Quick Takes

1.  I had my first ultrasound yesterday.  Baby is measuring 6 wk 1day.  All looks good.  I saw the heart beat but they couldn't measure it.  I am suppose to go back in two weeks.    I had another blood draw for a progesterone test, will get that back on Monday.   Hopefully it is rising.   Trying to avoid the progesterone injections.

2.  We have all been sick around here.  I went out with my old coworkers for lunch last week.  I took MH with me.  The next day she came down with a cold and had a low grade fever.  I had dinner and play date planned with my friend but I had to cancel.  Didn't want to get her kids sick.  She has enough of that from daycare.    Two days after I got the same cold.  I haven't gotten a cold in so long, being pregnant I guess I am susceptible.   DH came down with something a couple of days ago, his seems some kind of stomach bug and he had a fever.  He just started to feel a little better today.  So I have been busy this week trying to take care of everyone else.  My Mom is ok,  as soon as MH came down with the cold she started drinking tea with garlic and ginger.   Nasty stuff I tell you anything to fend off the virus.   I couldn't stomach the garlic so I have been seeping on ginger tea.

3.  My pain level has been going down gradually and now I only have lower back pain, the side pains are disappearing.  I love pregnancy.  I am also doing better emotionally.  Again I love pregnancy.   I am tired than usual but heck I am almost pain free so who cares.

4.  I have been thinking about returning to work a lot this week.  As soon as I start feeling better I am now thinking how and when I should be back.  Then I calm myself down and remind my self to take it one day at a time.  Right now, I am going to focus on the pregnancy and home.   Part of it is we have had  a few unexpected expenses the last few weeks and we had to spend some of our saving.  This is the first time we had to do this since I quit my job but the fact that DH is not teaching part time (2nd job) have me nervous.  We will not be able to save a dime, if anything we may have to spend more of our saving.  

5.  Now that I am feeling better, I can spend some time trying to update myself professionally.  I just lack the dedication but some how it has to come from somewhere. 

6.  Having my Mom with us has been a blessing.  She has been thinking of going back home for a few months and I am trying to arrange it so that she goes sooner than later.  I need her later in the pregnancy.  I am so spoiled. 

7.  Run out of things to say.  I am just so happy about this pregnancy.   Have a blessed weekend.

HCG

Dr. D. wanted to do another HCG which I did yesterday.   The number is around 2900 and looking good.   I will have an ultrasound next week and a repeat test of progesterone and HCG.

I am doing fine.  The hunger is starting to kick in and I also have mild cramps and lower back ache.    Good thing is I haven't seen any blood since the implantation bleeding so that is good.

I told my sisters and Mom and they are all excited.  The funny thing is that I already look 3 month pregnant not because of this pregnancy but just overall weight gain and I am always blotted.  We had a family lunch at my uncles last Sunday and my aunt was looking at me all funny.  Over the last few months I have been asked at least six times by different family member if I was pregnant. 
Now I don't care,  I am close to taking out my maternity pants since most of my pants are too tight to begin with so probably won't be able to wear them much longer.

I am so excited, and what do you know, the endometriosis pain is disappearing.  There is still some lingering pain but not as intense.  I hate endometriosis.

In the next few weeks I will have to go for a blood draw so we can check the state of my thyroid and whether we need to up the meds.  I am also getting tested for mineral and vitamin levels and going back to my Doc. for a review. 

I am so happy right now, no words to describe it. 

Numbers

Yes I am pregnant.  Lab work done on P + 16

Progesterone: 20.3

HCG: 313

Yep, no progesterone injection for now.  I am so excited.  I am going to continue 200 mg progesterone suppository ever night and we will see what the numbers look like in two weeks.  Who's body is this?  I am really surprised the numbers came up this high.  My first pregnancy it was around 10 at P + 18. 

The day I tested when Hubby got home MH was wearing " Big Sister" shirt.  Took one of her white shirts and wrote on it with a marker.   He was like what does it mean Big sister, it took him a few minutes to get it. 

He wasn't expecting this at all since I told him my period was on the way and I was already spotting.  I had really bad cramps for a couple of days so he thought I was already done with AF. 

He is excited but couscous as usual.  I think until he sees a bump he is not going to be too excited.   However I am over the moon. 

To give MH a sibling makes me so happy.   In addition, If it was like the last pregnancy, I will be pain free for the next 9 months.   My pain already has gone down.   Endometriosis free for the next 9 months is a gift. 

