8/17 weekly check-in

[cactuscookie]

loira, did you find out the sex? You said on GotP that you were deciding between two names.

We have a strong frontrunner name right now, but I'm still looking through a baby name book my sister gave me. Nothing really is coming up from it, but just in case. The name I love right now isn't all that common, but I'm worried it could be on a fast rise in popularity. DH thinks I'm overthinking this, and he's almost definitely right in that.

[ivy]

We had a couple of names picked out for a girl, and once we found out it was a girl, the choice was a no-brainer between the two. We haven't told anyone the name, and I'm not sure when we will. At 17 weeks, it feels too early now.

You are overthinking this cactuscookie. I say it with love. But I do wish there was a way to know if the name was going to become wildly popular.

Does anyone have thoughts on the airport body scanners? I'm traveling next week, and not sure if I'll go through them or not. I've researched, and reputable sources say the risk is very, very small, but of course pat downs (cringe) carry no risk. boiler717, I know you've traveled a bit. What did you do?

[maryellen]

Aug 17, 2015 12:14:35 GMT -5 ivy said:

We had a couple of names picked out for a girl, and once we found out it was a girl, the choice was a no-brainer between the two. We haven't told anyone the name, and I'm not sure when we will. At 17 weeks, it feels too early now.

You are overthinking this cactuscookie. I say it with love. But I do wish there was a way to know if the name was going to become wildly popular.

Does anyone have thoughts on the airport body scanners? I'm traveling next week, and not sure if I'll go through them or not. I've researched, and reputable sources say the risk is very, very small, but of course pat downs (cringe) carry no risk. boiler717, I know you've traveled a bit. What did you do?

I am traveling on Wed and my doc gave me a note saying that I am not to go through the body scanner.

[loira]

cactuscookie, nothing gets by you! We did find out the sex, but I didn't want to announce it here last week because I was still processing it all emotionally. It's another girl. I am very happy, but it also makes me sad. One of our names is also, I think, potentially on the rise to popularity. The other is classically popular but not trendy. ivy, it sucks that you can't tell if a name is going to become popular or not. My parents gave me a name that, in the early 80s, was not popular at all. By the late 80s and early 90s it had exploded in popularity (and terrible misspellings). Oh well.

You guys, I have to tell you this story from last week. I was texting my good friend, who is also pregnant and due a couple of weeks after me, and we were talking about names. She asked if, once we'd chosen, we'd keep it a secret.

Me: Probably not, it'll only be a secret if we still want to keep the sex private.
Her: Wait, do you know the sex?
Me: Yep, I asked the midwife yesterday.
Her: You've had another scan?
Me: No, she phoned with the results.
Her: I didn't know they could find out this early.
Me: Um, they tested my baby's DNA. So yes.
Her: I didn't realise sex was part of DNA.
Me: 

This is an extremely smart woman with a PhD! I just... the mind boggles.

[cactuscookie]

Aug 17, 2015 12:42:24 GMT -5 loira said:

cactuscookie, nothing gets by you! We did find out the sex, but I didn't want to announce it here last week because I was still processing it all emotionally. It's another girl. I am very happy, but it also makes me sad. One of our names is also, I think, potentially on the rise to popularity. The other is classically popular but not trendy. ivy, it sucks that you can't tell if a name is going to become popular or not. My parents gave me a name that, in the early 80s, was not popular at all. By the late 80s and early 90s it had exploded in popularity (and terrible misspellings). Oh well.

You guys, I have to tell you this story from last week. I was texting my good friend, who is also pregnant and due a couple of weeks after me, and we were talking about names. She asked if, once we'd chosen, we'd keep it a secret.

Me: Probably not, it'll only be a secret if we still want to keep the sex private.
Her: Wait, do you know the sex?
Me: Yep, I asked the midwife yesterday.
Her: You've had another scan?
Me: No, she phoned with the results.
Her: I didn't know they could find out this early.
Me: Um, they tested my baby's DNA. So yes.
Her: I didn't realise sex was part of DNA.
Me: 

This is an extremely smart woman with a PhD! I just... the mind boggles.

