Belly Shot Chronicles - 26 Weeks / What's Up, Doc???

26 weeks brings about a bigger bulge. No surprises there. That of course will tend to happen as the weeks go by, especially approaching and moving through the third trimester. The clothed picture this week is with me in my pajamas...so, not the most flattering of outfits. Flattering isn't really something that happens often right now, though, so...eh, what does it really matter?

Moving on, I had my appointment with the orthopedic doctor last night. To really make the experience more enjoyable overall, there was a "scheduling glitch" that caused the doctor to be running well behind schedule. 45 minutes behind schedule, to be exact. She assured me that this was not the norm for her practice. Uh-huh...it was a doctor's office...of course it was the norm! Now, something that WAS out of the norm were the sounds coming from the next examining room. The walls were paper thin, and it was easy to recognize my "neighbor" emitting a blood-curdling vomit cacophony from her innards...right in the middle of her appointment. It was also obvious that this doctor was not fond of that particular type of clamor, as she could be heard running from the room! What a treat for me to be able to "take it all in" prior to my own appointment.

Even better was the fact that the doctor said that there is NOTHING...SHE...CAN...DO...FOR...ME!!! Wonderful! She did attempt an examination, but she stopped short of a full exam given that she felt she was torturing me. Well, yes, it did hurt. But, then again, everything hurts me right now! Oh well. I pretty much knew going in that this is what I would be told. I have to live with the pain until after I deliver, and hopefully...HOPEFULLY...it will then go away on its own. One bright note: the doctor is willing to sign off on the paperwork necessary for me to receive a temporary handicap placard for my car. That will make one minute aspect of my pregnant and painful life a wee bit more tolerable. I guess. So, off to the police department I go to pick up the forms. Yay, me!

What the F*#K???

Now, anyone who knows me ALSO knows very well that I am not "normal". I never do anything the easy way, or the right way, or the way that would be good. Nah. What would be the fun in that? I like to be different. Go against the grain. In other words, I enjoy torture. A masochist of sorts...perhaps.

Well, pregnancy is not going to be any different in terms of "normalcy" for me. Hell, I certainly took the long and hard road to getting pregnant...why would I want pregnancy to go any more smoothly? Nope...doesn't seem like fun at all!

So, I have "decided" to throw myself into that "less than 2% of all pregnant women" category of, SUFFERS FROM SYMPHYSIS PUBIS DYSFUNCTION. Here is some information on the topic, taken from various online resources:

Your symphysis pubis are the two bones that connect to form your pelvis. Shaped like a heart, your pelvis is formed by three separate bones that are held together by very tough ligaments. Traditionally, these bones are not designed to allow movement to occur. When you are pregnant however, a hormone called relaxin is produced which allows the pelvis to move slightly during birth. The reason this occurs is because the hormone actually works to loosen the ligaments holding the bones together.

When the ligaments loosen too much, a condition called symphysis pubis dysfunction can occur. When this happens, the pelvis joints become unstable and move around. The growing child makes matters worse because of the intense weight bearing down on these bones, and can actually cause the joint to separate. Mild to severe pain in the pubic area are characteristics of this disorder.

The symptoms of SPD vary from person to person, but almost all women who have it experience substantial pubic pain. Tenderness and pain down low in the front is common, but often this pain feels as if it's inside. The pubic area is generally very tender to the touch; many moms find it painful when the doctor or midwife pushes down on the pubic bone while measuring the uterus (fundal height).

Any activity that involves lifting one leg at a time or parting the legs tends to be particularly painful. Lifting the leg to put on clothes, getting out of a car, bending over, sitting down or getting up, walking up stairs, standing on one leg, lifting heavy objects, and walking in general tend to be difficult at times. Many women report that moving or turning over in bed is especially excruciating. One woman wrote, "There were days that I didn't think I was going to be able to get out of bed and actually had to roll out of bed and onto the floor to be able to do so!"

Many movements become difficult when the pubic symphysis area is affected. Although the greatest pain is associated with movements of lifting one leg or parting the legs, some women experience a 'freezing', where they get up out of bed and find it hard to get their bodies moving right away--the hip bone seems stuck in place and won't move at first. Or they describe having to wait for it to 'pop into place' before being able to walk. The range of hip movement is usually affected, and abduction of the hips especially painful.

I can say that I have experienced all of the excruciating pains described above, and it is very hard to live with day in and day out. I cannot believe that I actually have to "live" with this condition for the next 3+ months, and that it will only get WORSE throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Ouch. That is what it boils down to, and that is all I can really say. Ouch.

My OB's office is referring me to an Orthopoedic doctor to be fully checked out. The hope is that there is SOMETHING that can be done to help with the pain as I move forward. Who knows. She may or may not be able to provide an action plan. I will find out on Tuesday night when I go for my visit with her.

I know that the outcome of all of my suffering WILL be more than worth it in the end...I just have to make it to that end, hopefully with some amount of sanity, and even perhaps a smidgen of dignity, left in tact. Hopefully...

Belly Shot Chronicles - 25 Weeks

Matt seems to think that my belly has gotten bigger just over the past two days...he certainly could be on to something with that thought! Included this week are a bare belly and a clothed belly shot for you to be able to judge for yourself.

On a side note, Finnley got to attend her second MLB game last night...Phillies v. Dodgers. It was a great game. I believe it was during the 7th inning stretch while singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" that Matt and I were rubbing my belly...and Finnley kicked. Matt actually got to feel SOMETHING for once! It will only get easier as time goes on now, but I thought that was pretty cool. It made us both smile. She impresses us pretty easily already!

iPod Experiment

I finally remembered to give the iPod experiment a try. I know that plenty of people have heard that it can be good or stimulating for the baby to hear music while in utero. I also know that it can't hurt anything, so I figured I would check it out. I have done this two times now, and Finnley seems to LOVE it! (or hate it...hard to really be sure!) Every time the iPod headphones are on my belly she starts dancing around. So far her "favorites" seem to be "Nightswimming" by R.E.M. and "Heaven" by Live. What can I say...she has impeccable taste, just like her mommy! ; )

This morning while I was having her listen I kept my shirt pulled up, and you could definitely see the belly bouncing from time to time. Very surreal, and very cool! I think I will like this!

24 to 25 Week OB Appointment

Today was another routine OB appointment for me. It was all the standard stuff, and everything was great...per the usual. I will take that! My urine sample was normal. I gained 3 pounds this month, so I came in under the "alloted" amount. Yay, me! My uterus is measuring exactly as it should. And, the heartbeat was good and strong.

