Is that my heartbeat or the baby's?

I never thought a visit to the emergency room would bring me so much excitement. After feeling worse and worse and clearly becoming dehydrated, my doctor sent me to the hospital yesterday for some IV fluids. Have I told you how much I hate needles? I just knew I was going to be traumatized.

I picked up Blaine from work - he did in fact want to be involved in everything of this pregnancy and I was about to show him the bad parts. We headed to the ER where I was poked and prodded (okay only poked once) for about 3 hours. Thankfully, I live in a city where the ER is not all that busy.

While I was still hooked up to the IV, along came a nurse with a small bag. After displaying my growing stomach, she squirted some clear jelly on my belly and said, "get used to this stuff." As she ran the tool across me listening for a heartbeat (which we didn't think we would be able to hear this early), I couldn't help but think, am I going to pee my pants? The fluids were apparently working and making my bladder scream. But then all of a sudden we heard a heartbeat. Blaine's ears perked up and smiles illuminated the room until Nurse Rita said, "that's the momma's heartbeat." Rats...I thought.

Nurse Rita left for a short while only to return with a much larger machine on wheels with a monitor. And the baby searching continued. The doctor joined us too. As soon as I saw Blaine's face light up, I knew something was happening. He hadn't looked that excited since last year's trip to Alabama when he found THE KABOTA tractor that he purchased and hauled home.

I turned to look but couldn't see anything. And then we heard it - the baby's heartbeat...very fast, very faint, but very there! I giggled and you could definitely hear that too - which was hard to stop after I started, but I finally did. Another giggle came out when the doctor said, "do you need to use the restroom? Your bladder is full." I thought they would never ask.

We got a quick photo of the little baby printed and the fun evening at the hospital was ending. They removed my IV, I rushed to the restroom, got meds for nausea and Blaine and I nearly skipped out of the hospital. All of this morning sickness was going to pay off sooner than later. What a relieving feeling!

I can't wait for October - or at least June when we can find out the gender. Right now, I think its a boy. Not sure why - just a feeling I guess. Or maybe its Blaine praying for someone to share the Kabota with..who knows.