Labor- all in a day's work

Labor is an interesting thing. Doesn't it start so long before the actual day?

Loving people lighten the load by taking your babies and loving them....caring for them....dealing with their crazy....running them to their bus stop.....putting them to bed. Ahhh, what bliss it was to know that they were cared for while we were gone.

We went to the hospital 6 am feeling ridiculously giddy. Strange to feel giddy and not nervous. We got there at 6 am- blood drawn, IV in, pretty gown all by 7 am. The nurse had to poke a couple times to draw blood....you should have seen Travis quizzing her and pestering her as to why the first two pokes were unsuccessful.
Beware nurses-he is watching your every move.
I was dialated to a 4 upon arrival and our most splendid nurse said we needed to have a baby by 3 pm when her shift ended. I agreed but told her it was a fat chance.
ME-NO-HAVE-QUICK-LABOR'S.
The pit was a fabulous sensation. The contractions were hard and every few minutes. I was thrilled to know that this time the contractions would yield baby.
And I think I went to the bathroom more than 10 times in a few hours.
And one of the nurses thought that if you took too long to go potty she should come in and help. She was real fun.
Anyhew...
We watched West Wing-an old school tv series we like and I knitted a hat for Jay while they progressed. Right when the contractions started to pick up an episode came on in which the press secretary had a root canal and her mouth was numb and she was trying to talk about very serious white house matters such as bweefing (briefing) da(the) pwesident (president). I could not stop laughing and that really made the contractions hurt. The show had to go off, it was business time.
Just then some imaginary person flipped an imaginary switch and I had the most incredible contraction ever....followed by another....and another. This was 11:30ish. We asked for an epidural. He was there and amazing in all areas and for the first time my epidural was not traumatic to get in and it worked! Hot dog. Okay, the epidural was in but I could feel that baby and he was chomping at the bit. The nurse said we were a 8 and he was coming fast. The contractions were fast and productive and at 12:15 I went to roll onto my back and POP-my water broke. I looked at Travis and said, "Uh, I'm real wet....my water just broke." They checked-we were at a 9. I could feel the baby and I told the nurse I was going to push once I was a 10 (none of this "try not to push" garbage) so someone should be here to catch him. At this point Travis is laughingly giddy hunting for our video camera which he couldn't find because it was "behind something."
Of course it was sweetie.
I couldn't believe I was almost a 10.
Timeout.
It wasn't the middle of the night nor had I been laboring for 14 hours. Um, being induced is the bomb.
The rest was bliss. As the doctor was dressing and just felt waves of excitement, appreciation, love, and such a thrill that I was a woman, that my body could do this. That I could be a part of such a tender moment....a life entering his mortal probation, coming to our family to live out his days-to prove himself to The Father. Even before I started to push I was crying.
I pushed through 3 contractions and there he was-12:50 a perfect sweet baby. Ahhh, they laid him on my chest and I just closed my eyes trying to take it all in-a memory tied with a perfect ribbon to stick in my pocket forever.
So, it was heaven on earth. Great nurses, great support, actually being excited for pain, a splendid doctor, and a beatiful baby Jay.

All in a day's work