Third Culture Kid(s)

Minutes after I typed that, I had a call from the genetic counselor (a good sign, since she said bad news might come from the doctor, instead) saying that we passed our chromosome test - so we do not have to make that decision.

But, as always, our good result makes me think of all the parents who aren’t so fortunate and either have some serious adjusting to do or a terrible decision to make. We’re lucky - that’s all - and certainly not because we deserve it more than anyone else. And, of course, once sperm meets egg you’re never out of the woods until you successfully manage to die of old age before your own kid(s) - it’s all such a crap shoot.

Sorry for the morbid turn - I just realized, between my pregnancy with MM and this one, that we control pretty much squat. We can try to influence things, but that’s about as far as we get. Everything else is pretty much luck of the draw. But, in the meantime, I’m so, so relieved that this one decision - the one I’m personally most ambivalent about - has passed us over.

And, for the big news:

It’s a boy. Which I totally kind of knew, given the very different morning sickness (ie: I’m hungry when I’m not feeling like barfing. That never happened with the girl, that’s for damned sure. I even think about all kinds of food preparation - not something I’m generally inclined to do, as my husband will attest - when I’m not down for the count. I have a feeling I’m going to have to watch my weight this time around).

So, to sum up: chromosomes, okay. Spina bifida test at 16 wks. Detailed ultrasound to look at organs (or lack thereof) near 18-ish weeks. Overweight, hypertensive, hypothyroid (but, really, only just) old lady body has to keep up the good work - we’re not out of the woods, but we do not have to make that one decision, for which I’m unspeakably grateful.

(Really, I’m in a much better place than in my first pregnancy. I know it doesn’t sound like it, but I’m mostly just ritualistically ‘naming’ the possible issues in an attempt to recognize and dismiss them. Unlike last time, I officially do not sit around haunting the Internet for hours on end this time. Really.)