Friday morning both Annie and Josh were off but were back at the hospital for the anatomy scan, it could have been done earlier but Annie didn't want to do this one without Josh. And they had been dealing with holiday craziness and opposite schedules so waited to find out together. This was the one where they knew if their baby was Elizabeth or Matthew.
They made their way to the OB wing.
"It feels weird not to have our bags and be going to the locker room," Annie said.
"I like your jeans better than scrubs," Josh said. He thought Annie looked really cute in her skinny jeans, ankle boots and green top. Overnight it seemed her bump had become suddenly rounder and more pronounced, today's green top skimmed over it and the color reflected the green in Annie's eyes. Her blonde curls bounced across her shoulders and hung down her back. Josh was having a hard time keeping his hands to himself.
"Last chance to guess," Annie said.
"I'm sticking with a girl," Josh said, "let's make it interesting whoever is wrong has to pack lunches every day for a week."
"Not fair," Annie laughed, "I do that anyway for both of us."
"Okay," Josh said, "if it's a boy I'll do lunches and dinners every day for a week."
"That's better," Annie laughed.
Josh pulled Annie close to him , "you know I don't care either way babe. As long as both of you are healthy."
"I know," Annie said, "I can't wait to hold our monkey."
"I know," Josh said, "18 more weeks."
"If the due date is correct," Annie said, "mama said I was 10 days late."
They sat down in the chairs outside of Carina's office.
"Dr. Altman, Dr. Riggs come on in," Carina called.
"Please it's Josh and Annie," Josh said.
"Annie," Carina asked, "I don't understand how you get that from Grace Altman."
Annie smiled, "My adopted parents named me Annabeth Grace McKellar but called me Annie. Teddy Altman is my birth mother. She felt she was too young to raise me so I was adopted at birth and didn't meet her until 10 years ago. I changed my name in med school for a few reasons. I use Grace professionally and Annie personally."
"Which would you like me to use," Carina asked.
"In this setting I think Annie," replied Annie, "Dr. Altman or Grace in the rest of the hospital. When I get upset or anxious or in pain I respond better to Annie than I do to Grace. I really only use Grace professionally or with acquaintances."
"I will do that," replied Carina, "let's get this started. Annie, can you sit up on the exam table."
Annie stood up, Josh gave her a hand getting up on the table.
"How much longer can she keep up her typical surgical schedule," Josh asked.
"As long as Annie feels up to it," Carina said, "take breaks in long surgeries to eat, drink and use the washroom."
"What about workouts," asked Josh.
"I'm not going to dance until after the baby, my balance is changing and I don't want to fall," Annie said, "but I'm still going to keep running, swimming, going to yoga and walking."
"Please keep as active as you can, you'll feel better and have more energy ," Carina responded, "all right are we ready to see your baby?"
"Yes please," Annie replied.
"Lay back Annie," Carina instructed.
Annie laid back on the table and Josh came to stand beside her. Annie reached for Josh's hand. Carina moved Annie's clothing out of the way and spread the gell with the wand.
Carina asked, "are you ready to see your baby?"
"Yes," Annie and Josh shouted.
"Here's your baby. They look great ," Carina said, turning the screen towards them.
"She looks perfect," Annie said.
Josh looked at the screen again, "babe we have a daughter."
Annie started to cry, "we have a little girl."
Josh nodded, "we do."
"Our little Ellie ," Annie smiled.
"Ellie," Josh agreed. He gave Annie a quick kiss.
"Let's keep her name to ourselves for a bit," Annie said.
"I like that," Josh said, "the world needs some surprise when she arrives."
"Congratulations you two, she's a beautiful healthy baby girl," Carina said, "do you have any questions for me?"
"Can we have pictures," Annie asked, "and hear the heart beat."
"I've already printed them,"Carina said, she handed Josh the photos before turning on the sound.
The soft swoosh filled the room. Annie closed her eyes and listened.
"That's perfect," Annie said, "that's a healthy baby heart."
"It's all developing right on track," Carina said, "everything looks good with the baby."
"Is Annie okay," Josh asked.
"Annie I'm concerned you're still not gaining weight on track for this stage of your pregnancy. We've addressed the anemia and your latest labs look good but your still not gaining enough weight, your baby is growing and your measuring on track so you're being deprived elsewhere," Carina said, "are you getting enough to eat?"
