This is our first ultrasound at 6 weeks and 4 days.  You can see the 2 sacs, and 2 babies!  Guess it's double of everything now!  :)

Another Sleepless Night in Laurel.....

Tonight will be another sleepless night for me (and I'm sure Troy too).  Tomorrow morning, at 7:45 we have my first ultrasound.  I will be 6 weeks and 4 days tomorrow.  This ultrasound is HUGE!!!  This is where, if all goes well, we see the fetal heartbeat, where we find out if there are one or two babies....basically, this is the "make it or break it" of our IVF cycle.   It has definitely been a long, difficult, and emotional road!

When I was at Kaiser yesterday getting my IV, the three nurses that were taking care of me all think that everything will be fantastic.....I guess they think that because hyperemesis gravidarum is a good sign that hormone levels are rising appropriately (and apparently it is also an indication of twins/multiples).  That still doesn't settle my nerves.  My nerves won't even begin to settle until I see that monitor tomorrow morning (I don't know if I will be able to look at first.....I think I'm going to wind up turning my head towards Troy and let him tell me....then I'll look).  Once I see good results on the monitor, my nerves will settle a bit, but won't completely be settled until I have a baby (or babies) in my arms!

Anyways,  Troy and I have been waiting for this ultrasound for what seems like forever!  This wait has been harder than the two week wait we endured before I had my blood pregnancy test.  Waiting, waiting, waiting, and more waiting.  That's what my life consists of!  I guess since I've waited and endured 3 and 1/2 years of fertility treatments, I can endure and wait this out! 

Hyperemesis Gravidarum :(

I just got home not too long ago from spending 2 1/2 hours in Kaiser.  I originally went there because I had a concern about some discharge (gross, I know), and wound up being diagnosed with Hpyeremesis Gravidarum.  I was diagnosed with this because we got to talking about my morning sickness, and how I throw up 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 times a day.  What I thought was normal apparently is not.  So the doctor ordered an IV.  The nurses got me hooked up to an IV and I got a little nap in!  The nurses and doctor were fantastic!  They made me feel so calm and they were so helpful!  We of course got to talking about my fertility journey.....then the subject of work came up.  When I told them the story of how I have been written up at work for missing work due to fertility treatments, they nearly cried and they said it was awful.  They told me forget about them......focus on baby!  And they are absolutely right!  I have to focus on the baby in order to have a healthy baby!  I don't care what they say to me at work, or what they try to do to me at work.  At least now I am protected by the law!  :)

Anyways, once I was released, I was also given a prescription of Zofran to help with the nausea.  I don't really want to take it because although it is proven safe for pregnancy, I am still "worried."  I will just try to stay hydrated....because I sure do feel a lot better when I'm hydrated!

Of course Troy was worried when I told him I needed to go to the OB/GYN.  First thing he said was "what's wrong?"  I had to reassure him that it was nothing bad.  I don't think he was calm until he saw me once he got home from work.  It is so nice to be loved!  :)

Father's Day.....

Today is Father's Day.  And today I am 6 weeks, 1 day.  Troy has been working overtime on the weekends, and today was the first day he didn't have to work.  He enjoyed sleeping in a bit!  We went and saw my dad today to wish him a happy father's day as well.  I was feeling pretty good for most of the day.   We stopped at Jersey Mike's Sub shop on the way home.  Troy got a cold sub, and I got a chipotle cheese-steak.  Since I was feeling pretty good all day, I thought I would be able to eat it.  Boy was I ever wrong!  I ate it......then it came back up about 40 minutes later.  At least it didn't really hurt coming back up....it actually tasted kind of sweet.  Lol.  I guess that's because there were sweet peppers on the sandwich.  I thought I would at least be able to keep down my Rita's chocolate/vanilla custard.....WRONG!!  Oh well, guess I'll just have to go back to Gatorade and Popsicles.  I got a little too confident I guess.  Maybe one day I'll be able to eat!  :)

I think it's so cute at how Troy is getting more and more excited about this baby!  Not only that, but he's starting to get food cravings.  His latest thing....CAKE!!!  He NEVER eats cake.  He definitely does not have a sweet tooth.  It's kind of strange because the things I LOVE to eat (like cake), are normally the things he hates.  Yet, as we go through the early stages of pregnancy, the things I once loved to eat are the things I can no longer stand.....and they are also the things Troy has quickly taken a liking to!  Strange how things happen!

