Athletes with RA

There's a new facebook group that Wendy started...Athletes Beating RA.  Lots of like-minded people out there, who knew?  I guess if you're reading this and want to join, just search for it?

With this week off (and a few more to go before school starts up again) I've done hour+ workouts every day.  I feel great. 

Holy Moly I forgot...

How much fun it is to shop for cloth diapers.

Trying to hold off til we know the sex (July 11!) but it's so hard.

All good

Had NT scan and bloodwork, all the numbers came back better than the age-related risks so no need to ponder a CVS or amnio.  Anatomy scan will be July 11.  Gut says it's another girl...maybe just wishful thinking since I have all the stuff and all the clothes in the right seasons??

Have been walking a lot this week...no real desire to run.  I figure, if my ankle feels good enough again to walk, why risk even that by running right now?  Especially since there's no reason to run...I am out of shape, pregnant, no plans or goals...so walking is fun and low stress and just enough right now.

Belly 11 weeks 3 days

So maybe I am not fat as I feel and I don't really look pregnant yet. Funny that seeing from the camera's perspective is so different.

My ankle has been bad the past few days. Very swollen. No running, no walking. This could be a swimming and lifting summer (thinking no cycling too since I am not in shape and the belly eventually will grow...though I made it til August or Sept last time).

There is a head

Not much going on lately. Work, tutor, hang out with Andra, go to sleep when I put her to bed. Repeat. Occasional work outs... Three a week is a good week. This week isn't one of them. Ankle acting up again, like the disease is active in it again. Not sure if it's here for a while or not.

Had ultrasound today, 11 weeks. Squirmy little thing with a head. All looked good.

Still exhausted

So I walked for 40 minutes today instead of taking a nap. It was a good idea until about 2 hours later. I need that nap. Plus my legs are exhausted, not sore but exhausted. Ugh. 9 weeks. I don't remember feeling this tired but at the same time last time I could take a nap anytime I wanted after school. Not so much anymore. Still on progesterone shots... Tonight probably the last one as I just waiting for blood test results. Then I guess I am just a normal pregnant lady.

One craving

So I don't feel so fat anymore...I think I'm back to looking normal.  Still tired but today wasn't as bad.  Ate pretty healthily today which might help.  I am finding that I actually have a craving this time...JUICE.  It's all I want.  The sweetness, plus the fact that I'm so darn thirsty ALL THE TIME.  Actually ran on Sunday.  Well, ran/walked.  But it's more cardio than I've done in a while.  I promise myself to go back to working out when school ends...7 more weeks. 

Still beating

Seven weeks today, another ultrasound but this time at my OB's office.  Everything looks good.  I have been exhausted, hungry, thirsty, a super salivater (like I'm going to spit all over my students when I'm lecturing) and I feel less fat and more like I am already looking pregnant.  It's not just  my lower belly, it's the whole round thing from the boobs down.  Whatever...I just wish I had more time (as in less tutoring), more energy, and more WORKING OUT.  This is 100% different from last time...oh well.  I can't live in the past.  It will all get better....

Fat

6 weeks 1 day. Today was the first day of hunger/nausea (not bad just noticeable). I know I started this pregnancy not in good shape (compared to marathon PR shape last time) and it's pregnancy number two and I had a couple (3?) pounds on my starting weight from last time (149 vs 146 but more fat this time) but I did t expect to look like this so soon. And feel like this. I posted a pic at 15 weeks last time and I think I look worse now. I hope it doesn't continue. I feel like I have stronger abs this time but more fat on top of them. I know I hated the fat but not pregnant looking phase last time but it's so early andover last longer this time. Argh.

Heartbeat!

1400

Levels doing what they're supposed to do. Ultrasound Monday at 5w5d.

214

So more than doubled. That's good. More bloodwork Wednesday then ultrasound Monday the 16th. Almost 6 weeks then but probably too early for heartbeat.... That'll be nerve wracking.

87.5

Positive. 87.5, they said anything over 50 is good and it doesn't seem high enough to be twins.

I'm still not allowed to relax though, huh?

I can say this now, though. I KNEW this one worked.

(Thanks for the comments, RunningMama and Nitsirk...)

16 hours

Not quite so patient any more. I can't full out admit it, but I am really hopeful. Which means if I'm wrong, it's going to be worse than last time. When I wasn't hopeful, but still hung on to a thread of a chance. Tonight I've been reading infertility blogs, all sorts. It just helps, reading how others get through and what they feel and knowing it sucks but I'm normal.

I'm driving back to the satellite clinic tomorrow, where I did most of my monitoring, rather than into Manhattan. I won't pee on a stick...I consciously didn't buy any when I went to Target today. This has been my mantra all cycle, something I found on Pinterest:



16 more hours til they call.

Patiently

Waiting. Test Wednesday. No spotting like last time. Hopeful...

They are in

Two, 7 & 8 cells. Good quality. Now more waiting.

I just compared these two with last cycles two. Huge difference... These are pretty! Going to try to take RunningMama's advice and be deliriously optimistic.

Top pic is last time bottom is this time.

Two

Two fertilized. Same as last time. Feel slightly more positive. Co culture....

Three

After all that... Three eggs.

But I did manage to finally cry. Albeit for only a minute and I had no privacy.

Scatterbrained

Can't focus on anything. Went into the city for 6:30 this morning for all the pre op paperwork and blood as ultrasound and then rushed back so I wouldn't miss my entire honors lab. Got there with about 40 minutes left (the kids are a pain in the butt but I love them and they were happy to see me instead of the sub which you gotta love) and somehow went on autopilot teaching projectile motion, then took my next class into the planetarium (yeah we have one in our school) and automatically did the lesson on the path of the sun. Advantage of doing the same thing for 11 years...I don't always have to think.

The dr today saw 5 follicles all good size but yesterday there were 6 so I hope she just missed one. Retrieval tomorrow. Transfer on Saturday. Hoping 4 fertilize and maybe we put back two and freeze two? If we get 3 maybe we put back all 3? Two more weeks.

Six

Six follicles working. They range from 22.5mm to 11.7mm, so a big range, but the doctor today (whom I like because he pulls the sheet down between my legs after he puts the ultrasound probe in, so I feel way less exposed...why don't they all do that?) said he thinks I should trigger tonight (though slim chance not til tomorrow) and they should get 6 eggs. Not all guaranteed mature, but hey, 6 is 33% more than the 4 I got last time. And this time I was on half the meds.

Very, very antsy. Just want this done.