Meeting Doctor Wallis

3/14/14

First thing on the morning of 2/20, Joe and I began the process of arranging appointments with an OBGYN. This wasn't as easy as it should have been.......

Being self employed and living with and now having a "baby daddy" as an insurance broker has it's perks. One, I don't have to decipher whatever language they use to describe to me in eight paragraphs what could efficiently be said in one what my insurance covers or does not. I also can rely on him, he is my broker after all, to handle any issues I have.

Well, going on the Health Exchange (aka Obamacare) was something we did. It made sense to us. In fact, my premiums went up only a smidge and in fact, I now have the Cadillac of plans. The only problem is, my previous Gyno and many others weren't not taking it. After the 3rd phone call with yet another dead end, I gave the phone to Joe, red faced with the promise that if I had to deal with one more jackass on the line, my hand was going to somehow make it's way through the air waves of the phone and choke out the next asshole who said they would not take my insurance. I'm sorry but here's my rant: How is it legal for doctors or health care providers to deny coverage that is mandated by the government? It's criminal. I pay a premium. Provide the fucking coverage so I can get health care. That's what this whole thing is about, isn't it? The government is more concerned about my coverage than the actual health care industry!?!? Ok, rant over.

Joe, in his Insurance sponsored shining armor, finally found us a doctors group aligned with both University Hospital and Crouse Hospital and we were booked with Dr. Jodi Wallis for Friday 3/14 at 10:00am.

After what felt like an eternity the day of the appointment arrives. As excited as a child on Christmas morning, I was up at 5:30am (as usual these days). I asked Joe that we arrive a bit earlier than our 10:00am appointment because a) I don't do 'on time', I like to be early (and will enjoy that lifestyle until the child is born, thank you very much) and b) I knew we would have paperwork to fill out.

Now, in my entire lifetime I have never used a male Gyno. No disrespect but to me, a male Gyno is like an ASL Interpreter without hands. Sure, you know how the language works and might be very knowledgeable in your field.. but you don't have the equipment to really really know how it all works. Unfortunately this practice is not an all female staff, but since my initial appointment is with Jodi, I will attempt to be as flexible and open (pun not intended) to whomever can provide the best care that me and my growing baby needs.

That being said.....

Joe and I check in with the receptionist and am sitting in the waiting room, perusing the coffee tables littered with Parenting and Pregnancy magazines. Joe, being familiar with my preference for female doctors looks up at a much older gentleman walking out of the back hallway towards the receptionist and whispers to me "I think that's Doctor LongFingers" to which I erupted in laughter. Naturally, the other patients waiting, reception AND the Doctor all look in our direction and while I'm losing it, Joe is as composed as ever, magazine in hand as if nothing is happening. I smack his arm and say through clenched teeth "Oh my GOD! Now that you said that...... if he happens to be the doctor on call on D Day (Delivery Day) our child will be forever delivered by Dr.LongFingers!!!!!"

After what felt like eternity Joe and I are called into the sonogram room (if that is what it is called). To this point, besides the 3 pregnancy tests and my physical symptoms there was no real "evidence" of new life growing inside me. It was almost as if the sono could happen and someone could yell "Oops! False alarm! Go back to life as you knew it, have a nice day!!". Instead what we saw was the perfect little (as the technician stated) "Gummy Bear" of a figure on the screen with the teeniest and slightest pulsing of heartbeat. Now, I had some ideas about how I would react while having this test done. I mean, there's nothing glamorous about it. I'm on bed, half naked with a scratchy piece of paper over my legs and my socks showing with a plastic covered wand device up there..... while Joe is sitting casually in the chair next to me like he's about to whip out the daily paper and a woman I have never met is telling me all the body parts of a being that happens to be inside me that I'm just getting accustomed to knowing is there. No book or persons narrative prepares you to how awesome of a moment that is... and yes, I did cry. How could you not. It's the "Holy shit I'm going to be a mother!" moment of all time.

Our meeting with the Doctor after went very well and I like her very much, THANK GOD. After a thorough exam (to Joe's relief I released him to the waiting room), questions, 9 vials of blood and a high 5 with the nurse as I left we learned that "officially" I was at 9 weeks and 3 days with an expected due date of October 14th, 2014 :) One appointment down, 576 to go.