The night of August 10th,1997, wasn't just a regular night in my little one bedroom condo. I knew that this was it, and I was trying to prepare myself for giving birth the next day. I took a shower to relax, and when I got out I tried to sleep. I knew I would need my energy for the following day. The contractions were already happening, but they were so light that they didn't bother me much. During the night they became increasingly stronger, radiating towards my back. I knew I was still a ways off so I made myself stay in bed. They kept waking me up, and finally around 7:30 a.m., I got up again & got into the bathtub. I got out and drove myself to my mother's house. It was around 8:30 when I got there. She was just getting out of the shower and Kaely & Ashley, my two nieces had just woken up. I told her I was in labor and wanted to go for a walk around the block. We fed the girls and I called Deane at work to let him know she was probably going to make an apearance that day. We went for the walk and timed the contractions during it. They were 3 to 31/2 minutes apart. I can just imagine what we looked like on that walk. We were carrying a battery powered alarm clock,(since niether of us had a watch), and a pencil & an old envelope to write on. Plus we were pushing a stroller with 2 toddlers in it. Every few feet I would stop & say Ok,Ok, then we would time it, and then resume the walk. It took us a good hour & a half to walk around that block. When we finally got back to my mom's house, I called the home-health-aide service that I had hired to take care of Destiny' grandmother while I was out. They said they couldn't get over there until 12 or so that day, and I said never mind, I didn't want her in bed that long, I would do it myself. The woman on the other end of the line couldn't believe it. We got someone to watch the girls & I drove to Marian's house to get her up. Never have I seen this woman move so fast!! She couldn't believe I was there. I was still having contractions about 3 minutes apart. I called the Dr. and when I was finished with her, I drove myself & my mom(I wouldn't let her drive)to the Dr's office. I was pacing & barefooted & when I told them I had to go to the bathroom NOW, they asked me to stay in the back. I must've frightened the women in the waiting room! LOL I was dialated at 4cm. & they told me I could go ahead & go next door to the hospital & check-in. They kept me on the monitor for about 1/2 hour then let me walk around. I got into a "friendly" argument with a nurse who kept trying to get me to wear socks. When I was at about 5cm they gave me some pain medicine, because I was no longer laughing, I was starting to become hateful. ( I yelled at my mom for changing the channel on the t.v. during a contraction) I got back into bed. When I was around 6 I started freaking out. I jumped from 6 to 8 in about 20 minutes. I begged for medicine, but they told me they couldn't give me any. It was to soon. Deane dropped by when I was around 9cm. He brought me some Daises, my favorite, and left after a few minutes. My mom had left the room, too. The nurses told her that she didn't need the abuse I was giving her. I kept screaming at everyone, cussing at everyone. I was so scared! I started pushing around 9cm even though they told me not to. I had to, it helped the pain. I finally reached 10 & my water was still intact. I pushed anyway. Dr. Hate' got there and broke it for me. I pushed for about a 1/2 hour. Her beautiful head finally came out & I was so worked up I started screaming asking why wasn't she breathing., even though I knew she wouldn't breathe until her lungs were born. I had an episiotomy, and the Dr. told me just to push as hard as I could with my next contraction. Her shoulders & then her body came out. It was such a relief! It was 3:34 pm, August 11th, 1997. They got a towel & put her on my chest. I started crying telling everyone how sorry I was. I rubbed her & kissed her. My mom cut the cord. They cleaned her up, then gave her back so I could nurse her. Mom help her some then they took her to the nursery. She was so beautiful. I'll never forget the moment I first held her for as long as I live. I love her more than anything!
