Hit the jackpot this morning

I had to go to the RE this morning to feed the vampires and for a date with the ultrasound wand (we're GOOD friends, if you know what I mean, wink wink). It was exceptionally crowded this morning. One of my problems is that I'm not good, in a large crowd like that, of just putting my head down and reading. I'm way too busy looking around (you know, that way we have of looking without really looking like we're looking) and paying attention to what's going on around me. I also found myself having an emotional morning, which is due, in part, to sheer exhaustion, and, in part to the following.

Lisa's List of RE Office Emotional Triggers

Adorable child in the waiting room - the main office of my clinic has a "please do not bring children into the waiting room" sign, but the satellite offices, one of which I frequent, do not. It doesn't matter as it doesn't really stop people in any of the offices. Now, I'm not one of those people that gets angry about it. I totally understand that sometimes you just might not have any other option. My problem is with the people who bring their kids in and proceed to make it like a Mommy and Me class - clapping, singing, hugging and kissing, etc... Seriously, if you have to bring your children, cheerios and a picture book should be whipped out of your Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag faster than your nice little date with the ultrasound machine turns into a "friends with benefits" situation! The only blessing to crying at the mere sight of those adorable urchins playing is that the tears blur the image.

Ultrasound pictures - In the world of babymaking, they can cause such joy when in your hands, but, in the hands of others, can result in feelings of sadness, jealousy, anger, frustration...you get my drift. On any given morning at the RE's, you may see several couples, smiles from ear to ear, clutching the ultrasound pictures that give them tangible evidence that whatever procedure they endured has paid off and there is a baby growing inside of one of them. Cut to me, where the tangible evidence of my repeated failed procedures is the tears that begin to roll down my face as I watch them in basking in their joy. For added sobs, give the ultrasound pics to the male partner and have him gaze at them in awe and wonderment while the female partner is checking out.

Fetal heartbeat whooshing sounds - You would think that either the walls between examination rooms would be thicker or the doctors doing ultrasounds would have learned to lower the volume by now, but, that little sound (OK, it's a very big and powerful sound) has the ability to send me into spasms of sadness. Honestly, I don't think I even need to say more....this one is pretty self explanatory.

The more early mornings you spend at the RE's office, the more incidents of each of these you'll experience. Each is bad enough on its own, but, today, I was blessed with all three. A trifecta, of sorts.