Good Report!

Yesterday's visit went well.  There is a baby in there!  I was seriously worried about this.  But, whew!

The baby measured 6w5d but the gestational sac measured 7w2d, which is perfectly normal according to the doctor.  So, we went with the average of 7 weeks.  We knew we could not rely on the first day of my last menstrual cycle because I definitely did not ovulate on day 14.  Apparently I ovulated an entire week late, on day 21. 

God's timing is perfect.

We also heard the heart beat!  It was so cool.  Our baby's heart rate is 121.6.

Here is our baby's first picture:

The little fuzzy thing that has the plus signs on it is the baby.  The white blob up a little and to the right a bit is the yolk sac.  If we go with 7 weeks, our EDD is 6/12/13. 

Holy cow!  We have an EDD!

We are really excited.  I am still feeling nervous, and a little overwhelmed and unsure of how to feel.  But, definitely thankful for what God has done.

We are having dinner with my sister and her husband tomorrow night and as we're planning to tell them then.  We are planning the rest of our immediate family the weekend before we leave for our cruise, which will be around 9 1/2 weeks.  I am a little nervous telling them all so early, but it will be hard to get together with everyone before Christmas since we're going to be cruising over Thanskgiving.  And, we want to tell everyone in person.  Plus, we'll have already had another OB appointment at the RE by then.

Now, to find an OB.  Ugh.

Ultrasound Tomorrow!

Our ultrasound is tomorrow!  I am excited, but scared to death at the same time.  I just can't help but think that we are going to get in there and there is not going to be anything there.  The doctor said that I didn't need to continue the intralipids because DH and I aren't sharing...something...to do with immunology. I am going to have to ask about that.  I thought the intralipids were because of my elevated Natural Killer cells.  I am kind of confused.

I won't be seeing my doctor tomorrow though because he's on vacation.  So, I may have to schedule a consultation.

I need to pick out a new ob/gyn.  I have not had luck in this area that past few years...

Prayers please!

Great Report Yesterday

I went to the RE yesterday to get my HCG levels checked.  I went ahead and laid down for the blood draw, just in case and I didn't feel faint at all!  Yay!

Anyway, my HCG is 618!  That's way more than the minimum of doubling twice that I was hoping for.  My nurse said that based on the level, though, I ovulated way late (which is not surprising to me based on what I know of last month).  So, she doesn't want to schedule the ultrasound too early and not be able to hear a heartbeat.  So, we have it set up for 10/24.  Eek!  She said that there is no need to come back for another HCG check until then. 

Oh.My.Goodness!  Y'all, I have an ultrasound scheduled to look at our BABY!!!!

I am still feeling good.  No real symptoms as of yet...

Y'all Are Not Going To Believe This

I'm pregnant.  I am pregnant.  HCG 92.4!

Okay, now that I have told the end of my story, here is the actual story.  Warning:  this is a VERY long post.

I finally heard back from the nurse at the RE's office in Chicago.  Yay!  My Anti Phospholipid levels are normal!  So, since I do have elevated NK cells, she said that I do have to do intralipids before and after embryo transfer during IVF, but not IVIG.  They are both IV drugs (boo), but IVIG is a blood-drug (like, it contains other people's blood) and Intralipids is made from soy and eggs.  So, it a lot less expensive!  Holla!

So, I asked for the Dr. to send me the test results and that took about two weeks.  So, I finally was able to call my RE  here in Atlanta and make an appointment for next Tuesday to discuss the test results and our next steps. 

Then, I realized that I'd been telling DH for over a week that my period was imminent.  I was having cramps, it seemed like it was time, etc...  So, I was asking him, casually, if he could remember if the last time I started my period was the Wednesday before Labor Day or the Wednesday after.  He was pretty sure it was the Wednesday before (so was I, BTW). 

I worked from home on Wednesday, so I had the quiet around me to allow me to think.  And, I finally looked at a calendar and counted days.  It had been 36 days since my last period.  So, I decided if I wasn't bleeding the next morning, I would do a test.

I peed in a little dixie cup because I wanted to have enough for a second test, if necessary.  I only had one "good" test and the other one was one of the freebies you get when you buy ovulation strips through mail order.  The "good" test immediately showed two pink lines.  I checked the expiration date.  No, it wasn't expired.  I went and dug out one of the freebies.  It took a little be longer, but it definitely had a second line too, but it was more faint.  I went into the bedroom and woke DH up and asked if he could come look at something.  (He was not really happy about this at first because on Monday morning I had awoken him to tell him we had a leak in the roof over our closet.)  He was like "wo-ow!"

So, I called my RE's nurse, and she called me back pretty quickly and moved my consult with the RE up to that day (Thursday).  They did blood work and we had the consult.  I passed out, very dramatically, I must add.

We all agreed that we need to do the intralipids even though we got pregnant without medical intervention.  So, there is a Walgreen's nurse coming out here this afternoon to do the infusion.  We were supposed to help some friends paint, but the RE told me I shouldn't go.  DH is going.  He was really worried about going while I was having the infusion, but our friends really need help and the nurse will be here the entire time.  I am nervous about it, but not as nervous as I was before the IV for my egg retrieval.  I that is mainly because since I have been taking Trental and baby aspirin every day for a few months, my veins are much juicier.  But, I am off the Trental since I am pregnant.

I am so amazed at what God has done.  He has orchestrated this entire thing in a way that we have no choice but to give him all the credit.  I mean, it's not like we wouldn't do that anyway, but wow.  Here are the facts:

1.  We JUST found out about the immune issues and the (hopeful) way to deal with them.
2.  I still don't know how I got pregnant.  The week that I would think I'd be the most fertile, DH had a virus.  We were barely touching, much less doing the BD.  Plus, I was working 12-13 hours a day because it's our budget time.  So, even once he started feeling better, I was too tired to be getting frisky.  We did the BD maybe one time all month, and while I don't remember exactly when that was, I think it was past day 19...which is the latest I've ever gotten a positive OPK.  I mean, I didn't even do any OPKs this mont because things were so nuts!  Not only that, but I have only gotten a positive OPK once or twice since the last time I did an IUI.

To God be the glory!

I am very well aware that I am only 5 weeks and that things are still very much shaky.  But, just the fact that I am pregnant is a miracle.  I am going back on Monday for another HCG test.  I wonder when I'll get to have an ultrasound?  Ooh...I'm so excited and amazed!