My three stars and one less dose

I have to say how touched I am to get star pendants from my friends. My 'shinning star' theme has inspired a string of wonderful gifts, all of which I'm wearing. My friend Brenda gave me the third one...and from Texas! And it's so cute! It's all I wear...my three little stars.

AND.....of the things I am looking forward to stopping the most in the medication department...surprisingly not the daily intramuscular injection into my butt...but those sick progesterone viginal suppositories. I had read girls complaining of the 'mess' they make...I thought 'how bad can it be?' IT'S BAD. And after today's progesterone check, I have gone down a dose! Yey! Just twice a day now. The progesterone went up, so that means the placenta is starting up!

In other prego news, I am 8 weeks this Friday, two months! If I have any mornignsicknes at all, it manifests as perpetual hunger. I can eat constantly. I went for a huge Italian meal at the in laws on Sunday, at 6 pm. Ate till my vision was blurred. Italian food people. You would too. Anyways, I had to take off right after that to a near by city for a morning meeting. I never took any food with me to the hotel, as I figured I'd be fine till breakfast. WRONG. The hunger woke me up at 5:30am and I did the desperate dig through my purse for forgotten and buried emergency food. All I found was a chocolate bar I had bought for a friend of mine while on holidays, that I still haven't given to her. I decided my friend is the sharing type.

Next ultrasound....sept 7th!

A heart, eleven years in the making

I met Stef eleven years ago, and today we saw our hearts beat as one...in our little Shinning Star! We were so happy and relieved. The little baby is 5mm, boasting a 126 beats per minute heart beat! you should have seen that little pulsing on the screen! it's so surreal to know that it's going on inside me right now...a beat every 2 seconds. The ultrasound put me at 6 weeks, 1 day, with a due date on April 16th. This is a 3 day discrepancy according to the transfer date calculation.....anyone know why? no biggie...just curious.

And...a little update...
Mornings sickness hit this morning when I kept pushing breakfast back due to working (home office), taking care of the birds and preparing for my injection all for too long this morning. Let's see if it comes back.
Cravings: Cantelope. And only a couple times.
Fast food I really enjoy: Chicken and humous pita from Pita Pit. yummm
Food I cant' wait to enjoy: my favortie meal....spagetti with sugar, ground poppy seed and melted butter on top. Have already celebrated my pregnancy as promised to myself years ago, with a few spoonfulls of sweetened condenced milk. Apparently, I grew up on some bizarre food and treats. I know. Don't forget...I'm Czech. And from the communist era, when real food wasn't available.
No longer enjoy: Wine, beer, coffee, chocolate (the caffeine), tea of any kind, matcha frapuccinos, sprouts, soft cheezes. What do I miss the most? Suprisingly, not wine. Tea. I miss tea the most. Something I always took for granted. Especially matcha. Love that stuff.
Suprisingly enjoy: All signs of pregnancy, including my boobs waking me up from pain at night when I turn over. And here is a big surprise....especially for Flygirl...I enjoy my PIO injections. I know. Weird. How can sticking a needle the size of a toothpick into your ass every morning and then pushing oil through be fun? Because I'm proud of myself for getting used to it, and it means that I was given another day with this precious one growing inside.
Need to stop enjoying: too much indulgence. There is no reason for weight gain except for a little water weight for the first trimester. But watching nutrition instead of calories and not being able to work out the way I did, the scale is creeping upward a bit too soon. So I've decided to start taking light walks and not use the pregnancy excuse when the urge to indulge hits. Will let you know how that goes over :)

Thanks for your support and advice!

Belly Armour and a Doula

First, in case someone is waiting for the results of my first ultrasound, it is next Tuesday, not this past Tuesday - sorry for any confusion. We're really looking forward to it. As time goes by, one needs more and more confirmation that this pregnancy is really happening. The batteries on my digital pregnancy test stick have died, so I can't stare at the "yes" for reassurance anymore. My sore boobs are a great reminder, especially after one hour naps in the afternoon, but I'm ready to see this little one thriving. He or she has the genes of a 2 time Iron Man so I have no doubt about hearing that little heart!

My lap top is sitting on my brand new Belly Armour Blanket. It is a special blanket that blocks computer and cell phone radiation to the baby. With me being on my cell phone all day and then working on my lap top on actually on my lap in the car EVERY day, I had to get one. Look it up if you're interested....and it makes a unique gift. Gals in Canada - tack on another $30.00 for shipping. www.bellyarmor.com

AND....ummmm....I can't get the italic off right now...OK...where was I.....right! so excited!! I get my very own Doula when the baby is born. Turns out my massage therapist is a Doula (if you're wondering what that is, it's like a midwife without the delivery part - the doctors still play their role, and still at the hospital). She will take care of Stef and I...probably more Stef....during the birth, with two visits to the home before and after the the birth. She will massage, feed, work through contractions, ect. I love it! when she told me her price, I almost feel down. I feel she would deserve twice as much for a service like that. I'm so happy we had that conversation and that I will have that kind of support during the delivery.

Friday will be week 6 and all is well for far. Question for those of you who would have wanted or needed one....any advice on a pregnancy journal? I've looked at a few at Chapter's but none that I rushed to the check out stand with. I can make my own with a scrap book, but though maybe you've seen really cool ones. Thanks!

5 week update and Babymoon!

Hi there ladies. I did first want to say, like some of our other pregnant bloggers, that I would completely understand if you no longer follow me. Everyone's care and support has been invaluable over the past 9 months. I truly hope that all of your IVF journeys end in a happy and healthy pregnancy.

