We're having a Baby!

Last night was wonderful!  We registered at the hospital.  The reception guard recognized us from being there every Wednesday for our birthing classes and commented that she was surprised we still didn't have our little baby yet.  She smiled, actually didn't ask for identification this time, and gave us stickers that said ER (my initials, right?).  It was after hours for the normal admittance area so we walked through to the Emergency Room.  It wasn't all blood-and-gore as I has suspected it might be.  So instead of the potential dramatic scene, it was pleasant and easy.  A very tall, smiley young black man with a nice purple polo greeted us, told us he usually does that paperwork, and not until later in the evening anyways, and helped us.  Naturally, there were a few terms and references that were beyond my knowledge so he explained, took our ID's, insurance card, the needed paperwork from our pretty aqua Good Sam Folder with a pink stork on it and made copies.  Then he handed it back, wished us well and said, "God Bless".  We thanked him, giggled with excitement about having taken another step toward parenthood and walked back through to the main lobby.  See, pleasant moments.

Even though we didn't end up both off from work around 4 to stop by the hospital, our evening was just perfect in my mind.  The weather was windy and cool, you could hear the waves of leaves all around.  We felt like the only ones enjoying the palm-lined drive down Flagler on such a simple night.  We got a family dynamics conversation addressed and agreed upon and moved onto topics that spurted laughter and closeness.  Instead of saying that we were exiting the hospital I absentmindedly said "hotel" and was sillily reminded that this would be no hotel experience.  But we both took it in good humor and I expressed that I'm actually quite excited about our *fingers crossed* little hospital stay.  I noted that we'd even have room service but quickly retracted the sentiment as I've already requested that someone, somewhere show my some love while we're there by bringing "food from the outside".  The visual thought of touching things for consumption that were cleaned in a place where germs are brought to be brought down and the main intent of the establishment is to heal people with scalpals, not provide food for people "Eggen's Me Out" just a bit and brings my erked out nerves to the surface to delight in the stress of the imagery.  Still rather unbelievable that the part I'm not worried about is the natural pain and "labor"ious intensity, right?

We decided a bit too late in the travel down Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard that we'd eat at Taco Vida in City Place and so took a tour down Tamarind.  But everything we said to one another seemed carefree last night and we were the two happiest people around- I'm sure of it.  After nachos and a chimichanga with my non high-fructose corn syrup Fanta in a bottle and our fleet of salsas to test, we went across the road to Publix and selected a movie.  Aah, a movie in bed next to a snuggly husband.  What a great night.  ...we're so excited about our present and our future.

I believe the saying goes "The past is history, the future is a mystery and that's why now is called a present." or something to that effect.  Our little present is wrapped up inside of me and I can't wait to meet him or her and share all of the future moments directly with Kevin.

Good Samaritan is lookin' Good!

Last night Kevin and I toured Good Samaritan's "Special Deliveries Unit".  I've decided that their take on the baby section is way better than the daunting title of "Maternity Ward" (Hello, ward is the root of warden, right?).  While it wasn't the time to make friends with fellow 2011 baby parents, it did prove to be a nice couples experience for just the two of us (definitely not for the "Excuse me, I'm trying to listen here" Grandma's stern words to the sassy chatters in the cesarian section recover room/Bunny Suits storage room...yes, that was our favorite part:  seeing a sign for "Bunny Suits"!).  I must say that while I always envisioned being at Good Sam with "views of the water" ::aah:: the only two rooms that did have views weren't totally zen and I believe that I just may prefer to be in a sideline room come December.  The waiting area section for family was casual and comfortable-looking so the text of sharing excitement went out to Rachel and Mom while eating a yummy Aleyda's Mexican dinner.

This blog entry cannot end without explaining the view that was most impressionable from the outing:  Leaving through the main hospital entry/exit to Good Samaritan.  It is such a beautiful view.  We both agreed that this first sight of the outdoors, and Baby D's home county, is perfect.  It will be sad if I manage to not snap a photo of it for scrapbooking and sharing when we're there in the coming months for the baby classes.  Aah, West Palm Beach!   

