4 Weeks
Maybe I should call this the pregnancy journal now, but I remain hesistent knowing that I could lose this baby at any time. I went in for blood work 4 days ago and my HCG level was at 45 (3wks 4d pregnant). A little more than 48 hours later it was at 166 (4weeks pregnant). It more than doubled showing that the pregnancy is progressing well at this point. At first I was a little nervous about the number. 45 sounded so small when I first heard it. I didn't have a quantitative blood test done with my first pregnancy, so I had no clue what to expect. I don't know what I was expecting, but 45 sounded small even though it is completely normal for how early I was in the pregnancy. I was beyond happy when I heard my numbers from this morning and knew that they had more than tripled! My progesterone level was good, so no supplements this pregnancy!
I am so excited but so nervous too. Now comes the hiding it and waiting. I am not one to share a pregnancy with other's until I am close to, if not past the first trimester.I just don't see the fun in telling people and then having to explain that I miscarried if I would lose the baby. I will, of course, tell my mother soon since I am comfortable enough that if I need to tell her I lost the baby, I can do that. It would also be nice to know that she would be there for me if things went wrong and I needed her. It is such a touchy subject with me, since I am terrified of experiencing a loss. Now I only hope that my in-laws don't start speculating and straight out ask me if I am pregnant. At this point, I would lie to them. After all, it is our news to share when we are ready, and it should not be forced out of us. My family won't say a word, my family knows that if I have something to share, I will share it when I am ready, so I rarely get questioned on things from them. Now I just need the next 8 weeks to pass quickly so we can let the cat out of the bag!
4 Weeks 2 Days Pregnant
So apparently, I need to pay more attention because I am a day ahead of myself here. I really thought today I would be 4ks 3d pregnant, but I am only 4wk 2d pregnant. That one extra day really doesn't matter in the long run, but it is excruciating in the short run! I forgot how nervous I get in the first trimester. I am trying to make a conscious effort to take better care of myself and am walking at least 3-5 times a week. I am trying to load up on my fruits and veggies too. I figure my best shot at keeping this baby (technically an embryo right now) alive is to take care of myself. I am also trying to de-stress and not think about it so much.
So far this pregnancy feels VERY different than my first one. with my daughter I had awful morning sickness at this point. I had trouble functioning feeling like I was always going to vomit. So far my stomach feels off, but I don't feel like I am going to vomit most of the day. ((knock on wood!)) I do have some awful indigestion after I eat and during eating where my stomach just aches, which I didn't have my first pregnancy either, but it is short lived. The exhaustion feels like exactly what I remember. I feel like I could nap all day and I have to keep moving to stay awake. Pretending I feel great in front of friends and family is getting to be tough. However, some part of me actually feels more rejuvenated when I fake it...too bad I can't fake it all the time :) The countdown begins..15 more days until our first u/s! I find myself praying a lot that God will help keep this baby growing strong and healthy and that he will give me and my family the strength we need to get through this pregnancy with the end result being a healthy full term baby or babies (doubtful, but I guess I shouldn't rule it out). Sometimes faith is all I have to hold on to. What will be, will be...
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Tommee Tippee Explora ® Truly Spill Proof Sippy Cup Review
I had heard of Tommee Tippee cups for a long time but never used one, this is probably because there isn't a whole lot of places I could buy them locally that I was aware of besides Babies R Us. I finally tried these cups with my 1 year old daughter and I really liked them. There are a variety of cool little features that I like about the cup.
What I Like About the Tommee Tippee Explora Spill Proof Sippy Cup
The silicone material surrounding parts of the cup and on the bottom - This cup does NOT slide, which I really appreciated with a toddler. It stayed put when she wasn't using it and it was less likely to fall over.
The sippy cap - There is this simple little cap on this cup that fits into a grove on the top of the cup when the child is drinking from it. It covers the part of the cup where your toddler sucks so you can cover it from germs when you aren't using the cup. I really liked this for any outings where it was stored in the side of the diaper bag.
BPA Free- I don't think I need to elaborate on this one.
Easy to hold - My little girl had no problem holding onto the cup because of the silicone material on the outside of the cup.
Soft spout - The spout is nice and soft without being too forgiving. The top is a combination of a plastic spout and a bottle nipple. The perfect mix for a toddler.
Spill Proof - This cup was tipped over and over in my house and has yet to spill. However, it isn't too hard for my daughter to suck the water from. A great combo.
What I Don't Like About the Tommee Tippee Explora Spill Proof Sippy Cup
Size - the cup is a little wide. Without handles this can be hard for a smaller toddler to handle. It would be nice if it were a little more ergonomically friendly.
I don't have a lot of complaints about this cup. After all it is a sippy cup! I wouldn't recommend this for a child who isn't used to sippy cups yet. I would go the version lower where the cup has handles, but overall, this cup was great!
Sara
What I Like About the Tommee Tippee Explora Spill Proof Sippy Cup
The silicone material surrounding parts of the cup and on the bottom - This cup does NOT slide, which I really appreciated with a toddler. It stayed put when she wasn't using it and it was less likely to fall over.
The sippy cap - There is this simple little cap on this cup that fits into a grove on the top of the cup when the child is drinking from it. It covers the part of the cup where your toddler sucks so you can cover it from germs when you aren't using the cup. I really liked this for any outings where it was stored in the side of the diaper bag.
BPA Free- I don't think I need to elaborate on this one.
Easy to hold - My little girl had no problem holding onto the cup because of the silicone material on the outside of the cup.
Soft spout - The spout is nice and soft without being too forgiving. The top is a combination of a plastic spout and a bottle nipple. The perfect mix for a toddler.
Spill Proof - This cup was tipped over and over in my house and has yet to spill. However, it isn't too hard for my daughter to suck the water from. A great combo.
Size - the cup is a little wide. Without handles this can be hard for a smaller toddler to handle. It would be nice if it were a little more ergonomically friendly.
I don't have a lot of complaints about this cup. After all it is a sippy cup! I wouldn't recommend this for a child who isn't used to sippy cups yet. I would go the version lower where the cup has handles, but overall, this cup was great!
Sara
Monday, September 20, 2010
Trying To Concieve Journal 9 and 10 Days Past Ovulation
9 Days Past Ovulation
I am 9DPO and already obsessing over when I should test. I really am a test addict. For some reason I really like to take pregnancy tests (or even ovulation tests) for that matter there is always a build up of excitement in waiting for the results. It doesn't get easier seeing the negatives but there is always that moment of hope when you wait to see if another line shows up on that little stick. Something that signifies and exciting point in time. That little bit of hope is almost a high for some people, and that is how it is for me. I am not crazy with testing. I typically wait until at least 10-11 dpo before I start, where I know some women start at 5 or 6dpo! I just cant wait to see 2 little lines again and know that we are giving our little girl a sibling.
10 Days Past Ovulation
Yesterday I was reading a forum that I belong to that is meant to be a support system for women with PCOS. I am an active member of the try to conceive board and saw that one of the other girls in the group who ovulated at the same time as me had gotten a positive pregnancy test, or as we like to call it, a BFP (big fat positive). I wasn't planning on testing until this weekend, but after reading her post I was so excited and wanted to test myself. After all, I bought pregnancy test strips in bulk to save money (50 of them for $15) so I had plenty. I gave 10 of them to a friend who I know is trying and kept 40 for myself. I rationalized in my head that it was worth the money to test. If anything it would be a little moment of excitement to add to my day. Knowing that I would test this weekend I stopped at the store and picked up some legitimate pee-on-a-stick tests that actually show a positive instead of just my little sticks that you dip in pee and hope another little line shows up. To tell my husband, the positive sign is much more effective. I planned on keeping these tests and only using them after I got a positive result on the pregnancy test strips.
Anyways, I went home from picking my daughter up from daycare and peed in my little cup to use my pregnancy test strip. My pee was almost clear from drinking so much water during the day that I thought it was silly for me to even do, but I did it anyways. I left the test on the counter and went to feed the dog and get dinner ready for my little girl. The whole time I was thinking how I needed to not get my hopes up since it would be a negative result. While dinner was cooking, I walked back upstairs and check the test. at first glance it was negative, but I stared at it for awhile and realized there was a VERY faint second line. So faint, I thought I might be imaging it. so later that night I held my pee and didn't go to the bathroom for a couple hours. I took another test and got a more noticeable faint line. I couldn't help but smile. I didn't say anything to my husband because I wanted to make sure. I obsessed over that little stick all night, coming back to check on it multiple times and smiling every time I looked at it. Part of me really wondered if we would be lucky enough to get pregnant again, or if we would take the route of adoption. I took another test this morning and definitely two lines. I'm pregnant! Now I can't wait to tell my husband but am still trying to think of a creative way to do it.... I just have to hope now that we don't lose the baby.
Sara
I am 9DPO and already obsessing over when I should test. I really am a test addict. For some reason I really like to take pregnancy tests (or even ovulation tests) for that matter there is always a build up of excitement in waiting for the results. It doesn't get easier seeing the negatives but there is always that moment of hope when you wait to see if another line shows up on that little stick. Something that signifies and exciting point in time. That little bit of hope is almost a high for some people, and that is how it is for me. I am not crazy with testing. I typically wait until at least 10-11 dpo before I start, where I know some women start at 5 or 6dpo! I just cant wait to see 2 little lines again and know that we are giving our little girl a sibling.
