my husband and i dropped the kids off at his mother's, and went out for valentine's dinner at longhorn for steak and lobster tail. during our dinner i was already having pretty regular contractions.
we finished dinner and checked into the hospital at 8pm to be induced.
i was 1 1/2 cm dilated and 70% effaced when we checked in.

they started the induction around 9:30, because they had trouble gettin an iv started in me. they started my induction with cervidill - which they said would stay in for 12 hours...
they ended up pulling it ou after only a few hours, because i was progressing so quickly.

at 5:30am i requested an epidural
i was 4 1/2 cm and 80% effaced, and the contractions were very strong and about a minute and a half apart.
an hour and a half later - a little before 7am, i felt a need to use the restroom, and the nurse checked me.... i was completely dilated, completely thinned out, the bag of waters was bulging into the cervix, and the baby's head was right where she needed to be.
they called the dr in, and told me not to push until he got there - nice thing about an epidural, you can hold off pushing better than if you have none....
when the dr arrived, he broke my waters, removed the bottom portion of my bed, and told me to push...
i only had to push thru three contractions, and catherine made her debut into the world.

it was so quick, it was just amazing
the dr put her on my chest, and my husband cut the cord .
after the pediatric nurses wiped her off, weighed & measured her, checked her vitals, etc... they put her back in my arms, and she automatically began nursing - for 25 minutes!
then the nurses gave her a bath, while i hit the shower, and about an hour later my in-laws brought the kids to the hospital to meet their new sister.
catherine and i were doing so good that they let us go home saturday, just before lunch!
(they normally make you stay at least 48 hours after giving birth)

it was a dream delivery
and she is an absolutely perfect baby!

catherine antoinette made her debut at 7:51am - friday - february 15, 2008
weighing in at 7lbs 15oz, and measuring 20 3/4" long
mommy and daddy couldn't be happier!