when I eat...

When I eat, the baby gets busy. Seems like he wiggles a lot, especially if it's sweet. I am getting more movement now--still just funny, fluttery, vague pokes, but definitely movement. How amazing is that? There's a human inside me and he wiggles. WOW.

I've been following another pregnant friend's journal and she elected to get birth defects screening--the initial screen requires that they get more tests. It's still a very slight chance of actual birth defects, but now she and her husband get to worry for however long it takes to get appointments, tests and results. I'm glad we elected not to do it. I certainly understand why some people do--and I don't judge that--but, knowing myself, there's no point in worrying and we're having this little fella and we'll see how it all turns out.

G reminded me, early on, that one of the Three Irish Tenors, Ronan Tynan, was born with a lower limb disability and had both of his legs amputated at age 20. After the operation, he competed in the Paralympic Games — both in track and field and as an equestrian. Between 1981 and 1990, Tynan won 18 gold medals and set 14 world records. He is also a physician. I don't know if they had the tests in the days that he was born--but, clearly, he's an extraordinary individual. I'm just not convinced that tests can do much more than scare the hell out of a person--although I can also see the need to be mentally and financially prepared for a baby with disabilities. It left me pondering...I don't think there's a "right" or "wrong" answer...but I'm glad we have done things the way we're doing them.