26 Weeks

I have been awful at keeping this thing up and going now that I am actually pregnant, so just as February is ending I thought I better get a post in. Everything has been going great. I am loving pregnancy, virtually no complaints, which has been nice. I figured I went through all my hell before getting pregnant so I think I deserve the smooth sailing now! I am getting a little uncomfortable at work since I have to stand all day long, but I bought a pregnancy belly support band and that is helping. But I am sure that I am going to have to find ways to try to sit a little more at work in the last tri - which is quickly approaching. It will be tricky since we do have to move around a lot at the pharmacy, but hopefully I can work something out. 

Here are a couple more belly pics to see how things have been growing....

This is from 20 weeks.

Here is 24 weeks

I have been feeling the little babe moving quite a bit lately, which is nice. It's taken a long time to feel anything from the outside because I found out that I have an anterior placenta, which makes an extra cushion in the front so its a little harder to feel, but now that I am getting bigger its finally coming through to the outside. We still have yet to catch it at the right time so Micah can feel it, I feel like there is never a specific time that the baby is particularly active. My 20 week ultrasound went well, everything looked like it was supposed to! We didn't find out what we are having, as I wanted to have a surprise! Micah is protesting by growing out his beard - because he does want to know, but I just said too bad pal, the baby is in me and I don't want to know! So now I am just hoping that he will have an interview coming up and he will have to shave. :)

I go next week for my glucose test and then I will start going to see my midwife every 2 weeks! That is crazy, I feel like the time is going so fast, which in a way is good, I want to be holding my baby right now!! But also, there is so much to do to prepare for baby that I will take all the time I can get!!

18 Weeks

I am in my 18th week! I am so thankful and I am hoping all is still going well in there! I have an appointment on Monday and I am so excited for it! I am changing clinics, I was seeing an OB that I have been seeing for awhile, but I decided that I wanted to switch to a nurse midwife, so I have my first appointment with her on Monday. I was scheduled to go in for my big ultrasound next week but now since I am switching I will have my first appointment at the new clinic on Monday and hopefully I can schedule the ultrasound for the week after or sometime soon! 

Here is a pic of the belly! This was from Christmas Eve and I was 16 weeks. 

Pregnant!

Well the title says it all. 

I have known for quite some time, but I have been neglecting my little blog here. Oops. 

So here goes, its was pretty much the best surprise ever. It was October 4th, I had been feeling like I was about to get my period for about a week. I had gone online and ordered a 20 pack of cheapie pregnancy tests and some more pre-seed for a new cycle, and was getting amped for more Dr appointments and another round of injections. My order had come on the 3rd, so the morning of the 4th, my period hadn't come yet, so I thought what the hell, and I took one of my cheapie pregnancy tests. It was positive. I stared at it in disbelief. I went and got another test, this time a step up to my dollar store test, also positive. I started breathing a little faster. I went for the big guns and got out my digital test. I saw the most beautiful word. Pregnant. HOLY CRAP! I was freaking out and so damn excited. I ran downstairs and let the dogs out and called my RE. I told them that I had been on a break cycle but just took 3 positive pregnancy tests and wondered if I could come in to get a blood test, they said for same day results I would have to get in ASAP. So I said I would be there, let the dogs in, ran up to change and left. 

I came home about 30 minutes later, and Micah was awake. He said "Where were you, you didn't have to work this morning did you?" I said "No. I went to the doctors office." Pause. "Because I took 3 positive pregnancy tests this morning" I don't exactly remember what transpired next but it was mostly excitement, and him wondering what it would come of the blood test results. I suppose it is a little weird that I didn't wake him and tell him anything before I ran off to the Doctor, but I was in such a state of shock and disbelief that I just had to get there so that I could find out the same day!

I got a call later in the afternoon, the nurse basically just started off saying so what is the deal, we need to get you in later this week and so on and so fourth, but she didn't actually come out and say it was positive. I had to stop her and ask, "So was it positive?" and she said yes, I asked what the beta level was and it was 5359. 5359!! I had never seen such a huge number, from me at least. I was ecstatic! I called Micah and told him the news. I had my first  appointment on Friday the 7th. Micah came with me and we saw the egg sac and the yolk sac. My RE said that things looked good, but basically told us that it could be good if I was 5 weeks along but if I was more like 7 weeks then it wasn't going to be a viable pregnancy. So we were very cautiously excited until our next appointment which was about 2 weeks later on October 20th. 

Since my mothers 60th birthday was October 8th we decided to go ahead and tell our parents right away I knew that a grandbaby was going to be the best present ever for my mom, so I made her a little onsie seen below and gave her a little bib. 

