And So It Goes

We got the test results back today from Tiffany’s blood work. Looks like everything is fine, with one caveat. Tiffany’s hormone level was just over 2,000 so that is more of an indication that she was 5 weeks pregnant, not 6 as expected when the blood was drawn. Obviously not a huge deal, though the 2010 tax deduction seems to be off the table. The issue now is that Tiffany’s blood turns out to be A- and more importantly, RH negative. A quick google search reveals that only 15% of all Caucasians are RH negative. In fact, only 5 to 10 percent of African Americans and 1 to 2 percent of Asian Americans are RH negative, in case you were wondering. (I know you were). Why is this a problem?

Well, if I turn out to be RH positive (I have a blood test in my future apparently), the baby will most likely be RH positive so if TIffany’s and the baby’s blood mixes, there would be a problem from as “simple” as having issues with a future pregnancy or as “complex” as Tiffany’s body ultimately rejecting the fetus. While the latter is highly unlikely, it’s certainly not anything that’s easy to hear. The good news? There’s a shot that Tiffany can get that makes this a non-factor.

My initial question would be how about we just get the shot? Judging by the numbers, it seems unlikely that I’m RH negative so why go through the blood test? I’ll do it, I don’t care, but why wait?

Anyway, they wanted Tiffany to come back in for more blood work to make sure her hormone level was still rising. She reminded them that she would be back in Wednesday for another ultrasound and they said that would be fine. It seems to me that they are getting a little crazy with the blood tests, this will be her third in as many weeks. 

I’m also wondering how this compares to how they handled pregnancies 20 years ago. Did they do all these tests? Are they really necessary? Suffice it to say, this is much more complicated than I thought it was. I thought there would be a lot going on in the last trimester, especially the last month. Apparently, the first month is pretty eventful too, at least for us. 

Physically, TIffany appears to be doing fine. She took an afternoon nap on Saturday and Sunday and is peeing all the time. It’s almost like she’s pregnant or something :).

We also told Tiffany’s parents and grandparents on Saturday, both in person and over the phone. We got her mom a card that said, “grandmother to-be”. As fate would have it I sat between Tiffany and her mom at dinner so it was me who had the best view of her opening the card.

I was looking forward to the reaction as was Tiffany of course so I expected something more than what happened. Let me explain. She takes the card out of the gift bag, which also had some jewelry and a picture frame with “baby” on it. So out comes the card which reads in clear, thick black letters...”To the Grandmother to-be.” I think that’s pretty clear, no? So I’m watching her take the card out and look at the front...nothing, no reaction as she opens it up to read the inside. Did I mention what was written on the front? It wasn’t in latin, though she could probably  have read it if it was, and that was the ONLY writing or design of any kind on the front of the card. Perplexed I decide to step in...

ME: “Umm, did you see the front of the card?”

Momma Meine (reaching in her purse): “I just need to get my glasses.”

Two things, one, can she not read at all without her glasses? These letters were not small. How many cards as she never really read? Well three things I guess, what would have happened if i hadn’t said anything?

I guess disbelief could best describe her reaction. She said we had teased her before so she wasn’t sure that this wasn't a joke. Neither Tiffany or I could remember teasing her even once. but I digress. She and Tiffany stepped away from the table to call up to Virginia to let TIffany’s grandparent’s know. They left them a message and we talked to them later in the car on the way home from dinner. 

On Sunday, my friend Matt called to let us know that Andrea (his wife) was pregnant. We didn’t intend to tell anyone else for a few weeks, but it seemed stupid to wait a month to tell them. Their due date is about a month before ours, though we are still waiting for our magic day. I believe he said they were due Dec.10 and I’m guessing we will be the first week of January some time. This is their first child too so it should be fun to compare experiences along the way. For now, we wait until Wednesday and the next doctor’s appointment.