Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Here are a few pictures from the Memorial Day Celebration at Savannah's School today.  She started Pre-School this past February for speech delay.  She is doing very well but is still very shy.  I think she was the only child who didn't sing when her class did a little performance.  Of course, I cried!

New flag sent for the school from a child's father who is stationed in Korea.

Savannah is the sweetie holding the stuffed cow (her bff Bobby O')

Savannah's class getting ready to do a performance of "Your a Grand Old Flag"

Quick lunch at Arby's (her first ever milkshake-as you can tell she loved it!)

We will be bringing Savannah to her FIRST parade on Monday in my hometown with my parents!  We are super excited!  She is going to have so much fun!

7 Weeks

How far Along: 7 weeks

Size of Baby:  Half an inch long; the size of a blueberry.
 
The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.
If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.

Maternity Clothes: Not yet but I will be in them far before I ever thought I would.  I am OK in the morning but as the day goes on I get very bloated.  By bed I look 5 months pregnant.  I usually wear my clothes form fitting so they don't have much room for growth.  I wasn't in maternity clothes with Savannah until 20ish weeks.

Weight Gian: I am happy to report I am doing well in this department thus far

Stretch Marks: None

Belly Button: Still in & belly button ring in as well

Sleep:  A tad better than last week.  I have noticed I am most comfortable on my left side.  My bloated belly is my main problem.  I just can't find a comfortable position at night.  I wake up 1x to pee and a few times to simply toss and turn.

Best Moment of the Week: Reaching 7 weeks!  This has been an uneventful (thankfully) week so I am just happy for every "uneventful" pregnant day!  I am not taking this pregnancy for granted.  On a less serious note: last Friday night I had cheese pizza from my FAVORITE pizza house for dinner.  That was pretty rockin'.

Movement: Not yet but I have heard you feel it earlier the 2nd time around.  Time will tell!

Symptoms:  I have been far less nauseated but just as tired.  The bloating has been the same if not a little worse.  I just would say I feel "uncomfortable" most of the time.  It's nothing I can't handle but I just wanted to be honest with my reports.  My biggest complaint is I have NO ENERGY.  I know it will return.  It is just hard keeping up with a 3 year old all day and night when all you want to do is sit.

Food Cravings/Aversions:  Not too much to report.  No real cravings.  I have been having Ovaltine and milk every night with dinner and it has never tasted so good!  I am pretty much the same as last week where nothing sounds appetizing.

Gender: 12 more weeks!

What I Miss:  Having energy and sleeping well at night.  I know these two areas will be far worse in the third trimester.

Looking Forward to:  I am looking forward to our next doctor appointment in a few weeks.  I am also looking forward to sharing our news with our friends and families.  All we have told is our parents, my brother in law & his girlfriend and my Jay's grandparents.  We will see my Memere this weekend and I will tell her.  We would like to have a fe more weeks under our belt before everyone else knows.

Weekly Wisdom:

Milestones:  7 weeks!

Dreams:  Nothing

Week 7 belly shot



Back to normal

Ahhhhhh!  I feel like a million dollars today and it sure is great!  I slept fairly well last night so I am sure that helped a ton!  I still am nauseated but not anything like the past week.  yesterday afternoon I felt like junk and I was trying to figure out what we would have for dinner.  I feel so bad for Jay and Savannah because I haven;t been cooking ANYTHING.  Nothing "sounds" good to me EVER.  It really stinks.  So yesterday I said I need to have something kinda decent.  We ended up having Breakfast for dinner.  We made a big fresh fruit salad, scrambled eggs and homemade waffles in our waffle maker.  Sooooo yummy!  I told Jay we should have breakfast for dinner weekly!  It was super fab!  I felt good that I had fruit & eggs.  The waffles arent' exactly healthy but I figured it was OK since I don't use syrup.  I had a glass of OJ and that really hit the spot.