"I still find eating the portions I need a challenge," Annie admitted, "I am talking with dr Wyatt about it but it's not fully mental. I can only handle so much food at once."
"What does a typical days food look like," Carina asked, "walk me through yesterday."
Annie checked the food diary app on her phone, "breakfast was turkey sausage, a boiled egg, sourdough toast and some kiwi. Lunch was left over pasta from the night before. It's just one I throw together with chicken and a home made tomato sauce I make in big batches and freeze. Dinner was homemade jambalaya. I cook most of our meals from scratch. I don't like most boxed or pre frozen meals. Snacks I had almonds, yogurt, raspberries, apples, carrots, bell peppers, hummus, a couple cookies mama made."
"You stole half my fries," Josh teased.
"It sounds like your eating well," Carina said, "balanced meals and real food. I wish all my patients would eat like that."
"I always have," Annie said, "this isn't new for us. I was a professional level dancer before medical school I learned to eat real food that gave me enough nutrients without feeling weighed down."
"Your diary shows you're barely getting enough calories," Carina said, "it sounds like you're eating well and getting enough nutrients so I would suggest adding a couple glasses of milk if you can tolerate it or smoothies with a nondairy milk of your choice. Any fruit or vegetable will work in it. Even another two or three hundred calories a day would help."
"Should we be concerned about it," Josh asked.
"I'm monitoring it and it is just below the curve it's better than last time I saw you," Carina said, "we will keep monitoring it and if you fall off the curve take action."
"I'll be honest it's hard for me to let myself gain weight," Annie admitted, "I've been the same size since high school. This is very new for me to be gaining weight and having a stomach. And as vain as it sounds I've always felt good about the shape I was in and my fitness."
"We're women," Carina said, "it's not vanity to want to feel attractive and sexy. Your body is a big part of that. This is temporary Annie. After your daughter is born you will be able to exercise like you always have."
"Do I need to slow down my workouts," Annie asked.
"Monitor the intensity and make sure you eat to make up the deficits from your workouts. Remember doing surgery is a very active career and you're moving all day," Carina said, "new curves are part of the process of growing your baby. Embrace them. Be healthy and feel good about yourself. You're an attractive woman. Be happy and enjoy this."
"Thank you Carina," Annie said.
"I have another patient and I will see you two in three weeks," Carina said.
"Thank you," Josh said.
"Josh take care of her," Carina said as she left the room.
"I will," Josh promised.
He helped Annie off the exam table.
Annie hugged Josh, "we have a daughter."
"We do," Josh said.
Annie gave Josh a passionate kiss.
"Let's go show mama," Annie said.
"Lead the way," Josh said.
Annie nearly skipped out of the carinas exam room and towards the elevator.
Annie knocked on the door of Teddy's office.
"You're bouncing, sweetheart how did it go," Teddy asked.
Annie held out the photos, "take a look at your grandchild."
Teddy looked closely at the scan, "what is it? You have to tell me. "
Teddy saw the instant Annie handed her the image that it was a baby girl but wanted to hear her daughter say it.
"That's your granddaughter," Annie said.
"A girl," Teddy said.
"A girl," Annie said.
Teddy hugged her, "congratulations sweetheart."
"Thanks mama," Annie replied.
Owen walked in, "what are we celebrating?"
Teddy handed Owen the picture, "this is what we're celebrating."
Owen looked at the scan, "a girl. We have a granddaughter?"
"Yep grandpa," Annie laughed.
Teddy laughed, "we're still too young and cool to be Grandma and Grandpa. I'm only 50 and Owen is only 47."
"We'll work on it," Annie agreed, "but that's your granddaughter."
"She's beautiful," Teddy said.
"Have you picked a name," Owen asked.
"We're not telling yet," Annie said, "when she gets here."
"You can't hide it from me that long," Teddy teased, "you have to tell your mama everything."
"You did with Allison," Annie said.
"How does everything look," Teddy asked.
"She's healthy, her heart beat was strong, the sounds were right, the rhythm was good, right speed. She's growing on track," Annie said.
"You need to gain a bit more weight," Josh said.
"I eat more than I ever have," Annie said.
"Take care of yourself sweetheart," Teddy said, "have a few treats. Stop worrying about your weight. You need a healthy daughter. Do it for her."
"I'm trying," Annie said, "I'm just not always hungry or things I usually like make me feel sick."
"Try a few more snacks," Teddy said, "I drank a lot of smoothies with Allison that helped."
"I'll try that," Annie said, "Carina suggested it as well."
Owen asked, "aren't you two off today?"
"We are," Annie said, "just had our appointment then now we're going to look for nursery paint colours. Maybe paint swatches will get Duncan moving out of that room."
"Have fun," Teddy said, "go relax and enjoy the day."
"Paint colour, nursery furniture, lunch at the pier," Annie said.
"Good," Teddy said, "go have a fun day."
Annie showed Teddy some of the ideas she had and things she liked for a nursery on her phone. They whispered and cooed over cute baby things. Annie had a whole Pinterest board full of ideas. Teddy was making mental notes for baby shower ideas. Even though Annie was still an introvert and wasn't sold on the idea of a shower Teddy still wanted her to have a small one with close friends and family, Teddy was thinking Jenna, Julia, Cassidy, a few of the other female residents Annie had become friends with, Stephanie was working in Tacoma and would come, Meghan and Evelyn. Teddy would also invite Leslie even though Leslie never came down for anything she was always invited. She knew Marie would make the trip, grandmere was coming once a month now to see Annie. Teddy was debating Amelia, Meredith, Arizona, Bailey and April. While they were all mentors to Annie she wasn't close to them they were more Teddy's friends and would attend the shower April would undoubted plan at the hospital.
"Go spoil her today," Owen said, "give her a good day, lunch at the beach, her favourite food for dinner. Relax and have fun together. I wish I had more of that with Teddy before Allison came."
"I have a plan," Josh said, "I want my girls to be happy."
"Go show Nate and Meg," Owen said, "my sister will be jealous I saw and she didn't."
"We will," Annie said, "do you know where Meg is?"
"Try her office," Owen said, "Nathan was with her."
Annie and Josh walked towards Meghan's office and knocked.
"Annie, Josh, how did the appointment go," Meghan asked as she opened the door.
Annie held out the photo, "do you want to see?"
"Can I," Meghan asked.
"Take a look," Josh said.
Meghan took the print out from Annie , "I was right!"
"Only time I'm going to say it, you were right," Annie laughed.
"Annie I'm always right," Meghan laughed.
Nathan beamed, "a daughter congratulations."
"We're excited," Josh said, "but I'm now outnumbered by girls."
Meghan asked, "does everything look good?"
"She's healthy and growing right on track," Annie said, "so far a happy healthy baby
"Are you feeling okay," Meghan asked.
"Excited, bouncy, energetic, I really want to hold her," Annie said.
"All good things," Meghan said.
Josh said, "we're actually off today. So we're going to look for baby things and walk along the waterfront."
"Go have a good day," Meghan said, " congratulations both of you."
Annie gave her a hug, "thanks auntie Meg."
"Have a good day off guys," Nathan said.
"Thanks uncle Nathan," Josh said.
They walked out of the hospital hand in hand.
"Coffee before we go ," asked Josh.
Annie replied, "I could have a chai latte regular milk."
"Let's go to the place down the street," Josh said, "we can walk."
"I like that place. Their Nanaimo bars are almost as good as the ones on Vancouver Island. Tastes like my childhood," Annie said.
"Do you want one," Josh asked.
"I do," Annie said, "'more like Ellie does."
"You can't do that," Josh said, "use her to get what you want."
"I totally can," Annie laughed, "and you my husband have to cater to my cravings."
"Don't I already," asked Josh.
"You spoil us," Annie said.
Annie and Josh walked hand in hand to their favorite coffee shop.
Annie found a seat near the window in a cozy armchair and put her purse on the chair opposite to save it for Josh. He knew she liked the arm chairs near the window. Annie sat back in her chair and rested her hands on her stomach. Josh looked over from the counter where he was picking up their coffee and treats and smiled. Annie was everything he had ever dreamed of and with the winter sun coming in through the window she was glowing.
Josh placed their drinks on the table and went back to the counter for their treats.
"Thanks honey," Annie said as Josh sat down.
Josh watched as she took a couple bites, "is that what you wanted?"
"Yes," Annie smiled, "Ellie is happy now."