Ha, I have a PhD, but it's in geology, so that isn't helpful when it comes to DNA. I'm an idiot about human anatomy, as I'm finding out now that I'm trying to understand what's going on in my body.

I know you had mixed feelings about this baby potentially being another girl. <hugs>

[cactuscookie]

ivy, my second favorite name option right now is Ivy! I just realized the connection to your screen name, even though I've liked that name for years. It's spiking in popularity right now, although it still isn't very popular.

maryellen, any word on the bloodwork?

[boiler717]

Hello!
cactuscookie I definitely pay attention it. I am a total name over analyzer. I spend so much time studying names so if you want to PM me I'll offer you my opinion
ivy I've done them, the radiation is far less than you get from the flight. 95% of the time they send me to the metal detector (I've also asked to use it because of pregnancy and they were fine with it).

[G22]

Aug 17, 2015 12:14:35 GMT -5 ivy said:

We had a couple of names picked out for a girl, and once we found out it was a girl, the choice was a no-brainer between the two. We haven't told anyone the name, and I'm not sure when we will. At 17 weeks, it feels too early now.

You are overthinking this cactuscookie. I say it with love. But I do wish there was a way to know if the name was going to become wildly popular.

Does anyone have thoughts on the airport body scanners? I'm traveling next week, and not sure if I'll go through them or not. I've researched, and reputable sources say the risk is very, very small, but of course pat downs (cringe) carry no risk. boiler717, I know you've traveled a bit. What did you do?

I've done a ton of traveling the past 2 months. All but one airport had just metal detectors. I was fine with the metal detector, and the one with the scanner I asked TSA if I could have a pat down instead. They were fine with that. It was definitely the most thorough pat down I've ever had, but less invasive than fertility treatments. lol Its really no big deal to ask to pass on the scanners if you want. I've heard that the amount of radiation from them is no worse than what you would get in 2 minutes of flying time in the cabin.

[G22]

I had a boring appt today which is probably a good thing. I got my Rhogam shot, yippee. And I now will start going every 2 weeks to see the OB due to GD.

Non-pregnancy update. My heart is breaking, there is a very real possibility we will have to put one of our kitties down this week. He's had a bunch of health stuff pop up in the last couple months, and we think he had a stroke over the weekend. When we took him into the vet today, he said if the med he gave us doesn't show any improvement in the next 48 hours, we need to consider putting him down I know it is for the best, H and I have discussed this very real option over the last few weeks. But hearing it from the vet now is just heart breaking. I don't know what I'm going to do if it comes to this. I don't feel strong enough or ready to say goodbye to him yet.

[G22]

Oh and on the name thing: we picked out a boy name years ago. Go figure when I got pregnant I started second guessing it. We currently have his name narrowed down to 2 options. H likes the both equally and is leaving the final decision up to me. At this rate, I have no idea which one to go with and may not choose until I see him.

[boiler717]

I'm so sorry Gumby

[ivy]

Thanks for weighing in on the scanners, guys! I have an OB appointment on Friday, I'll see what they say too.

I love the name Ivy, cactuscookie! I mean, obviously I picked it for my screen name for my love of nature and gardening. I think it would make a lovely girl name.

I'm so sorry about your kitty, G22. My cats are my babies. How heartbreaking it must be to be faced with this reality.

I'm sure this brings up a lot of complicated feelings for you loira, but many congratulations on your healthy girl

[maryellen]

Aug 17, 2015 13:05:11 GMT -5 cactuscookie said:

ivy, my second favorite name option right now is Ivy! I just realized the connection to your screen name, even though I've liked that name for years. It's spiking in popularity right now, although it still isn't very popular.

maryellen, any word on the bloodwork?

I talked to the receptionist at 115.  She said all the bw was in but had to be reviewed and then they would make calls.  They said it would definitely be today - they close in 40 min.  I'm going crazy over here.  Thanks for checking in with me.  

[maryellen]

So the PA from my RE's office just called - my HCG went up to 11,000 (was 3000 a week prior).

but let me tell you - this PA needs to go. She has the worst bedside manner and delivery. Today's conversation:

Her: well, despite what we saw on the u/s on Friday, your body still thinks it is pregnant. But your HCG levels went up.
Me: my body THINKS it is pregnant??
Her: Well I thought you'd think your numbers went down after Friday.
Me: So my body doesn't just think it is pregnant, it IS pregnant.
She repeated that she thought I'd think my numbers went down.
Me: Don't you think it's kind of harsh to say to me that my body thinks it is pregnant? It's been a really, really long weekend.
Her: Yes, I can imagine. So just keep taking all of your same medications for now and we will see what happens in the u/s tomorrow.

Does anyone else find that offensive??? This is after 2 other things with her -
Back when I was going through treatments I cried in one appt and she said "It's ok to cry - I'd be bawling at this point if I were you." And then on Friday she very sadly said "I'm sorry" when we didn't see anything in the sac on the u/s.

DH thinks we need to tell the RE. I'm hoping to just get out of there in 3 weeks when I move on to my OB.

[cactuscookie]

Ugh, maryellen, yuck. I'm glad you confronted her. It couldn't hurt to talk to the RE about it. But, yay for a very high HCG! That's encouraging. Tomorrow is the ultrasound?

G22, I'm so sorry about your cat. So many hugs. On names, my favorite girl name before I got pregnant was Celeste, which I still think is so pretty. But something about it seems...gentle to me. Like it's the name of someone who listens to Enya and does yoga. I'm not expecting that DH and I will raise a girl with that sort of personality. I need something spunkier.

[bcarp30]

ivy I avoid the body scanner whenever I travel and like G22 asked to be patted down when it wasn't an option.

cactuscookie well you can never know what will happen with names because we named DD after my grandmother and while popular it wasn't crazy. Then, a few months ago you may have heard that Kate and William had a little girl and named her what DD's name is. So now not only is it insanely popular EVERYWHERE we go people ask if she's excited about the princess having her name. And I call her princess as my nickname for her so I'm sure people think I'm crazy

G22 I'm so sorry about your kitty big hugs to you!

maryellen uh yea she needs to GO! So weird!! I'm glad your numbers are going up. Did she say when they will want to do another u/s?- reading FAIL.  Good luck tomorrow, I hope that it goes well!

loira I'm sure that's very bittersweet. Lots of hugs to you.

[cactuscookie]

Ugh, bcarp30, that's so annoying! It's such a pretty name too.

[loira]

maryellen, that was a really odd thing for her to say. I'm sorry you have to go through this. I'm glad your numbers went up (by quite a bit, it seems)! I have everything crossed for your U/S tomorrow. If it were me, I'd absolutely say something to the RE, but I can understand you wanting to just be done with the place. I can't believe she just acted like you were 100% m/c without all the facts!

[loira]

((G22)) I'm so sorry about your cat.

[bcarp30]

Thanks cactuscookie! I love it and she will always be my little Princess. I tell her she's the original princess haha! The name we have picked if this one is a girl is Alice, which was allegedly the other name they were considering so at least that one will be safe! The boy name DH likes is George, I told him we can't have two kids with the same names as the royal family!

[cactuscookie]

Aug 17, 2015 15:24:08 GMT -5 bcarp30 said:

Thanks cactuscookie! I love it and she will always be my little Princess. I tell her she's the original princess haha! The name we have picked if this one is a girl is Alice, which was allegedly the other name they were considering so at least that one will be safe! The boy name DH likes is George, I told him we can't have two kids with the same names as the royal family!

