Two years ago today, our son was born. Two whole years ago!

It was a Sunday. He came 14 days earlier than anticipated. I was not quite prepared for it. On Saturday, I went shopping with a friend for 4 whopping hours, walking around the local mall. The pregnancy had been a real breeze. I had worked that whole week prior, and was going to work the following Monday as well. However, there were other plans, absolutely wonderful plans awaiting us.

I went to bed Saturday night as usual. Had heartburns and took my Tums as usual. At approximately 4 a.m. I woke up to a warm gush down in my nether region. I had absolutely no prior warning whatsoever. I went to the bathroom thinking I had wet myself due to the lack of bladder control I’ve had during the last two trimesters. I nearly shrieked when I saw a trail of pinkish liquid in the bowl, but only in my head. Somehow I was quite calm and collected. I pulled my pants up and went to get hubby to come look. I remember telling him “today is the day.” In the birthing classes, we were told that the baby has to be born within 24 hours of the water breaking.

That reality set in and now we’re frantic. I called the OB line and was told to go to the hospital — she didn’t say how soon. We get dressed and rushed to the hospital, only remembering to bring a few things and forgetting the camera at home! When we arrived at the E.R. we were told to wait, and wait, and wait. I was about to scream. Finally I was brought up to Delivery Wing. The nurse settled me into a small room (the kind that has curtains as doors) and said there aren’t any doctors available at this moment, and it’s near shift change. She didn’t hook me up to anything, in fact, she blatantly told me she did not believe my water had been broken “because this is my first time and I probably don’t know Broken Water from Pee, but we had to wait for the doctors to confirm that, and they’d probably have to run some tests on what exactly the liquid is.” But giving me the benefit of the doubt, she let me have a “room.” I was still gushing liquid, and getting very uncomfortable. Eventually she came and gave me Heavy Duty pads and hooked me and my belly up to some monitor thing, after I walked up and down the hallway giving them nurses extremely dirty looks. 3.5 hours after we arrived at the hospital, a doctor finally came to see me. He took one peek at my bottom and said “yup, her water is broken. Admit her for a real room” and walked away.

I moaned, groaned, winced, and cursed. I was in mild pain and NOT happy about all that waiting.

But I finally got moved into a Delivery Room. By the time this all happened, it was nearly 9 a.m. I tried to call my parents but they had already went out! Hubby sped home to get the camera, my pillow and had some breakfast while I groaned and moaned some more. He even managed to call the in-laws overseas.

Noon comes around, nothing is happening, not in the birthing progression sense. I was so starved at this point I could eat a whole cow. But alas, a woman in labor is not allowed to have any solid foods just in case she might need a c-section. Shortly after noon, these massive sharp pains started and lasted at least 90 minutes. Hubby tried all kinds of rubbing and messaging on me but I did not feel any relief. It got worse and worse! After trying to tough it out, I begged for an epidural NOW. The anesthesiologist took his sweet time to show up, but when he started those drugs, boy did it feel so much better.

I had dilated very little in the next 3 or 4 hours. It was disappointing, and did I mention I was starving? By 5 p.m. I was still not near 10 cm yet. They put some drugs to make it go faster. Finally I was told to push, and push I did for the next 2 hours. Finally I heard a cry. It was a boy! And then I heard myself cry. But I must admit, I was a little taken back by the strange skin coloration. I know - I probably would look much much worse if I just emerge from a pool after being in it for 9 months - but none of the birthing videos we saw showed that color. Of course, he was the most beautiful baby I’ve ever saw, cone headed and all.

What happened next remains a big blur to me. I was so exhausted and hungry, but I finally got to eat something solid after 23 hours of not having had any real food.

The past two years have proven to be the best years of our lives thus far. He has grown so so much and has brought us more joy than we could have ever imagined. Happy 2nd Birthday Dear Son! We love you more than you know.