Getting Hooked Up to Get Knocked Up

The big appointment was today. As I was sitting in my doctor's office, I noticed baby posters everywhere, as if to mock me. "Waaaaaaaaa... waaaaaaaa... waaaaaaaaa..." is what they said. I think my brain just rattled in my head at the imaginary sound of a baby wailing. When I had signed in for my appointment, I was told I had some sort of "credit" and had no co-pay for the day. So, in my mind I began rationalizing: Just hear what she has to say, change your mind about having a baby, and start taking your birth control pills again tomorrow - the appointment today is "free." No harm, no foul.

But, after talking to the nurse and the doctor, I now... want to make a baby! They were treating me like this was such an exciting time for me. (Is it?) The doctor never mentioned that I was too overweight to conceive (down 4 pounds from my exam last November!! Woot woot!). It may have helped that I "wowed" them with my feat of running a half marathon in May. So, I'm obviously in good cardiovascular shape, and that's what's important. :)

My doctor beamed when I asked if she'd be my doctor and deliver the baby. I'm sure she gets asked this at least 3 times a day. But, that got me excited, too. And, even better, she said she goes to Riverside or St. Ann's. St. Ann's, St. Ann's... isn't that a Mt. Carmel hospital? A Mt. Carmel Little Miracles Program hospital? THE Little Miracles Program that has radio commercials that made me want to have a baby long before I really wanted to have a baby? Note to self: First order of business when I get home - check on St. Ann's. (Reader's Note: Yes, it is THE Mt. Carmel St. Ann's and I've already taken a virtual tour of the maternity ward.) This information alone has me *stoked*!

Then, it was like Christmas morning with the free gifts to help me out. She gave me a copy of "Conception" magazine, which I already read most of in the past hour, 3 packs of samples of new pre-natal vitamins with DHA, and a prescription for 9 months of vitamins. Supposedly, DHA is like the coolest thing since sliced bread. Everyone's taking it. Now I have two giant vitamin pills that look a little intimidating. The potential nausea from the new vitamins during my 12-hour work day tomorrow will be just splendid.

Also, in the "Conception" magazine, I found an ad for "The Knot's" version of a baby page, called "The Bump." Already, I'm addicted. And, one of the tools on there that I found helpful, yet surprising was the Due Date Calculator. If we were to get preggers on the first try, I'd be due April 18th. Wow, I was thinking June. But, I'd love to have a May baby. Maybe I'd be a few weeks late... Funny, just three weeks ago we decided to start trying for a baby "in a few months." Why am I so eager to start now? April doesn't seem that far away...

My Monthly Reminder

Wow, how time flies when you're thinking about babies!! It seems like it was one big rush to do everything, then suddenly I forgot all about the interest in having a baby. Must've been my hormones at the time... Right after making my doctor's appointment, Adam and I rushed out to buy some "temporary" pre-natal vitamins, so I could start getting some nutrients. I wasn't nervous asking the pharmacist at Meijer's for advice, maybe because I had my husband shopping with me, so it looked more like a committed, conscious decision we were making, vs. me shopping at the bookstore for baby books, during the day, by my lonesome.

I was to the point several weeks ago, where I thought a moment of my day would not go by where I WASN'T thinking about having a baby. But, alas, it did. And that's why I have nothing much to say about the last two weeks. However, yesterday, I was given a nice reminder of the decision I made to go off of the pill. My monthly reminder paid me a visit, hormones, bloat, cramps, and all, and reminded me what it was like to be a teenager again. Uggghhhh.... owwww... I'm popping Advil like it's my job. I just want to lay in bed with a heating pad on my abdomen all day!! How easily I wiped those pains from my mind while taking the pill for the last seven or so years. Well, maybe if I play my cards right I won't have that reminder again for another 9 months. :)

Either way, it's time to get back into baby-decision mode, because by looking at the calendar I can see that tomorrow is July 14th. D-Day... as in "Doctor Day." This is where she will tell me I'm too fat to have a kid and tells me to wait a few more months before trying since my hormones are still out of whack. Hmpf! Can't wait for that news! Currently, I'm in the "it's now or never" mood, so hopefully the doctor won't ruin those plans. So, tonight, I'm putting together a list of questions to ask her at the appointment:
- "I can still go on my cruise vacation in the fall? And zipline, ice skate, and kayak, right?"
- "We will be able to conceive on our first try, right?"
- "This is easier than it sounds, right?"
You know... all the important questions. I will soon find out. I'm sure the reality is that the bloat, cramps, and general icki-ness that I feel today can't hold a candle to what the next 9+ months has in store for me.