born on the 4TH OF JULY?!?!?!!

We had our first doctor's appointment yesterday and it went great! The only drawback is that he pushed me back about a week based on the measurements of the sonogram. He said he doesn't usually change the due date when it's just a week but because of a particular "uterine abnormality" that I have, he is concerned with getting me to a certain point and wants to know for sure when we've reached that point. Both of the girls have gone technically full term (Gracie 36 1/2 weeks & Katie 38 1/2 weeks) so I'm not too concerned. However, I guess we'll go with his date of the 4TH OF JULY as my due date! Of course, he & I both agree that I'll never make it to July and the baby will for sure be here in June, but July 4th is the due date and that's a pretty cool due date!


My Lilypie counter seemed to be kind of messed up so I'm not sure if it's right or wrong. The doctor said the sonogram measured me at 7 weeks 1 day yesterday and then he said July 4th as the due date. When I put that due date in Lilypie, it doesn't show me that far along so who really knows?!!? All I know is that when the lady did the sonogram we saw that sweet heartbeat fluttering along and then got to hear it! Yippee!


I had been really nervous that we were going to get in there and have them tell me I was crazy and that my 3 home pregnancy tests were false and that I wasn't pregnant. It just still seems a little surreal that this has happened this way! It was a delight to see that I really did have a child growing inside of me and that the heartbeat was strong!


This is a new (to me) doctor in a new (to me) practice at a new (to me) hospital and we were more than impressed! Everyone was so nice and congratulatory. The doctor sat with us in his office for about 30 minutes before he did the exam and then about 10 minutes afterwards. He was so nice and the nurse was so sweet. I am really, really happy that we made the switch. I liked my last doctor but I always kind of felt like a number rather than a person, especially once I made it to the hospital. I didn't feel like I was special at all. I know, I know, I'm no more special than anyone else, but I think most of you mommies out there would agree that it's nice to be treated special by your doctor when you're having a baby. I do feel like Katie was well taken care of at the last hospital but I know this new baby will be just as taken care of at this new hospital. It's used by many of my friends from church.


As I mentioned above, I do have a "condition" that lends itself to premature labor but God has blessed us with almost full term births with both of the girls and they've been healthy-although small-upon birth. The doctor saw my sonogram before he saw me and he told us that he told his student, "The concern with this patient will be premature labor." One of the first things he asked me was whether or not I'd had other children. When I told him that I had 2 and gave him the details of the pregnancy & birth, he seemed relieved & to have more confidence in things going well. I try not to read too much about this condition on the Internet because th statistics can be kind of scary, but I can look at my sweet Gracie & Katie to know that things can turn out well! I won't go into all the details but I'd be more than happy to share with anyone who actually wants to know about it. I kind of felt like I was on Grey's Anatomy when he asked permission for his student to come & observe my exam. I think she was maybe a little disappointed but I guess she felt there was the potential to see something interesting! How could a Grey's fan turn down an opportunity for a student to learn from me?!!? She kind of looked like Lexi Grey too!


Don't get me wrong; I'm not like a freak or something! I guess maybe it kind of sounds like that but I'm not. Just someone with something a little interesting!


Another interesting thing about this pregnancy is my age. Apparently, "35" is the magic age for getting extra lectures about some things. I won't be 35 until May but that will be before this baby is here so I got to hear about all sorts of available testing for all sorts of diseases & complications this baby could have. The doctor said his wife had their 1st at 36 and their 2nd at 39 so I was perfect as far as he was concerned. Chris & I will most likely not do any of the "extra" testing because we wouldn't do much with any worrying information other than worry so what's the point. We wouldn't choose to terminate based on a scary diagnosis. We wouldn't feel that was right. We were thrilled when the doctor made it obvious that his values along this line were pretty much the same!


I have been soooo nauseous and yesterday I was nervous before the appointment. The last thing I did was have about 4 vials of blood taken. I really dislike having blood taken and having only eaten a sausage biscuit & a pkg. of peanut butter crackers all day (and it was around 4:00!) we went to eat afterwards. If something hits me that I'd like to eat I figure I better eat it since so often nothing sounds good. We went to The Olive Garden! I wanted their breadsticks with alfredo sauce-yum! I probably ate more in 15 minutes than I'd eaten in 2 days. I had to remind myself to slow down. By the time I got my manicotti, I was pretty full and not enjoying it as much as I'd hoped so most of it is in the fridge for someone to eat later. The breadsticks were great though!


All in all, it was a great visit and it was thrilling to see the baby! I can't figure out how to scan the picture but I'll have Chris do it later. My friend Mary Beth kept the girls for us then 3 friends have called to check on the visit and 1 has emailed so I feel loved!

Dear Lord,
Thank you for a good doctor's visit and for allowing us to see our precious baby! I'm so thankful for technology that can give me peace of mind during my pregnancies! Please continue to let this child grow as You would have him or her do. Please give the doctor wisdom & strength.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen