My due date was on September 1, 1999 and my husband and I were so excited. The big day finally came and then went. I was overdue and at my checkup on September 9 my doctor finally sent me down to the hospital to be induced. They started the Pitocin IV at about 10:30 in the morning. At that time I was only dilated to 1 centimeter and no contractions. They kept me on the Pitocin all night and then gave me some gel to try to soften up my cervix. The next morning I started to feel some contractions and at about 3 in the afternoon they were getting a little stronger.

I decided to get up and walk around to try to speed things up. That did not work and at about 8 p.m. my water broke and then the contractions were much stronger. Since I had been up for most the day and night and the pain was starting to be unbearable they gave me a shot of Demerol and I was only dilated to 2 centimeters. I could not dilate past 2 centimeters and at about 4 Sunday morning I finally dilated to 4 centimeters. Then my doctor said that I could have an epidural and thought it would be best because I had no sleep and nothing to eat or drink. He wanted me to get some sleep before I had to push. The epidural took away all the pain, I was able to go to sleep and they woke me up at around 6 a.m. I was dilated to 10 centimeters and 100 percent effaced. I was still surprised that I could not feel anything. I pushed for about an hour and finally Kaytlin Lee Griffey was born 8 pounds, 2.5 ounces, and 21 inches long. She was so beautiful.

We are now pregnant with our second child -- 13 weeks -- due on June 24, 2001.