I really need to scan those ultrasound images - they were supposed to be in the last post, but I just haven't taken the time to scan and post them. I'm not sure why. Sheer laziness, I suppose. Maybe I'll attach them here, or not. I'll post them somewhere, sometime, I'm sure. But I guess I should at minimum try to keep a bit of a journal of my experience being pregnant, as well as the emotional roller coaster that Jeff and I have been going through. OK, here they are:
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| The first ultrasound (frontal view) on September 9, 2011 - 10 weeks, 3 days. Looking pretty much like an alien dancing a jig... |
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| Profile view on September 16, 2011 - 11 weeks, 3 days. |
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| Profile view on November 4, 2011 - 18 weeks, 3 days. |
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| The proper number of fingers... |
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| and the proper number of toes. |
So, I'll start at the beginning.
We were trying to conceive throughout most of our second year in Bulgaria and if Junior hadn't been conceived by the time we moved back to the US, I would have sought some help with conception. Luckily, though, we were able to conceive sometime during July - we can't say exactly where, but probably Switzerland, with the possibility of Slovenia or Italy. I peed on a stick at the end of July on the Friday before we left Bulgaria, so I knew I was pregnant as we headed back to our homeland. Since we had a crazy August schedule of traveling all over the US, I didn't meet with a doctor or midwife until around week 10 in the pregnancy - and after we had moved to Massachusetts AND gotten back into health insurance coverage (thank you RomneyCare!).
All the time between peeing on a stick and actually seeing a doctor (and getting that first ultrasound), both of us were a little concerned about whether or not we were going to have a viable pregnancy. I'm sure I was more concerned, as Jeff didn't have the raging hormones like I did, nor did we react the same way to the miscarriage last year (not to say that either one of us reacted badly, we just had different responses to the sadness). So we held our collective breath until that first doctor's appointment and pretty much looked at each other with "Holy $*it! We're gonna have a baby!" thoughts running through our heads when we saw the sonogram. It was so surreal to see this little alien-looking thing on the ultrasound screen that was actually moving inside my body. And growing. The next week I had a pre-screening test where I spent almost an hour with the ultrasound technician trying to get Junior to move into the right position (she needed to see his/her neck from a particular angle) and this is where Junior started looking more human and a little less alien. Now I'm waiting patiently for our next ultrasound (in just over a week), where I hope we will be able to see whether Junior is a boy or a girl.
The first trimester was relatively easy for me. In fact, I find it interesting that as I've been telling people, currently pregnant ladies and relatively new mothers tend to always ask, "so, how have you been?" I'm sure that's a genuine question, but I also sense that underneath they are wanting to know how sick I was for those first three months. Maybe I'm just projecting. But the truth is, I never vomited. Hallelujah! I was exhausted most of the time, had moments of nausea, and lots of heartburn, and unfortunately, felt the worst when we were driving from Colorado to Massachusetts, but I would consider my first trimester pretty easy. I guess that was part of my reason for being concerned about that first visit with the doctor.
Now I'm into the second trimester and as of about a week ago, am actually sporting a baby bump. Talk about alien! Up until the last couple of years, I have never actually had a stomach - then I hit 40 and suddenly the fat seemed to be building up on my belly. But now, there is this very obvious bump that isn't fat and every time I see it (either in the mirror or when I look down at my lap), I think, "Holy $*it! I'm pregnant!" Until I met Jeff, I never thought I would see this day. It's an interesting journey - and I have nearly 6 more months of growing to do (Yikes!). My cousin told me she felt as big as a house (when she was nearing term with her twins), and I'm afraid I might become a mansion considering I'm getting this big already! I guess it's a good thing we're not having twins too. :) I'm reading all sorts of books and checking out some different websites, and some are saying I'm starting month 5 now and others are saying I'm ending month 4. Either way, I'm nearing half-way through the pregnancy!
Jeff's sister and her family were here for a short visit this weekend - it was so great to hang out with them and to see two wonderful parents interact with their energetic and charismatic children. It was also great to see Jeff sporting a baby carrier with baby Helen serenely gazing at the world from his chest. I think Jeff is going to be a great dad and I look forward to seeing him hold our child.
Holy $*it! We're going to have a baby!
