It's September and Hurricane Isabel had just struck the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Virginia Beach! For some insane reason, we decided to stay and ride the Hurricane out. BIG, BIG mistake! We lost power for almost a week. So, here I am 9 months pregnant with an extra 60 lbs. of weight, hot, and miserable. We did not take this Hurricane seriously and had NO food, just a little bit of water, and did I mention we were HOT! We ventured out to see what we could find to eat and after about an hour of driving around we found a gas station that had no electricity - but was trying to get rid of their frozen food. The guy literally had a pencil and paper and was selling his items. At one point, JD opened a can of ravioli's and ate them cold - at that point, I started to think of ways to get to the hospital. At least they had an Air Conditioner.
Our electricity came back on before I went into labor. A few days later I was at home, bored. I decided that the cramping pain I had might just be the baby. I went into the hospital and they said it wasn't time. This was the eve of my due date and the nurse told me a few home remedies to try.
I went home and slept for a long time. I woke up and JD and I followed the instructions of the nurse. We went to eat mexican, I drank a glass of wine, drank a whole lot of castor oil (oh my), and didn't bother with the last one she had mentioned. JD's sister was coming to live with us and she was expected within a couple of hours. We had some friends over visiting and at some point I was showing them what the nurse said to do to go into labor. I got down on my hands and knees to show them the "waxing the floor" move that she told me to do and my first real contraction started - the irony. That's the one thing I avoided.
As soon as it started, Emily came through the door. My mom and grandma had left earlier that day and were headed to Va. Beach. I had worried that they wouldn't get to see the birth, but had just realized everything had worked out just right.
JD's mom said I should wait it out, but my contractions started just a couple of min. apart and I didn't want to hear it. So, I told them I wanted to go NOW! JD got lost. We get to the Hospital, which is Sentara Leigh Norfolk. Once I got there, they took me right back.
I arrived at the hospital around 10 p.m. I just remember being in the worst pain and everything else is somewhat of a blur. I had reached the point where I would be able to get an epidural and I started to push before they had come to give it to me. Everyone seemed like they were in a frenzy. My Dr. wasn't there, I was pushing...it was all going so fast. The epidural is a miracle! The pain was gone and I relaxed a bit. I was ready to go though and as soon as the Dr. got there, Katherine was born! My mom and grandma were still on their way and were somewhere in North Carolina at this point. Emily called them and they pulled over and stayed on the phone for the birth. Mom said she could hear Katherine cry when she was born and that her and my grandmother both just started to cry. It felt great to know that even though she had missed the actual birth - she had tried so hard to be there and was in some way while it happend. Katherine was born at 2:21 A.M. She weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz.
It was by far the best day of my life. I loved being pregnant and I miss these memories sooo much!! This picture was taken the first day home from the hospital! Katherine's birthday is September 27, 2003 and my birthday is September 29, 1982. I celebrated my 21st birthday like this:
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