Bubble

Short and sweet...from here on out, Baby L will be referred to as our little Bubble. 

How cute is that?!  :-)

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Just got back from ultrasound number 2.  Since my lab results were looking good, I haven't been feeling too concerned.  In fact, I've been more than relaxed about things.  Which is weird.  I started thinking, well, there's no indication anything's really happening; but on the same token, there's not indication anything's wrong either.  So I decided to just go along for the ride.  Maybe the reason I'm not worried is because there's no reason to be.  It's like that motherly instinct has already kicked in.

Anyway, I was feeling super exhausted last week.  Taking daily naps, which is really out of my comfort zone.  But the past few days I've been feeling pretty normal.  Almost threw up yesterday while I was brushing my teeth, and got a little excited about it (although glad it was almost!).  Otherwise, my big boobs and tight pants are about all that's different about me these days.  Nate might say I'm moody and emotional...but who asked that jerk?!  ;-)

So back to the ultrasound.  Doc said my last u/s measured 4 weeks 6 days.  That kinda concerned me because, according to my calculations -- and I am the expert here -- I would have been 5 weeks 3 days.  Not sure how I could have been that far off, and made me wonder if something might be wrong.  Today they were estimating I'd be 6 weeks 4 days, which is five days short of my estimate, but, in any case, is far enough along to see a heartbeat.  I decided not to argue and just went with it.

Probe in.  Picture on.  There it was.  Our little baby's beating heart!  Yep.  Just fluttering away like nobody was watching.  Oh, and not only that.  The little bugger measured in at 7 weeks and 2 days.  Whose calculation did that match up with...ahem... EXACTLY?  Oh, that's right...MINE!  As they say, Mother knows best. 

Here he/she/it is.  Hmm...need to come up with some kinda nickname.  Bean?  Peanut?  Pumpkin?  I'll let you know when the verdict is in.

P.S.  Gained 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks.  I know they say you aren't really supposed to eat for two, but it's so much more fun that way!  Guess I should cut back on the sugar.  Definitely enjoying my carbs, though!  Next u/s May 10th.

6 weeks and counting

Today marks the beginning of week 6.  I was feeling pretty relaxed, but my nerves are starting to get the better of me.  I'm anxious to have another blood test to make sure my numbers are increasing.  Have seven days to go until my next appointment.

So far, my slightly enlarged chest is the only indication that I'm carrying another life inside of me.  Like the first time around, I'm just hoping any minute now I'll be barfing, or at least feeling like I want to.  I'm on Google and pregnancy board overload and I'm having a hard time not comparing my story to everyone else's.  Of course, if my story wasn't what it is, I might not be feeling any worry at all.  After all, the first time around I never believed anything bad could happen.  Now I'm stuck with experience that has tainted my perception of things.

Praying for time to pass quickly enough that we'll be "out of the woods" soon, but not so quickly that I forget to enjoy it.

Leave it to me to be early

Ultrasound went well today, but we're a little early.  Heartbeat usually shows up around 6 weeks...I'm only 5 weeks 3 days.  In any case, we got a gestational sac and yolk sac.  Here is the future temporary home of our baby-in-the-making:

Hip, hip, hooray!!

Doc called this morning.  Labs came out excellent!  hCG = 5000 (I think the highest we ever got before was 810).  Normal hCG for 5 weeks is 18 - 7,340.  Even though anywhere in the range is "normal," I feel like I aced this one!

As far as progesterone, well, not only was it normal, but -- in true over-achiever fashion -- it was high!  Doc looks for 20; we "scored" 33.  Woo-freaking-hoo!  Remember those feel-like-you-peed-your-pants-all-day suppositories they made me use after the IUIs?  Yep...I get to skip them this go-round!

I'm feeling extra encouraged today.  Still no major symptoms aside from my engorged and sensitive boobies, but at least things are looking up.  Though, wouldn't mind a little morning barf session just to seal the deal.

Tomorrow's agenda: Ultrasound.  With any luck (and I mean luck...doc says we really shouldn't be able to see anything this early), we'll have a fetal pole.  Would love a little heartbeat too, but don't want to put too much pressure on Baby L just yet.

Meeting the new doc

Had my first visit with my new OB yesterday.  I like her.  Her bedside manner beats the crap out of Baby #1's doc.  She actually listened to me detail pretty much everything that's happened over the last year.  She looked me in the eye when she talked to me.  As much as I hated the long wait in the lobby, I sincerely appreciate that she takes that time with each of her patients.  We are in good hands!

According to her calculations, I'm 5 weeks 6 days today.  Since I'm so amazingly in tune with my body these days, I know I'm actually 5 weeks 1 day.  Sounds like a technicality, but I'm thinking 5 days makes a pretty big difference when you look at the rapid development going on in there.

Will get my hCG lab results back today and progesterone labs tomorrow.  First ultrasound in two days, though we're not supposed to see anything other than where implantation happened.

No symptoms yet, except for slightly-larger-than-normal boobs.  I seriously grope myself every chance I get just to make sure they haven't gone back to normal.

Back to work today after a two-week Spring Break hiatus.  Thankfully I'll have something else to keep my mind occupied for a while.