Then
NowToday is a very special day. One year ago this morning, I started having what I thought were abnormal pains in my abdomen. I woke up Justin around 7:30am to tell him something was wrong. He quickly called the doctor and he said they were probably contractions and to get to the hospital. I was very confused because they didn't feel like the contractions I had been having before. But we did as we were told. We packed up Jade with her cereal and juice box and jumped in the car. At this point I was sure they in fact were contractions as they had gotten very intense in a very short amount of time. We got on the highway and discovered traffic had slowed tremendously due to the morning rush hour. By this time I was in so much pain I couldn't stop screaming. Meanwhile, Jade sat patiently in the back, munching on her Rice Krispies, giving me the occasional, "It's okay, Mom." We didn't know what to do. I was sure my water was going to break at any minute and I started having the urge to push. We decided to wave down the police officers driving next to us in hopes they could escort us to speed things up. (Unfortunately, they are no longer able to do that). Justin called out my window to them trying to explain that we needed to get to the hospital soon! Due to the road noise, they couldn't understand what he was saying. I was so irritated, I leaned out my window and shouted, "I'm in labor, Goddamn it!!" They definitely heard that. They immediately turned on the sirens, pulled us over, and called for an ambulance. It was there in less than five minutes. The EMTs put me in and Justin and Jade followed behind us. I don't remember much about the ride except how much pain I was in and begging the EMTs to give me something to help, which of course, they couldn't. Aunt Kathy met us at the hospital. When the ambulance arrived, she was sure it wasn't me because she didn't think I could scream that loud. She was wrong! They wheeled me into the delivery room and my water broke. Everything moved so quickly. I couldn't understand there were so many people and why Justin wasn't with me. Then I saw him, followed by Jade and Kathy. Erica Rose was born eleven minutes after we arrived. I had to be delivered by a doctor from the women's clinic next door because no one else made it in time. The first thing I thought when I saw her was man, she has a big nose! It took a good ten minutes before I could hold her because I was so exhausted. It was quite a ride; one I will never forget. And she is beautiful...and her nose is perfect! I was disappointed so few people were able to make the delivery, but what a story!
