About Us

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After an 8 year battle with infertility and countless struggles, our family is finally complete. This blog chronicles the journey it took for us to start and build the family we always wanted. Background on the blog (started in 2012, just days before I found out the embryo transfer for our son worked).... I decided to start a blog after realizing I have only been able to make it through my TWW's (two week waits) with the help of Google and with the openness of other women suffering from infertility sharing their own stories and giving others hope. I have time and time again found my exact symptoms on other women's blogs and felt an overwhelming sense of calmness they provided me. I thought it was time to pay it forward and hopefully provide this same thing to other women on their own journeys.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

27w0d - Weekly update


How Far Along: 27 weeks!!!  Third trimester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

Size of baby (from babycenter.com): This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended.

My baby this week (from babycenter.com):   She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Meh, hasn't been great.  Usually up 3 or 4 times a night to pee!

Best Moment of the Week:  Seeing my baby at Thursday's ultrasound!

Movement: Yes.  Now I feel him rolling around and not just kicking.  Very cool!!

Food cravings:  This week has been HOT salsa.  Sure beats french onion dip health wise!

What I Miss:   Being able to buckle my sandals.

What I'm Looking Forward To:  Next Saturday is my final 3D ultrasound in Buffalo!!!!  :)

Milestones: Third trimester this week!!

Emotions:  I've been on high alert this whole week after last Friday's scare.

Symptoms:  Nothing new.


Thursday, June 28, 2012

26w5d - Sonogram and glucose test results

We had our followup ultrasound today to get measurements of the baby's heart that they couldn't get at 20 weeks because his spine was in the way.   Everything checked out perfectly although of course he was being difficult and they had me flopping around on the sono table like a fish trying to get into a good position for the sonographer.

In other exciting news... I do NOT have gestational diabetes!!  Yay!  My number was like 103 or something and anything below 130 was normal.  I had a print out of the number but the print out was essentially confiscated by one of my OBs when I asked why my white blood cell counts were a little elevated.  He was like, "how did you get that????"  Basically they never print out those results for patients because one number too high and patients like me freak out.  He said a lot of pregnant women have elevated white blood cells during pregnancy and that it's normal.  So everything is all good!!  

Here is our little son.  I'm already trying to figure out who he looks like:



Monday, June 25, 2012

26w2d - 1 hour glucose intolerance test

So, I had the "dreaded" 1 hour glucose intolerance test this morning.  They had me chug a PURE SUGAR orange flavored drink and then they drew my blood 1 hour later.  The drink didn't taste nearly as bad as everyone says.  It just tasted like a flat orange pop.  I will get my results in a few days.  I pray I pass.  I don't want my poor baby growing too big that I can't deliver him naturally!   The only side effect from the test is that I am absolutely starving today.  I have deduced that if you start your day off eating sugar you will be hungrier the entire day.  Hunger leads to headaches for me.  So therefor sugar causes headaches.  So double therefor I am going to try and cut out sugar as much as I can.


Saturday, June 23, 2012

26w0d - Weekly update


(length of an English hothouse cucumber)

How Far Along: 26 weeks!  Only more more days until the start of the third trimester (26.6 weeks)!!!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

Size of baby (from babycenter.com): He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.

My baby this week (from babycenter.com):   The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: I've been going to bed later (10 to 11) so I have been sleeping like a champ these past few nights!!!

Best Moment of the Week:  Knowing my baby was ok after yesterday's scare!!!!

Movement: Yes.  Now I feel him rolling around and not just kicking.  Very cool!!

Food cravings:  I've actually been REALLY good all week food wise.  I have cut out the date and protein bars from my diet and have noticed I haven't been getting as many headaches.  Extra bonus besides not eating those calories!


What I Miss:  Being able to go for a walk (I haven't been with the heat in the 90s!)

What I'm Looking Forward To:  I am excited to see him again on June 28th's sono and then even more on July 7th's 3D ultrasound!

Milestones: Third trimester this week!!  (26.6 weeks)

Emotions:  OMG.  Yesterday's scare was so traumatic.  I pray he goes full term!

Symptoms:  Nothing new.


Friday, June 22, 2012

25w6d - First trip to Labor and Delivery

Holy crap.  We just had our first scare (and I'm sure not our last).  I was at work today and kinda had some cramps this morning which I disregarded and then when I was peeing I noticed a spot of blood on my pantyliner.  I just about died.  I called my OB's office and they said they'd call me back.  Really?  Call me back?   I am literally scared out of my mind and you are going to "call me back"???  

Anyways, since Erie Insurance is just blocks from Hamot Women's Hospital I just made a decision to go to Labor and Delivery.  They whisked me into triage at once (since I was balling by that point).  So the whisked me into a triage room only to ask for my ID and insurance cards and made me wait. Isn't that kinda disappointing that instead of helping me right away they made sure I could pay before they did?  Ugh...  

