I typically schedule my OB appointments for first thing in the morning so that the kids can stay home with Scott. This time however, his work schedule didn’t cooperate, so I brought the circus crew with me for my check up. I knew at 28 weeks they wouldn’t be doing an exam, so I felt comfortable having them tag along. I did come prepared with coloring books, crayons, snacks, and even lollipops which I saved for the very end if they were “super stars.”
First stop was of course the bathroom so I could “leave a sample.” So, in the 4 of us went. I thought peeing in a public bathroom with my crew was an invasion of privacy, but that holds nothing to peeing in a cup with 6 eyes staring at you. Thankfully the older two obeyed and faced the wall and just my youngest stared questioningly at me.
Of course I was bombarded with questions as I did my business.
“What are they going to do with your pee?” “How do they test it Mom?” “Why did you only pee a little?” and my favorite, “Hey, can I see the stick you peed on to find out you were having a baby?” (that would be my oldest, of course)
We filed out of the bathroom and then went to the nurses station where they checked my blood pressure and then I got to step on the scale. As I stepped up my son said, “I bet it’s going to say a lot, because your heavy!” (I knew there was a reason why I typically leave them home for these visits). All I could do was chuckle as the nurse told them you, “never, ever tell your Mommy she’s big!” They couldn’t figure out why in the world not.
Having been the source of numerous smirks at this point, we headed back to the room to wait for the Dr. I knew I’d be having my glucose test done as well, so I also prepped them for the fact that they’d be taking some of Mommy’s blood to check and make sure Mommy and the baby were healthy. When the woman came in to take my blood, she had a captive audience. Crayons instantly fell to the floor as they gathered around with wide eyes and watched. I assured them that “it doesn’t hurt, and she won’t take much, but Mommy typically doesn’t like to watch while they do it, so I usually look away.” They of course didn’t want to miss a thing. And thus I got to receive the play by play of the blood draw process. “Why do they tie that thing on your arm?” “Will she give you a band aid?” “Will she put the blood back in when she’s done?” and “Look, Mom it’s coming out, she’s getting lots.” I reminded them of when Daddy gave blood at church, how he gave lots more and this was just a tiny bit and my body would make more, just like Daddy’s did. They then told the lady how Daddy gave a whole bag of blood when he gave blood. Suddenly my two little vials seemed unimpressive.
Finally, we saw the doctor. The kids could now eat their beloved snacks (Trader Joes letter cookies) and we got to listen to the heart beat (my absolute favorite part). When I lifted my shirt there was a line on my skin from my pants. Of course, my son pointed this out and asked the Dr what it was. She told him my pants were probably a little tight and left a mark. Thanks son for drawing attention, yet again to my size.
Thankfully, everything looked good and we were on our way. As we checked out (“Like at a store?”, “What are you buying mom?”) I was able to make my appointments for just about the remainder of my pregnancy. I scheduled all of them up until the week before my due date (they weren’t scheduling into that final week yet). I couldn’t believe it! We’re really rounding the mark and coming in for the final stretch! In fact, tomorrow is the first day of my third trimester!
This post is being linked up to Tiny Talk Tuesday at Not Before 7.
There is an envelope sitting unopened on our kitchen counter. It’s been sitting there sealed tight since January 6th. The contents of this envelope bear great repercussions for our entire family.
Many people question why we even have the envelope. We could have known what was inside of it 8 weeks ago.
But we like to be surprised. (of find some strange joy in self-torture)
So, we turned our heads.
But, then, just for fun, we decided to ask them to put a picture of something (or nothing) in our envelope. That’s right… we could know anytime whether we have 2 boys and 2 girls in our family or 1 boy and 3 girls.
Anytime we wanted we could go to the stack of important papers on our counter (you know those “to be filed” papers hidden behind the computer) and slit it open and know if it is a little boy or little girl that’s been kicking my ribs for the past few weeks.
We have never known before the birth of our first three children and I’ve truly loved being surprised at delivery. I look back at each memory of Scott calling out the baby’s gender fondly. The look in his eyes as he saw our child for the first time and then as I hear him tell me, “It’s a …” was truly priceless and made all the waiting worthwhile to me.
But at the same time, everyone’s surprised, right? It’s just a mater of when you are surprised that’s at issue. It sure would be nice to stock the nursery up with the appropriate gender baby clothes and do a clean sweep of un needed clothes stored in our attic.
