So, it's a.....

Girl! Or so was their educated guess at this point. It's still a little early to tell, I'm only 15 weeks and 3 days so they can't say for sure right now, but there definitely wasn't anything between those long legs of hers! The ultrasound tech let us watch our little one moving and squirming all over the place for almost a half an hour. It was such an amazing thing. I've never made it to this point in a pregnancy and it's just indescribable. All her measurements were right on track and everything looked great. We have another appointment in four weeks and an ultrasound to follow a couple weeks after that. We opted out of doing the testing for down syndrome and spina bifida because those tests give a lot of false positives and I don't want any unnecessary worries at this point. I've worried enough and don't want to add anything to the mix. I know this baby will be healthy and beautiful when she makes her appearance into this world. It's been a tough road, but we're almost half way there!

15 weeks

I don't really have much to post about. I'm 15 weeks today and am awaiting our appointment on Thursday. It seems like forever since we've had an ultrasound, really only five weeks, but it seems like a lifetime. Still no belly really, pants are sometimes tighter, but I think that's just bloat most of the time. On another note, a close friend of mine asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, of course I said yes. But, the wedding is Sept 12th, I'm due August 19th, I'm still gonna look all preggers when the wedding rolls around. But I figure, if she doesn't mind then I don't mind. Maybe all the weight will come off right away???? Not likely, I don't think I'll be one of those women who can fit back into their regular jeans a week after delivery. You never know. So, I think we're going to find out the gender. I didn't really want to but I don't think I can stop myself from asking. They just might be able to tell at this appointment. Either way, it obviously doesn't matter, I'm just chomping at the bit to buy all these cute clothes I've always walked right past before. Well, until Thursday...

Back to See the Nurse

Well, yesterday I had such terrible lower back pain and I called the nurse at my doc's office and she said to come in b/c they wanted to make sure it wasn't a UTI or anything of that nature. As I was waiting in really terrible pain for the results from the urine test she let me listen to the heartbeat again. 164 and he/she was just moving all around. Well, the test came back and no infection just really dehydrated and I was sent home. They said I could take some tylenol and apply a low heat for just a few minutes every hour. So nothing too eventful, just some aches and pains as to be expected. I really think it's my sleeping habits. Before pregnancy I always slept on my stomach, now I'm afraid I'm going to squish the baby so side sleeping it is. And as I've read, it's best to sleep on your left side so I try to sleep on that side the most. Doesn't always work out that way, but I try. Last night I wedged a pillow on each side of me and that seemed to help. Pretty soon I'm going to have to kick my husband out of the bed, because I'm even more comfortable when I have room to spread out. Thank goodness we have extra rooms! :)

2nd Trimester

Welcome Second Trimester! That's right, 13 weeks today. I can't believe it. Well, let's talk about what the books say about the second trimester. They say by this time you will have renewed energy, that morning sickness basically diminishes and that pretty much all the rest of your pregnancy symptoms go pretty much unnoticeable. That's a generalization categorizing every women into the same group. But as we all know, we're not the same. I am still plagued with pretty much debilitating nausea, although, I have gotten moments throughout the day now where it subsides. It's still very much real though and very much kicks my butt. That's really my only qualm, but it's a big one. I'm not very tired anymore, although mid-day naps are never unwelcomed, my breasts aren't sore, and oh yeah, I still have to pee pretty much every hour, day or night. I do have more energy than I have been having and that's nice, hoping I get more and more each day. Now back to this nagging nausea, when I stopped in to my doctor's office last Friday I asked about taking some nausea medicine as needed. My specialist denied me this such medicine but my OB says it's perfectly safe to take. We believe the specialist advised me not to take it so that if we miscarried that we could rule out the fact the the nausea medicine had absolutely nothing to do with it. Now that I'm out of the first trimester, if needed, (which it is) I can take the medicine should I so desire. Well, I had a lot of errands to run this Saturday and felt so pukey I almost didn't do them, so I took a pill. It really didn't help much and only resulted in a headache. So whether I'll be taking this medication is really up in the air, I guess if it doesn't help much then why take it?
On to bigger and better things. I rented a doppler online and haven't been able to locate the heartbeat with it until yesterday. I found it immediately upon turning the machine on and it was as strong and beautiful as it has been. I still really have no belly to speak of, although my jeans are feeling rather snug around the mid-section and I find that if I leave them unbuttoned that I'm much more comfortable. Our next ultrasound is in three weeks and I can't wait. By that time it will have been six weeks since we last saw this little bean.

Thankful

I stopped by my doctor's office today to see the nurse and see if she would use the doppler today so I could listen to the heartbeat. The nurse is so, so sweet. Right away, she led me back, no questions asked and a minute later we were listening to this little one's sweet heart beat. Still 160's and still music to my ears. I really wasn't concerned anything was wrong, but just wanted some more reassurance. I'm going to try and refrain from going back until my next appointment in three weeks, but I can't make any promises. ;) I think we're getting to the point in the pregnancy where I can start to relax.
I am so thankful for the blessings we've been given. Though I am pregnant, I do not forget where I have been and what I have been through to get to this point. I still consider myself part of the Infertile World and will probably still feel the that way until we take this baby home. You never forget, the pain never goes away, it just starts to hurt a little less. My heart still aches for each and every one of you who is still struggling. I hope that reading stories of encouragement helps you to keep fighting for what we all so desperately want, I know it did for me.

I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. - Philip. 4:13