I think it's safe to say that things went the exact opposite of the way they went last time.

Last Wednesday at my check I was 2cm 50%. My due date being today (Dec 22), Karyn (OB) and I went ahead and scheduled an induction for Wed morning the 23rd. Me, of course, hoping I wouldn't need it.

On Thursday, I had an appointment with Afua (acupuncturist). Last time, acupuncture was at noon, my water broke at 5am the next day. I was open to that being a coincidence, but was hopeful for a repeat. No dice. I went again on Saturday, no dice. Sunday night, Afua offered to make a Monday morning house call, and I took her up on it. After she left, Bubs and I both went down for a nap. A glorious 2.5 hours later, around 12:30pm, I got up feeling maybe like my water semi-broke, but decided I was wishful thinking. Cameron left for work around 1:30. At around 2:45, it became clear that I was not wishful thinking, my water had broken.

While my mother and sister (and friend Sara) were insistent that I had to get to the hospital ASAP, I was taking my time (the hospital is an hour away so that Karyn could deliver). My parents came over to pick up Bubs, Cameron headed home from work (halfway to the hospital, in St. Charles), I gathered up stuff. We got on the road around 4pm, arriving at the hospital around 5. Triage checked me, confirming my water had broken and that I was 3-4cm, fully effaced, -1 station. They admitted me, and we got into the room around 5:45pm.

Karyn was still at the office (which is adjacent to the hospital) and started to make her way over. My last labor was 20 hours, we most of us were convinced we had plenty of time.

They wanted me on the bed in the room, which was not happening b/c as I learned last time, that was the worst place for me to ride out contractions. I also didn't want an IV and wanted to walk around. All of these things were issues (last time I walked all over the floor at 8cm) but it quickly didn't matter b/c OMG it got bad quick. By 6:45, I began mentally preparing myself for an epidural. I told Cameron and my mom that I couldn't do it this time. I thought I was having what must be the famed "back labor" and there was just no way I had 6 hours of this in me. Then around 7:10 it started getting _really_ bad. Like, "where is Karyn we need to discuss this epidural thing right NOW" bad. By 7:15 I felt this TREMENDOUS urge to push and begged them to check me. Karyn ran in a few minutes later, couldn't find the baby's heart rate, checked me (9+cm, still no heart rate on the baby) and demanded I get on the table, we were having the baby NOW.

Two contractions, 4 pushes, and about 4 minutes later, (and me screaming like a banshee) Hudson was out. He had his hands up by his face and the cord was wrapped around his neck and shoulders. And he was blue. He cried immediately after Karyn cut and unwrapped the cord (only part of the way out). He went from blue to gray (total coincidence) in about 3 minutes, and was pinked up by 5. A loooong 5 minutes (my mom just said).

And by a miracle, everyone is just fine. My recovery has been better than last time, actually, and so far, Hudson is sleeping and eating like a champ. His Apgar was 8 to 9.

Nature is amazing. Being in good hands is a blessing.

Hudson Gray Hollway, born Monday 12/21, 7lbs 12 oz 21.5 inches at 7:24pm.

As Madea would say, "halleleuryah"

I have to say, it's inspired me to make my way back over there now that I've been to Fond twice...

Why is Jasmine wearing Lingerie?

Um Michael Jackson? It's almost fitting b/c I was JUST saying that perhaps we're watching Paula have a Michael Jackson-like meltdown over time.

L'il - "...and BBQ"

Paula has clearly lost it. I love that she, painted into tomorrow, complimented Lil's "light makeup."

Danny Gokey. I'm sorry. We should just stop the competition.

OMG. Paula is Cat Woman.

So far, everybody's really stepped up.

Ok, I really feel like we're going to find out that Paula is actually really sick.

Ok. Shopping center with a soloist?

I really just want to understand what's going on with Paula.

Anoop. What's with the matrix in background?

Cameron says "we're watching an Indian guy from North Carolina sing 'Beat It.'" Just so we're clear.

Though I'm glad that Paula finally said something of substance.

Um, Adam this kind of like a drag queen performance. And I Want to know what you stopped at the lipstick.

Cameron says "I know what I like. And I didn't like that."

Thanks to Undercover Black Man for the link.

In my opinion the reason to go to Fond is to experience the market menu. Five courses, fully showing the range and talent of the chef. Seriously serious preparation and presentation. Outstanding. Not comparable to anything else in town. I know there was a hubbub when Amy was upfront about why she was opening Fond and what it would bring to town, but it really is different than anything else currently open in Edwardsville (except perhaps my friend Kris' kitchen :)). Maybe if I didn't eat out a lot I would lump all those restaurants together. Or maybe if I hadn't done the market menu I wouldn't really get what Fond is about. I wouldn't even lump it in with anything I've had in St. Louis. It's very specific and very good. The fact that Fond is now among the choices in Edwardsville makes me _extremely_ happy. It's exactly the type of thing I've been saying Edwardsville needs more of and I hope the trend continues.

The atmosphere is perfect. One of my disappointments with some other restaurants in town is that the experience doesn't carry through. Everything at Fond from the chairs to the centerpieces to the background music matches the experience. The service is _almost_ there. You can tell they know what they're working toward and know they need to exceed it.

The one gripe we had was that the market menu requires full table participation. It's clear that Fond understands what it is and what it's out to deliver, which is why I totally understand why this is the case. It's a much improved experience when the full table is experiencing the courses together, and the market menu experience is a full realization of the Fond brand. Unfortunately, it's now pretty likely that my husband will never go back with me. So, while I understand why it is the way it is, it was really unfortunate that everyone couldn't get what they wanted to order - to the point that we almost left. Because the market menu is so in line with the experience, I don't know what the solution is. I'm only getting the market menu when I go there, I don't see the point in going and NOT getting the market menu. My husband is not a tasting menu guy, and I'm pretty sure not all the girls in my dinner club are tasting menu gals - so the whole group misses out on the experience because one person isn't up for it.

I, on the other hand, want to join a Fond email list and get a notification every time the market menu changes so I can find my fellow foodies and make my reservation.

My father just made a special trip to the grocery store for the 3D glasses.

My grandfather came north with his family from TN and lived through a time when his (white) father had to pretend not to know his family when riding on the bus to keep his job. My mom was the first in her family line to go to college and because someone in St. Louis was doing a thesis on access my high school educated grandmother was able to navigate the process of getting her a scholarship and admission to Vassar in 1965. My dad, after working his way through teacher's college (as a bagger at Kroger) and teaching 6th grade decided that he wanted to go to medical school and did it. Together, when just a few years older than I am now, they built the beautiful home that has seen so many parties and so many friends and family over the past 25 years.

When my parents got married in '67 (halfway through my mom's education) a professor and his wife (the Johnsons) took them under their wing in every way a 19 and 23 year old newly married couple halfway across the country from their home need support. Today, their son, whom my parents often babysat, becomes General Counsel for the Defense Department.

Today is a moment in history, no doubt. But all of the details of the stories above are what are swirling through my head and heart this morning, rising as a lump in my throat. Somehow, the meteoric rise and success (regardless of policy) of the 44th President translates to me as a celebration/amplification of all the people, places and things that I've known all along, that make me who I am today and enable me to look at a life full of opportunity, privilege, happiness and hope.

Yes they did, and I will - I owe it to all of them.