OK, first off: there's a reason I haven't posted a new ultrasound. The reason is that as I look at the most recent ones (that is, the printouts we have of it) they're not as clear as earlier ones. I think it must have to do with the printer on the ultrasound machine rather than the ultrasound itself, which seemed to me as clear as the other ones. Regardless of the reason, I don't think they're worth posting--they'll just be black blotches on a monitor. So we'll wait for the next set.

Janet is "enjoying" even more tests now than just the ultrasounds. Now, twice a week we go for "non-stress tests." For something called "non-stress," the first one sure was stressful. It was supposed to last for 30 to 45 minutes, but wound up lasting nearly three hours!

For those not familiar with them, non-stress tests (NSTs) are designed to check whether the baby's heart rate goes up when she moves (that's what it's supposed to do). They put an external fetal heart monitor on Janet, and have her like flat on her back and push a button every time she feels Hannah move. The button puts a mark on the printout, and they'll just look to see if the marks match up with heart rate increases. It complicates things just a little that Janet doesn't feel Hannah move every time she actually moves (based on me being able to place a hand on her stomach and feel movement when Janet doesn't).

The real complication the first time came because Janet was experiencing contractions, and didn't realize that's what they were ("I don't remember what they feel like--it's been 13 years!"). She thought they were just the baby rolling. Contractions show up through this monitoring process along with the heart rate. The nurses came in and said, "Don't you feel that?" And Janet said, "Yes, but it doesn't hurt." (I guess she thought contractions had to hurt.) They seemed to think something should hurt, so they gave her a shot of brethine (which has a side effect of stopping premature labor). Eventually they let her go home, but gave her a set of restrictions that, shall we say, do not sit well.

We had the first NST on March 21. We then went out of town for me to speak in Blairsville, GA, and had another test when we got back late afternoon on March 24. This time Janet got to go into one of the birthing rooms, because the triage unit where they usually do the test was full. This time the test only lasted about an hour, and they came in and said, "You passed!" So I guess that means the premature labor didn't restart, and that Hannah's heart rate is going what it's supposed to when she moves. We get to do this every Monday and Friday now until Hannah arrives (or they change their minds), along with separate visits for ultrasounds every four weeks and checks by the doctor every two weeks (I think). I know that we're getting on a first name basis with all of them, and the doctor is going to be able to get that new boat after all!

All worthwhile, of course, when it leads to getting Hannah here as safely and happily as possible.

It all really makes me think about the births of my own three kids. Amanda has heard the story until she is sick of it of how I took her from the doctors and carried her from the delivery room to the nursery. I think she likes the story, even though she has heard it too much. There is a special bond there because of it, though. When Jon was born, it was through cesarean, and at a hospital that still considered fathers to be extraneous material. Still, I can't describe the wonderful feeling the first time I saw him. He was working his tongue very hard, like it tasted bad and he was trying to get it out of his mouth. He made me laugh, and he still has the most amazing sense of humor. Caty also came into the world via cesarean, and I was there for the whole operation that time. What an amazing little life, and what amazing people they have grown up to be!

Amanda is now 20 (newly so), Jon is 17, and Caty is 11. Yet it seems like only days since their births. Now a new one is joining them. I can't comprehend it.