Friday, January 26, 2007

Sweet Relief

Really big news is sometimes accompanied by really big worries. About a week ago, we got some lab tests back that indicated the baby might be at higher risk for spina bifida (higher being a 1 in 55 chance as opposed to a 1 in 10,000 chance). So, this morning was the first ultrasound with Dr. Hariharran, the fetal medicine specialist. I'd been really fretting about what we would need to do to adjust and adapt if there would be a serious problem. Fortunately, normal spine, normal heart, normal bladder, normal colon so far and this child can move! I'm not certain that our little one (and there is just the one)was still for more than a few seconds at a time. We got to see the face, though, with a tiny little pointed chin. Even more exciting, we watched the baby attempt to suck his or her thumb. I have to say attempt because first one hand was chosen, then dismissed, then the other hand was tried. The baby liked the second hand better and opened up its mouth, but the thumb ended up somewhere around the nose. What a great morning!

Tony has the pictures, so hopefully he'll scan them in and post them.

Friday, January 12, 2007

BIG NEWS. The biggest we've ever had.

We are going to be parents.

I know this isn't news to our closest friends and family. But since we've already told them, we decided it was OK to let the rest of the world in on our gushings of joy (I phrase I should ween out of my vocabulary before the delivery room).

Amy is about 4 month's along, and the time has flown by. No doubt the due date of June 23 will be upon us before we know it.

This is such an exciting time for us. It's hard to find a good starting point to share our giddiness and anxiety.

Amy is having a very uncomplicated pregnacy so far. No morning sickness. No wacky cravings. No serious mood swings. She's been a little sleepier (but always is in the winter) and a little more cranky (mostly at work, so i don't see it as much), and has had some mild food aversions and preference shifts (Apples and blueberries are good. Chocolate not as much). She hasn't gained any weight as of the last doctor visit (she dropped a little tween the first two visits, and gained it back tween the next two), but I think that will be changing as she is just starting to show a tiny bit.

Amy is pretty sure she feels the baby moving. S/he seems most active during car rides and at lunch time. Although I have yet to feel the little one move, I did get to hear the heartbeat, which wooshes at a quick pace next to Mommy's slower rythm. Its like a little in utero techno beat, a visual which Amy realy enjoys, especially now the s/he's moving about.

And no, we aren't goigng to find out of its a boy or girl (if we can help it.).

And if you must know, if its a boy, we're going to name it "Illiopolis Helsinki". If its a girl, its name will be "Mishawaka Tokyo".