Actually, when the OB put the doppler on my belly to tune into it...Finnley kicked the doppler. Apparently she was very aware of the pressure on my uterus, and she wanted us to know that. The doc just laughed and said, "hey...all we are trying to do is get a good listen here!". It was cute.

On another note, I am suffering from some aches and pains that go along with pregnancy. I am carrying low, and Finnley has me "stretched out" as the OB put it. Both things are creating extra pressure down on my pubic bones, and it causes pain which mimics a groin pull. The majority of the pain is on the right side, although there is some on the left, too. I have issues lifting my right leg to get pants, lifting it to get it up on the couch or to cross my legs, moving it to roll over in bed at night or to get out of bed in general....lots of little issues. It is also painful when I walk, but it doesn't keep me immobile. I am still going to my yoga class once a week, and I plan to still keep up my walking and light weight lifting at the gym. The doc was fully supportive of that. I am doing no harm to my body...it just hurts. To help alleviate some of the pressure, my OB recommended that I purchase a "maternity belt" to help support my lower back and to pull my uterus "up". We will see how that works out. Luckily for me, this unfortunate side effect of my pregnancy will only be "cured" with delivery. This should be a fun third trimester coming up!

On the physical side effect note, I also pulled my intercostal muscles (muscles / cartilage between the ribs). This is a result of being pregnant AND having had a nasty upper respiratory infection that included a cough that has lasted over 3 weeks. Now that the cough is starting to show signs of exiting, I am hoping my ribs get better, too. It is only the far upper ones on my right side that hurt...but they do hurt. Oh well. I am sure that my laundry list of physical complaints will only continue to grow as Finnley and my belly do. A small tradeoff for the end result that comes in August, to be sure!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 24 Weeks!

That's right...24 weeks! We hit the 6 month marker. Wow! As Matt said this morning, "this is going fast". The second trimester sure feels that way!

The "butterball" has grown yet again. I guess that is the point, right? The funny thing is that I still have this flat area on my stomach surrounding my belly button. The belly button has decided to NOT release itself from being an "innie", which has also stretched taut the skin around it. So, flat spot it is.

I have my next routine OB appointment this coming Monday. The usual stuff will happen there: weight, uterine measurement, BP, urine analysis (for protein and sugar), etc.

Outside of that, Finnely will be "attending" her first MLB game this Thursday night. Matt was offered up tickets to see the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays play at the new Yankee Stadium. I don't care how much you hate the Yankees...how can you say no to seeing the new digs??? Well, obviously we couldn't! I am sure Finnley will have a grand time!

2009 Virginia Gold Cup

Matt and I just attended the 2009 Virginia Gold Cup held at Great Meadows in The Plains, VA. Matt brought Subarua of America and Dulles Subaru sponsorship to the event. They had display and chase cars placed all over the grounds, and it allowed the opportunity for the vehicles to receive tons of welcomed exposure. They had a lot of activity around the new 2010 Subaru Outback and Legacy models...which won't even be on sale until August of this year.

The Subaru VIP tent was fantastic. The food included: sushi, beef carving station, pasta station, crab cakes, salad, a liquor bar, and dessert table. Oh my! It was all very good.

There were probably about 40,000 people in attendance. There were 6 horse races, and we got to view the Subaru sponsored race from the race tower...clear view of the whole course. It was a lot of fun. Of course, we placed bets the entire time...and I actually won one race that brought $40 my way! Woo hoo! Bring on the money!

We have always loved this event, and we were happy to be a part of it again this year. It was also nice to see our old town, neighborhood, neighbors and friends, and stomping grounds. Dinner at Claire's was a treat! No one beats her she-crab soup! Yum!

Back home late last night, and we picked up Batman this morning. Going to enjoy the rest of our weekend and move into yet another week!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 23 Weeks

The ever-beloved weekly Wednesday belly shot post! 23 weeks and cranking along. Not a whole lot to report, once again...which is a great thing. The belly grows along with Finn, and I am still keeping the weight gain "in check"...no more than the one pound per week on average. I am happy about all of that! This week includes an actual "clothed" photo, as I had an early morning appointment so I actually had real clothes on today. I apologize for the crappy photos, but we haven't had sun on a Wedensday for weeks! Doing flash photograpy into a mirror is always complicated.

Still working on getting over my viscious upper respiratory infection. The cough still lingers and shows no immediate signs of releasing me from its grasp. In time, I am sure it eventually will.

Next OB appointment is scheduled for one week from Monday...so a week and a half to go.

The Nursery...progress

It is by no means done, but we have made some great progress on the nursery. I have completed a couple of "art projects" that I was working on...and they are now being proudly displayed on Finnley's walls. We did pick up the dresser / changing table combo unit this morning, and it will make it up to the nursery at some point this weekend. The desk needs to move down to the basement, too. So, little by little it is looking like a room meant for a baby.

I did attach one picture of the nursery to this post, but the link to see the rest of the pictures is here: NURSERY

Enjoy!

I am now going back to enjoying this beautiful SUMMER day here in Philly!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 22 Weeks!

Well, here we are at Wednesday again. 22 weeks! That is such an amazing feeling to be hitting each milestone and watching this pregnancy progress. We still enjoy watching the bump grow.

This week has brought a "bug" with it, and I am not the least bit happy nor amused by this occurence. There is only one thing worse than being miserably sick and THAT is being miserably sick while pregnant!!!

I hate that I can't take much of anything to get relief. I haven't hardly slept the past three nights, and that makes life even worse. I hate hate hate the nightime right now! I seem to have picked up whatever nasty virus has been ciruclating the country...sinus / cough / feelings of having been run over by a truck...something like that. I am headed to the doc this afternoon just to make sure it IS viral and not bacterial. Hopefully they will have some other recommendations on what is safe and good for me to try. I am dying over here right now!

Finnley's nursery is starting to come together. We have her crib set up! I also have taken everything off of the walls and patched / painted them. I have a few decorative details that I have put up. We pick up the dresser this weekend, so the rest of the office will be moved...and the nursery will continue to become, well...an actual nursery.

That is the scoop for now. Going to go back to the couch before I keel over....

Belly Shot Chronicles - 21 Weeks!

Not much to add since I just updated the blog the last two days, but here is the latest and greatest belly shot! The Finnley bump continues to grow!

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

It is "official"...as much as an u/s can be official...we are having a little girl! Finnley Piper will be joining our family in August, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Thanks to everyone who voted in the poll. Most of you turned out to be right! Lots of pink in store for this household!

While we were at the appointment, we told the ultrasound tech that we didn't want to find out the sex of the baby DURING the ultrasound. We filled out a notecard with a blank spot...and had her fill in the sex for us. We waited until we were in the waiting room with my parents to open it. We thought it would be neat to share the surprise with them and enjoy the moment with someone other than the u/s tech. What a great idea!

