Christmas Comes Early

by Mom101 on 12.21.06
in Uncategorized

The results are in.

And they are good. Very very very very good.

(Here I squeal. And I’m not a squealer, not really. But if ever one was going to squeal in one’s life, I think it would be now.)

I want to say that I knew it, I knew it all along. I felt it. I sensed it. Mother’s instinct, don’t you know? But I didn’t. I needed a call from my doctor’s office yesterday to confirm, as I clutched my cell phone breathlessly, that yes, this baby girl is healthy; that the wretched toxoplasmosis a couple of stray kittens bestowed upon me twenty weeks ago had never crossed the placenta; that all signs point to carry on, mama.

“The test is negative,” said the voice. I didn’t even ask another question. I just sobbed, “thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Oh, thank you, thank you,” over and over again.

I hung up, clutched the phone to my chest for a brief moment, and exhaled the longest, most cathartic breath perhaps in my life.

I’m excited to get on with the business of being pregnant. To stop the self torment about what I might have done to deserve this hell, and get on with the complaining about the spreading ass, and the enormoboobs, and the sciatica and the God-awful maternity wardrobe. To freak out about college funds and childcare. To refuse to budge in the seemingly unresolvable battle over baby names that has already begun. To wring my hands about loving the second when the first has already staked her claim over the entirety of my heart.

In other words, I look forward to feeling like a regular old hormonal, bitchy, cynical, whiny, tired, and occasionally freaking-the-hell-out pregnant woman.

And while you will no doubt find me here in the coming weeks, complaining about each and every one of these things as if none of this heinousness ever hung over my head, I will never lose sight of just how lucky I am to be able to do so.

—

Overwhelm: 1. To give too much of a thing (to someone); inundate 2. Have a strong emotional effect on

I have to add, once again, thank you. I know it seems so cliche and mommybloggy and just a little….ick to keep thanking online friends and readers and friends I didn’t even know I had as readers for the overwhelming (see above) support and good wishes. But tough. I have to believe that the collective goodwill had some small or not so small part in this all and for that I will be forever indebted.

In fact we’d name the baby after all of you if we could. Well, at least I would. Nate would nixe every one of them unless he came up with it himself.

{123 Comments}

123 thoughts on “Christmas Comes Early”

  4. Yay! Yay! I’ve been checking the blog for days now, hoping the news would be good. (I have zero time to do my own blogging anymore, but I still try to read a few others during lunch…) Congrats on the wonderful news, and enjoy the holidays and the exciting anticipation of the new baby-to-be!

  5. YES!!! So glad to hear the wonderful news. I hope you and baby get to relax and enjoy the holidays now. 🙂

  7. I can’t squeal through all the tears.Very very very happy for you. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy – start celebrating by sitting on selfish dipshits on the A train.

  9. Blessings, blessings, blessings. I’m so happy for you and your soon to be family of four!Glad I’m not at work now so I don’t have to explain why I have tears on my face.

  10. great news.i know what you’ve been going through. 3 weeks before bob was due, i got a call that one of my old dear friends–with whom i’d been intimate–had just died of AIDS. talk about an “oh, shit” moment. luckily we were, and are, fine, but for a good week or so, the world stopped moving.

  11. I’ve been stalking your blog all week waiting for the good news – congratulations! Sounds like a perfect Christmas present to me 🙂

  12. I’m doing a celebratory jig over here, Riverdance style, in happiness and joy for you and your family.Blessings indeed.Let the name game begin!

  13. Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Cheery Kwanzaa! and every other happy holiday out there! I am so very relieved and happy for you. Now, on to the business of pregnancy aches and pains. My favorite part was when I couldn’t get my arm under my belly to wipe myself after I peed. There’s nothing like damp underwear in your 9th month. Good times. Can’t wait to read about more about your sciatica and spreading ass!

  16. Phew! I think you might not have been the only gal holding her breath! I couldn’t be happier for you!Also, I’ll be glad to read all your bitching about maternity clothes and whatnot, ’cause I’ll be doing the same thing!

