Our Surprise Blessing: Avery Rachel

Wow.  What a year 2011 turned out to be!  I think God is trying to teach me to be a more flexible person. :)   Chad and I had decided that we were done having our own children (well, we hadn't made it final) but in our minds, our next child would be an adopted one.  So, imagine our surprise when we found out we were pregnant.  Then, selling our house, waiting for our new house and moving into this house seven weeks before Avery was born have made me even more certain God was trying to make me more flexible.  

On the day I was being induced with Avery, we had another curve ball thrown our direction.  (Oh, wait, we had two curveballs.  The night before going to the hospital, we found out our computer had contracted a virus and someone was trying to steal our identity.  Really?  Thankfully, we were able to put a stop to that, but this is the reason why this post is so late.) The plan was all set in place: Jack and Haylee were going to stay the night at Grandpa and Grandma LaVine's house the night before, and Chad and I would wake up early the next morning and be at the hospital at 6:30 to begin the induction.  We had a playdate all set up for the kids (Thanks, Carly!) in the morning so Brad and Carol could come see Avery as soon as she was born. This is how things went with Haylee and we had a healthy beautiful baby girl by 12:34 p.m.  

Well, Deaconess called at 5:30 the morning of December 21st and told us that all their labor and delivery rooms were full and would we mind calling back at 9 a.m. to see if any were open?  What?!  When does this happen?  So, Chad and I watched probably 4 episodes of Lost.  Then, we called the hospital at 9 a.m. and they asked us to call back at noon because they still weren't ready.  As my friend Steph wrote in a text to me that morning, "Don't they know you are a planner??"  But, what can you do?  So, we watched more Lost, ate a light meal and finally got the green light to head to the hospital at noon. 

I was hooked up to pitocin at 1:00 and then we waited another 9 hours for Avery to make her appearance.  Apparently, sometimes with the third child, it takes them a while to drop.  Thankfully, I had a lovely epidural and didn't have a lot of pain,  However, I was stressing out a bit because my parents had come to town, Bryan and Rachel had made a quick trip to Spokane to meet Avery, and Brad and Carol were coming to the hospital with Jack and Haylee so they could meet Avery after she was born.  I needed to get this girl out so people could go to bed.  But, everything went well and Avery made her arrival at 10:17 p.m., healthy, beautiful and totally worth it all.  She weighed 7 lb. 5 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long.  Our smallest baby yet.  She reminded us of Jack just moments after birth with both her features and demeanor .  (Later I'll do a blog post about who looks like who.)  We are so thankful for this surprise gift from the Lord.  She's sweet, and while newborn land can be a bit taxing, Chad and I feel more relaxed this time around.  We've both wondered why we couldn't have good perspective with the first child (we were so stressed about every little thing), but we're enjoying this time. Well, so far at least.  We're only two weeks in. :)  Here are the pictures.

 First picture of the new Dad of three. 

 Jack meeting Avery for the first time.  Major props to Grandparents LaVine as the kids were p-e-r-f-e-c-t in the hospital even though it was almost three hours past their bedtime.

 

 Haylee finally has a real Baby Avery.

 The only picture Chad and I are in together.  That is our great doctor who delivered all three LaVine children.

 Grandma LaVine and Avery Rachel.

 Grandma Johnson and Avery.

 Grandpa LaVine.

 Uncle Bryan and Grandpa Johnson.

 Aunt Heidi happened to be in town from Missouri and got to meet brand-new Avery.

 Aunt Rachel: the middle namesake. :)

 Grandparents Johnson.

 Love that little face.

 

At home.

Our dear friend Anna and Avery.

She's the sweetest little baby.