It's a.....

BABY!!!! Well, I have a very active baby. One who turned breech about two minutes after he/she was perfectly positioned....

The Dr. says "maybe" a boy.... but not to go painting the nursery. And don't buy anything blue!

Because it could be a girl! (What he "thinks" he saw could be the umbilical cord pulled between the legs he says...) AAAK!

I hate his u/s equipment!! It's SO old, and everything's fuzzy as can be! We tried to watch the video at home that they gave us, and it's painfully out of focus and not at all obvious as t what we were seeing. A blobby thing that didn't exactly resemble a baby...

So, sigh... I'm no closer to knowing than I was this morning. But everything is healthy as can be! He or she is measuring right on for dates, there are 4 chambers of the heart, there are no hernias, there are 3 arteries on the umbilical cord, the femur length and head circumference are the right size, and the baby is producing urine. The baby is healthy. That's the most important thing.

We've made the appointment for the 4D Ultrasound for July 31st. When I called today to make the appointment, the lady was shocked and amazed that at 21 weeks, we couldn't find out. She asked if the legs were crossed... I told her.. no... we had a view of the baby as if he or she was sitting on glass... right up the diaper area... but because of 30 year old fuzzy technology, nada. She went on to tell me that the other day they did a 4D on someone due 12/25/04 (14 weeks along) and that it was "obvious" what the sex of the baby was.

So, here's to hoping!!! I shall keep you all posted!

BBQ....

Sunday.... We just got back from Central Texan BBQ. Mmm... brisket. SO good, I feel drunk!

Jeff and I went to San Francisco yesterday. It was nice, except for the thousand gay flags lining the streets. Don't get me wrong... I have gay friends, and really have nothing against gays... but when a city PAYS to have those flags put up around for an ENTIRE month... but wouldn't do the same with American flags... not even for a week... well that just bugs me.

Anyway... I bought some more cute maternity stuff at Old Navy there, and we went to the record stores. We had lunch at our favorite Mexican place in the Haight, and walked around everywhere.

I've been feeling the baby moving the last few days. Not the tenative bubbles from the past few weeks, but definate poking feelings, in multiple areas. My ribs, lower pelvis, and side. It's damned amazing, and very cute!

I can't wait until Tuesday... that's when the big ultrasound is. Hopefully our baby will not be shy, and I can report the sex Wednesday!

Reflections on what might have been

Had I not miscarried in December, today would have been my due date. It's bittersweet, knowing I have another little one coming for sure in November... but I did some reflection today, and thought about how different it would be if I were anticipating a birth within days or weeks, instead of months.

Sigh. I suppose things happen for a reason... even though that might seem like the furthest thing from your mind when tragedy strikes your life. My grandma always says whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I can't say I'd argue with that in this situation. I feel like we're stronger people for it, knowing Jeff and I have been through such a heartbreaking ordeal... we've come out of it all stronger, closer than ever before. Strange how that works, huh?

All-American weekend

This weekend was nice. Yesterday Jeff and I went up to Babies R Us in San Jose and looked at neat things for the baby. I was going to get a glider, but after trying them all out, we decided to get a La-Z-Boy recliner instead.

We also looked at bassinetts and really like the Eddie Bauer one we saw there.

We also looked at car seats, and strollers. We want the Jeep stroller, but we're also going to get one of those Universal Car Seat Carrier stroller dealies for short trips, and because it will fit easily into our trunks. We both have speaker boxes in the trunk of our cars, and Jeff's is only a 2 door, so it's a little smaller to begin with.

We also went to Old Navy and picked out the most darling 4th of July outfit with a matching hat. We're into the Patriotic motif all the time, not just in July, so this way our little one can be decked out in Stars and Stripes shortly after they arrive!

We also went to Best Buy and bought a new vacuum because our old one finally died. I think it was like 6 years old. It lived a nice long life. :)

Today we took our cars to the self-wash and made them all nice. We did the Amor-all thing inside, and vacuumed them out and everything. They are both nice and sparkly in and out.

