The weekend of my birthday (Nov. 27th) I am thinking my friendly visitor will be here any day. She doesn't come on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday (my birthday). I don't think too much of it. Dan and I talk about me taking a test, but we don't want to buy one in Paynesville and risk running into someone. I stayed home from school Monday (feeling a little sick, but more so not wanting to leave my family) so I don't get a test this day either.
November 29th-I am 2-4 days late, or at least I "think" I am because I really can't be sure that I worked this month. I am not thinking I'm pregnant because I just am not grasping the fact that I am actually functioning like a "real girl" and that could possibly happening. So, I just think I didn't work this past month and I'm a little bummed. I decide to test that night just to be sure. I've had some symptoms, but they are nothing like when I was pregnant with Svea so I think it's all in my head. I have had insomnia the past two nights (polar opposite of me), acne breakouts, constant sneezing, my gag reflex kicked into overdrive and I cannot even look at the dog's food without producing some beautiful background sounds. To my surprise a positive shows up right away. I tell Dan that I broke the toilet paper holder and can he look at it for me. The test is sitting right on the counter and he doesn't even notice it he's so worried about the bathroom apparatus. I have to point to it for him and of course we are both super excited and shocked beyond words.
November 30th- I go in for a blood test in the afternoon and it comes back at 1,895! Very pregnant and now we just have to hope it doubles when I go in again Saturday morning!
December 3rd-I drove up to St. Cloud right away in the morning and had another blood test. We waited on pins and needles for two hours before we got the results. My number rose to 5,308! Whew...it doubled in the correct amount of time and we tell our parents. I have a few new symptoms too. I am a little more tired, I have started burping, and feeling tinges of nauseousness. We skyped with my Mom and Dan's parents and here's how we told them.
December 7th-Right before I leave for work I have the tiniest amount of spotting. I was scared and I told Dan before I left the house. On my way to work I called the clinic and they couldn't decide between another blood test or having me come in for an ultrasound. I ovulated later than the average 14 days so I know we won't see much on the ultrasound and for sure not a heartbeat yet. They said I should come in for the ultrasound and it shows a healthy and round yolk/gestational sac with what may be just the beginning of baby. I'm measuring right at 5weeks4days and based on my calculations that is spot on. It is also just what should have been there on the ultrasound. I am a little relieved have just a few more spots that night. It was tough to go back and forth every couple of hours between everything is going to be ok/we are more than likely miscarrying. We try to have faith and give it to God. Not an easy thing to do, but we manage:)
December 10th-We are 6 weeks pregnant today. I had Dan take a picture as a comparison from where we started:) I don't feel too pregnant, just a little tired and I have to go to the bathroom a lot. I'm thankful I don't feel sick yet, but it also makes me worried. Day by day:)
December 11th-I am starting to feel sick. I spoke too soon:) It's very mild.
December 15-We had a little more spotting! Blah! I'm at peace, but on edge and just prepared for whatever happens tomorrow. I'm not extremely hopeful though. I am not cramping at all and still feeling a little sick so these are good signs.
December 16th-We had our ultrasound at 8:30. My Mom and Ron are here for our Christmas so they were with Svea. Dan got a peaceful feeling as soon as we walked into the ultrasound room. To our big surprise baby is measuring in at 7 weeks and has a heartbeat of 116bpm. We are so relieved and happy things went well and to be 7 weeks pregnant. We hope everything continues to go well. When I get home Lacee called to see how things went and after hearing they went well, shared with me that they are also pregnant and due six days behind us. Fun conversation to have and we are just praying for each other. I hope we get to go through this whole pregnancy together!
December 17th-I assume my morning sickness is really kicking in because I don't feel well AT ALL, but it ends up being a 24 hour flu. Mom had it the day before and mine came and went quickly. The next day I go back to only feeling a tiny bit sick when I'm hungry.
December 23rd-I am officially 8 weeks pregnant. Svea and I are hanging out at home together for the first day of Christmas vacation and I feel sick! I'm hoping this is a fluke and not a precursor of what to come. I keep knocking on wood every time I pass the kitchen table. No spotting to be seen......hooray!!!
I also took this picture of Svea today preparing herself for what Mommy is and will be going through.
