I was so excited about having you. I was also getting uncomfortable being pregnant. So, I went to my regularly scheduled OB visit on Monday with Dr. Lowe. I had heard from an acquaintance that you could have “your membranes stripped” to speed along the process of dilating. I was already 3 cm and could go at any time. But, I wanted to hurry things along so I could see you! I didn’t know what I was asking for because the procedure wasn’t exactly comfortable. The odds of having you that week were multiplied by three due to this procedure. So, Richard and I went home with every thought that you would come any minute. We went home and did a lot of walking. We walked through the park and I had several strong contractions. Matter of fact, they were so strong that I wanted to come home and rest because they hurt so bad. But, the second I started resting, the contractions stopped. After two more days like this, and trying every home remedy we could think of, we looked to castor oil for the solution. The wives tale says that because castor oil gets your colon going, it will also get your uterus going. You have to drink a whole bottle, though. I was REALLY not looking forward to this. So, I slowly took a little bit at a time until I had finished the whole bottle. Sure enough, my stomach was unleashed. All night, I was up. As soon as I thought I might lay down and get some rest at 8 AM Thursday morning, my contractions started. I told Richard and he began timing them. It wasn’t long before we realized that they were five minutes apart and we needed to head to the hospital. Richard and I took showers. I remember shaving my legs and Richard telling me I shouldn’t do that with my contractions going. He loaded up the car and we were off to the hospital. We had to stop for gas and that is where Richard took that first picture. I was happy but scared because the contractions were more than I expected. I had wanted a natural birth (no drugs). I changed my mind during the car ride to the hospital. I was admitted to the triage and they checked me and I was 5 cm and 100% effaced. I was begging for drugs and they finally gave me Stadol in the triage until I could wait to get into a room. I was so miserable but the drugs helped me cope a little better. Apparently, a whole bunch of babies were being born because the Epidural was hard to get because they were so busy at the hospital. I was 6 cm before I got my Epidural. I remember biting Richard’s neck during contractions as the anesthesiologist put in the needle. I felt SO much better after that. That really slowed down my labor, though. But, I enjoyed the experience better because I got to visit with people and share the excitement. My epidural did wear off when I was 7 cm and then it was totally worn off by the time I had to push. But, when it came time to push you couldn’t hide my excitement. It was almost like a big fog, though. I remember the events and all that but, it almost is like an out of body-type memory. Richard and mom helped hold my legs while I pushed. Richard said I pushed for about three hours but it only seemed like an hour to me. It didn’t hurt at all except for just one second when your head was almost all the way out and your shoulders came out, too. I squealed just a bit. Then, you came out and they put you on my stomach. You were born at 8:42 PM on Thursday, October 13, 2005. I have never been so happy in all my life. You looked so much like your dad even in those first few minutes. I remember thinking, “I gave birth to my husband.” I got to feed you a little bit and then they whisked you off to the nursery. There you got a bath, got weighed and measured, got your footprints taken, and got to warm up a bit in the warmers. Richard took care of me in the room and then followed you to the nursery so that he could watch you and take pictures of you. Then, they moved me to a different room and brought you to me. You were a perfect child, beautiful in every way from day one.

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