Labor, so far

Story time
I had my 40 week appointment at 3:15 on 8/25. Skylar called me right before I left to pick him up and go and told me to pack the car seat and our hospital bag. I was hesitant because I didn't want to just set myself up for disappointment, but did it anyway.
We met with the doctor, and talked about the risks of induction. However, he also said that since I was at 40 weeks, and hadn't felt any contractions yet it was likely that in a week they would still have to induce. The good news though was that I was at a 3, which was a good sign that the induction would be successful and not lead to a C-section.
Then he measured me, and I was measuring smaller than I had last week.He decided to do an ultrasound to see if the fluids were low or if Gracie had just dropped and was hiding in my pelvis.Results: Fluids were below normal, placenta had calcified considerable, and Gracie was measuring the same as she had almost 3 weeks ago at our last ultrasound. She wasn't growing. That was concern enough for them to admit me immediately instead of waiting a few days for the next open induction slot date.
He gave us some paper work and we just walked on up to labor and delivery.
It certainly was not the experience that I had imagined checking in would be like. No wheel chair, no labor pains, no feeling of urgency.After undressing and mooning my nurse several times, I got an IV and hooked up to a bunch of tubes and monitors. The nurse kept asking me, "how's that contraction feel" and my response was, "what contraction??" So apparently I have been having contractions, I just couldn't feel them/didn't know what I was looking for. SO, for all you who told me that I'd know it when it happens, I'm sorry to say you were most certainly wrong.

All wired up and ready to go

They started the Pitocin around 5:30, I think it took a couple hours before I started to feel anything.
By 2:00am the contractions were moderately high and only giving me about a 30 second-1minute break in between and I was still only around a 5.
It's true what they say about induction and Pitocin, it's a horrible painful drug.
Throughout my whole pregnancy I have been studying about natural labor and had really set my mind that I could do it naturally. I was also terrified of the epidural's side effects. But, I have also never felt so defeated in my life.
Nothing about this pregnancy has been natural. I couldn't get pregnant naturally, I always felt too good and didn't feel many of the natural pregnancy signs (which was wonderful), and I wasn't laboring naturally, so I surrendered to the trend.

Feeling miserable, the breaking point.

I got an epidural.


So, here I am now, 7:00, almost 14 hours in labor, feeling great and anxious to meet my daughter. I'm currently 7 centimeters dialated and about 90% thinned.
Gracie isn't dropping so I have to sit up straight now and can't sleep anymore. to be continued.