So, I'm home now with a week of work under my belt. Speaking of my belt......I had to have a crash course on my city's Maternity clothes market in a hurry. When I came back from my brother's...the second vacation in a row, I found my pants were tight. I am no longer in a position to watch my carbs, workout an hour a day and eat a light supper to fit into them just fine in a week. nope. So I went shopping for maternity clothes, bought some summer stuff on sale.....and I love them!! My friend S in Califiornia told me that I will love maternity jeans. OMG do I! Just to let you know how "tight" my regular pants were.....I wore my maternity pants with a tight sweather over them to a function at work. A few people in the room knew about Denver, so they asked how it went, and the joy spread around the room pretty fast. One of my clients said " I could tell you were pregnant!" How cute AND embarassing at the same time. 5 weeks and "showing". Nice.

The Symtoms: my favorite topic.
Boobs: When I first get out of bed, hug someone or take my bra off, my boobs feel like they encapsulate a huge rock....eventhough they are not hard. It's really wierd. That was my very first symptom two weeks ago at my friend's place in Cali.
Fatigue: Yesterday, I was exhausted. I had to laugh when Josie was in her first trimester and said " how do women with full time jobs do this". I am fortunate to have a job that takes me on the road (not come month 7,8,9, when I'll be peeing my pants mind you) which means I can make time for a nap. Yesterday's nap was in a park in a small town that had a fountain and swinging bridge. My default travel pillow and blanket in my car became especially handy yesterday.
Food: No nausea yet, but my appetite is gone. I do get hungry but quite reluctantly and a few bites are enough. I have to remember to snack. I am totally off coffee, chocolate, sodas and any herbal teas at all.
Body: This is an odd one and not one I hear alot of. If I get up too fast from a chair or tretch in bed, my lower abdomen muscles, especially the side ones, cramp up. I have to stretch with my legs bent at the knees and get up from a chair like an old lady. I find it cute....like the baby is getting protected from sudden movements. There have been foreign sensations in my uterus. Pressure - like someone has had their head in my lap for too long, wriggles and giggles, like someone is flicking me from inside, like someone is trying to put their fist through it from inside. Lower back muscles seems tight at times. All of these are a little scary, but as my friend M said, " the baby is doing it's job".

So about that Babymoon. We are now where we were supposed to be 2 1/2 years ago, but with one advantage - we had that time to work on our marriage and build our life and assets together. So, in a way, we are futher ahead and even more prepared now. There is a blanket of relief, tranquility and peace that has fallen over my heart and our marriage. We are totally thrilled. Next tuesday is the 6.5 week first ultrasound to detect a heart beat. So excited and a little scared of course. Every day I thank God for my shinning star, and every day I beg my shinning star to keep on shinning.

Beta #s and symptoms

OK!! now for some data and facts. "Beta" is short for the pregnancy hormone that is tested to confirm pregnancy. Anything over 25 means your pregnant and anything over 50 means you have a very strong pregnancy. Your level after 48 hours should double. My first one was 50!! and then it more than tripled at 181!! today! So happy

My sore boobs went away (hint #1 I was pregnant) but still feel full and bigger. I am hungry faster and more often now. Feel OK during the day, but start to get done at 8 or 9 pm. A nap during the day is very welcome.

Flying home today. Sad to leave my brother's place in Salt Lake City, but excited to get home and see my birdies and begin our exciting journey!

Shopping!!

I have a little secret. When I was in Laguna Beach last weekend I was 5 days after the transfer and having signs already but still holding out for proof. I stepped into an art gallery of an artist whom I discovered in Lahaina, Maiu, where I even him saw in person as a family bought an original for $35,000. Vlademire Kush. I have loved and admired his work for years and only stumble apon his galleries while traveling. I had no intention of buying anything, as Stef is the art person and has dressed every inch of wall possible for display with his art collection or his photography. The nice lady asked me if I had any questions....I found myself asking how much his prints go for. She started to explain how some are not even for sale anymore as they are the last of the series, where his originals are,(don't think any were there)and she proceeds to show me a 'good value' print that just came in taking me to a part of the gallerie I had not looked at yet. She points to a limited series print called 'A New Day' and it takes my breath away. I swear it was a sign. Stunned, almost speechless, I ask how much, and then she was stunned and speechless when I heard myself saying 'I'll take it'. I felt it was fate. Needless to say, it will be the show piece in the baby room. It's hard to describe if you are not familiar with his work, but it has to do with a baby, and it represented the transfer and what I hoped the baby was doing in my womb at that very moment. When she was wrapping it for me, we were both socked to realize that the back of the painting was signed by him!!! An added little bonus I felt lucky to have.

Also, I was so excited to go shopping with my sister in law yesterday - I'm still in Salt Lake City right now- to my first maternity store!! And got a few things for 'later'. Also, as it was my 40th as well yesterday, I got my first baby gift...a tickle monster story book kit!! I cant wait for all the fun coming up....I have been ready for this for ten years.

One Little Diiorio....on the way!!!

Our very difficult and trying journey of two and a half years came to a close as soon as I picked up that stick, hands shaking, and read "YES+". My entire world changed at that moment. Pure, liquid, bright relief and freedom flooded by soul and I completely fell apart for a few minutes. I had had signs that I am pregnant but have been fooled before. Mind you, not signs like these, but once you've been pummeled for almost three years, you don't believe anything anymore.

I have crossed over to world that so many take for granted because it happened when they decided. The world of true womanhood - motherhood. And that pregnancy test stick was my walking wand, and the 'yes' my green light.

I'm having an absolute ball.