11 week update

How far along? 11 Weeks & 3 days

Maternity clothes? nope

Stretch marks? I've stopped checking, I don't care

Sleep: don't know why this is so hard to do, love my 3pm naps though

Best moment this week: my auntie deb was in town and on the way to the airport we had our 11 week check up and saw the baby dancing around. so fun!

Miss anything? nooo

Movement: can still feel everything stretching in there

Food craving: chick-fli a, DQ, Carrots

Anything making you queasy or sick? no

Have you started to show yet: yes, but it's just my layer of fat, it's not hard

Gender: still think its a boy

Labor signs: nada

Belly button in or out? in

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or moody most of the time? just so tired

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving, and family time!!

Things no to eat during Thanksgiving while you are pregnant

I saw this great article on this today and while most of it I have heard a lot, there were a few things that I thought would be helpful to pass along.

• Fruitcake and other alcoholic food items:
•  You'll also want to avoid desserts that may contain raw or undercooked eggs, like some custards and mousse, and homemade ice cream
•  Eggnog, just check the label to make sure the eggs are pasteurized.
• Unpasteurized soft cheeses: Fruit and cheese platters are a party staple, and a relatively healthy way to fill up, but stay away from soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk. Unpasteurized or "raw milk" cheeses may contain listeria, which is killed during the pasteurization process.
• The FDA recommends checking the label of any soft cheese before eating, to make sure it says "made with pasteurized milk." If you can't check the label — for example, if you're at a party — avoid blue cheese and soft cheeses (including Brie, Camembert, goat cheese, feta, and Roquefort) and Mexican-style cheeses like queso fresco, queso blanco, and Panela. If you're not sure which cheeses are safe, stick with hard cheeses like cheddar and Swiss, and semi-soft cheeses like Monterey jack and mozzarella. Cream cheese and pasteurized processed cheeses like American are also safe.
• Sushi: Avoid sushi trays with raw fish, because it may contain parasites and bacteria. If you’re a sushi fan, opt instead for a California roll, made with avocado and cooked crab. Although raw fish poses little direct risk to your baby, if you get ill from sushi you'll likely suffer from vomiting and dehydration, which can affect your unborn baby.
• Carving stations: If your party features a carving station with roast beef or turkey, make sure the meat is cooked well-done and is still steaming hot. Unless you're sure they're well cooked, avoid sauces like bearnaise, hollandaise, and aioli, which can contain uncooked eggs.
•  
• Turkey and stuffing: Cook the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (use a meat thermometer to check it). If you're preparing stuffing (also known as dressing), cook it outside the turkey in a separate baking dish to 165 degrees F. The inside of a stuffed turkey's cavity doesn't get hot enough to kill off harmful bacteria.
• Unpasteurized juice and cider: If hot or cold apple or other fruit cider is served, make sure it's pasteurized. Unpasteurized juices, including cider, are unsafe during pregnancy because they can contain bacteria like E. coli. Almost all juice sold is pasteurized — and unpasteurized juice sold in containers is required to carry a warning label.
• Note: Year round, you'll want to avoid the juice served at juice bars, especially if it's "freshly squeezed," as there's a good chance it's not pasteurized
• Smoked meats and meat spreads: IIf you're serving meat spreads like pâté, or smoked fish such as smoked salmon or trout, make sure they're canned, not from the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Refrigerated meat spreads and smoked meats, fish, and shellfish can contain listeria, so it's only safe to eat them if they're heated until steaming or part of a dish that has been cooked.

I promise it's not morning sickness..

Oh last night,
I don't care to ever remember yesterday.
I started with working at home and relaxing, I didn't have much going on. Lately I don't get hungry at all. I eat maybe around 9 or 10am. I can't remember when the head ache started, maybe sometime in the afternoon. I was feeling so tired and this head ache was not helping at all.
With my aunt in town we all decided to go out to eat.
When we got to the restaurant I looked at the menu and nothing looked or sounded good to eat. I was bummed because I love food. I tried to order something light and  fresh, but even after 2 bites I knew I had to stop. I wasn't feeling sick but my head was pounding. I lay down on Joe's lap, and ended up going to the car while my dad finished off my dinner.
On the drive back home I just kept my eyes close trying to think happy thoughts.
The moment we stopped on the drive way I opened my door and ran into the house. I felt everything I ate that day just wanting to come up. The next is a blur but I do know only a very little bit actually made it in the toilet bowl the rest got....in my hair, on the shower curtain everywhere you didn't want it to be. It hurt, throwing up hurts.
and when I was done I knew I was done....I felt 100% better with no head ache. While my husband (love him) cleaned it up I washed out my hair and laid down for a bit. my stomach was sore but I had to keep telling everyone this is not morning sickness.
Dr. Anderson told me if I haven't been sick by this week I would get sick at all. (I'm 11 weeks).
I guess I can't say I never throw up at all during this pregnancy, but I can say I haven't had morning sickness. (I really do feel bad for anyone that has it, I'm sorry!)