The first two u/s pics show a profile of Finnley with her mouth open. The second two pics show a profile of her with her mouth closed. The tech mentioned what a "photogenic" baby she was...and how cooperate she was during the whole u/s. We are proud parents already!

Enjoy!

HALFWAY HOME: Belly Shot Chronicles - 20 Weeks!

20 weeks. Unbelieveable! We did it...we hit the halfway point in the pregnancy! Way to go, mini!!!

I am actually feeling much better these days, in regards to the nausea, that is. I have, unfortunately, encountered other issues from the "attractive pregnancy problems" top ten list. Do not keep reading if you do not like TMI...latest problem: prolapsed bleeding hemorrhoid. Yikes!!! Not many other words could make a woman feel less attractive. No worries, though, I am seeking medical attention (not for the humiliation, but for the hemorrhoid, of course). The OB's office is now referring me to a "specialist". In order to see the "specialist", though, I need a referral from my primary care physician. This means that 2 people now get to "get a good look at me" instead of just 1. Lucky me! My "issue" has kept me from going to the gym for the past week, and that makes me sad. I miss my walks and exercises. Hopefully I will be back at it soon!

I can feel my uterus moving up in my belly. The top of it has now hit my belly button area. My belly has not grown much in the last week, but I am still putting on the pounds. 4 pounds in 3 weeks, to be exact. One pound over the "average" for this month thus far. So, I am just considering myself "above average" for the time being. ;)

One woman who works at Destination Maternity (who apparently recognizes me from frequent past visits) stopped to chat me up yesterday at the store. She asked how I was doing, and then exclaimed..."YOU HAVEN'T EVEN POPPED YET! HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU?". Well, gosh...thanks?...I am 5 months. "OH, WELL YOU DON'T LOOK IT!". Ummm...ok?

We also recently had dinner with our backyard neighbors, and one of their mothers was dining with us. Apparently after Matt and I left she told her son and daughter in law..."HOW NICE THAT THEY ARE ADOPTING!". They clarified saying, nooo....Matt and Megan aren't adopting, they are having a baby! She said, "NO! SHE WASN'T PREGNANT! SHE DIDN'T LOOK PREGNANT AT ALL". Ummm...once again...ok?

And then, last weekend when Matt and I were at an open house, the realtor stopped to ask me how far along I was...without any prompting.

So, what does all of this mean? I guess sometimes I look pregnant to some people and other times I still don't. Oh well! I know that I am! Guess that is all that matters!

5 days left until the anatomy scan...can you say freakin' eternity???

Belly Shot Chronicles - 19 weeks

One week shy of the halfway point...can you believe it??? The first half of the pregnancy seems to be moving slowly, but I am told that the second half flies by. I guess I will need to appreciate every second of it before it is all said and done!

This week's photos includes an acutal "head shot" because my dear friend Canella was perturbed (or amused) by the fact that I was headless in every belly shot photo to date. The reason for that is the fact that all of these photos are self photos done using a mirror, and they are taken first thing in the morning (in PJs, no makeup, slept on hair). But, because I am such a great friend, I made sure to include my head in one photo this week. Still not an easy task, given I was still in my PJs...it was still first thing in the morning...and I was still taking the photo myself (albeit with the timer on the camera and not the mirror). So, long story long...

I am feeling pretty well overall. The nausea crept back in waves this past week, but it is manageable. Yesterday was better, but then the gas pains and heartburn were bad. I just it is all a game of tradeoffs at this point. I will take the gas and heartburn over the nausea, just in case anyone was wondering.

Last month I put on a total of three pounds. So far in the two weeks since my last doctor's appointment, I have put on a total of three pounds. Eating habits and exercise habits remain the same...so, the weight gain comes in spurts as it pleases, I guess. I just hope I don't put on another three pounds in the next two weeks. Yikes! That would be bad!

Still counting down the days until the big u/s appointment on April 13th. We DO finally have the names picked out...so, once we know the sex...we will be announcing it all! How exciting!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 18 weeks

I have really popped out the last two weeks. Probably not a huge difference from last week alone, but definitely a big change overall since 16 weeks. The good news is that all of the weight is still in the belly...where it should be! The gym and my Wii Fit are helping with that. I also signed up for a prenatal yoga class. It will start on April 27th and run through June 15th. It is only on Monday nights, but it will be a fun little addition to my routine. Outside of that, I have us scheduled for our hospital tour (which I will be attending alone...scheduling conflicts saw to that one), our labor basics class, and a breastfeeding class. I think all of them take place in June, but you have to sign up early if you want a spot. Crazy pregnant ladies!!! Still counting down the days until our anatomy scan on April 13th. Time is going very slowly...but it will all certainly be worth the wait.

Oh, and on another note...I have started to feel the baby move!!! How do you like that? I guess in the medical world it is called "quickening". It wasn't that easy to recognize at first, but I now know what it feels like. The mini has active spurts throughout the day where I am able to feel little "bubbles" or "flutters" in my lower abdomen. It is sort of surreal. I know I found myself in my own private little smile at Starbucks yesterday when it happened. I can't wait until Matt is able to feel it from the outside. It is too random for that to happen at the moment, but in the next few weeks I am sure those kicks, punches, and flips will get stronger, and Matt will have his opportunity!

Off to the gym now!

Sequential Screen Results

The Sequential Screen is a three part test that shows the odds of your baby's risk for Down's Syndrome, Trisomy 18, and other neural tube defects. The initial screen takes place in the first trimester and consists of a finger prick blood test and an in-depth u/s. The second part of the screen takes place after 16 weeks of pregnancy and consists of bloodwork. I just received the overall results of the screening, and our results were "screen negative", which is awesome news.

The nurse provides both the odds for defects based on age alone and the odds based on the actual screening. Based solely on my age, the risk for a baby with Down's Syndrome was 1 in 260. When they calculate the odds based on my screening, the odds change to 1 in 7800. That is awesome! The odds for Trisomy 18 were 1 in 10,000, and the odds for neural tube defects in general were 1 in 6000. The mini seems to be a healthy little one! No test is perfect, but these results certainly make us feel good about our situation.

Now we just need to know what we are having!!!!!!!!!!

17 Week OB Update

I just got back from my 17 week OB appointment. Today I actually got to see a doctor! I saw Dr. Colella, and I really liked him. He was fun and social, which is always a plus. Anyway, he said that I look great, my weight is good, my uterus is measuring well, and the heartbeat was great. Overall, he said things were "awesome". I like to hear that! I only gained three pounds over the course of 4 weeks, so that was wonderful news. I am keeping this pregnancy weight gain mostly in check...which will help down the road for sure!

