"You amazing woman"

We walked into the hospital through the ER entrance and left my suitcase in the car thinking we would have time to get it later. The nurses at the desk were busy talking to some other people so we patiently waited. By this time the contractions were more labor-like. The nurses didn't seem to worry too much about the quiet pregnant lady who was calmly standing there waiting in line with her quiet, patient, and calm husband. Little did she know I was standing there clinching my jaw because I was having another contraction. Finally she asked us what we needed and after Christopher told her that I was in labor she hurried a bit more. The security guard was motioned to bring a wheelchair. I was wearing my winter coat that was buttoned up all the way and apparently I didn't look very pregnant because the security guard asked if I was going incognito. More contractions. Wheeled me up to the L& D level and handed me off to the nurse. More contractions. They got me ready in a gown and got all my admission information and got me attached to monitors. Somehow I was still really calm and collected.
They finally checked me and I was 6 cm dilated. Finally realized that this was really it. Since my Group Strep B test came back positive they wanted to get a bag and a half of antibiotics through my IV before he was born. Then they walked me to the delivery room and transferred me to this sweet little nurse who had moved from China nine years ago.
More contractions. Waiting. Then they started moving in the things that they would need for a preemie and a doctor came in to talk to me about what to expect after the delivery. More contractions. More waiting.
Finally right after the second bag of antibiotics was through, my doctor came in and broke my water. More contractions. More waiting. They were really intense now but I didn't feel the urge to push. I felt bad because poor Christopher looked so worried but he was doing a great job of handing me my menu to fan myself with during a contraction.
The nurse kept saying "How you do this? You amazing woman. You should have movie teaching women or something."
More contractions. More fanning and praying. Then I told the nurse that I had to use the restroom and she agreed that it might help move things along. Since I didn't feel the urge to push she took the monitors off and I was finally allowed to go to the restroom where there was peace, quiet and no pressure, but before I knew it there was a baby.
Yep, Luke followed in his brother's footsteps and made his grand entrance in the bathroom. I called out that the baby was here and Christopher (who had been pacing outside the door) and the nurse ran in and helped catch Luke. I had his head, the nurse had his bottom and Christopher grabbed his legs. Just for the record, he never touched the toilet. And more importantly, he cried right away.
The rest of the team rushed in and Christopher got to cut the cord.
Luke looked healthy and much bigger than I had expected for 35 weeks; we were feeling pretty lucky. They put him on my chest for maybe 10 seconds before they walked him down to the NICU to examine him when Christopher noticed that he was sucking in his chest and working really hard at breathing.

Next post-NICU