Second Trimester Update

Hard to believe that I'm almost done with the second trimester! I'm sorry I haven't been posting more--after 5 years of consciously keeping personal stuff off my main blog, it's turning out to be a hard habit to break.

Gavin and I are both doing fine. I'm gaining weight slowly but steadily. I took a weekend trip to California (just got back last night), and that will be my last big trip for a while. Traveling was still pretty easy, although my back has been aching more recently, even in situations that used to be comfortable. (No surprise there!) Getting up and walking around has cured the problem every time so far. I'm still sleeping fine, and haven't much needed wedge or body pillows (yet). I'm also still wearing my hiking boots, although I'll need to find some comfy slip-on shoes/sandals soon--my feet aren't swelling, but bending over to tie my laces is getting less comfortable.

I've got another OB appointment tomorrow, including tests for anemia and gestational diabetes. Not expecting any problems there, although I won't be surprised if they put me on extra iron supplements. When I would go to donate blood before, I was usually about 50/50 for being turned down because of slightly low hemoglobin levels. I'd be surprised if pregnancy made that sort of thing better!

Curtis and I passed a big milestone last week when we started in on the 6-week delivery/parenting class offered by the hospital. After just one session we've already found it very useful--we're both the sort of people who feel calmer when we have more information. Just the revelation about what it is that contractions are actually doing (early contractions are modifying the birth canal, not pushing the baby out yet) will help me be more calm and rational about the whole thing. We're also learning about what the hospital offers in the delivery rooms, and what to expect in terms of doctor and nurse care. It's all very reassuring for us, and we're looking forward to the other sessions.

So everything is moving forward! We haven't made a big push to acquire all the stuff we'll need yet. I think we'll spend June learning more about just what we'll need, and then we'll start seriously acquiring in July. We are starting to move things around to get the nursery cleared out--so far we've moved two of the seven bookcases out!

Over half way!

Hi All,

Been a while here, Karen and I just passed the half way point. So far so good. Both Karen and Gavin are doing fine. We did have some concern a while back when the quad test came back with an elevated risk for some genetic concerns (not high mind you, just a little higher than the nominal threshold). However, we had an amniocentesis test done and those results were completely normal, and definitely a boy. In the mean time, Karen has tested positive for heterozygous factor five leiden. Not a big concern normally, but with the pregnancy there is an elevated risk of forming blood clots. So now she is on an injectable anti-coagulant.

On a brighter note, we are starting to collect baby furnishings. So far a Radio Flyer Rocking Horse, and baby swing. (The horse was donated by a co-wrokers his children had outgrown it, and the baby swing a target of opportunity at a neighbor's yard sale). Somehow, bringing bright primary colored furniture into the house is making it all more real. We've started a list on other items we need to get, but haven't gotten serious on buying stuff just yet. There's still plenty of time, and we both can be world class procrastinators.

New news!

We had the detailed anatomical ultrasound this morning. This time Curtis came along to watch, which was a big thrill for him. The most important thing is that it appears that the baby is developing normally: beating heart (149 bpm!), functioning kidneys, spinal cord & brain doing fine, arteries and veins developing, placenta & umbilical cord doing their jobs. In the pictures we can see two arms, two legs (even the bones inside them: ribs, radius & ulna in the arms, femur, etc!), and even all five fingers on one hand. It was so cool to see! By their estimates, the little one is 17 weeks along, which is still in the general vicinity of an August 27-30th due date.

The other thing that the scan showed is that it looks like the baby will be a boy! No more Gadget baby for us, we'll probably be calling him Gavin from here on out. That's going to take a little getting used to!

Things are changing

So I'm going to be a father. That is pretty incredible. After 10 years of deliberately childless marriage, I pretty sure most people had written us off for producing progeny. What can I say, life is nothing if not changes! (I am firmly in the camp that believes that 'May you live in interesting times' is a blessing, not a curse).

I've been thinking a bit about the changes that are coming our way. There are some obvious one's: like setting up a nursery, cutting back on travel plans, letting folks at work know that I will be out for while in August - September, etc. I've been kind of surprised at the not so obvious ones. I noticed recently that my world view has shifted. Not a really radical change, more like we have to fix these things, cause my child is going to have to live in the world! I mean, its OK if I wind up living in a post-apocolyptic, daily struggle for survival, existence. More or less it would be our own fault. But I'll be dammed if I had that sort of world off to my kids.

I'm sure this shift is by no means unique to Karen and I. It's just interesting to suddenly realize my perspective has shifted without consciously thinking about it. Probably explains a lot of the heated politics at both the local and national level.

And So It Begins!

It's looking a little shadowy in there, but this is the first picture of the baby that Curtis and I are expecting! We're so excited! We're starting this blog so that we can gush and do the new-parent thing, and friends and family can check in and see how things are going.

The ultrasound was taken last Thursday, and they estimate that the little one is about 14 weeks along. I got to see it wiggling around, and we confirmed 2 arms and 2 legs. We don't know the gender yet, but the next ultrasound in a couple of weeks might give us that info. All the tests & pictures look great so far, and everyone is healthy. I've had some predictable morning sickness, but I'm fine so far. The current estimated due date is August 28th.

Here are the other pictures from last week's ultrasound: