push. Dr. Thackeray was paged, and a whirlwind of people in scrubs rushed in the room. I was back on the bed, Dr. Thackeray rushed in, disassembled the bed, and walked me through instructions while we waited for my next contraction. I pushed 3 times and thought my body would split in two. And then I immediately had this miracle placed in my lap. She coughed and cried and all that pain slid into the back ground. Myla Avolene is perfect and healthy, and here at last. We named her after the Lithuanian word "Meile" that means Love. Her middle name is a combination of 2 of her great grandmas- Avonelle and Berylene.

Beginning of labor

7 pounds 2 oz, 20 inches long

She's all cleaned up and snuggled into me. What an indescribable feeling that is to have someone that left heaven minutes ago placed on my chest.

Proud dad, and my personal link to sanity throughout the morning.

Cambry, Vienna and Grandma Beck meeting Myla. The girls were a little hesitant and unsure about her.

That is a lot of girl power in this family! I am so blessed to have these three.

Although they were hesitant around their new sister, they soon found all the fun things to see and do in the hospital room.

Shadow dancing in the window sill

Thanks Grandma Beck for the hours and hours of service you've given us through this transition!!

Myla's first bath

Myla had lots of visitors, and we took pics of most of them.

Steph

Jake, Missy and Hagen

Grandma Ber

Aunt Jess

Grandma Rappleye

Aunt Sara

Here are a few of our favorites of her

Devin made this banner, and Grandma Beck, Cambry and Vienna colored it, hung it up and got some fun balloons.

We already love you so much Myla Avolene!!