Eleven Week Appointment

First appointment down!  Only about ten more to go and Peanut will be here, y'all! :)

Even though we spent almost an hour there, I have to say that visit was rather uneventful!  I had the routine stuff done: peed in a cup (always fun), weight (I haven't gained at all--I'm actually about half a pound under my pre-pregnancy weight), vitals, 21 Questions (allergies, medications, etc), and then some labs.  Then I got to see Dr S and have a super fun pap smear done (ouch), internal exam where he felt on my uterus (ouch again---I'm still cramping from that), and answer more questions.  

But then came the highlight of the appointment...we got to hear Peanut's heartbeat again!  I tell ya, that never gets old! It was just a-truckin' away in the 170's!  I said, "I bet it's a girl by that heartbeat", and Dr S laughed and replied, "You're probably right.  People are right about that 50% of the time!" Hardy har har, Mr Comedian! lol  (I seriously do think it's a girl though...I just have a hunch! ;) )

So, after we heard the heartbeat and I could breathe a sigh of relief, the good doctor said again that he has to "wean" me off of my weekly ultrasounds.  Of course, this had me thinking I'd come back in maybe two weeks or so.  No.  FIVE WEEKS!  I can't hear my little Peanut again for five whole weeks!   His reasoning is that he wants to get me on a routine OB schedule (which is appointments at twelve, sixteen, twenty, twenty-four weeks, etc), and since I am 11W3D, he said we'd push it back another week to make the sixteen week mark.  Well, poo.  

I have to admit, I was a little crushed.  I'm really going to miss seeing/hearing my little miracle...but, like my very wise husband said to me while I was pouting in the car, "You have to have faith that God will protect this baby.  Even though you can't hear the heartbeat for another five weeks, you have to believe that it's in God's hands and everything is okay.  Either way, it's His plan."  Man, how lucky am I to have married such a smart guy??  Thank you, Lord, for giving me such a wonderful partner, advocate, friend, and Baby Daddy! 

Now that I've calmed down from my momentary freak-out session, I've got some decisions to make...about finding out if Peanut is a "he" or a "she"!  Dr S said they will only do the doppler again to hear the heartbeat at sixteen weeks, but they won't do an u/s to check the gender until twenty weeks. Well, you may have guessed that I'm a planner, and I want to know what this little one is ASAP!  So my hubby and I are seriously considering going to the 4D ultrasound place in town sometime around sixteen weeks and finding out the sex that way.  What do y'all think about us going this route?  I'd also like to know your guesses on Peanut's gender!  I can't wait to find out if I'll need to brush up on my Tonka truck driving and T-ball skills, or if my husband will need to expand on his knowledge of hair-braiding and tea parties!  Eek!

Morning, Y'all!

I'm up and blogging earlier than usual today.  Why, you ask?  Because I'm excited!  Today will be our first appointment with Dr S, the OB doctor!  I am so excited, in fact, that I woke up at 6am (for my fourth nightly pee-trip) and couldn't go back to sleep!  I just laid in bed, daydreaming about seeing (or even just hearing) our little Peanut...(sigh).  Too bad my appointment isn't until 3:15pm...that's gonna make for a looooong day of waiting!

I really don't know what to expect at today's visit.  From what Dr S told me when I went for my annual GYN exam back in September (right before the first FET), he would "wean" me off my weekly ultrasounds, since most mothers don't get to see/hear their babies that often, and going from that frequency to once a month might freak me out.  But a friend of mine who also graduated from her RE at ten weeks went straight to monthly appointments (granted, it was a different doctor)...so I don't know!  I'm just praying for a clean bill of health for both Peanut and myself today, then we can take it from there! ;)

I have a feeling today's appointment might take a little longer, since it's my first OB visit and his office doesn't have the quick turn-around time Dr T's did (another reason I'll miss Dr T...sniff).  But I'll post as soon as I can, so y'all stay tuned and please keep those prayers coming!

Eleven Weeks

Eleven.  As in, the number that comes before twelve.  As in, one week from the beginning of the second trimester!  Ahhh!

This week has really been rather uneventful (rather than the awesome final appointment with Dr T), but let's see what progress Peanut has made since the last update...

Symptoms:

-nausea (again, on and off)
-extreme exhaustion (PTL I don't have to work and fight this fatigue at the same time!)
-mild/dull pressure in lower abdomen
-slight backache (I believe this is from putting up Christmas decorations...I tried to take breaks, but I still think I might have overdone it)
-on and off headaches (mainly from sinus pressure)
-stuffy/bloody nose
-increased thirst
-short of breath at times

Size of the Baby:

Lime (around 2 inches long from head to tush and weighing about 0.3 ounces)

Milestones/Happenings:

Not only have we graduated from the fertility specialist to my regular OB doctor, but Peanut graduated in development as well!  He/she has moved out of the embryo stage and is now considered a fetus! Woohoo!

