1st Doctor Appointment, 7 weeks

Today's the day!

My 1st doctor appointment! Although, I know there's nothing spectacular about the 1st visit that occurs, I'm still excited! 7 weeks, 2 days!

I knew I'd be there for a long time with the bloodwork, so I went prepared with a book and of course my cell phone. :)

They did all the standard: blood pressure check, urine test, prenatal vitamin prescription, weight check, measurement, "wow your cervix is really deep", "are you sure about your last mentrual period date?"  Those last 2 seem to be standard for me, anyway.

I still find "Advanced Maternal Age" (AMA) to by a hysterical term and makes me feel like a grandma! So, yep, I'm AMA at the ripe old age of 36.

We discussed "high risk" because of my miscarriage and right now we're just going to play it by ear and see how the pregnancy progresses. I'm mixed about that right now because on one hand, I want the "extra" attention and on the other, I'm grateful they feel things are normal.  It's just that element of my miscarriage having had NO symptoms or signs that made it so much more shocking for me, so of course I'm pretty nervous.

I shared my fears and concerns about miscarriage and the doctor was wonderful and caring about it understanding why I was nervous. She said that we'll be cautious and watch closely as well.

The doctor said she felt like my uterus measure at 8 weeks instead of the 7 that I was, so we'll see with ultrasound eventually. Since I was positive of my last menstrual start date, she went with that until we see differently. :)

Due date confirmed: August 14, 2010.

My doctor decided that she wanted to be cautious about me being "borderline" overweight and go ahead and order the glucose test normally done at 28 weeks of pregnancy for today. I laughed and said, "There's no borderline about it, but I certainly can't start dieting now, so we'll do whatever we need to do!"

Off for blood work and to drink the sugar death drink.  A billion vials of blood later and one super sugary sprite-like drink, I'm off to wait for an hour to have my blood drawn again. I'm so grateful I brought a book!!

An hour passed, one more vial of blood drawn and I'm off to go home finally about 3 hours later!

They called not too long after I had left and told me that I did not pass the 1 hour glucose test, so I'd have to do the 3 hour test. I did not pass the 1 hour glucose test in my pregnancy with A 10 years ago and had to go ahead and do the 3 hour test, so honestly I wasn't surprised.  I don't typically eat a lot of sugary foods and I guess my body just doesn't break down sugars quickly.  I will say though, that in 10 years they certainly have improved the taste of that drink because it wasn't nearly as horrible as it was in the past!

Scheduled the 3 hour test for January 11th. And scheduled the next regular visit for January 25th.

Came home armed with a calendar from the doctor's office and a ton of paperwork to read over.

I took a quick picture of the pregnancy test the nurse did for confirmation:

 

We're having a baby!! I'm so excited!

A Christmas Eve Present

We decided to share with A and R today that we're having a baby!  We had gone back and forth with when to tell them after having gone through our miscarriage last summer and how hard that was on all of us.  Ultimately we decided that we're a very close family and we have endured so much together that they too needed to share in this excitement.

We actually thought it would be a great thing to share with them today, Christmas Eve, as we just had to share with them this morning that one of our dogs had to be put to sleep this very morning.  That was hard on them.

We were getting ready to go to our friends' house for a Christmas Eve celebration and decided that before we went, we would tell them about the baby! G said to me, "Well, I had to give them the bad news about the dog, you can be the one to give them good news today!"

And true to their personalities, A said excitedly, "Really?" Followed by, "I hope this one sticks!" and R said wide-eyed "Yay! I hope THIS baby doesn't die."

You can tell we're a very communicative family! :)  I'm grateful my kids feel safe enough to share their feelings as raw and honestly as possible.

I'm also glad they're excited too!

Did Someone Order a Baby?

After the 4th morning of waking up without having started my period, I decided today was the day. Test day.

The last couple mornings I have woken up and my boobs have been sore too, but then I second guess myself and I think maybe I'm just imagining that they are!

Off to take A to school, G out the door with R to school and then I decided I will stop at Rite-Aid for a pregnancy test.

