My favourite "ultrasound" thus far...

Now that I've caught up on sleep let me tell you all about yesterday...

I'll skip the parts where I was nervous all day and short with Matt when he got home and just wanted to get this done :)

So we went into the hospital and checked in. Then sat down and waited for what seemed like an eternity until we were called back by a nurse to see the cardiologist. Let me tell you, this doctor was the nicest person I have ever encountered in the medical world. He had what I can only describe as the best bedside manner possible. It was clear that he had read all of the information about us beforehand (which most doctors don't and then get embarrassed after asking if this is our first), answered any questions at all, and walked us through the entire echo as he did it. He told us that only once has he ever seen a mother have more than one child diagnosed with HLHS in his large number of years in the medical profession (and this is what he deals with since he is a paediatric cardiologist). That was comforting in itself because hearing from someone who's sole focus is the heart say that seemed to mean more than when an OB says "the chances aren't really that high".

Now I've had 3 ultrasounds so far in this pregnancy with bean (a dating ultrasound at 8 weeks, the NT ultrasound at 12 weeks, and the most recent anatomy ultrasound at 18 weeks) and I'm not saying they weren't good, because they were, but all of the techs seemed so secretive. I understand that ultrasound technicians are not able to diagnose anything so therefore can't really reveal anything about the baby but that doesn't mean they can't talk to you. Not to mention that Matt was never allowed in until the end of the ultrasound and it was almost like it was a chore to bring him in (not to me, to the techs). Well anyways, this echo was SO different. He talked with us (asked us what we do, how the holidays are, told us about himself and his kids, etc) while going through the echo and showing us what each and every little thing was and even started by asking if we wanted to know the gender (which I wasn't expecting as I thought this would focus solely on the heart, which mostly it did but because when he put the wand on at the beginning he was near the legs he figured he'd take a peek and see for us). We said absolutely as we weren't able to get a 100% answer at our previous ultrasound, so he poked around for a bit but Bean was being shy so he said we'll go back and hopefully we'll have a more cooperative baby. So onto the heart. As soon as he saw it he pointed to the screen and said "Well this is the right ventricle and this is the left, no HLHS here!" I was thrilled, Matt was thrilled, the doctor was thrilled. It was a happy happy room to be in :) Of course he went through the entire heart with a "fine toothed comb" showing us the heartrate, the blood flow, the aorta, everything and concluded by saying "that is a perfectly normal healthy heart, couldn't look any better." Again we were thrilled. He then went back to the legs and Bean was no longer shy because we saw what could only be boy parts, VERY CLEARLY lol. Then he closed his legs again and that was that. I can honestly say this was the best ultrasound I have ever had and I wish that all ultrasounds in the future would be with a doctor as amazing as this cardiologist but I know they probably won't. Oh well, at least we got it once :)

So in conclusion...Bean is a boy who has the healthiest heart imaginable and is quite active.

Also, I feel I should address that name Matt told you all below...that is absolutely NOT what we are naming our child lol...not even close...and you all get to wait until Bean decides to come in May to find out.

Much Love

(Ps - HAPPY 5 YEARS MATTY!)