16 Weeks & 1 Day

Did you miss me last week? I've been posting every week, but skipped last week :) Anyway, 20 days until my gender/anatomy scan!!! Very excited!! 5 days until my next OB appointment, and 6 days until my first cervix measurement at the Perinatal Center. So much to look forward to!! The best part: I felt baby move for the first time last night <3 I was laying down, and first I felt a small jab, then a few minutes later I felt a few flutters. So exciting!! I felt Emoree for the first time at 15w5d, so this one was only 2 days later. Also because I remember dates and all like this and can be slightly superstitious about some things.... when I was 16w1d pregnant with Emoree I was in a car accident on my way home from work, I was taken to the hospital but obviously all was okay. So guess who isn't driving today? ME! Well, I did have to go out this morning, but home now with no plans of going anywhere else. Besides Emoree woke up with a bad cold and doesn't feel well.

This is why I had to go out this morning, to get my first weekly p17 (progesterone) shot. I wish I could do them myself, and may ask the doctor next week if I can give them to myself in my thigh rather than having a nurse at my mom's work give them to me in the buttox. This is a 10 week supply, it cost $146. I will need another 10 week supply too, with the hopes of making it to 36 weeks! The shot didn't hurt anymore than a normal intramuscular shot, no big deal! So far no side effects, I felt a little lightheaded and slightly nauseated right afterwards, but figured out that was because I hadn't eaten in 2-3hrs.

Just wanted to say, this is what I am enjoying while I type this today. My favorite: A Keylime Blendini with Vanilla custard and Nilla Wafers. It tastes just like a keylime pie!!!!

I had a pregnancy massage last week!!! It was FANTASTIC! I wish I could afford to go every 2-4 weeks, I would do it. My shoulder hurts minimally now, not all the time. The one thing bothering me now is sciatic nerve pain, and that isn't something likely to go away :o(

This is the diaper I ordered last month, and I had been waiting for it to come in!!!! I love it!! It is so soft :) I cannot wait to make a big cloth diaper purchase from alvababy.com after I find out the gender!!

I also bought baby's memory book in the last two weeks!! It is the same one that Emoree has, I LOVE it! Baby's is the new one on the left, and Emoree's is the covered one on the right. After I find out the gender of this one, I will make a padded cover for that book too! I also bought Emoree a new book (not pictured). She has mentioned "daddy" once or twice now, So I bought her two books that are geared for kids her age called "Why Don't I Have a Daddy?: A Story of Donor Conception" by George Anne Clay, and "The Family Book" by Todd Parr. They both basically teach kids that there are all different kinds of families.

Belly pic!!! Baby is growing! I still haven't gained any weight though... :o) And I have a confession... I love maternity clothes!

16 Weeks: 188.0 lbs (-0.6 lbs)

14 Weeks: Second Trimester!!

Yay for the second trimester, starting today! The second trimester is my favorite part of being pregnant. I can now officially have a pregnancy massage, which I may schedule for next week. I can find out the baby's gender in a few weeks too!

I had my consult appointment at the perinatal center yesterday. First thing was my ultrasound, I got to see my little bean moving around!! Baby was measuring at 13 weeks & 1 day, so only 5 days behind, which is in normal range. The heart rate was 163bpm, which is good!! My mom came with me to watch Emoree, and as soon as they put the ultrasound jelly on me Emoree freaked out and my mom had to take her out of the room :( After the ultrasound I talked with the doctor, and went over my whole medical and pregnancy history. I guess she was suprised at my medical knowledge, because she asked me if I was a nurse! After going through all the fertility treatment, I guess I know more than most! The doctor decided that the p17 shots (weekly progesterone shots to prevent pre-term labor) would be a benefit for me. I start those in two weeks, and I need to call my insurance company and the pharmacy to set that up and order them. I will take them every week until I deliver, or 36 weeks. I will also be going to the perinatal center every 2 weeks or so to check my cervix length, to make sure it isn't shortening prematurely (which could cause early labor). My first cervix check is at 17 weeks, April 4th. And the best part is, my anatomy/gender ultrasound is scheduled!!!! I will be 19 weeks, it is at 10AM in April 18th. YAY!!!

