“Nah, it’s good. You flavor it. The guys make it because it’s packed with protein.”
I shake away the thought of how that must taste as a quiet moment arrives, and we both linger in our silence for a few seconds.
“You have your appointment. Ireallywish I could be there.”
It is disappointing, more than I thought it would be. “I know. It’s just the only time the doctor was available, as she is off from next week until the new year. A long vacation, apparently.”
“Still… you’ll let me know right after how it goes?”
I lift a shoulder and settle for reality and what I need to get used to with his schedule. If my mom could do it, then so can I. “Of course.”
“Good. And Gracie… let’s talk when I’m back.”
That catches me off guard. It sounds serious and scares me as suddenly different kinds of thoughts fly at me from all directions. A negative feeling, if I’m honest.
“Sure.” It’s a simple reply.
“I’ve gotta run, but… sweet dreams.” There is a gentleness in his voice that causes a ping in my chest.
My mouth slides side to side. “Will do. I have chocolate, after all.” I try my best to smile but something feels uneasy, and I can’t pinpoint it.
When we end the call, I take a few moments to search for my thought but can’t find it.
So, I do what any normal person would do in the month of December; I grab a gingerbread cookie and shove it in my mouth.
The young doctorsmiles at me as I lie back on the exam table while she looks at her tablet. My blood work came back fine, as I thought it would. “You said it was only one time, which means the conception date is clear, and that really helps us determine how far along you are.”
“Yep.” I smack my lips together. “On the Monday night before Halloween, as it was a no-practice day, so the coach actually had a normal dinner out, and that matters because the father of this baby has a schedule from hell that I really don’t like right now, but I need to deal with it. Throw in Chrismukkah and we can add to my level of crazy right now.” I’m a little feisty today, and the poor doctor is on the receiving end of my rant.
She raises her brows at me. “Everything okay? It’s important to keep stress levels down.”
I rub the back of my neck and exhale a long breath. “Yeah, it’s fine. Sleep has just been funny lately.” My mind can’t seem to stop reeling.
“That is perfectly normal,” she assures me. “Anyhow, I’ll put you at a July 18th estimated due date.”
I sit up on my elbows because there is a bright side. “Oh, that’s good. The off-season. Even if the Spinners make it to the championship, then they are finished by then.”
“Happy to hear. This also means you just entered about nine weeks, and we can do anultrasound.”
My cheeks hurt from how big the smile is on my face. “I was hoping you would say that.” Then my face falls. “I guess Asher can come next time.”
She rolls over the cart with the machine. “Look at it this way. There will be many moments that just you and the baby will experience together. It’s biology, after all. This is one of those moments, and it is a great way to start your journey.”
I think about it for a beat, and she’s right. “Yeah, it is.”
A minute later with everything set, I’m staring at the screen as the doctor searches the screen and moves around the wand. For a second, I worry, but then the little pulsing dot appears, and then the small form of a baby.
“There you are. He or she is right there.” She points with her finger then presses a few buttons on her keyboard and the room fills with the sound of the heartbeat. A swooshing wave on repeat.
The tingle in my eyes is from the happy tears pooling and beginning to fall. My hand covers my mouth because I’m overwhelmed, and I think my cry might turn into a full-on waterfall.
“That’s a baby.” My own heart is pattering fast from the mixture of nerves and excitement.
She pinches her lips together, amused by my word choice, but she must have heard far worse. “A healthy baby.” Her mouse on the screen begins to take measurements. “I’ll print a few pictures, and I can record a video to put in the app that lists your appointments.”
“Yes, please do,” I respond eagerly.
This is all too real now. The final confirmation. A baby is on the way, and I have a million things to figure out.
