Today was a wonderful day as we welcomed our daughter, Ashley, into our family. Everything happened so fast it's hard to know where to start. Yesterday I went to the doctor for my weekly check and not much was happening as far as labor. I was almost dilated to 2cm and we were trying to schedule a labor induction. I thought I had at least another week before anything would happen since both boys were delivered around 39 weeks.
Boy, was I wrong. I went home feeling fine and nothing was really happening as far as contractions go. I was just trying to take it easy since Brian was out of town for the night. I put the boys to bed and laid on the couch to watch TV. I had a few Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing out of the ordinary. I decided to take a shower before bed and started having more contractions. They were a little stronger than usual but not at all regular or very close together. I went to bed and slept great.
Then, at about 5:30am I woke up having more intense and regular contractions. I started to dismiss them as just a false alarm until they started coming 5 minutes apart. I was in labor and my husband wasn't home. I was a little freaked out. By 6:00am my water started to break and labor was getting intense. Thankfully, I before I went to be I had the forethought to put my phone by the bed. I called my neighbor for help but her phone was off. I called another friend, no answer. I called her cell phone, no answer. I called Brian, no answer. I was starting to freak out a little. After what seemed like an hour but was really only a few minutes, my friend, Rachel called me back. I told her what was going on and she came over within minutes. Brian called me too and I told him what was going on. He was about 2 hours away and it was snowing. He left to come home immediately.
I went downstairs to unlock the door between contractions and then went to change my clothes and try to pack a bag. Rachel got to my house and went to get my neighbor who ran over in her jammies and bare feet to get my boys. Rachel drove me to the hospital and we got there pretty fast. Thank goodness there isn't traffic at 6am. By that point, labor was in full motion.
I was quickly taken to labor and delivery and hooked up to all of the monitors and was given an IV. I also asked for an epidural. The nurse checked me and I was at 8cm. The contractions were only a few minutes apart and it HURT! I started to hyperventilate from the pain and not breathing through the contractions very well. They gave me oxygen to help me breathe. The anesthesiologist came in a few minutes later. Labor was progressing too fast for a regular epidural so they gave me something else to take the edge off. It only worked on one side so they continued to try the epidural. It was time to start pushing. I was still in a lot of pain. I don't know how women do this without drugs. After a couple of pushes, the pain was starting to be relieved. I could still feel a little bit of pain but I finally had some relief.
I pushed about 5 times and little Ashley was born at 7:18am. My labor and delivery lasted a total of 1 hour 48 minutes. Ashley was born about 45 minutes after getting to the hospital so Brian wasn't able to make it in time for her delivery. He made it to the hospital safely and as quickly as he could.
Ashley weighs 6lbs 8 oz and is 19.5 inches long. She is beautiful and I am so grateful for my friends and neighbors helping me get through her delivery.
Ashley at two weeks old. She is such a good baby. She sleeps in 4-5 hour stretches at night and has a hearty appetite. And, she loves to be snuggled.
Finally some pictures with her eyes open. We still don't know what color they will be. Sometimes they look blue and other times they have a copper/brown look to them. I guess time will tell.
Nickolas getting in on the action. 
Papa and Nickolas
Mathias and Brian
Ralphie and Randy from A Christmas Story.
Nickolas helping to set the table for Thanksgiving by shredding napkins.
Not so innocent.
Nickolas loves his baby sister. He will come sit by me, pat his lap and say, "baby." I'll put Ashley on his lap and after about a minute he will push her away only to start patting his lap again. It's so cute.
It's blurry but I love the look on Nick's face.
Ashley after a bath. She HATES sponge baths (not that I blame her), having her diaper changed and getting dressed and undressed. She does LOVE to snuggle though.
Mathias turned 4 on October 30, 2010 but we had to post-pone his birthday party to the following week. He was so excited to have his first friend party and wanted everyone to come as superheroes since he is a superhero. The kids had fun running around playing superhero and getting the bad guys.
Birthday Boy
Superheroes!
Mathias, Nickolas, Kate, Ruth
Mathias wanted everything green since green is his favorite color. I didn't have the energy to make a fancy cake this year so we had green cupcakes instead. The kids just eat the frosting so they didn't care.
Presents! The gumball machine was a hit!
Mathias loves puzzles.
Ashley Ravsten born November 12, 2010 at 7:18am
6lbs. 7.7oz
