2:20pm - I went outside to call my sisters Kathy and Debbie. My sister Debbie said her son Robert had his cord around his shoulder. She also had experienced all these signs before with one or more of her children. Same with my sister Kathy. When I come back from being outside, Paige is resting and the potoesen has been shut off. The room is dark and "Suil A Ruin" plays in the background as well as the babies heartbeat on the baby monitor. Paige points out how much larger the contractions are on the print out. I ask Paige how she feels. She replied with a smile, "Ok... I feel a little shaky but I'm ok". "It's from that shot they gave me".

Thinking about what has happened so far, and the amount of time we still have to go. I appreciate and respect Paige for what she will go through to bring our child into this world.

2:45pm - The lights are turned off and Paige trys to rest. The nurse has chicken catch-a-tor-e with wild rice and veggies sent up for me. It actually is good and not what you think hospital food would taste like. Reiki/Mediation music now plays the sound effects of rain and every so often the sound of thunder.


3:00pm - As I come in from making more calls, Jill introduces us to Janis. Paige's new nurse. They check to see how she is doing. Paige hasn't dilated any more then she had. They start the potoesen again to help the process. Janis comments on the nice music playing in the background. It's a mix of a stream/brook water flowing, piano, flute and harp. I read the last entry to Paige and she says, "It's massage music, something I sure could use right now".

3:30pm - 3 centimeters still! The baby's heart rate isn't bouncing back from the contractions so they are comtemplating no more potoesen for now. UPDATE!!! The nurse noticed the babies heart rate improving/bouncing back from the contractions. However, if Paige doesnt dilate any furthur in the next hour or so, it might be c-section time. Though Dr. Kellert will make that decision. Janis is on top of things and Paige and I are totally happy with the care Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital has giving her. A beeping sound goes off and Janis returns to see what it is. It wasn't anything. Janis notices the babies heart rate well above normal and says,"See how nice it sounds". Cuckling she says, "Go figure"

4:20pm - We are waiting until 5pm to see how much Paige has dilated. Potoesen is not being administered at this time. Paige and I are discussing and opting for a c-section. I'm nervous, but Paige is being a trooper. Janis comes in and informs us Dr. Kellert is at the nurses station and insists everything is fine. Janis starts the potoesen again ever so slightly. Paige explains she is exhausted and is worried that she won't be alble to push. Janis replies, " You have aways to go before you start pushing". I walked out into the lobby to inform Janis that one of the machines was beeping, and at the station was our child birthing class teacher Terry. We said hello and I talked to Dr. Kellert for a few moments. "Paige and the baby are doing just fine", she assured me. Smiling I walked in to tell Paige I saw Terry. Soon after Terry comes in the say hello and see how Paige is doing.

5:00pm - Paige and I are predicting what time Erin will be born. I say between 10pm -11pm. Paige says sometime tonight. No sign of Dr. Kellert as of 5:00pm. Once she has come by I will update her decision. "Gypsy" from Riverdance plays as Paige rests and I watch the news without volume. It's an emotional rollercoaster and I'm only wishing my daughter is born soon, knowing the pushing process could be hours away.

5:05 - Like clockwork Janis comes in and tells Paige the babies heart rate went down, during a contraction. However, she lets Paige know it is back up again. What's scaring the hell out of me seems to be a common occurance around here. Paige throws up and now feels better. I wasn't going to inform you of that but Paige says, "Might as well be honest". Janis checks her cervix and says 4-5 centimeters. Then after seeing Paige throwing up, janis says,"Maybe you're closer to 5".

5:30pm - Paige takes a photo of me with a fake smile, I am nervous as can be, and it probably shows!! I then take a photo of Paige

6:00pm - Paige has dilated to 6 centimeters. Janis prepares Dr. Kellerts utensils. Janis notices the pack is the wrong one and quickly goes to see what is going on. In the meantime they bring me dinner. Janis comes in with another nurse and they both laugh. Janis says," We can't use this". The other nurse agrees, "No we can't". Paige gets restles and wonders if her epidural is still connected, I help her and tell her it is still connected and to relax. Janis brings the correct utensil pack in and the baby seems to be doing good during contractions.

6:50pm - Paige's epidural has run out and she is starting to feel some pain. Janis goes to see what can be done. Dad waits and gets more nervous by the minute. Janis and another nurse bring in more solution. Dad is still nervous! Paige and the baby are doing fine.

8:00pm - Between 7:00pm and 8:00pm Paige starts to shiver and feel pain again. Paige asks that the anesthesiologist be called to over look the situation. Janis has left and now Ursula is with until 9:00pm because our evening nurse wanted to attend a bar-b-que. At 7:50pm I call in the troops. My sisters Debbie and Kathy are called in from Sonoma where my family awaits word of the arrival of Erin. At which time the entire family will descend on Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. The anesthesiologist comes and administers more anesthesia. Paige is still at 6 centimeters and tries to sleep for a while. I ask Paige if it is working. "We are back on track", she replies with a sense of relief. Everything is fine according to Paige so I go outside to watch the sunset and say a prayer.

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