10 Days Past Ovulation
Yesterday I was reading a forum that I belong to that is meant to be a support system for women with PCOS. I am an active member of the try to conceive board and saw that one of the other girls in the group who ovulated at the same time as me had gotten a positive pregnancy test, or as we like to call it, a BFP (big fat positive). I wasn't planning on testing until this weekend, but after reading her post I was so excited and wanted to test myself. After all, I bought pregnancy test strips in bulk to save money (50 of them for $15) so I had plenty. I gave 10 of them to a friend who I know is trying and kept 40 for myself. I rationalized in my head that it was worth the money to test. If anything it would be a little moment of excitement to add to my day. Knowing that I would test this weekend I stopped at the store and picked up some legitimate pee-on-a-stick tests that actually show a positive instead of just my little sticks that you dip in pee and hope another little line shows up. To tell my husband, the positive sign is much more effective. I planned on keeping these tests and only using them after I got a positive result on the pregnancy test strips.
Anyways, I went home from picking my daughter up from daycare and peed in my little cup to use my pregnancy test strip. My pee was almost clear from drinking so much water during the day that I thought it was silly for me to even do, but I did it anyways. I left the test on the counter and went to feed the dog and get dinner ready for my little girl. The whole time I was thinking how I needed to not get my hopes up since it would be a negative result. While dinner was cooking, I walked back upstairs and check the test. at first glance it was negative, but I stared at it for awhile and realized there was a VERY faint second line. So faint, I thought I might be imaging it. so later that night I held my pee and didn't go to the bathroom for a couple hours. I took another test and got a more noticeable faint line. I couldn't help but smile. I didn't say anything to my husband because I wanted to make sure. I obsessed over that little stick all night, coming back to check on it multiple times and smiling every time I looked at it. Part of me really wondered if we would be lucky enough to get pregnant again, or if we would take the route of adoption. I took another test this morning and definitely two lines. I'm pregnant! Now I can't wait to tell my husband but am still trying to think of a creative way to do it.... I just have to hope now that we don't lose the baby.
Sara
Monday, September 13, 2010
Trying To Conceive Journal Cycle Day 36 and 42
Cycle Day 36
So on CD 33 I called the infertility nurse and let her know my situation with my charting software telling me I may have ovulated. She recommended I go and get my blood work done to check my progesterone level to verify. I went in on CD34 and had my blood drawn only to find out I definitely did NOT Ovulate yet. My progesterone levels were low and she said she was going to talk to my doctor come Monday because my cycle was getting way too long again.However, I did not give up. I ended up getting two positive OPKs yesterday on CD 35 so we continued to baby dance in hopes that we could catch ovulation and that maybe we would get lucky despite the long cycles. I think my doctor will say they need to up my dose of Clomid for the next cycle to try and make the cycle shorter since she said it really didn't work this month as far as they are concerned. I guess my body does what it wants to! Anyways, my OPK was still pretty dark today, but not quite as dark as the control line, so I think the LH surge is starting to fade. My temps went up from yesterday, but not high enough to be above my cover line yet.I am really hoping my temp skyrockets tomorrow so I can confirm ovulation. One more day of baby dancing and we are taking a break during the two week wait. I have to say I am a little relieved. All this baby dancing is wearing me out!
Cycle Day 42
My charting software determined that I am 7DPO now and of course I am speculating about every little symptom I have been feeling. I have had slight cramps for the last couple days which are probably nothing but I can't help but let my mind wander. My whole body is sore from who knows what and I have been feeling exhausted. This is probably just from taking care of a 10.5 month old baby but again, my mind wanders.
Back in the two week wait again. I am pretty much expecting a bfn when I test this coming weekend around 14 dpo if my period doesn't come before that. With these cramps, I wouldn't be surprised if she showed her face early like she normally does. I am going to try really hard to wait to test, but with my track record we will see if that actually happens. I am feeling really emotional lately with all of the craziness going on in my life besides the trying to get pregnant. It doesn't make this journey any easier...
