18 weeks and the verdict is in:

This week we finally got to find out a bit more about the wee one that keeps me awake at night. We went in for our 18-week ultrasound and got to see the baby hanging out. It was lying at the bottom of my uterus sucking its thumb with its feet raised and crossed. The technician needed to get several shots of various organs from various angles, but the baby wouldn't budge - even after I rolled from side to side and did downward facing dog. The technician said she thought the baby was "probably not a boy" but couldn't get a good view of much. We had to go back two days later (to get better views of the spine and heart).

This time (Thursday, November 12) we had a much more aggressive sonogram technician who jabbed my uterus (yeah... didn't feel that good) until the baby was in the needed positions. She showed us three lines that formed the labia and vaginal opening, so it's 90% official: the baby will now be refered to in the feminine tense. :)

The ultrasound was actually really stressful for me. I started crying when the technician was measuring various body parts to see if they were okay and was really worried that there would be problems. But everything was in normal ranges, and I teared up a couple times watching the cute little baby sitting there sucking its thumb. During the second ultrasound, we watched the baby tapping her foot against the placenta wall - it also was cute, as though she was just biding her time in the womb.

Tim didn't care if the baby was a boy or a girl, but was very happy when we saw the baby. I was secretly (well.. not that secretly) wanting a girl, but I would have been happy either way. Knowing the gender of the baby has made me more excited, and seeing her in the womb again was really neat.

Tim and I went out to dinner the other night, and we were talking about a time when we went to a museum with Erin. He had been really sad that day, and we talked about it a bit. He then said, "But... I'm much happier now." I asked him if he was happier than he was at the museum or if he was happier than he was during that time in general. He said, "Well... I'm happier than I've ever been in my life." We're both so excited for this baby girl!

17.5 weeks - Baby likes music!

November 6th, 2009

Tim and I went out for the first time in what seems like ages. First we went to the macaroni grill to celebrate Bryn's birthday. I thought it was so funny that the Macaroni Grill is her favorite restaurant - it's so adult.

After cake at Cami and Peter's, we went to a Patti Griffin / John Prine concert. Patty was good, but John Prine was awesome. He played some very raucous songs, and the baby moved all over the place. Since then, I've been playing the guitar while it rests on my belly, and without fail, the baby starts kicking and wiggling. Apparently it likes music! Today a Modest Mouse song came on the radio, and it seemed to enjoy (or hate... hard to say) that as well.

15.5 week scare

October 22, 2009

Dear sisters and mom,
Yesterday I was doing some experiments and had to go into the dark room for about a half hour to expose and develop some film. I sat down on a stool because I was feeling sick and really tired, and did a set of leg exercises because I got bored. When I stood up, I felt that my crotch area was soaking wet and there was a fair amount of liquid running down my legs. I of course thought I realized what was happening and prepared myself to deliver an orange-sized fetus. In the dark, because a week's worth of experiments were on the line, and turning on the light would have exposed all the film, yada yada... I'm embarassed how pragmatic I was in the situation. Well, I finally had a two minute break, and went outside into the light only to realize that my water had not, indeed, broken (is that even possible at this stage?), but that I had sat in a huge puddle of leaking film developer. Tim is pretty sure I and the baby will not be harmed by this mishap, though it might come out with 40 kilodalton bands on it's forehead.

In other news, I felt the baby squiggling and wiggling about last night for about a half hour. I liked that. At first, and then I needed to go to sleep, but the wiggling continued. I told Tim about it on the way to work, and he said, "That kid is going to be trouble." Cheers, hugs and such, and happy Thursday (the weekend is almost here!!!).

Laura

Response From Karen:
One time, when I was pregnant with Max, I fell backwards down a short flight of stairs at Albertson's. I fell so hard hard on my bum I thought for sure I had broken my water. Nope. I just wet my pants. Pregnancy is awesome like that.

Response from Cami:
Aren't you glad you didn't ruin your films by rushing out to panic! You deserve a lab Medal of Excellence, or at least your old desk back. That's amazing that you felt wiggling. You've always been very sensitive to your abdominal area (I mean really, who else can tell which side they're ovulating on!), so I'm not terribly surprised. I read all the books and they said that the first movements felt like bubbles popping or butterfly wings. Did you find that true? 'Cause mine felt more like war drums. In any case, we should have a little celebration. Karen- I can't believe you fell- you're always so graceful and steady. Did you go to the doctor to have them check to make sure it wasn't your water breaking? It does sound a little dangerous.

From Mom:
They are never dull days when you three email! Laura, you had me scared to death. I'm happy you were just sitting in film developer and nothing more serious. I am also impressed that little Baby is wiggling enough to be felt. That little miracle! I remember when Karen fell (many times, but particularly this time with Max). It was quite traumatic for a bit. Cami, drums?! I hope everyone has a calm day. And don't sit if you don't know what you're sitting in! And don't fall.Hugs and happiness to all, Mom

From me:
Karen: I like that story a lot. I've started wearing pads in case I fall down, sneeze, hiccup, or blink too hard.
Cami: Last night bubbles and butterfly wings, today war drums.
Mom: I learned my lesson, but I'm pretty sure I've learned that lesson before. One of these days it will stick!

Live was I ere I saw eviL

I love symmetry. I love palindromes.

I can't stand it when paintings or clocks aren't straight or when figures or diagrams aren't centered. Perfectly. As in, I can't listen to a thing anybody is saying, even if it's "Run! The building is on fire and there's a gas leak!" until the situation is rectified.

It's a problem.

My belly is growing now, and it's obvious that I'm pregnant, especially since I've lost ~10 pounds from the rest of my person. The problem is that my belly button is way over on the right side of my abdomen. And my girls aren't the same size - the right is much larger.

How am I supposed to live like this?

14 weeks, and all is well (in a universe I have no contact with, that is...)

Can I possibly be getting worse? Why, yes I can. In the good old days, I felt nausiated, but never vomited. Then I progressed to vomiting, but never more than twice a day, and never after 10:30 am or so. In the last 24 hours, I have vomited 8 (eight) times, and have a headache the size of Texas. Is this ever going to end? I think the half hot dog, apple juice, and 3-6 apples I ate yesterday at our apple-picking adventure wasn't the smartest idea ever. I've been sleeping semi-upright on my couch, because I've also recently been blessed with heartburn. Pregnancy is soooo amazing.

I love it soooooo mu-huh-huch....

This morning we had our first ultrasound. It was really exciting to see the baby wiggling about (actually quite a bit) in my womb. When I asked Tim (just now) what he thought of the experience, he said, "I liked it... I thought it was pretty exciting. And... I was kind of relieved that there was only one in there. I think I would have fainted had there been more than one." He was beaming during the ultrasound and clearly quite pleased about the situation.

When I showed it to the girls at school, they shrieked appropriately, and Chadene insisted that it was "such a beautiful little fetus." Even Ewan joined in the oohing and aweing and said, "It's quite a special experience. When I saw my wee one on the screen, it brought a tear to me eye." I admit I got a little choked up.

Prevarications - 13.5 weeks

I don't really know what I'm doing

Just watching myself in some play

And the actress looks like she wants to go home

And lie in a bed all day

Yeah

Lie in a big bed all day.

~Pattiy Griffin

I was told by 2 books, dozens of webpages, and as many formerly afflicted mothers that at 12 weeks post-conception, I would be feeling significantly better. Significantly.

And yet, I am not.

Not at all.

Alas, I cannot complain too bitterly; my sisters told me I would not feel better after 12 weeks. I do seem to be eating slightly more (in terms of both quantity and variety), but I still feel nauseated 100% of the time. My coworkers have taken pity on me. Laure brought me plain quinoa a couple weeks ago; Wendy has twice given me her apple at lunch, and Steve brought me his wife's homemade corn and potato chowder for lunch today. And Greg (not known for being a particularly nice man) asks me how I'm feeling almost every day. These acts of kindness are ever-so-appreciated. As soon as I feel okay, I'm going to bring cookies for the department. I don't know how I'll repay Tim, however, who the other day went to three different grocery stores in search of banana ice cream popsicles. He has been unbelievably good and patient. Whenever I think of it (including now), I shed a few tears. I love him so much.