I'm feeling nostalgic today...perhaps its because my son turns 2 tomorrow...perhaps also because the day after he turns 2 marks 8 years since I've known The Husband.  Yes September is a special month for our clan...I first met The Husband on 12 September 2001 - the day after "9-11" as we know it.  And 6 years later, on 11 September 2007, our son was born.  I can hardly believe 2 years have flown by in the blink of an eye.  2 years ago, at this time, I had just finished a lovely pizza delivery dinner and was getting ready to go to bed!

I can remember the days events vividly, as if it was just yesterday...I woke up on 10 September 2007, all ready to go to work as it was a Monday.  Just as I was using the bathroom, I realised I had started spotting.  This was some 2 weeks earlier than expected...spotting is one of the signs that baby is ready to arrive.  I woke up The Husband and once it was close to 9am, I rang my Gynae.  She told me to have breakfast, have a shower, get dressed and come into the hospital.  When I arrived, I was ushered to a room outside the delivery suites.  The nurses checked my details and hooked me up onto a monitor, much like an ECG except that it monitors contractions.  I had to sit there for an hour to be monitored and towards the end of the hour I was VERY hungry.  I asked the nurses if I could have lunch and they said no, not until my results were interpreted by the doctor.  Of course, I disobeyed and sent The Husband down to get me a tuna croissant from Delifrance - YUM!

My Gynae managed to give me a call and explain that I was getting contractions but they were not very regular.  I asked her if real contractions should hurt and she said yes, absolutely.  I was puzzled because I felt no contractions at all.  I was actually worried that I could go into labour and not feel it!  Spotting means I could give birth today, tomorrow, next week or the week after, so she asked me if I wanted to let labour happen naturally or to induce it.  I was hungry so I said I want it to happen naturally.  Plus I wanted to let nature take its course, so I was allowed to go home.

I went home and started to unpack the steriliser and try to do some last minute preparations...I told The Husband I wanted a hearty pizza dinner so we ordered pizza delivery and I wolfed it down happily.  Later than same night, I started to feel painful contractions at around 2am.  I tried to sleep through them but lying down actually made them hurt more, so I got up and paced around the room to see how frequent they were.  The Husband slept through all this of course and I finally woke him at around 5am as they were around 5 minutes apart.  We waited till 7am and I ate some breakfast bars just in case (as you can see, food was still a priority when in labour).  We arrived at 7.30am or so and the nurses got me into a gown right away and administered my enema.  (it was horrid I can assure you)

I was told that whilst my contractions were regular, I was only 1cm dilated...I was in for a long ride.  After an hour and a half, my Gynae came in to check on me and told me I was only 1.5cm dilated...she said that she would burst my water bag to speed up labour and administer oxytocin to induce stronger contractions.  The pain was still bearable so I told her I would do without the epidural.  But once the oxytocin kicked in, The Husband was constantly rubbing my back to ease the pain and as I was still 1.5cm, I gave in and said, GIVE ME THE EPIDURAL!  The Epidural itself didn't hurt (I don't mind needles) but trying to remain still despite the pain was the hard part.  Once it kicked in though, it was like HEAVEN. 

As i settled down into a comfortable position to rest, The Husband sat down to read and we waited for what every woman in labour waits for...DILATION!  The worst part - I COULDN'T EAT!  The constant shivering that came with the epidural was bearable but I started to feel the gastric juices churning and that was horrid.  Around 5pm or so I told the nurses I felt the urge to push, and I was right, because I was fully dilated.  The pushing is the hard part, cos with an epidural, the full pain and contractions is not felt.  The Husband was the ultimate midwife - he stayed by my side, encouraged me, read the contractions on the screen and updated me on my progress.  I remembered asking for lipgloss at one stage as I wanted to make sure I didn't look horrible in the pictures...At 5.30pm or so, Marc finally made it out!

I recall the whole thing in slow motion...Marc screaming away whilst being weighed and tagged (like a chicken)....the nurse showing me my placenta after it was delivered, me trying to nurse him and managing to successfully...its quite surreal.  I remember being wiped down by the nurses, being wheeled into my room and being greeted by my in laws and sister in law who were waiting eagerly to meet us.  I even remember the sleepless first night in the room...(in fact, the total lack of sleep for the few months after)...whilst I remember being extremely tired then, I also remember the excitement at finally meeting my baby...and now my baby is no longer one and has grown into a drooly, sweaty, loud, cheeky toddler! 

Having a child is one of those life-changing events and it has truly been exhilirating.  What a wonderful 2 years it has been and I look forward to many more exciting years ahead!!!