16 Weeks

I hope everyone is enjoying reading my updates as much as I love writing them. Last week I had my 4 month check-up. The midwife found baby's heartbeat right away and it was 150. We scheduled our anatomy scan for September 20th and we are really excited to find out the gender. Scott and I have been making a list of names, but it only seems to be growing. We are still sticking to our original plan to keep the name to ourselves until Baby T makes his or her debut in February.
This past two weeks I think my belly has really popped out and I love it. I've been feeling a lot of stretching and can't imaging what it will be like when I get really big. Which, if you look at my pictures I am pretty sure I will be VERY big bu the end. But I am loving every minute of it!
I am rubbing my belly a lot and talking to the baby. Lately I've been telling baby that I want to feel him or her move but I haven't felt anything yet. Last week we went to a Detroit Tiger's game. Here is a picture of baby at baby's first game.

Baby T #1 Tiger's Fan - First Verlander Game!

And one of Mommy and Daddy at the game.

I've also decided to take a bare belly picture in the same clothes I was wearing for my 7 week picture. My sister Sara said that I should take pictures in the same clothes so you can really see the difference. Here it is!

7 Weeks

16 Weeks - Whoah Baby Belly!

14 Weeks - 2nd Trimester, We Have Arrived!!

I am thrilled to post that we have officially hit the 2nd Trimester of this pregnancy. I know there are so many exciting experiences to come. The first trimester went well, no morning sickness and I felt really good the entire way through. I hope the second one will be just as kind to me.
I have been having a bit of belly pain and stretching for the past two days, so it seems like I may really be growing some more. I am very happy that my belly is really now looking like I am actually pregnant. It is all feeling so good and so real.
I've been bad about posting pictures for the past two weeks. I will add the one I put on facebook last week which was taken at 13 weeks.
I survived camping last weekend and even braved tubing down the Muskegon River with all of our friends. We had a really good time and I think Baby T liked it!

And one at 14 weeks 4 days

13 Week Update

We hit 13 weeks into our pregnancy this Tuesday and we are so excited. It has been a week filled with a lot of milestones. First, I am almost completely out of 'regular' clothes and am moving on to maternity clothes. As of Monday morning I could no longer button or zip my regular dress pants for work. I went to the mall on my lunch hour and bought two pairs of maternity pants and I absolutely love them! They are so comfortable that I am afraid I may never go back. My belly is definitely out there now!
Over the weekend we had dinner with some of our friends, one who is about 19 weeks pregnant. We had a really nice time and she and I talked a lot about being pregnant. This is her second pregnancy so it was nice to talk to a BTDT (been there done that) mom. She had some great advice. It was also a bit of a turning point for me because we talked a bit about having babies so close together and how they would get to play together, it just made it a little more real for me. When Scott and I got home from dinner I actually started crying a little (dang hormones) because I was so excited for Baby T!
Then today, Wednesday, I was getting dressed for work and my shirts no longer fit around my belly. I actually went to work today with the stretchy panel in my maternity pants showing below my shirt by a good inch or two. Looks like I'll be going back to the mall or the resale shop for some tops!
I continue to feel really good. I am still tired at night but I think the sheer exhaustion that I was feeling from about noon until bedtime may have resolved. Also, when I bend over I can really feel my belly get in the way. I am afraid that I could be really big by the end of this, but I am loving every minute of it!
No picture this week, but I will post some after our weekend camping trip that is coming up. 3 days at Merrill Lake with a group of 20 friends camping. I can't wait!

12 Week Update

We hit the 12 week mark, although not without a little bump in the road. The good news is that everything is okay, baby and I are doing well. This week started out a little crazy at work, lots of stress with the normal dealings of working as a Quality Manager. I got home from work Tuesday night and decided that since the temperature finally dropped below 90 degrees I was going to go for a nice long walk outside. I have been walking about 30 minutes a day, so heading out for a walk was pretty normal. I thought it would be good to get some cardio in and clear my head a little. I geared up, grabbed a bottle of water, put the leash on Benji and headed out. I walked for about 40 minutes and soon after I got home I went to the bathroom to find that I was spotting. I was crushed. It was only a little bit of brown blood, but I was still so scared. I couldn't even think straight. After a few minutes of crying, I calmed down enough to call the after-hours number at my OB. Scott was still at work and not due home for about another hour.
I spoke with the answering service attendant and she told me the on-call doctor would be calling me back very soon. It only took about ten minutes and the doctor called. I explained what happened and the doctor asked a string of questions. Yes, I recently had an ultrasound and everything looked good. Yes we heard a strong heartbeat. No, I am not having any cramping or bright red blood.
The doctor assured me that this can happen and that it did not sound threatening, but just to be sure I should call the office in the morning, explain what happened and ask to be seen.
Scott arrived home shortly after I talked to the doctor and he was wonderful. He held me and let me cry a little and calmed me down. He even encouraged me to call one or two of my been-there-done-that friends and see what they had to say. I called both A and J and they were wonderful support as well!
I was able to remain pretty calm last night, after the initial shock and scare anyway, and finally went to bed around 10:00, well after my usual bed time.