Gatorade and Popsicles

It has come down to Gatorade and Popsicles.  I can't keep ANYTHING down!  It makes it nearly impossible to work, as I spend most of my time running back and forth to the bathroom.  So since I can't seem to keep food down, Troy and I decided that I should just try to keep down liquids.  Hence the Gatorade and Popsicles.  We'll see how this goes.

Morning Sickness (and noon, and night).....

I've been telling myself that I need to keep an extra toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste in my purse so when morning sickness hits, I can freshen up a bit!  Wouldn't you know that I still haven't done that.....and I am at work and could definitely use it right about now.  Just got out of the lovely staff bathroom, puking my guts out.  I haven't really eaten anything that would be too hard on my stomach.  I drank a ginger ale on my way into work and ate some crackers....guess my stomach didn't like what food I did eat.  Now I'm sitting here with a disgusting tasting mouth - even after I have rinsed it out. 

I have food on my desk, and I swear it's just looking at me, giving me the evil eye.  It's taunting me!  Dang morning sickness!  :)

That queasy feeling in my stomach hasn't gone away yet, so I predict another trip to the bathroom at any minute.

Update on Beta # 3

I just got the phone call regarding my beta results.  My number is now at 12,025!  My number increased by 2 1/2 times!  Next step, the ultrasound at 6 1/2 weeks.  This is where we check for a heartbeat and to see how many gestational sacs there are!  Exciting!  :)

Re Cap:
Beta # 1 = 2,364 (6/7/12)
Beta # 2 = 4,717 (6/9/12)
Beta # 3 = 12,025 (6/11/12)

Beta # 3

Today I have my beta # 3.  This should be the final beta before I have an ultrasound.  As usual, the nerves are going crazy!  I just keep praying that everything goes well.

Today is also the first day I returned to work.  I've been off for this entire IVF cycle, which has been fantastic!  It's pretty difficult trying to get back into the groove of things.  The day is passing so slowly.  I wish it would go a bit faster!  Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to wait for my blood work results?!

My appointment was at 9:45 this morning.  While I was sitting in the waiting room, my stomach started to rumble.  I started to feel queasy.  I obviously didn't get enough food in my belly this morning.  I need to make sure I have breakfast foods readily available at home so I can just grab and go.  So after my appointment, I decided that I needed something to eat....PRONTO!!  I stopped at McDonald's and got a bagel with cream cheese and an orange juice.  That definitely helped!  Now I feel like I am ready for a nap!

I had a new symptom today.....that metal feeling in my mouth.  It sure does taste great (sarcasm!!).  Well, guess it's back to getting some work done!

Beta # 2

Yesterday (June 9th) I had my second beta test (that's just blood work).  They do the betas two days apart, and want to see the number go up at a steady rate (basically double).  My number jumped from 2,364 on Thursday to 4,717 on Saturday.  I will have my third beta tomorrow (Monday).  My numbers should be around 8,000 something. 

I am still incredibly nervous, as I'm sure all newly pregnant women are!  You never know what to expect!  You get extremely worried when you have cramping and queasiness for several days in a row, then one day you don't have any of it.  Apparently that is normal though.  I just need to take the "good" days as just that!  I have been hit with several symptoms already though, and they of course come and go.  One thing that never seems to go away is the bloating!  The bloating seems to be 24/7.  Gas, queasiness, lightheaded (at times), constipation (fun, huh?), swelling, fatigue, extremely tender boobs, etc.  The next 7+ months should be rather interesting if I continue at this rate.  Oh yeah, can't forget being hot!  Last night we went to my brother in laws house.  I was rather warm.  As I was laying on the couch falling asleep....my eyes started to tear up.  I was crying because I was hot.  SERIOUSLY???!!!!  Lol!

