Hospitals have amazing ice...

And our story continues... It was a lot easier to write with out constantly having a baby on my arm... So I apologize for the delay in postings.

My mom and I drove home from the doctor's office, which only happens to be a couple blocks from our house. She gave me permission to run home and grab a few things to make my situation a little more comfortable, and maybe some stuff to keep me entertained. Doc said it could possibly be a very long night.

We didn't say much on the drive home... Just ran over what we needed to grab. I remember repeating - "I'm having a baby. Tonight. In the morning. Sometime in the next 24 hours, I'm going to be a mommy and the baby is going to be in my arms and not in my belly causing me so much pain!"

My mom was nervous... I could tell. She kept looking at me and raising her eyebrows with that closed mouthed smile that gave her away. She only has that look when she's nervous, worried, or anxious.

It wasn't too scary.... For me anyway. As I made my phone calls and sent text messages, I was calm. I was freaking out on the inside. I wanted to explode. My emotions on the outside didn't even begin to match what was happening on the inside. I was all smiles and sunshine on the outside... Every person I talked to mentioned how calm I was...

"You're cool as a cucumber"
"You sound so calm... Like a summer's breeze."
"Aren't you freaking out? You don't sound nervous at all!"

My response to each comment? "I'm totally freaking out. I can't believe she's going to be here today! But I think I expected it to happen this weekend... And the calmer I am, the smoother things will go..."

My mom went upstairs to grab the things she needed and the dogs were barking like crazy. I felt bad that we had to leave them behind and I didn't get to spend time with them before we had to go... She would be staying with me as much as possible, so she grabbed pillows and blankets and some snacks... Things to keep her occupied. I already had most of my things packed, so I went over my list of what I needed to get... And the funny thing was, I didn't have some of the items I needed... Because I was planning on getting them after my doctor's appointment... Ha ha.

Books, movies, pillows, 5 pairs of pj pants, my iBook, my awesome "Kermit" slippers, socks, and a million different unnecessary items later, I threw everything in the back of the car. My phone was going crazy! I tried answering as much as possible and responding to everyone that I could...

My best friend in Oregon wanted to be there so badly, and she was the one person I couldn't get a hold of! I had, no joke, been talking to her the night before about how she was waiting by her phone like a nervous father for me to call and tell her it was time. She even thought about packing a bag in advance so she could hurry to the airport and try to make it before my baby was born. And here I was, going into the hospital. The doctor did say it was going to be a long night, but you never knew with pregnancy. Oregon was only a two hour plane ride away, and I still had to find her and see if she could even make it in the first place. I tried calling her, her fiancee, and her mom. No one answered.

And then my phone rang. Thank God! Or your chosen religious figure... It was her fiancee!

"HEY!"
"Hey Amanda, what's up?" MaClain said, oh so casually.
"Where the hell is your fiancee?" I'm guessing he could tell by the sound of my voice that something was up. I was breathless, still running around and making sure I had everything I needed... With whatever liquid soaking through the pad I was wearing and my pants. I know... Super hot, right?
"Haha, why? Are you in labor?"
"Yes."
"Oh... wow... Uh... Not funny." He stopped laughing at once. "She's at work, I'll call her and we'll figure out how to get her there."
"Okay, awesome. Thank you so much!"

I hung up the phone and did one last check... I had sent text messages and called everyone that I could think of. The car was loaded with all kinds of fun things to keep me comfortable and occupied while I was in the hospital... And I was doing the best I could to keep everyone in the loop when they called or texted me.

I went down to the car and climbed in the passenger seat the best I could with my camera in hand. My mom finally finished everything she needed to do and we were on our way.

I decided to be overly cheesy, and had apparently seen way to many episodes of "A Baby Story" and decided that I needed to video everything. So, once I get my damn camera to work and upload videos like I want, I'll let that tell the rest of the story of our journey into the hospital... Just be patient.

"She'll be here by tomorrow morning..."

I sat in Dr. Smith's office, naked from the waist down with a sheet wrapped around the lower half of my body, just like the last few appointments I have had with her.  This was week 38.  Two more appointments until my due date... But I was so ready to be done.  I had never been in that much pain since before I could remember, and I just wanted it to be over with.  I wanted this little person, half me and half someone I once cared about, out of my belly and in my arms.  I had never felt so ready in all my life.

My mom walked into the exam room, still in her scrubs from work.  She had been running late and came as soon as she could... It's been so nice to have her there for support, even though we don't get along all the time.  She's insisted on being there as much as she could be so that I wouldn't have to go through any little bit of it alone, because the father wasn't really around....

She had phone calls to make, so she just sat in her chair, dialed the numbers and returned phone calls from that day.  I sat on the table, swinging my swollen legs the best I could and tried to entertain myself while I waited for the doctor to come in....