I called the OB's office this morning and they were able to see me right away. The doctor did an exam and used the doppler to hear the heartbeat. Everything was fine! Heartbeat was 157 and my exam was all clear, no more spotting!

So, here is the picture I took last night after my walk but before the drama. Me and Baby T at 12 weeks!

11 Weeks - July 19

This week I am 11 weeks pregnant. Scott and I had our first appointment at our OBGYN and met with a midwife. I really liked her a lot and I will continue to see the midwives at the practice throughout the pregnancy.
During the appointment the midwife used the doppler and we heard the heartbeat, it was 161. They gave me an official due date of February 12, 2012.
I really don't have much more to report now. I am still really tired in the evenings but hoping this will pass in the next few weeks. I am starting to think about all of the things we need to do to get ready for Baby T. The list is growing my my energy is not.

10 Weeks - July 12

Okay, so I am an entire week late in making this post. Hopefully you can agree that 'better late than never'!
My sister, and fellow blogger, told me today that I should be posting weekly updates so I will do my very best to start doing so.

Week 10
I have to say that I have been extremely blessed on the morning sickness front. I have had none. The only real nausea I get is from my prenatal vitamin and if I wait more than about 3 hours to eat something.
Since the very beginning of our pregnancy I have been extremely tired. I am in bed every night by about 9:00. Most evenings I have just enough energy to grab dinner, clean up a little, and lie on the couch either watching TV or reading. Exciting stuff, eh?
I am still feeling pretty bloated any my belly is pretty big by the end of each day. I start the mornings feeling good and not too bloated, but as I eat throughout the day my belly just grows and grows.
Here are two pictures of my belly. The first one was taken at 7 weeks and the second one was taken tonight at 11 weeks after dinner. I only had a bowl of cereal but I feel like I ate an entire Thanksgiving dinner!

Seven Weeks Belly Shot

Eleven Weeks Belly Shot

I also had an ultrasound last week on Tuesday, which was 10 weeks. I was able to see Baby T wiggling around and moving his (or her) arms and legs. I told Scott that it looked like the baby was doing The Robot!

Ultrasound Picture 10 Weeks

You can see the head on the left and the body and two little arms!


Scott and I have our first big appointment at the OB tomorrow and hopefully we will get one more ultrasound! I will post again tomorrow with updates from the appointment and an official 11 week update!

Eight Weeks - An Update

I am eight weeks today and I had one follower ask for an update, so here it is.
Last Tuesday we went for our second ultrasound. We were one day shy of being three weeks from our IUI. Scott and I went in for our ultrasound and we got to see the baby. It was still just a little blob, but we got to see and hear the heartbeat. It was amazing. The technician was so fast that we had to ask her to do it again because we didn't realize what we were hearing at first! She measured the baby and we were measuring at exactly 7 weeks. That puts us one day ahead of the timing based on the IUI, which the doctor said was right on track.
We did get an ultrasound picture but I let Scott take it to work before I had a chance to scan it, so hopefully I will get it back and I can post it soon.

The weekend after we found out we were pregnant I was feeling extremely bloated. I called my sister Sara to ask "Is this normal?" I am sure it will be the first of many calls to my two sisters who have had children. She reassured me that it was indeed normal and offered to let me come to her house to raid her closet for maternity clothes! I felt a little silly doing it so quickly but the bloat was already getting a little out of control. I left with some great items, including two dresses that have been wardrobe staples ever since. I also got some shorts and a few pairs of cargo pants. They've been heaven-sent for my weekend wear.
I have been very lucky and feeling really good. My only symptoms are being really, really tired, bloating, and my boobies are sore and growing. (If you're reading this, sorry Dad!)I have also been bloated and it progresses throughout the day. I start out fine in the morning, but by the time I've had breakfast and lunch my belly starts to stick out. I know it's just bloat right now, it's too early for it to be the baby. But I love it. I proudly stick my tummy out each night for Scott to rub or kiss. He is so excited. It is still sinking in for both of us.
Last weekend I went with Sara to Slightly Pregnant, a maternity resale shop. I was looking for some work pants and didn't have much luck. We took Emily shopping with us and stopped for lunch. I experienced my first bit of mommie-camaraderie. A random woman started talking to us at Pei Wei, telling us all about her two daughters. It was a little weird. But, a big thanks to Sara for taking me shopping and treating me to lunch.

