At my last doctor appointment on the 6th I was still only 1 cm dilated, so I figured labor wasn't happening any time soon.

I went to bed as usual on the 10th. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened all day. At 4am on the 11th I woke up to tummy cramps. Thinking maybe I needed to go to the bathroom, I got up to go. I went back to bed and had another cramp. Then it slowly occurred to me that these were menstrual type cramps, low in the tummy, where all those false contractions I'd been having were always up high.

So I excitedly thought maybe I'm finally starting labor and was going to try to sleep between contractions for a bit. But after the next one Rosa rolled over and started wining, so I just got up because I really didn't want to deal with her. So I told Lee I needed to go to the bathroom so he'd deal with her.

There's a clock in the bathroom, and I noticed the contractions were coming every 2 minutes. They were just like bad cramps for a while, then started getting a bit painful. I went downstairs to walk around more.

I'd have to breath though then for a count of 12, then in 2 minutes another one would come. I thought this was nuts! How do they start at 2 minutes apart!!??!! With all my others they'd be 20 to 15 minutes apart, then 10, then 7, and so on. This every 2 minutes stuff was for the birds!

By 5a.m. I was having to breathe and count past 40 through each one. I was getting a bit worn. I "knew" I still had a looooong way to go because I'd only been 1cm dilated and had only been in labor for an hour.

At 6am I woke up Lee because I was getting hot flashes, moaning through the contractions, and having the runs. I told him it was time, and to find someone to watch the kids, and to call the hospital and tell them we were coming in soon.

I was thinking I might break down and get an epidural, because I couldn't take another 5+ hours of this every 2 minutes stuff!

While he was on the phone with the hospital I started throwing-up in the sink. They told him to come in right away. Now, I know throwing up is a sign of transition (going from 6/7cm to being done), but I didn't think I was, because it'd only been 2 hours since the first contraction!!

We got to the hospital sometime around 6:15 or so. I promptly started throwing up in admitting, so she just had someone come down and get us without doing any paperwork.

We got to the room, and the nurse really wanted to check me right away. I was dreading it, because I "knew" I wouldn't be too far along, and would probably start crying for an epidural. So after a couple more contractions (still every 2 minutes apart, like clockwork!!) I hopped into the bed. She proclaimed me a good 8, almost 9.

I about kissed her! I asked if she was sure, so she had the other nurse check, and she agreed.

At this news I perked right up, stood back up and started pacing the floor during contractions while they got the room ready and called my doctor.

The nurses were great and just let me be. One asked if they could listen to baby's heartbeat for a bit, so between contractions I let her. She wanted to during a contraction, but I wouldn't hold still.

Soon I started feeling pushing, and started wining where's the doctor? The nurses said don't worry, she's on the way, and they'd deliver baby if the need be.

That's what I needed to hear, I guess, because I hopped on the bed and started pushing a bit during the next contraction. Then I did nothing but push for the next contraction. Doctor showed up at this time, just as the head was crowning.

Her head was out, and the waters that followed were full of meconium. Dr told me that we needed her out NOW, so with a great push on my part Orianna Simone was born at 6:47, 2 hours and 47 minutes after my first contraction!

I looked down as dr pulled her up and I was the one to pronounce "it's a girl!!"

Doctor suctioned out her mouth and nose, and she laid baby on me while they rubbed her vigorously to try to get her to cry. She fussed a bit, then started choking a bit, so they kept rubbing and suctioning. Soon she was doing ok.

Doctor said if she'd cry real good she'd clear her lungs, but she wouldn't! (and still doesn't!) cry. She had a bit of trouble holding her temp, so they put her under the warmer for a bit. Soon she was doing fine, and after a bit they let me nurse her.

Her official weight was 9 pounds 14 ounces. If she hadn't pooped in the womb or peed on me right afterwards, she probably would have been 10 pounds! She was 22 1/2 inches long.

She is the least hairy of all our babies. Just small wisps of blond hair.

She's been a great baby, and nursing is going well. We got home the afternoon of the 12th. I still can't believe how fast it all went!