My mind wandered to different things from earlier in the week... My two best friends live in two different states, and for some reason, each one felt the need to start planning what to do if I were to go into labor...  How to get a hold of them, back up plans, who to talk to first... Should they pack a bag now?  What would they need?

The conversations started out serious, and then got along the silly side...  

Wednesday:

"I have a good feeling about this weekend."

"Really?  Why's that"

"I think this would be a good weekend to have a baby!  Next weekend is not only Valentine's Day, but it's also Friday the 13th... And the weekend after that is my birthday.  I like the idea of having her this weekend..."

"I wish it was easier to predict when she would be here... I have a hard time not being able to really plan ahead the way I want to.  Maybe if I pack my bags now, she'll get the hint and decide to come now..."

Thursday:

"I'm feeling weird today... Lots of cramping.  Not to alarm anyone, I'm sure it's nothing.  I'm going to see if it will go away, and talk to the doctor about it... But I'm sure it's nothing."

"I can't go into labor tonight!  The super awesome Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice crossover episode is on and I don't want to miss it!"

And then I was sitting on the exam table, half naked.  Wondering when my little bundle of joy would decide it was time to come into the world... thinking about the conversations that I had the previous day and that particular day... And I thought about how cute the dogs were, because they wouldn't leave me alone.  They slept as close to me as possible, followed me around the house, and even guarded the bathroom door whenever I was inside, which wasn't normal... But I loved that they cuddled me that way, and gladly took advantage of the snuggle time.

I had made a list Thursday, of things I needed to get before I went into the hospital, and what I wanted to get done.... I wanted to paint Winnie the Pooh on the wall, and have the nursery totally set up.  I needed to get nursing bras...  (which I just got the other day at Target... super cheap, super comfy...)  I wanted to get games and candies... Blah blah blah

And in this thought process, I felt an intense cramp... One so bad, my mom asked if I was okay.  One that crippled me... I couldn't speak, and just focused on my breathing.  Thirty seconds later, it was gone.

But... I peered underneath the sheet covering my naughty parts.  My belly was in the way and I couldn't get a good look.  I looked up at my mom, who was still on the phone.  She looked up at me, turned her head to the side and raised an eyebrow.

I lifted the sheet up again, and turned back to her, with my thinking face on.  Then I scooted back and felt it... and raised my eyebrows when I looked back at her.  She had gotten off the phone by now and gave me a confused look.

"It's a little wet down there, and I'm pretty sure I didn't pee."

"Um... What?"

"Mom... It could just be a lot of discharge.  That's normal, right?"

She got up and looked under the sheet with me...

"Sweetie, scoot back a little more...."

I scooted my butt back a couple scoots, and more liquid came out...

"Will you grab me something to put underneath here and let the nurse know?  I think my water broke..."

She ran into the hallway and talked to Lou, the main nurse that works with my doctor.  I could hear her laughing...  "oh that's just too funny..."  I heard her say, as she walked in to see what was going on.

She stuck a little paper strip in the liquid, explaining that it would change colors if it was my amniotic fluid leaking... The strip stayed the same color....

"Hmmm...  "  She put a chuck underneath me and helped me get comfortable.  "We'll see what Dr. Smith says.  She'll be in soon."

I kept making up stories, obviously in denial.  Maybe it was this, maybe it was that...  My mom and I both knew what was going on.

Dr. Smith came in, with a smile on her face like always.  I didn't listen to much of what she said... She examined my special place, the usual business, and then she spoke again.  The only words I really heard were, "hospital, pitossin, reduce the risk of infection, baby by tomorrow morning."

"Uh... Okay.  That sounds good."

"Alright!  Well, run home and don't take too long.  I'll call the hospital and let them know that you'll be there soon."  With another smile, Dr. Smith walked out the door.

I changed back into my normal clothes, quietly.

"You're going to have a baby!"  My mom said, estatic.

I finally realized what was going on, and I started to shake a little bit.  I took a deep breath...

"It's about time!  I'm so excited!"  I sounded as cool as a summer breeze.

My water was leaking, and to reduce infection, they were admitting me into the hospital to induce me and make things move faster.  My little girl would be in my arms by tomorrow morning...  

Just keep breathing... Just keep breathing... Just keep breathing...

38 weeks... Just KIDDING!

So... I had my baby!

I don't have a lot of time to write right now, but I wanted to let people know that she's finally here!

Tegan Kaidence Dawn Smith... Born February 6, 2009 at 4:21am at American Fork Hospital.  6 lbs 11 ounces and 19 inches long!

I'll write when I get more time... But the whole thing was amazing!  You'll just have to settle with pictures for now...

Good luck and congrats to my prenatal class friends!  Please keep me updated when you have time.