Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound

Thursday I had my nuchal translucency ultrasound (try saying that three times!). We decided to do the full integrated prenatal screening tests which consists of a first trimester blood test, nuchal translucency ultrasound and a second trimester blood test. The tests check for your risk of down syndrome, trisomy 18 (mental retardation and physical birth defects), neural tube defects and SLOS. I am happy to report that the blood test and ultrasound all came back with good results. Everything is looking just as it should be which was a huge relief for both of us.

Jeff unfortunately had a meeting that he couldn't miss so he was unable to see the ultrasound. I really enjoyed seeing how much the baby has grown and developed since last time! I was able to hear its heartbeat for the first time which was really fun and crazy how fast it was at 161 bpm.

This picture shows a profile of the baby's head. It was funny because it looked so much like a real human head with features that I had to double check with the technician that I was seeing it right (I guess I had gotten used to it looking so alien-like)!

I was also able to see the baby do a few flips during the ultrasound which was another highlight! My mom says it's already a VJ (Val Junior) as I was quite an active child.

Later this week we will meet our doctor for the first time that will be delivering the baby. Hopefully we like her and all goes well. 

I'm now into my 13th week and it has grown to the size of a medium shrimp at almost 3 inches long. I'm feeling much better and getting my energy back!

The Family Table

This weekend my dad came up to visit us. Not only did he bring up a car full of my "stuff" from their house that was still in my old bedroom a.k.a. Daniel's room but he came up to help us refinish our dining room table. The dining room table that we now have in our house used to be my parents table that they bought over 30 years ago. This is the table that I spent my childhood sitting around every night sharing in delicious meals, spending quality time with family and friends and occasionally (or frequently in the teenage years) getting reprimanded at. Several years ago when my parents bought a new table we gladly snatched up the old one even though we didn't even have a house to put it in at the time. With my dad's guidance and elbow grease he and Jeff (I was not allowed to participate due to the fumes etc.) set out to make it look new again!

Sanding in the backyard before the rain started!

Staining.

Three coats of polyeurethane later and patiently waiting for it to dry in the cold and rainy SF weather!

I'm really looking forward to bringing it in the house, but we still have to keep it in the garage for a few more days to dry and because of the fumes. If you've ever eaten dinner with Jeff you can only imagine how often I have to wash the tablecloth because he has dropped various things on it! I can't wait to simply wipe it up with a sponge! Also a plus for when the little one arrives!

Thanks dad for all of your help (and mostly doing it all yourself)! It turned out great and it was so nice to spend some time with you!

Here's to 30 more years of great food, wine (oh how I miss wine), family and friends gathering around this table!

Last week's first: Me leaving Tommaso's neither overly stuffed nor drunk. Neither Jeff or my dad can claim this. ;)

Kumquat!

This week the baby is the size of a kumquat! Because we decided to switch healthcare providers to Kaiser which wasn't effective until February,  today was our first appointment with them. The good thing about switching was that we had a chance to get another peek at this thing I've been working so hard at incubating.

The nurse practitioner said that everything looked healthy and that it was already photogenic (pretty sure this is her standard line but I'll take it)!

She also looked from several different angles to see if there was just one. We were both relieved when that was all she was able to see! It also started moving around a bit which was really neat!

This weekend we head down to Avila Beach with Jeff's family for the annual Dachenhaus Family Weekend. With 4 kids ages 4 - 1.5 years old it looks like we'll get to have some more practice at child-rearing!