12. Chapter Twelve
We had the open practice for the Golden Foundation last week and I’m obsessed with the foundation and all they do for the children in the community. I’ve been talking to Claire about how they can up their marketing and offered to do some work for her to bring it to the next level.
She was more than happy to take my offer.
Seeing all the happy little faces that were getting to skate with the team made something in me deeply happy. I can’t wait to see our own child out there on the ice with Viktor. He’s so good with the kids, patient and kind.
Today we get to go to our first appointment and they’re going to do an ultrasound where we get to hear the heartbeat for the first time. We’re both so excited to hear that. I think it will really make this all so real for me to hear the evidence of a little baby growing inside of me.
“Are you ready, Skatten Min?” Viktor breaks me from my thoughts.
“Yup! So ready to hear that little heartbeat!”
He ushers me out the door with his hand on the small of my back. He lets me start my playlist that begins with Rodney Atkins’ song, Watching You.
“Man this song hits different when you know you have your own liten b?nne on the way.”
I just nod, already choked up at the thought.
He pulls into the parking spot and we turn to look at each other.
“This is real now. It hasn’t felt real until now,” I admit.
“It’s real-real. Someone might see us, and report it.”
“I already called and asked for privacy. We’re going to go directly into a room to wait, and none of them are allowed to talk about it due to HIPAA. So hopefully it won’t get leaked. Hopefully we don’t get spotted going in. But I chose this doctor based on Claire’s recommendation. She said they’re really good at keeping things quiet.” I put my hand on the handle to hop out, and I’m met quickly by Viktor at my side, lacing his hand with mine.
When we walk in, the girls at the front desk don’t have the normal reaction that women have when they see Viktor and I’m already impressed with their professionalism.
“Hello, may I help you?” The receptionist asks .
“Hi, we have an appointment at noon.” I smile broadly at her.
“Name?”
“Miller, Calliope.”
She nods, “Perfect, if you’ll follow me right through here.”
We both go through the small half door to our right, following her back to the room my stomach is full of butterflies. I’m nervous and excited for this appointment.
“Ok, you can leave your stuff in here, and Callie is ready for you in the ultrasound room, two doors down on the left.” She gestures down the hall and nods at us before leaving.
The nerves are fluttering and my palms are sweaty as we walk down the hall.
“Hello!” A joyful woman greets us at the door. “I hear we have a very special appointment today!”
“Yes, it is.” I take a seat on the bed where she shows me and Viktor to my left on the chair.
“Ok, well, before I have you change I’m going to go over just a few things with you, if that’s okay?”
I nod and so does he.
“Ok so this,” she holds up a wand, “is most likely what I will have to use. Thirteen weeks is still usually a pretty small little bean, so we need to do a transvaginal ultrasound. I just like to warn patients first. ”
I had done some research and was already prepared for this possibility. “Thank you, I don’t think we care how, as long as we can hear that little heartbeat today.”
“Okay then! I’m going to step out for a moment and just have you remove your bottoms for me, and place this drape over your lap.” She hands the drape to me before leaving the room.
I stand, nervously removing my pants and undies. I sit back down and Viktor lays the drape over my lap.
“I hope she comes back soon. I’m so nervous and I just want to see that heartbeat and hear it. To know that everything is alright.”
He kisses my forehead. “Me too. I think it will make us feel like this is really happening. And maybe then I’ll convince you to live with me so we can nest together.”
“Nesting doesn’t happen until the end of pregnancy. So we still have time.” I wink at him as there is a knock on the door.
“Ready for me?”
“Come in,” I answer.
She sits down at the computer attached to a bunch of machines. “Ok, mama, we’re going to start with a regular ultrasound and see what we get. But if we don’t get anything, don’t be alarmed, okay?”
“Promise. ”
I reach out to find Viktor and he scooches closer to hold my hand and leans his head near mine.
The cold gel makes me shiver, and she begins to move the ultrasound wand around my lower abdomen.
Small blips of noise fill the space, and black and white swirls fill the screen.
I stare at the screen, squinting my eyes, trying to make out anything. I can’t.
“Calliope, I apologize but I think we are going to have to switch to the transvaginal.”
She squirts some of the gel onto the wand.
“No problem.”
She slides her chair over toward me, setting my legs up in the stirrups, and pulling the drape up a little bit to insert the wand.
It fills me up, and adds some pressure alongside the nerves.
A sudden whooshing fills the space, followed by a quick thump, thump, thump.
Tears immediately fill my eyes, and I look at Viktor, whose eyes also seem to be welling.
“And that is Baby’s strong heartbeat at one hundred seventy three beats per minute.” She smiles at us, moving the wand along.
She takes a few photos and then starts pointing things out to us.
We see our baby fluttering around in a circle.
“It looks like a sour patch kid. ”
I chuckle at Viktor’s observation. “I was thinking a gummy bear.”
“I can see that. Either one, it’s the most beautiful spinning sour patch kid I’ve ever seen.”
“So looking at everything, and based on your last period date, I’d say you’re right about thirteen to fourteen weeks. But, Baby is measuring ahead of schedule.” She doesn’t stop clicking buttons on her screen as she talks. “Nothing to be alarmed about, just means Baby might be bigger than usual, but looking at Dad, I don’t think we’re expecting a little one.”
“No, certainly not.” I laugh at her joke.
She prints some photos for us before sending us back to the room we were shown earlier for the doctor to come in and talk to us.
We don’t have to wait too long before she comes in and gives us more information than I’ve ever heard regarding my body and all the changes I’m about to go through.
I think Viktor has gotten the most education on a woman’s body. He also had the most questions and I have a feeling that my second cup of coffee I like in the afternoon is about to be cut.
After the appointment we both sit in the truck in silence, absorbing all of the information.
“That was amazing,” he says with a large smile spreading across his face .
“It was pretty great.” Tears spring to my eyes once again. “I’m just so happy, I can’t contain it.” I laugh at my sudden ability to cry multiple times in one day.
He puts his hand out for me to grab.
We continue to drive in silence before we reach the grocery store to grab food for dinner tonight. Viktor is going to grill some steak tips, and I’m making a potato salad. Cooking together has quickly become one of our favorite things to do. So much better than going out to eat somewhere where everyone is watching and speculating.
“I’ll run in, you stay here and rest.” He drops his keys in the cupholder for me.
I pull out the ultrasound images, snapping photos of them on my phone. I shoot them off in a text message to Catherine, Mom, and Joy.
Me: Baby’s first photos! Ultrasound Photos heart emojis
Mom: Oh my! How utterly perfect is that little baby? heart eye emoji
Joy: My niece or nephew is so perfect already! I think a trip to Target’s baby section is in our near future, C.
Catherine: Congratulations Mama and Meemaw! How sweet!
I smile as I zoom in and out of each photo.
How is this real life?
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the fact that I’m pregnant with Viktor Karlsen’s baby. He is everything I ever wanted for the father of my baby.