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.
Yea! Hugs. Big sigh of relief.
Posted by: Sarabeth | May 15, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Yay! So glad you got to see your new little one and reassure yourself.
Bacon and jalapeno? Yikes. That sure sounds like pregnant-lady food to me.
Here's to hoping it goes well with MIL for you.
Posted by: mary | May 15, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Yay! Good news!
Posted by: Jody | May 15, 2008 at 03:39 PM
I'm happy for you, and I'm glad the ultrasound went well. In the early days, when all you've got is the gross feelings, a little smudge wiggling on a screen can be very reassuring.
Posted by: amy | May 15, 2008 at 04:30 PM
does me good to read this after a day when I had to give a loved patient the bad news at her first US. Hate that part of the job. Hate it hate it. If I could do nothing but catch chubby babies and give them to their moms my days would be complete.
Posted by: alicia | May 15, 2008 at 06:54 PM
"No wonder I'd had trouble finding the heart -- I was looking for it in the brain."
Heh. That line sums up the story of my life really, really well.
Has nothing to do with ultrasounds though.
Posted by: bearing | May 15, 2008 at 07:37 PM
Whew. I'm so glad for you.
Posted by: Tracy | May 15, 2008 at 09:58 PM
smiling for you- so glad!
made me laugh '7th pg only 4th sono' - we've been having sono's every other week for months to keep an eye on this little guy and make sure i'm still keeping him in there well enough. decided britney spears is probably the only person more photographed than him right now...i can't say i mind, such a relief to see that little heart beating away...
Posted by: pnuts mama | May 16, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Hooray!!!!
Posted by: gina | May 16, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Hooray! The sun's out today, too! Just for you:)
Posted by: jenny | May 16, 2008 at 09:36 AM