By now, most of Peanut's organs have developed.  Now starts the (even more) rapid growth period...this week alone, he/she will double in size!  The reproductive organs are coming to become more "distinguished" over the next few weeks, which means we will hopefully be able to find out the gender in the next month or so!  Exciting stuff is happening here, folks!

Food Cravings:

Believe it or not, my cravings are not quite as strong as they have been the last few weeks!  I have been eating more salads (to give Peanut some good nutrients and stuff) and haven't been eating nearly as much fried foods (to give my reflux a break!).  Now, my cravings are pretty much come and go depending on what I'm watching on TV or who mentioned something delicious.  But here are a few things that I've been wanting...

-homemade powdered sugar/cinnamon sugar donuts (I satisfied this one this morning!)
-shrimp fried rice (will have this tonight when we go out to celebrate my FIL's birthday)
-soft serve ice cream (pretty much just plain vanilla or chocolate...McDonald's little cups of goodness are my fave)
-smoked oysters (in a can0 on ritz crackers with hot sauce (gross, I know...but I love these!  I haven't fulfilled this craving yet because I'm waiting to ask Dr S if it's safe to eat them)
-boiled peanuts

Food Aversions:

As the weeks go along, I'm finding that the mention of things don't have the same "gag me" effect that they used to, but instead, things just don't sound very yummy or they "taste funny"...oh well, I'm sure my taste buds will change again once Peanut comes!  Here are the things that are not so appealing anymore...

-Chill frozen yogurt (thought I wanted this sooo bad the other day, but after I ate it, I had a nasty metallic taste in my mouth.  Yuck.)
-Pork chops/loin
-mexican (except chicken tacos)
-fish (except shrimp and oysters)
-oatmeal
-fruit
-sugar free ice cream (I used to eat this all the time and loved it, but now...it's just not the same!)

Baby Bump:

You know, I think last week's picture might have been a little deceiving because of the tighter, yoga-style pants I was wearing.  I do think this week's Bump is sticking out a little more, but it's not quite as rounded as last week's picture made it look like.  I had also taken a picture wearing a different pair of pants last Saturday, so I'm including them both in today's post so you can see the "true" difference when compared to this morning's Bump.  ;)

Here's the first picture with the yoga pants (Week 10):

Here's the second picture in my saggy-butt pants (lol), which doesn't make The Bump looks as rounded:

And here's this morning's picture (Week 11):

No matter what pants I wear, Peanut is definitely growing, and I'm loving every minute of it!  :)

Before I have to rush off to get ready for my FIL's birthday dinner (I'm drooling thinking about the shrimp fried rice...yummm), I wanted to once again thank all you prayer warriors for your love, prayers, and support!  I read this quote today from Norman Vincent Peale, and although infertility isn't technically a "sickness", I thought it was pertinent and worth sharing:  "God helps the sick in two ways, through the science of medicine and through the science of faith and prayer." PRAYER WORKS, and I am living proof of that!

That being said, I would also like to ask you all to add another prayer request to your lists...I have several dear friends who, after reading this blog, have reached out to me and shared their infertility battles.  They are all in different stages of their battles: some are still trying naturally, some are contemplating fertility treatment, and some are about to start IVF treatments.  I know for a fact that God led them to read my blog, that He is using me to give them hope, and that He has a unique plan for each of their lives.  I pray, and ask you to pray, for God to give them the same peace, comfort, understanding, and faith that He showered down upon me, that He guide them towards His perfect will, and also that He blesses them with their hearts' desires.  Thank you all in advance!

Now, I want you to know that this prayer doesn't just stop with my friends and loved ones...I pray this same prayer for any one out there who is going through difficulties of their own, whether we've met or not.  God knows your need, He knows your heart, and He wants to touch your life!  Lift your worries and prayer requests up to Him, and He will move in ways you never thought possible!  Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know."  THAT is the God we serve, and He is just waiting for you to reach out to Him! :)

We've Graduated!

This morning was our last appointment with Dr T, and I have to say, it was a little bittersweet! Although I'm thrilled to have graduated to my regular OB doctor (Dr S, who I will see next Tuesday at 3:15pm), I'm a little sad to have to leave all my sweet friends at the fertility clinic!  (Not to mention, those weekly ultrasounds...lol.)  But PTL that we've made it this far and have gotten the "good to go" stamp of approval!