  17. Oh, YAY!!! WOOHOO!!!! Man, oh man, Liz, I am so glad to hear that.And you will be pleased to know that I almost (ALMOST) sniveled out loud.And finally, WHEW!May I suggest ‘Melanie’?😉

  21. Whew! And YAY! I’m all ready for you to join the ranks of the regular cranky, bitchy, hormonal, tired women! Because that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.

  22. So happy for you. What a relief. Can’t wait to see what a hormonal, bitchy, cynical, whiny, tired, and occassionally freaking-the-hell-out pregnant woman is like when she writes as well as you do.Did I at least say hello when I stopped by your dream? I hope so.

  24. Perhaps you can just name the baby “Internet”. It’s new, it’s different. There’ll be no one in the baby’s second grade class with the same name. Think about it. So so happy for you. I know how awful the waiting is… so… just… yay!

  25. honestly, i just exhaled a huge sigh of relief as well. i realize it’s strange, but even though we’ve never met, i would literally walk around thinking, “i wonder if she got the results back yet. i wonder if everything’s okay.” i’m soooo glad for you! whee! i feel like squealing too! 🙂

  26. I have been checking back frequently and was starting to feel a little panicky. CONGRATULATIONS!

  27. Yay. Yay for healthy baby girls. I knew it too…I did I swear. 😉I’m so happy for you guys. Bring on the preggo talk. Dude, this is what I tell people…if you can’t agree on a name, tell Nate that when he pushes a big ole baby out of his penis then he gets too name it…until then, he needs to be more flexable, or you’re coming up with the name.

  30. I sit here with tears welling up in my eyes, but trying to stop them so the coworkers don’t see. Congratulations! What a relief. I DID know it, but that’s easy for me b/c it’s not happening to me. I am so happy for you and Nate and Thalia and that blessed little babe in your womb. Thalia is getting a little sister!!! You are going to be a mama to two daughters!!! Two little daugthers who will have their papa wrapped tightly around their chubby little fingers!!! Now bring on the sap and make me jealous about how you can rub your buddha belly and feel movement. Merry Christmas to you!!!

  32. I too knew it. Call it “momblogger’s instinct”.I am so so so so so happy for you to have this – the BEST Christmas gift of all. Now ENJOY YOUR PREGNANCY! ((hugs))

  34. Congratulations! I’m so glad the little one is ok and you can get on w/the pregnancy w/only the normal worries and complaints!

  35. Oh, I’m so glad.I’ve had a horrible feeling these last few days that you had already heard the news, and were so devastated that you couldn’t bring yourself to blog about, and so were writing chipper posts on unrelated matters.I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear this news.Have a happy, happy pregnancy, lady!

  36. Very happy yours news was so good. I can’t imagine the fear you’ve been holding inside for such a long time now. How wonderful to finally be able to let it all go. I, too, have been watching for updates. Scared that you may not be updating because the news had been bad. But now, I find I was exhaling with you. This kid is gonna owe you some fabu Mother’s Day gifts!! For life!! (I know, I’ve got one at my house that put me through it when I was pregnant with her!!)

  37. I am so relieved and happy for you. I have been checking your site every day to make sure all went well with the test. Now I look forward to reading about run of the mill pregnant lady stuff that you will make moving and funny, I’m sure.Yessssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Lisa

  39. Thank goodness! I’ve been thinking of you and your family and hoping and praying for good news. I’m so glad you got it. What a wonderful, sweet relief.As for names? I wanted to name our baby Django if it was a boy. We had a girl instead (Delaney). If we’d had a boy my husband would have NEVER let me name him Django so that name? It’s all yours. Maybe it will suit a girl better anyway. Oh, and you can thank me later. LOL.

  40. Wooo Hooo! Congratulations, and Merry Merry Christmas to you. May the rest of the journey be eventful in only ordinary ways.

  44. That is <>wonderful<> news. I’m quite relieved and happy for you. I’d be happier if you named that baby “Mocha” – see how unisex it is? Hmm?

