Is this really happening???

Well, I have been completely awake since 12:30 this morning! At 11:00 last night I woke up with a pain. Went to the bathroom, and after the cramping stopped after a bit, I wondered if it was indeed a contraction. I fell back asleep for about 30 minutes and was woken by the same pain. Long story short, after about four times it hit me, "I think this is it!" Holy crap!!! I tried to go back to sleep, but realizing that this might finally be the "real" start. On Saturday I lost my mucous plug, so I was hoping that labor would start soon, but all I have been having was a lot of period like cramping. I kept wondering what contractions felt like, and everyone reassured me that I would know. Well, they were right. These "cramps" are MUCH different than period cramping. I have been up doing laundry and watching tv, timing them now. They aren't consistent quite yet, between 7 minutes and 15 minutes and between 30-60 seconds. I am waiting to call in to work for a substitute, because even if this is how all day goes, I don't want to try to be teaching as the contractions come and go. DH is sleeping, and I think I will send him to work for the day until my contractions get closer together. He is working on the road today, so worse case scenario is my dad will need to drive me to the hospital and my DH will have to meet me there. DH only has a week's vacation, so I want him to get as many hours in as possible before baby comes. I am praying this isn't a false alarm and that contractions continue to get closer together. I wish my water would just break so I "knew" it was for sure time to greet my little miracle!!