Surprise!

So JP and I attended our 8 hour "Great Expectations" class this morning. We learned all about the different stages of labor, various ways of managing pain, post-partnum recovery, and newborn basic care. We also got a tour of the hospital and learned what to expect on the big day. After the class, during which JP spent much of his time making fun of the people in the 80's era videos, we decided that since our parking was paid for the next 24 hours we might as well spend some time downtown. I'd been wanting to see the new Harry Potter movie and we managed to get tickets to a show starting in twenty minutes. The movie was good- though I thought the 3rd and 4th were better. We then walked to a chinese restaurant for dinner. We had just ordered our drinks and appetizers when suddenly I felt a gush of liquid. I went to the bathroom and saw that everything was soaked- and I now had liquid running down my legs. I went back to the table and calmly (through the shock) informed JP that my water had broken. I left the restaurant (there was now a lot of liquid running down my legs), left JP to explain what just happened to the waiter, and called my midwife. Because I'm a full four weeks early she said we needed to go directly to the hospital. JP ran out a few seconds later (apparently the restaurant wrote off our bill) and we hopped in a cab back to the place we had just left a few hours earlier.

So here I am in labor & delivery. I was admitted immediately as my water had most definitely broken, but I couldn't feel any contractions yet. I'm hooked up to a few IVs (one with pitocin) and am waiting for the contractions to become more regular so I can get my epidural. The last few have been quite intense (enough to where I'm thinking women who don't get epidurals are incredible- and possibly a bit insane), so that glorious event will probably be soon.

I'm pretty much in shock. This is early. He's officially premature (though only by 5 days, so he should be fine). I'm supposed to work for 3 more weeks- and get 3 more weeks of paychecks. His baby clothes are all over his bed. His mobile hasn't arrived. I never packed a hospital bag. I didn't read this chapter of my pregnancy books. But I'm also excited- we get to meet our son sometime in the next 24 hours! And in my next post- so will you!