Marital Quarantine

quarantine |ˈkwôrənˌtēn|

noun

a state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious orcontagious disease are placed : many animals die in quarantine.

(say's the dictionary).

I see no other way to politely include this entry then to elaborate on the last excerpt that included a note about the additional blood pumping through my system.  Perhaps I'm too devoted to the fleeting thought of promising to be "just as candid as these authors" when reading others' accounts of having a baby in their womb.  Oh, well, half of them being doctors isn't going to reign me back from being a resolute blogger.  Here goes nothing:  

The long and short is that requesting "rougher" can lead to "No Adult Playtime for You".  Who cares about soup, this isn't fun when you've got undue amounts of lively zest and energy!  I think I now understand what being "...for the birds" means when the doc prescribes no sex.  Everyone says it's healthy.  Bum deal.  My husband and I figuratively sat in the corner and counted down the days until the timeout session was over.  Let me tell you that absence does make the heart grow fonder.  In the end this little doctoral wager over my health stance was unwarranted.  I WAS FINE!  Gut instinct (or bl*#d-and-guts in this case...well maybe no guts...) said that I was fine.  Urged brain power told me to call the medical professional.  When an entire 9-month process is literally broken down into weeks, two of them is a true chunk of the goal.  Either way, it's good to know that all is well everywhere.  Now if I could just work on the real threats like learning how to not sleep on my back...

P.S.-  Am I a bashful American for second-guessing the keyed letter order of "s", "e", "x"?  Or perhaps just a little bit too loyal product of the Protestant Faith and Catholic school system?  Should it have been that blush-inducing?  I mean, that it where the baby came from, right?  Always the questions...

Pregnancy Makes Me Dance!

I think that all of this additional blood pumpage is roughing through my system like musical tunes in a club.  I am half surprised that we (you & me babes) have not been caught mid-dance by a realtor yet!  Give me a slow tune and I think that I'm mimicing the grace of a seasoned ballerina who knows The Blues.  Play me some Power 96 booty music and, well, it's safe to say that you're getting a free bounce-house experience!  Tonight I was reliving my "To Gainesville Dance Mix" CD circa 2000 playlist (that was still in the disc player from your father's request this past weekend to hear, well, we won't recount the track- just ask me about my Chicago Teach America trip when you're older if you really want to know).  In any event, it turns out that my James Brown track wasn't quite turned down as I pulled into our parking lot.  Good stuff though as a neighbor and I connected over the amazing necessity for that music in the world.  I'm happy that he momentarily relived some good Chicago memories of his own from hearing "Baby!  I'm ready to get up and do my thing!".

We're having a Baby!!!

Today I (we) went to the dentist for the first time since being pregnant.  Greetings from both an excited and belly-scoping receptionist and Cristina my dental assistant were fun!  And, how fabulous was the teeth-cleaning chair?!  I imagined that I was at the spa- reclining in the comfy and leg-lifting chair, closing my eyes to relax, and having my mouth massaged.  Aah!  It was fun.  I was very thankful that I wasn't asked questions that required tool-filled mouthy answers amid the saliva-swasher!  Before I left Christina and I discussed when Baby D should first visit her.  Turns out it's not until age four but routine visits with my child by my side are recommended so that they're "used to" the dental chair and office.  How cute.  

Oh, sidenote, and the friendliest men behind the lunch counter at Greenwise made a delicious rueben sandwich for me today.  Yum!  So good!

This is it!

Just a note at the exaggerated glee that was bouncing out of me this morning- I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET BABY D!  The scenario all feels real and Kevin and I will actually have a child of our own and, for the first time, it all feels real.  I am so excited with our big, new reality!  How exciting!!

