I am officially 19 weeks and 3 days. Tomorrow I'll be 19 weeks and 4 days. (Mental Math is a real specialty of mine.) Tomorrow is our official "20 week" appointment for LBP. LBP is what we call the gremlin. It stands for Little Baby Poulsen. Soon, as soon as tomorrow, we will know if LBP is a kitten or a puppy. My sister, Victoria, refers to baby girls as kittens and baby boys as puppies. Ken and I both think we are having a puppy. We agree we would be just as happy with a kitten. As long as it is actually a baby and not an animal. I don't need another Rusty in my life. 
So- here's the 411 on finding out the gender. The entire world knows that you can find out at 20 weeks. Really at 18 and I've heard as early as 16. So at our last appointment which was 16 weeks the good doctor said we would be scheduled for a regular appointment with her to do the regular pee in a cup, count up the pounds I've gained, and check to make sure I'm still the super mom we all know I am. In addition to that they would schedule an "out of house" ultrasound to look for any visual birth defects or symptoms of downs. 2 things bug me about this. 1. Why out of house? They doctor's office has all the equipment needed to see through my skin and look at the baby. It's not a big secret either. I've had two ultrasounds there already. Anyha- they want you to go to a ultrasound technician. Ok. No big whoop. The 2nd thing that bugs me is this baby is my baby no matter what. If the baby comes out green with sharp little devil teeth- it'll still be my baby. (Though I might name her Elphie if such were the case.) I just want to go to figure out if it's a boy or girl. Period. I understand the doctors want to know the rest- I'll appease them. On top of scheduling out of house the PA tells me that the doctor wants me to see a specialist who only comes up from Salt Lake once a week. I'm required to do this because I'm a high risk pregnancy. News to me! Apparently my brain tumor has reared it's ugly head once again. I know, we all forgot he was in there- didn't we? Instead of the normal technician looking for 20 things the specialist will be looking for about 100 different things. While, I, the mom, the patient, the payer of your house and fancy car- Doc.- just want to know if it's a boy or a girl. I cave. Salt Lake Tech it is.
So- we end our 16 week appointment and go out to the front desk to schedule our next one. The sweet, overly-bubbly, never impregnated, incredibly young receptionist books our appointment with my regular doctor. I ask her about the specialist and she assures me that she will call tomorrow because the offices in Salt Lake are closed for the day. No biggie. Tomorrow comes. And goes. The next tomorrow comes. And goes. Tomorrows come and go for about 2 weeks. And nobody calls me. After an internal battle I feel it is within my rights to call and see when my appointment is. Wouldn't you know it- couldn't you have guessed they forgot to book it? But- "Don't worry Mrs. Poulsen- we'll get that done for you today." I give them my work number and they surprise me and call back. My appointment is booked for March 15. March 15?! Yeah. A whole 3 weeks after my 20 week appointment. Maybe 3 weeks doesn't sound like a long time to you. Does 21 days sound any longer? It does to me! I thank them for booking it- though I am unhappy. And go home to sulk to Ken. He is less than sympathetic. He claims the baby's gender is not going to change in 21 days. True, true. But none the less- if it's not changing why can't I know now?
After a couple days passed- I called the office again. This was last Friday. I spoke with the same receptionist. Something about her makes me want to call her Jenny. Is it her annoying fake smile? Her reassurance that she is doing everything she can. I never believe that line. I reminded her of who I was and asked if there was anyway my Dr. could do a gender check as part of my appointment tomorrow. Her reply: "Um...NoooOOooo." Yeah. That's right. She gave my the exaggerated-roller coaster no. She offered to book me an appointment at Rosemark for an ultrasound. It sounded like a decent out. Something sooner than March 15th. I told her I'd take it. After a few clicks of the keyboard she responded, "I can get you in March 26th." No thanks, sister.
It seems like all my avenues have been blocked. But I'm hell-bent on figuring out what this baby is. And I am figuring it out tomorrow! Somehow. I'm just that determined. I think I'll start by begging my doctor. If she says- she can get me in to see at a hospital in Miami, Florida tomorrow- I am packing my bags and heading to the banana belt. There's nothing like a warm summer sun in the middle of February.
Given this information today- and knowing that I like to share information rather quickly- this is your chance to cast your vote.
Pink or Blue?
