Now More Pregnant Than Ever Before!

I am 22 weeks and FIVE DAYS pregnant, exactly one day more pregnant than I've ever been. And the baby kicked my bladder just this second to celebrate.

Oh, and make that seven times that I've banned Holly. Poor girl. I've decided she must be very young to be so very sure of herself, don't you think? Ah, youth...

Thank you all so much for your kind and supportive words for me, Charlie, and the boys. To prove to you exactly how much grace and calm with which I handled the day, allow me to share those 24 hours with you...

At 2am, I awoke to find the dog standing next to my side of the bed quaking with fear (if you haven't seen 100lb pit bull quaking with fear, you've clearly never made your dog go see 4th of July fireworks with you. I know, but we were camping, and couldn't leave him at the campsite). I said, "Bubba, what are you doing? Go back to bed!" (he has his very own rockstar dog bed, complete with mattress and boxspring, and his own blankets because of course he must be tucked!). But he wouldn't budge. So I then attempted to drag him back to his bed, which didn't work. He ran for the bedroom door.

Charlie was still sleeping peacefully at this point, a situation I soon rectified by fuming and stamping about while yelling at the dog. I finally opened the bedroom door and the dog ran down the stairs. I assumed he needed to go out, so I followed him, bitching at top volume the whole way. He ran  out into the backyard and, completely out of character for him, started barking.

LOUDLY.

Now I was standing by the back door, naked and shivering, and I began shrieking at him to be quiet. He ignored me and kept gleefully barking. At this point, Charlie yelled, "Ok, Ok, I'm getting up! I'll be right down!" I then responded sweetly, "What the fuck for! I'm already down here for fuck's sake!"

At last I got the dog to come back inside, and after much more yelling and screaming and grand declarations on my part about how I will NEVER be able to get back to sleep, we all got in our beds. Charlie kept shaking his head and saying, "The dog is not insane, something must have happened!" To which I responded compassionately by putting my ear plugs back in and then tossing and turning angrily.

The next morning, when I woke up, I looked at the wall next to Hammer's bed and realized that the framed photograph that normally hangs there is missing. Because it had fallen down behind the dresser, just two feet away from where the poor dog sleeps.

I will be such a GREAT mother.

So, after a fitful night of sleep, I began our morning testing ritual. All went well until we were listening to the baby's heartbeat with the doppler. For some weird reason, at the exact moment we were listening, the baby's heartbeat slowed measurably down. It was still within normal limits, but it just dropped in speed and stayed slower.

For the rest of the day I was completely panicked. So I began to hold my breath, anxiously awaiting the baby's kicks and punches.

And the baby barely seemed to move. All day long.

By the time I was leaving work I was insane. Charlie suggested calling the doctor and I refused (I really can't tell you why--I just knew I didn't want to end up in labor and delivery again on that same day in the pregnancy). I just wanted to get home and use the doppler again. I believe I yelled at Charlie roughly 98161622 times on the way home.

The baby was fine. And immediately began moving around like crazy, and has been very active ever since.

In fact, I don't think the baby was being inactive. I think, instead, that I am insane, and doubted my sense of the baby's movement because I was scared. If that makes sense. I know I should have called the doctor, and I swear if there had been something wrong once we got home I would have. But I just couldn't do it.

Sigh.

So it was just a lovely, lovely day. If it weren't for all of your comments, I think I wouldn't have survived. So thank you.

You guys rock!

Comments

[SusieJ]

I bet he fell asleep during that first doppler. Little j did that during a non-stress test, and his heart rate dropped to 130 and stayed there for ten minutes. Because this was a test of changes in heart rate, they used the sonic buzzer to wake him up. Poor fetus was WIRED for the rest of the freaking test and wouldn't calm down, so they had to do an ultrasound anyhow. Everything was fine, of course.

And I'm sure you're right about why you didn't feel movement. Or s/he was just chilling.

--S

[Melissa]

Hey Cecily. I am glad to hear that all is well and I hope yesterday wasn't too hard for you guys.

[Kerry]

I'm so glad baby is fine...the fears are numerous and annoying, but very real.