  45. YAY!!!!I say name her Kat, just to spite that damn feline. Or Jill. Jill’s good too. 😉

  46. I am soooo happy for you! I have been thinking about you and wishing for this news to come. Merry Christmas indeed!

  47. OH. . .YES!!!! I’m so glad to hear this—I’ve been checking your blog so much lately and feel so relieved to read this. What a nice Christmas gift, or Hannukah gift, or whatever you guys are celebrating! How about Dalia? Thalia and Dalia, or TD for short (you know, Touchdown, which I think Nate would appreciate)!Big internet hugs to you my friend. I’m so very happy for you.

  50. Oh god, I’m tearing up right here on my conference call, I’m so damned relieved for you! I just SO did not want you to have to deal with this if the news were bad. Thalia is SO going to be an AWESOME big sister. Best wishes, and thanks for making my Christmas a bit brighter, in a secret little way. (secret because I won’t have that sadness for you in the back of my head while I’m receiving gifts and love…)You can name the baby J if you want. It’s neither masculine nor feminine, and gosh, wouldn’t it be cool? “Hello, this is my child, J. Yes, adore him/her.” 🙂

  51. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel!I am so not a squealer either but you deserve that one. I’m so thrilled to hear the baby is healthy. Now go buy yourself a not-so-horrible maternity and go out and celebrate as only a mother to be can. Which is to say, be home by 8pm. You’re sleeping for two.

  52. CONGRATULATIONS!!! (squeals from over here too) That’s great news! I think I’ve been checking your site like five times a day lately hoping it would be good news. Could there ever be a better holiday gift? I am so happy for you and your family!!! Congrats!

  58. What a wonderful Christmas gift for you! Congratulations!If you want someone to complain about pregnancy with, that’s pretty much all I’ve been doing on my blog lately…

  64. OK, I’m logging in with a hug at number 64 in the hit parade of comments. I’d say that “I knew it” but I sometimes can’t copy the right letters in your spam comment filter so I’d better just say I have dyslexia.

  65. Wow. Yea! Happy Dance. Enjoy. Look forward to being with you in the exhale.

  66. Phew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Tell Nate that Kara is a lovely name. It means “friend” in Gaelic and “dear one” in Italian and, er.. um “face” in Spanish. Okay, don’t tell him about the Spanish meaning. Unless he speaks Spanish , then he’ll nix it.YAY YOU GUYS!!!!!

  67. I’m thrilled to pieces that things are okay for you and the new babe. In my heart of hearts…I really thought things would be okay, but it sounded like an empty platitude to keep saying it. Press onward and…er…”MOMward!”

  71. That is such wonderful news! Relax and enjoy the holidays and your much deserved “routine” hormonal rants!

  75. Yipee! So happy for you. Enjoy your growing belly, and bring on the hormonal rants. They’ll be fun to read.

  77. Well still, Kristi is a nice name and he couldn’t possible nix that one.I am relieved for you and for your unborn baby who sits on your sciatica. Now, go eat MORE chocolate. You deserve it!

  82. WOOHOO! I am so relieved for you … and as I hold onto my tiny “number two,” I can tell you that your heart simply grows and you will have no idea how you could love two people so much. You will feel complete, unless of course you want three. 😉 Have a great holiday and here’s to a wonderful 2007!

  83. It’s a Christmas/Hanukkah miracle. Now enjoy getting fat and achy. Wheeeee

  84. Awesome news!!! Now put your feet up, enjoy the holidays and enjoy your pregnant self.

  86. oh thank god…i am SO fucking pleased for you, Liz. Now get busy with being a happy preggo-b’yatch. It’s time…

  89. Hooray! What a perfect Christmas present!And, really, I’ve read some interesting studies about things like prayer circles and internet best wishes type things. There seems to be a distinct increase in recovery rates in patients with cancer that have a large group of people hoping/wishing/praying for their recovery – even if the people are really far-flung and total strangers. So who knows? It’s a strange and wonderful world.I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! (Or whatever. Happy Everything!!)