The best news from today is that we are scheduled for our 20 week ultrasound. Sadly, they were fully booked when they wanted to bring me in...so my appointment had to be pushed over a weekend to a Monday. (SIGH...) I am sure we will live, though. The appointment is set for Monday, April 13th at 11:15am. Mark your calendars, because that is the day that we should be able to announce the sex of the baby. YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!! I am sure that I will be impatiently trying to pass each day until that point in time...but what a joy I am sure that day will be!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 17 Weeks

Here we are again...another week gone by...and another belly shot posted. As you can probably tell by the picture comparisons, I have definitely "popped" a bit this past week. It seems to happen overnight, I swear! I am still within my "limits" of weight gain for the month, so this is all baby. Good job, mini! Strangers are now recognizing and commenting on my pregnancy, which is a lot better than me walking around having people think I am just a fat little muffin.

Tomorrow is my next OB appt. Just a routine visit, but I will be sure to post following the meeting with the doc. Hopefully we get another good report!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 16 weeks!

Here we are at 16 weeks already. Time flies when you are having fun! Or when you are having morning sickness. Oh wait...then the time drags. Damn it...that is what I meant. Time is dragging. Whew, glad I straightened all of that out!

I don't think the bump has grown that much, and I still don't look "pregnant" most of the time. Something IS going on in that belly, though, because I AM gaining my one pound per week on average. It still shocks me when I get on the scale and see the weight gain because I am eating really well, exercising, and only having one "naughty item" per day. Guess that little mini is growing!

Although the nausea had been at least easing up, that situation has once again changed. Not sure what is going on, but I have been nauseous all day / every day for the past 3 to 4 days. I stopped taking all remedies as of yesterday since I was still feeling sick. No point in taking something that isn't doing anything, right? So, I have resigned myself to feeling nauseous forever. That way, if it ever does go away I will be pleasantly surprised. If it never does go away, at least I have set manageable expectations for myself.

Outside of that, today is Matt's 39th birthday, so be sure to wish him a happy one! One week and one day until my next routine OB appointment. Not much else going on.

The Red Ball - 2009

Last night Matt and I attended The Red Ball, which is a "red tie" event sponsored by the American Red Cross. The ball was held at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, which is actually a beautifully architected and designed venue. It is an amazing place complete with an Alice in Wonderland room, transportation displays, a full size carousel, and so much more. It really was a unique location to host the event. There was food from local restaurants and a Ketel One vodka ice / martini bar. We had tickets to the VIP room, so we also had access to the carousel, more food, a cigar bar, and the Tommy Bahama rum bar. How crazy! Of course, the only thing I could have was the food...and Sprite mixed with grenadine. In addtion, they were hosting a silent auction and a raffle. I know we didn't win any of the packages we bid on, and I am pretty certain we lost the raffles. All for a good cause, though! Philly's CBS 3 was one of the sponsors, so the President of the local CBS station attended the event. There were also a handful of NFL players there who support the American Red Cross as a cause, and it was fun to mingle among all of the high rollers and local elite. Our backyard neighbors attended the ball with us, and we all had a blast. This is the third formal event that Matt and I have attended this year, so it has been a little surreal. We have enjoyed every minute of it, though, and I think the mini has been having a good time, too!

15 Weeks - Belly Shot Chronicles

Another week gone by, and we have hit the 15 week mark. The belly continues to grow little by little. I still mostly look fat in clothing instead of pregnant, and this will contintue to be my theme for awhile it seems. I still say in another month that will probably change. I am definitely in maternity pants now. I could get away with my normal pants using the bella band to hold them up, but they are not nearly as comfortable as the maternity pants. I am opting for comfort, to be sure.

The naseau is still manageable at this point. It is no longer consistently all day, every day. Instead it comes in small waves at varying points throughout the day. Afternoons and evenings seem worse for that than mornings. I am hoping by week 17 that I am completely rid of the nausea. That would be lovely!

Only two weeks away from our next OB appointment, and only five weeks away from the ever-important anatomy scan where we will find out the gender of our little mini! I have set up a poll on the right hand side of the page...feel free to participate in the vote as to what you think we will be having. So far it is unanimous that everyone thinks we are having a girl...hmmmm...we will see!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 14 Weeks!!!

Wow...I can't believe I am 14 weeks pregnant. It all still seems a bit surreal. I love the fact that we are in the second trimester. It brings a bit of comfort to this whole experience. The belly continues to round out / fill in each week, slowly but surely. According to books and "the experts", I should be gaining approximately 1 pound per week during the second trimester. Yikes! Really??? At this point, it all depends on what I am wearing if people around me can tell that I am pregnant or not. If I put a sweatshirt on...you can't tell a thing. If I put a clingier shirt on, well...you might guess that I am pregnant...or you might just think I am rolly-polly. Oh well. In another month, I am sure that there will be no guessing about it!!

(said in a whisper) I have been feeling a bit better the past couple of days. I am saying this very quietly as not to disturb the nausea gods. I am not completely back to "normal", but any improvement is welcomed at this point. Wish me well in that department!!! but, shhhhhhhhhhh.....

2nd OB Appointment

Today was my second visit to the OBs office for a routine checkup. I saw a nurse today, and she was really great. The first thing she asked is how I have been feeling...and I told her, AWFUL! I explained the all day / every day nausea...and how I try to fight it in varying ways (feeding it, being one of them!). She said that I should have called and that I should not be suffering. She prescribed a medication for me to try, Reglan. I am supposed to take it three times a day. She said that is has fewer and less severe side effects than the Zofran that the clinic had tried prescribing to me. So, we will see how that goes. With any luck, it will work, AND I won't need to be on it for long.

My urine sample came back fine. My iron count is "normal" but on the low side, so she wants me to increase my intake of iron rich food, if I can. My blood pressure was great. My weight...well, I have gained 5 pounds so far. The nurse was fine with that and said it was normal, but it is a couple pounds more than I would have liked. Guess "feeding the nausea" is really only good for packing on the pounds! Hopefully if I start feeling better that situation will work itself out.

The nurse wanted to check the heartbeat of the baby, and she said she would "see if she could find it". Well, she didn't even have to "look". As soon as she turned the Doppler on, there it was! So, she said the baby is feeling great, even if mommy isn't. The heartbeat is strong and exactly as it should be.

