Travel Companions

The pooches were thankful to be invited into the car on Friday after we were all loaded up. They never like to see the suitcases come out, and I think they sensed our anxiousness.

Batture breathed down my neck for almost the entire 11 hour drive, and Muppet snuggled with his baby and snored.


Here they are nervous, pacing at night, and hesitant to let us out of sight. They miss their routine as much as we do.

Deja vu?

August 29th should have been a day to share a poboy from Domilise's and a Miller High Life (or a Barq's root beer). 3 years past Katrina. 3 years and we've settled back into a normal NOLA routine. Instead we spent the afternoon driving away, with our dogs and wedding albums in tow.

The house is secure. The porch swing has been taken down, the ferns in hanging baskets are tucked in the shed, and the Saints' and city flag lie in the foyer. I couldn't bring myself to toss the stash of steaks in the freezer, so they're tied up tightly in a garbage sack in the freezer for easy disposal, just in case. Charlie still hasn't recovered from pushing the rotten Fridgidaire out of the Jena house three years ago. I left our neighbors a note, scribbled down some phone numbers, and off we went.

Northwest was kind enough to provide a full credit voucher since we decided to skip our flights, and drive with our pets, to Oklahoma for the three day weekend. I'm thankful for their kindness, but it made me a little nervous.... this must be serious for the airlines to be so generous.

Leaving I felt worry over our home. We're in the highest area of the city now, so I don't fear floods, but looters. 8 feet of flood water on our 1st floor pretty much guaranteed no looters last time around. But it's only stuff. Everything can be replaced.

Driving on I-49 we passed caravans of school buses on their way to New Orleans. They'll be ready and waiting for a mass exodus. There were also caravans of National Guardsmen who will patrol the city, keep her and our homes safe. For an instant I felt better and then thought back to the day we spent, 2 weeks post flood, driving through the city in an attempt to get to our home which still sat submerged in water. The few people we saw rode in humvees, carried semiautomatic weapons, and wore camouflage. They weren't smiling and wanted us out of their way. Above helicopters hovered low with military and media hanging out opened hatches. Volunteers manned airboats making their way through our neighborhood streets searching for those left in the sun on their rooftops. I didn't feel safe.

I feel little comfort from the newer projected paths pushing Gustav westward. We're not out of danger yet. Newscasts here in OKC have images of traffic picking up on the highway out of New Orleans. My inbox is filled with memos from work with instructions for next week...be safe, take care of your family, be in close contact.

We are together and we are safe, but I am teary. The hormones probably don't help, but I really fear loss for our city and our life there. We want coffee and bagels next Saturday at the Laurel Street Bakery. We want to kick off the "r months" (oyster season) at Casamento's with oyster loaf and chat with the shuckers at the oyster bar. We want bloody marys (mine virgin of course) for breakfast on our porch when the fall weather comes midOctober.

It's going to be a long few days for us.

Katrina's Brother?

As Katrina's 3rd anniversary approaches, Gustav is getting all the attention. Katrina. Gustav. There's definitely a family resemblance.

We've got plans to be out of town for the three day weekend, but now we are trying to come up with Plans B, C, and D.

Today I will contact the dog sitter to find out her plans and arrange for Plan B involving a drive back in a rental car for dog pick up if we do indeed end up heading to Oklahoma and the dog sitter needs to evacuate.

Stopping for bread, water, peanut butter, batteries, and other supplies are part of this afternoon's agenda in case we implement Plan C, not leaving the house.

Plan D will involve packing some bags, filling the gas tanks, and driving in what I presume will be gridlock traffic later this week.

I'm trying to focus on Plan A, a short trip out of town for a few days, and put the possibilities of the others out of my mind. But really we'd be foolish to not prepare.

Tonight we'll tie down patio furniture, secure potted plants, and get the house prepared. Charlie's printed out his "hurricane prep" list and we're going through the motions for some of the things...just in case.

Um ba-bay Update

Quickest appointment ever with Dr. M. Probably because it was the only appointment ever with Dr. M where I wasn't crying. And I didn't have any questions. Of course he couldn't help himself and had to tell me in great biological detail about why I am no longer bleeding. Yep, bleeding is all gone at just the time he said it would stop.

