The Long, Long Ultrasound

Ever since I was younger, I've always carried a book with me. You never knew when downtime would occur - so it was important to be prepared.

Yesterday, I had an NT scan.

How nuchal translucency screening is done

Nuchal translucency screening, or NT screening, is an ultrasound test. It screens for Down syndrome (trisomy 21, meaning an extra copy of chromosome 21) and other disorders that are caused by extra copies of chromosomes (trisomy 13, trisomy 18), as well as congenital heart defects. This procedure is done during an ultrasound. The sonographer will first move the transducer across your belly to measure your baby from crown to rump to ensure that the fetal age is accurate. Then he or she will locate and measure the nuchal fold (if you're lucky your baby will cooperate by moving into a position where the measurement will be easy).

Once I was in the room, I was told to lie down on the table and that it would take about 30 minutes. I figured - great - glad I brought that Jackie Collins. No prob!

Then she turned the lights off.

Damn.

And because she needed to see the images more than I did, I couldn't see the screen. Therfore, nothing to look at.

Double Damn.

So I thought - OK, I can go to sleep.

But, because she needed to get a really good reading, she kept pushing the transducer into my belly - making it impossible for me to sleep.

Triple Damn.

In the end, it took about 25 minutes, I did get to see the matzo ball and the tech told me there was no inidcation that anything was wrong. Also, if there was, they'd be calling me right away.

Thus far, no call. :)

Behind the Announcement

Even before we were pregnant, Adam and I talked about how we would announce it.

At first, there was talk of an elaborate video shot at Disneyland using Michael Buble's song, "I Just Haven't Met You Yet."

With the reveal at the end.

Logistically, we couldn't figure out how to pull it off.

So I used it when I told Adam we were pregnant - I waled into the bedroom holding the test in one hand and my ipod and speakers in the other playing the song.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. We were having a game day at Disneyland with our friends, and we asked Teresa, who loves taking pictures, if she could take some for our announcement. Just because we couldn't do a video didn't mean we couldn't have some Disney fun.

So we took pictures all over Main Street and Fantasyland - with me holding mouse ears over my stomach. While they were all cute, something was missing.....

After three hours of game play at Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe, we headed over to the Animation Building where they have, at the entrance: Once Upon a Time. And at the exit: And They Lived Happily Ever After.


We couldn't image anything more perfect:

Thank you to Teresa for adding in the Disney font with the date.

Matzo Ball - Part III

Getting bigger every time.
The Matzo Ball waved at me last Friday.

I waved back - it just seemed like the right thing to do.

Appointment With.... Everyone

I honestly haven't booked this many things since my wedding.

Dentist, OB, baby classes, hair, facial, massages.

All of the appointments I have are important in various ways - although some might say the ones with the doctor are wee bit more important than my pregnancy massage in Vegas (I would beg to differ).

Although now that my time at the clinic is done - that's one less set of appointments.

Amen!

Thank goodness I already have my 2013 calendar - the first three months are filling up fast.

So book now and I can pencil you in.

I've Heard That Song Before

Kaiser offers a plethora of pregnancy-related classes - most of them are free (bonus). We'll get to take Lazmaze, Infant CPR, Breastfeeding and Baby Care Basics.

Yesterday, Adam and I went to a Healthy Pregnancy Class designed for first trimester parents-to-be.

In typical kaiser fashion - they doublebooked the room. So the classroom we were supposed to be in was being used for a Lamaze class -- and they sent us to the basement classroom. Really Kaiser - you offer this class one day a month and you doublebook?

The first hour was taught by a nurse and was about overall pregnancy dos and don'ts. The second hour was a nutritionist talking to us about what we should be eating.

If I lived in a cave, didn't buy a book or had never gone online - the class would have been helpful.

Instead - it was two hours of redundency. I think it helped Adam somewhat (and he wasn't the only guy in class).


Plus - a Power Point presentation in printouts is totally lame.

There were people at all stages of pregnancy in the class. One woman was due in October. I'm thinking - you're doign this now? If this is new to you, you might have bigger problems.

I would have loved more insight into the other classes - but we were just told, call the class line and book (we were also told that they sell many things at their store).

We're both looking forward to the Baby Care class (I wonder if I'll get Babysitting class flashbacks).

The Matzo Ball Part II

Measuring 8.5 -- with a heartbeat of 144. Woohoo!

A Frapuccino Short

I invented a new drink.

Since I'm supposed to be cutting back on my caffeine...but giving up my Starbucks is not in the cards, I found a plan that works for my diet AND is more economical.

I buy a bottled frap and each day I only drink one-third of it.

This way, I get the kick without all the caffeine AND instead of going through a four pack in four days -- it will take 12!

Boo yah!

They might not sell "short" Fraps, but that doesn't mean I can't drink them.