I got to ask all of my questions. And, I AM OK TO GET MY HAIR HIGHLIGHTED AGAIN...FINALLY...YAY...WOO HOO!!! I am also off all restrictions...I am REALLY a normal OB patient. I can have intercourse (which only really matters to a couple of us! tee hee hee) I am able to exercise in moderation, as long as I keep my heart rate under 140 BPM. I am able to lift, within reason. I can take baths. I can travel. I can just "be". Wow! How scary and wonderful, huh? The only restrictions I have are within 5 weeks of my due date, and at that point I am not able to take baths, have intercourse, or travel. But...that doesn't happen until two weeks into the month of July!!! Look at me!

I will go back again on March 19th for another "routine" OB appointment...after that comes the big u/s at 20 weeks where we find out the sex of the baby. Only a couple of long months until that happens! Guess we will have to be patient...

Belly Shot Chronicles - 13 weeks

Well, they say that the uterus at 13 weeks no longer fits within the confines of the pelvis. In its enlarged state it moves its way up and over the pubic bone. I guess this must be true, as I am noticing that my "pooch" has certainly grown since last week. I am filling out a bit more, although I still mostly just look "fat" instead of pregnant. It all depends on what I wear if you can even "notice"...but I haven't rounded out to the point that it looks like a baby bump. It really looks more like I have spent too much time with my ass on the couch and my hand in a potato chip bag. Only the first part is really true. I don't even like potato chips that much right now!

Anyway, the "clothed" photo was taken yesterday. The other two belly photos are from this morning, when I officially hit the 13 week mark. (As you can see, I certainly look different from varying angles.) I am moving into my second trimester, and it is a welcomed victory for us, to say the least! I will also welcome the disappearance of my nausea any time now. Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later. It is getting old!

Tomorrow is my second OB appointment. There will be no u/s, only listening to the heartbeat using the Doppler. I am really not sure what else they will do (weigh me, measure my belly, take my BP???). I will let you know after the fact!

Thanks again for sharing in our journey and our little miracle!

Feeling the LOVE

Matt thought it would be a neat idea to head into downtown Philly and have our picture taken in Love Park for Valentine's Day. He comes up with great ideas! So, off we went...and had our picture taken with the famous LOVE sculpture. We also (upon my request) had a very "romantic" lunch at Jimmy John's. I do love their tuna subs! They really are the best! Yum! What can I say...I can be a cheap date! Well, I would have been if it didn't cost us $20 to valet the car at the hotel across the street from Jimmy John's! I guess parking is scarce on a holiday! Oh well. It was a really nice day.

Belly Chronicles - 12 Weeks

Not a huge change since last week, but the pooch has gotten a bit bigger. Please note yet another lovely pair of pajamas in this photo! By the end of this week, I should start to "pop" a bit more as my uterus moves up and out over the pubic bone (according to pregnancy calendars, at least!). I am sure in the next month I will start to look a bit more like a pregnant person. We will see.

First Trimester Screening - u/s pics!!!

**Click on any image to enlarge it**

First Trimester Screening

It is morning, and I am now feeling well enough to be able to take the time to update you all properly about our first trimester screening. All I can say is that it was amazing and surreal, especially after everything we have been through on our journey to this point. The screening itself is to test for predictors of Down's Syndrome, Trisomy 18, or other neural tube defects. It is a three part screening: an u/s for NT measurements during the first trimester, a blood screen during the first trimester, and a blood screen during the second trimester. Well, the NT measurements done during the u/s came back just fine...so that is all well and good. We will have to wait on the blood screen results until they come back in the next week or so.

Outside of that, the tech gave a full u/s (my first abdominal u/s ever!). She measured the mini, who is now measuring approximately 5 days ahead! Go mini! She also took the heart rate of the mini which came back at 161 bpm. She told us that she wished every baby was so "good" for the u/s and that we had a great "poser". The baby cooperated fully so she was able to get all of her measurements very easily. She also said that it was nice that I was "so thin" because it made her job easy. Hey, I will take that "compliment" even if it means that every other woman she has seen is morbidly obese...it made me feel good in the moment!

The mini was extremely active during the scan, which was so fun for Matt and I to observe. He/she was dancing around, waving arms, and trying to stick a fist in its mouth. This was all such a huge feeling of triumph and relief for us, and we just kept commenting on how amazing it all really was. I think we left with perma-grins. How could we not???

The tech also took measurements of my ovaries and the corpus luteum cysts that are still sticking around. These "cysts" are the sacs from which the eggs were retrieved. They have been responsible for progesterone production leading up to when the placenta and baby could take over (right around now). The good news is, even though they are still large from me being hyperstimulated, they are breaking down. Hopefully they will shrivel up in the next couple of months.

I will go back on March 16th for the second trimester blood screen. That will be the last of the tests for this screening, and the results as a whole will give us a prediction for the odds of defects with 90% accuracy.

Lastly, the tech saved and printed off eight still shots of the u/s for us which we are gladly able to share with you all. Enjoy our little miracle!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 11 weeks

Ok, people have been begging me to start taking belly shots...just to have a chronicle of how my pregnant belly grows, I guess. So, here it is...my very first "belly shot" at 11 weeks. Not much to be seen at this point, except a little "pooch" where the mini has snuggled in. Oh, and please try not to hate on my pretty pants...obvioulsy I haven't made it out of my PJs yet today. I promise it will happen before noon!

Not much else going on here. Still struggling with feeling sick and tired, but I am nearing the end of the first trimester, so I hope things will start to improve over the next few weeks. Please!!!! Outside of that, we are really looking forward to our first trimester screen coming up on Monday of next week. That will give us a great idea of how our mini is growing and progressing...hopefully really well! And, hopefully they send us home with a new u/s picture that we can share, too.

Sweet Music...

On the recommendation of a few "fertility friends" that now have little ones, I decided to rent a "Doppler" machine from an online company. This company is called Baby Beat. They either rent out or sell the doppler machines to crazy pregnant women like myself. The Doppler allows you to listen to your baby's heartbeat in the privacy of your own home...on a daily basis, if you would like. Given our past history, and also given that it is so long between OB appointments, I thought this would be a great way to calm and reassure ourselves that everything with the mini is going fine.

Well, my Doppler arrived via UPS today. I was waiting for that stinkin' big brown truck all day! As soon as the Doppler showed up, I of course wanted to test it out! You can pick the h/b up as early as 10 weeks...which is exactly what I am today. It took about five minutes, but I found that mini's heart beating away in the depths of uterusland! Ahhhh...what sweet music! I managed to make a decent recording of it that I can play over our speakerphone pretty well (mom, dad, and Matt all got a listen). The heartbeat basically sounds like a train going over railroad tracks. You can easily distinguish the baby's h/b from your own because the baby's is about twice as fast (usually between 140 and 180 bpm). Just amazing...

Now I think I can more easily get through the wait until my u/s and first trimester screening on February 9th. That is a wonderful thing!

