Happy Birthday!

"Happy Birthday Mom" as we sang in unison.
"Thanks honies"
"Ready for your birthday present?"
"As ready as can be!!!"

Our gift to her this year was something Hallmark didn't have in stock.....it was a trip to the doc's office for our baby's first ultrasound.   picture...heartbeat....breathtaking.....God's creation...PERFECTION!

hehee....s/he looks like a bean

She didn't faint this time. 

About 2 months pregnant.  So far, so good.  All but morning sickness, thank God!  I just found out my girlfriend is also pregnant -- 2 months -- fabulous!!!  We symptom-swap every few days :)

So I'll remain under the care of my fertility team until about 10 weeks, then graduate to an OBGYN of my choice.  In that time, I'll continue using estrogen patches every other day, and daily progesterone injections in my tush.  Both hormones are needed for the lining of my uterus as the baby implants and grows (they would have been produced in my body had the unfertilized eggs not been harvested -- as they would have disintegrated and produced the necessary hormones preparing my body for pregnancy.  This is usually the case in a non-IVF pregnancy).  At around 10 weeks, the fetus will begin making its own progesterone, at which time I can stop the hormones and just remain on prenatal vitamins.

*important*  most women would opt to use their usual gynecologist after discovering a positive pregnancy test but buyer beware!   Lately, many OBGYNs have chosen to drop the 'ob' portion of their practice -- meaning they no longer deliver babies  -- for a number of reasons (ie: malpractice insurance premium, cost, etc).  Your OBGYN may in fact just be a GYN who only sees/treats women who are 3 months pregnant or less.  In this case, you must find an obstetrician to help you deliver.   So, if you find out you're pregnant, call your OBGYN and ask:  "Does Dr. Smith deliver babies?".  If not, time to go shopping.....for a new doc!   But here's the trick:  a lot of practices won't accept a mom-to-be beyond 3 months.  So start shopping EARLY!

OTD

"Hi Honey"
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"You're gonna be a grandma"
loud thump.  silence.

"Hello?............Mommy?........Are you there?............Mother??.......Hello????"

Either she fainted, or accidentally dropped the phone.......then fainted.  Hmm!

Too much too soon?
Ok.  Ok.  I'll back up a bit.

If you recall a few days ago.....ate delicious whole fish....lip swole....heightened sense of smell......rushed to hospital to examine lip....everybody walks into examination room with a creepy stare and smile.  Over a swollen lip????!?
Nope!
Nurse asked me to pee on a stick.  "What? Why? It's too soon.  My OTD (official test day) isn't until Wednesday.  Will my body produce enough hormones to detect anything this soon?  I'm scared.  I don't want to get my hopes up.  Can we wait?"
"JUST PEE ON THE STICK DAMMIT!"

minutes later

"It's faint but I see a line...."
"a faint line? what does that mean?"

can you spot the faint pink line right above 'T'?

"You're producing low levels of hCG.  I'm pretty sure by Wednesday your blood test will confirm you are very pregnant as you'll produce more."

Indeed it did.
By Wednesday morning, my breasts were incredibly sore and huge.  I was on my 2nd ice cream sandwich at 9am (a very weird craving for ice cream lately).  I had many sudden urges to relieve my bladder.  Hair...lots of it.....body hair....I hate body hair.  I'm having to shave yet again.  ....and a nap, I now need naps, I'm constantly exhausted.....very, very exhausted!

"Mommmmmmm WAKE UP.  You're going to be a grandmother!!!!!!!"
"oh my God.  oh my God.  OH MY GODDD!  We have to go shopping!!!!!!"

Yes.  Shopping.
If there was ever a doubt that we were related....here's your proof!  Ha!