Certainly it helps that the following firsts have happened:

1.  Barbara Angiuli, Cousin Caryn and Sister Wendy all mailed gifts- baby books!

2.  We've actually been telling people and it's not felt super "secret/hush-hush"!

3.  Customer Luly squealed, widened arms and said, "Well now I'm just going to have to check out your belly each time that I come in here to see how you look!" (sidebar:  referencing my midsection as a belly actually doesn't remind me of Santa's jelly jiggling.  I imagine I should fully embrace this exceptional reason why?  ;)

4.  My mom and I have been having fun, girly conversations about baby furniture and baby stuff.  The countdown is on!

5.  My husband and I actually sat down and ended up having a most-fun, interactive conversation about the name of our December Baby.  Wee!  He threw out a name that I Love and he liked too (very big deal)!

Despite these wild, explicit and disturbing dreams sidelining my constant self-reprimand of waking up on my back- this is a most-amazing time and I am So Very Excited.  I'm in love all over again.

And, my husband is still the most amazing man whom I cherish and adore.

Buenos Dias

This morning has been fun (with playful work send-offs to your father), productive (by getting out the door to greet the day earlier than usual), fulfilling (in leaving a thoughtful book on your Grandmother's kitchen counter with a note on it as she has always done) and thought-provokingly sad.  The latter is from a concerned call from your Grandfather.  He is worried about his Mom.  Your Great-Grandma Eggen has been living in Noreen McKeen, a nursing home. 

As I sat beside her bed, so focused on her that the sound of yet another nurse giving me a play-by-play on her night was drowned out, I thought about how her eyes were gently closed.  Not far from my mind is how we'll all be gathered in her honor sometime in the future.  I believe that you, Baby, won't have the opportunity to meet her, my Grandma Eggen.  I've resolved myself to understand that this is how life's course runs itself and I'm okay with that.  Hopefully I'm good enough at recounting the memories of your Great Grandma Eggen and Great Grandma & Grandpa Testa well.  Family is special and they have played apart in making you a bit of who you are today too.  Memories and moments are important.  Cherish them always.

Even though my hand was holding Grandma's as she lay in bed, I had to review the clock as it's a work day.  It was 9:33 and it stuck with me.  I wondered how many times in 80 + years my Grandmother had experienced the time of 9:33 as it came and went.  Seemingly inconsequental, I realized that it's still a minute of life.  Now Grandma was winding down, and I wondered how many "9:33's" she, I and everyone has looked over and not thought much of in our daily life.  I hope that I learn to better appreciate the time that I have here even if I am in a hurry or "looking for something to do".  The minutes will never be given back so they should be made to last.  I hope that you realize that early on.

As my thoughts of worry for The Eggen Family coping with this stress, time's shortness and life's importance were moving through my head, I was interrupted by a stranger.  "Buenos dias!" and a smail came my way in the Downtown parking lot.  I'm glad for that.  Thriving off of little moments are happy.  Knowing that is even better.

Love. 

Erica Kane meets Erica Dun

When I was a little girl I went on a quest to discover the meaning of my name.  Something I found out about Erica, besides meaning "Regal and Ever Powerful" were the "famous people" associated with it.  The only two Erica's I remember were Erica Jong, a writer, and Erica Kane, a character on All My Children. dialoge

Another childhood memory was of soap operas.  Mainly how I wasn't allowed to watch them and that my Aunt Vicki loved them.  It worked out that I couldn't even sneakily watch them with interest whilst playing with my closest cousin Heather.  I truly had a distaste for them.  Funny because I love my Aunt Vicki immensely and don't think of her with them unless I hear talk of the daytime dramas.  

Yesterday my husband and I left the house for an hour and biked down to Publix.  The strong breeze dictated our in-and-out conversation about names for our child (or children as I remind him often that the Twin Gene runs in the Eggen bloodline).  So we discussed names.  I had him say both the boy and girl name that I like, and luckily he agrees on...you have no idea how long it took to deliberate and finalize an agreement for the name of Riley our cat.  

