8:15 pm - "You're probably not quite there yet, but we'll call you 4 cm. We'll go ahead and admit you." Thank goodness! By that point, I was in no condition to do anything else but wait for Baby K (and medication!). A mere 30 minutes later, the nurse asked me how I felt about the epidural that I had made clear that I wanted at some point, and I proudly told her I was ready any time! Having been told many times in life that my tolerance for pain is fairly high, I was only 4 cm but I darn sure I was ready for help getting through these contractions! Once I was certain that my epidural couldn't "run out" and there was not "too much" I could get, I ordered the aenesthesiologish arrive as soon as he was available!

10:15 pm - HEAVEN! I'm in heaven! "Why would anyone NOT do this!" is all I could think. I told the doctor I loved him - it was clearly not the first time he had heard that. The nurses said we should settle in for the night. Michael curled up on his loveseat and I was strapped in to several monitors next to some beeping machine, with everything shifting whenever I rolled to my side---the only way to rest in my exploded state---as we awaited the immenient birth of our first born, and we were supposed "to rest"?!? Michael and I found much comedy in the moment as we attempted to drift off before... POP!

March 12, 2:22 am: "Ha! I know I've never been through this before, babe, but I'm pretty sure my water just broke! If it wasn't already, it's official now that this baby is coming!". It sounded like a balloon bursting and it woke Michael up, too. Obviously I could feel what it was, but the sound, too, was clear as the Colorado sky. Even a first-timer can't mistake that experience! The nurses changed my bedding and said, "try to go back to sleep again, if you can!".

6:00 am: Watson had called in at 4:45 and they explained that I was here to stay. "Okay, we're probably going to have you start pushing within the hour. Watson's having breakfast with his family and will be here soon." "Great!", I thought. "That means Watson can help me and still get to his office for his 9:00 appointment!" But I tried once and failed miserably. I really couldn't feel anything at all.

8:30 am: Before I knew it, it was 8:30 and Watson bounced in grinning from ear to ear like he does. "Hey There! Are you ready to have a baby? Let's do this!". I couldn't help but laugh. Michael and the nurse held my legs as I had to ask Michael to warn me of contractions because my lovely epidural was still in full force. I could actually feel some pressure, so the three of us worked together with each contraction....and I worried about whether Em should be in the room or not. I had left the decision up to her. I made her promise me that nothing she saw would influence her decision on whether or not have children. Dr. Watson interrupted my concern, "You're doing great, Elizabeth! And the baby is acting like a girl!"....meaning??...."the baby's cooperating - really making progress with each push."

I'm glad he said that---though I wasn't sure I believed him---so I persevered. Soon, I could see a head, and the next thing I knew, Watson calmly said, "Reach your hands down, Elizabeth." I did as instructed and unbeknownst to me he handed me a small, wet child....my tiny little baby...our precious baby. I had no idea we were that far along. I shed my first tears as Watson proclaimed, "And you little girl has a penis!".