Yet Another Ultrasound

Every cloud has a silver lining, they say.

Cloud: Bethany's September "mystery virus" that sent her to the hospital.

Silver lining: We've gotten to see lots of glimpses of the baby. (To be sure the virus didn't weird things up, they have wanted monthly ultrasounds done.)

The only picture we got last ultrasound was of the baby's nostrils, which made him/her look like a little gorilla. Concerned that all of you would worry that we were growing a little ape baby, we opted not to post those. But on Monday Bethany had another ultrasound, this time a more intensive one (about 45 minutes of a specialist examining the poor little thing), and the picture the doctor printed out turned out rather cute, we think:



Latest news from this ultrasound:

1. "Look at those FAT TOES!" (quote from the specialist)

2. Everything looks perfectly good in there, the doctor says. She is confident the virus had no adverse affects on our little Determinator.

3. "You don't have a very good poser," said the doctor, when slightly frustrated that every picture was blurry and at the wrong angle.

4. Head is still down, ready for the exit.

5. Baby is getting too big to see much anymore. "You're all baby" and "You've got a compact little thing in here" said the doc. Poor, squished little bambino.

6. Weight estimate of the baby: currently about 6 pounds, and due to grow about 1/2 pound per week. So if Bethany has the baby at the 40-week due-date mark, the doctor predicts an 8-pounder. We'll see soon...

7. The doctor knows its gender, and told us to shield our eyes lest we find out that nugget of knowledge as well. Our minds are churning...

Oh, and there was extra fun in seeing an obstretrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies: The people you get to meet in the waiting room aren't your Average Pregnant Janes. Actual conversation from Monday:

Bethany: "So how far along are you?"

Lady with very large belly: "I'm 22 weeks."

Bethany thinks to herself: "Wow, you look really big for 22 weeks," but just says, "That's great!"

Richie: "Do you know if it's a girl or a boy?"

Lady looks at her husband, both give a sheepish smile, then Lady says: "Actually, it's three boys and a girl. I'm pregnant with quadruplets."

!!!

Hence the big belly.