The Salamander
This morning started way to bright and way to early for my tastes. This seems to be (more and more) a habit with me. Last week it was (two days in a row) getting up and driving to Salt Lake City, to the airport. At least today was spent going to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center (the hospital close to campus) so Erin could meet with a doctor about a study he is a part of where they are trying to determine the level of antioxidant vitamins that will help stave off... I don't remember what.
The outcome was that we got a pretty intricate ultrasound (he even dropped into 3D) so we could see the salamander in Erin's belly. There is one (count that... one) in there. No more, no less. That is always pleasant to experience. Seeing that Erin really is pregnant. Sure, the tests indicated she was; and the pee-sticks reacted so fast that it made your head spin; but to see is something else entirely.
Our experience was interesting. We drove around the hospital once before going into the main entrance; riding the elevator to the top; and then picking up a phone and telling the person on the other end we were there for the study. It was a really cool experience, to say the least.
After Erin signed all of the paperwork, read through things, and had the scope and breath of the study explained to her (of which we learned that they are only admitting people for another two weeks AND that the study has been going on since 2002); we were put into the exam room with a machine on the far side of the table Erin was put on... the doctor applied warm gel to her belly, and then proceeded to show us the various internal bits.
There is a baby.
I think the coolest thing about the experience, other than seeing the salamander kick about, was to have him focus in on a little white spot, press a button, and let the heartbeat play across the speakers in the room. At 9 weeks 2 days (age based off of the size of the fetus), we got to hear the heartbeat.
The altered due date is now: September 23, 2008.
John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West
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