Birthday

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

My parents came and picked up Eva to stay with them overnight.

I had been up a lot in the last few nights with contractions.

They offered to give us a break.

We almost said no.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

4:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.

Contractions off and on.

Uncomfortable, but not super painful...

but really, really tiring.

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Nap time.

I slept and slept.

It felt great.

When I woke up, I headed outside to water the garden.

It was over 90° outside and I was sweaty.

So I decided to head to the mall.

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

I walked the mall.

Climbed flights of stairs and walked some more.

I was having a few contractions, but nothing in a pattern.

There was this tight feeling that had been there for days.

Like I was wearing way too tight pants.

I decided to call it a day and headed out.

4:15 p.m.

In the parking lot, my water broke.

I stood by my car for a bit...

thanking God that it didn't happen in the middle of the mall.

I was also waiting to see what happened.

I felt a ton less pressure and more comfortable than I had in over a week.

I decide to get in the car and head home.

I called Michael on the way...

I didn't want him to tell me not to drive so I started driving first.

4:30 p.m.

Home.

I hoped in the shower and Michael came home.

Loaded the car and called my parents.

Told them to turn around...

they had been on their way to bring Eva home.

I was so relaxed.

We were not rushing around like I thought we would be.

I felt great.

5:00 p.m.

Triage in Labor and Delivery.

I was still dilated to 3 cm.

Same as the last two weeks.

That scared me.

I was still not really having contractions.

I started worrying.

I just wanted things to happen on their own...

and I knew that I had a ticking clock since my water had broke.

6:00 p.m.

I made a plan to walk the floor.

I walked to my delivery room.

I got to the room and I had a big contraction.

Finally, I thought, something is happening.

Then I had another and another.

They were right on top of one another.

I never walked the hall.

I was barely holding it together.

Breathing was hard.

At some point the nurse checked and I was 7 cm.

I had planned on an epidural at some point.

There was no time.

Michael was holding me up.

Rubbing my back and reminding me to breath.

I felt like my body was turning inside out...

7:00 p.m.

I felt "pushy"...

My nurse went into high gear.

Don't push was my only instruction.

That was the hardest thing I have ever done...

the not pushing.

All of the sudden people were every where and I was in the bed.

Complete and ready to push.

Pushing was the best thing ever.

7:11 p.m.

Theodore Michael was born.

Two hours and 11 minutes after walking into the hospital.

It was crazy, but so very awesome.