These are all of my baby purchases for the first trimester, minus one diaper that I haven't gotten in the mail yet. I think I behaved!! Considering, I got all of the items either on clearance or really really cheap. After April 18th though, and I find out this baby's gender... I don't know if I will be able to contain myself...

This is what the nursery looks like as of today. Since Emoree's room got a make over, a lot of furniture got shoved in here. The rocking chair will stay, and so will the white cabinets (minus the overhead ones, taking those down so I can use the countertop as a changing table). the table and chairs with stuff piled on them will be taken out. The bassinet will go next to my bed. This room needs paint and carpet too... A lot of work to be done!

This is Emoree's room partial makeover! She has slept in her own bed for one week straight, so yesterday her Poppy and I put together hew brand new big girl bed!!! It took 5 hours to do... She also got a new, taller wardrobe to hang up more of her clothes, and most of her floor is now covered in a fuzzy purple rug :) I am still looking to get a new border to cover up her baby one, and I will also eventually make her a new curtain. She LOVES it, and is VERY excited!! I spent over $500 on new stuff for her room so far... good thing for tax refunds :) She needed it though, and it is good timing since I will be starting to put together the nursery in about 2 months.

I am starting to feel pregnant now, and I love it :) I *think* I am starting to feel little flutters every now and then from the baby moving, but I am not sure yet. It is still a bit early!

14 Weeks: 189.2lbs (+0.6 lbs!)

13 Weeks

One more week left of the first trimester, yay!! I had my 2nd OB appointment yesterday. I got to "officially" hear the heartbeat for the first time! OB appointment went well. Emoree stayed home with her Grandaddy, because I didn't want her to freak out about the doppler. My mom went with me, because she had her own questions for my OB. She wanted to know about the possibility of bedrest and being out of work, and my OB said it's a good possibility depending on how baby and I are doing particularly towards the end of the second trimester. I asked about what I can do or take for my upper back pain, and the answer wasn't too promising. There isn't anything I can take, and tylenol doesnt cut it. My OB did say I could use a heating pad though, and if it continues I could be looking at physical therapy. Hopefully in a week or so I can get a pregnancy massage, and hopefully that will help!

I also asked about the possibility of progesterone shots and if he felt they would benefit me, and that led to a referal to a perinatalologist. Progesterone shots can help prevent preterm labor for women with a short cervix. That isn't necessarily the case for me, but the Perinatal center will evaluate the benefits for me. This is where I am "officially" classified as high-risk, no big shock there I knew that all along. The Perinatal center will also do the anatomy ultrasound at 18 weeks, HOPEFULLY revealing the gender!!! Five more weeks!! Perinatalologist consult appointment is Tuesday, March 13th @ 1PM. When I called to schedule my consult appoint, the girl taking my information asked me what I was indicated high risk for... when I said "unicornate uterus", I don't think she knew what that was, she made me repeat it! It is very rare and there is very little information on it, trust me I have read EVERYTHING I can find! Oh and with going to a perinatalogist, I might even get more ultrasounds out of this too!

I took Emoree to IKEA last night looking at big girl beds! She is very excited. I am not ashamed to say that we co-sleep, but I think now is a good time to try to get her into her own bed, and redecorating her room somewhat before I start putting together the nursery. Also, I need her crib/toddler bed mattress for the crib for the baby, so it is time to move her to a twin bed anyway! Last night was her first night falling asleep in her own bed, and she did very well. We talked all day about not sleeping in Mommy's bed anymore, and she happily repeated "no more Mommy's bed" all day. We looked at bedding sets at Target, and picked out a bed at IKEA. Last night she layed down in her bed, no tears, but it did take her an hour to fall asleep. I tried staying in the next room, and she got up once so I came in her room and sat in the chair next to her bed until she fell asleep. Around 1:15am she woke up and tried to climb in my bed, and I walked her back to her bed and she was alseep within 5 minutes no problem. She came back to my bed at 4:30am, and I didn't want to get up to take her back to her room so I let her stay... but I will call it a sucessful first night! We haven't bought anything yet for her new bed, I might take her to Target tomorrow to buy the new bedding set. We are going back to IKEA next week to buy the bed.

