Pregnant After IUI: Week 11

Go to your grocery store tomorrow. Pick up an average-sized lime. That's how big my baby is already! Crazy, isn't it? Averaging 1.5 inches long, but still only about a quarter of an ounce in weight. (Okay... thinking about this... are limes REALLY only an inch and a half long? Maybe I haven't seen a lime since I was 5, but they seem bigger than that, in my head... hmmm.) The head is about the same size as the body at this point (could you imagine walking around with a 4-foot-long head? Yikes.) and the skin is sorta translucent... slightly creepy. But still amazing. Tooth buds are forming. Bone and cartilage are continuing to form. Baby keeps on growing! *

My newest symptom is so cute, you guys will flip. I wake up every. single. morning and smell pleasantly like so much BO it's awesome. (//sarcasm//) Guys, I've never really sweat much, and even when I did, applying deodorant once a day was sufficient to keep me smelling like daisies in springtime. But THIS. Oh, it's awful! I can't lift up my arms for fear I'll black out. Even after washing with soap (which I don't typically have to do!) I STILL SMELL. WHILE I'M STILL IN THE SHOWER. It's disgusting. I have to wash my pjs like every day or two. Thankfully, Jon's been sleeping downstairs (he's been sick, and can't breath in a fully reclined position) so he's been spared the pleasure of smelling such a pungent aroma. Hopefully applying more deodorant before bed will help... we'll see. Or, smell, rather.

Otherwise my symptoms are pretty much the same as before. I have good days with energy and motivation when stuff gets done, and I have bad days where I'm slightly nauseous all day, exhausted, and feel like anything other than reading is just too much work for one day. Still constipated. But over all I would say that I'm doing pretty well.

As I mentioned before, Jon got really sick last week with a nasty cold. Fortunately, with the help of my essential oils, I never even got a sore throat. Runny nose, yes, but I think that has more to do with being pregnant, since it's been going on for, oh, about 6-8 weeks, give or take. I'm just SO thankful I didn't get sick.

I think that's pretty much it. Yeah. kthanksbye








*If you don't know by now that the info is found at thebump.com, you should.

Pregnant After IUI: Week 10

Guys, guess what. I am one fourth (1/4, a quarter, .25, 25%, etc.) of the way DONE with this pregnancy already. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!

As for baby:
At just over an inch long, baby is about the size of a prune, but is a lightweight at about 1/10 of an ounce. Get this: vital organs are completely formed and beginning to work! How amazing is that? At 10 weeks! SUCH a miracle! Fingernails and hair are beginning to form. Cartilage and bone are forming, and the "arm joints" (elbows and shoulders, I'm guessing) are already working. And, on top of all that, baby can swallow and kick. What a busy week for my little bear!*

As for me:
I have had a fairly busy week as well, as I'm finally starting to feel better. Like, even good some days. I still have bad days once in a while, and if I'm super busy one day, it'll take a day or two for the energy to come back. But at least things are getting done. I even made dinner the other night! Score! I haven't needed my daily nap, but I'm still sleeping 11-12 hours a night.

Meat has gained some of it's appeal back. Saturday night I went out to eat with most of the family and I got a cheeseburger: The first real meal I'd eaten with meat for weeks. I ate that whole burger. It tasted so good. Then on Sunday I wasn't feeling well, so I didn't eat much (if any) meat, but then Monday and Tuesday I ate some at dinner. It feels good getting the protein.

I've also kind of moved away from wanting the white, simple carbs (potatoes, bread, etc. [As I sit here typing this, I am eating pizza... but shhh. I had a fruit smoothie for breakfast.]). I mean, those still sound okay, but I also want more veggies and fruit. I even had enough energy the other day to get some pickles and fermented carrots going. I can't wait to dig in. So, my diet is rounding out much more than it has been of late.

Constipation has eased up a bit. And I do mean "a bit." But I'm way for comfortable than I was a couple weeks ago.

My nose is still super sensitive, chicken still gives me the heebie-jeebies, my gag reflex is super heightened these days (although still no vomiting), and Jon got a cold ... Sunday? ... and I still show no signs or symptoms of it (huzzah. Although that could just mean that it's getting a good hold in my body before it drags me down...).

I have lost a few pounds (I'm down like 5 lbs since I got pregnant) which is really surprising to me, since I haven't really been exercising, and I feel like I'm eating a TON and most of it is CRAP right now. But hey, I'll take it.

I'm sitting here, trying to think of other symptoms that have shown up or gone away... I do still get some nausea randomly, but it's not all the time anymore, nor as severe. I can't honestly think of anything else. Oh, yes I can. PREGNANCY BRAIN is starting. I can't even think of examples... I misspeak all the time, forget things, get confused... ugh. Haha. Sometimes it's pretty funny, though.

Okay, that's all I can think of to update on for now.

