The moment I took that pregnancy test and saw two blue lines
staring back at me I was immediately flung into an episode of this hysterical
laughter/crying hybrid. When I finally came to my senses, my next thought was
‘how do I tell Ken?’ Of course we had been trying, so this was not going to
come as a huge shock for him. But what a special moment it is to share the news
that you are about to embark on this crazy journey of parenthood together!
I told Ken the only way one ought to tell a classy scientist
– with three pregnancy tests (all of different makes) and a fine bottle of
scotch, welcoming him into his new role of fatherhood.
From that day on it has been a roller coaster… like The
Vortex (insert Canadian reference here) the one with all the loops and twists
and drops – on a mountain!
The first few weeks were a little rough, I mostly occupied a
small space on the couch where I lived during the day with my ginger ale and
saltine crackers. Doors were always closed because I could not take the smell
of the kitchen. Despite Ken’s excellent bleach job of that fridge (x 3) I just
simply could not bring myself to open that door, it was too much for my stomach
to take.
And so, for 12 weeks I became the ‘blob that lived on the
couch’ and quite literally felt like I was trapped on a roller coaster that I
couldn’t get off of.
By the second trimester things were turning around and I
began to get an appetite again. Any fears I had had were relieved by our very
blunt Luxembourgish doctor, ‘just eat a normal human food diet and you’ll be
fine’ (normal human food referring to not ‘vegetarian’). So, not only did my
appetite come back, I now had an insatiable craving for apples! Apples were the
staple of my diet, and had also led to an apple picking adventure where we came
home with 23 POUNDS of apples. Yes. 23 POUNDS. What, may you ask, did we ever
do with them all? We ate them. We ate them in apple crisps, apple muffins,
apple pancakes. To say that these were some of the happiest days of my
pregnancy would be an understatement. I just loved apples, the crunchier and
juicier the better!
Now, there was a close second in terms of happiest moments
of this pregnancy – the day we found out we were having a little boy.
Living abroad means that many moments aren’t able to be
shared with close family and friends back home. But seeing as we were heading
to Canada last September, we planned to find out together the gender of our
little bean. With a backyard filled with 60 excitable faces, we cut that cake
to see the blue crumbs falling out… we were having a son. Our hearts could not
have been fuller than in that moment. It was such a special day and a special
moment to share with those we loved.
And as the second trimester went on, the glow passed and
weirder symptoms started creeping in. Yes, it is a joy being pregnant and yes,
I love the reassurance of feeling the little guy hiccup as I fall asleep. But,
there are some other symptoms that occur that are not given as much credit and
for due reason (i.e. heartburn). Sometimes, it’s hard, and uncomfortable and
frankly just a little weird that there is another life form kicking your ribs.
For my friends who have given me fair warning – I thank you!
And with that, I have to say I have been so fortunate to
walk through this pregnancy alongside some pretty amazing women here in Lux.
One of which is due one day apart from myself. Mom groups, ‘is this normal’
texts and chats over decaf coffee have been my lifeline in the last few months.
I know many have asked if I am nervous about giving birth in
a new country. My answer is not entirely.
Ken and I had the privilege of going to the ‘English’
prenatal classes at the maternity hospital here. Despite being an English
class, we were only one of two native English speakers. The beauty that we saw
was that despite which country you came from (Russia, Poland, the Netherlands,
Portugal), we all had the same hopes, fears and questions. It may require a few
more charades with the midwives to ask a question or get an answer, but I’m not
worried.
So now, week 40 and our little guy is due in just days. How
did this happen?
The time has flown, especially with the holidays swirling
restlessly around us, we simply haven’t had time to think. But here we are ready
or not. Actually let me take that back, I am definitely ready. I get it, ladies
I get it. My wardrobe now consists of Ken’s t-shirts and flannel pants and I
physically cannot imagine another week of this little guy’s karate kicks –
despite how cute Ken thinks they are!
The anticipation has overcome the anxiety and we are simply ready
to meet this handsome guy (sleepless nights and all).
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