Happy Birthday Matthew Ryan Finston

So, I promised I would update everyone on the effectiveness of my walk....Well, it worked!!!! I started going into labor in less than an hour after arriving home from my walk. Mike & I laid down to watch TV. I was finishing my dessert from the evening...and, I started having contractions...They began about 8 minutes apart, which I really thought nothing of, because I have been having random contractions all along. I was very tired so I tried to go to sleep. Well, sleep was not happening. The contractions got more and more intense. They were not unbearable, but I was definitely uncomfortable. After about an hour or so, the contractions began happening regularly at 5 or so minutes apart. I thought..."Is this really it? Am I really in labor". I told Mike to go lay on the couch and get some sleep, just in case this was the "real deal". After lying in bed for about five hours, I decided to wake Mike up. I decided it would be a good idea to get to the hospital, as I was getting more and more uncomfortable. Mikey took a shower, and off we went to St. Joseph Hospital at the lovely hour of 4 AM. When we arrived, I felt like a celebrity. Dr. Anzaldo, my OB doctor, had apparently told all of the L & D nurses about me..How I am a nurse at CHOC, etc. EMBARASSING!!! I got the full on V.I.P treatment. The unit was really slow that night, so I must have had four nurses help me. I told them that "I thought I was in labor, but I was not sure". Well, they checked my cervix and, surprise, I was already dilated to a four. After about two more hours, I decided it was time to get my epidural. I was getting very exhausted and my body was beginning to shake. After receiving my epidural, my body relaxed so much and I was able to get the much needed rest my body and mind deserved. At 7 AM, it was change of shift and the day shift, Ellen, came in to introduce herself, as well as to check my cervix. I was dilated to 8 cm. YIPPEEE!!! I labored for about four more hours and Ellen, my nurse, made sure I was very comfortable. At around 11:30, I told her that I was having a lot of pressure. She checked my cervix again, and I was dilated to 10 cm and the baby's head was crowning. She called Dr. Anzaldo and he said he would be there in about 20 minutes. Well, 20 minutes later, Dr. Anzaldo arrived....Four pushes later, at 12:14 PM, our precious son, Matthew Ryan Finston was welcomed with open arms into this world. My mom, Mike, & Kara were present during his delivery. They all helped to make the pushing part of my labor very bearable. The coolest thing about my delivery was when I pushed Matthew out and Dr. Anzaldo told me to reach down and grab him. I got to pull Matthew out the rest of the way. He was then placed on my chest, where he stayed with me for about an hour. I cannot even begin to describe the intense emotions that filled the room that day. It is a day I will never forget. Matthew Ryan weighed 8 pounds, 4 oz, and was 20 inches long. Mike & I are so blessed to have a healthy boy. We are so in love and cannot imagine our lives without him! We are so glad you are here, Matthew!!! We love you!!!