Dopplers

Anyone rent or buy at home dopplers? I'm interested in buying/renting one and I'm not sure where to go. Some sites have them listed for hundreds of dollars while others have their basic ones under $100. Any suggestions? Anyone have one they are willing to sell/rent out?

Boring

I must be the most boring pregnant person on the planet. I really have nothing of interest to discuss. I read other blogs about symptoms, nurseries, registeries and the like...but I'm just not there. I haven't had much in the way of symptoms...you all know that. And I had a belly to begin with, so no belly pics just yet. DH and I haven't even starting thinking about a nursery or registry...we think it's just too early. And since my life consists of working, eating and sleeping, I haven't got much to say.



OH! I am going here this weekend! Looking forward to some freebies!

13weeks

I had a killer headache yesterday...one of those where you can't function and all you want to do is stay in the darkness of your bedroom. So I did. Except I stayed in the darkness of my family room listening to Hall0ween movies on AMC. Since I had a splitting headache, I didn't really watch them as my eyes felt like they were being gouged out of their sockets.

I'm better today. No crippling pain radiating in my head. I have nothing new to report...

12w5d

and feeling crappy. I'm experiencing what my OB has said is Round Ligament Pain. I knew it would happen, as other bloggers out there wrote about it, but I didn't think it would feel like my ovaries are being SQUISHED like pancakes. That's really the only way I can describe it. Oh yea, and the back pain. My back is out of whack to start with...at age 31 I already have arthritis in my lower back...so this just sucks. I can't sit for long periods without having to fidget. I'm thinking I may bring a heating pad to work with me...at least I can set it on LOW and try to get a little relief.

Other than that, DH and I finally found our way back to each other in the s.e.x. department. In the 12weeks since our BFP, we'd only done it once...and my spotting started right after that. So we were on pelvic rest until the spotting stopped, then I was hit with the extreme sleepiness, and ok, I'll admit it, I was just damn afraid. I guess in my mind I was afraid that I would start bleeding again...I know, I know, one did not cause the other...but try telling that to a paranoid pregnant infertile! Every little pain or twinge frightens me...just a wee bit. But it was great to reconnect. I know he had been feeling a little neglected.

12 weeks

Just got back from my 12w appointment. I did get to see Lucky. He/she must have been sleeping, because she/he didn't move around like last time. Baby is head down currently, which meant they couldn't do a nuchal...position wasn't good. We did get pics of baby's legs and arms. DH made a comment about there "not being anything between the legs"...I said it's too early to tell...but the u/s tech said that she would tend to agree with DH. So it maybe that we're having a girl. Who knows...I still think it's early. Baby is measuring right on at 12w0d and is 2 inches long. Heart rate was 170bpm.

When I met with the OB after, we did try to hear the heartbeat with the doppler. I have some "extra padding" so I didn't think we'd hear it yet. DH and the OB both said they heard it...I'm not sure I did. The doppler sounded like it had alot of static on it. I did hear my uterine artery though...not as exciting as a heartbeat.

I gained 3 lbs in the last 2 weeks...which still puts me down 2 lbs from where I started. My OB only wants me to gain 15lbs total. So 1lb a month until the 7th and 8th month. Think I can handle that.

So here are today's pics. Again, sorry for the quality, they are pics of pics. My scanner isn't hooked up to my laptop and I didn't feel like switching to the desktop.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me! I am 32 today. 32 and pregnant! Last year on my birthday, I tried not to think about the "P" word. This year, I'm giddy. I'm giddy because I'm getting the best birthday present...I get to "see" our baby! My appointment is 2 hours from now, so I'll update when I get back, hopefully, with more pics.

On another note, DH did the bestest, most wonderful thing for me. He bought me the new IP0D Nan0 in silver. The one you can shake to shuffle your music...I'm currently using an old MP3 player from the Sharpe.r Ima.ge, that I can't even scroll through the music on. I had mentioned maybe once to hubby that I would love to have a new one. He brought it home yesterday and gave it to me. I was SHOCKED. Never in a million years expected him to get it. I would have been happy with just a card!

Thank you all for your comments on the crib set. I think that once we polish it up and put it together, it will be perfect.

11w6d

Tomorrow is my 32nd birthday. I will also be 12w tomorrow and have my 12w OB appointment. I can't think of a better birthday present than to see Lucky again.

I've been a bad blogger. This I know. I just have so many things going through my head that it's hard to pull them altogether in a cohesive thought pattern. DH and I picked up my crib from my parents house this past weekend. My parents kept the bedroom set that they used for me as a child and have graciously offered it to us. The set is in great condition, it's a beautiful wood...almost looks like cognac, but a little lighter. The crib itself is also in great condition...needs to be cleaned and polished from years of storage, but other than that, there is nothing wrong with it. I measured the distance between the slats, and it meets all the safety requirements today's cribs do. But I'm at a crossroads. Part of me would LOVE to purchase a new set for this baby. But to be honest, right now, DH and I can't afford to drop $3000 on furniture...especially when there are so many other things we KNOW we're going to need to get. I almost feel like by using my parent's set that I'm "cheating" my baby out of something. Weird huh? I know the baby won't know the difference, but I will. I guess I'm just having a hard time accepting the set as a gift. What would you do?

