On Sept 8, I had my 36 week OB appointment. I was 0 cm. Not in labor. I didn't sleep well the night of the 8th. I was still uncomfortable on the 9th. Standing was my most comfortable position. But I was tired and hated standing. Around 10 or 10:30, I started to think that maybe the pain I was was feeling was rhythmic. Around 11:30, I started writing down when the pain would start. It took me that long to find a pen and paper and remember to write. Rob had thoughtfully left his calendar for me and I could see he had a 2 pm meeting.

After an hour, I realized that the pains were every 6-9 minutes. The pain was low and in front, not a true contraction with the tightening of the belly all over. I had had few Braxton-Hicks this pregnancy, so I felt due. But I wondered if it was cheating to take Tylenol. I called my OB's office around 12:30. I explain the pain, the standing, she notes that this is my third c-section and I have a risk of uterine rupture from my scar. She calls back after checking with the OB and asks me to come in. I was not enthused. I didn't want to end up on bed rest in the hospital for days. The lure is that I'll just come to the office. The doctor check me. And if nothing is happening, I'll go home. The choice to pick an OB 1/2 an hour away seems dumb.

I called Rob. Our plan is that my dad will drive Henry and me to the OB. Rob will meet us. He cancels his 2pm. My dad will then go to his meeting. And so we're a go.

I have to stand during each pain episode. I note in the car that the pain is about 2 minutes long and comes every 4 minutes. I stand in the waiting room. When I see the OB, she says--"Sh*t, you're 4 centimeters!" She never swears. I am in active labor. At 36 weeks, they don't try to stop it.

My dad has left. Rob has Henry in the waiting room. It is about 2:30. Miranda will be home from school ~4. The hospital is across the street. Thank goodness for cell phones. Thank goodness my parents have their phones on. We call my dad, he heads back to the doctor's office. I reach my mom. She is going to swing by Miranda's school and pick her up. And then meet my dad and Henry at the local McDonald's. Rob, Henry and I head to the hospital. My dad picks up Henry at the admitting door. Rob and I go in.

Things feel slow--thanks contractions, now about every 3 minutes. But it is really really fast. I get admitted and wheeled to the L&D area. I have blood drawn. I change clothes. I get prepped for surgery. I meet my new best friend, the anesthesiologist. Finally, I am in the OR. Rob scrubs up. The surgery feels long. At 4:08 pm, Arabella Louise is born.

When I left for the hospital, I thought I might be in labor. But I did not pack a bag, grab a camera, or print the phone list. My mom was bringing the camera, which she picked up when she got Miranda. The camera did not arrive before Arabella did. For not being an emergency or being called an emergency, this c-section went fast. Luckily, Rob had his cell phone, which has both an awesome camera and a flight mode so not to disrupt the infant security monitoring system.

Arabella was born on 36 weeks, 3 days. She weighed 5 lb, 8.5 oz. She was 19.5 inches long.

I had a 2 hour recovery in my LDRP room. I was anxious for the kids and my parents to see Arabella. I was also loopy from the drugs. So after a short or long while, the family came in. Arabella had her first bath in our LDRP room. And they dressed her in a shirt on top and another on her legs, to keep her warm. She takes to breastfeeding very well. For being early, she maintains her body temperature well. She has sharp fingernails and a few wispy eyebrows and lashes.