Peeing in a Cup

Well, yesterday I received a call from the lab at the OB's office that my urine sample I gave last week showed bacteria in it. They requested that I come back in today to give another sample so that they can do a bacterial culture. I guess I better get used to peeing in a cup on a regular basis. Oh, the joy! I will find out late on Friday afternoon whether or not I have a UTI. I am hoping I don't, but if I do, it is no big deal.

On another note, Dr. Swift from the OB's office called right after I got home this morning. I sort of panicked, because why would one of the doctor's be calling me...unless something was wrong?!? Turns out I was worried for nothing. She was just calling to inform me that all of my bloodwork that they did last week came back fine. The only thing it red-flagged is that it showed I had RhoGAM in my system...but, since I had a shot of RhoGAM...that was only to be expected! All else was completely normal, so they will just see me back for my next routine visit on February 19th. Ok!

Hooray for our Insurance!!!

At my first OB visit the nurse-midwife discussed screening options for the pregnancy. One: don't do anything. Two: do the typical 2nd trimester Quad screening. Three: do the new 1st trimester sequential screen followed by the Quad screening in the 2nd trimester. I liked the sound of the third option, however, the nurse also mentioned that most insurance companies do not cover this screening yet, as it is still fairly "new".

Well, hooray for Aetna because they DO cover the 1st semester screening. Yay! I am now scheduled to go to the Antenatal Unit at Virtua Hospital on February 9th for the testing. It consists of a finger prick / blood test and a special ultrasound that measures the nuchal fold translucency. This screening can predict with 85% accuracy the fetus' risk of having Down's syndrome, Trisomy 18, or another form of neural tube defects. It gives patients an earlier view on the staus of their fetus, and I like that. I also LOVE the fact that we will be having an actual u/s of the baby prior to 20 weeks! That will (hopefully) give us reassurance that all is going well in uterus-land. How nice that will be!

So, here is to the sometimes (albeit rarely) wonderful insurance companies and their benefits.

Boring Old OB Patient

That is what I am now, according to the nurse-midwife that I saw today. I am no longer the pampered fertility patient who receives weekly ultrasounds at weekly visits. I am just a boring old OB patient. I guess I will take that!

So, this visit today was just a basic first pre-natal visit. There were no ultrasounds. There were no Dopplers to listen to the heartbeat (it is too early...need another week for that). There was just a lot of paperwork, explanations, bloodwork, a brief pelvic exam, and that was about it.

My cervix is firm and closed, which is great. My uterus is measuring as it should, which is also great.

The phlebotomist apologized for using a small vein to do my blood draw. I put a lot of pressure on it and caused quite a bit of swelling. I was told to come home and ice it, which is what I am doing right now. It does hurt quite a bit, but oh well.

I will go back in 4 weeks (February 19th) for my next appointment. I guess that I now have to take a specimen of "first morning urine" to every appointment. Isn't that fun? At that appointment they will definitely bring out the Doppler to listen to the heartbeat. I am anxioulsy looking forward to that.

We may or may not be doing a "first trimester sequential screening", which would involve an u/s and a finger prick. If our insurance doesn't cover it, we may not do it and just do the Quad Screening at 16 weeks. We will have to speak with Aetna prior to making any definite decisions on that one.

For now, I just go about as if all is well and good. That isn't easy without my weekly u/s, but I will have to accept that, I guess!

A Post from The Husband

I thought I would toss a post out there. Since our "hit count" keeps rising, you might as well have something new to read.
I am off to St. Louis on Monday for a week long conference. That's right, I will be missing Megan's first OB appointment. I can't wait for a lifetime of teasing from my child when they realize I missed the first appointment to go to "exotic" St. Louis in January. For those of you that don't know, St. Louis in January looks like it could be a cover page for the magazine Afghanistan Today.

On another note, I want to thank all of the friends and family that continually check the blog for updates and who root/pray for a successful pregnancy. Your comments are heartfelt and they mean a lot to the both of us. We will continue to update you as this journey progresses. Right now, my wife is fighting nausea on a fairly regular basis. Mornings are the worst and every time I open the refridgerator when she is nearby, it results in severe bitching thanks to odors that make her ill. Heck, even the smell of dishwasher soap made her ill today. Yikes! I just hope all of you know that this pregnancy is as tough on me as it is on her. ;-) Or not.

Well, off to pack for St. Louis. Thanks again for checking the blog and for your comments. Megan and I appreciatethe support more than you know. Stay tuned for an update this Thursday after Megan returns from her OB appointment...by herself.

Milestones

*Note: click on u/s pic to enlarge the view*

Well, we keep reaching new ones, and we couldn't be more thrilled! Today was another u/s scan for us at the RE's office. I have not had any fresh bleeding episodes since our last unexpected visit, and I have been feeling very ill, so we were hoping for a good u/s. That is exactly what we got.

The mini has grown to almost 15 mm in size. It is starting to "take shape", as the RE puts it. You can make out the head (top cursor) and the start of arm and leg buds (sticking out to the left of the "body"). The heartbeat came in at 164 bpm today, which sounded so amzaing!

I almost cannot believe it, but WE HAVE BEEN GRADUATED TO THE OB! That has never happened to us before! The RE said that the pregnancy is thriving, so that is that!

The RE also pointed out a dark patch in my uterus just above the pregnancy sac. He said that it looks like that is where the "bleeds" came from. He said that the pregnancy sac itself is totally fine and well attached. This dark patch was just an area of separation in the uterus that appears to be healing nicely. Hopefully we are all done with that sort of thing!

Lastly, the RE gave me a prescription for anti-nausea medication. I have been feeling sick pretty much all day, every day. It is definitely the worst in the first half of the day for sure. I never get physically sick...but I hate tons of smells and most foods. No fun! The RE jokingly said that his diagnosis would be that of "pregnancy"! ha...ha...ha. Sadly, my insurance company apparently only covers / allows 12 of these pills every 30 days. The prescription directions say to take three of these daily, so technically I only have 4 days worth of these meds for the next 30 days! I plan to only take one in the morning when I really need it...so, this should give me 12 days.

I have called the OB's office, and I am scheduled for my first visit with them on Thursday, January 22nd at 10 am. I will be meeting with their nurse-midwife. This will be the standard first OB visit, and I am very excited for it! I will miss the weekly RE visits that give frequent reassurance that things are well, but I am happy to move on to the next level...which is just normal pregnancy.

Let's keep hoping that there will be several more milestones to continue over this stretch of nine months! GROW, mini, GROW!!!

Another scare...but everything is STILL fine!

