Memories from a year ago.

Friday 11/13/09

• I labored in the tub at home - I was alone for the first couple of hours of labor - then got out without draining the tub.  I walked the house, ended up on the floor of the nursery on my hands and knees breathing through a contraction.  All of a sudden, I hear a huge wave followed by frantic splashing - Belle, one of our cats, had jumped into the (still full) tub and was thrashing around trying to get out.  I rush in, nearly forgetting I was having a contraction (it's obvious that this was early labor!), just in time to see her soaking wet and VERY angry little kitty body shooting across the bathroom.  She got water all over the house, so there I was following her around with a towel trying to soak up the water while in labor! 

• My mom said she would come over after she got out of clinic that evening.  She called and said she was leaving clinic and would be there shortly.  Thirty minutes pass and I'm starting to worry and wonder where she is.  I was draped over the arm of the couch at this point, in a lot of pain... but worried about mom at the same time.  I called her again to find out where she was and she said she was two blocks from my house but she had been in a fender bender.  What are the chances?!  She was waiting for the police to show up.  I think she ended up leaving and told the officer she would file the report online or something (??), because after she heard me on the phone she got there like 2 minutes later.

• Oh, and the spaghetti sauce -- I had made meat sauce the day before but I hadn't yet added back in the meat from the spare ribs.  Before we left for the hospital, I was upset because I hadn't finished it yet; I wanted to add the meat in and then freeze it before the baby was born.  My mom said she would do it, and I remember feeling so badly that she had to do it!  How silly when I think back on it now... but I appreciated it so much that she did that, and I still remember it.  I remember I'd tell her what I wanted her to do in between contractions... and she even washed the dishes for me before we left :) 

• Ramen.  Mom made me ramen in labor.  It tasted so good.

• Hubby.  What an amazing support he was.  He walked in the door from work at 6:00 to me being in full-on labor, and he didn't even blink.  He just jumped right in and started supporting me - massaging my back, letting me hang on him, helping me breathe through contractions.  He was so amazing.  I wouldn't have wanted to do it without him right there by my side.

• The drive there.  Ouch.  I remember it vividly.  I wanted to ride sitting backwards in the passenger seat so I could drape my arms over the back - and I REALLY didn't want to sit... but hubby was all: "SAFTEY FIRST!".  And I was soooo annoyed!  We finally compromised and I reclined the seat and half-sat, half-laid on it.  It was only an 8 minute drive... but it hurt.  A LOT.

• OH.  But the best one: And I am NOT making this up.  I KNOW I was not imagining this... So we were waiting for the elevator to up to L&D.  I was sitting in a wheelchair.  The elevator doors opened and two hospital personnel wheel a gurney out.  There was a white sheet over it and I SWEAR there was a body underneath that sheet.  It was body shaped - no lie.  I started half laughing, half crying from pain... and then I started singing Elton John's "The Circle of Life" in my head.  I am not even joking - I remember this so vividly!  Even the song going through my head... so funny!  Heh, I hadn't thought of that in a while... 

Tomorrow is the big day - my baby girl turns ONE.  I can't get over it, I can't believe I have a one-year-old!