It seemed like forever between our first two appointments and I was so nervous that they weren't going to see anything when we went back. We got to the appointment and waited and waited. Finally a nurse came out and said that the Dr was going to be awhile and asked if I wanted to wait, or if it was ok if she did the ultrasound. I thought it was just fine if she did it, I had seen her way more times than the Dr anyways, so I was comfortable with her. She was very happy for me as I hadn't seen her since I had cycled last, and she was thrilled that it happened without meds and all that fun stuff. So we had the ultrasound and saw a baby!  It was so little but you could actually see  a head and a body this time instead of just a little sac, it was so amazing. She got the heartbeat and that was great, and Micah and I were so relieved! At the end of the appointment I was told that I had officially graduated from the RE and I could go ahead and make an appointment with my OB, so I made an appointment with the OB that I had been seeing before I started infertility treatments. Here is the view of the little one from that day. 

That appointment was November 4th. I had a full workup with the OB and then she went to listen to the heartbeat and she couldn't hear anything. She tried to hear for several minutes to no avail. I was laying on the bed freaking out. She said that she wanted to see if they could get me in to an ultrasound last minute so they could look for the heartbeat. She was able to squeeze me in but I would have to wait a bit. I still had to get lab work done though so that would fill some of the time. After my lab work we sat and waited, in agony(!) for the ultrasound. Finally we were called in. As soon as she got the ultrasound up we could see the baby and the heartbeat. I had a huge sigh of relief. They said it was not uncommon to not hear the heartbeat externally at first but I was still freaking out until I saw that little heart flutter. We got more pictures that day, and you could see so much more. There were arm and leg buds and the head and body were more shaped, not just like a little kidney bean. It was so amazing. Here is the view of the little one from the first OB appointment. 

So now here I am 16 weeks and I am feeling great. I haven't had much morning sickness or anything, and I am in the second trimester, when that usually wears off anyways. I am so thankful each and every day that I am finally pregnant. All I wanted for Christmas was a baby, so I definitely got my wish.  Sure it needs to cook for about 5 1/2 more months but it will be worth the wait! I am due June 4th!

 

Ever-presence

I recently stumbled upon a New York Times site discussing infertility, and it had several sound bites of women talking about their experiences with infertility. All the women had dealt with infertility in different ways. Two women decided in the end to be child-free, two others adopted, another did IVF, and another was going to start injections (like I have been doing) but ended up pregnant before it got to that point. It was very interesting to hear them speak. Many of the things that they spoke about really resonated with me. I have felt many times like I just don't know how to put into words what I am feeling and going through. Since no one else that is close to me in real life has gone through this hell, its hard to describe. 


Here is some of what they said that I can really connect with. 


"I think the thing that people don't understand about infertility is the ever-presence that it has. It's in your life all the time. Because you don't know, your life is kind of on permanent hold. From month to month you can't quite make a decision about are you going to take a different job are you going to move, are you going to set aside money for a vacation because everything is all about trying figure out how to decode the mystery." -Pamela Mahoney Psigdinos


Like I had mentioned before I think about it ALL THE TIME. It is always present, and I can put on a good front, but it hurts to be confronted with things that you don't know if you will ever have. 


"Complete loss of control, you don't know what your life is going to be like"  -Barbara Collura


I used to have things all mapped out. When we got married I thought, ok when we are 25 we will start trying to have a baby. Well that came and I was teaching, so I thought, well I shouldn't get pregnant my first year teaching, so I decided to wait. Then I got laid off, probably shouldn't start trying with no job. So we waited. Finally we thought things were going to be more stable. So lets try......and try.....and try.... to no avail. For a year. Ok well that is pretty normal since my cycles weren't that regular. Ok so I will start the cheap and easy fertility meds. Great! People have lots of success with them. Cycle one, so excited, nope, nothing. Cycle two. Same. Cycle three, four, five, and six. Still nothing. Ok well that was enough of that. What's next.? Seeing a specialist. Neat! Injections? IUI? Scary, but lets do this!! Cycle one......nothing. Cycle two......positive! Miscarriage. What now? Break time. 


"It's never going to be like everyone else does it" -Rebecca Flick


I can't just have sex and have a baby. That would be WAY too easy. I mean it happens, miraculously, for many people. But it honestly boggles my mind. How can it happen? How can it be so easy for some people?  How come I can't be one of those people? 


I am just hoping that this break is over soon... I am just waiting for good old AF to show and then we can move on to IUI #3. The break has been nice, but we are getting into CD 40-something, and I am ready to move on!

Life

Well again there isnt really much to update about. It's ben a pretty busy month. I erroneously thought that things might calm down since I am down to one job! But the hours I have been getting at Target are kinda odd, so I haven't been getting much accomplished at home! I also keep getting scheduled long stretches without a day off, which sucks, but I guess that is the story of my life.