December 28th-Happy Anniversary to us! We have plans to go to dinner and my morning sickness has kicked it up a notch. I tried really hard to get ready and go out, but I kept ending up back on the couch trying not to dry heave. Dan was so incredibly sweet and took care of Svea along with Grandma Kathy (thank you as well!) and then we didn't go anywhere. I was sick again the next day too, but after that it got a bit better. If two days are the worst of my morning sickness I'll take it!
December 30th-9 weeks today!!! Morning sickness is mild, but I've been eating like a crazy person trying to keep it away. So far so good.
January 3rd-Julie, our friend from church, is letting us borrow her doppler again. I actually had to pick it up for her at her clinic after work since she had the day off. She came over later in the evening for a visit and brownies, but of COURSE I tried to listen for baby's heartbeat on my own. Normally you can't hear it until 10 weeks and that's at the clinic. You can sometimes get lucky and hear it with a home doppler. I tried and tired, then emptied my bladder, and then tried again. I was just about to give up, but gave it one more shot and I found it:) I listened for about twenty seconds. Baby is doing ok and for now that is a great reassurance! Julie even tried later and we couldn't hear it. I was so thankful for that twenty second gift! I'll try again in three or four days!
January 6th-10 weeks today and I had a dr. appt. My Mom was here and watched Svea while I went. It was the boring appt. where you give about 7 vials of blood and they tell you what to eat/what not to eat. The nurse tried to hear the hb, but couldn't find it. I tried when I got home as well and couldn't find it. I was super nervous, but then I emptied my bladder and found it right away. It was in the 180's and perfect...Whew! This pregnancy is really taking a toll on my immune system. I'm on my second major cold and this one is a doozy. I feel like I've been literally some type of sick for the last six weeks.
January 10th-I am 10 weeks and 4 days. I had my first stare down at my belly today from a co-worker that I'm close with, but she didn't know I was pregnant. I know she suspects and I'm shocked I'm showing just a tiny bit. I asked Dan what he thought when I got home and he said, "yep, you look different from your normal self". So we took a picture since I was finally feeling better as well! I definitely have a little something there. I looked back to last pregnancy and I was NOT showing at 10 weeks...yikes!
January 13th-11 weeks today! Svea and I headed to the cities because our tub was getting resurfaced and we needed to be away from the fumes. We had a great time with friends and cousins!
January 15th-I woke up this morning to bright red spotting and quite a bit. Ack! This pregnancy has been so incredibly scary! Baby's heartbeat was great though. I checked it probably five times this day. I am so thankful for that doppler! I will more than likely have an ultrasound tomorrow at the clinic since today is Sunday.
January 16th-I went in for an ultrasound today and baby is doing wonderful. He/She's heartbeat was 177bpm and they were measuring three days ahead. They did find a Subchorionic Hematoma or SCH for short. Basically it's a bleed inside the uterus close by the baby. It is somewhat common and happens randomly. In most cases it will reabsorb and go away, but it can sometimes cause pre-term labor or even cause a late miscarriage. We are scared, but try to relax and pray. I took the rest of the week off to stay off my feet and rest. We're hoping it helps heal the tear. It was discouraging to think we were so close to the 2nd trimester when we can relax a little bit more, but then to have something new to worry about. We are praying this baby is a fighter! Either outcome we know God is with our little one.
January 19th-I had another ultrasound today with the perinatal dr. at a different clinic. Baby measured one day ahead and had a heartbeat of 155bpm. We saw legs, arms, feet, and finger buds. Baby was moving ALL over the place. Praise God they could NOT FIND the Subchorionic Hematoma! There was something there that looked much smaller than on Monday, but they called it a "venus lake" and apparently it's very very common in pregnancy at this stage and not harmful AT ALL! So, we were either misdiagnosed, or it shrunk so much that it no longer fit into the category of an SCH. Either way we give all of our thanks and praise to God and are so thankful that everything looks great. I threw up today for the first time this pregnancy although I've been close many times. I used a public restroom........enough said!
January 20th-12 weeks! We made it. Although there is still a risk we've crossed a major hurdle to have made it this far. Dan and I decide he will announce it at church this coming Sunday and we will officially be out of the baby closet. I must have been super bloated two weeks ago because I don't seem to be showing as much now or it's just my pants holding me in:)
January 22nd-We announced at church and facebook. It is now no longer a secret that we are pregnant.
January 25th-I can finally post this! Lacee and Matt have announced on facebook so I don't need to hide their news anymore:)