11 weeks - a real post

11 weeks pregnant yesterday. I can hardly believe it. 11 weeks! I still haven't been able to wrap my mind around this...but my heart is 100% invested. The spotting has ceased as of a little more than a week ago. And I still don't "feel" pregnant. I've had a few bouts of nausea...mostly at night...and 2 episodes of hugging the commode, but other than that...it's normal day to day. I seem to feel sick after my train ride home...not sure if it's the motion or what, but I'm fine in the mornings...then again, I'm sleeping on the morning ride.

I had my 10 week appointment last week, and we got to see Lucky again. It was amazing to watch as he/she kicked and moved around! To know that was going on inside me and not even to feel it, blew me away! Heartbeat was strong at 179bpm. Here is a pic from that appointment:

On a different note, I need some advice. My cousin and I are 3 months apart in age, we were really close up until about a year ago, when something happened, I don't know what, that caused us to drift apart. When she got pg with #1 in 2005, I was the first person she told. She told me about #2 via email in November of last year. I hadn't told her I was pg. I received an email from her this morning asking why I hadn't told her "a certain little something". I feel bad for not telling her, but quite honestly, we don't talk anymore. We don't see one another anymore except at family get togethers. When I was at her DS#2's Baptism in early September, she barely spoke to me. At that point I kinda felt like I'd only be calling her to say I was pg and that was it. Now I feel shitty and don't know what to do. I don't want to alienate her more...

11 weeks

I've been a bad blogger...was on vacation from work last week and haven't been "motivated" to post since. I do have pics of Lucky from my Drs appointment last Wednesday, at 10 weeks...I just haven't scanned them yet.

DH and I stayed home last week and just relaxed. Cleaned up the yard (put away all our patio furniture etc) to prepare for winter.

I'll post more tomorrow...I promise.

On Vacation

DH and I are on vacation this week...so my posting and commenting may be scarce. I do have an OB appointment tomorrow for my 10 weeks...I'll try to post after that if I can. I hate using a computer if I'm not working...so many other things to do!

Have a great week everyone!

Big Box wishes

DH and I went into the Baby Big Box store last night to browse around. I can't believe we actually did. We were both feeling pretty good after our appointment yesterday...and figured why not? Let's see what we like. I didn't anticipate actually finding things that we agreed that we liked. Like this crib, this car seat, or this stroller. I was VERY pleased to see that the big box store by me carries glass bottles as well as this is something we've both wanted.

Obviously, it's too early to be purchasing these things...and I'm sure that new items will be out next year as well. It was just fun to roam the store, picturing using these things, knowing that one day, we will.

Starting to look like a baby!

I just got back from my first OB appointment and man was that alot of information to digest! DH and I were there for 2 hours. We got to have a look at Lucky...who is measuring at 9w0d. I'm 9w1d, so he's right there. Heart rate was 183 bpm. The tech said it was a little low...but I'm not worried...my pulse is always on the lower end as well. After the u/s we met with the nurse who "interviewed" us. History etc. She was asking if we had a pedicatrician in mind...whether I wanted an epidural at delivery etc...I was like, I haven't thought that far in advance yet. I just want to make it out of the 1st trimester...then I'll start thinking about those types of things!

I am going to be considered "special care" since I'm an IVF patient. Fine by me. I'll also have to have the GD test at 16 weeks because of my current weight. I knew my BMI would call for that, so it wasn't a surprise. It was a great, informative appointment. I have another next week for my OB physical. Oi.

So without further ado...(these are pics of pics so sorry for the quality)

9 weeks

Nothing new to report. I'm still spotting on and off. Still tired...though bedtime has been extended to 9:30 now as opposed to 8:30. So it's getting better! Still no ms...which I am fine with. I do get the occasional moments in chewing my food that I'm not sure if I'll be able to swallow it...like last night. I was eating celery...something about the stringiness just wouldn't let me down it. It took all my strength to not spit it back out onto my plate!

I'm also having some emotional issues...well not issues, exactly, just feelings of "Did we do the right thing?". I love my DH to death, and the thought that we won't be able to spend as much "quality" time together after Lucky is born just weighs on my mind. And the whole economic mess this country is in doesn't help either. I keep wondering if we'll be able to provide for Lucky the way he deserves. All my pg books tell me this is normal...I mean, overall, I'm so happy I'm bursting at the seams...just little doubts sneak in every now and then about what kind of mom I'll be.

Its back

the spotting that is. However, this time, it's always brown. And while brown blood doesn't worry me into a frenzy, it still bothers me. I have another week to go before my OB appointment. Though I know I could call and see if I can get in earlier. At this point, my brain and heart are both saying there is no need. Wednesday will be 2 weeks since the first spotting started. I thought it was tapering off, but it came back this weekend pretty strong.