Aren't you glad for once this post doesn't have any pictures attached! me too, it was gross!

progesterone injections nightly

Since week 5 I started progesterone shots once a day. I have to write this all down now because in a week I will be all done taking my shots.
Joe has been a great husband reminding me and giving me my shot in my rear every night. One night we were going out with our friends and hide it from them when we climbed in the back of our car in a busy parking lot and he gave me a shot in the rear. I'm sure people thought we were doing drugs or something. We were just laughing about it.

Here's what our night looks like, and never for me to forget:

 

First I get out everything...the progesterone oil, the big needle, the little one :), 2 sterilize wipes, 2 gaze, 1 band aid.

Here I am filling up the oil with the big needle. We check my levels every week and had to up my dosage because my progesterone dropped a lot (which could lead to miscarry)

 This is my shot that really does NOT hurt anymore. It goes right in the buttock muscle and Joe does a great time going quick. The first  month I would put some heat source on it so I wasn't sore the next day and then I realized my body got used to it and didn't have to do that anymore. 

The progesterone sometimes has different side effects then the of types of progesterone. I honestly did feel any side effect then the usual peeing a lot, and tired. 

I am just so grateful for my shots!!! They will help me probably every pregnancy to carry my baby safe.

I LOVE my thumb sucking baby

 Can you believe it! Right when Dr. Anderson got baby on the scream he said " The baby is already sucking their thumb" I never knew you could see that at 10 weeks. Because I've seen my baby grow every week now I feel like it's growing like a weed.
One of the hardest things for me is believe I am pregnant. I still feel like that girl that can't get pregnant. It's so hard, but this week I'm feeling more confident in staying pregnant that I'm really starting to believe I am pregnant. About 2 weeks ago I wrote an email to all my close family and friends about being pregnant and I still have not sent it. I'm sorry I'm such a chicken, it's just so weird. I have felt so much pain and pushed so many people out of my life it's hard to just be me again.
I'm so so grateful for everything I have went through and so grateful for modern medicine. I'm so thankful for everyday I am pregnant and just so excited!

10 Weeks

How far along? 10 Weeks

Maternity clothes? no

Stretch marks? no

Sleep: has gotten better

Best moment this week: not feeling my shots anymore at night

Miss anything? nope

Movement: I feel everything stretching inside

Food craving: pb& j

Anything making you queasy or sick? no

Have you started to show yet: not really, just after I eat

Gender: no clue

Labor signs: none

Belly button in or out? in

Wedding rings on or off? on on on

Happy or moody most of the time? just started to feel a little less tired.

Looking forward to: Christmas Card pictures

Week 9 ultrasound

 

This baby is an inch long now! I'm feeling just great!! Loving every min of my pregnancy, and I hear it only gets better. When the baby first came on the computer I could see him/her moving a lot. The arms and legs are getting long and they were wiggly their body around, it didn't last long though. We put the DVD in and the little on got shy. We still have a few more weeks of weekly DVD updates. 

I was talking with the receptionist and she asked if I have told anyone else. Besides my grandma last week, I've kept my mouth shut. It's just to hard for me to say "I'm pregnant" 

9 Weeks HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

How far along? 9 weeks and 1 day

Maternity clothes? nope

Stretch marks? no, sometimes itchy skin

Sleep: waking up once or twice. trying to drink more water in the morning and less in the afternoon.

Best moment this week: telling my grandma Jacki this past week. This will be her 9th great grandbaby, and 1st for Grandma Gloria!

Miss anything? nope

Movement: no

Food craving: peanut butter

Anything making you queasy or sick? nothing

Have you started to show yet: no, but I get bloated after eating and "look" prego

Gender: don't know

Labor signs: nothing

Belly button in or out? in

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or moody most of the time? so lazy and happy lately

Looking forward to: more energy and to exercise again.

Weekly updates: 8 Weeks

 

How far along? 8 Weeks and 2 days

Maternity clothes? not wearing them

Stretch marks? nope, just the ones I had before

Sleep: hardest thing for me to do.

Best moment this week: This week my mom got to come with me to meet Dr. Anderson and see the baby ultrasound.

Miss anything? nothing at all

Movement: just saw some movement on the ultrasound

Food craving: nothing yet

Anything making you queasy or sick? nope, haven't had any morning sickness

Have you started to show yet: no, after I eat my belly is bloated though.

Gender:  This week I feel like its a boy

Labor signs: not for a while!

Belly button in or out? all in

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or moody most of the time? depends who you ask. most of the time so happy!

Looking forward to: right now...everything that is to come.

It's a gummy bear!

written on Oct. 25, 2011

I had my weekly blood work and ultrasound again yesterday. Joe wasn't able to come with me so I invited my mom. Being a first time grandma and having only had 1 ultrasound during her 4 pregnancies I knew she would be amazed at the technology. I got ready for Dr. A to come in and right away we found the baby and saw the heart beating again. This time the arms and legs are growing and it had the shape of a baby/ant/gummy bear. It was just a miracle to see him/her grow!!!
p.s. I'm still feeling great!

2nd and 3rd Ultrasound

Can I just say things getting better and better every week.
During my first trimester I have to still see Dr. A with weekly ultrasounds and blood work.

The 2nd ultrasound was great! We got to compare our picture from the last week.
The 3rd was surreal! It was the 7th week and we were able to see the heartbeat. The little black dot turned into a real baby to me. I could see the heartbeat. It was just amazing. I just wanted to cry and cry but didn't. I felt it inside me. beaming. I was the luckiest girl in the world world.
This amazing man that I married almost 3 years ago is so excited to be a dad and I could not be more excited to start our family!!!

4th and 5th beta and 1st ultrasound

written on Oct. 7, 2011

Last week my parents and husband and I drove up to Utah for my dad's business award dinner night and General Conference. We had to drive because I'm still consider high risk pregnancy and can not fly during my 1st trimester. (nor can a do a lot of other things normal pregnancy can like EXERCISE :(  )but I am more then happy to sit these things out for a month or two more.
I was able to set up blood work for 2 days we were up there like my dr. wanted. He made sure that my numbers were going up as planned and hoped.
Thurs. morning my numbers jumped from 73 to 168! Then saturday morning to 341!! I was beyond excited  and starting looking forward to my 1st ultrasound on Tuesday.
I still was feeling fantastic, no morning sickness or nausea feeling.
We knew that it could still be to early in the pregnancy to see something, but talking with my dr right before he assured me that if something was in there he would find it.
knowing we are pregnant is one thing, but seeing it on the ultrasound was so real, and I hear it just keeps getting better every week.
Now I'm back to my once a week blood work and ultrasound with my RE (not every 2 days).  I can't say enough how blessed we feel to be able to have this amazing baby.
Right before we left the Dr. office Joe asked Dr. A how common it was for the IUI to result in pregnancy the first time and he just stared back and point blank said, " common? not at all"
with that said I am just in awe of our baby, as any soon to be parent should be!

3rd beta

Written : Sept. 27, 2011

I am feeling great! So good that I have decided to go up to Utah this weekend with my side of the Family for Conference. So my beta numbers today more then doubled.....
My HCG is now at 73!!
I'm just so happy it is doubling and hoping this doesn't turn at any point. My nurse today was very concern I was going to be far and if something does happen to me. I just can't get to that point because I have had gut feelings all along that I listen to. I knew before I was pregnant that I was, I knew (even though scared half to death) that my numbers were going to double. I know that I will have an ultra sound the morning after I get home and by then I should be able to see something in my uterus ( or at least Dr. Anderson will know what to look for). I feel confident that we are going to have this child and carry this baby full term.
With that said, tonight is my first night having my husband give me my shot of progesterone. All my IVF friends out there understand this because with IVF it's standard. I'm just glad they are doing everything they can to monitor me. I have been there for 4 out of 5 days and know they are making sure this baby grows. It also helps that my high school friend works there and tell the nurse to make sure I am doing good. for instant, when I first started the progesterone vaginal inserts you are suppose to lay down for 10-15 mins after to help and not leak out so much, well my friend told the nurse to tell me 30mins, and well I ended up laying there every time for 1  1/2 hours or 2, just to make sure!!!! well it did the trick, I didn't have any leak out!

progesterone injections

Written on : Sep. 26, 2011

With the call yesterday about my beta (HCG) numbers going up but not my progesterone they were a bit worried. So my husband and I went in today to learn how to do the shots.
Progesterone comes in 4 different ways

1. Oral pills- you take them daily and boast your progesterone. although you have more side effects and it has to go through your liver and may cause damage. its the least affective. 
2. Gel- you have something that you fill up with progesterone gel and place it in like a tampon and "shoot" the gel up there.
3. vaginal supplements- this reminds me a lot like yeast infections. You put a pill capsule and "shoot" it up. this isn't seen in the blood work often.
4. Oil base- Progesterone comes in a oil form that you put in a needle and have to shoot it in your lower back/upper butt muscle.

