I don't have syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV, Hep C, whatever-else-they-were-testing-for. I do have antibodies for Rubella and Chickenpox. All is as it should be.
Before we entered the TTC stage I conscientiously had myself tested for all the things you're meant to be tested for pre-TTC so I knew I was alright for (having) Rubella antibodies and (not having) gonorrhea but I was never checked out for HIV and gee, too bad if I did have it at this stage.
Interestingly enough no-one has done a pregnancy test yet...
My breasts were fondled and pronounced to be 'fine'. I've had better reviews but I'm not dismayed. Note to all doctors - if you work in an air conditioned office run your hands under some warm water first. The girls were a little startled.
She then said she would have a feel of my 'belly' and prodded my stomach for a bit. The last time she did that she said she was going to feel my 'uterus'. Apparently we're not using our big words any more. I'm being infantilized already and I'm not even showing yet!
Every-thing is now signed and sealed and sent off to the birth center. One thing I can cross off my to-do list.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
And that happened as well
A busy weekend. My husband, who for the purposes of this blog has consented to be called 'Spidermonkey', and I spent Saturday walking around Sydney suburbs house hunting. Well, unit hunting. There were quite a few nice places and one especially that we liked a lot. It's quite large on the inside (for a two bedroom unit) and has room to set up a proper lounge area and the dining table. For some reason the idea of having Trogdor's high chair at a dining table, rather than next to an armchair, is very important to me. This unit wasn't the best presented of the places we saw and there were other units that offered better features but we both agreed that there was an 'atmosphere' to this place. It felt like it could become our home.
We are intentionally trying to keep the price as low as we can, without living in a box at Central Station. I know too many people who have bought their first property to spend the next 12 months staring at four walls they can't afford as they no longer have the money to maintain any type of outside life. And there are far too many people featured on horrible shows like Today Tonight who find they are unable to pay back their home loan and lose everything (except their debt). And, in a way, my own family life has taught me to never take good health for granted. So the question for us is - do we want to live owing more in a bigger place or sleep easier in a smaller place that is ours? It's a good night's sleep for me - always.
Any-way, the exciting development is that today we made our first offer! Which, of course, was refused and which we intend to raise slightly some time in the next few days - and so the property tango begins! (Cue violin music!)
We are intentionally trying to keep the price as low as we can, without living in a box at Central Station. I know too many people who have bought their first property to spend the next 12 months staring at four walls they can't afford as they no longer have the money to maintain any type of outside life. And there are far too many people featured on horrible shows like Today Tonight who find they are unable to pay back their home loan and lose everything (except their debt). And, in a way, my own family life has taught me to never take good health for granted. So the question for us is - do we want to live owing more in a bigger place or sleep easier in a smaller place that is ours? It's a good night's sleep for me - always.
Any-way, the exciting development is that today we made our first offer! Which, of course, was refused and which we intend to raise slightly some time in the next few days - and so the property tango begins! (Cue violin music!)
Friday, February 22, 2008
And then this happened...
From the 12th of January:
Yesterday was my first 'official' visit to my doctor regarding my pregnancy. I say official because the first time I went in to get a referral to the birthing center I am hoping to use, the doctor I got landed with - not my usual one - looked at my home pregnancy test, said "well, you're pregnant", failed to fill out any of the correct paperwork I needed, charged me $60 for something I already knew and sent me on my way.
This time they did all the 'necessary' tests. I was sent over to the nurses' station with a long list. Take blood, measure height, blood pressure this, weigh that - the general medical palaver.
They gave me a small plastic cup to urinate into and, thoughtfully, a brown paper bag to bring the container and sample back from the bathroom. There is a knack to peeing in a cup which, quite frankly, I don't have. I did discover that a) I am well hydrated and b) a cup of urine is warmer than I expected it to be.
I thought this sample would be sent off with my blood but no. Returning to the room the... tester? Pathologist? (male) Nurse? opened up the cup and stuck a strip of paper in. I could have just pee-ed on the stick to begin with. I have 5 hpts tucked away which attest to my aim, control and deliberation when it comes to stick peeing. I could enter the Olympics were such an event to be offered. (And it's gold for Australia...) Anyway.
So, eventually he tells me that I have leukocytes in my urine. Leukocytes, for us lay people, are white blood cells. "It might mean you have an infection", he says, "or it might not mean any thing at all." I may or may not have an infection? Well fuckideedodah. I could have told him that when I arrived and saved myself $60 and a self inflicted golden shower. It's like the cat locked in a box - is it alive? Is it dead? Has it peed in the cup yet? It's all very quantum. Eventually, he decided it probably didn't mean anything at all. Awesome.
By this time next week I will know if I have HIV, Hep C, immunization to chickenpox etcblahetc. Lots of fun.
And apparently as this pregnancy (hopefully) continues I'm meant to have similar tests every month. Every month! You'd think I was trying something new.
*****
My last period was 29 days ago. Egg met sperm, let's call it, 14 days ago. This free floating bundle of little cells implanted 9 days ago thereby officially becoming a part of, or an addition too, my own body. Yet according to all the calculators I am 4 weeks pregnant. 1/9th of my journey through bringing another little humanoid into the world. I have been with child for 28 full days.
Clearly this is nonsense.
*****
I have been putting off keeping a 'proper' pregnancy journal for... well actually, tomorrow makes officially 10 weeks. I have kept a few little notes here and there. Mainly things like 'feel sick', 'can't eat seafood', or 'doctors are fuckwits'. Nothing that you'd call comprehensive.
Yesterday was my first 'official' visit to my doctor regarding my pregnancy. I say official because the first time I went in to get a referral to the birthing center I am hoping to use, the doctor I got landed with - not my usual one - looked at my home pregnancy test, said "well, you're pregnant", failed to fill out any of the correct paperwork I needed, charged me $60 for something I already knew and sent me on my way.
This time they did all the 'necessary' tests. I was sent over to the nurses' station with a long list. Take blood, measure height, blood pressure this, weigh that - the general medical palaver.
They gave me a small plastic cup to urinate into and, thoughtfully, a brown paper bag to bring the container and sample back from the bathroom. There is a knack to peeing in a cup which, quite frankly, I don't have. I did discover that a) I am well hydrated and b) a cup of urine is warmer than I expected it to be.
I thought this sample would be sent off with my blood but no. Returning to the room the... tester? Pathologist? (male) Nurse? opened up the cup and stuck a strip of paper in. I could have just pee-ed on the stick to begin with. I have 5 hpts tucked away which attest to my aim, control and deliberation when it comes to stick peeing. I could enter the Olympics were such an event to be offered. (And it's gold for Australia...) Anyway.
So, eventually he tells me that I have leukocytes in my urine. Leukocytes, for us lay people, are white blood cells. "It might mean you have an infection", he says, "or it might not mean any thing at all." I may or may not have an infection? Well fuckideedodah. I could have told him that when I arrived and saved myself $60 and a self inflicted golden shower. It's like the cat locked in a box - is it alive? Is it dead? Has it peed in the cup yet? It's all very quantum. Eventually, he decided it probably didn't mean anything at all. Awesome.
By this time next week I will know if I have HIV, Hep C, immunization to chickenpox etcblahetc. Lots of fun.
And apparently as this pregnancy (hopefully) continues I'm meant to have similar tests every month. Every month! You'd think I was trying something new.
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