The results are in.
And they are good. Very very very very good.
(Here I squeal. And I’m not a squealer, not really. But if ever one was going to squeal in one’s life, I think it would be now.)
I want to say that I knew it, I knew it all along. I felt it. I sensed it. Mother’s instinct, don’t you know? But I didn’t. I needed a call from my doctor’s office yesterday to confirm, as I clutched my cell phone breathlessly, that yes, this baby girl is healthy; that the wretched toxoplasmosis a couple of stray kittens bestowed upon me twenty weeks ago had never crossed the placenta; that all signs point to carry on, mama.
“The test is negative,” said the voice. I didn’t even ask another question. I just sobbed, “thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Oh, thank you, thank you,” over and over again.
I hung up, clutched the phone to my chest for a brief moment, and exhaled the longest, most cathartic breath perhaps in my life.
I’m excited to get on with the business of being pregnant. To stop the self torment about what I might have done to deserve this hell, and get on with the complaining about the spreading ass, and the enormoboobs, and the sciatica and the God-awful maternity wardrobe. To freak out about college funds and childcare. To refuse to budge in the seemingly unresolvable battle over baby names that has already begun. To wring my hands about loving the second when the first has already staked her claim over the entirety of my heart.
In other words, I look forward to feeling like a regular old hormonal, bitchy, cynical, whiny, tired, and occasionally freaking-the-hell-out pregnant woman.
And while you will no doubt find me here in the coming weeks, complaining about each and every one of these things as if none of this heinousness ever hung over my head, I will never lose sight of just how lucky I am to be able to do so.
—
Overwhelm: 1. To give too much of a thing (to someone); inundate 2. Have a strong emotional effect on
I have to add, once again, thank you. I know it seems so cliche and mommybloggy and just a little….ick to keep thanking online friends and readers and friends I didn’t even know I had as readers for the overwhelming (see above) support and good wishes. But tough. I have to believe that the collective goodwill had some small or not so small part in this all and for that I will be forever indebted.
In fact we’d name the baby after all of you if we could. Well, at least I would. Nate would nixe every one of them unless he came up with it himself.
123 shards of brilliance… read them below or add one
Next Comments →
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel!I am so not a squealer either but you deserve that one. I’m so thrilled to hear the baby is healthy. Now go buy yourself a not-so-horrible maternity and go out and celebrate as only a mother to be can. Which is to say, be home by 8pm. You’re sleeping for two.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! (squeals from over here too) That’s great news! I think I’ve been checking your site like five times a day lately hoping it would be good news. Could there ever be a better holiday gift? I am so happy for you and your family!!! Congrats!
Oh Liz, that is just the best news!! I think Liz, Jr. is a fine name for a baby girl.
Congratulations!!! I hope the rest of your pregnancy is stress free.
I can breathe now, too. Best, best wishes.
Yay! Yay! Yay!“Blog” is a good name for a girl.
Liz that is amazing news!I look forward to all the complaints. Pregnancy is hell.
What a wonderful Christmas gift for you! Congratulations!If you want someone to complain about pregnancy with, that’s pretty much all I’ve been doing on my blog lately…
Excellent!!
Whoooooohooooooo! Let the pink party begin!
So, so very happy for you. I’m exhaling right along with you.
Oh, yay! What wonderful news!
Yay! Now you can slee-eep in hea-ven-ly peeeeeeaaace.
OK, I’m logging in with a hug at number 64 in the hit parade of comments. I’d say that “I knew it” but I sometimes can’t copy the right letters in your spam comment filter so I’d better just say I have dyslexia.
Wow. Yea! Happy Dance. Enjoy. Look forward to being with you in the exhale.
Phew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Tell Nate that Kara is a lovely name. It means “friend” in Gaelic and “dear one” in Italian and, er.. um “face” in Spanish. Okay, don’t tell him about the Spanish meaning. Unless he speaks Spanish , then he’ll nix it.YAY YOU GUYS!!!!!
I’m thrilled to pieces that things are okay for you and the new babe. In my heart of hearts…I really thought things would be okay, but it sounded like an empty platitude to keep saying it. Press onward and…er…”MOMward!”
I’m very happy that the tests came back negative. Have a great Xmas!
That is fantastic news!(The name Sarah is lovely. You don’t have to decide now.)Tell Nate I said to name her Gibbs.Heh.
happy holidays. what a relief for you….
That is such wonderful news! Relax and enjoy the holidays and your much deserved “routine” hormonal rants!
Am so happy for you Liz. Awesome.
Phew!Now, go gestate.And Josette is a lovely name. I’m just saying.
Oh sweetie, you made me cry happy tears.I guess “Suebob” doesn’t stand a chance, huh?
Yipee! So happy for you. Enjoy your growing belly, and bring on the hormonal rants. They’ll be fun to read.
Wonderful news! Merry Christmas Liz!
Well still, Kristi is a nice name and he couldn’t possible nix that one.I am relieved for you and for your unborn baby who sits on your sciatica. Now, go eat MORE chocolate. You deserve it!
Hooray! Great news. Now, relax and enjoy the holidays.
hallelujah. hooray. simply wonderful news.
Wonderful news, congratulations! Enjoy the festive season
I’m so happy for you and Nate. That is the best news. Have a happy holidays!
WOOHOO! I am so relieved for you … and as I hold onto my tiny “number two,” I can tell you that your heart simply grows and you will have no idea how you could love two people so much. You will feel complete, unless of course you want three.
Have a great holiday and here’s to a wonderful 2007!
It’s a Christmas/Hanukkah miracle. Now enjoy getting fat and achy. Wheeeee
Awesome news!!! Now put your feet up, enjoy the holidays and enjoy your pregnant self.
Great news. Nothing like an extra wonderful holiday gift for you and your family!
oh thank god…i am SO fucking pleased for you, Liz. Now get busy with being a happy preggo-b’yatch. It’s time…
Squealing over your good news too (and I am not a squealer). So so so wonderful.
Great news, Liz. Have the best Holiday(s) ever!
Hooray! What a perfect Christmas present!And, really, I’ve read some interesting studies about things like prayer circles and internet best wishes type things. There seems to be a distinct increase in recovery rates in patients with cancer that have a large group of people hoping/wishing/praying for their recovery – even if the people are really far-flung and total strangers. So who knows? It’s a strange and wonderful world.I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! (Or whatever. Happy Everything!!)
Congratulations!I’m SO happy for you and Nate and Thalia and of course, healthy baby girl TBN (to be named). This is definitely one holiday gift that you won’t ever forget and it sure beats pajamas, huh?Yay!{{hugs}}
AWESOME! What a tremendous relief.And I know exactly what you mean about wondering how on earth you’ll be able to love the second as much as the first. I wonder that every day and feel horribly guilty.
The BEST news I’ve heard all day! so thrilled for all four of you.
I’m doing a happy dance for you right now!! Happy news little 101!!Happy Christmas too!Carrie
Congratulations on the good news! What a wonderful Christmas present. Now enjoy being pregnant!
I am so happy for you. So happy. This comment is ridiculously nothing in comparison to my relief.Congratulations!!!But for God’s sake don’t name the poor kid Jennifer.
Oh, I’m so happy! So very, very, very happy!As a person with toxoplasmosis damage herself (no central retina in one eye, so no depth perception), I am especially cheered that your child will be fine!enjoy the holiday season and your pregnancy!
Yay! Just adding my happiness to your news.
Yee fucking haw!
hip hip hooray! you’ve made my day! looking forward to all your bitching and whining, because it will, no doubt, be well written and make me laugh. with you of course. happy christmas to all.
let’s see some pictures of your spreading ass to make us feel svelt…just kidding. i’m so happy for you liz
Next Comments →