Today I am watching my nephew (my cousin's son) all day.  Sometimes I get nervous having 2 kiddos in the house but usually it turns out to be easy.  Joe is 18 months and such a good little boy.  He occupies Savannah and keeps her out from under my feet.  She is a good little Mommy to him.  They play so well together.  This morning they played in the living room like little angels.  I was able to clean the bathroom that is attached to our kitchen, put the china away from Easter brunch & clean up the kitchen.  Now we are all up in the playroom hanging out.  I am doing a few loads of laundry while to kids poke around.

We have a super busy weekend coming up.  Tomorrow we are going to an "Open House" at a local tractor store.  Jay is buying a new bagger for his lawn tractor and they are supposed to have a bounce house for the kids.  After that we are going out to lunch and then to Barney LIVE at the Hanover Theatre.  Savannah will LOVE seeing Barney.  Sunday we have our friends, Jay & Joy, daughter's 5th birthday.  They are having an indoor pool party.  Should be fun but I could go without having to wear a bathing suit in front of all these people I don't know!

6 Weeks

How Far Along: 6 Weeks

Size of Baby: Your baby is 0.16 to 0.2 inches long (4-5mm) when measured from crown to rump. It is now identifiable as a human baby.  The limb buds are growing rapidly, developing into little fins with nodules at the ends which will eventually become fingers and toes. The arms have already differentiated into hand and shoulder segments. The cerebral hemispheres of the brain are growing, and the eyes and nostrils are appearing. Your baby's heart bulges from its body and the heart chambers are divided and formed. Blood vessels now circulate blood throughout the whole body. The head looks large and is bent on the chest.  Your baby's face is forming, but its eyes are on the sides of its head and are still sealed. The discs that will become your baby's eyes will move over to the front of the face over the course of the next few months.  Bone cells are beginning to develop and the outline of the baby's nervous system is complete. The pigment in your baby's eyes can be seen under the skin overlaying them. By this point there is also a pancreas and an appendix. The tail is still visible, but it will soon fade. The umbilical cord is growing and the placenta is maturing as well.

Maternity Clothes:  Not yet

Weight Gain:  

Stretch Marks:  None


Belly Button:  In



Sleep:  This is a very sore subject at the moment.  I think I have gotten one decent nights sleep since I found out I was pregnant.  I was hoping after I went for my appointment that would help, but no such luck last night.  It takes me 20 minutes to a half hour to fall asleep.  I wake up 1x to pee.  I will wake early (like 4am or 5am and not being able to fall back asleep.  No matter how long I have slept I wake feeling tired and like I haven't slept in days.

Best Moment of the Week:  Seeing our "spec" on the ultrasound screen along with seeing & hearing the heartbeat    

Movement:  Wayyyyyy to early

Symptoms:   ALWAYS tired and ALWAYS nauseous.  I pretty much have no appetite at all.  I am going to start a food journal and log everything I eat.  I haven't been doing well with intake over the past week.

Food Cravings/Aversions:  Craving nothing and aversion to everything but cereal & grilled cheese.

Gender:   Chinese Gender Chart says BOY

What I Miss:  Sometimes I miss coffee but not too badly

What I'm Looking Forward to:  Telling everyone.  So far we have only told our parents & grandparents.  I would like to hold out another 4-6 weeks for telling everyone.  I am not sure if that is possible.

Weekly Wisdom:  Don't sweat the small stuff

Milestones:  Reaching the 6 week marker, 1st OB appointment yesterday & 1st Ultrasound

Dreams:  This past Friday or Saturday I had a dream that I missed Karly's Baby Shower.  I thought the shower was at like 6pm and it was really at 2pm.  I was FREAKING out when I realized I had missed it.

Other Info: 5/17:  First ultrasound.  Heartbeat of 119 and baby is measuring at 5w6d.

Freaking Out!

Today I have an appointment at 2pm with Edna and for and ultrasound.  I am not going to lie.....I am freaking out!!!

