Apparently I had to be admitted by my doctor before I could start any type of prep to have the baby- unless of course that included HAVING the baby- because I'm sure at that point they would have let me into a room. My doctor was in a surgery and they couldn't get a hold of her- so I had to wait. I guess both OB floor anesthesiologists were also in surgeries and weren't free to give any epidurals. Why would ALL of the floor's anesthesiologists be busy?!? people go to the ob wing to have babies and GET the proper DRUGS to do it. I begged her to get an anesthesiologist from another floor. She said she'd check. They checked me then and I was at a nine- totally effaced.
I did convince the nurse to put me in a room and start my IV and actually begged her to call another OB to admit me. She said she couldn't call but she'd start my IV. At this point I was near death- really.
Did you ever wonder why they compare all pain to having a baby? It's because having a baby is the WORST. I don't care what anybody says. Some people may forget about the pain so it doesn't seem so bad- but I am not one of those people. and I didn't even push out the baby sans epidural!!!
I have NEVER been so miserable in my life. I cried NO tears. With pain that bad- tears don't help. I didn't scream or yell. I just hunched over and squeezed Kent's hands as hard as possible. My contractions were every minute. Between every contraction I would ask the nurse if she'd gotten a hold of my doctor or the anesthesiologist. She was starting to get really bugged. I finally asked her if she thought I'd actually get one and she said no. I almost gave up. It had to have been the most devastating moment of my life. I'm not joking. WHO GOES THROUGH THIS ON PURPOSE?!?
After just a few contractions I told the nurse that I felt like I needed to push. She told me I had progressed too far and was going to have the baby. She told me if I needed to push on the next contraction that I needed to tell her and they'd get a doctor. I totally lied to her. Through the next two contractions I said I didn't need to at all. I know that if you get too far then they won't even give you an epidural- so I lied.
Suddenly- out of the blue- in walked an anesthesiologist from another floor. My doctor had finally called back and admitted me and they'd found some random hospital anesthesiologist. It was the most wonderful moment of my life. I think just seeing him helped my pain subside. The nurse asked if I felt heavy pressure or like I needed to push- I totally lied again. Within five minutes I was the HAPPIEST GIRL in the world. It was AMAZING. They checked me after the epidural and I was totally ready to have the baby. The nurse was super irritated and told me I should have just had the baby. Even if the drugs took away just ONE extra contraction- it was so worth it. Who has babies drug free on purpose?!?!
My doctor finally arrived at this point and said she was going to give me some time to relax and that she'd return. When she came back- I pushed three or four times and out popped Ike. WOW. It was soooooooo easy compared to pushing two and a half hours with zeb!!! It was actually fun this time. The only thing that even remotely hurt was my root canal tooth.

When just the head had popped out- kent laughed and said it had better be a boy because it's head looked just like Zeb. It was so exciting not knowing what we were having!

The placenta came out next! This time it was really bloody. Apparently my uterus stopped contracting and they had to give me some methergine to constrict my blood vessels because I was gushing blood. I guess it's very common with red heads?!

Here I am after delivery. I was so happy. Here's Kent- the happiest dad in the world.









Just after we were wheeled into our hospital room my parents' flight landed in Detroit! Kent went and picked up Zeb from the neighbors (thank you sooooooo much Lindsay!) and my parents arrived a few hours later. Having Ike on the third was perfect. I can only hope that all of my kids have odd day birthdays.

All in all it was one of the craziest days of my life. I still get sick to my stomach thinking that I almost had to have a baby without an epidural. Next time I will do things a little differently. First- I will not stay home to teach seminary. Second- I will not arrive at the hospital early in the morning when all of the s-sections are scheduled. Third- I will just start crying and wailing as soon as I arrive at the hospital so that people realize the seriousness of my situation. Fourth- I will take the week early induction date and postpone my root canals in order to avoid the most terrible pain humanly possible.