Praying that all goes well.  I am going to act like a normal fertile girl and not stress about all the things that could go wrong. 

HOLY COW: #2

Its CD29 today (P+ 16) and I tested this morning and yeahhhhhh it was Positive, BIG FAT POSITIVE. 

I am the type of person when I am excited  the excitement display only last for 5 second and I am all calm on the outside but still excited inside.   I did a dance and a quite scream in my bathroom for 5 seconds.

This cycle I did the hormone profile and my last blood draw was on P+11.    I was waiting for my period to arrive so that I can e-mail my chart to the Dr. and was planning to see her in a month to review.

On P+10 I spotted, just a hint of blood and did the same for two more days.  This has happened before so I cursed under my breath and just let it go. 

The last two days I had no bleeding, non what so ever and I started to suspect something is up.  Then again it has happened before and had followed up with AF.  I was actually quite amused on the constant chatter that was going on in my head and I was going to blog about it and didn't have time.

When I saw no blood yesterday I decided I would test on P + 16. 

MH sleeps with us and she woke up in the middle of the night wet, apparently her dad gave her a lot of water before bed even though I have asked him not to do.   It was 3:30am and while he was changing her I went down to get a glass of water but realized that I was starving so I had some peanuts and went back to sleep. 

At 7:30 am I walk up to pee and before I peed I checked for any blood, God knows how many times I have done this and had discovered a hint of blood or AF.  That is when I decided I am going to use the only PG stick I had.

Oh my, the feeling of seeing the positive stick.   I can scream with excitement right now.  

After the test I ran downstairs to get my camera, I thought DH had already left for work but he was sitting in the kitchen working.    I resisted telling him.   I told him I came down for water and run back up quickly.   I waited until he left to take a picture of the pregnancy stick.   No picture included here, can't find the cord for the camera to connect to my computer.

WOW, this is so unexpected.  Just in my last blog post that I was whining about how my body is broken etc.

Since I was doing the cycle long hormone profile I did not take progesterone or estradiol. 

The only thing I am on is 60 mg T3 and 5 mg of HC in the morning.

I already called the Dr's office and they will be getting back to me with lab orders and the plan for progesterone support. 

I am curious to see what my progesterone level was post peak. 

I have a headache, boobs on the side hurt a little and I have cramps.   It feels like just before my period is about to come.  The cramps scary me. 

Please say a prayer that all will go well. 

Now how to tell my husband? My mom is here so it is going to be hard to pull a surprise.  I don't know if I want to tell her now since she worries too much.  I just want to make sure I at least have a blood test before I tell her.  

Update

On TTC front I went back to my Napro Dr. a few weeks ago.  I was on Estradiol and progesterone for  the last four months and still spotted and my luteal phase was short for 2 cycles.  Never had this problem when I was taking meds prior to pregnancy.    I went back with the determination of getting all that can be tested and giving the pregnancy thing one last shot.   So right now I am doing the cycle long hormonal profile and will have an ultrasound and HSG shortly.    I am also going to start taking LDN again.  The endometriosis is getting worse and I have pain all the time.  Since I am home and it is somewhat manageable.    If I am hurting I have the option of laying down and taking it easy.   The Dr. suggested another surgery which I refused.  It would be my last option and I wouldn't only go there If my pain becomes intolerable.    It took me forever to recovery from the last surgery, I am emotionally scared by it.    So my plan is we will try to conceive for another year and if it doesn't happen we will close that chapter.   I really want to give MH a sibling, and I want another baby.   Heck I want three or more.  Part of me says I got pregnant once then then chance of it happening is high.  However, the infertile me kicks in and says that one time is just a one time  and my body is broken.  Yes my body is broken, I have headaches all the time, I get tired easily and I am in pain constantly so I know the reality.    I am also pushing 40 so if it happens it will be a miracle.  But if no child comes out of this that is OK.  I have my one and I am thankful. 

We live 5 min from our local hospital and there is a LabCorp next door. I can even walk to it and have my blood draws.  I still can't drive far without being in pain.  No one understands it since I am standing and waking around and look fine.  Since I have to use my right foot for driving the action of pressing on gas or brake repeatedly aggravates  the pain.  Most of the pain I have is on the right.  During an internal examination at the Napro Dr.  after telling her that it really hurts on the right she had to go there and dig, it was so painful I wanted to cry.

