10 Weeks

Week: 10

Baby: Measuring at 1.5 inches and, at last ultrasound, right on gestational age!

Gender Prediction: Girl (written in a whispered voice around this house) 

Measurements: I am up one pound from pre pregnancy and just looking like I indulged on one-to-many desserts; thicker around the middle.  I don’t consider myself as “showing” yet. 

Fashion Choices:  My clothes are fitting a little tighter so I have turned to un-buttoning and unzipping all clothing when at home (and lets admit, occasionally after a dinner out in public).  Also, sweat pants when I’m off and Ian’s at work (ok, when he is home too).

Movement: No movement from the baby yet, but if your talking bowel movement, with much difficulty…

Symptoms:  Nausea and fatigue are most prominent.  My nausea has mostly been a low-grade feeling of motion sickness/not feeling well.  The fatigue can be overwhelming and if you surprise me in the middle of the day, you may find me asleep on the couch, or writing a blog post at 2PM in my pajamas.

Cravings: Anything salty.  I hate to admit…. Taco Bell, doughnuts (not salty) and pizza.  I did allow myself all of these and, it seems odd, but I feel like I could go the rest of my pregnancy without them and be fine.  It was a one night stand I suppose.

Aversions:  Meat, this will not be in my favor as I need the iron and am not currently taking a supplement due to my unfortunate circumstance as noted above.

Work:  The hardest part is dragging myself out of bed a 5AM, but they’ve been going pretty easy on me I think.

Labor:  I’ve been hearing a lot of horror stories, my plan is to not have a plan (taken from a wise mother of two boys).

This week:  I desperately need to clean my blinds, windows and window seals; Ian said he would clean the tile and grout with our steam cleaner while I do the blinds (I feel like my pregnancy hormones are affecting him…) He has been a great caretaker!  He cooks dinner AND cleans it all up, grocery shops and takes care of the dogs while I lay on the couch.  I think it’s his way of contributing to the pregnancy since he was so involved in all the IVF stuff.  He even stained the deck by his own accord!  Hmmm, how can I make this a habit?

Can't Wait!: For our first OB appointment!  It's not until October 16th because our OB is so busy.  This works out great since we have seen my Fertility Doc three times aleady with ultrasounds at each visit.  We have our first ultrasound in Flagstaff September 27th. 

Count Down:  LAST INJECTION on Friday the 21^st!  Horray!

Copy Cat

So, I have been thinking and working for some time on this dry erase baby board.  I snagged the idea from this creative, hilarious blogger that Kristin (my sis-in-law) introduced me to when I needed a cheering up.  I have always considered myself moderately crafty…then, I found this blog and can’t even place myself in the semi-crafty or slightly crafty category.  This gal uses a chalkboard for weekly pregnancy updates and is a true artist.  I plan to copy (nearly) all her ideas, from the nursery, to baby supplies, to maternity clothes J 

This project took quite some time, in part because I am a perfectionist, but also because I shopped around for months at consignment, thrift and second hand stores for months to find a wooden frame WITH quality glass.  This was key because I hoped to refinish the wood and write directly on the glass.  I picked this one up at Hodge Podge, a second hand store mostly know for selling used medical supplies; fourteen dollars!  Can you believe that?  What a deal.  Then I picked out a few fabric backgrounds from Joann’s and had Ian refinish the frame and decide which fabric contrasted best with the dry erase markers. 

After writing the message, erasing it and writing in again to erase it again, I finally took my horoscopes advice and decided to not be disappointed by my full fledged disillusionment that this board might turn me into an artist and accept it for a board to enjoy taking pictures of and posting to my blog to keep everyone updated on my pregnancy.  So, while it’s no where near what I have envisioned, it will be a great way to document my pregnancy over the coming weeks and months!   

Is it One or is it Two, that is the question...