"Can you both yell, as if they're in trouble, and say nicely, like everyday, with each name?"  I asked just as we approached a stream of hedges that blocked the wind and allowed for dialogue of sorts.  "_ _ _ _ _!"  He yelled.  "_ _ _ _ _."  He smiled.  And it went the same for our girls' name.  I was pleased.  But, boy, was I concerned about if I could stick with this male name.  Yes, I love it.  Yes, I've been idealizing the funness of it for MONTHS.  But, the significance of a name was hankering away at my mind and I'm having trouble shaking it.  In true cliche fashion, I asked if both names will be taken seriously in a professional setting when they're AD-ult-s.  I was given a positive reply.  Then, not that I believed the next question to be an aspiration and not that I wanted my embryo to think it impossible one day, but the "will blank, blank Dunhill" make for a presidential run and sound solid topic was discussed. I was given a "well, probably" on the boy and a "yes" on the girl.  Okay.  More thinking.  A name is important.

That brings this blog full circle, I'd say.  Tonight we went to watch The Lincoln Lawyer.  The husband's stomach growled for grub and we headed over to Moe's.  My head couldn't shake the fact that I still hadn't found a fun pregnancy journal- you know, one that's pretty, asks intimate questions, covers important medical forms, tells me about the new things and person developing in my body, etc.  So I searched.  I never did find a journal that I love but just as Kevin and I were discussing whether or not we needed a Baby Naming Book, who should walk by?  Susan Lucci, aka, Erica Kane.  How's that for looping names, meaning and randomness together?

And now I will rant a bit about how clueless we were and how informed and important she was treated.  Picture this:  

Barnes and Noble book signing in Gardens.

Kevin and Erica needing a baby book in Gardens.

They find the lone, vacant corner and scan the books.

Kevin leaves Erica to an anticipated long perusal of hmmm...pretty book...where...

Kevin comes back.

Erica is still looking for a pretty book...where...

The two nix the baby name book (well, mainly he nixed it).

They agree to buying an everything pregnancy book.

They'll both read it.

Now to find it...

Suddenly an odd group of people are disturbing the serenity of the baby and me section.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY" is about what was yelled at us sternly.

Uh, okay.  

We're two people quietly reading up on creating another, what gives with the insistence on yelling?

Next thought cues to "Uh, is that Susan Lucci?  I think so.  Odd.".

As the thoughts passed through my conscious so did the group of 5ish race by us.  

I turned to my husband, "I think that was Susan Lucci.".

"Oh, yah, there was a long, wrapping line in the CD's and DVD's section of the bookstore.  I figured that whoever it was for, I didn't care about".  Ha, ha.  The worst is that I believe one of the last in her leopard print dress and black heels following entourage, (or shall we say book store version of security?) heard me.  I didn't think it was a big deal, more laughable as we were the only ones on the premises minding our own business and not seeking the presence of anyone had a brush-by.  As it turns out, I think there's some level of full-circle symbolism there, 

and that's pretty cool.

  

Four Score and a Year Ago...

It's weird to think about how this whole "Okay, we're ready to get pregnant!" idea has been cultivating for a year now.  True, my husband and I agreed that we'd "Start in June".  But that agreement happened around this time in 2010.  Do you know that it's been such a plan and thought that now that the white bar showed two lines it still doesn't seem real?  Not enough firm evidence has proven to me that I am in fact "with child".  I wonder if all of these quotations marks imply an underlying sarcasm and disbelief?  Notice there are a lot of question marks too. 