Today we are eight weeks and I am afraid that morning sickness might be kicking in, but it is starting in the afternoon and hanging around throughout the evening. If it means a health pregnancy, I'll take it!

We were released from the study/RE last week and don't have any more visits at the clinic. I will see the OB for my first appointment on July 14th. I'll try to do better with updates in the meantime!

Our First Ultrasound 5w4d

Scott, Baby, and I had our first ultrasound this morning. We are currently about 5 1/2 weeks pregnant, based on my LMP. Next week the doctor will give us a more precise date, based on the size of the baby durning our next ultrasound.
At our ultrasound this morning, everything looked good. I am posting a picture, and if you look at the photo and all you can think of is Ross and Rachel on Friends, you are not alone. There really isn't a whole lot to see this early. But, you can see the gestational sac, which is the larger black bean-shaped thing. The yolk sac, which is the small little lighter circle within the bean-shaped sac. At the very bottom of the yolk sac, you can kind of, almost, barely, see a little white line or blob, that is the baby!
We also got to see the heart beat! It was just a little flicker on the screen, but it was amazing.
We go back next week for another ultrasound. The doctor said that the baby should about double in size by then and we'll be albe to see a little more and we should be able to hear the heartbeat too!

Finally!

It finally happened! After nearly three long years, we got our BFP! Like all of the celebrities say, "We are over the moon!"
It all started last Monday night, Memorial Day. Scott and I spent the weekend camping with family and friends. We had a great time. Since I was in the TWW I didn't drink, which was actually quite fun. We arrived home on Monday evening and I was feeling a little off. I really didn't think much of it because of the long weekend we spent at the lake. But by Monday night, I had a sneaking suspicion that something might be up.
Tuesday morning Scott went to work and I had another vacation day. I was planning on putting all of the camping stuff away, doing laundry, and just relaxing. Instead I woke up Tuesday morning, ran out to the car to go to the dollar store for some HPTs--pregnancy tests. And yes, they sell them for $1 each at the dollar store.
Well, the car was dead. I had left the lights on all weekend long. I called AAA and they came to jump the car. I raced off to the store, ran in, and bought 5 HPTs. I got home and used two of them. The first one came up a little weird because the dye ran. I thought there were two lines, but they were smeared. The second one came up with two lines right away. Then I took a third. Positive too!
I was in shock and disbelief. So I ran up to K-Mart, which is right around the corner from our house. I got a two-pack of FRERs, the gold standard in home pregnancy tests. There was a 'normal' test in the pack and there was also a digital test.
I took both of them right away and this is what I got!

I was laughing and crying. I just couldn't believe it. I called the nurse at the clinic right away. I needed verification that I wasn't seeing the remnants of my trigger shot. She said that it was most likely a positive test and I should come in the next morning for our scheduled Beta draw.
I called Scott at work and told him. He was just like me, in shock and disbelief. We decided to be cautiously optimistic until the blood work the next day.
Wednesday I went in for my Beta and it came back at 260.
Friday I went for a repeat and it was 847.
Sunday I went for another one and it was 1747.
Tuesday was my last draw and it was 4668.
My numbers are rising well and doubling like they should.
Our first ultrasound is scheduled for June 15th!

We are pregnant!

Oh, and we have told family and some close friends, but we are not "Facebook ready" yet, so please only post comments here if you know me in real life. Nothing on Facebook for a few weeks yet.

7 DPIUI - Days Past Intra-uterine Insemination

Well, I have one week down and one week to go in this thing known as the TWW: the two week wait from the IUI until it's time to take a pregnancy test. I went to the clinic this morning for blood work and an ultrasound to check to see how my body responded to the medications and the IUI, as well as checking if my body is baby-ready. I had blood work to check my progesterone level. Around 7 days past ovulation and IUI it should be above 10 on an unmedicated cycle and above 20 on a medicated cycle. Mine was 46!! This is very good news and means that if there is a little embie (fertilized egg) working its way down into my 'lil oven my body is producing enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy. I also had an ultrasound to check to see if there are any corpus luteum cysts, which indicate an egg is released. Well, I had two! So it looks like I released two eggs. They also checked my uterine lining, which should be over 9. Mine was 13.1 which again is really good. The blood work and ultrasound indicate that my oven is ready for a little bun. Let's hope that one (or both) of these two eggies met one of Scott's fantabulous swimmers and starts baking our bun soon!
Just one more week until my beta draw to see if this IUI worked! I am hoping I can make it through this next week without POAS!!