Deep breaths Angie. The procedure for induction (everywhere) is prostaglandin pessary, then re-examination after 6 hours. If your cervix is soft now, then 1 pessary could well be all you need. At that re-examination, if they can break your waters then they will and labour should progress pretty quickly (my first was 4 hours 20 minutes after waters broken and one pessary). If they can't break your waters, then its another pessary and another 6 hour wait, which depending on protocol at your hospital may then mean you are left overnight till first thing the next day as some hospitals won't progress to breaking waters after 5-6pm.
It may be that you don't need a pessary, and can have your waters broken straight away (which is what I did). It seems odd that they could do a sweep a couple of days ago, but not today? Was it the same midwife? When I was first examined pre-induction the day Charlie was born the midwife said I was 4-5cm, then re-checked and she has been feeling in the wrong place! Was only actually 2cm.
Inductions don't have to be a long painful drawn out process, both of mine were very quick and I managed on just gas and air for both. Both were born the same day they were started.
If things do drag on over christmas, then you'll have to do what us women do best, pull your socks up and get on with it. Its only another day, you can celebrate christmas whenever you want, but you only get to deliver this baby once x