It's a...

BOY!  We have the name picked out, but we won't be sharing it with everyone until birth.  His initials are SRS.  He's looking really good, and measuring 17 weeks, 2 day (I'm 16 weeks, 4 days).  His heartbeat is 160.  D was able to come to the appointment, which was great.  I'll post the alien face picture by next week some time.

Where to eat in Bethlehem, PA?

Anyone know of a good and not too expensive place for dinner in Bethlehem, PA?  TCIE and I are going to meet there for dinner on Friday and I need some suggestions.

My big u/s is tomorrow before lunch.  I'll post about it at least briefly tomorrow, but I probably won't be able to post u/s pics until early next week.

On being pregnant after IF

I know my posts have been pregnancy heavy and those who are still waiting might not want to read them.  I hope that my posts don't hurt anyone.  I've been quite limited in the amount of time I have to post and I haven't really talked about my feelings on being pregnancy after IF:

When I talk to someone who doesn't know about our IF struggles, I always try to mention that this pregnancy was not something that happened quickly, but that we struggled for a couple of years and had to have surgeries to get this point.  I hope that I'm being a witness about the fact that IF is out there.  I also mention Dr. H/PPVI/NaPro when appropriate.

I'm still dealing with occasional spotting and although it no longer causes me to completely breakdown (the first two times I broke down and was somewhat hysterical), I'm still very worried about Baby Blondie especially when I have the spotting.  I had spotting that lasted over a couple hours while visiting family this past weekend and it completely ruined my ability to enjoy spending time with my family.

Since I haven't been able to feel Baby Blondie move yet, I still worry about having an u/s and not seeing a heartbeat (even though I've seen the heartbeat on u/s 4 times now).  When the u/s starts, I almost assume no heartbeat until I hear it.  I know that pregnancy, even in the second and third trimester, does not guarantee that you'll get to take home and raise a baby on earth.  I watched a video on the October 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day and it had a baby who died just after the 16 week u/s (I'll be 16 weeks on Saturday).  Although I'm not constantly focused on the fact that my baby could not make it, I definitely have that worry in the back of my mind.  I check the heartbeat with a Doppler on a regular basis.  D even asked me last night about "whether SC (our nickname for the baby) was going to stay in there" meaning whether we could stop holding our breath about the likelihood of having a live baby.  I doubt that he'd be quite as worried (and it's not a crazy high level of worry) about the possibility of loss if we hadn't dealt with IF.

In some ways, it doesn't seem real.  I mean I've seen the baby a few time on u/s sound and my body is changing, but I kind of think that part of the reason that I have worries about not seeing the heartbeat is that it doesn't seem like this is real.  I need to hear the heartbeat regularly and look at the bump to see that this isn't something that I'm imagining.  Even with the horrible nausea, it at least meant that there was a good chance that everything was going ok.

I am thrilled that we having this blessing and I know that it's not because we deserved it, prayed more, or really anything that we did.  I wish that there was something that I could do for those who are still waiting beyond just praying for you (which is important of course).  You are always in my prayers.

Annoyed at USPS

My blood seems to have gotten lost (well, my progesterone blood draw at least...the rest is safely inside my body).  I sent it Tuesday and it should have been up at PPVI by Friday.   Since it's now Tuesday again, I'm pretty sure that USPS lost it.  I had to get it drawn on my birthday and that makes me extra annoyed that they lost it.  I'm now waiting to hear if PPVI wants me to go on Thursday or if I should just wait until next Monday for my regular draw.  It would be lovely if it would turn up (any prayers to St. Anthony would be appreciated), but my hopes aren't very high on that.  

The good news is that my big u/s is in 8 days (next Wednesday, October 27) and we should officially find out boy or girl then.  

30

Monday was my 30th birthday.  Although I never would have chosen to be 30 when our first child is born, I'm so blessed to be only 30 and not have to wait any longer for our little one.  Three months ago, when we had our third anniversary, I never expected to actually be pregnant on my birthday.

I haven't really popped yet, but here are 6 weeks and 14 weeks to compare.

6 weeks

14 weeks

We got our first baby gift this weekend; a friend knitted a blanket in Aggie colors (maroon and white).  I love it.

  

Cold, Progesterone, etc.

I caught a cold last week from the little boy I nanny for.  I'm feeling mostly better, but I still have yucky congestion.  Thankfully my netipot seems to be helping.  The cold does seem to be aggravating the nausea and I'm having to take the medication.  However, I haven't had any vomiting in over a week, so that's good.  I'm able to eat much better in the last week or so.  I've even made a weekly meal plan with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks.   I'm still pretty fatigued, but I'm glad the nausea and eating are better.

I got my most recent progesterone level from 12 weeks, 2 days and it was only 26.6 ng/mL (zone 2), so I'm still on 100 mg PIO twice a week.  It's frustrating to me that after having perfect (actually on the higher side) P+7 levels every time they were tested and a great P+15, my levels seem to be getting worse over time.  I'm glad that my levels are being monitored, I just wish my body wasn't continuing to be annoying.  I am still having spotting every once in a while; it seems to happen more if I don't drink enough water.

I haven't popped yet (I'm 13 weeks, 5 days), but I definitely can see the bump.  I'll probably post a picture in the next few weeks once I do.

October is a really busy month, I'm busy and traveling every weekend this month.  My 30th birthday is on Monday (the 11th).  We are going to D's cousin's wedding the weekend of Halloween and her reception is a costume one.  I have no idea what to wear (I'll be exactly 17 weeks), and I don't want to spend a lot of money.  Any ideas would be appreciated.