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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Ve Vant Your Blood!

Had another doctor appointment today, so that means that, yep, they drew more blood: This is the first of two draws for what's called "integrative screening": Tests that look to indicate potential birth defects, like Down Syndrome.

Other dr apt news:
  • The most exciting thing is that I got to listen to the baby's heartbeat via Doppler! It was both amazing and unbelievable. As the dr said, "Hard to believe you're still wearing your regular jeans yet inside you there's another heartbeat, right?" Totally.
  • Otherwise, it was much of the same: weight, pee in a cup, blood pressure, pulse. Weight is the same, pee looks as excellent as pee can look I guess, blood pressure is good, pulse is good.
  • Got all my results back from the previous blood draw, and everything is in excellent working order. All vitamin levels are good (they are especially interested in my iron, and mine is perfect -- so no anemia), tested negative for all the stuff I want to test negative for (HIV, syphilis, carrier for cystic fibrosis, etc) and I discovered that I have O positive blood type.
  • Sad that I didn't know my blood type before this, isn't it?

Anyhoo, I was in and out with 15 minutes. And I don't go back for 4 weeks.

In other news, a weird thing is happening here in South Florida: My hair is static-y, my skin is dry, I had to wear a sweater today, and wear a coat. What does that indicate? F-f-f-freezing weather! It was only 40 degrees here this morning and it never got above 55 today!!

Now, I am well-aware that some of you would like to tear off your own arm and beat me for calling such temps "freezing," but for here, that's cold! So, I think I'll probably go run here in a bit, but I'm not sure what to wear. Definitely a long sleeved shirt, but should I go with tights? A hat? I think I'll get too warm in those things, but seriously, stepping out in just shorts right now seems absurd!

26 comments:

Marlene said...

'They' say to dress for temps 10 degrees warmer than it is, if that helps. Bundle up... it's all relative so I won't beat you up for calling that "freezing."

Congrats on another excellent report card from the doc and hearing the heart beat. That's amazing!

Erin said...

I've read you're supposed to dress for 20 degrees warmer than it actually is. When it's in the 40s outside I usually wear capris and a short sleeved shirt with a jacket over the top that's easy to remove. I typically don't put on shorts until it hits 50 and even then I start off with long sleeves and then end up removing them.

Also, I have no idea what my blood type is. You weren't alone!

Rhiannon said...

Congrats on the healthy baby report! But seriously Jess...it's freezing? It was -25 here last week. You should be ashamed! ; )

I'm O+ too! That means you're the universal blood type. You can give to anyone who needs blood. Woo hoo!

Unknown said...

I am O+ too !!!

Congrats on the report card from the Doc! It sounds like you are doing GREAT.

Can I trade places? It has been freezing up in the Northeast corridor lately. I would be glad to trade for the 40s than the 20s here.

teacherwoman said...

Wow. THat is cold temps. geez!

Glad to hear the blood draw vent vell!

Unknown said...

For me running in 40s means tights, but 50s is shorts or capris. If you're comfy at the start you'll be too warm before you know it.

How totally COOL that you got to hear the heartbeat today. YAY!!

E said...

That's so awesome about the hearbeat!

I would be just as cold in the 40s or 50s so don't feel so bad.

Anonymous said...

Yay for hearing the heartbeat! That was always my favorite part of the appointments.

I'd wear capris. Have a nice run!

Erin said...

Glad to hear your appointment went well. Hearing the heart beat and seeing the little one for the first time is so exciting. I wish your baby brewing would hurry up; I want to know what you are having so I can start buying fun stuff.

Anonymous said...

i cannot seem to warm myself up. and i made a very stupid mistake. VERY stupid.

MN Mom said...

For FL it was chilly today. This is the first time I can remember where it didn't warm up to the
70's during the day. So by FL standards it was cold. The upstairs of my place is a lot colder than the lower floor, not sure why maybe the windows? I may even kick on the heat for the first time ever...

Marcy said...

Glad to hear that you and the babe are doing good :-) O+ is supposed to be the shiznit in blood donation. Red Cross always looks for peepers like you.

Laurel said...

It IS cold there! Stay warm out there. Congratulations on good baby news!

Paul said...

Holy crap, I hibernate for a few weeks and shizam! You're preggers! Congrats!!!

O positive is the way to go! Except the blood bank won't stop calling me.

SavvyFitChica said...

oh no, I agree w/ the temps... 40 is cold!

I am a little surprised that you didn't know your blood time, but I guess if you dislike needles, that would explain it. Especially since you're O+ because I think your blood can go to anyone... okay, that's enough blood talk for one day...

Jess said...

Tights or capris if you have them would be my recommendation...those are some frosty temps for down your way!

Glad to hear all is well with the doc!

The Boring Runner said...

I saw the farmers doing the freeze spray thing on crops in FL on the news today. I'm still not sure HOW that works, but I do remember learning it in science class.

Now that they have you on the books for type O blood, the blood bank is going to be hounding you!

Stuart said...

Opos is great news, there is plenty of it just in case!

Things are cooling of over here too?

TNTcoach Ken said...

Brrrrrrrrrr, how could you run in those temps? LOL, shorts and tank top weather.

Heather said...

The temps are all about perspective . . . that is cold for you guys! Glad everything went well with the doctor.

Teacher Pursuits said...

You're already a pro and the blood drawing! :) Glad to hear all the stats were excellent.

I am actually going for the 2nd round of integrative screening today. Are you getting the nuchal translucency? We had that done in between the two rounds of bloodwork and that reduces the chance of returning a false positive (er something like that). Basically, our insurance covered it so we opted for it.

4 weeks goes by fast... you'll be back peeing and weighing and blood pressuring in no time!

J~Mom said...

Glad you had a good appointment!

P.O.M. said...

Another fun time at the doc's! Get used to it. muuahhhhh

40 is TOTALLY freezing so I'm feelin' ya. I would not even leave the house at that temp. Today it's 60 deg and raining here.

Agate Lake Girl said...

I still don't know my blood type. Maybe they mentioned it, buy my preggo brain promptly forgot.

Aron said...

yay for another great dr appt! i dont know my blood type either :(

i totally know what you mean... 40-50 is a hard temp to dress for. i get warm in pants but shorts seem too cold... its right in the middle.

sRod said...

Amazing stuff witht he baby.

As for the 55 degrees, you know I sympathize. I have been in Miami when people bust out the fur coats and gloves for sub-60 degree weather.