Fart Story

Because who doesn't love a good fart story...

I am at work trying to be productive & not think about my hCG numbers...about 1/2 hour after lunch my stomach starts hurting...like cramping but more up under my ribs & down the middle of my abdomen...I'm a little concerned but try not to panic...then it starts getting worse, WAY WORSE!! Like someone has stabbed me with a knife & is proceeding to slash it all around inside me...and it keeps getting worse!! I am now doubled over at my desk, contemplating heading to the hospital, thoughts of everything I read on Google about ectopic pregnancies & hemorrhaging...I go to the washroom, no blood (pretty key to the hemorrhage theory)...back at my desk, doubled over squeezing my stomach and...

TTTHHPPP...giggle...

The "ttthhpp"? Me letting one rip...the giggle? Also me, I giggle when I fart...it's funny!

Anyway, I realize I feel a bit better...hummmm...then the pain starts up again...I press on my tummy, fart, giggle & feel a little better...this goes on for a while (good thing I have my own office!) & I realize that probably nothing's wrong with my little tadpole...this all may be caused by the pound of baby carrots I ate just before lunch...ya think? Note to self: lay off the carrots!!

Ah, farts, lol!!!

Drama...Drama...Drama...

Okay...what a day...so I will start from the beginning...I took Hera & Billy's advice & bought a HPT on my way home from work on Monday.

As soon as I got home, I tested...Big Fat...well, actually just a faint 2nd line...the instructions say that counts but I don't know...I decide to be hopeful & just test again in the morning...

I wake up at 3am this morning!! I did the 2nd test and...still just a faint 2nd line!!! After all of that, I know nothing!!

I get the BT 1st thing & then the waiting begins...waiting, waiting, waiting...finally the clinic calls. I had asked the nurse to just leave a message & I listen to it and...the results are...I'M PREGNANT...sort of!

Yes, that's what I said, "SORT OF"!!! Turns out you CAN be a little bit pregnant!

Seriously though, my hCG was only 23.39...I have since learned that it should be between 50-500...however, the nurse assures me that it's probably just early. I am going back on Thursday for another test...we are hoping for at least a double in the number...

I consulted my good friend Google & learned that viable pregnancies have resulted from readings as low as 17...worst case scenario, it may be ectopic but it doesn't seem so...my nurse assured me it was probably just early...

The other scenario is that it could be a Chemical Pregnancy...now, I had never heard of this term until reading blogs & even then didn't understand what that meant...I again consulted Google & found that Chemical Pregnancy is a clinical term for an early stages miscarriage. It is actually quite common but many women don't realize since it occurs so early. It actually has only become more known since the development of early result HPT...

My nurse assured me it was probably just early... :) Anyway, I am remaining positive & looking on the bright side...at least I got pregnant & I'm focusing all my positive energy toward my little tadpole & thinking double hCG numbers...

Patience...

'Splain me how the last 7+ hours have seemed just as long as the last 12 days!!!

I went for my BT this morning & I am waiting with bated breath for the call from the clinic...I'm at work so will keep this short but had to express how insane I am going waiting for an answer...& at this point ANY ANSWER!! I just want to know...SOMETHING!!!!

No News is...well, No News...

I am 9DPIUI and the 2ww has been...torturous? Okay, not that bad but...what? Overwhelming for sure with so much going on & trying to function & complete day to day tasks when all my mind focuses on is, "am I?, aren't I?"

I started out last Thursday & Friday sure it had worked, I felt so confident...by Saturday, I just knew it hadn't...come Tuesday I started thinking maybe it worked...then Friday morning I woke up & thought, "Nope, no dice"...so basically, I have no idea.

I swore to myself that I would not buy & use HPT (home pregnancy tests) as I had read of so many women that do & it seemed easier for me to just wait for the blood test. By Tuesday when I started thinking maybe it would be better if I tested before just so I wouldn't be blindsided when the BT came back negative. I convinced myself that I'd rather know before getting the call from the clinic. I researched HPTs online & found that there's one you can take 6 days before your expected period...that would take me to Friday. So I convinced myself that I would buy the test on the way home from work Friday & take it Saturday morning...that is until a women on the SMC discussion group I belong to posted a link to an article on a study done about HPTs & negative/positive results...it explained the percentage of accurate results & also the emotional toll taking them places...so decided I would hold off. At least with no definitive answer, I can remain hopeful & optimistic.

As for "symptoms"...all of my symptoms can be explained away...my breasts have been super sensitive & very sore (TMI, sorry bro) but the progesterone can cause that...I have had diarrhea (TMI, sorry everyone :)). Now, I have pre-existing bowel issues but this has been different than the usual but still can be explained away since I have been eating more fruit (trying to be healthy) so this could be the cause...& the wooziness, I think it's too early for this type of symptom but after I eat my breakfast, 15-20 minutes later I feel sort of nauseous & well, woozy & this lasts until about mid afternoon. I've also been very bloated. I write this off to me just being anxious & excited though...lastly, is the tightness I feel in my lower abdomen. Tuesday night I felt slight cramps when I was laying in bed. Could this have been implantation cramps? But the tightness is just...there...I also place little stock in all these "symptoms" since I am so hyper-sensitive to every twinge my body makes...so basically, I have no idea!