I told him my biggest worry today was Charlie having to stop the parades come February to drive the car through to get his laboring wife to the hospital or my water breaking as I dive for a Zulu coconut. He had a big smile and told me he was so happy that I was finally at the point of having those worries.

Blood pressure: 120/70, normal but a bit elevated for me
Weight: +2 pounds overall

A note on weight: Dr. M said his only mention of weight would be at the first visit unless ultrasounds revealed my nutrition was affecting development. His only statement in regards to weight was "the first 30 come of easily, and the rest you'll have to work for." I'm keeping track. I always have so don't think these 40 weeks should be any different. I think 2 pounds by week 15 sounds within reason, and my scale only shows 1 pound anyway!

Dr. M said uterus feels to have grown to appropriate proportions. Most important part of the visit was Um Ba-bay finally let us listen to his heartbeat with the doppler. Heart rate has dropped to the 140 bpm range. Disappointed s/he didn't require a viewing via ultrasound to make sure everything was ok, but pleased I finally got to listen because now I will order a trusty little doppler to use at home whenever I so desire!

I won't see Dr. M again until September 30th. Upcoming appointments: second trimester screening on September 9th and anatomy scan on September 24th.

Weekend Numbers

365: days since last ordchid bloom
5: months on timeline to have master bath complete
4: hours spent taking down wall in master bath
1: Date, dinner and a movie
2: bakery trips
5: rainy miles walked
16: inches of doberge cake indulged in
1: demand for a "hip" diaper bag (I told you this was going to be fun!)

14 weeks and some firsts

The first trimester has ended, and the first pair of elastic waisted maternity pants has arrived.

I ordered some maternity wear right after the Saints game last week. Charlie was fussing at me for not wearing supportive, slip proof shoes to the game. I explained I didn't have anything that fit that would coordinate with such shoes, to which he fired back with "your hiking boots would be just fine with that white linen dress."

The other first of the week is um ba-bay's first gift! "A boppy?" he asked. I still don't think he quite gets what he's going to do with a boppy. This is going to be so much fun with Charlie.

Thank you Lynn, Laura, and Sophie.

And what you have all been waiting for.....

I've never had a particularly flat stomach, but it is growing.

12 weeks, in Charlie's boxers, my 1st choice of lounge wear.

Pregnant belly or beer belly?

14 weeks

Hint: I haven't had any beer in 10 weeks (I had no idea for the first 4!).


The belly may make an appearance in public, clothed of course, this weekend. I'm not sure about the reaction it'll get, or how comfortable I'll feel, as at this point it resembles a spare tire. But I've got to wear some "practical" shoes, and I can't pair them with a linen dress.

13th week Pregnancy Numbers

$19,685: refunded payment for IVF and genetic screening
$90: co-payment for all prenatal care
$40: 1 month of prescription prenatal vitamins with DHA
$388.50: airline ticket to Denver for IVF
$213.50: voucher for unused ticket to Denver after cancellation fee
4: ultrasounds by week 13
1: pound gained by week 13
0: number of current symptoms
1: bigger pair of shorts
2: names we've agreed upon
3: dreams (frightening dreams) of fat, swollen feet

1st trimester screening

Before screening, chances for our baby baby having down syndrome (trisomy 21) were 1 in 50. Post screening: 1 in 10,000.

Before screening, chances for our baby having trisomy 18 were 1 in 100. Post screening: 1 in 10,000.

I neglected to get exact levels of free beta-hCG (a certain type of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone) and PAPP-A (pregnancy associated plasma protein A), but I figured the decreased odds were enough. Yes, I even surprised myself by not asking for levels, but I did probe for more detailed information when she told my my screening was "negative." I knew "negative' put us somewhere in the 1 in 300 range, but I needed to know where we fell. I think all of my infertility treatments have made me a more informed patient, probably much to the chagrin of many doctors.

2nd trimester screening bloodwork (looking at Free(beta)hCG or total hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin), AFP (alpha fetoprotein), and uE3 (unconjugated estriol)) on September 9th.

The season begins

Back to the Dome last night for a preseason game. We've been waiting for these games since the last Hornets' playoff game ended. Can't get enough sporting events in.

