20-24 weeks

Wow! I can't believe its been almost a month since I last blogged... Is blogged even a word? Hmm. Anyway, we've had a busy couple weeks. On Sept 2nd baby and I flew to NC for a nice extended weekend to see the family over Labor Day. Nate and the dog stayed home. Nate did some "boy things" and even got some stuff done around the house. He finished painting one of the guest bedrooms and started on the other. I told him I wanted to get these two rooms done before tackling the nursery. It's nice to be almost done with both of them!!! And then on to much more enjoyable work. Anything involving the baby is enjoyable, no? Baby and I had a good visit in NC. We had wonderful weather, spending a little bit of time at the pool everyday we were there. The little guy really started moving much more while we were there. Emma, Meli, and Mom all got the chance to feel those movements! We did some shopping and went out to eat a lot...What else is new, right? In addition, we had about 10 different people throwing out boy names all weekend!!! Meli likes Josh... but I can promise it won't be that! But I love the enthusiasm. So, Thanks all! 

Work has been really busy for me lately. I am working long days and my patients are particularly challenging. The only upside, which is slight, is that my days fly by. I say this is only slight because I want to enjoy every minute of being pregnant. Unfortunately, September is almost over and I just can't believe it. 

This past weekend Nate, David and I drove up to Appleton topick up the furniture for the little guys room. And guess what? I like it just as much as I did when I ordered it about 2 months ago. I have been spending some time (LOTS) on trying to decide what bedding to order... I keep going back and forth. I do know that we will be painting the room navy and be putting up white wainscoting. That is our October Plan. Nate just doesn't know it yet :) 

                                                                                                           Belly Picture Today! 23 wks, 6 days

Tomorrow I will be 24 weeks! I had my 24 week visit today. I have to schedule my glucose test for early next week. Otherwise, it seems like everything is going just according to schedule. I gained 4 lbs since my last visit. The heart rate was again at 140 bpm. The little guy sure is active and getting stronger. I love feeling him move (even at 3 in the morning). Nate already talks sports - mainly golf - with him. He seems to enjoy his dads voice. 

Below are some pictures from our busy September... ENJOY! 

Me: at 23 weeks, 4 days

Nathan John Dosch, Jr?

First things first, this post title is both rhetorical and an impossibility. I put it out there even though I abandoned that campaign months ago because it still creates a stir around the Dosch house. As difficult as it is for me to formally recognize this, the fact is that January 2010 will not see the arrival of N. John Jr. Now that we have that issue settled we can address more important things like baby furniture, painting, wainscoting, and the upcoming Christmas to Remember - Wisconsin style.

As you can see from Karyn's previous post, our latest US showed that "it" is a "he." I was probably more surprised by Karyn's reaction than she was. I was surprised by my own reaction as well. I understand that a mom-to-be thinks about having a girl and a dad-to-be thinks about having a boy, so I get the momentary letdown that this news can have on a mother. It didn't last very long though. Karyn was able to adapt on the fly as she mentioned in her post. The girl's clothes is now packed away again. In their place we have a new collection of little boy's cloths including a very impressive tiny shoe collection. The little man is 24/25 weeks along and he has more shoes than I do. I'd say he has just as many shoes as his mom, but that would be a lie. His mother has taken shoe hoarding to a remarkable level.

When I heard the news last month I was, well, I'm not sure what I was. Initially all I could think about was how happy I was that everything was still going well. I always said I didn't have a preference between a boy or a girl. I just want the baby to be healthy. That hasn't changed a bit. But when I heard it was a little boy in there I couldn't help but think of all that entails. I don't think I am unlike many dads when I think about all the things I hope to teach my son. I hope to have the opportunity to also teach a daughter some of those things in the future. In either respect I hope they are okay with not being able to beat their dad on the golf course until I'm approximately 70 years old.

All and all I am just very happy that we have positive news and hope to grasp as we race into the third trimester.

It's a BOY!!!

On Monday, August 24th, we had our 20 week ultrasound. I have to say, despite it lasting over an hour, most of the time is a blur. Partly because the US technician was busy taking measurements so she really didn't say much, but also because once I heard, "I wonder what that is?" (Her being subtle about the fact that she saw the penis), all that kept going through my mind was, "A Boy? What am I going to do with a boy?" It still hasn't fully set in yet I don't think. Prior to the US, I was thinking it was going to be a boy but hoping for a girl. Every girl wants a girl, right? I guess it wasn't until after hearing it was a boy though that I realized just how much I was looking forward to having a girl.... Needless to say, I came home after finishing work, and the first thing I did was start looking for boy clothes on line. (And cleaning out the baby closet of all the girl clothes in it) I have to state my ongoing disappointment with my health insurance. I was hoping to come home with several US pictures - feet, hands, etc. Apparently, all I get is a profile picture. (The technician said that's all they give, despite taking 90+ images) And, no 4D images at all. So, I think I may look into those US places that you can go to and pay for out of pocket. I just would love to see more of the baby, and also have more pictures! Below is the Little Guy. On most measurements he was measuring farther along than what I am. And the biggest measurement?? THE HEAD - measuring in at 20w6d. He really must be taking after his father already. (And I mean in the cocky sense, not figuratively) I will let Nate speak for himself about his reaction to finding out he'll have a boy, but my very first thought was (as I looked over to Nate, dressed in shorts and a polo because he was golfing afterward) this little boy dressed in a polo with a golf club in hand. Wonder where he'll get it from.... :) 