So- here's the 411 on finding out the gender. The entire world knows that you can find out at 20 weeks. Really at 18 and I've heard as early as 16. So at our last appointment which was 16 weeks the good doctor said we would be scheduled for a regular appointment with her to do the regular pee in a cup, count up the pounds I've gained, and check to make sure I'm still the super mom we all know I am. In addition to that they would schedule an "out of house" ultrasound to look for any visual birth defects or symptoms of downs. 2 things bug me about this. 1. Why out of house? They doctor's office has all the equipment needed to see through my skin and look at the baby. It's not a big secret either. I've had two ultrasounds there already. Anyha- they want you to go to a ultrasound technician. Ok. No big whoop. The 2nd thing that bugs me is this baby is my baby no matter what. If the baby comes out green with sharp little devil teeth- it'll still be my baby. (Though I might name her Elphie if such were the case.) I just want to go to figure out if it's a boy or girl. Period. I understand the doctors want to know the rest- I'll appease them. On top of scheduling out of house the PA tells me that the doctor wants me to see a specialist who only comes up from Salt Lake once a week. I'm required to do this because I'm a high risk pregnancy. News to me! Apparently my brain tumor has reared it's ugly head once again. I know, we all forgot he was in there- didn't we? Instead of the normal technician looking for 20 things the specialist will be looking for about 100 different things. While, I, the mom, the patient, the payer of your house and fancy car- Doc.- just want to know if it's a boy or a girl. I cave. Salt Lake Tech it is.
So- we end our 16 week appointment and go out to the front desk to schedule our next one. The sweet, overly-bubbly, never impregnated, incredibly young receptionist books our appointment with my regular doctor. I ask her about the specialist and she assures me that she will call tomorrow because the offices in Salt Lake are closed for the day. No biggie. Tomorrow comes. And goes. The next tomorrow comes. And goes. Tomorrows come and go for about 2 weeks. And nobody calls me. After an internal battle I feel it is within my rights to call and see when my appointment is. Wouldn't you know it- couldn't you have guessed they forgot to book it? But- "Don't worry Mrs. Poulsen- we'll get that done for you today." I give them my work number and they surprise me and call back. My appointment is booked for March 15. March 15?! Yeah. A whole 3 weeks after my 20 week appointment. Maybe 3 weeks doesn't sound like a long time to you. Does 21 days sound any longer? It does to me! I thank them for booking it- though I am unhappy. And go home to sulk to Ken. He is less than sympathetic. He claims the baby's gender is not going to change in 21 days. True, true. But none the less- if it's not changing why can't I know now?
After a couple days passed- I called the office again. This was last Friday. I spoke with the same receptionist. Something about her makes me want to call her Jenny. Is it her annoying fake smile? Her reassurance that she is doing everything she can. I never believe that line. I reminded her of who I was and asked if there was anyway my Dr. could do a gender check as part of my appointment tomorrow. Her reply: "Um...NoooOOooo." Yeah. That's right. She gave my the exaggerated-roller coaster no. She offered to book me an appointment at Rosemark for an ultrasound. It sounded like a decent out. Something sooner than March 15th. I told her I'd take it. After a few clicks of the keyboard she responded, "I can get you in March 26th." No thanks, sister.
It seems like all my avenues have been blocked. But I'm hell-bent on figuring out what this baby is. And I am figuring it out tomorrow! Somehow. I'm just that determined. I think I'll start by begging my doctor. If she says- she can get me in to see at a hospital in Miami, Florida tomorrow- I am packing my bags and heading to the banana belt. There's nothing like a warm summer sun in the middle of February.
Given this information today- and knowing that I like to share information rather quickly- this is your chance to cast your vote.
Pink or Blue?
8 comments:
My instinct has been blue from the start. I am true blue. I would be surprised if it was anything but blue. BUT Greta would have fun with a kitten close to her age.
I am going pink just because I hope you have a little girl as cute as you! Can't wait to hear!
I'm with Tif. I think a girl. There's a lot of girls being born lately. Either way, you will be a great Mom.
I say pink!!!
i am going to say pink! Mary and Her can be besties! Or if its a BLUE then he can be our next daughters husband!! haha (no i am not pregnant)
Not sure why, but I am leaning more towards boy.
Oh gosh. Um, I'm going to say pink because I know you want a kitten. :) And I don't blame you. This is coming from a mother of one kitten and two puppies. My puppies are a pain in the ARSE. You be strong tomorrow, Pats. Conjure your inner moxy. Pretend your doc is your neighbor you had to confront. Pretend that you are Hillary Clinton. You have a right to know the sex, by golly! It's torture to have to wait three more weeks. And really not fair. This is a rite of passage you deserve. Stick to your guns. You can DO eet!!
I am going to have to go with pink also just because that is what everyone else I know seems to be having. good luck! I am sure you will be an awesome mom whatever the gender.
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