What a roller coaster of triumph and emotions this past week has been!  I am so proud and grateful to announce that ONE precious little being will be entering our home in April!  I felt a huge sigh of relief (literally, with thoughts of a huge swelling belly leaving my mind) when our nurse practitioner found a single gestational sac and a single, amazing (I seem to be using that word alot lately) heart beat!  I will admit, I was surprised, having thought from the beginning that there would be two little babies entering our lives.  In no way am I disappointed, and I foresee the insurmountable benefits of having a single pregnancy, but I can't stop thinking about the one plus to having twins... WE WOULD BE DONE!  No additional cost, no more travel, no more time off, no more medications and injections.  I understand that the benefits of a single pregnancy far outweigh the risks of a multiple pregnancy, so I do feel so blessed and believe that this is God's plan.  I asked Ian, before the ultrasound, how many he thought were making a home in my uterus and he surprised me with some comment about being the next "Hollywood octo-family."  Yikes!  You can imagine the sigh of relief he had! 

Pregnancy has treated me well in many respects, but I do have some daily reminders to be thankful for....  My nausea has been popping up in the middle of the night and gives me a feeling of restlessness and discomfort.   Nothing close to vomiting, but a nagging discomfort that disrupts my sleep anywhere between 12 and 2am.  More recently, I have been waking up nauseous, but find that if I eat something small, it tends to subside.  And, I know better than to let myself get hungry; not doing that again!  If I stick with small, light snacks throughout the day, I do pretty well. 

I haven't felt PURE EXHAUSTION like I was expecting, but I could be asleep, in bed by 8pm.  I think just the sheer fact that I'm pregnant keeps me energized.   Food is another story.  I can't listen to people talk about nor talk about it myself nor can I read about it (i.e. recipes, Pinterest).  This totally sucks!  I used to flip to the recipe section of Better Homes and Gardens before reading anything else, and I will not be starting my mornings off with a quick peek at what's new on Pinterest!  Smells are bothering me too!  Literally, I feel like I can smell my carpet!  Febreze products are scattered in every corner of my house.

Oh, and I almost forgot, Peri Oral Dermatitis - look it up!  It is not pretty folks!  This red, bumpy, flaky rash has taken over my mouth and chin!  Sooo ugly!  Why?  This one condition has lead me to believe that the precious heart beating in my belly belongs to a girl!  I really don't care either way (Ian doesn't like me saying that...) but really, that's my thought!  Any other opinions/thoughts?   

I'm 7 weeks 1 day pregnant today and am probably the single luckiest (and best stocked) woman in the world!  Thanks to my wonderful co-workers, I have a swing, bouncer, play center, play mat, bath chair, bumbo, pump and the list goes on!  Thanks for always watching out for me girls!  Your support and friendship means so much! 

The Modrell's Jubilee

I'M PREGNANT!  I went into an all-over body sweat and had to sit down after the phone call.  My family is here, celebrating in the joy.  My house turned into a call center.  EVERY phone was sounding off - text, email, calls, voicemail!  I was liteally smiling from ear to ear and actually still am.  Thank you for all the prayers, thoughts, vibes, encouraging words and support.  Love and hugs to all!

Infertility Olympics

I have been training for this moment for 3 years!  I have been setting alarms to plot charts and progress; I have relayed from doctor to specialist, Flagstaff to Phoenix; I have leaped hurdles and put my head down and run long distance; I have preformed synchronized injections and ultrasounds; I have trained and I want the Gold Medal.  I want to stand upon the highest podium and listen to my personal anthem knowing that I succeeded and all this training was for a purpose!

I am here!  I have two small dividing embryos making a home in my uterus.  It is a comfort to know they are with me.  It is now, that we start the 2 week wait for confirmation.  So, I sit here on my podium while Ian brings me food and water, watching chick flicks and reading cooking magazines (Kristin, you know me to well).

I have adequate entertainment to keep me distracted for the upcoming weeks.  I get a long awaited visit from my adorable, pregnant sister-in-law.  I am thrilled to be hosting her shower to celebrate her baby boy (first grand baby on both sides and first Great on the Holdsworth side!).  My grandma and aunt are making the long drive from Utah and it will be great to have the extended family together.  Plus, if you know me at all, hosting a shower is right up my alley! From invitations and favors to decorations and food, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Thanks to everyone for sticking by me through this LONG process!  The gold medal has my name on it!