Crazy Sunday

Boy today turned into a crazy Sunday!  Jay and I dropped Savannah off at his parents house first thing this morning so we could go to the Charlton house (house my husband is buliding for a client) to clean.  On our way to the house we stopped at a small local diner for a nice breakfast.  We cleaned for a few hours and then picked up Savannah.  I had to quickly get ready because Karly's baby shower was this afternoon at 2pm.  This is her 3rd baby but her first girl.  She just had a small family & close friends shower.  All she asked for was clothing for Kenzie (my goddaughter!!!).  Before we ate Karly opened her girft.  We were about 1hour into the shower when I started feeling very hot, nausious & having horrible middle of the belly cramps.  It was no fun at all.  The cramps were VERY intense and very scary.  My sister in law, Kate, was also at the shower.  I was trying to act normal because she doesn't know that I found out I was pregnant (we haven't told anyone except Karly).  I told Karly I wasn;t feeling well and I was going to go outside for some fresh air.  When I got to the car I located a plastic bag from Savannah's travel potty just in case I were to become sick.  I stayed outside for about 5 minutes and I was feeling awful.  The thought of going back inside made me feel worse.  I just wanted to lay down.  I contumplated calling Jay to come pick me up but I knew he couldn't as it was Savannah's nap time.  I then sent Kate a text telling her I wasn;t feeling well and that I was outside.  I told her I had to leave and asked her if she could bring me my purse.  I knew I was going to have to tell her what was going on when she came out.  Kate & Karly came out a few minutes later.  I felt so bad and was hoping I wasn;t causing a scene at her baby shower but I felt so bad and I was so scared that I was going to start bleeding.  Karly told me she thought I have Evening Sickness.  She said she had similar symptoms while pregnant with Connor.  She told be to just relax and that hopefully this meant I was having a boy.  I thanked her for being so understanding.  I told Kate that I was expecting and like I suspected she was sooooooo happy & excited.  I told her we hadn;t told anyone yet because of what happened in November & that I was going to the doctor on Tuesday.  She said she hoped I felt better and that she wouldn't tell anyone.  I was able to drive myself home and I immediatelty asked Dr. Google about my symptoms.  Many many mant websites popped up saying my symptoms were normal.  That really helped to ease my mind.  I layed down for about and hour and started feeling better after being in bed for about 40 mintues.  I relaxed and took it easy for the remainer of the evening.  Maybe I started feeling ill becuase I skipped lunch.  I don't know.

I will feel so much better after my appointments on Tuesday.  I will feel even better in another 6 weeks!

How do I say goodbye

I read this on someone else's blog (she stated she found it on a Pregnancy Loss website).  I want to save this so whenever I am missing my angel I can read it.


How do I say goodbye ... when I didn't get to say hello?
I want so bad to keep you ... how do I let you go?
I have so many dreams, so much love I want to share
There's nothing I can do ...why is life unfair?
You're my perfect angel...I dreamed you long ago
I never got to hold you but it breaks my heart to let you go
The pain and confusion I feel inside
I can not explain...I can not describe
God will rock you in your cradle and watch you as you sleep
I will love you in my heart ... it's all I get to keep
you are blessed my child ... you're in heaven up above
You'll never be alone...you have Mommy & Daddy's love
Hush my little baby...you need not ever cry
You were always wanted! I wish you didn't die
You'll be my sunshine in the daylight and the brightest star at night
Reach for God's hand and go to the light
I would rather endure the pain of losing you right now
Then the thought of you suffering thru life...we'll get thru somehow
I was blessed to have you briefly...even though I have to let you go

Second HCG & 5 weeks 1 day

4,855!!!

I don't know what I was expecting but I wasn't expecting it to be THAT high!  I told the nurse that I had an appointment scheduled for Wednesday and I was wondering if Edna always orders a u/s to detect heartbeat and official due date.  She said yes and I asked if I would request to have both appointments on the same day.  I told her that I didn't mind if the appointment had to be pushed back a week or so to accommodate.  She said she would check with Edna and call me back.  It wasn't even 10 minutes and another nurse called to say they could see me on Tuesday at 2pm.  Yahoo!  I asked the nurse (just to be sure) that if everything as good, does she think we would see a heartbeat on Tuesday.  She said yes because my hormone level is high.  Just talking about this is giving me a little anxiety.  In a good way.  I am getting excited and this is feeling more "real".