Charlie pulled out his Deuce jersey, since he'd be back on the field tonight after a long absence last year. I need to find a maternity jersey, or you may be seeing me at the home games in a black sports bra and yellow painted belly.


We left while the Saints were winning (they eventually lost) to swing by Brocato's for a healthy serving of lemon ice before heading home to watch Michael Phelps and the American swim team pull out yet another gold medal and set a world record. I cried, of course, despite my feelings that they're all doping.

Glad we're back to football season, watching games, and discussing stats over breakfast.

Toasting Um Ba-bay

Walking to the car, fat and happy

To Um Ba-bay, we toasted, Charlie with a Sazerac and I with Perrier over a celebratory dinner at Luke. We were also toasting Charlie's ongoing weight loss, and my weight gain, and so naturally a big meal was in order.

Our meal at Luke was delicious: fried oyster, bacon, avocado salad, corn and crab bisque, crabmeat masion, boudin, mussels, and crabmeat ravioli!


We talked about lots and lots, but always came back to our amazement at expecting a child. We even talked about strollers and bottles. "Is this conversation for real" we each questioned, more than once.

We have another celebration planned for the end of September, post anatomy scan. Counting down the days.

13 weeks

Here's "um ba-bay," measuring 13 weeks 2 days, with a heartbeat of 167 bpm, and two arms, two hands, two legs, and two feet.

My very favorite ultrasound technician from the fertility clinic did the scan prior to the doctor doing a scan, and she made a prediction on sex. She said the quality of the image at 13 weeks isn't very good, but if she had to say one way or the other it would be...boy. We'll see if this still stands at the anatomy scan at 20 weeks.


I opted for this first trimester screening solely for the purpose of taking advantage of the opportunity to see inside once again. That is the only thing that keeps my emotions and nerves in check, and even that lasts only a few days. We didn't (and still don't) have plans of taking any further action if results indicated elevated risks for chromosomal abnormalities. There'd be no CVS or amniocentesis, as neither of us is comfortable with the risk.

The CRL (crown rump length) is 70 so with that length they were looking for nuchal thickness of less than 3mm. It measured 1.4.


Blood sample was taken and with those results I will be given the proposed "chances" (1 in XX) of the baby having an abnormality. 2nd trimester screening will decrease the chances of a "false positive" and about 91% of abnormalities are detected.

I suppose I should mention here that I had a bit of a melt down in the office when I was informed 10 minutes after arriving that the doctor was running behind 1 hour. Grrrr. It wasn't Dr. M, so I have little patience for that particularly because the hospital is so adamant about patients arriving on time or face appointment cancellation and charges. And well, they knew I was irritated. They sent the hospital manager to speak with me, and I told him nothing he said would change my feelings, and if he expected flexibility from hospital patients in such instances, he should afford patients the same courtesy. And any time I am angry or stressed I cry, so the tears were flowing.

The office must have been abuzz with "the crazy lady" gossip, because they sent Dr. M down to see which patient it was. He smiled when he saw me, and told me "I already knew who it was." Smile.

Next appointment August 26. "20 week scan" set for September 24th.

Working

Back to school.

I have been filling in as a classroom teacher while the principal works to fill the vacancy. Being in that room feels very natural and makes me miss classroom teaching. It is exciting and got me thinking of ideas for lessons, projects, and team/community building. And that excitement is what reminded me I cannot be a classroom teacher right now. Teaching in a classroom consumes me, in order to do the job I want to do. So I need to let that go, and be thankful I have a teaching job that allows me to work with students, and still do this baby growing job I have.

Part time work is gearing up, and I am feeling much better about it, mostly because I have an amazing boss who is very supportive. She proposed restructuring my position to alleviate some stress and assured me she can handle any decision I need to make for my family. Whew.

Things are busy, which I am thankful for. I need distraction from the doctor appointment jitters.

Shopping

Camera battery was dead, so we had to video!

Today Charlie picked out the rocker he wants. We were trying to decide between two online, but I kinda figured this one would accommodate man sizes better. Sure enough, after sitting in each, he agreed.