Anyway, I'm trying to take it easy...not lift anything heavy and just be all around lazy (LOL).

Baby Blankets

When DH and I started this cycle back in July, I went to a neighborhood craft store with my gift card from Christmas in hand and purchased a cross stitch project. Not just any cross stitch, but a baby blanket. I had been working on it off and on over the last 2 months (more off than on) and now realized that I need to get busy on it if I plan on using it! So to help me along, I figured I would post pics of the project so everyone can harp on me when I don't get anything done on it!

Here is where we are starting today (click to enlarge):

I also made my first maternity purchase today. I ordered a Bell.a Band. My jeans are beginning to be too snug to wear comfortably buttoned...so I'm hoping this will afford me a few more months in my clothes.

8 weeks

I am 8 weeks pregnant today. I never in a million years thought I'd ever be writing that. It's a surreal feeling. Almost like it's all a very long dream, that I could wake up from at any point. I was looking back at some of my old posts and came across this one. It was written almost exactly one year before I got my BFP. If I could only go back to that person a year ago, and tell her that in one year this is where she'd be, I would have saved her alot of emotional distress. But it's that emotional distress that got me here...that made me ask the questions I did, that made me make the decisions I did. Would I really be here today if I knew then what I know now? I'm not sure where this post is going...other than I'm just so grateful. Grateful to my DH, for sticking with me through all my emotional turmoil and bitchiness. Grateful for the support of my parents and in-laws through this process. Grateful to my RE's office, for getting me here. And grateful to all those in the blogosphere...those who read and comment, and those who write their own blogs for others to share.

OK...I won't get too sappy here. At 8 weeks, I'm feeling good. My spotting has tapered off to almost nothing (woo hoo!). I still have no signs of morning sickness (woo hoo!) I do get the occasionally sharp pain on the left side that lasts nanoseconds...but I'm not worried about it. I've actually allowed myself to start thinking forward. I checked out my employers "parental leave" policy (because it's not just for mothers anymore!) and discovered I get 12 weeks paid time off. If I add some vacation time in there, I could potentially get 15 weeks. My employer also has backup child care facilities...we can use them up to 20 days per year. The first 10 are free and the second 10 are $10 per day. Not bad at all.

I think it's actually sinking in...

Lucky's second photo

Still looks like a blob to me LOL!

This past weekend

Sorry I was MIA...I didn't end up going to the RE's office on Friday, but I did go yesterday.



Saturday, after I went grocery shopping, I came home to find that I had "spotted" through my jeans. I paged the on call Dr, who by the way was VERY comforting, and he told me the same things...take it easy, and go in on Monday. I ended up going to a friend's house that evening for a poker party...had a good time and it kept my mind off the spotting, which had since changed to brown.



Sunday, went to my parent's house, where DH was doing some work for them. Took it easy all day...had VERY minimal spotting...went home, took a shower and BAM...bright red again.



Went in to the RE's yesterday...Lucky is fine. Whew! Heartrate at 150bpm. (I have a pic, but need to scan it...will post later). The baby is on the left side of my uterus...the bleed is on the right side...u/s tech said it looked like it was clotting (how can they tell that from u/s?) and since it's not near the baby, doesn't pose too much of a risk to Lucky.

Thank you all for your kind words and support. It really means the world to me!

More spotting

Since the spotting of early Wednesday morning (which was brown btw) I had nothing, until I got ready to go to bed last night. It was then that I saw the red blood. It seemed to taper off as the night went on, and by morning was the same brownish color of the previous day. Now, my RE's office had said that if the spotting becomes a "light period flow" to call...well, I've never had a "light" period, so I don't know if what happened last night would fit the bill.

There may be TMI in this next paragraph so feel free to skip it. What is "light" flow? I mean, each time I wiped last night the tp was red...and there was enough to make the water in the toilet tinged red as well. But now there is just a little brown discharge. I kept asking myself, is that a cramp? Am I cramping, or is that just another twinge? And of course, since I was worked up anyway, my mind made things worse than I think they actually were.

I haven't called the RE again. I know that they will tell me the same thing. Spotting is normal. The drugs you are taking are dilating your blood vessels around your cervix, causing the bleeding. UGH! I'm not sure what I should do. My next appointment is Wed the 24th.

Yesterday's freak out

Yesterday, I woke up at my usual time...went into the bathroom to do the deed and what do I see? Blood. I sat on the commode and just started shaking. Saying to myself, I can't believe this is happening. I proceeded to get back into bed with DH and told him what was going on...and burst into tears. Now, in my mind, I knew that spotting was common in the 1st trimester and that this was nothing to worry about. But carry over my irrational self from the day before and you get complete meltdown. When the RE's office finally opened 2 hours later, I called, and of course was told what my mind already knew. I didn't have any cramping and the spotting had since tapered off since the first morning wipe. Needless to say, I didn't take any chances and spent the day on the couch, having called in sick to work.

I wanted pg symptoms...I guess I got one.