Today, after another top-notch ultrasound, we graduated from our infertility clinic to the midwives, from weekly trips to downtown Chicago to infrequent trips across the neighborhood. At 8 weeks, our soon-to-be-fetus’ heart rate was 170 bpm and measured at 16mm. Or, as the nurse told the trainee who was also in the ultrasound room, “It’s [...]

Filed under: 1st trimester, Baby #2, Doctor, Doctor, Matthew I.V.F. Miller, Nola Eleanor | 6 Comments »

One-hundred and eighty degrees for last Monday was today, a peaceful, easy morning at the IVF clinic. Unlike our hour-long wait to get into the ultrasound room last Monday, this morning we showed up 10 minutes early and were escorted right into the ultrasound room where our favorite nurse, Peggy, sat waiting for our moment [...]

Filed under: Baby #2, Doctor, Doctor, Firsts, Matthew I.V.F. Miller | 3 Comments »

Oddities were in the air today at our fertility clinic. We waited nearly 45 minutes after the scheduled start time of our ultrasound before being called back to the examination room. It was a family affair, Nola reading Charlie & Lola books and constantly hoping she wasn’t going to be involved in the scrim of [...]

Filed under: Baby #2, Doctor, Doctor, Matthew I.V.F. Miller | 1 Comment »

As the news of our pregnancy was shared with our inner circle, I found myself repeating the phrase, “But it’s really early, so anything can happen,” over and over again. And while it is a scientifically true statement, it also, I realized, was largely due to the fact that I feel like this all came [...]

Filed under: 1st trimester, Baby #2, Doctor, Doctor, Husband & Wife | 5 Comments »

The inhabitants of our house were consumed by a vile, disgusting illness that lasted not one, not two, but nearly three weeks. Ear infections, bronchial infections, sinus infections - name an infection that doesn’t fall under the STD category and we probably had it and/or took precautions against it.
During that time we did a lot [...]

Filed under: Baby #2, Boo, Doctor, Doctor | 9 Comments »

Perhaps too much time has elapsed since Nola was but a wee embryo being transferred into Constance’s womb for our memories to accurately recollect the process verbatim, but holy crap there are a lot of drugs a woman has to take before and after this process begins.
I remember the first go-round, receiving the giant [...]

Filed under: Baby #2, Doctor, Doctor, Husband & Wife, Matthew I.V.F. Miller | 4 Comments »

My voice has been gone for almost a week now. It comes and goes, but even when it comes, it’s like listening to a human being shouting through a garbage disposal. So, on Tuesday night I hit the bed early. Nola was standing next to me, playing a spirited game of peek-a-boo by throwing my [...]

Filed under: Doctor, Doctor, Firsts, Oops … | 6 Comments »

At Nola’s one-year checkup, which came three weeks early due to our delayed vaccination schedule, our pediatrician told me to start giving her whole milk in her sippy cup during the day instead of bottles. She said to start slowly - 3 ounces or so - to make sure Nola took to the cow as [...]

Filed under: 3rd Trimester, Daddy Things, Doctor, Doctor, Firsts | 8 Comments »

On Friday Constance went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a sinus infection, a secondary blow following our flu ills. After a few days of ingesting white pills, suppository-sized mucus-busters and antibiotics, she’s nearly back to 80% of her former self. Which, after two weeks of feeling like shoe mud, is a boon.
That same [...]

Filed under: Daddy Things, Doctor, Doctor, News from the Parent Front, Nola Eleanor | 5 Comments »

Up and down, like an elevator with doors that never open, my health remains a mystery. But there is no doubt that I am on the mend. Every day I feel a little bit better, even though there are stretches where I feel like I’m getting sick all over again.
Constance, however, is on day 10 [...]

Filed under: Doctor, Doctor, Husband & Wife, Nola Eleanor | 14 Comments »