Tuesday, April 26th

I have become obsessed with the fact that I have been TTC since September 2010 with no luck.  Well I did have some luck in October of 2010 but that was short lived and resulted in a miscarriage (D&C) in November of 2010.  My recent guilty pleasure has brought me to infertility blogs.  In a strange way it brings me comfort ~ I am not alone in my heart ache.  Even thought I do not know these other women I feel like we share a slight similarity.  I don’t think that anyone in my real life understands how I feel.  I still feel as if everyone else is able to move on with life but I am stuck.  It has been 5 months since my loss and my heart still aches.  I will continue to ache until I am blessed with another so today I am starting my own journal.  I figure this will help me document and keep track of my “symptoms” and hopefully help me understand my own body better which in turn will help me become pregnant.

First HCG Results

Monday, May 09, 2011

4 weeks & 5 days, 247 days to go- 8:20am: So I just spoke with the nurse at Edna’s office and my HCG Quant Level was 921.  The nurse said that was normal considering the date of my last period.  The doctor hasn’t reviewed my results yet so they will get back to me.  I told her to please tell the doctor that I would like the lab repeated so we have something to compare it to.  Online says 4 weeks LMP: 5 - 426 mIU/ml.  So that gives me some piece of mind.  Last time (in November) my results were 2744 and then 2933.  I don’t remember the dates exactly but my last period was 9/16 and I had the D & C on 11/11 (Veteran’s Day).  I figure I was about 7 weeks when I had the blood work before.  Today’s blood work does give me some piece of mind because at 7 weeks the results should be 7 - 8 weeks LMP: 7,650 - 229,000 mIU/ml.

Thursday, May 5th

So it turns out the The Infertile Fertile is PREGNANT!  That’s right.  I am due for my period and have been experiencing PMS symptoms so I really didn’t think I was pregnant.  I had already decided (and discussed with Jay over dinner last night) that if in fact this cycle were a bust I would be calling Edna to see what the next step is.  So it looks like I will be calling her for some blood work.

I woke up in anticipation of my period.  I figured I would take a pregnancy test to ease my mind in case my period didn’t come until later tonight or tomorrow.  So I pee in the cup and dip the stick.  It quickly turns to positive.  Now I told myself that “when” I ever receive a BFP I will not get overly excited.  For some reason I wouldn’t be as let down with another loss if I don’t let myself get excited.  Yeah. OK, as if that would work.   So here I am all excited.  I just can’t help it.  I am trying to not think too far into the future “just in case”.  We will not tell anyone (except maybe Karly) until we see a heartbeat.  We will try and hold out until 12 weeks if that is possible.

So today I weight 129 and will have to give up coffee & Weight Watchers.  That kind of stinks but all worth it.  I will be back to both before I know it!  I’ll take some pictures and post them today.  I am going to do a better job documenting this pregnancy than I did with Savannah’s.  I had no idea what I was letting pass me by.  But this pregnancy will hopefully be my last so I don’t want to let anything go by undocumented.

As of today (Per TheBump.com):  4 weeks & 1 day & 251 days remaining.  Baby's now the size of a poppy seed!  Now safe in your womb, the ball of cells (blastocyst) is splitting into the embryo (your future child) and placenta. Outside this microscopic speck, the amniotic sac and fluid are forming into protective cushioning.  Your tiny little baby is busily settling into her new home (your uterus), though it may just feel like PMS to you. So in addition to the miracle of life, you can also welcome these beautiful first gifts of motherhood: bloating, cramping, and maniacal mood swings.

Tomorrow Savannah and I have an appointment at The Picture People for Mother’s Day pictures.  After our appointment we will stop at Edna’s office for a blood draw.  Let hope our numbers are good.  I will insist on another draw next week to make sure they are increasing at a steady rate.  On May 18^th I will have my first pre-natal with Edna.  Karly will watch Savannah for me.  That will be in two weeks so I will be 6 weeks.  I am not sure if they will have me do an ultrasound or not but I will tell Edna that I want one.  I will feel better when I see a heartbeat.

