1st Doctor Appt

Today was my first Doctor appt. Everything went great. I had my lab work and pelvic exam. My due date should be March 23 but I have an ultrasound next week to confirm the dates. She (dr) said my uterus still feels small so we both agreed that my dates are a little off. I am thinking I am more like seven weeks even though by my LMP I should be 8 1/2 weeks. I think the due date will end up being April 1st.

She gave me the new edition of What to Expect When Your Expecting. I have already read a couple books about pregnancy but I like that this one breaks down each month.

Keep your fingers crossed everything goes good!!! I am still nervous about the process. I will be so happy to see the heart beating on the ultrasound. A sigh of relief.

My executive decision

Okay well since today is the first day that I am truly feeling nauseated I decided it would be a perfect time for an update!

The shock is starting to wear off a little. I still have the pregnancy test sitting by the toilet that I have stared at every time I go to the bathroom for the last 10 days. I am not sure if I thought it was going to change back but I really needed to stare at it for reassurance! Silly, I know. So far I have felt pretty good. Mainly tired but manageable. I never really understood what women meant when they noticed "smells." I DO NOW. At work all the stinky people make me gag. I came home to a house that I was sure rot had taken over. I found myself scrubbing everything. I had to wash all the sheets and the towels. I put new air fresheners in every room. It is better now but I can see I will have a lot of cleaning to make sure it doesn't turn back.

I also made an executive decision to start taking the metformin again. The doctor told me to go off it once I was pregnant and I did for a week. BUT I have read a number of articles and talked to some of the drs at work who said that is common unless you have one miscarriage. Once that happens they make you stay on it your NEXT pregnancy. I was so unbelievable stressed for that week of not being on it. I just think it is ridiculous to experience one miscarriage FIRST. I talked to my pharmacist who recommended continuing to take it my entire pregnancy. He showed me in the Pregnancy and Prescription book that metformin is only a class (B) and that is is quite safe. So after somewhat of a debate ( only with myself, I haven't told the dr yet) I started taking it again. I don't know if it is the right decision but it has really put my mind at ease. Just the decrease in stress level should be better for the baby!!!!! I don't know if everyone will agree but I feel like this is my first motherly insight and I need to take it!

For the moment I am feeling good so I should probably get back to work around the house!

Yay!!! Finally BABY GOOD TIMES!!!!

Well we had planned on waiting a little while to break the news but FORGET IT!!! I AM PREGNANT!! I am so excited for it to finally be here. As "K" already noticed yes there is a plus sign on my fertility chart. Last Wednesday I was talking on the phone with my sister and telling her that my boobs had become really painful. The shower water hurt my nipples! Craziness. So in pure sister-style I took the pregnancy test while on the phone with her. To my complete dismay I saw two lines. The "pregnant line" wasn't as dark so I decided it was a fluke. After taking a picture of it and emailing it to my sister for her viewing and approval, IT WAS POSITIVE. Within five minutes BJ walked through the door and I ran down the hall and we hugged and celebrated. It was great.

I will have so much more to blog but it has been a long weekend and I really need some sleep. Exhaustion has already set in.

More Temperatures!

Well I am continuing to do the BBT (temps) each day. This month is looking good so far. The chart shows I have ovulated, I have withheld a high temp for at least 12 days after ovulation (if not it means a whole new problem!), and my chance of pregnancy is "Good". For people who don't know about all the temping those are all good things. I have to withhold a high temp for around four more days. If I show a drop in temp then it means "Aunt Flow" should arrive. If it continues to stay high for six more days then I can take a pregnancy test! There is no way to know what will happen except keep temping for the next couple days and see what happens. Waiting........

If you are interested and would like to see my chart on FF here is the address:

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/219918

Charting

Okay well now that everything is good with BJ, I have continued my "charting". This is my first month so it is a little confusing. I was recommended a book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". It is a great book. It has been a wonderful learning tool. I was also told about a website, www.FertilityFriend.com This month it looks like I ovulated but I don't really feel like I did. If anyone is interested I can post the homepage and you can check out charting. It involves taking your Basal body temp, cervical fluid, etc. Sounds weird at first but once you figure it out it is so informative about what is going on with your body. You can also use it as a form of natural birth control as well as conception tool.

It is official...there is no such thing as PRIVACY (aka Too much information). I find myself discussing ovulation, pain, cervical fluid with strangers and co-workers. I don't find it embarrassing at all. If anything I would like to start a new movement, "Sharing your health problems." I really feel like if we were all more open and educated about our bodies we would not be embarrassed or ashamed of the changes our bodies go through. Okay I am stepping off my box!! lol

Good News! Sperm Story!