No belly shot today. I might add one to the blog tomorrow if I have time to take one. I also havent picked up a crochet hook all week either, been busy!!

13 Weeks: 187.4lbs (-1.2 lbs)





Day 21: The Two Week Wait Starts

I had my second IUI today at 1PM! I had 9 million sperm injected into my uterus! The procedure was again quick and painless. So the two week wait begins!

I am positive I ovulated between 8-9AM this morning... because after that point I have had awful cramping in my lower abdomen. I had to take tylenol when I got home from my IUI and take a two hour nap, feeling much better now.

I picked up my "intermittent FMLA leave" papers from work today and took them to the fertility center with me today.. better late then never, right? I didn't even think I'd need them until all that happened this week.. Regardless they told me they will be calling me next week for more info to fill out the paperwork, and it can take 7-10 days before they submit them. I'm not too concerned about it, as long as it gets done.

Now starting tomorrow until about 8 weeks of pregnancy I get to take prometrium twice a day. Sure, they look like basic capsules... they are not. They are a progesterone supplement used as a vaginal suppository twice a day (again, thanks to my lack of natural hormones). Progesterone helps with implantation of the embryo and helps with embryo growth, helping to prevent miscarriage.

My next update will be in a week or so... not much to say during the two week wait except waiting patiently and making myself crazy wondering if I am pregnant or not!!



Day 9: Monitoring continued.

Today (well technically yesterday, since it's just past midnight I'm a little late getting to this!) was day 9 and I went in for bloodwork and ultrasound this morning before work. I love 7AM appointments, they get you in and out pretty quick! Didn't even have to pay for parking because I was there less than 30 minutes. My blood draw today was from one of my favorite techs who I remember from 4 years ago who I had not yet seen this cycle! She is good, I did not feel a thing. Today my ultrasound was done by my actual doctor too! I was a little disappointed after my ultrasound I must admit... I did not have any follicles over 10mm. I do have 12 follicles in my right ovary as of today, and I do have two that are leading. They must be close at 8mm or 9mm, the doctor just doesn't measure them if they are under 10mm.  They told me my uterus lining is good at 7mm. My estrogen level today was 107, I was hoping for over a hundred this time so that increased well!! I go back in 3 days, on Tuesday which will be CD 12.

I am continuing with 100IU of Follistim each evening as well. I am hoping I get to use the trigger shot on Day 12 or 13, because otherwise I am going to run out of Follistim and I don't want to have to buy more!! Four years ago when I had Emoree I did my trigger shot on CD12, and I hope it is close to the same this time. Fingers crossed!

Next update Tuesday!

Day 6: Monitoring + etc.

First thing I've got to say is I don't know how all of you "normal" women deal with having a period every month. It can seriously GO AWAY now! 6 days is too long!

Anyway, after 3 days of Follistim at 75IU I went back in for ultrasound and bloodwork monitoring this morning. The doctor didn't say anything during my ultrasound this morning, but I did peak at the computer before I left and saw my uterus lining was about 10 mm, and the other measurements were just of my ovary, not of individual follicles, which I must admit I am a little disapointed about. He said I would most likely be coming back in 2 days, but to wait until I got the phone call this afternoon to see what the bloodwork said.

So I got the phone call, and my estrogen level was 60.2 which is a slight increase and a teeny step in the right direction, but no LH response, which my initial reaction was it is a little early for a LH surge anyway. They decided to up my Follistim to 100IU for 3 nights, and they want to see me back in 3 days (on Saturday) for bloodwork and ultrasound, which will be CD9.  I really, really hope I get SOME kind of follicle measurements on Day 9... or I may be a little heartbroken. My boobs have been sore, my lower abdomen has been cramped, I really felt like the Follistim was working appropriately so I was really suprised to be told to up my dose.

I did my injection of 100IU of Follistim tonight hoping and praying that I will not have to buy an additional vial. I've also been scowering the internet for similiar stories and blogs from women who have been in the same spot as me and I probably shouldn't have because now I am more anxious, worried, and a little discouraged. There are some really sad heartbreaking stories out there. I vow that I will not look up any more information on the internet about estrogen levels, LH surges, or follicle growth.

