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.

Third time's a charm???

Well, folks, here we are again.  Certainly pregnant, but not feeling so certain.

I'm 5 weeks today.  On my last "date" with my hubby, I just knew it happened.  I tried not to obsess, mostly successfully.  A week and a day after ovulation, I left for New York with my mom and sis.  Trying to keep things under wraps, I discreetly peed on a stick every morning before my shower.  Four days straight.  Negative.  Negative.  Negative.  Negative.

How could it be?  I was SO sure.  Granted it was still a little early...Aunt Flo wasn't due to arrive for another couple days.  But those pee-on-a-sticks are supposed to be accurate up to 6 days before your missed period.  Liars.

Since things have been running right on schedule since Paleo entered my life, I found it odd when I was a day late.  I know.  It's only a day.  I've been off of Paleo for a while because, let's face it, I missed carbs.  And sugar.  And popcorn.  And...well, you get the idea.  Could I have stopped ovulating again???

What the heck, I'll take one more test to confirm.  The day after returning from New York -- and the day before moving into our new home (yay!) -- there it was.  That wonderful, wonderful word spelled out in digital letters: PREGNANT.

Playing catch-up

What a difference a diet makes*.

After our last IUI, we decided to take some time off and enjoy the holidays.  And that we did!  Since our little niece entered the world in October, the whole Lattimore fam ventured out to California for Christmas.  It was so nice to see everyone and spend some time with Kaitlyn Joy.  We had a fantastic end to 2012, but were looking forward to bigger and better things in the year to come.

*So on to the new diet...I decided that in the meantime between fertility treatments I would do whatever I could to help my cause.  The easiest place to start: nutrition.  Anyone that has seen me through my WeightWatchers journey/struggle/obsession knows that when I get serious, I get serious.  And as much as I L-O-V-E food, I somehow find it easy to manage when I put my mind to it.  Chalk it up to the control freak in me on a power trip when it feels like everything in my life is on a rampage.  Keep in mind, it had been 10 months since I had ovulated without medical intervention.

I kept coming across stories of women with PCOS who were seeing pretty immediate results on the Paleo (caveman) diet.  It's the easiest set of rules I've ever had to follow: Seeds, nuts, fruit, veggies, lean meats; avoid carbs, grains, sugar, dairy, and anything that comes pre-packaged.  My favorite part: red wine is A-OK!  I'm in!!  (By the way, PaleOMG is the place to go for recipes!)

Two weeks later, voila!  My little seedlings were back in action!

My first thought: We just spent thousands of dollars on fertility treatments and all I had to do was eat a salad instead of a sandwich?!

My second thought: HALLELUJAH!!

Five months later, not only am I still droppin' eggs, but they're right on time for the first time in my entire life as a "woman." 

1 week, 6 days

Well, the two week wait will be over tomorrow.  Although, to be honest, the "wait" part really ended a day or two ago.  For anyone who's been through the dreaded 2WW, you know that there's no way to get through 14 days without an arsenal of at-home pee-on-a-sticks.  So, of course, I started testing on Monday.

I had a feeling in my gut.  I already knew the answer.  5 days and 6 big fat negatives later, I think it's safe to say we will not be welcoming a new baby next July.

We had no idea when we made our plan to start a family that God had a totally different idea in mind.  Who knows what it is, but maybe someday we'll be gifted with the blessing of a little one.

Until then, you probably won't hear much (if anything) from me here.  We've decided to enjoy the end-of-the-year holidays sans hormones and doctor appointments.

If, by some miracle, tomorrow's blood test proves otherwise, you'll be the first to know. 

-- Until next time