Scary on the dog front...makes ya wonder what knocked the photo down and scared him so much! Love the sounds of his rock star bed...we need that for our 4 pound Chihuahua! LOL

[wookie]

They do sleep in there, ya know ;-)

[Sarah]

Poor bubba. ;-)

You are going to make a fucking awesome mother. You can make fun of yourself...and that is the KEY to sanity, I swear.

I love you.
xo

[Carrie Jo]

It sounds like you handled yesterday rather nicely, all things considered. So are you guys going to do another ultrasound to try to determine the sex, or have you decided to be suprised?

[heather]

Cecily,
I had the same thing happen as Susie J at a non-stress test. Our son's heartrate had always been in the upper 150's, and all of a sudden it dropped to 130 for about 15 min. They buzzed and woke him up, which in turn kept me up for the rest of the day/night.

Still thinking of you guys every day.

[Catherine]

Cecily: Now With More Pregnant!

:)

[Paige]

Congratulations on moving forward in your pregnancy!

[Heather]

Just a few folks have said, I bet he/she fell asleep - but what a day to do that to you! I'm glad all is well! And the dog bed - hilarious. I can picture him tucked in bed...does he have a pillow?? ;-)

[Jaycie]

I'll go out on a limb and assume you'll be mothering sans earplugs (though I promise you'll wish otherwise on occasion...lol. I believe you have everything required to be an awesome mom, and what you think you don't have, your baby will teach you.

Thank you for banning Holly again. While Sarah loves her for letting you show your grace, I tend to want to slap the self-righteousness out of her. I suppose it is a real compliment that she continues to read your blog though--one many could do without!

Yay for being more pregnant than you've ever been!

[jennifer]

i can't read it. i care too much. i want so much for you to get what you didn't prepare for - a beautiful baby.

congratulations on being more pregnant than ever before! *internet stranger hugs!*

[Mollie]

Woohoo! One day at a time, missy. That's all any of us can do.

[Louise]

Congratulations, you are doing it! I definitely like to hear Cecily now comes with More Pregnant.

[Charlie]

And how about the bird in the fireplace! ;-) Maybe I'll save that one for my blog.

[jennifer]

okay, i read it. yay!

and i like your new picture. you look devious in an impish way...

[Kate]

Wow. I have a lump in my throat and everything. I am so excited to have found your blog.

I lost my baby to preeclampsia last year. I am terrified about the next time, but also desperate to get pregnant again. Crazy. It's all I think about.

I think you are an amazing woman. I will continue reading: I only wish I had found you earlier... I think your attitude is just amazing.

Kate

[Whitney]

Yay on the more pregnant!

My pup has a hot-pink and black fur bed that says "Diva".......all 10 pounds of her!!

[Spacemom]

Congrats! I am glad you had a reasonable day yesterday!

Love the new photo!

[Heatherg]

Love the new photo also.

I stand by the door in the middle of the night naked too....... waiting on the dog to finally get his ass back in the house.

We have something in common.........lol

[MoMo]

So glad that everything continues to go well. Your little one was probably just sleeping, or moving without you feeling it. I'll never forget being in a panic because my son wasn't moving much and then watching him on the screen doing flips -- I just couldn't feel them for some reason. Anyway, love the new photo!

[Ellen]

Oh, hon. That bites.
But, tomorrow is another day! 22 weeks and 6...
PS - Has anyone ever told you that you kind of look like a younger version of the barefoot contessa from the food network? In this picture, anyway, with the bangs.

[Sheri]

I thought of you all many, many times yesterday. I sent you strength vibes and good wishes. I guess I should've sent you some calming vibes too because you sound wired! I'm betting the wee one was taking a snooze, thus the lower rate. Poor Hammer - he almost go tthe be-jeezus scared out of him!

[Amy]

Horray for More Pregnant!

[Allison]

Cecily-
I just want you to know that you have a whole family in MS rooting for you, Charlie and this baby! I had a miscarriage last week and I thought about how strong you are and it gave me hope. One day I will be where you are and I hope that I can give someone who has been through what we have (losing twins) the hope that you have given me.