Yesterday's Ultrasound

Thank you so much for your comments and emails asking about yesterday's ultrasound!! I would have already written, but I've been so tired and so sick that I haven't been online a lot lately.

So last Monday was my first u/s, and as you know, everything looked great!

Yesterday, one week later, I went back for a follow-up u/s, and..... everything looked great again!!!! Thank You, Jesus!!

Almost immediately the tech said, "I see the baby...And I see the heartbeat." Sweet relief washed over me when I heard those words!!

The heart rate was 158, and I'm measuring 7w2d, which matches my dates exactly.

My doctor was all smiles and continues to say that he has a good feeling about this. He thinks getting that septum out of there was key. Ladies, if you've ever been told that you have an "arcuate shaped" uterus after having an MRI or HSG, please check into it and make sure that it's actually not a broad based septum that needs to be removed. That was my case. Other doctors missed it b/c it was not a typical septum that was so obvious. It extended all the way across the top of my uterus, making my uterus look like it was just a normal variation of shape. Wrong!!! I'm so thankful that I went to my specialist in Memphis who recognized it right away. Here's the link if you want to check him out: http://www.fertilitymemphis.com/practice-services/recurrent-pregnancy-loss/

I am still being cautiously optimistic. I know that I have a long ways to go. But I'm trying to just take one day at a time and keep trusting the Lord.

Yesterday at my appointment I realized something: I am now further along than I've ever been without already having trouble. In the past, I was already bleeding at this stage. So I'm so thankful for that!

I'm still taking the Zofran and Phenergan for nausea. It is working wonders!! I still feel nauseous but nothing like I was feeling! I'm also going to start a stool softener b/c, like so many of you told me, Zofran does cause constipation. I bought some yesterday that my doctor recommended.

My eating habits are nothing like pre-pregnancy. Normally, I am a very healthy eater. I love organic foods. I eat lots of veggies and fresh fruits. I eat very few fried foods and very little fast foods. There have been several times when I was checking out at the store and the cashier would say, "Wow! You eat so healthy!" ha! Once, I was especially tickled pink b/c a young boy who was bagging my groceries said, "Do you just like to eat healthy or are you an athlete?" Woot! Woot!!! I was THRILLED that I could even be mistaken for an athlete!! haha

The last time I went to the grocery I felt so sick that I slowly pushed the cart through the store and put ANYTHING in that I thought I might be able to get down - popsicles, instant rice, juice, ice cream. Now it seems like the only things I can eat are not good for me. On Sunday I got mozzarella sticks at Sonic (which I haven't allowed myself to get in years). I ate tons of my mom's fried potatoes last week. Last night I had to go to DQ and get a Bliz.zard. This morning I ate a PopT.art. I'm hoping that pretty soon I'll be able to once again eat healthy (without gagging!).

I've read, though, that you really shouldn't worry about it this early in the game. Just eat what you can get down b/c the baby is so very tiny that their nutritional needs are miniscule. Thank goodness!!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers. Please do keep praying for us. I am still very early in this pregnancy. I'm so thankful for what God has done thusfar, though! It's nothing short of a miracle.

So Sick

I have truly never been so sick in all my life. Not only am I taking Zofran but also Phenergan. The medicine helps a great deal. But it's still very difficult to eat and drink. I'm doing the best I can with it, though. And I'm able to get some things down.

I just keep reminding myself that sickness is good in this case and that it won't last forever. I know it is worth it. And I can do it for my baby!!!

Little Guy is as cute as ever. I love him so much. I pray all the time that he'll be ours soon and that our baby in my belly will also be healthy and strong. I pray that we'll get to be both babies' mommy and daddy. (For those of you who may be new to my blog, "Little Guy" is our 3 month old baby that we foster. He's been with us since birth. I may not be his biological mommy, but in my heart he is my baby. It is looking very favorable for adoption.)

A blog friend told me to look up a song - One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus. I listened to that song, and I do love the words. So true! I know that song from my childhood but hadn't heard it in a long time. Thank you for sharing! I was encouraged!

I'll leave you all with the words from another song that encourages me too:

1. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to take Him at His Word;
   Just to rest upon His promise,
   And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
     How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
     Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
     Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to trust His cleansing blood;
   And in simple faith to plunge me
   ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just from sin and self to cease;
   Just from Jesus simply taking
   Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
   Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
   And I know that Thou art with me,
   Wilt be with me to the end.

A Little More About Monday's Appointment

You ladies are so sweet! I just love getting all these encouraging comments and knowing that you are praying for me. It really means a lot.

I wanted to write more after my ultrasound appointment on Monday, but I was just so sick and exhausted that I could barely sit at my computer.

I have never been so sick in all my life...Well maybe except for the time I drank contaminated water in Thailand. ha! I am now taking a little miracle pill called Zofran. Boy, it has helped me so much. It doesn't make me completely well. But it makes a big difference. And I just keep reminding myself that sickness is a good sign.

I was nervous at my appointment. When I got there I first went to the bathroom in the waiting room, and I remembered how the last time I was there I cried in that bathroom, remembering the sadness of our last miscarriage. But this time I didn't cry. I waited in the lobby, and pretty soon they called me back for the ultrasound. The tech explained the procedure, and I thought, "I've had a million of these!!"

I really despise getting ultrasounds. The techs don't give you much info, and I'm always left wondering if something's wrong and she's just not telling me. It's an awful feeling. But I remained calm. And I was so thankful when right away she said, "Okay, I see the baby. And I see a heartbeat." I'm not sure what I said....Maybe "Good!!" or "Really?!" I felt so much relief. But still, she didn't give me a lot of details so I was kind of holding my breath wondering if everything was really okay. After it was all over she said, "Congratulations!" I thought to myself, "Surely she wouldn't be telling me congratulations if anything was wrong!" So I allowed myself to relax a little.

I went back to the waiting room and waited to see the doctor. I love my doctor so much. He's so sweet and friendly and kind. When I finally got called back and got to see him he was all smiles. He said, "I've got a good feeling about this!" He said that he was so happy to see me coming back through. He commented on how the baby is exactly where it's supposed to be, the sac looks very healthy, it's measuring right on target. Everything looked great!!

I'm still cautiously optimistic. I will breathe a small sigh of relief once I make it 8 weeks (farther than I've ever been). But I don't know when I will totally let my guard down...maybe when I hold that sweet baby in my arms after a healthy delivery!!

One of my sweet blog friends said that she is praying for me to have Irish twins! I'd never heard that term before, so I looked it up and found that it refers to 2 babies born to the same mother within 12 months. She is praying that we'll get to adopt Little Guy and also have this baby. I'm praying for Irish twins too!!! :) I'd love to have my 2 babies grow up together and be the best of friends.

Well, as a matter of fact, I hear Little Guy squirming and fussing in his little bassinet so I'd better go check on him. Thank you again for all of your prayers!! Thank You, Lord, for all You've done!!

Good Report!

I was so relieved today to be measuring right on target at my ultrasound - 6w3d !!

The baby is right where it's supposed to be (unlike my last pregnancy). We could see the heart beat!!

The Dr. also prescribed me some nausea medication. Thank goodness!! I was having a hard time getting anything down!

The doctor was very optimistic and told me that he has a good feeling. He's excited to see me back and doing so well.

Next ultrasound: a week from today.

In the past, I always miscarried around 7 weeks. Please be keeping me in your prayers these next couple of weeks...

Thank you!!!! All of your comments and prayers mean so much. Grandmommy, I was thinking of your prayer when I was waiting in the waiting room this afternoon. :) Thanks to you ALL!!

