I found out I was pregnant in October 1999, after two and a half years of trying. My husband and I were very excited. Due date: July 28, 2000.

I had no morning sickness, did not crave anything and my mood was, overall, great. I gained only 24 pounds. I was all belly.

At my 5-month ultrasound we found out that we were going to have a boy. My husband was excited.

At my 7-month checkup, my OB said my stomach was measuring bigger than what it should be. So I had an ultrasound done. The doctor told me I should be put on bed rest because I was thinning already.

I did not get on bed rest.

I went for a checkup on my 36th week. I was 3 centimeters dilated. Wow! She told me after the exam that her fingers were bouncing off my bag of water. My OB told me she was going on vacation for the July 4th week. My next appointment (which I never made), another doctor would have to check me. She said he had big hands and might break my bag of water.

Well, on July 4th, my husband and I went to bed. I was now at 37 weeks. At 12:20 a.m., I got up to use the bathroom thinking that I had to have a bowel movement. Nothing happened, so I get back in bed.

At 12:30 a.m. I still needed to have a bowel movement and, still, nothing happened. Except when I wiped there was blood. It scared me. I read that it would be a pink show. This was red. So I called out to my husband and he suggested we call the hospital. I called and they said that a nurse would call me back.

We went downstairs and all of a sudden my contractions started. They were five and two minutes apart. We called the hospital again. I was told that a nurse would call us back. After laboring at home from 12:30 a.m. to 1:45 a.m. I told my husband we had to go. The hospital was 45 minutes away and we had to get gas. (My fault). On the way to the hospital I had acid reflux bad.

As soon as we get to the hospital at 2:30 a.m., they wheeled me in my LDR room. They told me to go and get undressed and put the gown on.

As soon as I got in bed, I told them I had to throw up. My husband was told to get a pan. Sure enough, I got sick. But after that I was fine. Except for the contractions. They hurt so bad. The nurses were asking me questions, and I told my husband to answer them. I was in too much pain.

They checked me and I was at 8 centimeters. She asked me if I wanted an epidural. I said yes. By the time the epidural came, I was already at 10 centimeters and ready to push. My doctor got there just in time.

My water broke at 3 a.m. and I had my son at 3:01 a.m. He was a beautiful baby boy with brown hair and brown eyes (like daddy). His Apgar was 9 and 9. His skin was not pink like most babies, but darker.

His name is August Lonnie Reid. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 inches long. I had the best pregnancy and delivery. I am so glad that I could not get the epidural. It was a great experience.