Birth story #2 timeline

3:00pm Tuesday 9/4 having "real" contractions, but can continue to work. They seem to come randomly. Leave things somewhat ready at school just in case.
This continues all evening through a great dinner with friends and then all night. I don't sleep much.

6:30am I call Betty, the midwife on call, and ask if i can come see her before I go into work.

8:30am Betty checks my progress, only 2cm but 80% effaced. She's worried that I will be exhausted when labor really starts and sends me home to rest.

1:30pm I've tried to rest all day, but can't stand the fact that I've taken a sick day and been home without my baby. I decide to go walk around Costco (big clean isles, free snacks, air conditioning and a basket to lean on). Contractions are stronger and somewhat closer sometimes.
4:00pm home with Joe and Lily contractions are coming every 10min. And growing stronger.
6:30pm call parents to tell them to start on their way. Make arrangements for Lily to spend the night with friends.
Singing "Jesus lover of my soul" through contractions.
8:30pm 7min apart we drop off Lily at our friends house. Focusing on God as my strength through each contraction. We talk to Joe's mom in our way back home an she prays for fast and safe delivery. I txt Betty to let her know things are progressing.
8:30-1:00am we try to watch a movie and I walk laps around the house. Praying and singing really helps. Joe gets ready and gets everything in the truck.
1:00am we head to Denton to meet Betty at the birth center. She checks and I was only dilated to 3cm. She is very concerned that I will be exhausted for labor, but is hesitant to send us back to Lewisville. She gives me a shot to help me sleep and we head home and sleep.
2:15am I hear Mom and Dad arrive and go to bed. I start waking up every 10min with intense pain.
3:30am I wake Joe, I'm disoriented from the medicine, exhaustion, and pain. He calls Betty - I can't speak, I just grip the headboard and try to breathe. I wake mom, we get to the driveway and my water breaks. I feel the need to push and almost refuse to get in the truck. I kneel gripping the back of the seat and try not to push. Mom sits in the back seat and coaches me to breath. I pray, help me Jesus, through the pain and pressure and in my mind I'm praying the baby doesn't come out- but I don't want Joe and Mom to know that she is crowning. I ask Mom to call Betty and make sure the tub is ready, it sounds so good.
4:18am 9/6 But a few minutes later we are passing Denton regional and I can't resist the pressure to push. She is born and I'm in shock, "she's here" is all I can say. Then "pull over- now!" I am terrified that she's not moving or crying and I can't get to her. Joe pulls over and comes around. He helps pull her out of my pants and unwraps the cord once. She gives a good scream and then he places her on my chest. She looked pink and perfect and was breathing well. Mom called Betty and Joe drove on to the Birth Center.
4:28am we arrive and Betty meets us at the truck. She helps me inside where we cut the cord and birth the placenta. Baby Ellie (who we didn't name until the next day) and Mommy are doing great.
7:00am after a shower and snack we load up and head home to finally rest.