At least I only have 4 more days left...my period is expected on Wednesday (CD28, 15DPIUI) but I go into the clinic for my BT on Tuesday (12DPIUI)...until then? Obsess, obsess, obsess :)

Insemination Day!!!

And what a day it has been!!!

I woke up this morning, surprisingly after a great night's sleep & got ready...I had to laugh at myself as I was primping as though I was getting ready for a date or something!! I even wore pretty underwear!!

I got to the clinic about 25 minutes early (my appointment was at 10:30am)...that place is BUSY!!! So I waited...and waited...and waited. At about 10:50 I was shown into an exam room where I waited...and waited...and waited. The Nurse popped her head in & introduced herself & said they had a small emergency with 1 of their clients & would just be a few minutes...so I continued to wait...and wait...and wait.

Then the Nurse came in along with the Dr...I knew something was up since the Dr was there. He proceeds to explain that there had been a malfunction & that my spermies were no longer viable...my heart dropped! He went on to explain about the incubator, etc...but I all I heard was, "Blah, blah, blah..." I thought they were explaining that we wouldn't be able to inseminate & I just wanted them to shut up!! I was about to burst into tears & I just wanted to get out of there!

Then I hear, "...so we have a new sample being sent..." & I tune back in thinking, "wait, what?" I interrupt saying, "So we can still inseminate?" Yes, we can!!! That was what all the waiting was about...I was the client with the small emergency!! They had already contacted the donor clinic & were having a new sample sent ASAP. They were so serious & so apologetic...which is good I guess but it made me so fatalistic! But once I realized it was all still a go, I was okay with that! So what that I have to wait another couple of hours!! The new spermies are probably better & stronger anyway!!

I have to say here how great they were. They, of course, would cover the cost of the 2nd sample & shipping costs...but I was really grateful that they didn't just come in & say, "we screwed up" they were proactive & had a solution & a plan. The nurse was so friendly & genuine...she really made what could have been a very negative situation turn out to be a great story to tell about my 1st IUI...hopefully this will be a great pregnancy story!! Like my friend had told me, "That which comes easily to us, we take for granted."

Anyway, I left the clinic & headed over to Square One to kill the 2 hours before I went back...through all of that waiting, I had started to wish I had brought someone with me. Well, as fate would have it, I get a text from my aunt & she had finished work early! So I called her & we met up for lunch & she came back to the clinic with me to wait.

It really was great having her there with me & it was so exciting to be there when the courier brought in my spermies...after all of the waiting, I found it kinda funny how quick it took for the insemination to be done...& all before rush hour!!

So now the real waiting begins...12 days...I go for my pregnancy test on March 30th...unless, of course I get my period...but positive thoughts!!

P.S. Something fun: My sis-in-law counted out the 40 weeks from today & guess when that is? Don't go count, I'll tell you: December 23rd...this could be a Christmas Baby!!

There are holes in my walls...

...because I am so excited, I'm bouncing off them!!!

I am ovulating!!! All on my own! I don't need to inject myself with anything...but let me start from the beginning...today is CD14 so I went this morning for another U/S & BT...my follicles are doing really well, listening to mommy & growing. They're 2.1 & 2.0...the 3rd one has been "pushed out" by my other 2 Hercules...it actually reduced in size. Probably a good thing..with my luck, I would've ended up with triplets, LOL...My uterine lining has thickened nicely as well, up to 8.1 now.

This morning, since we weren't sure if I would ovulate or not...the nurse showed me how I would have to inject myself if I had to induce ovulation...it was $95 but the way I see it, if I didn't buy it, I would have needed it...& who knows, maybe I'll need it if this try doesn't take...before the nurse called me at work to let me know I was ovulating, I was pretty sure I was ovulating & started to worry that we might miss it...so when she called, I was so glad for 2 reasons: 1st - that I was booked to try & 2nd - as validation that I knew my body enough to know that I was ovulating.

Now I have a request for all of you...tomorrow, please send me your positive thoughts, prayers, whatever you believe in. My appointment is at 10:30am...in anticipation I had already booked Thursday & Friday off so am all prepared to relax & let baby begin.

I find it kinda funny that for all of my adult life up until now, I have been so careful not to get pregnant & now all my hopes & thoughts are focused on getting pregnant!

P.S. Of course, my spermies arrived at the clinic yesterday & are just waiting to do their job!!

The Miracles of Modern Medicine

I have jumped ship...I'm out of the Doubt Boat...my friend gave me a fantastic quote that I have to remember:

That which comes too easily, we take for granted. That which we work for, we value.

I am feeling pretty good though...so so very excited...it looks as though Thursday will be the day, Thursday or Friday...

Now the miracles of modern medicine...not exactly a miracle (yet) but I find it pretty amazing that my uterine lining could be 5.5 yesterday then I stick a tiny little hormone pill up my hoo-hoo-dilly & this morning my lining is a wopping 6.8! Amazing!

My follicles are growing nicely as well...1.8, 1.7 & 1.3...I'm so proud of them :) I can't wait until tomorrow morning to see how things have changed....