Where it gets good

As Randy sped down the highway getting us to the hospital the way you would picture any nervous first time dad, I continued to time my contractions and remind him that we were going to be fine and that he could slow down. When he dropped me off at the ER, I saw the time on my phone was 12:02, I had talked to Dr. Roxy at 11:21. So, I timed the 12:02AM contraction and thought I was just having them a little closer together since I hadn't been laying down for awhile.

When we got up to the Maternal Assessment area, it was 12:12. I timed that contraction while Randy got us signed in. I got wheeled into a room to be examined and was asked numerous questions to which I answered opposite of what you would think I would--since I was dialated and so far into labor unbeknownst to me. The nurse said they would run a fibronectin (sp?) test to determine if I would deliver in the next 2 weeks. (that test takes the lab 1hr to process) After that was supposed to be a cervical exam. While the nurse was checking me, it was taking a lot longer than I was used to but, I still wasn't concerned. I thought she was new....she then said she was going to get someone else to give a second opinion. Still, not alarmed at this point. The next nurse came in and checked me.

At this point they said they were concerned because they couldn't find my cervix and they both felt my "bag of waters" or amniotic sac for Baby A. And, the second nurse said she felt a kick from Baby A. (At first both nurses said to call our people that we were meeting our babies soon...) At this point the reality started to set in. We called my brother since they live here and could get to the hospital soon. (We didn't bring cameras, that I had charged and ready at home...and remember that bag women are supposed to pack? Well, I looked at mine as we left and said "I'll take you next time because this time we are going to be fine".)

Then we called my mom. While on the phone with my mom, the nurses came in and said "new plan. we are going to try to get you another 48hrs so we can get you steroid shots for the babies lungs and magnesium sulfate to slow/stop contrations". We told my mom to go back to sleep and come to MSP first thing in the morning. (She drove from Wahpeton, ND in the middle of the night "just in case".) After we hung up with her, Dr. Roxy came in herself to check me. She did one quick check and said the babies were coming now. WHAT????? We both panicked and I cried for the first time realizing the magnitude of the situation STILL not accepting that I was in labor since the pain wasn't anywhere near bad. I was fully expecting pain and horror like the TV shows. ;)

The word "now" turned into a foreign language. We both were asking "when is now?" "like now, now?" "how soon is YOUR now?" etc.