Page 55 of Lips On My World

“Oh, I can,” he says with an all-knowing smile. “Would you like to know?”

Sigh.“It’s not right without Maceo.”

But I’m dying to find out. I could plan the nursery and have everything in place before Maceo came home. Not to mention, registering for the babies’ registry will go so much smoother knowing the sexes.

“Tell you what,” Doctor Stoll says as he grabs a piece of paper and an envelope from a drawer. “I’m going to write the twins’ sexes, and you can open it together when he gets home from his mission. Or you can do one of those gender-reveal parties that are so popular.”

“Those seem fun, Jo,” Jared says with an eager smile. “Perhaps your mom and Simone would throw you a reveal party along with a shower? Hell, if they don’t, I’ll throw it.”

The doctor hands me the sealed envelope. I immediately pass it to Jared. The temptation is too great for me not to peek. “Put this somewhere I can’t get to until Maceo is back.”

Jared chuckles as he pockets the envelope.

“We should discuss when you’re available to come in for an oral glucose tolerance test.”

“Uh, what now?”

“Glucose tolerance. It's a test typically done at twenty-four to twenty-eight weeks. Because you’re carrying bigger twins and high risk, we’ll want to have you tested by fourteen weeks gestation.”

Great. More tests and appointments.“And what does the test entail?”

Doctor Stoll goes through the test procedure. He finishes by saying, “If your numbers don’t fall under a certain parameter, you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Based on your glucose levels, you may get by with diet, but in some circumstances, you’ll need to go on insulin.”

I’m already nauseous thinking about this test. I’ll puke if I drink a sugary beverage. I know it.

“I can’t tolerate sugar. Been avoiding it as much as possible.”

“All the more reason we need to get you in for this, and soon.” Doctor Stoll pulls up his calendar on his computer. “Let's set you up for early next week and get it out of the way. Okay?”

With a grimace, I say, “Sure.”

Pregnancy can be sucky.

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