The Sixth Week

I'm a day early on this, but I know I won't be in any condition to post tomorrow, so here we go. ;)

So, the 6th week, otherwise known as 5 weeks 0 days through 5 weeks 6 days. Frankly, the system of counting really confuses me. It's kinda like the 1900's vs. the 20th century. ;) All in all, confusing, and totally unfair to a fatigued, newly pregnant chick. :D

I borrowed this little weekly survey from another bumpie (The Heir to Blair ), as have many other ladies. It is a pretty neat little thing to look back on how the weeks change, so I've decided to do it too.

How far along? end of 5th week, start of 6th week (5w0d)
Total weight gain/loss: +2 lbs, mainly due to bloat and constipation (sorry;)
Maternity clothes? Not yet, but if this bloat doesn't get under control I'll need to get some new pants.
Stretch Marks?: Unfortunately yes, but not because of baby, but because I've been far too fluffy for far too long. :(
Sleep: Yes, although I'm getting up to pee a couple times a night regularly, whether I drink extra at bedtime or not.
Best moment this week: #1: Getting the beta results back #2: Telling my dad we're pregnant. :D
Movement: Nope.
Food Cravings: Soup, mashed potatoes, and Mcdonald's milkshake (that didn't turn out so well)
Gender: no idea. I have no gut feelings either way, neither does Ben. ;)
Labor Signs: God, no. :D
Belly Button in or out? Very much in. :D
What I miss: Being regular, unnauseated, and not quite as tired.
What I am looking forward to: the next eight months or so. :D
Weekly Wisdom: Start a stool softener as soon as you get that positive test, don't let your system get backed up or you will really regret it.
Milestones: Out of the first month already!

So, that's this past week in a nutshell. Sorry about all the constipation talk, but, well, it has been a problem ranking right up there with the nausea. It's for a good reason, though, so I guess I'll just have to grin (or swear) and bear it. :D

My Constant Companions...

Nausea, bloating, constipation, fatigue, and heartburn. Ah, my good friends, please make yourselves at home in my body. While I'm not enjoying your company, I am happy to have you because you remind me there is a little one growing inside me. Every wave of nausea is like a nudge from the little babe in there saying "Hey Ma, don't forget me!" I hope I'm still appreciating the communication when I'm hanging over a toilet/sink/trashcan upchucking my last meal. ;)

Oh, little one? Mama would be so thankful if you would lay off the nausea during church tomorrow and all of September. I'm going to be reading scripture in church, and I really don't want to vomit all over the Holy Bible or the podium. Or Pastor Sherri, or any other member of the congregation, or myself for that matter. Thank you sweetie! ::kisses:

Beta numbers are great! Driving...not so much.

So, my first Beta was 148 on Monday (8/24) at 1244. My second today was 308 at 0745. Woot!!! My progesterone level on Monday was 82.50, and we're still waiting on the level from today to come back.
My RE is pleased, and the nurse said that all this nausea and bloating/distension I've been having is perfectly normal, and a good sign! We now have a u/s scheduled for 9/9 at 1415, and I am so excited!!

On a side not, either fatigue is getting the best of me, or I'm getting pregnant brain early because I've lost my mind today. I couldn't remember a darn thing, am distracted easily, and almost possibly ran over a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Awful, right?

In my defense, not that there's much of one, I had just finished a 10 hr day and was headed to the grocery store while trying to stay awake long enough to get home. I had stopped for pedestrians crossing from my right side in front of me and started to go after they were clear. Then I hear someone shout "ASSHOLE" practically in my left ear, I jump, slam on my brakes, and see an irate woman making gestures at me in my rear view mirror. I hollered "Sorry" at her through my window, which made feel like more of a jerk, and drove on. I like to think I would have seen her if she was in front of my car, but I thank God that she wasn't. The whole thing was traumatic enough as it is. Especially on top of yesterday when I was pulling out into an intersection with a green light as a semi (that I didn't see) ran a red turning light to make a left turn.

I need to pay more attention when I'm driving, apparently. The crazy part is that I have always been a careful, cautious, and good driver. And now all the sudden I'm losing my mind. ::sigh:: I may have to turn off the radio so I don't sing along anymore. ;)

Oh well, at least I haven't puked yet. ;) Although fresh urine from a teenager almost did me in this am. Darn school physicals, anyways. :D ::dry heaves at memory::

So I'm really starting to believe this...

Yesterday I was still giving the positive test the side eye, even this one taken at about 1300 or 1400. Even after I almost had to leave church because of nausea. But, oh boy, are those lines reallllly nice to see! :D



Well, I couldn't resist, so I tried peeing on the OPK, and sure enough, it came up positive. Knowing this was still 14dptrigger, I was trying not to get too excited. Ben was expressing his excitement his usual way, with a hug, a "That would be nice" (if we're pg), and returning to his XBox360. I know that doesn't sound emotional to you, but that is actually somewhat excited for him. I don't think he'll really believe it until we see a picture or something. If these are true positives. ;)



So. Here are the pee sticks from this morning. Again, one expired in 6/09 (tells you how long they've been hanging around my house!), but they both say those magical words, "Pregnant." I am starting to get excited, and praising God joyfully. If this is really true, we have been blessed with another miracle, and I am so very thankful. (now I'm crying as I type this)



So, the plan. First, get ready for work and eat something before I puke. ;) Second, try to find some tactful and sensitive way to share the news with my co-worker if she asks. (she has struggled with IF for years (MFI) and is waiting for adoption) Thirdly, call my RE's office as soon as they open and ask them to send me a req for a blood draw which I will do over lunch. And finally, report back to GP! :D

Oh, and our parents, too. ;)

SHH! Don't tell anyone. ;)

Before you read this post, I need you, dear reader ;), to promise not to blab the potential news that is forthcoming. Most especially to the bump in general, and for you few who know me irl, please don't say anything to my family.