Test purchased. In hand. Return home to see what it brings. (See this is part of my plan, really --take a pregnancy test NOT first thing in the morning and see if it shows up positive even later in the day, then I will know without a doubt!)

Sure enough, a BIG FAT POSITIVE! I was sooooooo excited! And with an empty house, the ability to scream out loud about it! Y-I-P-P-E-E!!!!!!!!

I then had to get ready for work and get G to come see me so I could tell him in person this time! ♥

A couple days ago, we were having a conversation about marriage and relationships--straight and gay --with A, the just turned 10 year old because of some questions he asked.  It was a really interesting conversation and I was surprised to learn he already has some opinions. G and I made sure that what he believed was factual information first of all and then shared with him some things about privacy as well.  G said to him that what happens in people's private lives isn't something we should be concerned about, but rather how people treat others, how they act and behave. Then, of course, he added a humorous element "Besides, people's private bedrooms are where babies are ordered! Isn't that right, Mama?" I couldn't help but laugh about "ordering" a baby!

Fast forward back to now... a baby order form is the PERFECT way to tell G we're pregnant!  I created my order form on my computer and off to work I went --excited and so ready for the next few hours to pass until I'd see him!

He called me after R was done with school and they were on their way home and I asked him to stop in and see me first. He asked why I wanted him to because, normally they just do stop and I don't specifically ask. So, his suspicions were aroused... I just said, "I have something that I want to give you and I don't want it to wait until tonight."

The thing about my fiancé, he's VERY difficult to surprise, so I know he already figured something was up, but he came in to see me, kissed me, asked what I had for him that couldn't wait and I handed him this:

He was REALLY excited!! He said, "Really??????" Smiling from ear to ear and then said, "I knew it!"

Yay! Yay! Yay!

We're having a baby!!!

All Clear...A Reflection on July 2009

July 9, 2009~

We went early this morning for the ultrasound to check to make sure everything was clear after the miscarriage. Given the circumstances of having had a miscarriage, I was really relieved to find out that everything was normal and healthy.

The ultrasound technician was really kind -- a different one than last time -- and she asked me if I wanted the monitor to watch before assuming I did. I didn't, in the event that everything wasn't clear. But she had a gentle voice and said that she herself had had 3 miscarriages --one at 26 weeks, one at 13 weeks and one at 6 weeks. She said it didn't make it any easier with patients. She was very kind.

She offered me kleenex while G held my hand and I cried.

I said a prayer and I'm grateful we know we're clear and healthy to try for a baby when the time is right.

I am so in love with G and the man he has been throughout this... It has made me love him more.

We have had challenges in our relationship that I didn't know if we'd make it through, but I know with everything in me that we are meant to be and he is there. I'm so fortunate to have found that. Thank God...and I do.

We're going out of town for a few days and are looking forward to spending time together and with the kids. It was hard to tell them and they too are disappointed, but G gave a wonderful analogy when talking with them about planting flowers ... sometimes the seeds grow into beautiful flowers and sometimes, without knowing why, the seeds don't bloom.

It was perfect for R.

My son, A, is more direct and literal and he just said, "Mom, I'm sorry your baby died. I hope you don't wait 10 MORE years to have another one." :)

I love them both.
xoxox

The Beginning

Before I get to the pregnancy blogging part, I wanted to reflect back before moving forward with this journal of our pregnany journey... hence the post about our miscarriage that I wanted to start this blog with.All Clear, A Reflection...

A little (literally) about us:

G and I are engaged to be married, have 2 wonderful kids~ A and R, an angel baby, and now are expecting again next summer! We weren't trying, but we weren't "not trying" either, we just decided that it would happen when it was supposed to and I think we've learned we're both just really fertile! ha!

Enjoy the journey, although I can't say how even this rollercoaster will be and I'm glad I'll have this blog to reflect back on through the doctor visits, the emotions and hormones and experiences of this pregnancy.

Feel free to comment and/or link me to your own blog! I love reading people's stories!

We're cautious, nervous and oh so excited!