So, as you may have already guessed, Peanut looked fab-u-lous this morning!  There doesn't appear to be any more bleeding issues, either, which is a major blessing.  He (we still can't tell the sex yet, so we're still calling it a "he") was asleep again during the u/s and clearly didn't want to be disturbed or wake up for his parents.  But hey, as long as he's healthy, I don't mind him sleeping during the photo shoot. ;)  He did "pose" a little, though, and had his little hand up by his face while he was sleeping...soooo precious!  We also got a glimpse of those long legs of his, which he definitely gets from his Daddy!  Just think, he'll start kicking me with those long, skinny things pretty soon! (Ouch...lol)

We got to hear (and see) the heartbeat again, which is always so soothing.  Even though he was sleeping, his heart rate was quite fast (which I've heard can mean it's a girl...just throwing that out there, lol) and strong!  Music to this Mommy's ears!  The brain was also visible this week (although you can't see it in the pics below), as was his umbilical cord. It's so amazing to see how much changes within just a few weeks!

Here's his pics from today (10W4D).  The top one is one my hubby took of the u/s machine (it was clearer and you can see a little bit of the profile), and the other was the one they printed out for us (more of an odd back shot, but still our Peanut!):

I can't think of a better way to start this new year than by watching this little one grow day by day!  This is going to be, by far, the best year of our lives---and it's only just begun!  I can't wait to see how God continues to work through us and bless our little family! :)

Well, y'all, it's time to feed my Peanut and then snag a little cat nap before I continue on with my "To Do" list!  But one more thing before I go...I wanted to let you all know that after giving it lots of thought and prayer, my husband and I have decided for me NOT to go back to work until after Peanut arrives and we have time to settle into parenthood.  We both feel this is best for both the baby and I, especially since you never know what may happen during pregnancy (as evidenced by this trimester!). My new boss was very understanding and said she would love to hire me as soon as I am ready.  How good is our God?! We are so thankful to Him for making this time off possible and for continuing to open doors for us (or keep them cracked till the right time)!  It just further proves that He provides for those who seek His will and remain faithful!

Ten Weeks

We're in the double digits, folks!  That deserves another happy dance! (Oot oot, do the happy dance!)

Sorry I am just now posting my update...I swear, Peanut takes every bit of energy I have these days!  I am definitely doing more around the house than I was before (and running a few errands here and there), but my energy level is no where near what it used to be!  Maybe I'll be one of those lucky women who get a burst of energy back in the second trimester??  We shall see! ;)

So, now that Peanut has been incubating for ten whole weeks, let's see what changes have occurred!

Symptoms:

-nausea (this disappeared for several days but then came back with a vengeance...ugh.  But still no vomiting! PTL!)
-mild cramps/pressure in my lower abdomen
-exhaustion
-stuffy/bloody nose
-moodiness
-bloating (definitely more noticeable at night)
-reflux
-bubble gut (it gets quite painful at times, too!)
-bigger (and not near as tender) tah-tahs

Size of Baby:

Prune (about 1.5 inches long)

Milestones/Happenings:

Peanut is starting to grow little nails and has tiny teeth budding underneath the gums.  His (or her) bone and cartilage is forming, too.  He can flex his wrists, elbows, and knees now (I bet he's already practicing his happy dance for his Mommy! lol).

Food Cravings:

-boiled peanuts (OMG...I can't get enough!  Actually gave myself an upset tummy today from inhaling a small army of these)
-Subway meatball sub
-potatoes (still)
-sausage/bacon
-Popeyes chicken tenders
-Bonefish fish tacos (haven't gotten these yet...might work on that this week ;) )
-pepperoni pizza

Food Aversions:

-believe it or not...my usually Tuesday vietnamese meal does NOT sound good (last week or now)
-most fish
-most pork (except for bacon and sausage...yummm...)
-most fruits/veggies

Baby Bump Pics:

That's right, guys, it's time to post The Bump!  Eek!  I have been taking weekly pictures (in the same spot, using natural light if possible, first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything) so you can see the progression.  Sorry if some of them are a little dark---it's been a little dreary outside lately, so that affects the lighting in my foyer, which is where I take the pictures.  But, nonetheless, here is Peanut making his/her debut! :)

Week 5 (pardon the bloat):

Week 6:

Week 7:

Week 8:

Week 9:

Week 9.5 (Christmas Day):

Week 10:

Do you see what I see??? I see a Peanut!!!!  Ahhhhh!  How exciting!  Now, I'm still in the "Is she pregnant or just bloated?" stage, mostly depending on what I'm wearing.  But The Bump is definitely there and it's not going away!  Woohoo!

What a blessing to be able to watch something growing in there!  Every day I am reminded of God's power and love when I look at this belly (or feel those uncomfortable symptoms that I've come to love because I know Peanut's growing), and I just have to stop and thank God for this miracle that He has given us!  James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who created the lights in the heavens..."  Thank you, Father, for this perfect gift! :)