So Gadget asked me if I didn’t want the baby anymore. I told him she was sick, and he said he didn’t want me to give away his sister. I told him that I wanted to keep her, but that she was very sick. He pouted, and I frowned.
11 Weeks
Written in February: It’s so strange writing in secret about this pregnancy. I’m ready to tell the world now. But I haven’t told my boss, let alone our parents. We keep trying to find the right time to tell my parents, but we’ve been having such meaty conversations it just hasn’t seemed appropriate to shove in “Oh, guess what?! You’re going to a grandparent again!” On the heels of very emotional conversations. So we’re waiting this one out. The only this is, hubby and the boys are headed to Trinidad tomorrow, and his mom doesn’t even know yet. Know what? That’s we’re coming and that we’re pregnant. Hubby wants it to be a surprise, and oh boy will it be! When we just show up at the airport and say come pick us up!
So my nine week appointment was pretty cool because the baby was still there! I say that jokingly, but after two miscarriages at 6 and 12 weeks, still being pregnant and seeing the baby’s heartbeat twice meant I could exhale. Seeing my little elephant was like seeing the positive on the pregnancy test. All the emotions and reservations I had been holding back I could release and actually except the fact that I have a baby inside me.
Fatigue just started kicking in this week. Today was a snow day, and all I’ve wanted to do is nap. At work, I have been getting super creative with ways to hide my burgeoning bump. I’ve worn sweaters, vests, and my all time favorite outfit is the “suck in.” Whenever I walk by someone’s desk, I flex those abs and hold my breath. The only problem is that this technique increases your gas production… TMI. On a good note I had my performance review. It went extremely well. I heard some good praises and quality opportunity areas for 2010. I also deemed it highly appropriate to wait until AFTER that talk to mention, hey thanks, and by the way, I’m preggo! I have worked super hard to dispel the myth that pregnany = slacker in the office. Unfortunately, due to gallbladder disease, I was MIA every two weeks during my pregnancy with Gadget, but I did work up until my water broke. Literally. At. Work. At with the Lion, I went to work 3 centimeters dilated cause nothing was really preventing me. So let’s just say I plan on being the best darn marketer until sometime in September when I’ll welcome baby number three.
9 Weeks
Written in February: Today marks nine weeks. Tomorrow is my third ultrasound. Hopefully, our little elephant’s heart is still beating strong. Our last pregnancy did not make it this far. All of my pants are tight, and by the end of the day I unbutton them. It’s been hard not to share the news publicly yet. Sometimes I want to wait until we have proof of the gender, and announce to my grandmother that she’s having her first great-granddaughter. Granny Gee will be 90 this June. I think that would be an awesome birthday announcement for her.
Cardiac Activity
Written in February: Guess who’s heart is beating at 110 beats per minute? My baby elephant’s! I had a dream last night about my doctor’s appointment today, and when I looked on the monitor, I saw the outline of a baby elephant, trunk and all inside the sac. I don’t know how to interpret that dream, other than I have really weird dreams while pregnant (well, really anytime).
I tried really hard not to worry before today’s appointment, but it was hard. My midwife knows I have been very cautious, so she immediately asked me if I was feeling pregnant this week. I told her yes, since I had a few symptoms, but not as pregnant as I felt with Gadget or the Lion. She did an ultrasound, and lo and behold on the screen was one little baby elephant. I was glad there was one baby. Her head looked huge, and there was a pulsating blur where her heat was beating. Yay! She played the sound for me to hear. It sounded a wee bit slow, but I was glad to hear a beat nevertheless.
My midwife ordered a progesterone test so we could make sure the pregnancy is progressing. I should get the results tomorrow. Based on the elephant’s measurements, my midwife changed my due date. At first, I got a little freaked out. She told me the date of conception occurred in January, and not December as I thought. I immediately wondered what were the implications for the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which has been eerily accurate for both boys. When I got back to my computer, I doubled checked, and we’re still in the go for a girl.
So, my baby girl does not really look like an elephant. In fact, she looks more like an alien with her huge head right now.