But if she gets pregnant again and has another girl, doesn't that mean they might name it Alice? You guys are apparently very into British royalty names.

[bcarp30]

Dang cactuscookie I didn't think about that!!! I hope not! I know, it's so funny too because these are all the names of our grandparents! It's as if we have royal blood haha!

[Muddled]

Our boy name is too popular for my taste, but I can't think of one I like better.

I avoid the scanners, but I'm the nut who does that regardless.

[ginkgoleaf]

Only real news I have is another appointment on Wednesday. My parents will be in town so at least one of them will come along to see the babies. We haven't heard the heartbeats yet so hoping for that too. And hoping for a more definitive guess on their sexes - ultrasound tech guessed one of each at 13.5 weeks, I'll be 16.5 weeks this appointment.

DS was laying on me in the recliner earlier and a baby was kicking him but he had no idea. It was amusing me.

[G22]

Aug 17, 2015 20:41:57 GMT -5 ginkgoleaf said:

Only real news I have is another appointment on Wednesday. My parents will be in town so at least one of them will come along to see the babies. We haven't heard the heartbeats yet so hoping for that too. And hoping for a more definitive guess on their sexes - ultrasound tech guessed one of each at 13.5 weeks, I'll be 16.5 weeks this appointment.

DS was laying on me in the recliner earlier and a baby was kicking him but he had no idea. It was amusing me.

How fun! My mom was in town when I had my 12 week appt so I brought her along. It was only supposed to be a Doppler that day, but my OB got excited she (and my H who had missed the first appt/ultrasound) were there and did a spontaneous ultrasound. She loved being there for that!

[ssg73]

Well I think I may be winning the name game. Hell if I have to be team green I should get my first choice in name right! Girls are easy for us. First name is Lucy or Quinn although Hattie may still be in play. I think Elizabeth or Isabel are the top contenders for middle name. I want Leo James for a boy. I think I may have convinced dw. Yes!

[loira]

My mum always says, "If you want to know what names are going to be popular soon, check the obituaries." Names tend to go through cycles of popularity where they skip a couple of generations before becoming popular again. Whether that's because people are naming their kids after grandparents, like bcarp30, or because names from our parents' generation sound outdated and names from our own generation still seem too popular to us (all those boys named 'Jason'!), I don't know. Of course, Mum's theory doesn't account for the rise in inspiration from pop culture. I don't think anybody out there has a grandmother named 'Khaleessi'.

[lms]

I hope the scan goes well today maryellen.
G22 I'm sorry about your cat.
Thanks for asking about the airport scanner ivy. I would have asked that same question in a few weeks. I don't have to fly very often but I have a training i need to go to for work and of course none of the location options are close enough to drive.

We had started a list of names well before getting pregnant and the other night we sat down and really started narrowing them down. We've got the girls names down to 4 options for first names but the boys is a little more difficult for us. The name that sounds best with the middle name is just so popular right now that I don't know if I want to use it. We have several other options but nothing that we are really excited about.

[bcarp30]

That's so true loira! Although I had a friend make fun of me for only using family names. I told her we have really good names and I like them! The other name I LOVE is Elizabeth with the nn Betty but DH says no. It's funny because I hate naming a child and calling them a nickname but I think Betty is so darling.

[loira]

Aug 18, 2015 8:18:04 GMT -5 bcarp30 said:

That's so true loira! Although I had a friend make fun of me for only using family names. I told her we have really good names and I like them! The other name I LOVE is Elizabeth with the nn Betty but DH says no. It's funny because I hate naming a child and calling them a nickname but I think Betty is so darling.

We love family names, too. 1 of our top 2 is H's grandmother's name. Middle name regardless will be a family name from my side of the family. I love the name Elizabeth (it's my grandmother's name and everyone calls her 'Betty'), but H wasn't as big a fan. Haha, I'm the opposite when it comes to nicknames. I love them, but would always give my child the full version of the name if I wanted to call them a nickname.