I made a French apple pie with strusel topping this afternoon. It's super yummy! We had it for dessert warm with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream on top. MMM!

Back to work tomorrow...yay! LOL.

Cheese!

Sigh... a short while ago I just got home for the first time today. I had physical therapy this morning... well, an asessment really... then I went to Mervyn's to get a new fitted sheet for our bed, and to Macy's to get an 8x10 frame. (Normally $20.00 by the way... I got it for the bargain price of $12.99... and it's SO purdy!) and then I called Jeff to let him know I was still in town, and had lunch @ McD's. At 2:20pm I had a photo appointment at the Picture People for pregnancy pictures for Jeff for Father's Day. And I had another session @ Penney's at 3:00pm. So by the time I was done @ Penney's, my photos were ready for pick-up at the Picture People. They came out SO well... I had the hardest time choosing the pose for my package, and I had a coupon for a free 8x10, so I chose another pose for that one. They told me they will keep the negatives for 30 days, so we can go by and I'll have Jeff look at the other 3 poses to see if we want any more prints. At Penney's I had another coupon for a $7.99 package... 1 8x10, 2 5x7, 9 wallets

I spent about $80.00 all together, but Jeff loved them, so it was worth it! I pick up the Penney's pictures on the 30th. Hopefully the day after we find out what kind of baby we're having.

If we scan them soon, I'll be sure to post them.

17 week visit!

Went to my 17 week appointment yesterday. Everything is great!! Baby is measuring well, according to Doc's measuring tape fundus check. When the nurse went to check for the heartbeat, she started out way higher than I'd heard the baby. I gently told her I had a doppler at home, and I usually hear the baby lower in the right part of my pelvis.

Instead of getting all bitchyful, she directed the doppler to where I was touching. Within three seconds and mere centimeters from where I indicated, we were greeted with the galloping of my little one's heart!

She was impressed, and she told me so.

Also, since Dr. had initially reccommended against a doppler for home... (something about the alarm it causes when the heartbeat can't be found, and then women call his office all hysterical-like, and they have to reassure them...) I wanted to let him know we'd rented one anyway, and what a sanity-saver it's been. I wanted him to know that there was a good experience with a doppler at home. He said he was happy about that, and he was glad we'd gotten a real doppler instead of one of those glorified microphone-things you can get at Babies R Us.

The nurse drew blood for my AFP screening, and Doc said that if I don't hear from them in 10 days, it's all good. The nurse was SO fast and SO good at the draw... only took 1/2 a little vial - and today I have barely a pinprick to show for it.

When I had my original bloodwork draw for the first pregnancy I went to Unilab and the vampires took 5 1/2 vials of blood, and I had a massive bruise for 10 days... not to mention how dizzy I was for the remainder of the day. This time was nothing!

I made my appointment for the 20 (21 in my case) ultrasound for the end of this month on 6/29 in the morning. I hope hope hope we'll be able to find out whether we're having a girl or a boy!! Send uncrossed legs vibes my way!!

I don't want to be doomed to a gender-neutral layette filled with jaundiced yellow and green! :)

I hate meeces to pieces!

Spam e-mail cracks me up from time to time. Really it does. I got an email today, the subject line was: "Mortgage loan quote for PO Box 3344" offering for me to refinance. My POST OFFICE BOX! I mean what the fuck? Ha!

Also, we've got mice. In our house. This is distressing, because every once in awhile I see one streaking across the floor. Yikes! What gives? I've never had mice before. We're clean people, save for a few dust bunnies on the parquet floors that are easily remidied with the Swiffer. We're renting a 50+ year old house, so perhaps that has something to do with it.

We bought those ultrasonic things that plug into the wall to repel them... yeah right. And some good old fashioned snap-traps. Yesterday alone, three met their untimely demise by traps, and one by Jeff smacking it with the broom.

Last week we realized the problem, when it was apparant that they were eating Mr. Kitty's treats located under the kitchen sink. He had his revenge... though... Mr. Kitty killed three of them last week. But, where the fuck are they coming from??!!!

Anyway... wish us luck on getting rid of the little buggers... they really suck!