...geez, I never know how to end these things... uh, I guess... kbye.








*Info found at thebump.com

Pregnant After IUI: Week 9

Baby is about the size of a green olive this week (yum) and is close to an inch long. Facial features are continuing to form.* And it keeps getting cuter and cuter!

We had our first ultrasound yesterday... it was the best thing ever! Baby is looking more and more like... well, a baby, but right now it looks rather like an alien-headed gummy bear... which is surprisingly adorable. We were able to see the heart beating, and it was going at about 176 bpm, which I thought sounded high, but the doc said it was perfected normal. We didn't actually get to hear the heartbeat (boo) but seeing it was pretty cool. Our little bear was wiggling, waving, and shaking its hips, being absolutely charming. I am in love.

As far as symptoms go, I felt pretty awful most of last week, but since Friday or so I've been feeling much better. Nausea has subsided quite a bit (although I still have mild stomach upset most of the time), but I've been getting daily headaches, peeing a lot (not abnormal) and THE FATIGUE. Oh, the fatigue. I sleep 11-12 hours a night and nap for about an hour during the day... I am so exhausted all. the. time. It was incredible today that I actually got to the grocery (Festival AND Aldi), bank, and library. Plus I did a load of laundry and put all the groceries away (definitely a bonus, lol). Not to mention writing a blog post and making dinner... dishes may have to wait until tomorrow.

Constipation is still an issue. Still working on fixing that, but I haven't been quite as uncomfortable the last couple of days. I've been able to go a little bit, which is amazing.

I have been low on patience with our pooch... I think because he needs lots of energy and attention, and I just don't have any to spare for him. =[ Sorry puppy. Hopefully soon I'll do better.

On a side note: I heard on the radio today that on Monday, Chicago's O'Hare airport was colder than the temperature at the South Pole that same day. Ugh. It's been so chilly here!

So, there's my week nine. Jon and I have been talking about whether or not we want to find out the gender during the anatomy scan... what did you do? Why? Are you glad you did it that way, or would you change it if you could? We just can't decide!!

I can't wait to meet our little bear! I know I have a long way to go yet, and I'm not wishing my pregnancy away. But I still want to get to know my babe!







*Info found at thebump.com

Pregnant After IUI: Week 8

This week my baby is the size of a raspberry, or about 2/3 of an inch long! Arms and legs are continuing to develop, the hands aren't as webbed, and, get this: Taste buds are forming! I can't believe how intricate it all is, even this early in development. Baby is moving a lot, but being so small, I can't feel a thing. Baby is also growing about a millimeter each day.*

I am exhausted. Stairs wipe me out. I sleep hard all night and need a nap every afternoon, it seems. I have no energy for cooking or cleaning, and Jonny has been so good about it all. He did 2 loads of laundry for me today, AND made me some instant mashed potatoes for dinner.

All I want is carbs. And starch. Starchy carbs are the best. Bread, potatoes, pasta, pizza, you name it. Meat has absolutely no appeal for me, and chicken is downright disgusting. Just the thought of it makes me feel sick. Overly-salty food is a big no no, which is weird, because typically I have a little food with my salt. I'm almost always thirsty, but can't seem to get enough water (if I drink a lot at once, my stomach hurts).

I feel best in the mornings or when I first wake up; as the day wears on I feel worse and worse. Headaches, nausea, irritability. I love sleeping, because I feel the best then. I have not been much fun lately. I think Jon's okay with it, though, because I don't mind when he plays computer games all evening.

Constipation... I have started applying magnesium oil twice a day (transdermally). About 3-4 days after I started that, I had horrible stomach cramps and some diarrhea, which, to be honest, was no fun, but was AWESOME at the same time. I weigh myself every day, and I lost 3 pounds that day, haha. I don't feel like I pooped as much as I could have, and I haven't pooped other than that one incident. But it was better than nothing. I had been applying fennel once or twice daily to my stomach (to help aid digestion), but I haven't the last couple days... I'm thinking maybe I should start that up again, in addition to the magnesium.

My nose is super sensitive. Everything stinks. Especially animals, chicken, and dirty dishes. Ugh, dishes: The bane of my existence. There are always, always dirty dishes in my kitchen... it's so depressing.

I sound rather miserable, don't I? I'm not. I'm uncomfortable and wish I felt better, but I am so excited to be pregnant that I can hardly handle it. I can't wait until we get to hear the heartbeat. This little one is worth so much more. Plus, I'm not actually all that bad. I've read posts on forums of women who subsist on Saltines and Sprite, and throw up after every meal. I have yet to throw up, so I'm doing pretty well. I don't feel great, but I could be a whole heck of a lot worse. My sympathy to those who are.

Continued prayers for a healthy pregnancy, energy for me, strength for Jon, etc. would all be appreciated. Thanks everyone for your prayers to date.

