Unfortunately, there were no rooms so I had to wait in triage for a couple of hours. It wasn't until they hooked me up to the monitors that I began to feel contractions. They weren't painful thank the Lord! We were put in a room around 7:30 and Josh began getting queasy at that point. I was 5 centimeters by then and still feeling fine. Although no pain at that point, I decided to stick with my plan and get an epidural. I felt worse after it than I did before but I'm sure it would have been much worse by the time I delivered had I not gotten numbed a little. Thankfully, I could still feel the contractions so I had an idea as to what was going on. I had some chest pain and fluctuating blood pressure but they decided it was my reaction to labor rather than a problem with the epidural.
Dr. Vick had left earlier to go to Riverdance so now it was a waiting game. The epidural slowed my labor and I just chilled until he arrived finally around 10:45 that evening to break my water and get the delivery underway. They started Pitocin at 11:00 and dosed Josh up at the same time to ease his stomach. : ) I began pushing around 2:40 and finally after an hour and a half of painless but stressful pushing, little Joel came into the world at 4:11 Wednesday morning (Feb. 18th). Josh had passed out for most of the pushing but came to just in time to cut the cord. Although it took several hours, it was completely worth it and I felt great the whole time. I wish daddy would have felt as great!
Mom got a little excited with the hand sanitizer!! It was great comic relief at 5:00 in the morning!
We were so glad Poppy could be there for Joel's arrival! He headed to Israel later that morning. God timed it perfectly!
Thank you Sara for staying up to see me be born!
We were so glad Poppy could be there for Joel's arrival! He headed to Israel later that morning. God timed it perfectly! Thank you Sara for staying up to see me be born!
Joel and I stayed until Friday because we had to send Daddy home to feel better. Sara stayed with us Thursday night and helped us pack up the next morning to move to the second floor since other mommys needed a room. I had been in their place and didn't mind at all!
Dad brought Josh back Friday morning to take us home. He helped load our stuff and brought in Joel's carseat for his ride home. We were ready to get out of there!
Joel is already a week old and changing each day. He is getting used to his schedule already and allowing us to get some much needed sleep. We go for a follow-up Dr. appointment tomorrow to see if he is gaining wait. He is eating just what he should be so we are hoping for a good report!
Ok I know it's a little late and Joel's already here but I had to catch up and share my last few pregnant moments...I made it to 38 weeks and 2 days and was still teaching my wonderful first graders the day I went into labor!! We had a great day that day...noone moved a snoopy (my behavior plan is the snoopy dog house I am standing in front of) which is a big deal for all my students! God must have been preparing me for what lay ahead that afternoon!! 
If you're pregnant and you know it, smile for the camera!
Sara and Anna were even able to stop by for the fun!
Sophia helped me open my gifts!
