Good News and Bad News

The good news is...my OHSS symptoms have mostly diminished.  I'm still not 100%, but I'm feeling so much better than I was in that department.  The bad news is...the morning sickness has officially kicked in.  I noticed some nausea starting Friday evening when we were about to head out of town for my family Christmas.  I had another "moment" yesterday (late afternoon/early evening).  Tonight, it's worse.  I napped for a couple hours this afternoon.  Since I got up, I've been feeling pretty rough.  I tried eating a little bit, which I thought would help, but it didn't really.  I've had two things this evening that have made me gag, and I had to run to the bathroom once.  I've yet to actually throw up, but I don't doubt that it may happen.

For now, I'm waiting for the hubby to get home with ice cream.

Merry Christmas...from the 3 of us!

Merry Christmas...from the 3 (maybe 4?) of us!!!

Letter to Baby

Dear Baby (or Babies J),

                Daddy and I were so excited to find out about you this week.  You should know that we’ve been hoping and dreaming of you for a very long time.  I’ve cried a lot over this past year…worried that you might never come.  But I now know that it just took some extra time to create something so perfect. 

I found out about you five days ago on December 11^th.  It was a Tuesday morning.  Your daddy had already gone to work and I was lying in bed thinking about the possibility of you.  This is something I’ve done countless times over the past year.  I was supposed to find out about you the next day by going in to my doctor’s office for a blood test, but I just couldn’t wait that long.  So I took a digital home pregnancy test.  After three minutes, I grabbed the stick and saw the words “Pregnant”.  I instantly became giddy and couldn’t stop smiling.

I decided at that moment, that I would come home from work over lunch to tell your daddy.  I put the positive pregnancy test in a gift bag with a book I bought almost a year ago called, “Dude, You’re Gonna Be a Dad!”  When your daddy came home from lunch, I told him I had an early Christmas present for him.  He opened it and I instantly saw a look of relief come across his face.

That was less than a week ago.  Since then I’ve had two blood tests that have confirmed that you really are in there.  I’ve been trying to take care of myself by eating more vegetables.  I’m making your daddy eat them too! J We can’t wait to meet you in August!

                                                                                                            Love,

                                                                                                            Mommy

More Good News!

I had my second beta today.  My number more than doubled.  It went from 231 to 527.  So everything is continuing to look good! I'll go in for my 3rd test next Monday or Tuesday.  SO EXCITING!  Now, if I could just get these OHSS symptoms under control....

We're Prego!

It's official.  I'm pregnant!  I had my first beta yesterday.  My hCG levels were 231.  This is a great number!  I was thrilled to get the call from my nurse around 11 AM yesterday, though I must admit...I kind of cheated.  I took a home pregnancy test Tuesday morning.  It was the morning before my beta and I was just laying in bed going back and forth with myself as to whether I should go pee on a stick.  Finally, I decided I was going to do it.  It was 14 days past my Ovidrel trigger, so all the hCG that's in that shot would have been out of my system.  Sure enough, after waiting the three minutes for the digital reader to show up...I saw the word "Pregnant."  I instantly became giddy.  I honestly couldn't stop smiling the entire time I was getting ready.

I came home for lunch (which I NEVER do) so I could tell the hubby.  I told him I wasn't feeling well and that I was going to take the afternoon off.  Earlier that morning, I wrapped up the pregnancy test (after wiping it down with a Clorox wipe) with a book I bought him almost a year ago called "Dude, You're Gonna Be a Dad!"  As we sat down to eat lunch, I told him I had an early Christmas present for him.  I had him open the bag.  He saw the book first and I don't really think he knew what to think.  Then I told him there was something else in there.  He found the positive pregnancy test and I saw a look of relief take over his face.  He had been feeling really anxious all day long and I think it was safe to say he was happy to hear (or should I saw SEE) the good news.

Of course the beta yesterday just confirmed everything.  I go back again tomorrow to see if my number has doubled.  Then I'll go in again on Tuesday.  I'm so excited!  I just want to tell everyone...but of course, it's too early for that.  So, instead I'll just tell the Internet (this is an anonymous blog).  So, blog world strangers...WE'RE PREGO!!!

Progesterone Shots

One thing I've dreaded from the beginning of this whole IVF thing was the progesterone shots.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of needles.  You really can't be when going through this whole thing.  In the last month and a half, I've given myself 65 shots in the stomach and I've had my blood drawn 8 times.  When I had my surgery, it took 3 attempts to get my IV in.  Needles I can do.

However, all the shots I've had to give myself so far have been subcutaenous (just under the skin) shots into my stomach.  The needles were either little insulin needles or 27 gauge, 1/2 inch long needles (both pretty small).  These progesterone in oil shots are 22 gauge needles that are an inch and half long.  They're huge.  And they're intramuscular shots, which means they're injected directly into my butt.  Yikes!

I had to take my first one yesterday.  Since they go in my butt, I can't really do them myself, so ny hubby has gotten to do the honors.  I'm not going to lie...I was terrified the first time.  I iced it for 5-10 minutes beforehand, because I had heard that numbing it a bit can help relieve some of the pain.  The hubs didn't seem to have any nerves about stabbing a giant needle in my butt.  In fact, I fear he may have even liked it a little.  But when it was all said and done...it really didn't hurt bad at all! 

Today's went well too, though now that the numbness has worn off, my butt muscle is a little sore.  The point is...I've survived two days of progesterone shots.  I feel like I can tackle the world!