Merritt was due on July 1, 2008. However he chose not to be born until July 7. This is the story of his much anticipated arrival! On Saturday Mark and I went for a long walk in Boulevard Park while dad and mom Rooks drank coffee and watched the sailboats coast by at the "Woods." Evidently this was what started the process-I went to bed with a lot of cramping. In the morning we chose not to go to church since I was still very uncomfortable. That afternoon it seemed like a good idea to start timing the "cramping." By 5 pm it was becoming unbearable and Mark drove us to the hospital. I was only dilated to one, but was 91% effaced. The doctor chose to admit us. We were given Fetanyl and shortly after an epidural. The epidural was sheer bliss! We spent from then until 2 am sleeping on and off as the nurses came in and out. At 2 am I started to feel downward pressure. The nurse checked me and said "Wow, there's the head! Don't push; I'm going to call the doctor." The doctor got there around 2:30 and we pushed and pushed. Finally baby Merritt's sweet face arrived at 2:59 am on Monday July 7. He was 8 pounds, 12 ounces and 22 inches long. That's how I remember it...Mark may have a different story since he wasn't on drugs....
