Friday the 13th Doesn't Scare Me!

Today was Friday the 13th. We had multiple Doctor Appointments today. Given our recent medical luck on days that aren't superstitiously charged, can you blame me for being nervous when I awoke this morning?

I must say, though, my nervousness was unwarranted. After today I'm not quite so superstitious any more. It wasn't necessarily an awesome day, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been, so I'm calling that a win.

Firstly, I only have ugly bruises in 2 of the 6 spots that the lady in the lab stuck me in on Wednesday. She normally bruises me with every stick, so I figured I'd look like I'd been beaten by someone who hates arms this morning, but she must have had a good day. Or a miracle occurred. Either way, I only have the WT bruises on my right arm and hand, which works for me.

Secondly, we got lab results back and I don't have gestational diabetes. Thus, I don't have to stick myself with a needle 3 times a day and avoid pie, THANK THE LORD. This baby, she loves the pie.

Thirdly, the re-do of the results-never-come-back-positive-on-this-blood-test test was positive again, but with lower levels than the first test, which is a good thing.

Fourthly (can there be a fourthly?), we had a great meeting with the neonatologist. He was awesome (awesome enough that I got over the scary '70s porn-'stache thing that he had going on within the first few minutes). He took all the information we had, laid it out very clearly about what was being treated and why for all of our issues, and what some of the treatments for complications would be. He also explained very clearly what the baby's treatment would be after delivery and how the surgery would work, and offered to set up a meeting with the surgeon and a tour of the neonatal part of the hospital where the surgery would take place. AND offered to answer any questions we might have at any time. Actually told us to KEEP his number, and call if we got more information and needed to discuss it. He talked with Mr. Me and I for over an hour, just consulting. He was a peach.

Unfortunately, the fun stops there. The ass-master doc who oversaw the sono did confirm (as much as he'd "confirm" anything) that Little Miss has mild anemia. This means weekly Level-2 sonograms to monitor it and see if it gets better or worse. (And, a nice game of Russian roulette as to whether we have to see the ass-master doc or get one of the nice ones, because we have to see whoever is staffing the sono unit that day). It also may mean that, depending on the severity of the anemia, even if she doesn't have to have an in-utero transfusion, she may need a transfusion after she's born. The thought of someone else's blood trucking around my teeny baby's body is NOT so appealing, but I guess whatever they have to do to make her healthy will have to be fine by me.

All in all, Friday the 13th has lost its hold over me. It only brought what has come to be "normal" news around our house, scary enough, but not too terrifying.

Note: Jane's comment brought to mind a funny comment that the doctor made. I asked about using blood donated from someone we chose - it's called directed donation - and he said it was possible if we had 3 or 4 days for processing by the blood bank. He basically warned us to be careful what we asked for, because apparently many people find out about skeletons in the closets of family and friends when they don't pass the blood center screening. As I know Jane has earned over her gallon pin for donation, I'm sure her blood-related skeletons are well under control, but it just made me chuckle wondering news some people found out . . .