All Naturale

Ok here it is! I started having irregular contractions around 4 in the morning that started getting more regular. By the time Glen got up to go to work we were trying to decide if he should go to work or stay home. It was about that time that I experienced something that seemed very much like my water breaking.
We decided that we should go to the hospital. We dropped the other boys off at my sister's house and then went to the hospital. While we were in the hospital they checked me several times and decided that whatever happened it was not amniotic fluid. By this time my contractions were steady 5 minute apart and I was at 3 cm. My doctor was out of town. They sent me home. My contractions kept coming 5 min. apart through out the day. I didn't want to get rejected from the hospital again so I was just hanging out. I decided to skype with my parents. While I was talking to them my contractions started getting stronger and closer. We decided that I should go to the hospital again.
We got to the hospital a little before 7pm. I still didn't want to get rejected so I made Glen walk around outside with me for about an hour. When the contractions were 3 min. apart for about a half hour we decided to go in. I got checked in at 8pm. I was only a 3.5cm, so the nurse said they would check me in an hour and if I hadn't change at least 1cm then they would send me home again. Needless to say I was frustrated by that and I knew the if my doctor were actually in town this would not be happening.
So an hour passed (9pm) and I was 5cm. They nurse then proceeded to admit me. In the past experiences with my other boys once I reached 5cm I had them before the hour was up. I told the nurse, but I don't think she really believed me. 45 mins. pass. The doctor standing in for my doctor shows up and introduces himself. He is looking over my chart, chatting, asking questions like "I see you had an epidural with your last baby. Is that something that you are thinking about doing again?" I say,"You tell me. No one has checked me for awhile."
He checks I am at 9cm and fully ready. He says has to go out for a moment then he will come back in and break my water. For some reason all the nurses left the room too. One huge contraction and my water breaks shooting the baby down. I tell my husband. He rushes out. Tells the doctor. Rushes in and sees the head. I had to not push (super hard to do) so they can unwrap the cord from his neck twice. Then he was there, before the hour was up (9:52pm).

I am pretty open to labor options, but can I just say that I am totally leaning toward all natural now. Obviously not because it didn't hurt like anything I have ever experience, but because of afterward. I could get up and do what I needed to without worrying about dead legs. I also feel like my recovery has been a little faster than when I have had an epidural. I was also able to experience most of the contractions at home, which is completely different than sitting in a chair strapped to monitors and staring at the lights on the hospital ceiling. Hanging out in the hospital is so much easier to do with a great epidural. I don't regret having epidurals with my other boys. It made is so much less stressful for their different circumstance during the labor process.