My mother-in-law arrived just after the excitement with the epidural and just in time for another measurement. In the 30 minutes it took to put in the epidural, Sam's dilation increased to 4cm.
With my mother-in-law in the room, I finally had a chance to get something to eat. Funny, until now I didn't realize I was hungry even though I hadn't anything to eat all day.
I went down to the cafeteria and bought an egg salad sandwich and a coke, sat in a booth by myself, and ate in a weird trancelike state reflecting on everything that had happened so far. I tried to check out the news on my phone while I ate, but was quickly overcome with a nervous sort of giddiness before I got past a few headlines. So I put my phone down and finished my meal as fast as I could anxious to get back in the room and be with Sam.
After a quick check-in with my mom to let her know everything was OK over the phone--I had been sending text message updates throughout the day--I made my way back to the labor and delivery room.
The halls of the maternity ward are eerily quiet and mostly devoid of activity. Not really what you expect when you're in a hospital, but for some reason I find it oddly comforting, feeling as if the entire maternity staff is dedicated to us.
Back in the room, Sam is happily chatting away with her mom almost as if we're not in a hospital on the verge of meeting our child. What a difference the epidural makes! With Sam talking to her Mom, I sat on the couch and relaxed a little bit.