19 weeks

19 weeks! I am so anxious for our Ultrasound next Monday. First off, because the only ultrasound we had so far was at 7 weeks. And in case you're wondering - you don't see much of anything!! Secondly, because it will be so nice to know... and see that there is a reason to my ever expanding stomach. I am starting to have an increasing harder time "hiding" the fact that I am pregnant. Especially by the end of the day - I swear my stomach doubles in size!!! Not only that, but after I eat it gets soooo hard! I have no more room in my belly at bedtime. The books have to be wrong - this baby has to be more than 6.5 inches by now :) On the plus side, each day I know this baby is growing and maturing, developing into what I pray will be a healthy and beautiful life we get to hold in the 

matter of months.

Below is a picture taken at 18 weeks, 4 days: A noticeable growth from the last one, huh? 

First "Real" Ultrasound in One Week

I put the real in quotes above because I am imagining the ultrasound that we have scheduled next Monday to be in line with the one's I have seen on television. Up to this point I have never witnessed one of those first hand. I certainly have never been a week away from knowing whether Karyn is carrying a boy or a girl in her belly. It's pretty crazy to think about. I was picturing the room and the monitor last night. What I didn't picture was any of the particulars of what I might be looking at or what I might be feeling. But I can say that I'm not scared anymore. It is going to be however it is going to be. That sentence sounds like it doesn't make sense, but I believe it is quite possibly the truest statement that will be uttered on this blog. The images, the gender, the health, etc. are not dependent on the actions of Karyn or I. In fact, at this stage they may not be dependent on anyone or anything. Even God's plan is well in motion by this stage. If He chose for us to be blessed at this point, we will be. If not, we stay the course and keep the faith.

I guess you could say that I have found a nice amount of faith and contentedness in this journey. I could never promise that things will be okay even though I say it all the time. I only know that something will result and sometimes whatever will be will be. That reminds me of something: Que sera sera:

This week will feel longer than seven days. Next Monday will not be the most pleasant morning to wake up in the world. But it will happen and it will be great.

Envisioning Our Future Family

As I've discussed at length on this blog the waiting and praying aspect of this pregnancy will not completely subside until we are holding a healthy baby in a few months. However, as time has passed and we have been reassured by doctors that things are looking very good, it is more comfortable for me to start thinking about what those first days following the delivery will look like. More importantly maybe, how will those first days feel. For some reason I have always been a "we shall see" kind of guy. Always looking forward. I am aware enough to live in the now as well, but my nature thought process involves dreaming of the future.

I find myself starting to do that again as the reality of this pregnancy sets in. My mindset to this point has been guarded. I refer to this mindset as cautious optimism. At some point, as expected, the cautious component has eroded a great deal in recent weeks. I sat in front of the television the other day before going to bed and I started thinking about what are family will be like come January 2010. I could not help but smile. I had our puppy, Eleanor, sleeping on my lap and the thought of a newborn baby in my mind.

As you can see the excitement is starting to break down the fear for both of us. Less than two weeks until our ultrasound. I have a hunch that we'll see a little girl in there, but I have no basis for that other than a gut feeling. I have five total nieces and nephews with four girls and one boy making up the group. All I care about at this or any point during the pregnancy is that baby and Karyn are healthy. However, on August 24th my mental picture of our quickly approaching future family will take on much more detail. Stayed tuned....

Weekend with Alayna, Alicia and Rusty

We just concluded a great weekend with Alayna, Alica and Rusty. We're so thankful that they made the trip up from Lincoln to visit us. Selfishly, it was too bad that the weather didn't cooperate yesterday. My baseball game was postponed to Monday, but we had the whole day to hang out. Alicia and Rusty were gracious enough to bring their P90x workout regime with for the weekend. We made it through the "motherload" workout, Plyometrics, on Saturday morning. Karyn got a kick out of it. I can only imagine how funny at times it was to watch us struggle through various segments. I've decided to enlist in the program as soon as I can get a copy of it shipped. Don't worry I won't post before and after photos on this site.

Anyway it was great to see the new baby and the new parents in action. Weekends like this make me really miss all of my family a great deal. Since this site will be limited to family I feel obligated to state or restate my open invitation to all of our family. You can visit at any time and we would strongly encourage you to think about relocating to the Madison area. I'll offer to help on both sides of the move if necessary.