When do you want to know?

In the weeks leading up to my appointment, I went about life as normal. I went to school, work and continued to exercise. About a week before my appointment I felt really tired during a work shift. This was weird because I had just worked out and always had lots of energy.  However, I had some spotting so I assumed my period was coming and maybe this was why. I remember being pretty grumpy to. The spotting lasted less than two days. By the end of the second day I had this feeling.  I was so tired. If you took my chemical pregnancy out of the equation, my period was now due. My normal lutel phase was 9-11 days, according to the previous charting I had done. So off to the dollar store I went.

I got home and snuck the test to the bathroom. I took the test and waited. I saw a line. I went to the kitchen and had dinner with the hubby. I didn't know what to do at this point. The line was faint, possibly an evaporation line. I waited till we were finished dinner and I asked Charles "The next time I'm pregnant, when do you want to know?" He laughed and said he wasn't sure. Then it clicked.  I told him I was actually "late", although I had spotted, no period had come. I was extremely tired. I begged him to go to the store and buy me an HPT--a first response--a good one!! I went to bed right away, I was so tired.

When I woke up a few hours later to pee, I saw the test, but decided to wait. At 4:30 am I peed on that stick and watched the control line come up. I didn't see a second line. Oh well, I thought. I showered and when I got out I looked again, of course. There it was. A second line. A little  faint, but a line is a line is a line!! Right away I had this feeling "this is it!" This was my pregnancy that would result in a baby!

I surprised both Charles and myself by not running to get blood work done. I didn't tell anyone I was pregnant. We so wanted to share the good news when the time was right.

I was so happy that I already had an OB appointment for March 15. Like I had told myself, this year would be great!  Dr. H was very happy for me and started the blood work monitoring. He told me that magic number he expected.  I had this feeling that it would meet his expectations.  It didn't.

I did not get disouraged. Although it was lower than what he wanted, it was within a normal range for how long I figured I was. (Remember my birthday weekend away...)

The next number it had risen 5x's!  It should double, so I was naturally stoked. I thought it was twins. My numbers continued to rise appropriately.  An ultrasound was set for my 7th week.

Around 6 weeks I bled. I freaked out. The Dr put me on bed rest until he could do an ultrasound later in the week.  The bleeding was a one time thing that week. By the time the U/S was performed the bleeding was long gone and I was feeling positive again about the pregnancy. And sure enough there was a heartbeat!

I had another episode of bleeding at 10 weeks but again everything was okay.

At 33 weeks and 5 days, I delivered a healthy baby girl. Here birth story is here. 

So it's been quite the year.

23 weeks 3Days

I don't know why but Thursday's feel like a new pregnancy week to me even though it is only the half way mark through each week.

At week 20 we had the "BIG" ultrasound.  I was extremely anxietied but as soon as the tech showed me the heart beating I relaxed. I asked if we could find out the gender and she said she would try. Well the little stinker would not cooperate. In fact after an hour I was told to come back in 2 weeks for another ultrasound as all the measurements couldn't be taken.

We were quite pleased with the scan and got a great profile shot.  Disappointed that we didn't find out gender but I have been preparing to be team green since the beggining. Part of me wanted that surprise on delivery day. 

After the scan we went and registered at Babies R us and went over to the states and bought  a crib. Hubby painted all the trim in the babies room, the hallway, kitchen and living/dining room and front hall. He still has the bathroom and our room to freshen up.

Last Tuesday, July 19 (my parents anniversary) we had the follow up scan. My mom was there again with Captain and I.  Once again the little stinker was not cooperating placing his/her hands over their face when the tech was tryign to check lips and nose. the tech got a good shot of the spine and then announced she knew what we were having and did I want to know now or wait for my husband?  I said wait and assumed that it was a boy because she never stayed and looked hard, it seemed like she glances, saw some dangles and moved on. The baby was in a poor position to get the heart measurements. So the tech got my mom and Charles to show us the gender.

The tech moved the wand over my belly and stopped and asked us to guess. I couldn't make out any shapes or images until she said  "You see these three lines?"  "GIRL" I exclaimed, knowing that 3 lines is a girl. She confirmed it. Charles and I squeezed hands and my mom was beaming away. 

The tech then said she was getting a second tech to try and get all the shots needed of the heart. The second tech was able to get the shots and I was able to leave. 

Needless to say we are very happy that baby girl is healthy.  My nieces and sister in laws are excited that it's a girl.  I have only bought one outfit and am trying to refrain because I think this little girl will be well dressed for her first 2 years without us buying anything!

So although I initially wanted the surprise at birth I am glad that we found out.  Of course, there will be one surprise at birth...Red or Brown hair? HMMMMM