Okay, so maybe I really am pregnant after all.

Tuesday I went for my first checkup.  I dragged my husband out of bed at 5:00 AM for our 7:00 appointment.  I figured having an appointment that early would mean no waiting, but I was wrong.  We sat in horribly uncomfortable chairs for some time.  My sister-in-law works at the hospital just across the hall from my midwife and she knew we were coming so she stopped to say hey.

Finally, the fun began.  I was weighed and I swear I still haven't gained in pounds but dang if I'm not bigger all over.  Then they drew about 8 pints of blood.  Now, I'm not fan of needles and my sweet husband held my hand.  I didn't realize how hard I was squeezing but afterward he said, "That really hurt!"  It was a nice little dry run for the big show, so to speak.  Maybe I really will break his hand.

Then the midwife went through a bunch of questions and then asked, "Is she your sister?"  My husband says, "No, she's my wife."  Turns out she was asking about our sister-in-law.  But really, I know this is Texas but it's not Alabamy.  I got a chuckle out of it.

So, like I've mentioned here and have said several times to various people, I really don't feel "pregnant", whatever that's supposed to be.  I just feel extremely tired and a bit queasy now and then.  But I don't feel any movement or anything.  I guess I just thought I'd feel more in my tummy than I do.  I was actually a little concerned.

But then the midwife pulled out the ol' mike and stuck it on my belly.  Boy, what a heartbeat we heard!  Before it even had time to register she announced that it was mine and felt my pulse to confirm.  She moved the thing around for a bit and finally picked up another heartbeat.  It didn't last very long before the baby moved, but we heard it and I'll admit I really choked back tears.

Even though I knew I was pregnant, and every time I doubted it my husband would confirm that yes, the crazy, tired, HUNGRY, sick lady is pregnant, it didn't feel real.  Hearing the heartbeat drove it home that there is indeed another person inside me.

So now I'm looking for a pain-free way to get it out of me when the time comes.  Any suggestions, ladies?  Any chance I'll wake up one late-April day to find a cute snuggly baby peacefully asleep next to me?  Any chance a drunk stork will show up at my door one day with  Or do I really have to go through labor?  Because I'm really not sure how keen I am on that prospect.  Here's hoping I'm one of them chicks that births so quick she can't even get to the hospital in time.  That would spare my husband two broken hands, I reckon.

We were both really excited to hear the heartbeat.  It was after it was all over that Blah told me he nearly didn't come with me.  5:00 came awful early that day and he wasn't so sure he was going to make it.  But we're both glad he did.  I think it made his day.