Blargh

Oh, so that's what morning sickness feels like. I woke up this morning feeling like I was on a boat in the middle of a rough ocean. It's gotten a little better throughout the day but hasn't gone away completely. As I type I'm wearing those sea sickness bands on my wrists. They seem to take away the worst of it. I have ginger ale and saltines. I have heartburn and I can't stop burping.

But I'm not complaining. Much. Because it all means that things are working like their supposed to. Here's hoping.

Ravenous

I'm so hungry. I go to sleep hungry and wake up hungry. I eat breakfast and I'm still hungry. I snack on banana chips and organic granola throughout the day. I eat lunch and I'm hungry. I come home and have a snack of raw broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots with some lite ranch. I eat supper. And yes...still hungry.

Maybe I'm exaggerating a tad, but it sure feels this way sometimes. I'm trying to eat really healthy while pregnant (!) so my usual stash of junk food is out. And food tastes amazing. Like I've never tasted it before. Even a Lean Cuisine tastes like the most incredible fine dining restaurant fare ever.

So I know I'm eating for two, maybe three, but I have to be careful. I don't want to gain 50 pounds.

Pregnant: 4 weeks 4 days.
Symptoms: hunger, fatigue, gas, constipation, burping like crazy

Gulp

I had my HCG blood test again and the numbers tripled in 2 days. She said it might be twins. Gulp. Well, at least we'll be done! I go for an ultrasound in 2 weeks so in the meantime we wait. And wait. And wait.

Confirmation

YAY!!!!!!!!!

Just got the call from my doctor and the blood test was positive. She said my level was 718, which she said was "very good." They'll have me retest on Wednesday to make sure things are continuing along.

I'm still not sure it's hit yet. I'm only telling close family and friends (the same people I'd tell if I miscarried) and a couple of my friends were ore excited than I've been! They even cried. Another jumped up and down and then promptly warned me about the dangers of the first trimester, "MY mother had 3 miscarriages," and told me not to eat any food with preservatives in it when she saw me with my Lean Cuisine. Guess I'll have to get used to that kind of stuff.

Scared

So sorry for the lack of posts. I've just been super busy.

I had the IUI on the 13th and all went fine. I was sent home to wait. That's always the hardest part, isn't it? Luckily, I was pretty busy so the time flew. I was to have a serum pregnancy test on the 27th (Friday), but I was out of town for Thanksgiving so that wasn't possible. I caved and bought an EPT.

I took it this morning, on what would have been my father's birthday, and there it was. +. A positive sign. Very clear. But is it real? Or is it a result from the HCG injection I had 17 days ago? I have wicked heartburn and I've been extremely gassy and constipated (sorry) for the past week. I've also been quite irritable. But no other signs/symptoms. My period was due today and there has been no sign. I also haven't had the usual headache that I usually get the day before I start.

So more waiting I guess. Of course I'll take another test Sunday. And Monday I'll get the blood test.

I guess I'm cautiously excited. But it is extremely hard for me to believe that after 8 years of trying I could be pregnant after the very first medical procedure!

Friday the 13th

So here we are. I took Clomid for 5 days with minimal side effects. Some mild hot flashes, irritability, and headaches. All tolerable. I went to the Dr today for an ultrasound and he saw 6 follicles! But only 2 were "ready." I told him 2 was plenty. Hopefully the other 4 won't mature. The idea of more than 2 babies at one time terrifies me! Tonight I give myself an injection to complete the ovulation process. And Friday morning, we go in for insemination. I plan on coming right back home and getting into bed with my leg up! I know it isn't necessary, but it will make me feel better.

I'm looking at this one as a practice run because I just don't see it working on the first IUI attempt. The hardest part (of course) will be having to wait the 2 weeks to know anything. I have a script to get a hormone level check a week after the IUI and then another script for a serum pregnancy test if I don't start my period. But I'll be out of town for Thanksgiving. I'm hoping I can still get it done since I'll have a prescription. I could wait the few days until I get home, but how realistic is that?

I'm still here!

Wow it has been a while. I just haven't been in the blogging frame of mind. But my anxiety is now under control and things are moving full steam ahead on the baby front.

Sparky's semen analysis came back normal (whoo hoo!) so there's that. Doc has declared me to have "unexplained infertility." I'm trying to think of this as a positive thing. Hopefully we'll be able to work around it. On the other hand, I wish there was something that could be fixed!

Next week my period is due and once it starts, I start Clomid. We're going for IUI (Intrauterine insemination, previously known as artificial insemination.) He said there are 3 stages we could take. IUI, where they wash the semen, get the best sperm, and inseminate me (like a horse) when they know I've ovulated. It's the least costly of the 3 options. Doc said it would be $700-800 a pop.

We'll try that at least 3 times. If no success we move on to curtain number 2, which involves a higher risk of multiples. I can't recall what the procedure involved at this time. If that fails we jump to IVF. The most expensive thing we can do. We could do it maybe once at the most. So I'm hoping we don't have to go there.

In the mean time, house training my new puppy has given me plenty to do! We got a 4 month old chihuahua a month ago and he's filling that maternal need.

To be continued......