The day of days

4:45am wake up – this was really a 2am wakeup. 3 hours sleep down for what will be one of the most intense days of our lives. Good thing I got my McDonalds Ice T (unsweetened) and a delicious dinner last night, compliments of Mrs. Cheryl Kennedy.
5:03am – Ashley finished showering. The dog knows something is going on. Usually the travel bags are a dead giveaway but the house awake during Luxy sleeping time cued the interest level.
5:45am- Bags packed, off to the hospital.
6:07am- Arrive at hospital. Ashley complaining of gas pains all morning. We don’t know if the pain is last night’s beef slider’s sliding out her butt or the baby saying hello.
6:35am- Finished checking in, signing consents- off to room #10.
6:37am- Room #10 is roomy, about 360 square feet w/ a living room (couch and 3 chairs). Walls- institutional colors. If the drugs don’t make you crazy, the color selections will.
6:38am- Met Nurse Sarah. She is our co-pilot for the day. After a quick examination and some more affirmation about what is going to happen throughout the day, we set up the IV.
7:00am- Diagnostics have been established. Baby heartbeat, Ashley blood pressure, et al.
7:30am – Nurse Sarah mentions that she has been pretty regular w/ contractions. Today would have been the day regardless. Evidently the crap pains that she has been having turned out to be contractions. Who knew?
7:35am- Drugs administered to increase contractions.
7:55am- Ashley is worried she might crap the bed. We make a run to the bathroom to be safe. Couple farts and pees later, we are back in the bed.
8:30am- Doc come by- breaks water (took 2 seconds) and gave Ashley the towel diaper.
8:31am- Doc leaves. Damn- she is quick.
8:45am- Cavalry arrives. Kim and Ashley's Mom. Now we have a real support team.
8:50am- Anesthesiologist arrives...Time for the good drugs and time to say goodbye to the pain. We get the boot. Back in 20.
9:15am- We wait an extra 5 minutes. Images of walking into the room where the Doc is probing my wife w/ a sword scares the crap out of me.
9:17am- Back in the room. Evidently it took 2 pokes. Ashley was not happy about this. She has the spine of a finely tuned athlete so says the doc. I wish I was in the room to hear this comment. Toes are tingling. Spirits still high. Now the waiting game begins.
9:29am- I check the spreadsheet. the Peaks and valleys are occurring in closer intervals. Hmmmm.
9:45am- In goes the catheter! No more pee pee for Ashley
9:49am- Cervix check- almost 6 centimeters. Active Labor is upon us.
10:15am- On the menu for today, Ice Chips. Crumbled Ice Chips. Served ala cart in a styrofoam cup.
10:17am- TV turned on. The View...Is a view of my personal hell. I don't know what's worse, watching this or seeing my wife cry.
10:30am- According to Dave's watch, contractions are about 3 minutes apart and lasting about 20-30 seconds. Recalling those precious moments in birthing class, this needs to hit 2-3 minutes and last 60-90 seconds. Yep, I took notes. Taking nominations for birthing partner of the year. Me and my ice chips.
10:45am- I am completely amazed w/ this contraction machine. I am even more fascinated w/ the fact that Ashley has no clue what her body is doing. She could probably come up w/ some interesting dance moves, ala bologna ankles.
10:59am- New visitor. A different nurse. "I am here to assemble the delivery table". I was expecting to see her roll out an arsenal. Pretty simple presentation though- lots of towels and gauze.
11:04am- HOLY COW! 10 CENTIMETERS! GAME ON! Time to call the doc.