Anyways... a nurse came in and hooked me up to monitors that monitored the baby's heart rate and my uterus for contractions.  His heart rate was a good 140~145 the majority of the time we were there today.  It spiked to 160 once but he was moving around at that point.  They took a urine sample and they drew blood (twice - because they had to run another test they didn't run on the first batch).  They also had a sonographer do an ultrasound to look at the placenta to make sure there were no placental abruptions.  

One of my OB's came in about 2 hours after we were admitted to tell me everything looks normal.  The spot of blood is still unexplained but everything looks good.  Mike Googled it and I guess your cervix is super sensitive the further into pregnancy you get so maybe something bothered it.  My coworker Jimmy made a good point that this morning, after we went to Starbucks (don't worry, I didn't get any caffeinated drinks), I jogged (or as he called it "shuffled") across the street pretty quickly.  So maybe that was the cause.  Who knows.  

Now I am on super high alert and still kinda freaked out.   Hopefully that will be the first and last scare we have before his official arrival in September or October.  :)


Saturday, June 16, 2012

25w0d - Weekly update


(weight of a rutabaga)

How Far Along: 25 weeks!  Only 1.5 weeks until the third trimester!!!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

Size of baby (from babycenter.com) Your baby rivals the average rutabaga in weight -- about 1 1/2 pounds. (Length: 13 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

My baby this week (from babycenter.com):   Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: The past week has been pretty good.  I upped my pillow count to 5 pillows now.  One for my head and 2 for each side of me (1 up by my torso and 1 by my legs).

Best Moment of the Week:  This is now the category "worst moment of the week"....  Getting weighed at the OB's office.  Holy hell am I fat as as hell.   I am on par to hit 200 lbs before this baby is born.  I don't really eat that poorly and I take walks everyday.   What gives?!?!?

Movement: Yes.  It was ramping up to be a lot but the last day or two it hasn't been the much.  I wonder if he moved to a different position where I can't feel him as well.

Food cravings:  No cravings.  Especially after I got weighed!


What I Miss:  Being able to shave parts of my body that need sight to shave.  :(

What I'm Looking Forward To:  I am excited to see him again on June 28th's sono and then even more on July 7th's 3D ultrasound!

Milestones: Every day he has more and more chance to survive outside the womb!

Emotions:  Everything spans from getting weighed... so my emotions this week are sad.   I worked hard to get thin before this pregnancy and I just feel like I am throwing it all away.  I know he is so worth it but it still sucks!

Symptoms:  I now am a proud Tums consumer for heartburn.



Thursday, June 14, 2012

24w5d - OB appointment

Our OB appointment went really well!  My blood pressure is perfect!  My weight.....well.... lets just say Megan and Mariah's predictions will most certainly come true at this rate.  :(   Oh well.  All to help our little man grow!    His heart rate was between 140 and 150 which is perfect.  :)


Saturday, June 9, 2012

24w0d - Belly photos



24w0d - Weekly update


(length of an ear of corn)

How Far Along: 24 weeks!  Only 2.5 weeks until the third trimester!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

Size of baby (from babycenter.com) Almost a foot long (length of an ear of corn) and weighs over a pound.

My baby this week (from babycenter.com):   Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: I spoke too soon last week.  This week sleep has been horrid.  Tossing and turning all night long!

Best Moment of the Week:  Getting a clean bill of health from the dentist.  No cavities!

Movement: Yes.  Daily now.  Sometimes nothing, sometimes he's going crazy and kicking me!

Food cravings:  Ugh, don't talk about food.  I just ate a gigantic bowl of chili (yes, I'm cheating and pre-writing this post on Friday).


What I Miss:  Being able to tie my shoes with ease.

What I'm Looking Forward To:  It's still a ways away but I am excited to see my baby again on June 28th's sono and then even more on July 7th's 3D ultrasound!

Milestones: 24 weeks marks a big milestone where the baby can survive outside the womb (with tons of medical assistance of course, but it's still a huge milestone).

Emotions:  I was kinda snappy the days leading up my Thursday dentist appointment.  But since i  got the "no cavities" news I have been pretty laid back.  :)

Symptoms:  Nothing new.


Saturday, June 2, 2012

23w0d - Weekly update


(large mango)

How Far Along: 23 weeks!  Only 3 weeks until the third trimester!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

Size of baby (from babycenter.com) He's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango).

My baby this week (from babycenter.com):   Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world.  Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Stretch Marks: No.

Sleep: Pretty good lately actually.  I usually only wake up once a night now!

Best Moment of the Week:  Seeing him kick from the outside!  :)

Movement: Yes.  I can feel kicks and him rolling around in there.  Especially after my morning glass of OJ.  Usually at night as I'm laying in bed too.

Food cravings:  Still no real cravings.  I love me my chips and dip.  Dip counts as dairy, right??????


What I Miss:  Being able to get up from laying easily!!

What I'm Looking Forward To:  It's still a ways away but I am excited to see my baby again on June 28th's sono and then even more on July 7th's 3D ultrasound!

Milestones: Seeing my baby's kicks.

Emotions: Pretty even keeled this week.  :)

Symptoms:  Nothing new.