Boy or Girl?
19 Weeks To Go
"HI Peeta." Elle reaches up to kiss him on the cheek. "It's so good to see you. Why don't you wait in the office while I examine Kat." He thanks her and goes into the office. "Play video games if you want." She smiles at me. "That's some baby bump there. How do you feel?"
"Fat." Is all I say.
"Change into the gown and I'll be back in a few." She closes the door and I start to undress and change. I hate these gowns. Open in the back. Who designed these things? I change and then I get on the scale. These scales with the weights are so old-fashioned. I adjust the weights. My eyes get tremendous. And they are horribly inaccurate! I step off it and glare at the scale. Like it's the scales fault.
A nurse comes in. "Just a little blood please." I sit and put out my arm and look away. I don't mind seeing them take blood. I just don't like watching the needle go in. Plus I'll loose and ounce of weight i just seconds.
Elle walks in. "Okay. Let's get started. On the scale."
"I already weighed myself. Your scale needs adjusting." She stands there. Not moving a muscle.
"On the scale...Now!" I frown and climb on it. I refuse to look so I look up at the ceiling. "Ignoring it isn't going to help." She's right. I take a deep breath. "You've gained too much too fast...Why?" I shrug my shoulders.
"I know why. You snack too much. I'll suggest a diet and cut out soda."
"I already drink diet."
"Cut that also. It makes you crave sweets. You need more fruits and veggies. Lean meats. Drink water, water, and then some more water." I stick out my tongue and say ugh. "Tough." She then checks my BP, eyes, ears, throat, lungs.
"You also haven't been exercising. Have you?"
I look at her with a guilty face. " No, I'm just tired all the time."
"Your body should be adjusted to the changes now. Go to yoga. Remember Jacques? Grrrr. You can walk on the treadmill. And walk outside. You have one of the biggest playgrounds in the world practically in your backyard. Enjoy the park."
I get a broad smile. "Okay." I agree with her. I need to get out and regain my strength.
"Stand on one foot, hold your arms out and bring them together and touch them." I do it. It's almost like she's testing to see if I'm a drunk driver. "Now the other foot." I comply.
"What was that for?"
"No reason. It's just funny to look at." I shake my head.
"You're a real pip Eleanor Menton."
"Now, assume the position." She means the table and the... Ugh. stirrups, embarrassing.
"Everything alright in there?" She doesn't answer. I hate when she doesn't respond. "Hello. See anybody?"
"Yup."
"How many?"
"Just one. Why are expecting a crowd?" I lie there and decide to keep silent from now on. She puts her stethoscope on my belly. "Good. Very good. Wanna hear?"
"Sure." She puts the earpieces in my ear. "Wow! It's beating so fast. Thanks."
"Come on. Let's see the photographer." She says leaving the room.
I walk holding my gown closed in the back. "Why are you walking like that?"
"I don't want my ass hanging out."
"Don't worry. Even with a few too many pounds, it's a good-looking ass. Is that what first attracted Peeta to you?"
"He's had a crush on me since first grade. I don't think he was too interested in my ass back then. I think it was my singing voice."
"I've heard you since Kat. He needs to see an audiologist."
"You've only heard me sing when I'm drunk." She stops me in the hallway.
"Okay. Sing something now." I roll my eyes.
"Could we just go get some pictures please." She smiles as I plead.
We enter room and I see woman in her late twenties wearing scrubs. "Lisa is the technician. She'll perform the exam. I'll go get Peeta."
"After this you'll give a urine sample."
"How much pee do you want?"
"Just a cup please. And aim right this time. I'm sick of cleaning up after you." Lisa looks at me with one eyebrow raised. "I'll see you in about thirty minutes after you're done." I look up and smile.
"It's a long story." I whisper to Lisa. "And I'm not really sure about what really happened that night." She giggles.
"Ready." Lisa says. "Is your bladder full?"
"When isn't my bladder full?"
"I know what you mean."
"You have?" I ask her.
"Yup. Three."
"Three! Wow! When do find time to work?" And I'm nervous about having one child.
"I only do this part-time. My Mom helps a lot." That's nice. There are times I miss my Mom.
"But then there are times my Mom makes me crazy. I remember there was a reason I moved out when I was eighteen." I nod in agreement.
"Yup. Parents can drive you crazy sometimes. Just like we'll do someday." We laugh at the thought. Peeta walks in and takes my hand.
"Okay, back to business. This will take about a half an hour. Ask any questions you want. If I don't answer it right away it's because I'm measuring something or taking notes."
"When will you tell us what we're having?"
"I can't."
"Oh. I thought we would know today."
"You will. But the doctor prefers to tell the parents herself." Oh I know what that means. An hour of torture while El cracks one joke after another. "I'll position the screen so you can see the baby." She turns the screen so we can see the baby.
Peeta sees the screen and is all smiles. I look at the screen and see an alien. A beautiful alien with toes. And the tiniest little fingers. "Is that the spine?"
"Yes."
"It looks like a string of pearls." Lisa giggles. "Peeta, do you remember how you get pearls?"
"Yup. Coal." He answers. Sometimes it's the little things that he remembers that make him so special. We both chuckle.
As Lisa moves the wand around to see the baby from different positions I spot the middle. Wow. Surprise, surprise. We'll have to start thinking about boy's names. I don't know if Peeta sees this also. I squeeze his hand. I know he said it was a girl. I hope he's not disappointed.
"Okay. All done. That wasn't so bad was it."
"Gimmie the cup. I gotta pee." I run into the bathroom and pee into the cup. Then pee some more. Then pee some more. Then pee some more. It's hard to believe that a human can hold so much urine.
Knock, knock.
"You okay?" Peeta asks.
"Yeah. I'm almost done." I lie. It's still coming out. "I have to change. I'll meet you in the office."
After I change I meet Peeta and Elle in her office. "...Well the otter replied "I liked the book."" Peeta laughs hard.
"Hey Kat. Elle just told me the funniest joke. Wanna hear it?"
"No." I sit down. I reach over and take his hand. I hope I didn't hurt his feelings. "You can tell me later."
"Okay. Here is your sample diet. And remember what I told you about exercising. Okay?" I nod yes.
"Let's go over the sonogram." She hands us each a print. "You can order more prints from the receptionist. You can get 8 by 10's, 5 by 7's and these cute little wallet sizes." We just stare at her. "Hello. That was a joke." I raise one eyebrow. "Okay, moving right along. The baby is fine. All's normal. So, make your next appointment on your way out."
"I'm going to kill you Eleanor Menton." I say as I glare at her.
"Okay relax. Buy pink for the nursery. Congratulations. You're having a girl."
I turn to Peeta expecting him to be disappointed "Oh Peeta. I hope... A girl. Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. Your insurance company pays me a lot of money to be sure."
I walk around to her side of the desk. "Here look at this." I point at his penis. "What's that?"
"Well, if I'm seeing it correctly. I'd say it's a... um... well I can tell you what it's not. It ain't no man part." I don't believe her. "Seriously, Kat, it's not. That's the umbilical cord. Believe me. It's a girl." I lean in and kiss her on the lips.
"I'd rather be kissed by Peeta but I'll take what I can get."
Peeta starts to walk around the desk. I grab him. "Not so fast." I throw my arms around him and plant a big wet kiss on his lips.
"Listen, go home and relax. Have some sex tonight. By the way, that's also good exercise." She looks up. "Shoo. Shoo. Get out. I'm a busy woman."
I wave good-bye "See you at yoga." She waves back.
"I'll get a cab." Peeta says.
"Nope. Walking is fine."
"But you said."
"Never mind what I said. Lets walk." I grab his hand and head towards Central Park West.
