Pam, I would have preferred that "wake me when it's over" route, but they weren't using that in the mid 70's when I started. Epidural does take awhile to get hooked up, and as you know, if it is not a first birth, things move more quickly. I only had one with the epidural put in after just one hard contraction, and it was bliss. I could push without the penalty and not be distracted by the pain. To this day, that baby is the most cheerful of all of them. By #4, they just ignored you in the labor room if there was a prima para also in labor, and finally started to do the epidural when the baby was crowning. I had her right there in the labor room. Afterward, they told me if I had another baby and the water broke at home, then I would deliver en route to the hospital. So I quit.

Anthony, you are so funny talking about Paige. All of us mothers can relate! Oh, and we are eagerly awaiting the pix of the house!