Happy 6th Birthday Ruby!

                                        
I can not believe that tomorrow i celebrate the 6th birthday of my first born child! Ruby Catherine Carlotta Boone has brought nothing but joy to my life.  May 5th, 2005 was the day that forever changed me. I became a mother! What an amazing blessing.

As i was driving yesterday i was remembering back to that day 6 years ago.  I was doing my PTA Clinical and had been working all day and by lunch time i felt these weird pains start in my stomach and swing around to my back. Quick and sharp, but nothing i thought about.  As i drove home that night, i stopped into Acapulco to see my brother and tell him about my little pain. A little Mexican hostess named Sofia said, "do they start in your stomach and wrap around to your back?"  "Ummm, yep."  She said, "you're in labor."  I was excited, but still didn't believe it. I didn't know what to expect so i didn't get too worried. I mean, the baby wasn't due for 10 more days. But that would make it a Cinco De Mayo baby. 05-05-05...

I went home to our little apartment and did the elliptical (ya, apparently i was much younger and motivated then) and then took a little nap (i can't remember the last nap i have taken since).  When i woke up i though they had gone away. I got up and got ready for Jeromy's softball game. I had told him about the feelings, but we weren't worried.  He came home and we set out for his game at Sand Creek.  I sat with my bestie Heidi, who was also expecting shortly, and told her about the pain, but didn't worry too much about it.  I remember Jeromy hit a home run, so Heidi and I decided to walk and get it and as we were walking her husband hit one out too. So here we are, two big ol prego's getting the balls.  Its a fun memory.  Through out the game i continued to have little pains, but nothing much.

On the way home we stopped to get a Wendy's (haven't had one since) and went to our apartment. I just didn't feel like eating my caesar salad that night. The pain continued until it got a little bad.  I hopped in the tub cause Jeromy thought that would make it better...it didn't.  Eventually i told Jeromy to go to bed and rest and said i would try to sleep too.  Well, obviously that didn't happen. Finally about 10:30 i called my Mom and Dad and said "Mom, this really hurts!"  She thought I should go in just to be safe, so i agreed. 

I woke up Jeromy and we headed in the truck to the hospital. I called my brother Sam on the way and told him where we were headed. I tried to play it down and said i would keep him posted.  Jeromy asked me "on a scale of 1 to 10 what was my pain level?"  He asked it while i was doubled over in pain just waiting for the stop light to turn green, I answered "i think a 10!"  He questioned "10 being the least?"  I didn't think it was funny that night funny and I don't think its funny now:)   We got to the hospital and attempted to make it up to front desk to register.  Of course i had forgotten my stinkin paperwork!! Jeromy got us signed in and we headed up to the 4th floor.  Oh, that fourth floor, how i love it!!

I got changed and they just wanted to see if i was dilated and i remember telling the nurse "I know alot of people probably say this, but this really hurts! Is there anything you can do to make it better?"  Turns out i was dilated to 8 and ready to get into a room and deliver!  Oh, boy! 

Just a side note for those who don't know: We had an ultrasound and were told we were having a baby boy. Sooooo, stay tuned!;)

After i got an epidural (thankfully it took the back pain away) and threw up a few times, out came my beautiful and perfectly healthy little 5 pound 10 ounce GIRL!!  The doctor told us we had a girl and i just felt confused.  Weren't we going to have a boy? Immediately Jeromy said we would call her Ruby Carlotta Boone. I said how about Ruby Catherine (his Mom) Carlotta Boone, and that was it.  Thats all we said about that. We never did have a boy name picked out anyway.  We asked the parents back in and they commented on our beautiful "boy" and we had the nurse open the diaper and announce it was a girl! What a beautiful memory! We HAD it on video, but sadly, my dad taped over it a year later!

That was the day that changed my life forever.  It was an amazing start to an amazing journey. There is no greater love that i have ever felt than the love that i feel for my children.


                                       
                                                Happy Birthday to this beautiful soul, Ruby Boone.