Good luck staying warm this weekend... it's supposed to be brutal here in the midwest.









*Info found at thebump.com

Pregnant After IUI: Week 7

Merry Christmas! ...a day late.

So, yesterday I was 7 weeks pregnant, but since it was Christmas and I spent it with my family, I didn't get a chance to blog.

We announced to the world on Tuesday that we're pregnant. =] It feels good telling people, because now I can update my Facebook status to something like, "Impulse-bought a big jar of pickles the other day... best purchase ever. Does anyone know: Do they sell just the juice anywhere?" or "My pants are already a bit too tight," and they won't think I'm getting fat because they'll know it's all baby. (Actually, I've lost weight recently, so I KNOW it's either bloat or baby. There is a good chance it's bloat.)

Baby has doubled in size again. S/he is about half an inch long, or the size of a blueberry. The brain and kidneys are continuing to develop and get more and more complex, and the arms and legs are beginning to form.* Quite the busy little bee, while I sit here and bemoan my lack of motivation and ability to have a bowel movement.**

Speaking of which, let's go over symptoms. My biggest, most uncomfortable issue right now is constipation. I have hardly pooped in weeks, and it's starting to bother me. Now, I'm typically pretty irregular, so some bloat I'm used to, but this... ugh. So very uncomfortable. I'm going to call my doc today, I think, and get some ideas and okays for relief. I'm thinking epsom salts, or prune juice, or magnesium are good places to start (I'd like to keep it to natural approaches, at least at first. The DigestZen wasn't doing anything... although maybe if I apply it topically it would be better. I just don't like the smell...) The constipation is so bad that I don't ever feel hungry, it's making my back hurt, my gut feels like a million pounds, and I'm irritable. So we need to get this figured out soon.

Other symptoms include more nausea (although still not terrible) and getting motion sick (nausea, headaches) very easily still. Peeing... maybe a little more than before. Oh, gagging while brushing my teeth. That's the only time I've "thrown up." (It was a teeny tiny amount.) But this one is super counter-productive and irritating. Smells are stronger. Still no real food aversions, but Baby loves mushrooms. Food has sort of lost it's appeal; it's main goal now is to make my stomach not hurt; but it's hard to find something that sounds good. Most of the time I just eat to eat, not because I want something specific. Although white bread toast with butter and grape jelly is a staple that I would eat every few hours if I let myself. So yummy. I have had more vivid dreams than is typical (um... more or less.) but none of them are about babies. I guess I've been a bit more emotional than average, but nothing major (still).

I have an ultrasound scheduled for January 7th, but I have to contact insurance and see if they'll cover 2 ultrasounds or not, because I don't want to have to end up paying for like the anatomy scan or something. I can't wait to hear the heartbeat... I think that's when I'll really KNOW and FEEL like I'm pregnant...

So, there's my week 7. Sorry these posts tend to be so long. Hope you all had a great Christmas and have a Happy New Year!





* Info found at thebump.com
** Sorry if I give out too much info on some things. I'm really open about stuff, and I want to be able to look back and remember everything. If you don't like that, don't read my updates... or something. Most pregnant women are queens of TMI.

Pregnant After IUI: Weeks 5 and 6

My baby's heart is beating, kidneys are forming, and even the nose, eyes, chin, and other facial features are beginning to form. How crazy is that?! And yet some try to tell me that it's not a real baby yet...

Let's jump right in to the symptoms. My symptoms have changed so much! My boobs got really sore and then settled down. I'm so much more tired during the day (but don't sleep great at night). Before I wanted to eat everything, and now food just isn't as exciting. Some things still sound good at first, but then when I think more about it, I'm not so sure. I've been starting to get a little nauseous, but only if I go too long between meals. I don't get hungry anymore; I get sick! If I eat a little something, though, I feel much better for a while... maybe an hour or so, then I need another little snack. So I feel like I'm constantly eating! My motion sickness is really bad... I get car sick ssssoooo easily now a days. Even looking at moving objects can set me off. My back has been hurting off and on, but nothing that using my Pilates roller can't fix. My cramps have gotten much less bothersome; however, if I move a certain way my uterus "twinges," which my mom said is completely normal and is just telling my body not to move that way any more. Those also have decreased in frequency. I have never in my life craved anything other than water to drink. But I WANT APPLE CIDER. Jon is actually going to stop and pick some up for me today. I'm so excited. I am so, so constipated...It's awful. Just terrible. I have been taking a DoTERRA Essential Oil blend called DigestZen that is supposed to help (very much diluted, btw, and safe for pregnancy) but I haven't noticed a huge benefit from it. What else...? Irritability has increased, but is still bearable (for me... Jon may say otherwise). Mild night sweats. My sense of smell has increased. Just today I realized our dog stinks. I can't say I have to pee much more, but anyone who knows me know that I already pee quite often. Wow this is a long paragraph.

