So as much as I love it when my husband posts, I thought it was important to share my side of the heartbeat story…sort of a he said/she said thing.

We got to the doctor’s office on time – 3:30 (note to self: go early. . . before they have time to get behind).   Around 4:15, Johnathan tells me that he has a conference call at 4:30.  Ummm. . . that threatened to only slightly interfere with my plans.  But he made it all better by saying that if it came to choosing between a conference call and listening to our child’s heartbeat, it would be no contest (yeah, he’s good).  So we were finally called back around 4:45 (yes, he was on the phone).  He continued talking while the nurse did her thing (blood pressure, urine test, etc).   He missed the fact that I have only gained one pound, and I don’t have HIV (whew. . . lol. . . standard test, I guess).  In fact, all of my blood tests came back with good results.  Finally, we are escorted to a room, and the nurse says she’s going to get the fetal heart monitor.  At that point, Johnathan announces to the people on the conference call that he won’t be with them much longer. . . “she’s gone to get the heart monitor.”  (I’m sure they were having fun with that bit of info.)

Then, Dr. Perales showed up with the device.  I was so excited.  If I had smiled any bigger, I think my face would have cracked.  Johnathan dropped the call at this point.  She had me in the room with the “cool chair” (don’t ask).  She reclined me and lifted me up.  Then, she put the thing on my belly and everything is a blur up until the point that we heard “whoosh, whoosh, whoosh”.  It was the most amazing thing.  I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  I looked at Johnathan and at that point I think the reality hit us both.  This is real.  Really real.  There is a little life in there.  Living, growing. . . thriving.  Then, it hits me. . . “I need to breathe!”  I had been holding my breath.  So I gasped for air, and the monitor made an awful noise because my abdomen jumped.  While the doctor looked for the heartbeat again, Johnathan called our house phone to leave the beating heart on our answering machine (we listened to it with Kylie later that night).  We have ordered our very own fetal heart monitor.  Once that gets here, we will record it and put it on the site. . . for your listening pleasure.  ;)