Huge Sigh of Relief...

My Triple Test results came back as 'very low risk', at 1:1050. Thank crunchie for that. I know the figure is pretty arbitrary, but I feel so much better for it!

Unfortunately though, I now have to go to the Hospital every week to have my BP monitored. I live about 15 miles away from the hospital, so it's a bit of a pain - but I'm sure it will be worth it. They're also going to carry out regular kidney and liver function tests, just to be no the safe side.

I asked if I could just go to my midwife, but the hospital want to make sure that they have a thorough record

19 Weeks...

I'm quite shocked that I'm almost half way through my pregnancy - it seems to have crept up and flown by at the same time. I've also reached that LOVELY stage of pregnancy - where I feel simultaneously starving and nauseous. I feel like I could eat the hind leg off a scabby dog, but in reality, if I so much as a sniff a piece of toast - I want to throw up.

This seems to be a bit strange for 19 weeks. All the books (ha!) reckon that I should be WELL out of the nauseous stage by now. But I'm wondering if mine has just landed a bit late - given that the first 19 weeks were a breeze.

Am also starting to FEEL pregnant now... I have a little bump, I've actually lost weight, but my clothes are tighter around my waist and bosom, and my tummy aches. I was a bit worried about that, but then realised that it's muscles/ligaments/whatever stretching in preparation.

I have my first (and probably only) appointment with my consultant tomorrow. And will hopefully find out the results of the Triple Test - which was carried out three, pigging weeks ago. Grrr.

EVILEVILEVIL ebay ...

I've been so good lately - I mean REALLY good, I haven't spent any money that I didn't NEED to spend, and then... then I found the John Lennon Nursery Collection on ebay.

/sigh.

I love it.

Unfortunately, there's only a small collection of stuff available in the UK, the majority (and the best stuff) is all in the US, and is much, much, much cheaper.

I'm sulking.

EDIT: Ahem, erm... well, you know - if you know anyone who might, you know... /cough... want to buy us any John Lennon nursery stuf... erm... they might want to check out this link:-

http://www.mailorder2000.co.uk/products.asp?id=26&pg=1

Erm... that is all.

Poor fella...

Dave has his first exam today (well, the first of this year's exams anyway.)

He's going to get to uni about 12:00, and his first exam is at 14:00, then, the poor thing has to hang around for his second exam, which isn't until 18:00. Grr. At least he can go to the library and get some last minute revision done.

Tomorrow morning, he's got to go across Warrington AGAIN, in rush hour traffic, for his next exam - which is at 09:00.

He's knackered already, but I'm sure he'll do really well.

After that, he's got his final three modules to finish, (before June), a dissertation to hand in by the middle of March, and then his FINAL exams in June. Round about the time the baby is due. Erk!

Poor puppy.

I spent a small fortune on a swanky pen for him on Friday, so that he knows that I'm thinking of him while he's slaving away.

Is that the baby?...

... I don't know... I'm currently 18+3, and have been feeling VERY faint tickly, bubbly sensations low down in my tummy. If I'm busy, or moving about, I can't feel anything, but if I'm sitting still, or lying down, it's there, fluttering away.

Is this the baby moving? Have I just got a weird case of wind?

I don't care how Pikey it is...

... I love, love, love Asda. More specifically, I love, love, love how CHEAP their baby stuff is.

On Saturday I bought a RUCK of sleep suits, body suits etc... all dirt cheap. 7 body suits for a fiver?!!

Cushty.

It's started...

... I have bought the first baby specific stuff from Mothercare... a blanket, a little outfit and a cot mobile. We must be driving the staff at Mothercare potty, we've been there (and Mammas and Pappas, and the Cot and Pram centre in Chester) GAGILLIONS of times over the last couple of weeks. We keep 'testing' the prams - seeing how heavy they are, how easy to fold, how easy to adapt etc. And we still have no idea of what we need/want.

Any ideas?

I also bought some stuff from www.bloomingmarvellous.com (a fabric, squidgy Noah's ark 'toy', and a Noah's ark wall hanging - very pretty).

I was looking through the bedding and curtains etc. that Naeem and Iram had given us, and was very pleasantly surprised to see that there is a full cot set of Noah's ark bedding.

What a lovely coincidence.

After the big spend, I've now got to reign myself in, so I don't blow my wages, I'll be going off on Maternity Leave the first week in May, and need to save as much money as possible before then.

Which is going to be hard this month - I've got to get my eyes tested on Thursday, and will probably need new specs (it's been three years since my last eye test - naughty Maria) - and they aren't pigging cheap.

'Specially if you don't want to look like you're wearing Dame Edna Everage specs.

Just got back...

...from having my triple test at the hospital- it was hellacious in that there were LOTSANDLOTSANDLOTS of people there, a back log from before the holidays apparently.

Anyway, had the test - have to wait two weeks for the results now, but while I was there, I convinced the midwife to try and listen for the baby's heartbeat.

And it was there, chugging away like a train - she found it virtually straight away.

Happy Tilly.

Triple Test...

I go for my Triple Test tomorrow (it's an 'abnormality' blood test). I'm cacking myself. Not at the test, (I used to have injections twice a week, between 10 and 15 years old, so I'm not scared of needles). But I'm terrified at the prospect of the results.

Originally we said that no matter what the result, we would not have the amnio test, because I am not going to terminate the pregnancy.

However, I decided last night, that I want to be forwarned of any possible problems, and prepare myself for them. I have come up with a quite arbitrary figure (I don't know where I plucked it from); if the results come back as higher than 1/100 then I *will* have the amnio. Any less than that, and I'll just wait it out.

I haven't slept all week - you all know what a drama queen I am.

So - if you feel like it (please, pretty please) - PUHLEASE, send me as many positive vibes as possible tomorrow, around 10:00 GMT.

Thank you very glad.