Now, as for what I've been taking/ doing this pregnancy: I am taking an organic prenatal (that still has soy, go figure), a probiotic ( I want Baby's "first meal" to be a good one!) and taking that DigestZen (1-2 drops in a capsule filled with a carrier oil, taken on a full stomach). At first I kind of ate crap, gained 2-3 pounds, and then "felt" malnourished, so I've gone back to eating better (Baby needs no additional calories in the early stages...) and I've gone back to my starting weight and feel better. I am looking for high-protein meals and well-balanced snacks. I am also going to be looking into early pregnancy exercises and other things I can do to prepare for labor. I am trying to get more walking in, but that hasn't worked out very well.

My mom is already convinced this is a girl. I'm kind of hoping she's right, but I'd be ecstatic either way. I just can't believe I'm finally pregnant. =]

4 Weeks... PREGNANT!

I wrote this back on November 4th, when I was 4 weeks pregnant. (About 3-4 days after I found out.) I decided I'm going to be doing weekly updates, and I wanted to start early, but I knew we wouldn't tell right away. So here it is for you to read, now.


So, today I am 4 weeks... pregnant. I have waited so long to be able to say that I'm pregnant! I can hardly believe it.


Here's the back story:

In early September, Jon and I agreed that it was time for me to go see an OB/GYN. We had been unable to get pregnant for a long while. I got a reference from a couple of friends of my sisters' to see Dr. Erica Barrette through Sacred Heart. I made an appointment with her, and she is GREAT. Very nice, very friendly, and took me seriously (which, I must be honest, I did not expect. I thought she'd tell me to go home and lose weight or try for another year, since we're young, or try harder, etc. She said none of those things). So we ran several tests on both Jon and me, and decided that an IUI was our best option.

An IUI is Intra-Uterine Insemination. Meaning that they take ejaculated semen, "wash" it (not with soap and water, but a machine that concentrates the sperm) and then insert it via a catheter through the cervix (not unlike a pelvic exam. *Small "ew" noises acceptable.* Chances of getting pregnant through this method are approximately 25%-30%.

So in October they took a blood test to make sure my progesterone was high (it was), meaning that I ovulated (I knew I had), and on Tuesday, November 19th we went in for the procedure. I will spare you the gory details. You may ask if you wish.

I had decided that I was going to take a pregnancy test on Thanksgiving (9 days after the procedure), hoping it would be positive, but knowing that it would still be early so I wouldn't be too depressed if it was negative. I couldn't wait until Thursday. So Wednesday morning, I took a test and it was negative. Wednesday evening I had a tiny bit of spotting, but nothing major, and thought I'd still test Thursday morning. Well, Thanksgiving rolled around. My test was negative again, and I was still bleeding, although admittedly it was just a tiny amount. The spotting finally stopped Friday afternoon, but I figured I was getting my "monthly subscription" so I hadn't tested that morning. But when the spotting stopped, I figured I should test again.

Saturday morning I woke up and took a test. I *thought* I saw a second line, so I called Jonny in and asked if he saw anything. He told me he did see 2 lines, but that one was "really faint." I looked at him and said, "That means I'm pregnant."All calm and not freaked out at all. Oh, by the way, this was at 5:45. AM. Yeah. I didn't cry, which surprised me, but I was on an adrenaline high for about an hour and a half. I've taken two more tests, Sunday (12/1, 12 days after IUI) and Monday (12/2, 13 days after IUI) with progressively darker lines on the tests.

Somehow I managed to wait until our Family Night on Sunday to tell everyone in the family. Well, except Julie... I told her at church Sunday morning... I just couldn't hold it in!

So yes. I am four weeks pregnant...today, Wednesday, December 4, 2013. Baby's due date is the middle of August.

I want to do a quick symptom rundown, to keep track of all this. So far, nothing much, although I have noticed a bit of... tenderness, not even soreness, in ma boobies. I have had exactly 2 very mild bouts of nausea, that last only a few minutes and then are gone. My. Back. Aches. I don't know if this is pregnancy related, as it has been bothering me for a while now. Couple weeks at least. Oh, also, on Saturday I was eating breakfast and it tasted off to me. Now that was the day I found out I was pregnant. So it could have been mental, or the food could really have been off (although Jon said it tasted fine). It seems too early for that kind of thing, but maybe, just maybe, it was actually because of My Little Parasite. Oh, and cramps. Lots of cramps. Ever since the night we did the IUI. They have been mild, but I've been crampy nonetheless.

I'm hoping now this blog will turn more into pregnancy updates, at least weekly.

Anyway, thanks for all of you out there who were praying for me, and please continue to pray for a healthy and happy pregnancy for me and the bitty! He/she is the size of a poppy seed right now... how awesome is that?! So tiny, yet huge compared to the cells they start out as...