September 13th, 2010.
Exactly 39 weeks pregnant. Sleeping on my sisters couch ( in Austin Tx ) I was having a dream that I was having contractions. So I woke up hoping that it was more then just a dream. They were indeed the real deal! I stayed up anxiously timing them. They happened every 5 to 6 minutes from 6am to 7am. I decided at that point I needed to call my doctor to see when I should go to the hospital. The contractions hurt but I could manage. My doctor told me to come in his office at 9am and he’ll check me. From 7am to 9am the contractions were 2 minutes apart. Originally I had an appointment that day at 11am. Dr. Price was going to “sweep my membrane”. I’ve been anxiously waiting for that day for weeks. In my mind I was almost positive that him sweeping my membrane would start labor. But instead, there I was, in his office crying, waiting for him to call me in. The contractions were so painful. Finally, when he checked my cervix he said “Yeah this is definitely labor. You’re 8cm dilated."
Sarah rushed me to the St. Davids hospital which luckily was only a few blocks away. My trip from the parking garage to the labor and delivery room was horrible. Every 2 minutes I had to stop and yell my way through the contraction. When someone finally acknowledged that I was in pain, they got me in a wheel chair, up the elevator, and into the room. By this point the pain is so bad I felt in a daze. As if I wasn’t really there anymore. I threw off my clothes and got into the bed. The nurses checked me again and stated I was 9cm. I panicked. Is it to late for an epidural? I can’t do this without an epidural. Am I going to have to push him out and feel every bit of it? Oh dear lord please save me. I’m screaming during the contractions now, and throwing my head all around. Please make this stop, I thought to myself. I can’t do this. My Contractions felt as if a sharp pain was trying to literally rip out of my uterus. I HAD TO PUSH....So I did, a couple times. The nurses told me not to push or else I would dilate to 10, and I wouldn't be able to get the epidural. That was enough motivation for me to toughen it out until my I.V fluid bag was all gone so I could FINALLY get my epidural. When It was time for my savior drug, they said I had to sit completely still. How the hell would I be able to do that? I was shaking as if it was 10 degrees. I didn't care, I was going to do it no matter what! and thank god I did... After 15 more long minutes of painful contractions I started to feel a little better. I had stopped screaming. Okay, I can do this I told myself..
And It was time to push. I pushed for an hour, but it really didn’t seem that long at all. Like I said, I felt like I was in a daze. Pushing didn’t hurt. I was just more nervous about tearing. When Dr. Price came in to deliver Eli, my heart was fluttering. Eli is coming. He’s almost here. And there he was at 11:48am.. Laying on my stomach. So perfect. So absolutely adorable. I cried. Emily cried. Sarah cried. And even the student nurse that was observing cried. It was amazing. Here he is. The reason I woke up every morning for the past 9 months. The reason I completely changed my life around for the better. The reason I live. Here he is. I love him. This feeling is incredible. I couldn’t image life without him. He’s mine. 6 pounds, 13.9 ounces. 19.75 inches long. 100% perfect. He has my long toes and fingers. He has my nose. He has my blond hair. He has that little bump of mine of his ear. I created something so pure and perfect. And he needs me. This is love
