Almost 4 years ago, our daughter Carly was born. She was the first child for both my husband and myself and we weren't sure what to expect.

Early morning on October 26, 1994, I aroused my husband and told him that I felt a bit sick. I went to the washroom and when I came out I mentioned that I thought my contractions had started. Mark, my husband, got up and called the doctor. "Not to worry," said the doc. "You have lots of time."

Fifteen minutes later, I felt the urge to push. Mark immediately called the doctor back and he told us to get to the hospital pronto. My mother- in-law who was living with us at the time drove. I got in the front passenger side and my husband held my hand from the seat behind. My other hand was pushing a hole through the roof of the van.

I never did like the way my mother-in-law drove. She braked through every green light there was.

"Go!" I yelled. "The light's green!"

Forty-five later we pulled up to the emergency entrance. I coudn't walk so they brought a wheelchair which was also rather useless because I couldn't sit! My daughter had her head peeking out. My husband who is a computer programmer kept telling everyone I was having 'transactions.'

We laughed at that after. Finally I made it to a delivery room where two nurses carried me onto the bed. Lucky thing my doctor just happened to be at the hospital for some sort of meeting because my daughter was born the next minute.

Hooray! The whole process took just two hours. I didn't realize it at the time but my water broke when I was in the washroom that morning.

By the way, my now two year old son was born just as quick and virtually as pain free as Carly.