A Friday Full of Surprises

SURPRISE #1:
Walking out the doors of Highlights, knowing I wouldn't be back for 12 long weeks, I felt surprisingly uneasy. I anticipated similar emotions to when I took off for my honeymoon or any other vacation, but this was not the case. Perhaps it's because deep down I knew I was leaving responsibilities I could handle, people I understood, and a routine that was familiar, and trading it all in for a more difficult job – a job I have not trained for – taking care of a little person I don't know or understand, under circumstances that will no way nearly resemble a routine.

SURPRISE #2:
The baby inside me looks like a mini-Jeremy. The tech administering the ultrasound at my diabetes check-up was so intrigued by the chubby cheeks she saw in the 2D ultrasound, she switched the machine over to 3D/4D mode to get a better look. And there s/he was...mini-J!

SURPRISE #3:
Our baby isn't a tiny monster, unless you consider 7lbs. 9oz. to be large, which I do not.

SURPRISE #4:
More protein in my urine. Technically this isn't a surprise to me, but it's concerning to my Doc as traces of protein have been lingering around since mid-December. This is a sign of Preeclampsia, and I'm at a higher risk for it due to the GD.

SURPRISE #5:
Protein in my urine warrants a trip to Labor & Delivery- this baby might be born today! AM I READY FOR THIS?!! In near panic I call Jeremy, asking him to finish packing my bags and to meet me at the hospital. (For the most part my bags were ready to go, with the exception of toiletries I use daily, so I figured he could handle it.) However, as I lie in the hospital bed waiting for Jeremy to arrive, I start thinking about everything he needed to bring that I forgot to mention- the Boppy, digital camera, video camera, pillow, clothes for him, etc. I could only hope for the best upon his arrival.

SURPRISE #6:
All my blood tests came back normal, the baby's heart rates were perfect, and although my blood pressures were askew, everything looked well enough to send me home. With the protein still being a major concern, I was given another pee-can to bring home and urinate in for the next 24 hours. On Sunday morning Jeremy and I will go back to L&D to deliver the pee-can and I will again go through more testing to see how myself and the baby are holding up. Looks like the baby could be born on Sunday instead of Wednesday!

SURPRISE #7:
I don't do well under Mom-to-Be stress. Once home, Jeremy started bringing in everything he packed for the hospital. Everything I forgot, he didn't! And, he even had the car seat...which didn't even cross my mind once. I might not be as ready for this Mom thing as I thought!

NOT-A-SURPRISE #1:
My husband is going to be an amazingly wonderful father. When I asked him how the hell he figured out what to pack on such short notice and under such unexpected circumstances, he calmly looked at me and said, "Babe, I was ready to be a Dad."

If that doesn't melt your heart and have all you ladies trying to steal my man, then you are all crazy! (NOT-A-SURPRISE #2- I am one lucky woman.)