  90. Congratulations!I’m SO happy for you and Nate and Thalia and of course, healthy baby girl TBN (to be named). This is definitely one holiday gift that you won’t ever forget and it sure beats pajamas, huh?Yay!{{hugs}}

  91. AWESOME! What a tremendous relief.And I know exactly what you mean about wondering how on earth you’ll be able to love the second as much as the first. I wonder that every day and feel horribly guilty. 🙂

  94. Congratulations on the good news! What a wonderful Christmas present. Now enjoy being pregnant! 🙂

  95. I am so happy for you. So happy. This comment is ridiculously nothing in comparison to my relief.Congratulations!!!But for God’s sake don’t name the poor kid Jennifer.

  96. Oh, I’m so happy! So very, very, very happy!As a person with toxoplasmosis damage herself (no central retina in one eye, so no depth perception), I am especially cheered that your child will be fine!enjoy the holiday season and your pregnancy!

  99. hip hip hooray! you’ve made my day! looking forward to all your bitching and whining, because it will, no doubt, be well written and make me laugh. with you of course. happy christmas to all.

  100. let’s see some pictures of your spreading ass to make us feel svelt…just kidding. i’m so happy for you liz 🙂

  101. WOW. I am comment #101, how AWESOME is that? I am so unbelievably happy to hear this news. Now I can stop stalking this page and visiting it 10 times a day to see what’s going on … 🙂

  102. Holy mother of God that’s some good news right there! So happy for you. It’s uplifting to know that good things happen to good people. Enjoy your Christmas-kah. You really deserve to!

  103. I know I’m comment number trillion, but I just had to say ,”AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” That’s my version of, “Yay”. I knew everything would work out. Now just cross your fingers for me during my ultrasound in early January…

  104. Lemme be the 105th person to say WOOHOO!!! Congratulations. Now get on with the bitching. You know, I can’t imagine a lot of New Yorkers are named Chantal. Well, except for strippers. So yeah, name it something else.

  105. I know that “thank you.” I know that long breath — for a different reason. Hooray! Merry Christmas! Here’s to pregnant hormones and bitching.

  107. Wonderful news… I’m so relieved and happy for you! And please bitch away about the pregnancy, just because something is “worth it” doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck and we don’t need to complain about it!

  108. I am so thrilled for you all! What wonderful news, and a wonderful time to hear it. I know you had to wait an extra-long time, but the good news is worth the wait. Carry on with the complaining, the rejoicing, and the pondering … we’ll be rooting for you, as always!

  110. I am late to the party (as usual) but am so happy to read your good news! I have had you in my thoughts since your post on the toxoplasmosis concern, and, wow, you are right, what a great Christmas.Happy Pregnancy and Happy Holidays!

  111. I too am late to the party— but let’s hear it for just “the usual” yucky pregnancy things … with no real tragedy.-Rachael

  112. Hell yeah! Congrats on the great news!Name her Bertha. It’s trendy, believe me.

  113. Sorry to show up so late but thanks for sharing the great news. You know what they say, good things happen to good people. Now please go on with your bitching… ;-))Take careAD

  114. Still accepting “good will” wishes…however belated?TOUGH!Good news, kiddo – keep listening to those instincts. Soon, they’ll be the only voices in your head…you’ll be able to identify, easily ;o)Happy Holidays!

  115. Luckily this is a party that doesn’t stop…otherwise I’d feel uncomfortable about my late arrival. I’m so happy to hear the massively fantastic news. Bring on the stories of hormones and freaking out as only you can tell them!

  117. I had to come over and say “hi, Liz!” since we were both mentioned on Cynthia’s blog and then… we left comments at the same. time. Spoooooky.Also, because I missed ya. As always. You and your lustrous hair. I totally should have touched it in July. I regret that now.

  119. I’m just catching up on my reading and am so happy to read your good news here – now start enjoying those enormoboobs!Happy New Year Liz!

  123. I’m so very happy to hear that things are fine. I can only say I was worried and helpless because there was nothing I could do to take away your worries. But it’s a blessing to find out the baby girl is healthy! Hooray!!!

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