After months of planning and waiting the big day finally arrived... a week early! Cole Henry Rodriguez decided that he couldn't wait any longer to join us and he was born on September 8th, 2008. I woke up that morning with cramps and Brad and I wondered if this could be it, but we didn't know if they were just cramps, or if they were contractions. I went to work because I had some things I HAD to get done and spent the morning trying to be productive while calling my doctor with updates. The "cramps" got stronger and stronger throughout the morning until they were pretty significant at around 11:00 am. At that point they were so bad that I couldn't talk while they were happening, I had to just sit and breathe. My friends at work convinced me that it was time to leave and go to the hospital and that I should NOT drive myself. I was sure that I would be fine to drive, and I was wrong. A coworker drove me (thanks Tonya) and I was in such pain that my eyes were shut and I was squeezing the headrest, not exactly good form for driving...
We got to the hospital and the only thing I cared about was how soon I could get the drugs. I was in a lot of pain. My contractions were one and a half to two minutes apart. Brad got there after running home and grabbing our bags and the car seat (he said he ran around the house like a crazy person). I was so happy to see him and he did a really good job helping me to breathe through the pain. He held my hand every time I had a contraction and talked me through it. I have a great husband! My labor progressed really quickly for a first time baby, or at least that's what all of the nurses told us. Once I had the epidural, I was feeling fine and that made a huge difference. I got to the hospital at about 1:00pm and I started pushing at 9:00pm.
Our parents all made it to the hospital (Brad's mom and dad drove up from Nashville and got to the hospital about an hour before I gave birth). My sisters were both there as well. Our delivery room felt like a big party at about 8:00 because everyone was hanging out and they were all excited that the baby was coming!
Brad was with me in the delivery room and he coached me through everything. I pushed for about an hour and then Cole made his grand entrance! Brad and I were both so amazed at how big he was! He weighed nine pounds one ounce at birth and he was twenty one and a half inches long. He was beautiful! Brad was able to cut the umbilical cord and he was by Cole's side while they measured him and gave him his first bath. We both cried when we held him, it was absolutely the best day of my life!
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