So there are definite differences in my body but my body has always been a bit of a curiosity in itself so it doesn't much phase me.  I was the high school girl who played sports and would go sometimes three months without the womanly course (sure, this only happened but a few times, still, that is more than any of my girlfriends have ever experienced so I believe it to be noteworthy).  And, a tender chest (no, not just my emotional heart!) comes and goes with the months too.  So dealing with a throbbing bounce is not new.  I've always had vivid dreams- rather explicit ones at that!  Thus, that is not new news.  However, one thing I have always been is a solid Eggen sleeper.  Always.  Hurricane Andrews threatening loom and high winds?  I slept like a baby.  My father's room-penetrating snore throughout the house?  Didn't know snoring ran in the family.  A tornado ran through our Langarado campsite whilst concert music was blaring and my back was planted on a tree root?  Ah, a good stretch with the rise of the sun the next day!  So those facts do lend themselves toward my mild consciousness of birds singing, my husband rummaging for running shorts and the morning arriving being a curiosity.  This is totally new.  I wonder if it's true that pregnant women have a more acute sensory system because of there new found maternal instinct.  Or is this just my subconscious being smartly aware of the "What to Expect" literature I read and translating it in my brain during slumber.  That sounds legit.  Maybe I'm too skeptical?  I'll argue in my defense that I've always been the type to have an intense sense of "Okay, I understand now that it's been colored as black or white" and until that moment there tends to be a blur of grasping my surroundings.  I tell ya.  Hmm, perhaps a offshoot of my stubborn nature? 

Whatever the case, we're four days in and I'm very eager for Monday the 18th so that I can re-pee for further research into this current search for a definitive answer.

A Magazine that Surprises

In my lifetime I've read many-a-magazine.  My introduction to magazines was probably those Redbook's laying around the house from my mom's subscription.  And it never failed that there was a Highlights magazine at Infant's and Children when we waited for Doctor Roberts.  But it's safe to say that my very first magazine (you know, where I got to browse what the Publix stands had to offer and ponder which titles were most fetching of my 13 year old attention!) is probably still in one of my keepsake hatboxes somewhere.  I don't believe that it's still in publication but lasting was the grown-up feeling that "this is awesome!".  It was something that was older than me and it catered to those girls who were old enough, and big enough, to actually were a size zero in the 5-7-9 store (lust!).   Sure, it was hard to find a publication that covered topics that my watchful mother approved of while still appealing to my young-girl self.  Think:  too old for Cats Magazine and too young for Cosmopolitan.  We went on the trip, my highlight was a way cooler (and less connect-the-dot) magazine than that called Highlights and I loved it.

Insert a gift of a Y.M. that was delivered to our family mailbox and I was in heaven!  I'll never forget the fresh images of my-aged Yasmine Bleeth and Jessica Biel on the Young Miss cover.  They too were young, fresh, sporty and pretty.  It's certain that there was a stretch of time when magazine articles overshadowed reading books in the hobby department.  What's not to love about something topical, informative (reading about the pangs of menstruation can be formatted in a hip way?  Who knew.) and indulgent?

By this point, age 29, I have been washed of my ability to form excitement over magazines.  Particularly those geared towards women.  Time magazine is my favorite and travel-focused publications based on where I'm planning to visit next in the world.  But, honestly, I'm at a stage where I'm into expanding my brain and enjoying the pining for this.  My nightly "these 20-30 are just for me" minutes have been filled with either book reading or BrainAge practicing.  I'm getting older you see.  And I recognize it.

Well, today I'm back on a short-read kick.  I bought my first copy of Fit Pregnancy.  Result:  I'm far from wise!  Every article was packed with information that I didn't know.  Autism from meds?  Moderate exercise while pregnant?  So many articles and none were a wash of spiffed up topics that I'd see a million times over.  My mind was slightly blown away by this phenomoneom.  This had to be comprable to me picking up a gun enthusiast magazine.  I did.Not.Know.A.Thing!  Wow.  Cheers to always being able to learn!  I am one excited mother-to-be.  

If Day Three of known pregnancy is this surprising then I think I'm in for a massive processing overload when my husband and I arrive for Delivery at Good Sam Hospital in December!