destination downing

After having contractions on and off for a few weeks, today they started picking up - becoming more regular and strong. Luckily, I put the finishing touches on my substitute plans for work and had a lengthy status meeting with my boss and her boss. My visiting teachers were over at 6:15 and I was planning on going to see a movie with some friends and ended up canceling (thank goodness!). Steve's dad was over for dinner as well and at 6:30 I thought I'd better start keeping track of what was happening. So as Steve was grilling and getting dinner ready my contractions were coming ten minutes or so apart. I decided to call my doctor to tell her and she told me to wait for a half an hour and if they kept up to go to the hospital. They kept up steady at every seven to ten minutes and we decided to get ready to go to the hospital. My mom came over to watch Aidan and we were off at about 8 (I'm so glad I had my bag packed at week 33 just in case something like this were to happen).

Once we got there, I hung out in the triage room for a bit and they told me I was dilated to a 3 - they even acted like it could be false labor. The nurse who initially checked me was less than stellar and I feel bad for whoever has had to (or will) labor and deliver with her! Finally, Pam who would be nurse for the L/D haul came and things got better. My water broke shortly after 8:45 and again (this happened with Aidan too) they thought I might have just peed - do they not know that I wouldn't be embarrassed to say if I had peed?? As we were waiting for my room to be ready the contractions really started hurting and I was more than ready for the epidural.

Once we were in my room, the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the epidural. At this point I believe I was a 5 and were racing to the delivery finish line - it all happened so quickly I'm having a difficult time remembering. To my shock and horror I was still feeling everything. I got another shot of something but it didn't help and I came to the realization (with Steve's help) that I would be having this baby without the drugs. My labor was progressing too quickly for the epidural to take effect.

My doctor barely made it for the delivery and Preston arrived at 11:21pm. I didn't push for too long (maybe three or four good pushes) - the thought that the only way for the pain to stop was to push really hard made it quick, though I wish someone had told me that it would feel like you are not only going to push a baby out, but also anything and everything else in your nether regions and perhaps your internal organs as well.

Preston came out and let out a big cry - he was 5 lbs, .6 ounces and 18.25 inches long. He was (is) beautiful and I instantly fell in love with him. I can't put into words how grateful I am to have had a healthy baby boy who got to stay with me in the hospital and come home with me two days afterward. This experience is such a blessing.