I have a feeling this is going to get old...bleeding during early pregnancy. It is terrifying and nerve-wracking! It happened again to me this morning at 5am. The bleeding lasted longer this time around. I passed another clot. I am still spotting a bit at this point. The nurse had me come in for another scan to make sure everything was ok.

Well, everything is still ok! Amazing! The mini has doubled in size since Friday (CRL is now 10.07mm), the yolk sac (which feeds the baby and becomes the placenta) is really big, and the heartbeat was nice and strong. We got a good listen again today, and as the RE said...it must be like music to your ears...indeed! The RE mentioned that OB/Gyns do not see a lot of bleeding, but it is common for the REs to see it. He said that sometimes the bleeding happens as the ovaries and corpus luteums shrink. Other times, they really just do not know. He shook both of our hands and told us to keep the faith. So, that is what we are doing.

We now go back on Monday, Jan. 12th for another scan, unless I have to go in unexpectedly again. I am still supposed to call if the bleeding gets worse, or if I pass more clots. If the spotting continues as is and things do not change...then I will just keep my scheduled appointment.


So, for now...join us in just KEEPING THE FAITH!

Bit of a scare...but all is fine

We had a bit of a scare yesterday. While at an open house at a friends, I felt a "gush",so I went to the bathroom. Sure enough, I had leaked a small amount of fresh blood. I also ended up passing a clot. Matt took me straight home, and I vegged out for the rest of the night. I didn't have any more fresh bleeding after that point. I called the clinic and left a message for my nurse this morning. She called back and said that she wasn't overly concerned given that I had had such a great u/s the other day. A practitioner had agreed to have me come in, though, to take a peek and make sure that everything was ok.

Everything on the u/s was fine. The mini has grown and is still measuring right on target. The h/b was 120 bpm, and the RE said at this point they would expect it to be 100 bpm or more, so all is well there. We even got to hear the h/b today, which was pretty cool. The placenta is showing no signs of detaching...whew! The RE said that I just fall into that normal category of women who bleed for "whatever reason", but that everything is still ok. It just happens, and they don't really know why.

Thankfully the RE noticed on my chart that I am Rh-. Given the bleeding, it is necessary for me to receive a shot of Rhogam so that I do not produce antibodies to the baby's blood. I need to have the shot within three days of the bleed, so they called in the prescription to a local pharmacy. I had to run out and get the vial of Rhogam and go back to the clinic to have the intramuscular injection administered. I should now be covered for the rest of the pregnancy should any more bleeding occur.

That is the scoop. We still don't have the scanner hooked up, but hopefully we will by the time we have our next u/s. Keep those happy thoughts and prayers coming, as this is can be a scary journey at times! Thanks again for all of the support!

One Viable Mini !!!

We just got back from our first u/s, and we are THRILLED to announce that everything looks perfect so far. This is the best first u/s that we have ever had. The gestational sac was in the uterus, just as it should be. The CRL (crown to rump length) was 2.92, which is great. We even got a HEARTBEAT!! I am currently 5 weeks and 6 days along, so to get the heartbeat was a bonus and a very good sign. The RE is pleased with all of my numbers and with this first u/s scan. He sees no reason to be concerned, which makes me very happy. We will be back to see the RE on January 8th at 8:45am for a second u/s to make sure that the fetal growth is progressing normally. Keep all of the prayers and good vibes coming...they have definitely worked thus far!

We will add the picture of our first u/s as soon as we are able to get it scanned in...so, stay tuned!

No More Betas!

Sorry for the delay in providing updates, but our clinic was closed on Wednesday afternoon, and Matt and I spent Friday trying desperately to travel from IL to PA...on ice. We finally made it to Matt's sister's house after 11 hours on the road. The trip should have only taken 7 hours. Fun!

Well, the results from our 4th beta draw were delievered to us yesterday. Our beta on Monday was 1748, and it climbed to 4322 on Wednesday. It more than doubled over a two day period, so the nurse was very happy. Given how high my numbers are now, they are not going to bring me in for any more beta or progesterone tests. My nurse scheduled me for our first ultrasound on Tuesday at 3:45pm. This is a very early u/s (one day shy of 6 weeks gestation), so we were told not to expect much. The RE would just like to make sure that the pregnancy is in the right place (uterus versus tubes) and that my ovaries and all look ok. It would be a BONUS at this point to see a heartbeat, but it is a bonus we would love to get. If nothing else, we would just like to know that the pregnancy is measuring as it should for that date.

One more little victory...and yet another important step coming up. Tuesday will be a big day for us, one way or another...so keep those prayers and happy thoughts coming our way! We hope you all had a great Christmas and that Santa was good to you!

Beta - Bing!

Today was our third official beta HCG test. Once again, the RE would ideally like to see our numbers double over a 2 to 3 day period. Our last results were 501, and today's results came back at 1748. Obviously, the levels are still rising at an appropriate rate, which is great news. Another little victory to be celebrated. One more big breath of air that we can sigh. Hopefully there are many more little victories to come!

I was given the option of going back on Wednesday or Friday for a repeat draw, and since the lab is closed on Friday, I opted to go back on Christmas Eve. I will not have those results until Friday, though...and we will be on the road for a good part of that day, so I will update when I get the first opportunity. Keep all of the happy thoughts and prayers coming our way.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!!

Officially Official Part Deux

Today was our second beta HCG test. As previously mentioned, follow up b/w is done to make sure that my HCG levels are rising appropriately. The RE would ideally like to see the levels double over a 2 to 3 day period. Well, we more than doubled in a two day period. Our second beta came back at 501. My IVF nurse coordinator is very pleased with the numbers thus far. I return to the local Quest lab here in IL on Monday for continued follow up. Yet another hurdle that has been jumped...still many more to come...

Officially Official

We got the call from the nurse around 11am, and it was a positive beta. The HCG levels were 185. According to one chart, my levels at 14 days past egg retrieval should be between 95 and 223 (for a singleton pregnancy). So, they were right in line. In the past we have had either very low levels (10) or very high levels (400+ and 2500+) to start, so this was much more in the "normal" range. We feel good about that. Cautiously optmistic we move along. My next beta test will be Friday, so we will keep you in the loop. Hopefully the levels will increase properly, and we can continue to move on to the next hurdles.

Sneak Preview

So, tomorrow is our big day. I will have my b/w done first thing in the morning, and the nurse will call me with the official results by 4pm. We will be hitting the road in the morning starting our way to Chicago for the holidays. Tomorrow we will make it as far as Matt's sister's house in the Pittsburgh area. The following day we will drive the rest of the way to my parent's house. We are driving so that Batman can spend the holidays with his mommy and daddy, as it should be!

