Bye Bye Progesterone and 1st Trimester...

Yes, you read that correctly...no more shots!!!! I took my last one this week. That is something that I will not miss. I was glad to see them go! and Bye to my first trimester too! That will happen in just a few short days. I had my first appointment with Dr. Macey yesterday. All went well. I did not have an ultra sound though. I was a little disappointed about that-I was hoping to see the little booger again and how much had changed. He said that he already had all he information sent over from NFC so he didn't need to do one. He basically just checked me out and got me set up with things (payment for appointments and delivery). It seemed crazy to be discussing delivery already, but I do realize it will be here fast. He did listen to the heart beat and when he was listening to it, he kept moving the Doppler around on my stomach. Then he looked up at me and he said "are you sure there is only one in there?" I just laughed and said "what, yes...well, that is what they tell me". He didn't really say much more, but I thought that was funny. The heart beat was 165. Still a high number. He is also said I was 11 weeks and 3 days yesterday and that everything looked well. I do not go back until October 28th, then again on November 23rd. Our November visit will be when we find out the sex!! How exciting!!! Yes we are finding out the sex and Yes we will let you all know!! I am so glad my first trimester is coming to an end, but in some ways it is hard to believe. It has not been bad but I think my nerves will feel better knowing that we have made it this far. It is still like a dream to me at times that this is truly happening to us. :)  Oh yes, I have a bump! It has popped out this last week. That is kind of funny too! I think I might, might post a belly shot at 12 weeks, if I am not to self conscious hehehehe....

10 weeks 3 days

Well, all is well. I am officially done with the fertility doctors (I hope) and now I will begin seeing my OBGYN, Dr. John Macey. I have my first appointment with him this Thursday, September 30th. I am not exactly sure what will happen at this appointment, but I think maybe another ultra sound since this is my first visit with him. I had my last appointment with my fertility doctors on September 15th. That was pretty neat. The first time we went for the ultra sound it was a pulsating dot and we did hear the ultra sound and this date was only two weeks later, wow do things change in two weeks! The ultra sound tech was smiling and she said oh look your baby is moving...she turned the screen and you could tell it was a baby, head, arm and leg sprouts, etc..I just giggled. I was not expecting that! The baby was moving/wiggling. It was kind of funny. The heart rate this time was 170. from my heart rates and baby bump (high) I am thinking girl, which is so funny to me. I have always seen myself as more of a boy mom, but I think it will be wonderful whatever the sex is! We are just so excited. It gets a little more real to me everyday. Last night Casey and I were laying down and he said "has it really hit you yet that "we" are having a baby? say it out loud we are having a baby". He was so funny. He is SO excited. Today after church he suggested that we go look at baby stuff. So we went to Babies R Us and Target. It is a little overwhelming looking at everything, but fun too! So many decision to be made.
I am finally sleeping a little better, but that does not say very much. This sleep routine has really thrown me for a loop. I think it is God's way of giving me a little practice for my days ahead of me! :)

Progesterone, Peeing and Sleep! :)

Ha! Yes, this are the big things in my life right now :) We are on the last leg of progesterone and now I know what it is for, it is to thicken my uterus. I guess it is important to have a thick uterus while pregnant. Peeing is something I do all the time too! I was not exactly sure why? I mean it's not as if the baby is pressing on my bladder already, this week it is going from the size of a blueberry to a raspberry. It amazes me every time I read about how it is growing and developing every week.  I found out why I am peeing so much already! Apparently HcG causes an increase of blood flow to the pelvic region, causing you to have that gotta go feeling and pee all the time. The other thing is during pregnancy your kidneys efficiency improves. It is trying to help your body rid itself of waste more quickly. So there you go! learn something new everyday! :)
Sleep, that is another story. It has been interrupted for about two months now. It has changed over the weeks. I use to wake up at 3 am and not go back to sleep. Now my routine is sleep about two hours and then pee. I am usually able to go back to sleep, but I am only able to sleep for about two hours at a time. I am thinking this is God's way of preparing me for motherhood. Some nights you will have  4 or 5 hours of sleep, but then there will be some nights where you get two hours here and then two hours there.
I am still feeling well. I go back for a second ultra sound on September 15th at the fertility office. If all checks out well I will then be released to my OBGYN, Dr. Macey. That appointment is on September 30th and I will be 11 weeks. That is when the progesterone will be over!!! I swear my butt will never be the same after all these shots, but apparently I will say that about my entire body after being pregnant! Hehehehe