Last weekend we went to a wedding for my second cousin, it was a nice wedding. However, I left the ceremony feeling like a bitter infertile. It was a catholic service, and we aren't catholic, and seven times (7!!!) the priest mentioned things about children "when you are blessed with children," "the blessing of children" "will you accept children" etc. Every time he said something it was like a little knife to my heart. I even started crying. I suppose if people saw it they thought I was just crying happiness for the wedding! But no. It was just a reminder of what was so very absent in my life. I hated that the service left me feeling crabby. But I was able to somewhat snap out of it at the reception. I got my baby fix with my youngest cousin's baby who is just over a year old and cute as can be. I was nervous the whole time that people would ask Micah and I about when we were going to have kids, but luckily no one did. I know many know that we are having troubles, but I am glad they didn't bring it up because I am sure I would have been a fountain of tears.

Another baby fix that I am getting is one day a week nannying. One of the team leads at Target approached me at the end of August asking me if I would want to watch her kids one day a week. I told her that I would love to! So every Wednesday I watch a 3 year old and a 5 month old. They have been a lot of fun. The 3 year old, Owen, is huge into reading and practicing his letters, I also get to take him to preschool every Weds morning. The baby is super mellow and is just a doll. The only thing that has been somewhat challenging is when the baby and I go out while we are waiting for Owen during preschool. I get lots of compliments about her, which is great, but I so wish I could say thank you as if she were mine. I have been trying to just keep thinking how wonderful it will be once I have a baby of my own, and I can be a proud mama!

Stuck

Nothing really interesting to post about....but I haven't posted in awhile so I thought I should. The summer is officially over. I finished up my last day of teaching camp at the zoo yesterday. It was somewhat sad, it was such a fun (but way too fast!) summer, and I will be excited to teach again next summer, unless of course a baby comes along!!! For now its just back to Target. I am thankful for a job, but I really would like something more! We have been taking a real hard look at our finances and making a budget and things aren't looking very pretty! Between all the fertility treatments and other stupid large things that keep popping up its just no fun. So we both have been trying to find new jobs, because we are getting paid peanuts and we can't keep it up forever. I suppose it is good that we aren't pregnant right now so we can get this stuff back in order but on the same token if we had a baby we would have gotten this crap in order a long time ago! Oh well. Just one of those times when I am getting down thinking about how unfair it is that I have to pump so much money into MAKING A BABY, that is supposed to be the fun, FREE part! The expensive stuff is supposed to come after the baby is born!

I feel like I am just getting to this point where I am feeling quite stuck. Not only because we are taking a break this month. But also because I just feel like I am going through the motions of my life but I am not always totally there. Having a baby and getting pregnant are CONSTANTLY on my mind. I go to work and do what I am supposed to do, but when other thoughts are not on the forefront its right back to baby, or lack thereof. Can it happen for us? When is it going to happen for us? Why is infertility happening to us? It all just seems so unfair.

Break

So we are officially on a break. This past cycle was very stressful, and ended terribly, so we have decided to sit this next one out. We will still try, on our own, but there won't be any injections or multiple visits to the Dr involved. I think it will be a welcome change, but knowing that I can get pregnant with all the help, doesn't make me want to stop. But the stress of it all will not be missed. 


Recently on a board that I frequent someone said something about the Michael Buble song "Haven't Met You Yet" that I hadn't really put together, maybe because I'm slow... but they were talking about how it could be a song about infertility, and man did that hit home. Just check out the lyrics.

I'm not surprised. Not everything lasts.

I've broken my heart so many times I stopped keeping track.

Talk myself in. I talk myself out.

I get all worked up, then I let myself down.

I tried so very hard not to lose it.

I came up with a million excuses.

I thought I thought of every possibility.

And I know someday that it'll all turn out.

You'll make me work so we can work to work it out.

And promise you, kid, that I'll give so much more than I get.

I just haven't met you yet.

I might have to wait. I'll never give up.

I guess it's half timing,

And the other half's luck.

Wherever you are. Whenever it's right.

You'll come out of nowhere and into my life.

And I know that we can be so amazing.

And baby your love is gonna change me.

And now I can see every possibility.

But somehow I know that it'll all turn out.

And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out.

And I promise you, kid, I'll give so much more than I get.

I just haven't met you yet.

They say all's fair. In love and war.

But I won't need to fight it.

We'll get it right and, We'll be united.

And I know that we can be so amazing.

And being in your life is gonna change me.

And now I can see every single possibility.

And someday I know it'll all turn out.

And I'll work to work it out.

Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get,

Than I get, than I get, than I get.

You know it'll all turn out.

And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out.

And I promise you, kid, to give so much more than I get.

I just haven't met you yet.

I just haven't met you yet.

Ohh, promise you, kid, to give so much than I get.

(I said love, love, love, love...)
I just haven't met you yet

I just haven't met you yet.