Sara
So on CD 33 I called the infertility nurse and let her know my situation with my charting software telling me I may have ovulated. She recommended I go and get my blood work done to check my progesterone level to verify. I went in on CD34 and had my blood drawn only to find out I definitely did NOT Ovulate yet. My progesterone levels were low and she said she was going to talk to my doctor come Monday because my cycle was getting way too long again.However, I did not give up. I ended up getting two positive OPKs yesterday on CD 35 so we continued to baby dance in hopes that we could catch ovulation and that maybe we would get lucky despite the long cycles. I think my doctor will say they need to up my dose of Clomid for the next cycle to try and make the cycle shorter since she said it really didn't work this month as far as they are concerned. I guess my body does what it wants to! Anyways, my OPK was still pretty dark today, but not quite as dark as the control line, so I think the LH surge is starting to fade. My temps went up from yesterday, but not high enough to be above my cover line yet.I am really hoping my temp skyrockets tomorrow so I can confirm ovulation. One more day of baby dancing and we are taking a break during the two week wait. I have to say I am a little relieved. All this baby dancing is wearing me out!
Cycle Day 42
My charting software determined that I am 7DPO now and of course I am speculating about every little symptom I have been feeling. I have had slight cramps for the last couple days which are probably nothing but I can't help but let my mind wander. My whole body is sore from who knows what and I have been feeling exhausted. This is probably just from taking care of a 10.5 month old baby but again, my mind wanders.
Back in the two week wait again. I am pretty much expecting a bfn when I test this coming weekend around 14 dpo if my period doesn't come before that. With these cramps, I wouldn't be surprised if she showed her face early like she normally does. I am going to try really hard to wait to test, but with my track record we will see if that actually happens. I am feeling really emotional lately with all of the craziness going on in my life besides the trying to get pregnant. It doesn't make this journey any easier...
Sara
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Trying To Conceive Journal Cycle Day 21 and 23
Cycle Day 21
I am on day 21 of my cycle and don't know if I have ovulated yet. I was starting to run out of OPK strips so I bought a different brand (Walgreens brand). I used one last night and got a negative result. I used one this morning and it was positive. I decided to use one of my few original brand tests to double check (with a different sample) and got a negative result. I am not sure what I should conclude from all of this, but I know I need to assume I will be Ovulating so I don't miss it. Why does this need to be so complicated? I am feeling a little discouraged that if my positive OPK is wrong that I haven't ovulated yet. I thought with the Clomid I would have ovulated by now. I keep hearing that it doesn't always cause ovulation to happen when it should, but I was really hoping for once that what was supposed to happen actually did.
My husband asked me last night if I thought I was pregnant (after I had drank a couple beers with him the night before...right). I kind of laughed at him and mentioned the drinking the previous night. He said he was just curious and wanted to know where we were at. The sudden interest in what was going on surprised me. He knows I will tell him if I get my period or a positive pregnancy test. It was nice to know he cared enough to ask what was going on. I just hope this month I get to tell him something exciting!
Cycle Day 23
Sara
I am on day 21 of my cycle and don't know if I have ovulated yet. I was starting to run out of OPK strips so I bought a different brand (Walgreens brand). I used one last night and got a negative result. I used one this morning and it was positive. I decided to use one of my few original brand tests to double check (with a different sample) and got a negative result. I am not sure what I should conclude from all of this, but I know I need to assume I will be Ovulating so I don't miss it. Why does this need to be so complicated? I am feeling a little discouraged that if my positive OPK is wrong that I haven't ovulated yet. I thought with the Clomid I would have ovulated by now. I keep hearing that it doesn't always cause ovulation to happen when it should, but I was really hoping for once that what was supposed to happen actually did.
My husband asked me last night if I thought I was pregnant (after I had drank a couple beers with him the night before...right). I kind of laughed at him and mentioned the drinking the previous night. He said he was just curious and wanted to know where we were at. The sudden interest in what was going on surprised me. He knows I will tell him if I get my period or a positive pregnancy test. It was nice to know he cared enough to ask what was going on. I just hope this month I get to tell him something exciting!
Cycle Day 23
The strangest thing happened today. I filled in my stats in my charting software and it tells me that I MAY have ovulated on CD17 and that I may be 6DPO right now. I had a pretty low drop in my BBT today which could be nothing, or it could be implantation. either way, I won't know anything for a couple more days when I can see what my temps do. All of my OPKs have been negative (with the exception of that one weird one a couple days ago). I do know that OPKs do not always work for women with PCOS (polycycstic ovarian syndrome) but they have always worked for me in past cycles. I wonder if the fact that I took Clomid and Estrodiol this month makes a difference....either way I am really confused and wish tomorrow would come already so I can try and decode my cycle. If I did Ovulate, that is wonderful...if not, I will keep on baby dancing until I do.
I had bloodwork to check progesterone levels scheduled for today, but called the nurse yesterday and cancelled because I didn't think I had ovulated. Now I am not sure what I should do! I think I will wait to see what my temps do tomorrow and call the nurse if they go up again. Why does this need to be so confusing?
Sara
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