More Baby Stuff

I'm writing this shortly after reading the final blog post by Andrea at Punk Rock Mommy. It was my first time to read Andrea's blog, an online journal of her battle with breast cancer, and I am moved to tears. Her final words are beautiful, moving, and a good reminder of what's important in life. My heart rejoices with her as she is in the presence of her Maker, yet at the same time breaks for those she left behind. I look forward to meeting her one of these days when I also enter heaven. For now, I will grieve with and pray for her family.

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On a significantly lighter note, my doctor appointment this past week went, once again, very well. Since I had an emergency C-Section with Little Bit, I wanted to schedule this one. Little Bit's entry into this world was exhausting. My water broke at midnight, and after several hours of epidurals and pushing, Dr. P strongly suggested a C-section because she wasn't coming out. She was finally born at 11:42 am the next morning. Not pleasant. Tiny Bit, unless she comes sooner, is due no later than September 14th. However, she is now scheduled for her first appearance bright and early on September 9th. That means that, as of this writing, she is only 9 WEEKS AWAY. OH. MY. GOODNESS. (Panic has officially set in.) Dr. P didn't want me to go past the 14th (40 weeks), so we had to schedule it during the week prior (39 weeks). My only request was "NOT on September 11th!!!" I just couldn't saddle her with that birthday, so September 9th it is. I go back again in two more weeks, when we'll do one more sonogram. Little Bit is very excited about that, so she's going with us for this appointment.

So here I am at 31-ish weeks:

HOLY COW, I'M PREGNANT!!!

You might be wondering, at this point, exactly where I've been these past 12ish weeks. Yes, I know I'm pregnant. I was the first one to know and spread the big news. And yet, in spite of the fact that I took four pregnancy tests, have seen two sonograms, have all the symptoms, and am quickly outgrowing my normal clothes, there was still something a little surreal about me being pregnant. There was just something that didn't click for me, and for The HOFFER as well. I don't know that I can explain it any other way, or explain why we felt that way, but we did.

All that changed yesterday.

We went in for a nuchal translucency screening yesterday, which is medical-speak for some genetic testing. This particular test is a sonogram that checks for the possibility of Downs Syndrome. There is a tiny little sac of fluid right behind the baby's neck. It should measure no more than 1-2 mm; 3 or higher doesn't guarantee the baby has DS, but it is cause for concern. Conversely, a normal measurement isn't a guarantee either, but is a good sign.

We got a good sign.

As a matter of fact, we got more than just a good measurement (1mm), we saw our baby again, but this time, however, we got action!

When I was pregnant with Little Bit, we went for a sonogram at about 5 months to find out gender and whatever else they check for at that time. She was so funny...lying back, hands behind her head, ankles crossed, just chillin'. I am not kidding. She still hangs out that way. Baby Bit, on the other hand, well, let's just say I expect to get pretty skinny chasing after this little one. He (and that's a generic he...he's not developed enough at this stage to find out gender) was wiggling, squirming, playing, kicking his feet up over his head...and that's what did it. He became very real and very alive to us at that point. That is when we realized that we are really going to have a baby. That so ROCKS!!!

The HOFFER said that he would imagine his mother is probably laughing her tail off up in heaven right now, knowing that he's probably going to get exactly what he dished out to her. My worry is that I don't think I did anything to deserve THAT!!!! We'll just have to wait and see how this Baby Bit turns out.

Maybe I'll get a baseball player after all.

Baby News

I had my first doctor appointment this past Monday, and it went well. The OB/GYN I've been seeing for the past 15 or so years is only a GYN these days, but he agreed to do the first appointment for me. He and his assistant, by the way, laughed when I told them I was pregnant. I didn't see much humor in it...at the time.

With my history or irregular cycles and infertility, I've never really kept track of when my cycle starts and finishes each month (except when I'm going in for my annual exam and I know they're going to ask that question!). So when Dr. K asked when my last cycle was, I had no clue. Thankfully the HOFFER is good at remembering dates--even for THAT--but he could only guess the first half of the month. Well, he remembered better than I did. All that to say Dr. K estimated I'm about 6-1/2 to 7 weeks along. My due date is September 18th. And given my age, he said, that date needed to be a firm date, meaning I wouldn't be allowed to go a moment past that day. WOO HOO!!! There ARE advantages to being older!!!!

We saw the heartbeat (which put me in complete and utter awe), and Little Bug measured about 6 mm from head to butt. Dr. K did say there are additional risks to my pregnancy--higher instances of multiples, miscarriage and Downs Syndrome in women who are pregnant in their 40s. This particular issue has been the only concern I have had, and it has been a bit of a worry for me. I know this is a God-thing, and I know that whatever happens, however this baby turns out, this is such a gift from Him. It's completely out of our hands and totally in His alone. That should bring total comfort and keep me from worrying, right? WRONG. I didn't realize how much it was bothering me until the night before our doctor appointment. Right before bed I lost it. I had been assuring The HOFFER that this was real and that everything was going to be all right, but this time it was his turn to be a comfort to me. So the HOFFER and I prayed about it, and I felt a peace come over me...almost like someone (Someone!) was pouring it out of a pitcher over my head. It was amazing.

Yaaaaawwwwnnn....ooops, sorry. Guess it's time for a nap! I'm working on posting the sonogram picture and will do so as soon as I can.