Best Morning Ever

We just had one of the best morning's ever.

We just returned from the doctor's office. Scott and I elected to undergo a first trimester genetic screening test - the nuchal fold scan (or nuchal translucency screening). This is an ultrasound performed with a simple blood test. We picked this screening because it's the earliest first trimester screen available, with a lower risk of false positives than the second trimester multiple marker test (or AFP4), and it's non-invasive - the ultrasound measures the fold at the base of the baby's neck and the blood test is looking for proteins common in certain developmental abnormalities - specifically Downs and Trisomy 18.

So, we started the appointment with a 30 minute genetic counseling session with an incredibly friendly and kind genetics specialist with a keen sense of humor. I really liked her. She drew this crazy genetic map with all of these symbols that I think could be related to the final episode of LOST. But seriously, we learned a lot - mostly, that both Scott and I are very low risk of passing anything down to our kid. Whew.

We then moved on to the ultrasound. It was a big kooshy room, with two ultrasound techs, our genetics expert AND a perientologist. Full house indeed. And our little baby is quite the performer (takes after Mom!). We saw a full set of acrobatics, lots of rolling and flipping and swimming about. A dramatic hand raised to its forehead. A foot in the camera (damn paprazzi). The little one was so active for a good 20 minutes that we were having trouble getting a good picture for measurement. Then, almost on cue, the babe chilled out for a few snap-shots. Scott and I were laughing and grinning and it was just such an incredible, wonderful moment. I could have stared at that screen for hours. Amazing.

Everything is looking just great. We should have our screening results within a week.

Afterward we went out for breakfast and talked excitedly about what's to come. Suddenly, this all feels very, very real. And I'm just smitten.

28 weeks, 1 day and counting...