Okay, do I have your promise?





























Are you sure? You won't say a word? Be honest with yourself, can you keep a secret? ;)
































Okay then, here it is:





Taken at 0600 8/23. A caveat to all of this before the picture sets in and you get all happy for us:

1. While I am 14dptrigger, or at least I will be at 0930 today, this could still be a false positive.
2. After peeing, I realized that this test expired 7/31/09, so even though the control line popped up, this could still be false.
3. I had some brown mucousy spotting last night, with a teeny, tiny bit of bright red in it. That, along with some AF-style cramps makes me think this is false. AF is due anytime now, as this is DPO13 and my LP hasn't been longer than 14 days.
4. I'm trying really hard not to be more than cautiously excited, which is why I asked anyone who reads this to keep it under wraps, for now anyways.

All that said, I am planning on POASing on the other expired test tonight, and then using a good one Monday am. If that is positive, then I will be calling my RE's office a day early to have them order me a blood test (for Beta and Progesterone levels). If you're of the praying persuasion, we would deeply appreciate any prayers you could send up for us.

I've accepted that my early POASing could lead to an eventual BFN and some heartbreak. And as sad as I'll be if this cycle is a bust, well, I did just ovulate for the first time in months and that is a step in the right direction.

And, as always, I have faith in God's plan for us. I prayed so hard last night after I saw that spotting, I prayed through my tears and told God how sad this made me. But I also told him that I knew his timing was perfect, and to please help me have the patience to wait for Him. I'm still praying for that.

I'll update again when I have more news. Thank you all in advance for keeping this all under wraps until I'm ready. God Bless you!

8dpo/iui, and 9dptrigger = Begin the anxiety and phantom symptoms

This past week since the IUI has been...interesting, to say the least. I've been having some crazy phantom symptoms, and some other things that I don't really understand where they're coming from.
For example, I have had such a tender lower abdomen ever since the IUI, complete with bloating, occasional cramps, and sensitivity to pressure. I have had super sore nipples and very heavy feeling breasts. Yesterday I was so tired at 1500 that I felt like I could fall asleep at work! I was in with a patient and blinked and then had a hard time getting my eyelids back up! Today I finally have my mid-week day off back (I know, what am I complaining about, I get weekends off don't I? :), and not only am I sleepy, but, boy, am I irritable.
To add to all this, I've started thinking about going against my own no-POASing until after the blood work on 15dpo/iui (16dptrigger), provided AF doesn't visit by then. You see, I made the mistake of checking out FF's chart gallery, and I saw several charts where the woman got a negative around 10dptrigger when the HCG was supposed to still be in her system. Which got me thinking, well, I could poas Monday am before work. But I have this fear of a false positive from the HCG trigger shot, at least until that naughty little voice inside me says, but it could be right... Gahhh!!!
I know. I need to take a deep breath and relax. ::sigh:: Maybe I'll do some yoga. Or clean. Or pay bills. Or take a nap. ;)
Before all that, I will pray for peace and patience and trust in God's plan for me. After all, I have no control over what may or may not be going on in my uterus, so why get all worked up over it? I can't see where this path is leading, so I shall walk by faith in the one who knows where I'm going.
Now I just have to remember to do this for the next seven days. ;)

Tomorrow is the Biggest of the Big Days (so far)

Tomorrow at noon is our IUI. And I cannot believe it is here already! The 18 days of this cycle have simply flown by, and tomorrow is almost here. Wow.

So, what has brought us to this point? Well, I finally got my period 7/23, and I started my 100mg of Clomid on CD5 (7/27) and took that for 5 days. I went in for the first monitering appt Monday 8/3, and the RE found four follicles (two on each side) measuring an average of 12 mm. I went back for the next monitering appt on Thurs 8/6, and the 4 follicles were an average of 15 mm. In addition, my uterus lining was at a 9. All very good things (according to the RE) So, today I got my trigger shot (HCG) at 0930, courtesy of my neighbor who has experience with IM fertility shots. At 1600 I got my first positive OPK, thanks to the HCG shot that mimics LH in my body. I knew it should be a +, but I was worried (for no good reason) that maybe it just wouldn't work. I was wrong. WooHoo!!

So, tomorrow we're headed up to the RE's office with Ben's sample, then we get to diddle around for about 2.5 hrs until we go back for the procedure. Then I bring him home and head to work. Thank God I won't be seeing patients, I don't know if I could handle the stress of that tomorrow.

I'm trying not to think of too much right now, and when I get going I have to stop to pray for peace and patience. So much of life is so very humbling, in the sense that I have no control over much of this process, and no say in the eventual outcome. I simply have to put my faith and trust in God and wait upon His perfect timing. And chew my fingernails off. And pray some more. And spend some mind-numbing time surfing the internet. ;)

So, the festivities start with the sun tomorrow. I'm hoping and praying it is the start of the next wonderful phase of my life. In the meantime, I'm appreciating what I already have, the miracles we've been blessed with, and the fact that my husband is making dinner tonight. ;)