I got back to work that afternoon and just did not feel well. The contractions were still coming, but I didn't really notice that they were getting closer together because I was focused on trying to get everything done at work that I possibly could as I wouldn't be working anymore after that week. The contractions became increasingly worse on the drive home and it was all I could do to focus on the road and just get home as quick as I could.
When I got home, I had Anthony start timing the contractions. They were 10 minutes apart and were lasting for 1-2 minutes each. I called the nurse on call at my doctor's office and she instructed me to head to Labor & Delivery to get checked out. So, we called Megan (Anthony's sister) to come pick up Caleb so we could go to the hospital.
We got to the hospital around 7 pm on Thursday, February 11th. After being hooked up to the monitors for awhile, the doctor checked me and I was at 3 cm. She made me walk around the L&D floor for 1 hour then she checked me again. (**Side note: I will share stories about what was seen/heard while walking in another post. It was too funny!) After walking, I had dialated to 4 cm, so I was admitted. By this time, it is 11:30 pm. We are already tired and very hungry - we didn't eat before going to the hospital and we should have! Anthony started making the phone calls to let everyone know we would be staying the night and that Lydia was on her way.
Thankfully, I was able to sleep through most of the night and my contractions. The doctor came in at 8 am and checked me again. I was at 5 cm. She broke my water and I immediately went to 7 cm. I asked for the epidural at this point. The anesthesiologist came in at 9 am to give the epidural. A little while after he was done, I told my nurse that I was feeling some pain on my left side. He checked me and said I was at 10 cm and it was baby time! I started pushing at 10 am and Lydia was born at 10:14am weighing 8 lbs and was 21 1/4 inches long!