Beta Prison

written on Sep. 26, 2011

So yesterday was exciting, but after a few hours looking online I just got so depressed. No one ever said they had as low of a number as mine. Everyone was well into the hundreds. The worst I saw was 57, ya not to great, but compared to my 18...I look pathetic. It was hard to stay positive. At the same time I read that with only 1 beta (blood test) you can not compare because you don't know what your numbers are doing and as long as they are going up you are good. So now I just have to wait until tomorrow and pray that they go up, hopefully double but at least go up. Anything lower then they expect a miscarriage soon. so scary, and can't sleep. I feel like I am in prison with my beta numbers.

When they do a blood test usually they hope to see over 12, they considered that pregnant.  Usually if the number is on the low side you are most likely going to miscarry or beat the odds.
For this reason alone, I did not get excited at all. I was going to wait until I saw an ultrasound to know and believe that I am pregnant.

2nd Beta

Written on Sep. 25, 2011

Since Friday I have been giving myself progesterone pills, not orally but vaginally. I've been hoping this works. I just got my call about my my blood work from this morning.
The best news in the world:
my HCG levels almost doubled!!! they went from 18 to 32!!! I don't care about the number anymore as long as it's getting higher!
The hard news is my progesterone is the same and I can not continue to carry this baby if my progesterone doesn't get higher too.
So, tomorrow they are switching me to the oil base. I have to go and learn how to give myself a shot and hope that gets my progesterone up. This baby is a fighter! We are learning this all and this new world seems so foreign to me, but I am beyond thrilled to be here, lying in bed. I was told to take it easy so I thought bed rest was the best way to do so.

The call...

Written on : Sep. 23, 2011

I have been waiting for the nurse to call all day.
My husband and mom did everything they could to keep me busy. The best thing was all the fall TV shows started up again this week and we watched a few up and coming shows.
When my phone finally rang I ran away into the office to get the news.
Deep in my gut I knew I was pregnant, but I had gotten a neg test this morning so I was so confused!
I answered my phone and my friend from high school who works at the office called first to tell me slowly, you are pregnant, BUT your numbers are on the low side so they want to do more.
I tried to take a deep breath and realized what I was feeling was right, but that I still had to overcome some things in my way.
When the nurse called me she told me the same thing and set me up for another blood work on Sunday in 2 days and wanted me to come over to get my vaginal pills for progesterone.
So 1st time IUI with clomid and HCG shot it is a positive!
We are Expecting!!!!!

pins and needles...

Written on : Sept. 23, 2011

I need to hurry and write down my feelings before the nurse calls to give me news...

I haven't slept well this whole week. Usually up around 5 or 6 and back to sleep at 7 to 9. It's been hard having feelings down there and not knowing if my period was going to start any second. I've been happy and confident that this worked this time and then I've been so low and scared that I'm still going on with treatments. All in all my family and friends are the ones that got to me today (Friday) my blood test! Everything keeps going over in my head, with all the signs I have to be pregnant, but what if I'm not...can I really fool my brain that much to think I am. (That wouldn't surprise me)
I'm trying to figure out who I need to tell and who I need to lie to. I've been so open about my infertility treatments that I never thought what I need to do when I do get pregnant. I have always been sure in waiting until I'm out of the 1st trimester to announce my pregnancy (especially with all the drugs and test I've been through you never know what your body will do).

2WW

written on : Sep. 20, 2011

Anyone who has every tried to get pregnant and wait to take an at home pregnancy test knows about the
2 Week Wait
Their is nothing you can do now but wait...and see.
It's a hard time. For the past 20 months I have been very anxious during this 2WW, luckily I wasn't until the last week, just days away from finding out.
I started feeling some symptoms
These symptoms are just alike to your period symptoms, so it throws you off every time. Of course one this has been different this time.
Implantation bleeding
Justmommies.com says this: 
After ovulation the egg travels into the uterus and burrows into the lining of the uterus. For some women implantation will cause slight bleeding or spotting. This is called implantation bleeding. This is sometimes confused for an early period.
So far I have not had an early period and we are calling it implatation bleeding!!!
This is great news. I understand Miscarriages can still happen at any given time so I can't be to excited, and I haven't had my dr. confirm the pregnancy, but golly guys things are looking good right now and I'm beaming on the inside.
Just a few more days and we will know!