Hopefully I will have a better update on Saturday...

Day 3.. starting injection time!

Weekends at the fertility center are busy in the morning! The waiting room was packed. I had bloodwork and an ultrasound this morning at my 8AM appointment, I was only there for an hour. My veins didn't want to cooperate this morning, so I had to get stuck twice :-/ Anyway, I got the phone call earlier than I expected today! They said they would call back between 2PM-7PM for instructions, I got the call right at 2PM! Everything checked out good to start my IUI cycle! My estrogen level was 53.0, and my FSH level was 5.33. I am to take 75IU of Follistim tonight, tomorrow, and Tuesday and go back in for bloodwork and ultrasound on Wednesday morning. So exciting! I already took my injection tonight, since I am planning to do them at 8PM every night because it is best to do it around the same time each evening. I took the expensive little vial out of the fridge and put it in the cartridge pen, but not before reading over the instructions for the 20th time. I know I know I've done this before, 4 years ago, but I just want to be sure I do it right! I was again suprised at how the needle doesn't hurt! It is one of those little ultra fine needles.

Tomorrow I need to call the fertility center to set up my appointment for Wednesday morning, since I had missed the call today and had gotten all of the above information off of my voicemail. I'm so excited! I'm slightly nervous as to how crazy hormonally nuts the medications are going to make me over the next week or two... but in the end it is all worth it!!

Day 2

I feel like I haven't updated forever, but up until now there hasn't been anything going on! So anyway, I just wanted to do a quick update before tomorrow. Today is Day 2 of my cycle, so tomorrow (Day 3) I have an appointment at 8AM (yes, even on a Sunday!) for bloodwork and ultrasound. As long as that checks out okay, I will start the Follistim injections tomorrow evening to start maturing those follicles!!

On the topic of medications, it might not be a listed side effect but I would swear that Provera can cause temporary short term memory loss. This past week I would have lost my head if it weren't attached. I lost my cell phone at Target on Black Friday (thankfully someone turned it in!), I seriously forgot what day it was on numerous occasions, and sometimes had no recollection of what I was doing just 15 minutes prior. Maybe it is just anxiety, but who knows! Hopefully that is overwith now. I'm ready to move forward!

I hope to have a more detailed update in the next day or two. We shall see!

Expensive little vial



I picked up my medications from the pharmacy this week. Without a blink, I pulled out my credit card and paid the $954.92 tab for 3 medications. A small price to pay for a priceless dream.
The 3 I picked up yesterday are Follistim 900IU, Ovidrel, and Prometrium. Follistim is a tiny little expensive vial ($852!) that does the magic that my whack hormones don't do. Once I start my cycle soon, I will inject it subcontaneously into my stomach every day for about 10-14 days to make the follicles grow in my ovary. Once the follicles are mature, I use the Ovidrel ($80) injection to release the eggs from the follicles. Then I will go in for the IUIs soon following. The Prometrium is capsules inserted vaginally 2x a day starting the day after the IUI through about 10 weeks of pregnancy. Prometrium is a progesterone supplement that helps prevent miscarriage for women whos progesterone levels are naturally low or non-existent.

I went to my OB-GYN today for a violation exam > . <  aka pap-smear. My favorite question is always the "what form of birth control do you use?" it throws me off guard because I am not sexually active, which I guess isn't normal for someone about to TTC! The GYN visit was the last check on my list to get started!!! I'm sooooo excited! My OB today briefly flipped over my medical history today (he was my OB and delivered Emoree) and told me he hopes to see me back by Valentine's Day growing Emoree a little brother :o) He told me that with this pregnancy the baby will most likely be breech and early as well, and that I will most likely be on bed rest at 30 weeks. Whatever I have to do to make it to 36 weeks!

Tomorrow morning at 7AM I go in for bloodwork and ultrasound for the okay to start taking Provera for 7 days. This med starts a period for women who don't have a normal cycle, which I have gone 11 months without one before. Have I mentioned how excited I am?? Time is not moving fast enough I am so anxious to start!!