Ain't we lucky we've got 'em -- GOOD TIMES

I don't know why, but that's been stuck in my head all afternoon.

(It's fighting off the Christmas music.)

Things are good here.  I feel so incredibly lucky and thankful to be where I am.  And, very thankful to have all of your support here.  It's amazing.

Anyway, all the good.  The semester is over!  Woohoo!!  I turned in my grades last night.  Graduation was this past Saturday and I said goodbye to a student I've grown very close to as he's worked for the past 5 1/2 years to finish.  He's had some struggles but he did it.  He's the senior research student in my lab so I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen now that he's gone (and I'm going to be a little preoccupied).  But, I'm so proud to see him go.  Between nostalgia and hormones, I couldn't stop crying at graduation.  It always gets to me, watching all those proud parents.  But, this time was ridiculous.

My parents are coming to town next week!  I'm very excited to have them here.  A little freaked out because I've got very limited time to get a brand new class ready for next semester.  But, it will be great to have them.  My mother is so over the moon excited about my pregnancy that she almost cries on the phone every time we talk.  We're going to have a great time hanging out and baking.  I've been craving all of the Sephardic baked goods my grandmother used to make that my mother now makes.  Yum.

Speaking of my parents, tomorrow is their anniversary.  Thirty years.  (It's my mother and stepfather for those who don't know.)  I can't believe it's been so long.  That's an impressive second marriage.  It's such a wonderful thing.

Most important good times -- we had our NT scan today.  And, it went really well.  Heartbeats were excellent (I was holding my breath waiting as always).  Baby B gave us the measurements we needed easily -- measuring exactly on schedule (12w6d) with a great NT measurement and an obvious nasal bone.  Baby A is impressively stubborn.  The sonographer had me on one side, then the other.  Then drinking some water and waiting around 5 minutes.  Then coughing.  Baby A just didn't want us to get the NT measurement!  But, finally, the incredibly patient sonographer got what she needed -- measuring 13w3d with a great NT measurement and, again, an obvious nasal bone.  Our overall chromosomal disorder risk went from 1 in 83 (expected for my age) down to about 1 in 166.  Our downs risk went down to 1 in about 500 (I missed the exact value).  (For each baby.)

We're opting not to do the blood work because the combined risk of false positive with twins, my age and, according to the MFM, egg retrieval is about 20%.  Our numbers are good enough that we're going to trust it.  The twins thing complicates what we'd do if there was an issue with either baby and we're not ready to risk CVS or amnio right now.  So, we're going to attempt to trust the statistics.

We're starting to officially spill the beans bit by bit.  I'm going to tell my department chair tomorrow.  I'll ask him to keep it to himself until the Spring semester (we'll see if that works) but I owe it to him to let him know that there is a potential for complications next semester.  His boss already knows and staffing isn't an issue since we're already looking for a replacement for me for the fall for my sabbatical (assuming that still happens -- budget issues are making it questionable -- but at least I'll definitely have the fall.)  My DH is planning on telling his parents on Friday.  That's the day I'll let my mother and stepfather tell the rest of my family as well.

We don't plan on telling anyone else at work until we're back to school in January.  My DH is going to tell one friend in town tonight, though.  It's a complicated situation because we suspect this couple may have been trying for a year or so and we're trying to be careful how to let them know what's going on and give them a chance to process it.  My DH is going to tell the husband (they're the closest friends between the four of us) and let him tell his wife.  We really don't know what's happening with them and they don't know what's happening with us TTC or IF-wise.  Why do we all hide these things from each other?  If nothing else, I hope it will open a dialogue.  I hate to think that they've been struggling, too, silently and how this pregnancy might affect them.  I was so worried a year ago that they would soon be making an announcement and now I'm afraid in the other direction.

This "telling" thing freaks me out.   I wish we could just go on hiding it.  I don't think I'm ready to deal with "outsiders'" reactions, yet.  But, at the same time, I want to embrace my bump and scream about it from the rooftops.  It's all a bit contradictory.

Anyway, as I said, good times.  When I called my mother today she said I just sounded happy.  I don't remember the last time someone said that to me.  I think it's been years.  We're amazingly lucky.