Whoo hoo- good blood levels

Written on Sept. 16, 2011

So I went into the Dr. this morning to get my blood drawn and see how my progesterone levels are. If they are low I have to go on more meds, but that won't be the case because they called and told me the great news!!
They hope your levels are above 10 at this time and mine are 22!!! That calls for a celebration. Out to dinner with friends we go!

My 1st IUI (Artificial Insemination)

written on September 10, 2011

It's been a few days....so let me take you back to my first dr. app after taking clomid.

It was Wednesday morning and my husband and I went in to see my RE and do an ultrasound to see how many eggs we were getting. He very quickly showed us 1 big mature one ready for ovulation, 2 medium ones and a small one. He wanted to wait 1 more day to see if the medium ones get any bigger.
So we came back the next morning (Thursday) and did the ultra sound right away and found out I had ovulated and the big one had dropped. I was scared at first because I didn't know if we could still do the IUI. but my good, highly skilled (20 years under his belt)  Dr. said we were fine.
He did want to do the IUI today to see if we can fertilize that first egg. The nurse gave me the HCG shot in my hip to help me ovulate again within the next 36 hours. Then we made my husband give up his guys.
Everything seemed like a pap smear. and they took the swimmers and washed them and put them in a needle with a catheter to place all the way up inside my uterus! We got 17  1/2 MILLION swimmers  (this is a huge shocker...normal sex can get you a few hundered up to the uterus, but the IUI can place millions in the uterus.  They hope to get 10-20 million, so with 17 million we were looking good!)

It took a bit longer because I have a "high maintenance cervix" unless you spent a good 10-20 mins. looking for it, you can't find it. Plus I have some curve balls in there. (could be our reason for infertility...we are still known as unexplained infertility)
So we went home and rested the rest of the day.
Here's the funny story,
because of my high maintenance cervix I was very tense for a long time and cause some of my muscles to stay tight the whole time (my left butt cheek) I did not realized this until we were at home and I was in pain every time I stood up, walked around or sat on my butt. My husband even tried to rub it out, but I laid there kicking and screaming and laughing out loud because of the pain. I could not walk without feeling the burning of the butt. and even into the next day.

Then came a black out at 3:30pm....all of So. CA lost power for a while. It wasn't until 11:30 pm that they came back on.
But because of the power outage we had to switch our location! Luckily our Dr. is awesome and has 2 locations! 1- in Newport Beach and 2- Mission Viejo (ours)  So our appt. got moved up to 7:45 with a 40 min. morning commute with the Mr.'s swimmers!
oh the morning just made us laugh.
Friday morning-
The office was pack because they had to double book everyone and deal with multiple dr's in one location.
The husband gave them his guys to get all cleaned up and we had about 13 million this time.
We did the ultrasound and saw that the medium ones dropped and the small one became bigger! great news!
So we got ready for an 2nd IUI.
 This time I tried to stay relax as the very nice nurse told me that I am one only patient with a cervix so hard to find. (lovely) I did warn her about my high maintenance cervix .
We went home and did some more resting to hopefully give these babies a chance to make it.
All in all....this was a great 1st treatment and I have been so happy with my Dr.

well the rest of the week on clomid

written on Sept. 4, 2011

It wasn't that bad.
Well, that is until my friend who has doing the same thing told me the first month you don't get many of the side effects. Darn, I though I missed out on that beauty.
I'm still holding out that I don't have morning sickness like my mom. But, you never know what cards you are dealt with!
I have to say this first month on clomid I had to deal with a lot of hot flashes and a few headaches here and there. Now, I sit and wait until the next ultrasound.
I've been very blessed to have a friend going through the same process day by day with me and a few friends that have been to my dr and know what he'll want to do next.
So I'm always nervous what is next and what I need to get done. Theirs only so much you can do and then wait and do a little more then wait...and wait.
Just like I have my friends to turn to and ask a million questions, I want those that find themselves in this journey to not feel alone. feel free to always email me no matter how far ago I started with my fertility dr.