Too many earthquakes in OC?

Ok, the past year, and the past week, we've had 3 earthquakes and so many aftershocks. I'm freaking out. We've never had this many before. Is this the process for the big one? I'm only 26 so I've experienced the Northridge, but I don't live in the area. I live in OC. Were there many fore shocks before the northridge quake?