The rocker is a bit of a splurge but we won't need to buy any other furniture since we're using Charlie's baby furniture (also used by his mother, sister, and nephews!). He's been selling off all kinds of stuff we don't use and don't need on craigslist and we're adding to a jar of cash on the bookshelf each week.

Taking Charlie to look at the rockers today heightened my anxiety about Thursday's upcoming ultrasound. I've been feeling pretty positive about the idea of bringing home a baby in February, until the last 24 hours. I think a great deal of that has to do with the fact that I have been encountering people in real life with my return to work who have been engaging me in conversations about the pregnancy. It's still hard to let that happen, accept congratulations, and proceed as a pregnant woman/future mother. I don't really feel like a member of the club just yet.

Charlie is frustrated by my fears. I promised I'd make a better effort to relax after our appointment on Thursday. Maybe there will be some sort of initiation ceremony when I hit 13 weeks.

After weeks and weeks of no mention

C: Are you excited?

E: Yeah, I am actually starting to feel excited.

C: Me too.

Gear!

In an effort to reduce his footprint on the Earth, Charlie has been cycling to work. The 30 minute cycle in the morning and and again in the afternoon have done wonders for his waist and have meant more money in his pocket with having to gas up the truck less often.

But that money has easily been spent, ten times over on new gear for the bike. The latest edition: panniers. They hold his school work, lunch, a fresh shirt, and lots of other bike gear, keeping it all dry on those rainy afternoon rides.

I like to call the panniers "panties." Unfortunately I don't get quite the same reaction as I did from my little brother when I referred to his tighty whiteys as panties, but I do get a little rise out of him.

There's lots of giggling in this house, at just about everything.

For the record

Charlie's prediction, the weekend we had a positive pregnancy test:

The child's a fighter. Got a will like you wouldn't believe. It's got to be a girl. Stubborn, through and through, much like her mother.

Yep, I added a ticker

I have been saving the html code for the pregnancy calender in an unpublished post. I'd check it every few days to remind myself of the progress of the pregnancy. Today I felt brave, and now it's there for all to track the baby's growth and progress.

Without further ado

I'd like to announce... I am pregnant, and my due date is February 20th.

After seeing Dr. M I am beginning to think I really am pregnant, and we may, just may, be a family of more than two one day.

Have I told you how much I love Dr. M? The 60 minutes past our appointment time we waited was completely worth it, because I know he runs behind because of the time he takes with each patient, and my time with him will last as long as I need, until all questions are answered and solutions are found for every problem.

After an attempt to find the heartbeat with the doppler and a nervous wait for an ultrasound, he located the heartbeat. 166 bpm, just like the last visit. The abdominal ultrasound does not produce accurate crown rump measurement, but nevertheless, the baby was measuring at 11 weeks, which would be right on target considering my LMP.

He maintained the due date established by my LMP (four days before Mardi Gras) even though the transvaginal ultrasound showed the baby to be measuring somewhat behind. Evidently if the difference is less than 5 days, they stick with the due date generated from the LMP. So February 20th it is.

He feels comfortable with my adding moderate, non strenuous exercise to my routine, but I think Charlie would like me to hold out until week 14, Dr. M's marker of increased safety.

He addressed my fears. I explained the prepping and priming I went through to achieve pregnancy and the attempts to create an environment to sustain an embryo, a process he is intimately familiar with. It all just felt so weird to be pregnant, just pregnant, without shots, pills, patches. He smiled and told me he was more than willing to prescribe progesterone in oil injections and estrogen patches if it would help me mentally, although, his professional opinion was that it'd make no difference in the progression of the pregnancy. I declined, but I like that he offered.

And that brought us to his explaining we have decisions to make about pregnancy and birth. He is there to explain pros and cons to all choices, and give his professional opinion, but ultimately we make the decisions, and he'll be very supportive. Yes, a doctor did mention labor in regards to this pregnancy. I can hardly believe it.

He asked we call him on Monday to let him know if we'd like the first trimester screening, including the nuchal fold scan and a blood test to measure proteins, free Beta-hCG and PAPP-A. The screening will not diagnose abnormalities, but will provide information as to potential risks associated with chromosomal abnormalities and congenital heart problems.

I'm feeling better and think this feeling may last, at least for another day or two.