Round 2

If you are reading this then you haven't given up on me!  Thank you.  When I told myself I would be taking the month of June OFF, I took the recommendation literally.  So here I am, one month later without uttering a single word on my blog.  So, thank you for checking back in! 

Before I start off with the monotony of what I have been up to these past weeks, lets start off with a recap of June events.  We were fortunate enough to spend a week with Ian’s family on splendid Lake Powell and I can’t think of a better place to relax.  The weather and water were certainly in our favor, so there was no excuse to not enjoy ourselves.  Ian blessed us with a Wake Surf for our anniversary present (I’m so spoiled, really) so we learned how to surf behind the boat.  We spent a lot of time relaxing on the upper deck reading, listening to music, jumping and sliding off and soaking up every cancerous UV ray available.  It was a much needed change of pace and a great way to start our summer. 

 

 (WOW, adding those pictures was difficult!  Any tips for moving them around?)

As a cap off to June, a grand finale in a sense, Ian and I drove to Utah for a Warfield family reunion!  It was a blast and I really enjoyed catching up with my cousins that are pretty well scattered; Pennsylvania, Missouri, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.  We hiked up Timpanogas Mountain and indulged ourselves in a guided tour of the cave system; we spent a day in Park City riding the various coasters/slides/zip lines; we stuffed our faces with Dutch Oven Chicken (heavenly) and various other homemade concoctions.   I am so grateful to my Aunt Karin for lighting the fire under our hineys and being a great host!  We got a final dose of fun and relaxation before our busy month of July. 

As soon as we got home, the IVF mountain we started to climb (once again).  I felt the weight of the injections, medications, travel and expense mounting and it brought a toll on my confidence.  I could hardly believe my feelings of doubt and insecurity which secondarily brought on a feeling a guilt.  Wasn't I supposed to feeling excited?  I really was a wreck the first week: crying at work (more than once), crying on the phone, crying to Ian.  I didn't recognize myself; this wasn't me.  I am usually able to look ahead to the reward and accept the challenge, but I felt I gave everything I had with the first cycle; my reserve was depleted.  

Thank heavens for my strong support system who gave me the strength to think positive and boosted my confidence for the winding road ahead.  So far, as long as I take it one day at a time (so cliche, but so true), I have been able to put one foot in front of the other and continue on my IVF path.  Quotes of inspiration in the early morning hours when I feel I can't face the day, help me to get out of bed and put my trials in perspective.  Two appointments down, both bringing good news with them, has also been an energy booster.  Two more to go before implantation, so send good thoughts and prayers into the universe, that this journey will be successful. 

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."  I'm like Dory from Finding Nemo, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming."     

And....... She's Back

Yes, that's right.  I am functioning at a full 100% and feel SO much better.  My recent ultrasound showed a dramatic improvement in the free fluid and showed only a few cysts (fluid filled follicles without eggs) on my left ovary.  I have been able to get back to my normal routines around the house and will be back to work tomorrow!  Yay!  It's great to be "out of the woods" and back to my life.

The clinic has me on schedule for transfer the last week of July with a few visits in between for estrogen level checks and ultrasounds to make sure my uterus is making a nice padding.  Only two injections needed for implantation prep, so huge relief to my wallet, belly and buttocks!  Everything else is either cream, patch or pill.  This is a dramatic improvement from my toiletry bag full of concoctions that changed DAILY!  Phew!

As soon as I get back to work, I get to take a vacation.... funny how that works.  We will be in Lake Powell for our four year wedding anniversary!  We have much to celebrate and be thankful for this year, and, honestly, we could both use some R&R! 

I am excited to see all my girls (and guys) at work.  Everyone has been a huge support and it will be nice to catch up on your lives!  See ya tomorrow.  And to everyone else, thanks again for checking in!