But, no, that ship has sailed and we turned our heads, so now, there’s no looking back. (or peeking in the envelope) And thus, the envelope sits rather unceremoniously in our pile of clutter. Sitting as a family around the sonogram screen is one thing, but to just walk over to the counter and open an envelope, seems way too anti-climatic in my opinion.
So, did you choose to be surprised at 20 or 40 weeks? Ever have any regrets?
Last night I was holding my girls on my lap when they began to play a little rough. I reminded them that there was a baby in my belly and they needed to be gentle.
My 4 yr old then said, “Mom, I don’t think you really have a baby in your belly. I think it is just food.”
I assured her there really is a baby in there and reminded her that she’s seen the baby’s picture and heard the heart beat.
“Yea,” she said, “But I think your wrong, I think you’re going to go to the hospital and that is not what is going to come out.”
So basically, my daughter thinks I am fat and she told me so to my face.
Motherhood: Not for the weak of spirit
BABY!!!!!
This morning we had our sonogram appointment. While it is our fourth pregnancy, I try as hard as I can to not take anything for granted. I don’t think I realized how much I was “holding my breath” so to speak before the appointment. Words can’t adequately express the feelings of thanksgiving that overwhelmed me when the tech and then the doctor told us that everything looked healthy and normal.
As if that wasn’t blessing enough, we were blessed with an amazing, go the extra mile, super kind tech. We brought the whole circus with us. She let us point out things to the children. She then printed a picture of the baby waving for each kid and even typed their names on each picture so that they each got a picture of the baby saying hi to them. This totally melted my mommy’s heart.
And the baby completely cooperated put on a show for us. The baby waved, put his her hand on his/her face…grabbed his/her feet… and even yawned. It was truly amazing to watch. I don’t recall any of the other children being so animated during our sonograms.
It was a precious moment of bonding for our now family of 6 as we stared at the screen this morning. I am so overwhelmingly thankful…for the life that lives inside me, for the lives asleep in the room beside mine who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby brother or sister, for their Daddy whose smile lit up the room when he saw his baby for the first time, for the technology that provided this wonderful bonding experience and the tech whose patience and care made the visit all the more special.
Psalm 139:13-15
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
That’s right folks… a little tiny baby bump is making his or her appearance into the world. I alluded to the fact earlier when I mentioned I was now in maternity clothes. And I figured, why not share this bump with the rest of you? Because for some unexplainable reason we seem to enjoy looking at others increasing waistbands and what other time in my life would I willingly post a picture of my belly for the world to see?
That answer, would be, ummm, never.
So, enjoy…here I am at week 15.
And here’s the baby bump when looking at it from my perspective…complete with dog hairs on my black sweater.
Yesterday, I took my oldest daughter on a mommy date. It was delightful and I am sure I will post on that special time really soon. But, the day began with a trip to the “baby doctor” in which she got to sit up on the table with mommy and hold the microphone over my belly to hear the heart beat of our little baby. It was a precious moment and totally put the doctor who had previously been on my bad side, now totally on my good side. I also got the referral for our sonogram and called yesterday afternoon. In early January we’ll all be crowding in the sonogram room to see the face of our sweet little baby! I can hardly wait!
During this stage of the game, sometimes it’s easy to forget there’s a person growing inside me. Yes, my jeans are fitting more snugly these days and I tend to nod off on the couch each night around 10, but other than that I don’t feel all the different. And so I go through each day making meals, cleaning up messes, and trying to accomplish lessons, errands, and other excursions and quite often forget that all the while there’s a life growing inside of me.
This morning I was given a chance to take pause and reflect on that little heart beat. It was my 12 week OB check up and I got to hear the swish swish of my little one’s heart beat. As soon as she put the monitor over my belly I inhaled a bit and then, there was that precious sound I’ve heard before and yet haven’t.
True, I’ve heard the sound of my baby’s heart beat before. This is my fourth pregnancy so I recognized that rhythmic swish swish instantly.
And yet, I’ve never heard the sound of THIS BABY’S heart beat before.
Wowsers…there’s a baby in my belly!!. A real living, heart’s a beating baby taking up space in my uterus. I am a mother of four! Sometimes I still can’t wrap my mind around it.
It’s a miracle I don’t want to take for granted.