Hey, I'm not complaining at all!  I find it to be rather amusing!  I will take every single thing that comes with pregnancy, and will take it with a smile!  I have fought so hard to get to this point....that these symptoms are a walk in the park compared to what I have already endured!  :O

It WORKED!!!!!!!

I just found out a couple of hours ago that our 3rd try at IVF worked!  I am ecstatic....over the moon....over-joyed!  There aren't words that can describe accurately how I feel.  My beta numbers were great!  Basically, it's a quantitative measurement of the amount of HcG in your blood!  My number is 2,364!!  The nurse said this was such a great number!

I'm still nervous....as I'm sure all newly pregnant women are!  I just have to continue to pray for the best.  In about 1 1/2 weeks, we will have an ultrasound to check out the embryonic sac and fetal heartbeat!

Wish us luck....and keep those prayers coming!

The Agonizing WAIT!!

I don't know what's worse....the two week wait after the embryo transfer, or the several hour wait for the results of your blood test to come back!!  I had an appointment this morning at 8:45 for my blood pregnancy test.  This is the test that determines our fate!  You would think that after taking 4 (yes, I said 4) home pregnancy tests over the past couple of days (including one this morning before I went in for my appointment) and getting positives on each one that I would be a little more confident going into this.  Well, I'm not!  My nerves are shot!  I'm trying to keep busy, but time is going nowhere!  I guess the only thing left to do is go back to bed and take a nap.  I will fall asleep for what feels like forever....but it will wind up to only be 1 hour.  Then what? 

What more can I do though?  I have taken all the necessary steps to make everything turn out as successful as possible.  I took off work for the entire IVF cycle so my body could be stress free and relaxed.  I stayed calm during my time off.  I didn't overdo anything.  I prayed every day and I put my trust and faith in God's hands.  He knows what's best for me.  He has a plan for me.  Although I can't always say that it's easy to understand this, I know that I have to accept it!  There's no use trying to justify what happens.  Things happen for a reason.  If this is meant to be....it WILL happen!

Are You Positive????

So....my blood pregnancy test is this Thursday at 8:45 a.m.  My nerves are totally shot!  I just want to know already!  Because I am so impatient with stuff like this, I decided to take a HPT (home pregnancy test).  I went to Target, bought a 1st Response (Early Result) test, came home, and RAN to the bathroom.  I have NEVER gone to the bathroom that quickly!  I did the test, then covered the tip as directed....and then let it sit.  Not even a minute later the first line appeared....then here comes the second line.  This second line wasn't a faint line either, it was as clear as day!  The two lines means the test is positive.

All I can do right now is continue to pray that it stays positive for the test on Thursday and that it is a viable pregnancy!

Fingers crossed!

OUCH!!

I have six more days until my Beta test (blood pregnancy test).  It has been pure torture having to wait!  Trying to think positive, and send sticky vibes my way!  That's kind of hard though when you are rather uncomfortable!

Around Saturday or Sunday of last week (26th/27th) I began getting a little crampy.  The cramps have intensified since then, but they don't show up very often.  The thing that really gets me is this sharp stabbing pain in my lower abdomen, I'd say right above the pelvic bone.  If I'm laying down, and I stretch out, I get that sharp pain.  Or if I'm sitting down, and I stand up, I get that sharp pain.  The pain is very brief, and only lasts for about 30 seconds....but it's frequent, and painful!  Sometimes the pain is on my left side, sometimes it's on the right, and sometimes it's right smack dab in the middle!  I have no idea if this is a good sign or not.  Of course I've read a billion posts and articles about this type of pain to try to find an answer, but I remain answer-less!

Let's just hope for a good test on the 7th!