The last few months I am constantly blotted and have also gained  3-4 lb.   I lost count on how many times I have been asked if I am pregnant.  Even my Dad asked :).  So I am 15 lb over my pre-pregnancy weight and that is a lot for a  5 feet 2 inches frame.   I have to lose at least 10 lb to feel comfortable.

In other news not related to TTC and health we finally bought a dining set after looking for almost a year.  When I have to buy big items I agonize over the purchase and I am always looking for something that doesn't exist.  Any how we finally settled on one, didn't think spending $1500 on a set is smart since I am not working and we could have been fine with our old set but DH also wanted to buy so our dining area can look decent.  

The one other purchase will have to be curtains for our living room and I still haven't found what I liked without spending over $200.    I am assuming another 6 month before I find what I like :). 

MH is saying a few phrases and is approaching 2.  She is a happy and a fun toddler.  I am enjoying ever minute of it.  

Dreams

For the last few years I have had the same recurring set of dreams that creep up from time to time.   

1. I am in a car/bus or in a big building trying to go somewhere.  In the dream I get lost over and over again and never get to my destination.   I am either driving aimlessly or in a big building trying to get to a place within the building but never get there.  The other night I dreamt that I took a family member to the ER and had to take my cousin to the same ER but I couldn't find it so I am climbing stairs, getting in to elevators etc but never get to my destination.

2.  I am somewhere or in a class room where someone announces that we are having an exam but I haven't studied at all.  I tell people around me I am not prepared to take the test.  I read the questions and don't know any of the answers.   I haven't been in school for the last 8 years so I have no idea why I am having this dream.  I usually wake up from it with such a knot in my stomach.  I hate this dream. 

3.  The third dream is usually me arguing with someone.  Usually it is a family member.  I hate conflict so I avoid it at all costs.    In the dream I am screaming at someone and letting them have it.  My oldest sister and my brother are usually at the receiving end.    This dream doesn't bother me as much; I am doing what I want to do in reality but since I hate conflict I get to do it in my dream :)

I wish I was one of those people who doesn't dream or never remember their dreams. 

Physical exercise with chronic pain

I am really bad at blogging.  I have no excuse.  I have a lot of time on my hands where I am usually either reading blogs or watching TV.   I have so many things I want to write about mainly my struggle with endometriosis but those posts are not fun.  

During 55 day lent I gave up meat and I also made a point to exercise.    My first cycle on lent I had no menstrual pain prior to my period, non what so ever.   I was thinking the meatless diet had something to do with it but that is just one menstrual cycle.  The next cycle was also less pain.  In addition to lessening of my pain hormonally I was a lot more stable.   I think going with out meat had an effect.  

So for exercise I started off with light stretching and light cardio.    I know any strenuous exercise makes my pain worse but I thought I give it another try.  I incorporated yoga to balance out the stress on my body.     Starting off it wasn't too bad and I got excited and added Z.um.ba.   After two weeks of exercise I was seeing that my moods were a lot better and I walk up and did not always feel the dread that I usually do.   I exercised in the evenings for at least 1h.    But as each day passed that I noticed I walk up in pain, much more pain than usual and would spend the day recuperating.   I cut down the cardio and made it every other day but it was still too much.  After 6 wks of exercise I stopped.   I was in a lot more pain after a session and just couldn't bring myself to go back to it. 

I actually looked forward to exercising and I was disciplined.  I at least did 4-5 sessions a week so the commitment was there.    So I am going to drop the cardio and only do stretching and light walking.   I will also give up red meat and see if the effect I saw during lent is real.  

My pain seems to be increasing recently, it is an up and down battle.  Lately I am waking up in the morning with increased pain on my right hip and thighs that radiates to my legs.   I have lower back pain all that time and the intensity goes up and down depending on how much I do physically and where I am on my cycle.   With increased pain comes the migraine headaches and overall tense muscles.

I am also beginning to look in to the personal care products I use.  I don't really have a lot of products I use besides the basics.  I don't wear makeup except for eye liners and lipsticks.  I have one bottle of perfume that was a wedding gift.  Yep 5 years later I still have the same perfume.    I also don't use deodorants much specially in the winter since I send most of my time at home.   So I want to start slow and replace these products with safer ones.   We don't really buy a lot of house hold cleaners either.  I clean most things in the kitchen with dish detergents and bathrooms with shampoo.  The only household cleaners we buy are cloth and dish detergent and dish washer detergent. 

My niece is graduating from middle school and we are attending this evening so day 1 of my exercise regime will start tomorrow.  Wish me luck.