Brighter

One heart, whooshing right along. Four limbs, waving at us. Nine weeks exactly, based on today's length, which clears up the confusion about dates. Now I know which improbable occurrence actually occurred.

When the image first appeared on the screen, I saw no movement. The doctor said nothing. I thought this was a bad sign. Finally I said, "I'm not seeing a heartbeat -- are you?" "Oh, yes, right there," he said.

I still didn't see it. He turned the sound on and there it was, unmistakable. I cried. Then I wiped my eyes and figured out I'd thought the head was the trunk and vice versa. No wonder I'd had trouble finding the heart -- I was looking for it in the brain.

What can I say? This is my seventh pregnancy but only my fourth ultrasound. I've never had one this early, and it's easier to tell which end is up later on.

So I told my mother, and it went well. I still have to tell my MIL, but maybe that will go well too. Elwood should be home late tonight and I am ordering pizza for dinner. Two nights ago I was reading Julie & Julia and it left me with an insatiable craving for a bacon and jalapeño pizza. Not for the tarts or the stews or any of the French food, but for the takeout pizza they ate when dinner bombed. Jalapeños are about the worst thing to throw up because they leave you with that nasty burning in your nasopharynx, but I may throw caution to the winds and order some anyway.

Thanks for your sympathies -- I am feeling much better.