Alex in NYC to be a daddy!

You have fulfilled the prime objective! Congrats!

Holy sheep dip! A thread hath sprung overnight!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's still very early, so I probably should've remained a bit more quiet about it, but somehow the news escaped the vast portal that is my mouth.

Like I said, we're still only in the early stages, but I'm slowly becoming able to lower my eyebrows from atop my scalp and back down to their normal position of befuddlement, and my eyeballs have temporarily ceased their urgent desire to jump out of my skull. Thanks for all of your kind words.

The littlest fire-honorer isn't due until late April. Details as they develop.

Thank you again. =)

(Dom loses.)

Congrats, Alex; fantastic news all around! Hopefully the new place is big enough for a little one.

Woo...a baby Taurus with Alex in NYC as father...this kid probably won't limit him- or herself to just saying "Death to False Metal!!!11!" Best wishes for you, Peg, and the anticipated one.

My vote for prospective godfather:

http://www.palacakropolis.cz/scripts/get_image.php?image_id=99144

Well done Alex.

Congratulations to you both, Alex! Hurrah!

That's great news! Congrats to both of you! :)

that photo looks like henry winkler.

congrats, again, alex in NYC.

The christening ceremony will be interesting.

"There is no holy water for this child but THERE IS HOLY FIRE!"

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/images/22/rok_dabla.jpg

I vote the late great Wendy O. as godmother!! If it's a girl, she'll be the Lil' Metal Priestess!! Rock!! (Congrats -- this is awesome.)

this will be one lucky tyke, congratulations Alex.

Alex many props,
good feelings, happiness.
Get your sleep on NOW.

Congrats, sir. I'd give you a heads-up of what you're in for, but it's probably be better that it's kept a surprise.

Just be sure that your sense of humor remains intact and everything will be fine. Oh yeah, Haikunym is OTM.

Congratulations.

Very scary news today, and I'm rather upset and don't really know what else to do. We're into our 8th month of pregnancy now (the baby is due around mid-April). In the last couple of days, she'd been complaining about rather irritating itching all over. We'd heard that it was a fairly common occurence for pregnant women to experience itching, along with all the other hormonal anomalies....and that it was fairly routine. Trouble is, this was itching all over, not just around the stomach. So, after some prodding (largely by my mother), we went back to the doctor, who promptly took a blood test (this was yesterday). The fear was that it would be a condition called cholestasis, which is a disorder in which the liver can't seem to meet the number of demands its being hormonally subjected to (or something). In any event, it turns out that one of my wife's sisters had this same problem, and that it could conceivably be a genetic thing.

As it turns out, we got a call back today, and early signs signify that is probably is cholestasis. The upshot is that it can seriously endanger the life of the baby. We're going in to see the doctor again tomorrow morning so they can more thoroughly scope out the situation, but suffice it to say, this is not good news and my wife is barely consolable.

Anyone out there have any experience with this disorder? The sister of my wife that had it pulled through fine, and they now have a beautiful baby girl approaching her first birthday, so I have high hopes that everything's going to be alright, but it's just not something we were counting on.

Any info would be appreciated.

: (((

best wishes

I know nothing about it, but obviously hope it all turns out okay.

Alex, I am not familiar with this disorder at all but the doctors can keep a close eye on anything and confirm that everything is still going as planned. It is so late in the pregnancy that I do not think you should be so worried. If the doctors start feeling fears about it, they can and will order an emergency c-section and while that won't exactly be fun for your wife it is a very common procedure that has been very well mastered in this day and age and both your wife and your baby will be okay. You just have to get everything tested out properly now at the doctors' and they will have to monitor the baby even closer than before but, trust me, within the next month you will have a perfectly fine baby, much like your sister-in-law did.

*hugs*

I know nothing about it either, but I hope things turn out well. That your wife's sister had this condition as well and everything turned out okay in the end is a good sign.

http://www.itchymoms.com a site about Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP)got real life stories from women suffering with ICP

there is also http://www.liverfoundation.org

ugh. hope everything turns out okay, Alex.

wow....thanks to all. Sebastien, thank you so much for the link!!!!!

