R & T + 1

Well, it had been a little while since I last updated this blog, so I thought I would go ahead and let everyone know what has been going on. Tiffany is doing well. She's still very tired all the time, but (thank you, Jesus) no morning sickness or anything like that. We have another appointment on March 9th. We're not sure if they'll be doing another ultrasound or not. At her first appointment with Dr. Shalleleigh or whatever his name is, they told her they wouldn't do another one until like 18 weeks or something. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Tiffany tells them that they better see if it's a boy or a girl so she can start really planning things out before she has a complete tantrum. Hormone Dectector: On!

We went to the Friends of the Library Book Sale at the fairgrounds on Saturday and walked out with nothing but kids' books. We found a few old-timey Winnie the Pooh books that we got because Tiffany has one at home and we might as well get the collection. We also dabbled in the idea of doing the nursery in Winnie the Pooh stuff but we're not sure. She knows she wouldn't want to do it for a girl.

We really need to get to work on cleaning out our den. It's a pit in there and neither one of us seem to want to get it started. It's a pain. I'm still holding out hope that we won't have to worry about using the den too much because we'll have a house shortly after the baby gets here. Another thing we need to do is open a savings account and really buckle down and put some money in there so we can have money for a down payment and such. That's something neither of us is very good at.

Anyways, I'll update again when something else of note happens or after the doctor appointment with Dr. Shangor or whatever.

Hello again everyone. Today was Tiffany's first appointment with the OB/GYN (or, as I like to call it, the girlie doctor). She went to Dr. Shanbour (I think that's right, forgive me if I get it wrong later). Dr. Shannenbaum used to be my (Ryan's) mom's girlie doctor, and also delivered all three of my cousin Shari's kids. I actually had to work today. Tiffany's appointment was at 9:00. She's only eight weeks, so we didn't think they would do an ultrasound so early. Well, we were wrong apparently. Tiffany had said that she would ask them to do it later if they wanted to do one so I could be there also. But alas, I get a text message around 9:20 saying that they're going to do an ultrasound today and another one at 18 weeks.

I call her and ask if she is going to ask them to do it later and she said something or other (I don't really remember), all I know is that I knew she was going to chicken out and not say anything about waiting to do it until I could be there, so I decided I had better hurry my butt up and get there. I left work at 9:30 and got to Mercy by about 9:42. Word.

So, I get there, and I'm sure my mother-in-law was quite confused seeing me walk into the waiting room and ask the receptionist where Tiffany was. But anyways, I got there just in time for the good weird stuff.

[Insert stories about what happens at the girlie doctor here; Tiffany doesn't want me going into detail. I don't blame her.]

Anywho, so eventually the nurse asks if Tiffany wants her mom to see the ultrasound as well, so we all three go into the ultrasound room. Now, if you're wondering where the title of this blog post comes from, it's here: The ultrasound monitor's screensaver was a dolphin with little ultrasonic waves coming out of it. Like so: --- ><> ))) --- So, I say, "Hey honey, they're going to look at the dolphin in your belly." Because it's what I do. I'm a funny guy.

Because it's so early, the type of ultrasound they did was [Tiffany doesn't want me putting this in here either... you see where I'm going with this?] Anyways, I'll post the pictures from the ultrasound below. Not like, of her getting it, because she would totally not be cool with that, but of what was on the monitor. Not the dolphin. Moving on... The baby's heart rate was 180, which is textbook at this time, so that's good. There's really no other way to describe it than a blob with a tail. My dad asked me if it was cool to see it and if I got a weird feeling in my stomach and stuff (dread?). I didn't, really, because ... well ... it's a blob with a tail. They're going to do another ultrasound in about 10 weeks (her next checkup appointment is in 4), and it'll look "more like a baby then." Thank you, ultrasound tech.

Without further adieu, here are the pictures:

Hello peoples. First of all, Tiffany is fine. She's very tired so she's already asleep in the other room as I play video games in the living room. Josh is on the phone with Sheila right now so Gears of War 2 is paused. Anyways... Our animals have been so annoying lately. I think they know something's up and are getting jealous. That's the "annoying hounds" part of the title of this post. The "buzzing sounds" refers to what I have dubiously titled "The Hormone Alarm," which involves me making an alarm sound and putting my hands up like a cat holding out its claws. It will probably get me in trouble at some point, but it's so darn funny I just don't care.

Tiffany has an appointment with the girly doctor Monday. Dr. Fisher originally told us to make an appointment with one around the first of March, but they went ahead and gave her the appointment. This is one that I'll be skipping out on. I have to work anyways, but I believe Tiff's mom will be going with her. It's too early to have an ultrasound done or anything like that though so I won't be missing anything. Not too much else going on right now, really. Sorry for the short update. Leave a comment if you'd like. Hope all is well.

-Ryan J. Schwimmer