<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-466" title="33" src="http://teamoswald.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/33.jpg" alt="" width="319" height="212" /></p>
Today was our 33w appointment.  I originally drove to base and checked-in solo, but after being escorted to a back room and going through some of the initial motions, one of the ladies at the front desk popped in to say "your husband is here..." to my total surprise.  Really?  I mean I *have* one of those husband types, but he's at work on the other military base.  She read my shock:  "Oswald, right?"  Yeah.  At work?  I guess not.  :)

Stephen asked how long I had been there (about five minutes) and what he missed already (mostly just vitals).  At this corner, weighing-in at a new record of one-thirty-three (yes, I spelled that out to avoid seeing the number again) is a 5'5" soon-to-be-mother at thirty-three weeks.  Wowzers, that is starting to sound monumental.  What else?  My heart rate is fine; baby's heart rate is fine.  My weight is fine; baby's weight is fine.  [Confession:  I find myself pleading with my baby in whispers:  "Sweetheart, I want you to be entirely healthy...but is there any way you can be on the smaller side, rather than the 8-10 lb. side?  Your mummy is getting scared about the actual, er, welcoming part.]  *sigh*  My blood pressure is low as usual (the nurse usually does a double-take &amp; asks "Are you a runner?"  Yes.  Or I was rather.  *double sigh*)

<strong>Stephen:</strong> "Did I miss anything else?"
<strong>Jennifer:</strong> They weighed me, checked my blood pressure, checked my heart rate.  Then did the goo and checked the baby's heart rate.  Hmm...my belly measured in at exactly 33w.  Oh, and my temperature was normal.
<strong>Stephen:</strong> All that in five minutes?
<strong>Jennifer:</strong> Yep.  They move fast around here.
<strong>Stephen:</strong> So what else are they doing today?
<strong>Jennifer:</strong> Not sure.  I guess we'll see.

And see we did.  It was mostly all talk.  Of course, in the beginning of the pregnancy we were successfully rotating around with the OB-GYN docs seeing some of each of them and we had not seen <em>this</em> doc in months.  So she was surprised to see my big ol' belly that I fondly refer to as a globe.  She asked if we had concerns and whether we were ready.  Eep!  Ready?!?!  Maybe...??  I did pick up the hospital admission paperwork to fill out in advance.  It seems odd to write in "yes, we are aiming for a natural, drug-free birth...but we'll see how it goes."  I can only imagine the doctor or nurse looking at that answer and laughing.  The doc did tell us that if my water breaks, not to linger at home and come on down (in my head, Bob Barker was the one saying that last part).  Which might be the reason for the quizzical look after I giggled.  What a mature parent I'll make.

Just before leaving, we spoke to the scheduler to make arrangements for our 36w appointment.  Three weeks ahead put us smack-dab in the midst of Stephen's upcoming work trips.  He really wanted to be there for this appointment (slash) probably the most exciting ultrasound yet, so I let him take the lead on choosing the date.  The woman offered "February 14?"  Stephen looked at me...I looked at him...  St. Valentine's day?  Uh, okay.  So we have a date for a four-way valentine:  my husband, me, our baby, and an ultrasound tech.  I'll try to keep the lovey-dovey emphasis on the first three.

Anyone else getting excited?  Anyone else unable to sleep b/t the hours of ten p.m. and four a.m.??

<em>Psst!  Today's post is brought to you by the number thirty-three.  In looking for a cool graphic, I stumbled across some fascinating info.  According to <a title="Wikipedia.org" href="http://www.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>, 33 is the number of innings played in *the longest ball game in history* (1981 minor league, Rochester Red Wings! v. Pawtucket Red Sox, RI).  It is also Patrick Ewing's old B-ball number, for those of you that remember my maiden name is Ewing.  Also, 33 is what docs ask patients to say in French, Italian, Romanian, Spanish &amp; Portuguese when listening to their lungs.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33_(number)" target="_blank">*</a> And the only thing I could think of was the song <a title="The Smashing Pumpkins: 33" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc9ZbS4KMdg" target="_blank">Thirty-three</a> by The Smashing Pumpkins.  Consider me further edjumakated on the matter.</em>

<em>33 clip snagged from <a title="33 image link" href="http://carolinecollective.cc/2009/05/21/things-weve-learned-33/" target="_blank">here</a>.</em>