Okay, I could use some Bitch advice:

Tomorrow, I'll be 18 weeks pregnant and I'm going to the ultrasound that will tell us the Minian's gender (if he/she cooperates. BTW, i've been told to drink a can of Dr. Pepper prior as the sugar/caffeine will make the baby more active. Anyone heard of this?)

My FIL is the kind of person who will be thrilled if it's a boy and disappointed if it's a girl. I have told Joe I'll tell his family, since he's not here, but I am not ready to hear anything less than complete enthusiasm about my baby. I'm thinking I may just send FIL an e-mail either way, but I'm worried that is somehow not very personal. Any ideas/suggestions?

You can try framing the conversation.

"I know you'll be as thrilled as we are to know we're expecting your granddaughter!"

Or is he boorish enough to ignore that set of cues?

Nonian, the Dr Pepper thing makes sense. I have never heard it specificially recommended, but once you start feeling the baby move regularly, if s/he seems too quiet for too long, one of the things you're supposed to do is have some cookies and juice, and lie down, and see if that doesn't get him/her going.

I have no in-law advice. I can't imagine caring about a baby's sex.

Is the situation too touchy with him to preface the news with a kind of jokey-stern "Now, no grumbling either way but it's a (Insert Minion gender here)"?

Pre-emptive medical-ma for Hubby on Thursday. I get to go in with him while he has a test on his spine, something myo-something or other. His ongoing pain is either one or all of three potential bad discs--or he's allergic to the stainless steel in the clamp they put in before.

I'm hoping it's the metal, because taking that out is easy, just not cost-effective.

The test is apparently one of the bad ones, where everyone is apologizing ahead of time for what they're about to put you through. And I can't hurt the people who are about to hurt my husband. Do you think our esteemed future Attorney General needs some back testing done?

(if he/she cooperates. BTW, i've been told to drink a can of Dr. Pepper prior as the sugar/caffeine will make the baby more active. Anyone heard of this?)

Trust me when I say that even an active baby can be MOST uncooperative. (Which is why my scan Wed. will be #5 instead of #4.)

OJ works pretty well, too. It takes about a half an hour before the sugars make the baby go hyper, but I've found it's pretty reliable if I'm feeling like I need to be kicked.

Much medi~ma to connie's DH, and much strong~ma to you, connie!

Pre-emptive~ma for the hubby, connie. And {{{connie}}} for strength at not kicking the hurty people in the balls or other painful parts of their anatomy.

I'm hoping I'm utterly misunderstanding what the test does. Because I don't think they're going to try to make the discs fail. Not with me in the same building as the ones responsible, at any rate.

Much ~ma to Connie and Connie's DH.

Nonian, I think the "I'm sure you're as delighted as we are..." approach to the gender is the best way to go as is email. Also, is there a MIL attached to the FIL who can be approached to give a pre-emptive clue-sticking should such a thing be needed?