[Previous entry: "The Know-Nothing Party"] [Next entry: "I only want to stab myself in the head. That's all."]
12/31/2006: "May I have the envelope, please?"
I like to give credit where credit is due. This is true even in cases where it seems I've done nothing but complain about those to whom I'm giving credit. But the genetics department at Kaiser deserves some credit. Rest assured that the genetics department is a different department from the actual amniotic fluid taking department or the advice nurse department or just about any other department I've ever dealt with at Kaiser, which might explain why the aforementioned departments generate my bitch sessions and the genetics department gets my praise.
But praise indeed it gets. I expected the test results from the amnio sometime next week, since the sample was drawn on Monday the 18th and we were told it would take about two weeks. Exactly 2 weeks after the 18th would be New Year's Day, so I didn't really expect any news until at least Tuesday of next week or even later. Imagine my surprise (and mild terror) when I got a phone call the day before yesterday, Friday, from the genetics department - eleven days from the draw (and the fluid wasn't taken until, like, 5:30 pm). At our introductory class a few months ago, they explained how the call would go. If all was well, they'd say, "Hi, this is so-and-so from the genetics department at Kaiser and I'm calling with good news." This is standard, I guess. This is what I wanted to hear.
So Dave hands me the phone, saying it was someone at Kaiser wanting to talk to me. And what did I hear but, "Hi, this is so-and-so from the genetics department at Kaiser and I'm calling with good news." I admit I hardly heard anything after that. Good news means everything came back fine. While I cried from relief and tried not to get the phone all wet, the nice lady on the phone, whose name is now lost to me because I was only listening for the words "good news", explained something about 46 chromosomes and how they were all there and where they were supposed to be, and then something about AFP levels and how they were fine too so no neural tube defects, but I was honestly just trying to remain standing up. It is one of the very few times in my life when I thought my legs were going to go out from under me from emotion.
I really didn't expect to be so emotional about it. I guess worrying about this baby has become so second nature to me, especially after losing the last pregnancy, that I grew used to it. Over the last two days, I've noticed my brain idly wondering if all is well in there and then my conscious brain overriding it with, "Yes, dumbass - the tests are back, remember?" And then I get this wonderful release and a smile because my stupid brain forgot for a minute.
So then the nice mystery lady on the phone asked if we wanted to know if we were having a boy or a girl and my ears pricked up plenty then. Yes, we sure did want to know. And it turns out that we're having...(drum roll, please.... wait for it... waaaaaait for it...) a GIRL!
It's funny, isn't it, how, when someone tells you something like that, your first response is to screech, "REALLY??" Like they would lie to you or something. Was I expecting this nice lady to jump in with, "Naw, just funnin' ya. You're really having a boy. April Fools a bit early!" But I did screech out, "REALLY??" just the way I did when told I was pregnant in the first place. And the nice lady confirmed indeed that Tycho is a girl.
Of course, we were most worried about a healthy baby and you take what you get and of course I'd have loved a son too and blah blah blah. But let me be nakedly honest with you for just one minute now that it can't hurt anyone. I really wanted a girl. I wanted a girl very much. I do not know if this will be our only child or not, since I'm already 35 and Dave has 10 years on me and with what may well be my only shot at this? I wanted a daughter. I wanted dresses so lacy they'd make your teeth rot and dolls and pink onesies and bows and all the frills that go with a baby girl. I wanted girls soccer and Barbies and model rockets and My Little Pony. I wanted to sign up for "Go wash that makeup off right this minute" and "I know you hate me now but you will not hate me later and I can wait" and "Yes, honey, high school boys are a terrible breed and they stay this way for a long time but someday you will find a man as wonderful as your daddy, you just have to trust me on this." I wanted the options that a girl brings. The Mondays with baby dolls and the Tuesdays with karate. The broken mold that women are now that we have the freedom to choose ballgowns or sweatpants, service jobs or executive positions. I wanted to see it all again through another girl's eyes - a twenty first century, internet savvy, options wide open baby girl.
So, yeah. I'm pretty damn happy.
Replies: 2 Comments - Read 'em!
on Wednesday, January 3rd, Vicki said
Hooray for healthy baby girls!!
on Wednesday, January 3rd, Aunt Barb said
Baby girls are way cool!
Notes from a Yarn Hacker
![[ Registered ]](http://www.delatore.com/kfiles/blog/diarist.gif){kind=small}
