Reliving "the moment"

This time last year, I had been in pre-labor for about five hours. I had no idea what was in store for me despite my best efforts to be prepared. There is nothing quite like that first "real" contraction and the sudden realization that today would be quite unlike any I had ever known before. This day, one year ago, marked the end of one part of my life and the beginning of the next- nothing would ever be quite the same and yet how could have I truly understood that then? I didn't. I had heard it said many times by friends and family members alike- but to understand it we have to go through it ourselves don't we?

I remember very clearly laying in our new bed, next to my sleeping husband in our dark and peaceful room, practically holding my breath waiting... waiting for that next singular sensation- painful, gripping... no mistaking and thinking to myself, "Is this it? Are going to meet our son today? Are we ready?" And then the waiting began... we waited, and we waited and we waited some more...

Here is the blog entry from March 11th 2009... I am so glad I wrote a little bit about how I was feeling, it is nice to role around in my thoughts from that morning and soak up those feelings as I reminisce.


"Is this the real deal? Hard to say for a first timer, but I will say these are most certainly real contractions!
We went to the OB yesterday, 3 cm and 80% effaced and another "sweeping" and Dr. Su's announcement: "I think you are going to have this baby tonight or tomorrow." Okay then... so off we go to the mall to have a tire fixed and mall walk with the best of them!
I had quite a bit of cramping and spotting all evening, but otherwise business as usual. But then, at around 1:30 this morning the first contraction hit and boy-howdy- OUCH! Sharp, tight, burning sensation in lower abdomen. This was followed and has followed with similar contractions (although some have started in my lower back) every 9-12 minutes for the past 5.5 hours. Turns out this could go on all day or longer!!
I am of course hoping for a quicker development than that considering active labor is considered 4 cm and we were at 3 yesterday prior to all this fun... in any case I took the day of work (duh!) and so did Rick and so now we wait a little more..."