A baby is on his/her way!

This morning at approximately 9:00 am, I talked to Dan on the phone as I usually do. He called to let me know he had gotten to work okay. I was just waking up and headed to the bathroom when I felt a small gush of liquid. I laughed and said to him " I either just peed my pants or my water broke." He wondered if I was serious, but I didn't think it was real and shrugged it off. I really didn't take it seriously because I went back to bed!! An hour or so later I got up and felt the same little gush and let's just say I saw things that made me start to wonder. I called Dr. Sehgal's office and spoke to Joyce. I had just been in the office yesterday for a checkup with zero progress- I had been cleared to go to my cousin Mike's wedding tomorrow. So, needless to say she was surprised to hear me explain what had happened. She suggested I come in and get checked. I called Dan and told him I was starting the trek to Newton, but not to worry because I was sure that I ws overreacting. On the way, I called my mom and Dan's mom and updated them, again stating that it probably was nothing. While driving, I played some Bob Marley and sung to my belly, trying to not think about what could or could not be happening. All the while, I continually had calls from Dan and Mom, checking in on me. When I reached East Stroudsburg, about halfway through the ride, I started to have some mild contractions. I told Dan and my mom, who both decided to leave work even though I said it wasn't necessary. I really thought I was making myself feel them!! Somehow, they never became too strong and I was able to drive myself the hour and a half to the doctor's office in what apparently was the start of my labor-- never really knowing-- and all the while singing and talking to my belly!!

When getting to the doctor's office, she could not determine if my water had broke or not and decided I should head to the hospital for further testing. She did say she expected that I would probably be staying there and she'd see me later to deliver my baby!! My mom was there to take me to the hospital, where I was admitted and it was determined my water had broken! It was a slow leak apparently. I realized how lucky I was that I called the doctor's office when I did.

Dan arrived and we all began to anticipate the baby coming. I experienced mild contractions very far apart, and we spent lots of time just walking the halls of the unit. I was not prepared for how long the process would be, I guess you never really understand it until you are there doing it. While I could go into the details, I won't- rather I will save these for whatever birth story I will write privately. The important details for Maddie to know are that I had Bob Marley playing in my ear (from Aunt Nikki's ipod- since this is what I listened to and sung her my whole pregnancy), looked at a picture of a hammock on a beach to "relax" and that her mommy had driven herself to the doctor/hospital!!!