I am feeling very guarded however I am not feeling the “complete shock” and disbelief that I was with the other pregnancy.  I took 3 pregnancy tests last time because I just couldn’t believe it was true.  This time I feel it is true and I also feel a sense of calmness.  I hope it’s my instincts telling me everything will be ok.  I am not freaking or stressing like one may think I would.  We will take one day at a time.  I am “enjoying being pregnant.”  Let’s just hope I can enjoy it for 10 months!

Your Baby:

Implantation is complete. Your future baby has now reached beneath the lining of your uterus and growth is rapid. Your baby is now called an embryo. The embryo is still about 0.05 inches (1.25mm) long. It is deeply embedded in your uterus.

It is now possible to identify the fold of skin that will become your baby's head. A heart forming plate has developed and the central nervous system, muscles and bone are in the early stages of development. Your baby's heart has started beating. The brain, spine and beginnings of the nervous system are forming.

By the end of this month, your baby will resemble a tiny tadpole, barely the size of a grain of rice. A distinct organization, however, is becoming visible. There is a stripe down the back of the embryo which is curling over to form a groove which will seal up to form the neural tube. This will turn into the spinal cord and brain. The top of the tube is flattening out and expanding to form the front part of the brain.

The placenta, which will provide nourishment to your developing baby later in your pregnancy, is not yet formed. Right now your baby is nourished from you via hundreds of tiny "roots" that cover the amniotic sac. The nourishment is channeled from you to your baby from these roots through a stalk that will become the umbilical cord. The placenta will begin its development this week. It will form in the site that the fertilized egg attached to the lining of your uterus at the time of implantation. A bulge is developing where your baby's heart will be and the blood vessels are growing into place.

Your Body:

Implantation is complete. Your future baby has now reached beneath the lining of your uterus and growth is rapid. Your baby is now called an embryo. The embryo is still about 0.05 inches (1.25mm) long. It is deeply embedded in your uterus.

It is now possible to identify the fold of skin that will become your baby's head. A heart forming plate has developed and the central nervous system, muscles and bone are in the early stages of development. Your baby's heart has started beating. The brain, spine and beginnings of the nervous system are forming.

By the end of this month, your baby will resemble a tiny tadpole, barely the size of a grain of rice. A distinct organization, however, is becoming visible. There is a stripe down the back of the embryo which is curling over to form a groove which will seal up to form the neural tube. This will turn into the spinal cord and brain. The top of the tube is flattening out and expanding to form the front part of the brain.

The placenta, which will provide nourishment to your developing baby later in your pregnancy, is not yet formed. Right now your baby is nourished from you via hundreds of tiny "roots" that cover the amniotic sac. The nourishment is channeled from you to your baby from these roots through a stalk that will become the umbilical cord. The placenta will begin its development this week. It will form in the site that the fertilized egg attached to the lining of your uterus at the time of implantation. A bulge is developing where your baby's heart will be and the blood vessels are growing into place.

Tuesday, May 3rd

So I haven’t been doing a very good job at my Blog attempt.  I guess I will just give it another try.  My period is expected on Thursday and I am experiencing NO pregnancy symptoms.  Needless to say, I am fully expecting my period.  No hops up this month.  But I am pleased to say that I have been temping every morning and keeping a fairly accurate chart.  I will try and chart “secretions” (I know, yuck!) next month.  If next cycle is a bust I fully plant on contacting Dr. H for assistance and direction on what we can do.

In other news, Osama Bin Laden was found and killed yesterday very early in the morning.  He and a few others were found inside a compound in Pakistan.  He was shot in the head and then buried at sea.  There has been a lot of back and forth on Facebook with everyone expressing their feelings on this.  Most are happy that the world is rid of him but some are “deeply saddened.”  That is a whole other post in itself.  I for one am so happy he is gone.