Catch-up: My First Born

I was scheduled to be induced Monday morning on April 8th. Being induced sounded like the absolute worst thing, so several days before hand I was trying everything I could think of to get this kid out of my belly including lunges, jumping, squats, spicy foods and more.  I was having contractions but nothing seemed to be working.  I was bummed, but I was determined to get him out before I had to be induced.  On the night of April 6th, I went over to a friends house to have a girl's night where we watched Pitch Perfect and ate pizza.  My girlfriends and I decided to play a prank on Jimmy and so we called him to tell him that my water broke and I was being rushed to the hospital.  He didn't buy it. It was still fun.
I was so uncomfortable that night, but the movie was so funny that I didn't notice the contractions too much.  I have concluded that my body decided it wanted to laugh that baby right out of me.
When I got home and was trying to go to sleep, my contractions were coming a lot closer together. It was confusing because two contractions were 4 minutes apart, but then I wouldn't get another one for 20 minutes or so.  I eventually fell asleep.  I got a fantastic nights rest (for a pregnant lady) and didn't wake up until 9 am on Sunday, April 7th. When I woke up, I was disappointed because I was sure that I had been in  labor the night before and that I wouldn't have to be induced.  But that morning I didn't feel any type of contractions.  On the bright side, my energy levels were great.  Jimmy and I were lounging around the house for a while since this Sunday was General Conference weekend and so we didn't have to be at the church building.
Suddenly, my water broke.  Everyone describes it as a "gush" of water. But let me tell you, that is not always the case. Depending on wear the sac breaks, there might be a lot of amniotic fluid or just a little.  In my case, it was just a little.  I told Jimmy what had happened, and he didn't believe me.  Probably because I had pranked him the night before.  I finally decided he was right since I wasn't experiencing any strong contractions.  About 30 minutes later, I called my Mom to tell her what had happened.  I don't know how Moms do it, but somehow they always know what's going on before you even have to say anything.  She answered the phone, "are you in labor?" I told her that I didn't  think so but that I feel like I keep accidentally peeing in my pants.  "I think your water has broken, and you need to call the doctor right now.  Call me back afterwards."  I hung up, called the doctor and he said that I should come in just as a precaution, but that he doesn't think I am in labor.
At this point, I was still not having contractions so Jimmy and I were taking our time to go to the hospital. I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and was enjoying that since a good friend told me that they don't let you eat anything when you are in labor so "eat before you get there!". Finally we made it out of the house around 11am. We had only packed the suitcase for myself and the new baby, we didn't even have Jimmy's stuff in it because Jimmy was convinced that we were going to be sent home.
On the drive there, I started feeling regular contractions again and I had a feeling that this was it.  Oh my goodness, this is happening! We decided to say a little prayer on the way there that everything would be OK.  Jimmy still didn't believe that this was the real deal.
The wonderful nurse tested me to see if this was really it.  She came back with the results and I was admitted immediately.  Then, the real labor hit me.  My contractions weren't as regular as movies make them out to be.  They didn't come consistently every 5 minutes, then 4 minutes, then 3 and so forth.  I would have a contraction, then 5 minutes later have a contraction, then 45 seconds later have another one.  It was the most difficult, all-consuming type of pain that I have ever felt.  Jimmy was there the whole time and really did help me as I was trying to work through each contraction.
My goal going into the labor was that I wouldn't get an epidural until I absolutely needed it.  So, when I got to that point I told the nurse.  She then called the anesthesiologist, but since this was Sunday it was an hour later that he actually arrived.  That hour was probably Jimmy's worst hour of his life.
Within seconds, the epidural kicked in. The euphoria that followed was welcomed by myself and Jimmy.  I couldn't stop smiling after that. This was when Jimmy was able to finally relax also.
About one hour later, my Mom and Sister arrived from Tucson.  I had called them to let them know that I was being admitted, but to not rush because labors can take a long time.  They hadn't rushed, but within 20 minutes of them getting there, the nurse announced that I was 10 cm dilated and can push when I felt ready.  Perfect timing.  
For the first time during the labor, I was scared.  The nurses got me ready to push, they explained what to do and I went for it. I gave it all my might and was sure that the baby had to have come out with all of my pushing effort.  Since I was numb from the waist down, I had no idea what was going on.  Baby hadn't even crowned yet, and I was thinking that this was the best ab/core exercise class that I have ever taken in my life.  I kept pushing and pushing, and then suddenly got sick again and had to throw up.  What a pitiful sight:  an enormously exhausted lady trying to push a baby out, then throwing up while her husband is stroking her sweaty forehead.  
I asked my favorite nurse, "how much longer do you think that I will have to push?'  She replied, "well the doctor waits to come in right before baby comes out, and he is suiting up right now."  I suddenly was re-motivated and knew that I could get this kid out.
I pushed with all my might until the doctor suddenly told me to stop pushing.  The baby's cord was wrapped around his neck.  Jimmy said that he has never seen someone's hands move that fast while the doctor unwrapped the cord. He clamped, unwrapped, and got our baby out as fast as possible.  The plan was to set my baby on my belly as they cleaned him up.  But then the doctor told the nurses to take the baby over to the counter.  I heard a little peep from our little guy, but then the worry set in.
A rush of feelings suddenly came over me.  Feelings of joy, relief, accomplishment, gratitude, and the most predominate: worry.  The worry of a mother.  The worry that will now probably never leave me for the rest of my life and beyond.  A sudden and immediate worry for the well-being and safety of someone else; a complete straner.  My worry grew with every passing minute that I watched our nurses test this human being that I had never met, but who was mine. I heard him cry. I watched Jimmy tear up. I saw the nurses confirm that he was fine. Healthy. Our healthy little boy.
Then they gave him to Jimmy who then brought him to me.  That first moment when I held my little baby boy was magical.  I couldn't believe it.  He stared at me, and I stared back.  Big eyes, furrowed brow, long fingers and toes; he was absolutely perfect.  How thankful we are to our Heavenly Father who gave us this remarkable experience, opportunity and responsibility. We love our 7 lb 14 oz, 21 in happy, healthy James Tyler Buchanan.