Given that we will be on the road tomorrow, and I am not sure exactly when I will be able to update the blog (hopefully in the early evening), I won't keep you all in complete suspense. Apparently (as you can see from our photo above) it would seem that we are pregnant again. Now...don't go getting too excited for us just yet...as you all know this is only the first of many steps necessary to yield a successful outcome. Cautiously optimistic would be a good way to sum up our state of mind and our situation for now.

The first important step for us is having a good beta HCG level tomorrow. From there I will have to have follow up b/w while in IL to make sure that my HCG levels are rising appropriately. After that will come the all important first ultrasound at approximately "six weeks" gestation where the RE will look for the number of pregnancy sacs, the proper "parts", and a fetal heartbeat. So, still a long way to go even in just a short period of time...

Continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward with this next phase of our journey.

Just checking in with our loyal followers....

See, isn't the wait impossible?? Doesn't it seem like it takes forever?? Sigh... Well, the wait will finally be over this Wednesday, December 17th. That is when we have our official beta HCG test that will give the quantitative results from the blood draw. Right now we are sitting back and hoping for our Christmas miracle...a BFP (big fat positive). We do know that a BFP is only a first step on a long road for us, but we cannot give up hope. Keep the happy thoughts and prayers coming our way. We welcome them all!

Progesterone Check - 3dp4dt

Today is 3 days past my four day embryo transfer, and I had to go in to the clinic for my progesterone test. It is done by a simple blood draw. The test is done just to see that you are producing an ample amount of progesterone to support a pregnancy IF you are indeed pregnant. They want the levels to be at least 10, but really look for them to be 20 or higher. The nurse told me that my levels were "awesome". She said that they came back at 100 (or higher, since their test maxes out at 100). She also mentioned that the gel that I am using to supplement progesterone production is only showing up in trace amounts, which means my body is producing all of that progesterone on its own. Good news! Then again, we usually get "good news" and are still yet to have a baby...but I suppose we will just keep on accepting it. Maybe this will be our lucky time??? That is all we can hope!

Cryopreservation Report

Got good news this morning...we found out that TWO of our embryos made it to the blastocyst stage and were of good quality, so they were both cryopreserved. If we need to do another cycle we will be able to do a FET (frozen embryo transfer) instead of another fresh IVF cycle. The FETs are far less invasive...much fewer shots, much less monitoring, much less stress on the body in general. It is very nice to have that option in our back pocket. Let's just hope we DON'T need that option in the near future!

Tomorrow morning I go back to the clinic for my progesterone b/w. I will know in the afternoon if all is fine on that count. I am sure it is. I have never had an issue with progesterone levels in the past.

Transfer Day - Fertilization Report Day 4

Today was the big day for us. We went into the clinic, me toting my full bladder, for the embryo transfer. We had two "great looking" embryos put back. They were at the morula stage, which is exactly where they should have been today. Above is a picture of a morula stage embryo (image kindly borrowed from the web). We still have 3 or 4 more embryos that continue to grow and divide, so there is a good chance that we will have some to cryopreserve. They will call us on Tuesday with the final cryo report.

I am now at home starting my two days of bedrest. I can sit up, but my legs must be up and stretched out on the couch. I am not allowed to do any cleaning, lifting, vacuuming, nor anything of the like, during my wait for my pregnancy test. Matt is already taking great care of me...he is out getting groceries and buying more wood for the woodburning stove.

I must go back to the clinic this week (Thursday?) for blood work to check my progesterone levels. They want to make sure they are at the appropriate levels to sustain a pregnancy in case I am pregnant. I then go back on December 17th for the official beta HCG pregnancy test. So, lots of excitment prior to the holidays. That day is the same day that we will hit the road for Chicago. If I do get a positive pregnancy test, I believe they would have me do follow-up HCG tests at a lab in the Chicago area. We will see when and if it comes to that!

Below are pictures that were requested by my friends. I went out shopping yesterday for an outfit for transfer. I knew that I wanted the "grow" t-shirt, as it is only appropriate for supporting our embryos as they come home. Well, I ended up getting the full gear for bedrest, too (socks and sweats...and the scarf to get me to and fro the clinic). So, friends..enjoy!

Thanks again for all of the support and encouragement during this cycle as it has meant so much to both of us. And, keep us in your happy thoughts and prayers over the next 10 days! For now we are thrilled to once again be at the stage that we have our minis back "home", and we can just sit back and hope for the best!

Fertilization Report - Day 3

Well, I am "stuck" at home today while everyone else is out at the Army v. Navy football game...boooo! Still, I know it was the right decision for me to stay home and rest. I am feeling better again today, but I get pain in my ovaries when I go to sit down or stand up. A little tender with walking still, but overall...I am in much better shape today!

Received the daily embryo update from the nurse, and we have SIX that continue to divide and grow. We are set for our embryo transfer TOMORROW at 10:15am. My instructions are to empty my bladder at 8:15 am and then drink 18 oz. of water at that time. We are to arrive at the clinic by 10 am. We will probably be transferring back two embryos. I am hoping that we still have some good ones left over to freeze...3 to cryopreserve would be great. Wishful thinking never hurt, right? All I know is that the minis will be "home" tomorrow. I will be on bedrest all day tomorrow and all day on Monday. After that, I can resume all normal "light" activities. Sadly for Matt, though, I will not be allowed to vacuum!

We will update everyone tomorrow after transfer and also when we get a cryo report! Send some happy thoughts our way...

Fertilization Report - Day 2

The nurse called just a minute ago, and ALL SEVEN of our embryos continue to divide and grow. That is FANTASTIC news! We know that we will NOT be doing a three day transfer, which is great! When they call tomorrow they will have a much better idea when transfer will be. We know that it will take place either Sunday or Monday for sure.

I take my last antibiotic today, and I also started with the crinone (progesterone) gel and the medrol (anti-inflammatory steroid) this morning. The crinone gel will be used every day until the pregnancy test. With a positive pregnancy test, I would need to continue the gel through the 12th week (something we have sadly never seen before). The steroid is just a five day course. I can tell you that it tastes horrible! I need to remember to take it very quickly as to not have the taste left on my tongue! The gel and steroid are both taken in addition to my daily prenatal vitamin. Estrace will be added the day after transfer.

I am feeling better today. Not great. Not my usual "normal" self. But, better! I will take that for now. I am guessing that I will be in good shape by Sunday. Sadly, I think that I will not be attending the Army / Navy game tomorrow...the game that we have been looking forward to for so long. I just don't think I will be comfortable enough standing / sitting / walking for that amount of time. Matt and I think it would probably be best for me to stay relaxed in a warm environment. (Sigh)

And, so we continue on....