Team Oswald is buzzing to find out the big news this week.  Every time someone asks "wait...wasn't your appointment today?" the excitement builds.  No, our appointment is on Thursday.  This Thursday.  As the song goes "the waiting is the hardest part" (hopefully there are some Tom Petty &amp; the Heartbreakers fans out there).

To add to confusion, I <span style="text-decoration:underline;">did</span> have an appointment today.  That doctor visit @ 18 weeks was a special trip, just as a follow-up to make sure my cyst (the cause of many procedures now) has chilled out.  So, today was actually my regularly scheduled 20-week appointment.  The main event was finding out the results of the quad screen test.

For anyone that does not know, the quad screen is a maternal blood screening test that evaluates the levels of AFP, hGC, UE, &amp; Inhibin-A.  AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) is a protein that is produced by the fetus' liver; hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone produced in the placenta; UE (Unconjugated Estriol) is a hormone (an estrogen) produced by both the fetus' liver &amp; the placenta; Inhibin-A is a protein produced by the placenta &amp; the ovaries.  Basically, the test allows the docs to identify pregnancies that are at risk for potential genetic disorders when the results are combined with variables like age, ethnicity, etc.  Potential disorders are Down Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome, neural tube defects like spina bifida or anencephaly.  Our results were in the normal ranges and our chances for having a baby with Down Syndrome went from about 1:600 to 1:10,000 &amp; put us with the 98% of pregnancies that the quad screen results predict to have healthy babies &amp; pregnancies with no complications.  *sigh*  I know it sounds selfish, but I am quite relieved.  I'm sure most mothers can understand the nervousness and worrying that often accompanies "being with child" and not knowing everything that is (and will) happen.

On Thursday, the radiologist will be able to confirm 10 fingers, 10 toes, healthy growth patterns, the age of our baby, and how the organs are developing.  And I know I've been writing that we will get a solid answer about the sex of the baby...but that's not always the case.  I just *feel* like we will have a good look and find out one way or the other.  So, get those votes in for our poll.  I'll close the poll right before I post the answer.  :)