It was Tuesday, August 6th, and I pretty much knew that baby boy was coming that night. My membranes were swept the day before and signs of labor were progressing! Karsten had an important meeting that morning so I had to stay on bedrest until that was over. Once he was home, it was go time! I was officially 37 weeks pregnant and in the clear to have baby. We decided to go to the mall in hopes that walking would start my contractions and it worked like a charm. We shopped for two hours, mostly buying Sweden toys and future clothes for the little peanut. Once we got into the car though, I felt discouraged because my contractions stopped and I felt totally fine. I really wanted this baby that night because my favorite OB was delivering, I checked beforehand ;) Once we got home and tucked Sweden into bed, Karsten and I laid on the couch and started watching our favorite show at the time, Hell on Wheels. During the first episode I just knew it. Baby was coming in a few hours and I needed to rest. My contractions were coming and going, but I was mostly just cramping and achey. I flipped over on the couch away from the TV and shut my eyes at about midnight. Twenty minutes is all it took. I remember I was just starting to dream and my dream was pretty bizarre. I was looking at the inside of my belly and I saw a few tubes and water rushing through them. I immediately woke up and told Karsten to get me a towel because my water was about to break. All Karsten said was "you wanted your water to break, why do you need a towel?" KARSTEN JUST GET ME A TOWEL. NOW! I don't think he's ever moved so quickly. I don't really think he was processing what I was saying at all. He brought me the towel and I flipped over onto my back...and just like that, my water broke at 12:30. The only word that I can use to describe that moment is magical. My body was telling me in advanced what was about to happen and I have always been so in sync with it. I had wanted to experience my water breaking SO badly and my body listened to that. My mother in law came over in five minutes you guys. She was here in FIVE MINUTES. It was quicker than I ever expected. She stayed over night to take care of Sweden and off to the hospital we went. I was so calm and collected in the car because my contractions were very minimal at that point. Karsten was shaking. He needed me to give him directions even though we had gone over the route a thousand times!! He was so cute. Once we pulled up to Banner University the contractions were getting a little intense. Nothing that I couldn't handle, but I had never felt painful contractions before and I was already at 4 cm dilated. We walked into the hospital laughing and making jokes with the employees and once I was checked into Triage, it was really starting to hit me. I remember it getting really painful really fast. The nurse had told us that it was the busiest night that they have had in awhile and they didn't have a room for me yet. After she checked my dilation, and saw that I was at 5 cm, she quickly changed her mind. She told us that I was first priority and would get the first room that opened up. An hour went by and I was really in my head at that point. The contractions were nonstop and I was at 8 cm and I felt this baby coming and I wasn't even in a delivery room or had the epidural yet. My labor and delivery nurse greeted us and told us that our room was ready and I remember feeling so relieved. As they pushed me in a wheelchair to the room they kept asking me questions and I couldn't answer any of them. The pain was way too intense. I had to stay quiet and focus. I softly begged for the epidural once we got into the room and she reassured me that he was on his way. She checked my cervix again and asked, "honey are you sure you want the epidural? It's almost time to push. You're almost there. This baby is going to be out in less than twenty minutes" I'm pretty sure I just gave her a glare that gave my answer right away. I am a huge advocate for the epidural and I wanted it as early as possible. When they anesthesiologist came into the room I was beyond grateful. It was painless and I felt relief immediately. I convinced the nurse to give me another dose right away and she was like "honey it needs fifteen minutes to kick in. Let's just wait until that fifteen minute mark" Still, I convinced her otherwise and I remember her saying "okay it's against my better judgment but I'll do it for you." I was on cloud nine. The medicine took over my entire body and I was no longer in agonizing pain. Just like that. I closed my eyes and laid there for the remaining five minutes or so until baby told me he was ready to be born. I told the nurse and she asked me to keep the baby inside because my OB was wrapping up a cesarean! I remember thinking, okay, I can wait a little longer. Karsten and I looked at each other and he held my hand. We were waiting for this moment for so long. A few minutes later she walked into the room and we were ready to go. Of course it was the only OB I hadn't met yet, but she was absolutely amazing. I pushed four times and to my disbelief, held Kallahan in my arms for the very first time at exactly 3:00 AM. The feeling was very similar to holding Sweden for the first time but also very different. I knew what was to come this entire pregnancy so I was prepared for what was going to happen. He looked very similar to Sweden, but he was different. He was more quiet, fragile, and calm. His presence then is the same that it is now, three months later. He was such a soft and sweet little boy from the start. I couldn't believe that he was mine, and even asked the nurses for permission to kiss him to make sure it was okay because he was so early. He latched right away and I cried right when he started nursing. 9 months of emotions quickly left me. This moment was always worth it.