Here is another one:

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/552042.html

If I read the word "stillborn" one more time, I'm going to seriously have a nervous breakdown.

This sounds terrifying... hope everything's okay Alex.

But it seems uncommon, Alex--mainly in women who were undiagnosed and the pregnancies were allowed to go on unaltered/treated to the full 40 weeks.

Most of these websites mention that the highest groups to have incidences of this are Swedes, Chileans, and women of all nationalities who are pregnant with twins, so I've emailed my mom. She had to have c-sections with all pregnancies and I really do not know why so I'm going to find out what she knows about various disorders.

(hugs) Alex, that's rough:< I'd say to have a serious talk with the wife's sis ASAP; you have a wealth of possible remedies at your fingertips/doorstep.

After looking this condition up, I found these resources. Have you tried any of these?:

American Liver Foundation

75 Maiden Lane

Suite 603

New York, NY 10038

USA

Tel: 2126681000

Fax: 2124838179

Tel: 8004654837

Email: info@liverfoundation.org

Internet: http://www.liverfoundation.org

NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Building 31 Rm 9A04

31 Center Dr

Bethesda, MD 20892-2560

Tel: (301)496-3583

Fax: (301)496-7422

Children's Liver Association for Support Services

27033 McBean Parkway

Suite 126

Valencia, CA 91355

Tel: (661)255-0353

Fax: (805)255-0353

Tel: (877)679-8256

Email: SupportSrv@aol.com

Internet: http://www.classkids.org

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you......

:( Best wishes and sincerest sympathies, Alex.

Alex, allow me to offer my own well-wishes that everything turns out well. I am amazed that I was able to resist remarking on the whole ICP thing.

Yeah--listen if there is anything I can do, you know where to find me ok? The important thing is not to get overwhelmed right now (easier said than done v. obviously), you've got a doctor's appointment in the morning and you'll find out more tomorrow.

Fingers crossed.

oh my God alex, i am praying for you and mrs in nyc right now. I'm glad that others can say and provide useful things for you, as I feel so inadequate when bad things happen. I hope it all turns out OK, and try to keep us all posted as to what's happening.

Try to stay calm until you know more. It always seems the worst when you don't know anything... Easy to give advice from 1000 miles away, I know.. but don't get worked up about it ...

We're all thinking about you, though.

Yeep, scary indeed and a half. Many good thoughts for you both, sir -- and baby as well. Take all the good advice upthread to heart.

(by bad things happening, i mean the uncertainty and doubt obviously. i know nothing about this other than what has been linked to above, and i now see plenty of positive things to focus on. i really should engage my brain before posting)

Plus, keep in mind that a lot of the medical information you come across describes the worst case scenarios...

[Got the list from WebMD: www.webmd.com. Has a wealth of info on the condition, though:

1) You have to do a free registration first;
2) Some of the articles need a medical dictionary to be understood (though they swear they don't!)]

However, all the messages I've read on Web MD's message boards on it say to hie thee to the doc ASAP (which you've already wisely done). Also that it IS poss to pull through fine, though inducing the pregnancy is also an option. The fact I was able to find relative info here means that tis more likely you'll get honest answers.

allyzay otm, esp in her first post; I can't do anything but add my heartfelt good wishes and feelings. You're a champ and you'll make it through this complication fine.

(Swear I'm not out to scare you in any way. The fact that you have each other means that your little one has the best support/ start possible.)

Hoping for the best, Alex. Take care.

Same here. Wish you luck, Alex.

Oh Alex. Ed and I send crossed fingers and virtual cakes.

I'm kind of at a loss for words. Alex, I hope everything works out not for the better, but for the BEST.

[[hugs Alex and wife]]

keep us updated; you're in my thoughts as always

Best wishes Alex.

Hoping for the best Alex.

Having had a sister of an ex-roommate go through a rather unpleasant pregnancy herself, I wish you and especially your wife the best. This may sound strange to say, but it could be worse. Think good thoughts about your wife's sister's experience. :)

Alex I send you and your wife and your child so much love it hurts. Good luck, man.

My best wishes for you and your family, Alex.