Again I only title it "good news" because still no baby BUT good news as for everything else. I had my lab work and everything was ok with my eye. I don't show any precursors for an Autoimmune Disease. My eye still gives me problems but it's manageable. Our other news was that BJ had his "swimmers" tested and everything was great! Yay for him and his "swimmers".

In much embarrassment I would like to share a little about the process of testing "swimmers." For those of you that have never experienced this or known someone....well......

We had an order to get the test done and headed towards the hospital. No idea for what was in store. Once we arrived the friendly pregnant lab tech called BJ's name. I asked if I could come with him and was told no. A now very nervous BJ followed the lab tech away. After ten minutes the door to the lab opens and BJ motions me to "come on in." I walk towards the door wondering what is going on and what did he tell the girl that I was now allowed to come back. Once I get there she informs me that they can't do the "fertility sperm count" at this hospital but a hospital 20 miles away does and we should go there. She then says, "A bit of advice given my experiences leading me to this pregnancy, FOLLOW ALL THE RULES for the sample." We stare confused at her. She proceeds to tell us a long story about her husband having to go back three times. etc. We thank her for her advice and off we go.

When we get to the car to discuss the "RULES" we learn they are very specific.
1. Must refrain from ejaculation 3-5 days prior
2. Sample must arrive to the hospital within 10-15 minutes
3. Sample must remain at body temperature
4. Sample should be obtained by masterbation with no lubrication.

We head home realizing we broke rule one and now have to wait. On the drive we start to contemplate how we will get the sample to the hospital in 10 minutes given that the hospital is 35 minutes from our house. In my quick thinking I dial the hospital lab to find out if they have a facility (aka handicap bathroom) they will let you use. The tech laughs and says the closest private bath is on the fourth floor. She also reminds us of Rule three, "Sample must be kept at body temp". I ask her what the best method is for keeping it at that temp. She replies, "Most women put it in their bra between their breasts." I reply, "I would be better holding it against my forehead." She laughs and replies, "The next best option is in your arm pit." Ok? Now with visions of trooping through the hospital hall with sperm in my arm pit. AWESOME

Five days later and with much discussion we drive to the hospital. We decided there wasn't much option for a handicap bathroom so our only resort, you guessed it.... the parking lot. Trying to be choosy but really there is NO parking we end up right on the busy street. BJ decided that they really don't NEED five days worth of "saving it up" they just tell you that so you won't care that you are masterbating in the parking lot of a hospital and then prancing around with sperm in your arm pit. After filling out the appropriate paperwork, oh yes there is paperwork..."How did you obtain the specimen? What time did you ejaculate? How long did it take to bring in the sample? Was any of the sample lost? Blah Blah the job was accomplished.

I choose not to put sperm in my armpit. BJ was a champ and held onto it in his pocket. We raced towards the hospital and straight to the lab. Of course, the friendly receptionist wanted to check us in before we went to the lab. I kept saying, "we were told to go straight to the lab and then come back here and check in." She replied, "NO you must check in first." I realized I was getting no where with her... so I blurted out, "He has sperm in his pocket and they want it RIGHT NOW." Looking shocked she told me "Across the hall, see you in a couple minutes." After leaving the sample we headed back to friendly receptionist girl and checked in like we hadn't had a sperm confrontation minutes ago.

We finished up and headed towards the car. Smiling and agreeing we sure hope to share this story with the grandkids!!!

I am falling apart...

So as if the stress of the baby making process and meds isn't enough...Oh yes now it is Iritis (infammation of the iris of the eye). I am on my 4th reoccurence of it. The first three times I wasn't clearly diagnosed by an eye specialist but last week I was seen and YES it is Iritis. How freaking cheery!!??? For those of you that don't know about this it involves redness of the white part of your eye, the eyeball feels hard, pressure behind the eye, blurred vision, and a stabbing pain when any light hits your eye. They treat it with steriod drops in your eye. 50% of the time it is a random inflammation and the other 50% means you have an underlying AutoImmune Disease. The most common are Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus. AWESOME. Can't lie this does not come at a time when I want to hear that kind of news.

I have an appointment with my physician in two weeks in which I will have more lab work done to see if I show any of the autoimmune diseases. Can't wait for that appointment!

If my lack of optimism shows in this blog, I am sorry. I am really tired of bad news.