The labor story...

So for those of you who may be actually interested in Miles' journey into being, here is a quick recap of Thursday.

• - I woke up around 3:30 with a contraction. I woke Tim up around 4:00 with the next one. We lay in bed for about an hour timing how far apart they were where is dawned on us that this was really starting to happen.
• - Around 5:00 we came downstairs to get comfy in front of the TV, get some food, and get settled into waiting until the contractions were close enough to go to the hospital and not get sent home.
• - Around 11:00, we started to motivate a bit more. We took showers and pulled the last things into our bags.
  
• - Around 12:00, my contractions quickly worsened. Apparently my reaction to the pain was nausea and it wasn't the first time I would lose my lunch that day. At which point, Tim and I thought it was time to call the doctor... who thought it was time to head to the hospital.
• - When we arrived, I had a contraction while checking in. "Follow me Caroline to room number 12.... after your contraction." It was very odd to be standing in a hallway surrounded by doctors and nurses who all thought that contractions were the most normal thing ever and no need to be concerned.
• - We passed the exam and were quickly admitted... but then came the wait. Apparently, lots of blood needed to be drawn, questions answered, IVs administered etc, all in between contractions that were about 2 - 3 minutes apart and causing me to puke... it was a super-fun time.
• - Once the IV was in place (third time is a charm!), I got a quick hit of fentenol, a morphine relative. This took the edge of the pain, and Tim noticed a dramatic lightening of the squeeze on his hand with each contraction. I wasn't out of pain, but I didn't seem to care as much.
• - About 2 hours after we arrived, I finally got my epidural. Wow, what a difference. Within minutes, I was cracking jokes with the doctors and the nurses having a great go of things. Though I tremendously respect those women that have a natural birth, I can't figure out why you would want to - love me some drugs!!!
• - Then we just waited, and waited, and waited until we could start to push.
• - Around 8:40, it was time to go. My first several pushes were really productive and everyone was optimistic that we would get through this quickly.
  
• - But that wasn't to be the case. Miles seemed to have gotten stuck at my pelvis bone, the last hurdle before life. After about an hour and a half, the midwife grew concerned and put in a call to the doctor who then joined in the fun for observation. They let me keep at it well after 2 hours. I was determined not to have a c-section and kept telling everyone that I had more in me.
  
• - At about 2 1/2 hours, we seemed to have had a break through and the pushing was becoming more productive. The environment in the room immediately changed from "we're going to have to stop this soon" to "let's put on our dressing gowns!"
• - At 11:43, the reason for the stall in pushing became clear: his little head emerged with a little hand - waving to this new world and announcing his presence. "Tada! I am here!!!!" I have this visual in my head of a gymnast's dismount searching for the perfect 10 - which he got as far as I am concerned!!!
  

After they gave him to us, I spent the first couple of minutes staring into his eyes and falling in love - then I spent the next couple of minutes thanking the doctors and the nursing staff for letting me continue through the labor. The hospital staff was amazing and made the entire experience start to finish a warm, encouraging, and wonderful one. We were lucky, these same fabulous nurses went on strike today for 10 days... I am sure glad we delivered last week!!!!