California Lovin

California Lovin
How it all gets started...

Friday, February 12, 2010

First Timester Screening

My second trimester started a week ago, and I am now in my 13th week of pregnancy. I am starting to feel much better, as of this week. My fatigue levels have dropped, and the nausea is lessening everyday. It's good to feel a little more like me again. Yesterday was a wonderful day. It started out in the usual way with Don and me dragging ourselves out of bed at 5 am. I packed Don his lunch while he got ready for work and then we shared a little breakfast and prayed together before he left. After that I took Marley out for a run, and then engaged in laundry and house cleaning. The good part of my day really started around 11 am when I had lunch with my friend Sarah. We met up at The Coffee Bean with our boxed lunches and had a lovely conversation. After that, I went to the Farmer's Market (on the Redondo Beach Pier), got loads of fresh produce, and then spent some time looking for a new rental with my neighbor Edith. I think we may have found something to rent that will be perfect for our new little addition!

The first trimester screening was not something I was really looking forward to. It's good to prepare yourself for any birth defects your baby may have, but I was a little nervous about the whole thing. The appointment was at 3 pm, and I had lots of friends praying for me and the baby which was really reassuring and amazing (thanks Danielle and Stacy!) Although I was a little nervous, I have to say the whole appointment ended up being a terrific experience. The facility was very nice, and the staff was incredibly friendly at the Megalla Medical Group. My appointment started on time with the ultrasound--which was decked out with a large screen for me to watch without craning my neck, and heated jelly for my belly. This was an incredibly fun experience! I was blown away by how developed the baby looked compared with the last ultrasound I had. I could see his/her whole body from the little froggy legs to the nubs on the hands, the big belly, and the giant head. I could even make out eyelids, lips, and a nose. I think the baby has Don's lips, and my nose, I don't know how to feel about that yet. Anyway, the baby was very snug on his back, and the tech. was bouncing the wand on my belly trying to jiggle things enough to get the baby to roll on his side. She needed him to be on his side to take measurements as part of a Down's Syndrome screening. It was pretty funny to watch the whole process. Every time she would jab the wand into my belly, the baby would kick up his feet and throw up his hands, but he wouldn't roll no matter what she did. Finally we took a break, and I had my blood drawn. After that we tried again, and again the baby was snug as a bug in a rug on his back. Then she told me to go walk down the hall and use the bathroom, to try to get him to roll, so I did. I came back, again with the warm jelly, and the wand, and ta-da! The baby was still on his back. After that I started rolling my body on the table from left side to right side to get the baby to roll with me. It didn't really work. Finally, I just said to the baby, "OK, I really hope this behavior is not indicative of a stubborn personality." Still no rolling. Lastly, I just asked nicely over and over again, and FINALLY the little one decided to roll, except he rolled the wrong direction. So then instead of looking at the baby's spine, we were looking at the baby's face, and he was just looking at us like, "Can I please get some sleep in here!" So we waited a little longer, and I keep rolling and coaxing, and after about 30 minutes the baby decides to get right where we need him to get. It is adorable watching him finally get into position. He takes his sweet time rolling to his side, and then once he gets there he just stretches and stretches and stretches, and we just wait, and wait, and wait, until he finally stops arching his back enough for the tech. to measure the fold in his neck. Although the baby was a little stubborn (or lazy depending on how you want to look at it) I am glad about it because it meant I got to watch him hang out in my belly for over half an hour. I can't believe how much he can move already. At one point he put his hands together right next to his face and it just looked so cute and cozy.

Once the tech. got the measurements she needed, she surprised me by turning up the volume on his heartbeat. That was my first time hearing his heart, and it was so amazing. I called Don at work, and put him on speaker phone, and he started tearing up at the job site. Haha! So much for being the tough big boss man.

Anyway, thanks for reading my long story about baby Speedie number 3 (1 and 2 are nephew and niece Oliver and Charley). I am so excited to meet this little guy. Oh, and NO, I don't know the gender yet. Also, the measurement on the neck looked just right, so most likely NO downs' syndrome, and I won't know the rest of the results from yesterday for another 7 business days.

The wonderful day was capped off with a wonderful evening with friends Dale and Victoria, at Messob--an Ethiopian restaurant in Little Ethiopia, Los Angeles. That was my first time eating Ethiopian food, and it was delicious!

PEACE!



2 comments:

  1. Oh my...thanks so much for your very discriptive blog!!!! I can just imagine myself in the room watching the whole ultra sound proceedure take place and so I tear up too!!!
    This is so exciting and I am so full of joy and wonder just like you and Don are.
    Blessing on you Rachel. thanks so much for sharing. I'll be calling you a little later.
    love to you, Don and babe...oh yes and of course Shasha and Marley too :)
    Lorri-Mom

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  2. I felt like I was watching him too! How fun!! Thanks for sharing! I can't wait for confirmation of boy or girl! You and Don are going to be AMAZING parents!! I can't wait to meet him (or her)!! Love ya! Aunt Danielle

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