New Weight Loss Program a Huge Success!!!

So, I know I haven't posted in a while (thanks for the concern Danya). I've been a little bit busy the last 4 days. Last Thursday I started a new weight loss program and it has been wonderful. I've already lost almost 20 pounds!

Thursday morning I was laying in bed at about 6:15ish when all of a sudden I felt a little pop, not unlike how a water balloon feels when it pops in your hand (a very weird feeling). Yep! You guessed it. My water broke. I had never had this happen on it's own. So I woke up Curtis and he started running around getting ready to go. Hallie and Hannah were up at girl's camp and were due to arrive around noon. We had Grace, Zane and our cousin Meghann to drop off at Geanna's, so Curtis called her and said we would be right over. I told him we couldn't leave yet because my good bra was in the dryer and I had to wait for it. Besides, I wasn't having any contractions yet.

We had time, right?

He couldn't believe that I was going to wait for my bra, but men just can't understand these things. I need all the support I can get these days, and that bra was my ticket to that!

Well, I did my hair and make-up, packed my bag, packed a few things for Zane. Then I got a contraction. Then another. "Okay, I guess it's time to go," I said.

We were waiting for Grace to get her things together when I said "Oh!!! We really need to go. Now!"

"That's what I said 45 minutes ago!!!" Curtis said with exasperation in his voice.

Off we went to Geanna's. When we got there he rushed the kids into the house. But he forgot my cards for card club (it was that evening and my cards were super cute!!! And I worked hard on them dangit!). So I grabbed my basket and walked up to the door. I had to lean over onto the wall while I waited for a contraction to pass, but I could still stand and talk so I didn't think anything of it. Not so, Curtis.

"What are you doing out of the car? Get back in there before you have the baby on the porch," he scolded.

When we got back in the car he gave me a talkin' to. "You just had to wait for your bra! Why don't we stop at Denny's on the way? If I have to deliver this baby in the car, you're in trouble."

On and on he went all the way to the hospital. We finally arrived at 8:00 am. When we got to the desk I calmly told a very nice, very old lady that I was in labor. She directed me to a booth to check in. I told the lady in the booth that she probably didn't want me sitting on her upholstered chair (yuck!).

She asked me how long it had been since I started having contractions. "About 45 minutes to an hour," I said.

She then asked me how far apart they were. "About 3 minutes, but they don't really hurt," I answered.

She then said that I needed to go straight to labor and delivery. So I loaded up in a wheel chair and began to be pushed by the little old lady. I giggled to myself at the picture we presented. Seriously. She was really old.

As we rounded the corner on the second floor I heard the deep timber of Dr. Howard's voice (it is unmistakable). "Oh good, Dr. Howard's here," I told Curtis, with relief. "How do you know," he asked. "Oh, I know," I said.

When Dr. Howard came into view Curtis said "Man, you do know his voice."

"Hi, Debra," he said. "We having a baby today? I guess you won't be coming in for your appointment later." (my appointment was to be at 12:00. And he knew, without his schedule right there. *Sigh*)

"Dr. Howard. Don't go far. You know how quick I go!!!," I said. "Oh, I won't be far. They'll call me when it's time." he answered back.

That was at 8:10.

We were put in triage because there were no labor and delivery rooms available. One poor lady that was in there got sent home because she wasn't really in labor. As I sat "laboring" (which is funny because it still didn't hurt that bad) Curtis was looking at the newspaper scouring the headlines for name ideas.

"Are you gonna, like, give me support, or read the sports section?" I teased him. "Just looking for inspiration," he said. "Here are some of the headlines: Mexican Terrorists. Drug War. Swine Flu. La Puerta. Hey how about 'Door?' " he chuckled, to himself, because I wasn't laughing.

"Don't be ridiculous, and come over here and tell me how great I am. Why hasn't that nurse checked me to see how far I'm dilated? I can't believe she hasn't checked me."

His silliness and my wondering why the nurse hadn't checked me went on for another 20 minutes or so. He did ask her why the monitor wasn't picking up the contractions very well. "Oh, that's no big deal. I'm listening to her. I'll know when things progress farther," she said.

I decided to start moaning a little louder than I really needed to just to motivate her. Curtis teased me about my moaning, but I cannot write what he said in this family-friendly format.

Still no nurse. Time 8:40ish.

The very next contraction he was on the phone with his sister Danette when I said "Oh! I need to push." He ran off to get the disappearing nurse and when she was finally forced to check me she said "Yep. Baby's right here." Then the room (the triage room!!!) was all abustle with baby warmers and trays and a student looking a little bit stunned.

"Maybe I can wait for Dr. Howard," I said. "He won't make it. He's dropping his kids off at school," I was told.

So, without my Dr. and only two pushes my little baby came into the world.

Time 8:55.

"Sorry your boyfriend didn't get to deliver the baby," Curtis teased. Such a kidder.

Dr. Howard got there for the end. "Why wasn't I called? What was she dilated to? I told you she was multiparra and she goes fast? You hadn't checked her at all?" he barked at the nurse.

She was stunned and stammered a few things about me not seeming like I was in that much discomfort (which was true. I kept waiting for it to get bad).

Dr. Howard was not happy. He rolled his eyes and finished up the job that she had begun.

"I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you," I teased him. But I don't think he realized I was teasing him. He was really upset and kept apologizing to me.

After he left Curtis looked at me and said how amazing I was and that I looked beautiful. Like I hadn't even had a baby. I didn't believe him.

The nurse asked me if I could get up yet, so I hopped out of bed. She said "Wow. I've never seen anyone hop out of bed so quickly!" But she didn't understand just how crappy I had felt the day before and how wonderful it felt to finally be rid of my tummy-buddy.

When I got into the rest room I looked in the mirror and saw what Curtis was talking about. My make-up was still in place, my hair didn't look messy, and I hadn't even broken a sweat.

"Wow, I'm amazing," I said to Curtis as I went back to my triage/delivery bed.

"I know. You were awesome," he told me with a kiss. "Now what are we gonna name the baby?"

Here it is:

(I'll tell you the whole funny story in a few days. I have to feed a baby right now).

(She looks like Zane)