October 5th, 2010!

One year ago, today, I had made it through the night (slept maybe a couple of hours) in the hospital. Dr. Thornton had come to check me again before she went to her office. She said I was still at 3cm dilated. UGH! I knew this was probably going to be a long day! She reassured me that Jude would be here today. She just told me to keep walking the halls... so that's what we did. My contractions didn't seem nearly as intense as they were the day before, so I was getting worried I would be sent home or something (Even though Dr. Thornton said that wouldn't happen). It was a long day for the family, but to me it went somewhat quickly. I was really focused on what I was doing rather than looking at the clock. When Bryan told me later we walked the halls for an hour at a time, I thought NO WAY! It felt like 15 minutes to me!

Again, around lunch time, Dr. Thornton came to check on me. I was at a "loose" 3cms dilated. I was bummed because I really wanted her to start the pitocin... but again, I had to wait until 4cms. There was more walking, walking, walking. I tried bouncing on the big labor ball.... I did all I could to get things moving!

When Dr. Thornton came to check on me before she left for home somewhere around 5:15pm (I think she could tell I was totally tired and discouraged...she was also probably tired of how slow I was progressing) she HELPED me along to 4cm so that she could start pitocin. I was so happy when she said things would go much faster now and Jude would have to come some time in the next 12 hours! She said I could have an epidural now if I wanted, but since my contractions weren't painful anymore, I said I would wait until I was in pain. Well, about a half hour later I was having INTENSE contractions where I had to break out my Lamaze breathing techniques! I was yelling at Bryan to tell me when the contraction was coming, peaking and going back down. I should mention he was watching TV while I was laying there breathing like I was going to die! (TV is OFF LIMITS NEXT TIME!!) The contractions were only minutes apart so I didn't have time myself to call to the nurse to get me the epidural, so I had Bryan call in for it.

It took another half an hour for the anesthesiologist to get to my room! I was so happy to see him! Bryan stepped out because he heard what it looks like and thought he might be sick if he watched. I felt SOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER once the epidural was in! There was a small problem though, I was numb everywhere but a very small spot near my left hip... it felt like I was being continually stabbed in that one tiny spot. So I told the nurse and she had me turn to my left side for a minute and as soon as I did... the spot went NUMB! Now I felt PERFECT! I was so ready for Jude!!

The nurse said I should try to get some zzzs because I will need my energy for pushing. So I did. I was so comfortable i fell right to sleep. Bryan was asleep, too. The nurse came in to check on me around 10:30pm. She said I was completely dilated and she was going to call Dr. Thornton to see what she wanted to do. I was SHOCKED! The whole dilating process had taken FOREVER.... there was no way it was finally happening! When the nurse left to call the Doctor, I told Bryan. He just stayed laying there on his cot like this wasn't a SERIOUS matter! I was like, "BRYAN! Get up and call my Mom and everyone else. I'm going to be pushing when Dr. Thornton gets here!"

When my mom and sister got to the room (I let them stay to watch) the nurse came in around 11:15pm to check me again and she had me practice pushing. Well... apparently I'm a pro because she said, "Wow, most first time Mom's don't know how to push like that!" LOL! I pushed 4 or 5 times and she told me to stop. She said she could see his hair! I was so happy to hear he had DARK HAIR! Bryan was able to see it first, and as creepy as this sounds, he took a picture so that I could see it. (There wasn't a mirror around.) It was the craziest, coolest, most amazing thing I had ever SEEN!! My mom then went and showed the whole waiting-room of family my crotch... as if I said that was OK! ANY WHO... I didn't care at that point because there is just something so incredible about giving birth! I wanted to keep pushing, but unfortunately I had to wait for Dr. Thornton to get there! I was hoping he would be born that night because Bryan's youngest sister's birthday is the 6th and we both would have rather they had separate birthdays.... but sadly, there was nothing EITHER of us could do about it!

(Bryan feeding me ice chips while we waited for Dr. Thornton.)

He is almost here!! Stay tuned for the big arrival!