Ultra Sound

Oops! I forgot to update yesterday. I guess with all the excitement it slipped my mind. Well, we have one little bun in the oven. It was SO amazing to hear the heart beat. Casey had sent me a text earlier in the day and said his mind had been wondering all day. Our appointment wasn't until 2:15. I made it as late as possible so Casey could go, but it sure made for a long day. When we got in the room the ultra sound technician said, "I am going to check everything out so do not get worried when I do not say anything at first, then I will tell you as much as I can". Then after about 40-60 seconds she said "there we go, one good heart beat". I think I just felt relieve and Casey just smiled; it was relieve for us both. She pointed out the flicker. Then she pushed a few more buttons and we heard the heart beat. She said and "there is your babies heart beat, 144 that is a good strong heart rate." We looked at each other and just smiled. We then talked about how amazing it was that even though it was only 7 weeks old that you could hear a strong heart beat like that! I am so glad that technology has come so far that we can hear the amazing miracle that God has blessed us with-what a moment!
So it was not two, which everyone thought. Actually we got some people trying to say it was going to be three or four! God's plan for us was to have one healthy baby. As much as I think it would have been amazing to have twins, apparently that was not his plan. I am just thrilled that his plan was for us to become parents. I am feeling pretty good. I have been pretty tired and I had heart burn Sunday and Monday, but besides that I am doing well. We have shared the news with everyone! Well, Casey has! he put something on facebook so you know it is out now. Sometimes it is still hard for me to believe. I know that I am pregnant, but it is really a weird feeling when something you have wanted and tried for; for SO long, had surgery's and procedures, been on steroids, fertility, etc....for so long and then all of a sudden after 5 years someone looks at you and says "your pregnant" it just doesn't seem to sink in. I have to keep reminding myself that it is true! this is happening!! I will be a mom! Yippee!!!!

April 21, 2011

We are pregnant!! Yes, it feels a little more real now. We found out Friday by a voice message. The message said "that my HCG pregnancy levels are 138, which is wonderful! So stay on your progesterone. We like to do three HCG levels. So you will come back in on Monday and then again on Wednesday. So congratulations it looks great, your definitely positive. It is a really strong level at 138".
We found out as soon as we were driving into Alabama (we went there this weekend for a wedding). Casey just smiled from ear to ear and I began to cry, then Casey noticed some friends of ours coming to the car. He said "dry it up" we can't look suspicious. We did not even have time to process it. It was straight to rehearsal dinner, the wedding the next day, plus I still was not sure what 138 means? So I wanted to wait until our last blood test on Wednesday (today). Apparently, there is not a certain number for your HCG, it can range greatly. The big thing you need is for your levels to double every two days. It will continue to do that (hopefully) for the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy. So my levels were... Friday=138, Monday=557, and Wednesday=1417 so my levels went above what they should have both times! Yippee!! Your HCG levels increasing are good indicators that you will not miscarry, have a biochemical pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy.
I still have not processed it. It is just amazing and hard to believe. When you have wanted and prayed for something so long and it happens, you just thank God over and over, and continue to pray, just a different prayer now. Thank you Lord for this baby, please  keep me healthy and help my baby to grow strong. I hope you all will continue to pray for me/us and our baby.
P.S. If you read this, great! I really wish I could have told you all in person but I could not make you wait any longer. Please do not share this news with others though. I really debated posting this early, but I know you guys who read this are itching at the bit to know. So I could not keep it from you any longer. I have an ultra sound in two weeks (September 1st). We are hoping to keep it in until then. I am just 5 weeks tomorrow. Thanks again for your love. I will update again September 1st!

Praying, nerves, shots, anxious, and going crazy!

Whew! Who knew how hard the wait was going to be? Apparently it is affecting me more than I think, but I do not realize it until night. When I wake up a million times and cannot go back to sleep. This week my time has been 3am. I usually wake up some time around there and cannot go back to sleep for an hour or two and when I do sleep, it is just dozing and cat naps. I am so tired! and so ready to find out if everything is going to work out. I have gotten in lots of good prayer time though at those 3am awakenings. I realize this is only the beginning though, right? Worrying! Isn't that what you do all the time as a parent? Well, we are so excited and to find out if this is going to be part of God's plan for us. I hope to update soon with great news!

Progesterone...Ouch!

Ok, so I need a little sympathy I guess. These shots are horrible! and to know that I have 9 weeks left! Big sigh! So today I went for a progesterone check, which was blood work to see my levels and see if they needed to adjust the amount I was taking (which is 1cc). So I get the message from the IVF nurse tonight and she says..."Kristi your levels look great, we need them to be at least 30 and your were over 80". I breathe for a second and think oh good maybe I will not have to take them anymore...WRONG! she then finishes by saying..."so keep up with your injections at 1cc everynight!."
They really were not bad at first. The needle is HUGE, the oil is thick! and honestly the first 3 or so shots were not bad. Now I guess because my butt is so sore they just really hurt. This maybe TMI, but my butt is completely bruised! yes, both cheeks, since we alternate sides. Tonight when Casey gave me my shot he said "I kind of liked giving them to you at first, it was neat, but know I just feel really bad." He is so sweet! I was hoping they would get better and maybe they will, but my poor buttocks is just so sore right now I do not see it having the opportunity to get better.
Besides my butt I am feeling good. A little cramping, but they said I would have that for about 5 days. We are both doing well, talking to my belly and our pictures everyday. Well, I talk to them all the time. I tell Casey when he gets home that I talked to the kids all day. Casey just smiles at me and ask what did you say to them?  I said you know, things like... I hope you are setting up camp in me because that is your home for the next 9 months! and things like I cannot wait to meet you, we are ready to be your parents, I love you already, I can't wait to be your mom etc...All the stuff they need to know! :)
I told Casey last night to talk to them. He said I already did, they better mind me! Hahahaha...
Well here is a picture of my needle! and my progesterone (very thick! it is in sesame oil).