I have had my automatic 93 Saturn SL1 for 7.

I have had my automatic 93 Saturn SL1 for 7 years now. Lately ( quite a few months) I've been hearing a sound that sounds like a tire whine. I disregarded the noise just thinking It was probably my alignment. More recently I've heard the whine become louder and I have determined the sound to be coming from my transmission. The whine seems to get louder with acceleration but as soon as it shifts it will quiet down. I have noticed it "sticking" around 2500 RMPs when it should've already been shifted down around 1500-1600. Just last night, after my car sat for 7 hours, I started making my way home from work and it took an extended amount of time to shift out of the loud whine and was keeping me from gaining speed at 30mph. Once it shifted normally, I still had the hardest time getting up and down hills and at one point it stuttered 5 quick jolts when trying to accelerate speed up a hill. Please help me determine my problem! This is my only car and I am a daily driver of 70+ miles a day!