Little Update

I'm still doing okay. I'm just so nauseated that it's hard to eat or drink. I'm just so thankful that I'm not bleeding - other than the occasional slightly pinkish/brownish tiny spot.

Thank you for your continued prayers. It means SO much!!!

Monday is my first ultrasound. I'm so ready to have it behind me!!!

Doctor Says He Would Be Optimistic

So the nurse called me back after talking to my doctor about how my HCG didn't double in 48 hours. He said that I will be fine to wait until Monday for my ultrasound as long as I'm not having any pain or bleeding. (I'm not.)

He also told her that he would be optimistic.

For now, that's enough. I'm just going to try to relax as much as I can. All the worrying I've done in the past has never profited me.

Thank you for your encouragement and comments. A couple of blog friends told me that when the number gets so high that it doesn't always double. I looked it up online and found the same thing too. Thanks for being positive and helping to ease my mind!!

Please continue to pray for me - especially ask that I won't worry myself silly over this!!!

Number Didn't Double

I just got my HCG results: 20,184.

On Wednesday my HCG was 14,000, so it should have been around 28,000. She's going to talk to my doctor and see what he wants to do.

I don't know what to think about this.... The numbers aren't horrible. But they're not double.

Waiting

I will post tomorrow when I know what today's HCG results are! They should be at least 28,000 if they doubled correctly. Thank you for your prayers.

First HCG Results are In

A few minutes ago the WONDERFUL nurse from my ob/gyn's office called to give me my HCG results from yesterday evening. She is that one nurse who I've connected with, and she always helps me. My HCG was 14,000.

She said it was actually higher than just doubling every 48 hours (which it's supposed to do during pregnancy). So I did some calculations. According to my last HCG, if it doubled every 48 hours it should have been around 8,000. So I take that as a good sign that it's even more than doubled.

She asked me if I'd like to come in for an ultrasound. With my HCG being that high they should be able to see something. And would you believe that I turned down an ultrasound???!!!!

I know that most women would jump at the chance to get to see their baby. But I've had an ultrasound too early before when they thought they should see something and didn't. So then they thought I had an ectopic (pregnancy in the tube), which set me on pins and needles. They were on the verge of recommending a shot to induce m/c or surgery to remove the pregnancy out of my tube. Turns out, we waited a few days, repeated the ultrasound and then they were able to see the baby in my uterus. Granted, I ended up miscarrying. But still... I never want to go through that again!!! I was on pins and needles for days.

Last night when I went to the bathroom and saw that small gush of red blood I expected it to be the beginning of cramping and more bleeding. But I haven't bled any more. And the fever is gone.

The nurse suggested that maybe it was a subchorionic bleed. I googled it and got a little info.

So instead of going for an ultrasound today, I'm going for a repeat HCG on Wednesday. Those numbers will tell us a good deal, I think. I'm praying that they double. Then I will have an ultrasound on Monday. I will be about 6w2d, and with the number so high, they should be able to see something.

Thank you for the outpouring of love and support I received on my post when I was bleeding. It's wonderful to know that you all support me and pray for me. I know you truly care. Thank you so much!!!!

I'm Bleeding

The fever got up to 100.2. I took a Tylenol. It's staying around 99.5.

I talked to my RE's nurse. She said not to worry. It's probably from the progesterone. I also reported the cat scratch (Thanks for the sweet comment from the Grandmommy on my last post. :) But since it's not red and doesn't look infected they don't believe it's anything to worry about.

Probably 30 minutes after talking to her I went to the bathroom, and there was a small gush of red blood.

I've seen this before. 4 times before. So I called my ob/gyn, and I'm going for blood work this evening and again on Wednesday.

I prayed that if I was going to m/c that it would be early and before I saw the heartbeat. But it still hurts. I hoped and prayed that I would never miscarry again.

And I know that there is always hope that I'm not miscarrying.

I'm just trying to put it all out of my mind. It's too much to bear. God, please bear this burden for me.....

Thank you all for praying.