Tonight....Tonight....

Tonight we check into the hospital at 7:30pm. They will start with the induction gel and let me progress on my own throughout the evening. In the morning, they will start the pitocin.
Nuggette will be here before we know it!

Second trip to triage

I went to triage again today because after my nap this morning, I was doing kick counts and didn't feel her move at all. I tried all the tricks, including a shower. Nothing.
B was at work, so after I spoke with the doctor's office, I called our friend to see if she could drop me off at the hospital. She stayed with me until B arrived.
They did an NST (where Nuggette was asleep for 36 minutes, therefore did not pass until the very end), and then did a biophysical. This was my first biophysical and she passed that within the first 10 minutes. She had movement and practice breathing. My fluid levels were right in range and the CNM estimated that she is about 7 lbs 13 oz. Then came the cervical check and everything is still the same, including my posterior cervix, which makes these checks quite delightful < / sarcasm >.
After about 2 hours, we were on our way home. For a minute they considered keeping me and starting the induction early, but doc said to send me home. We will be back in 2 days on Sunday night.

NST was normal

No reason to keep me at the hospital last night after my weekly NST. Of course she was asleep for the first 10 minutes, but after she woke up, she passed with flying colors. I only had one contraction during the entire test...and a BH at that.
Clearly I must have a very hospitable womb, because she's not really showing any signs of wanting to leave! 4 days until induction.

No real changes

Except now Nuggette is at a -1 or -2 station. The doctor doesn't think I will make it until induction day. We will see.....

Hoping...

I have a doctor's appointment today and I am not so secretly hoping that I am dilated far enough that they send me straight to the hospital to have this baby.
Yesterday we had a glorious day, weather-wise, with highs in the 80s. It was wonderful to be able to eat on our patio and soak up some sun. We even went for a pre-dusk walk around the neighborhood. It did make sleeping quite difficult. I was so hot. Even with two fans, no covers and limited clothes, I could not get comfortable. I am so happy to not be pregnant during the summer, I am pretty sure I would be miserable.
Should we be sent to the hospital, or when labor/delivery occurs, our good friend, *, will be our substitute blogger. She's awesome. (And because I have forgotton to ask her what she wants to be known as on our blog, her name is now an asterick....kinda like Prince).
Induction date is 6 days away.

Still no baby

Dilation, effacement, losing your mucus plug, and fake contractions are no indication of when you will go into labor, in case you were wondering.
I'm still here, pregnant as ever.
I've started to get the daily texts/emails/facebook messages..."Still pregnant?"
Yep.
Last night the BH contractions were coming every minute or so. We thought "maybe?" real labor would start. No such luck. Once I laid down for bed, they stopped.
She's just not ready to come out and meet the world.
At least I have an end date in sight. If she doesn't come on her own, it's a week from tomorrow I go in to be induced.

38 weeks!

Lost my mucus plug this morning! Woot!
One step closer to meeting our little princess.

Are we there yet?

Every nurse or medical person I come in contact with says, "You're almost there!" or "The end is in sight." I guess it really is, folks. My last doctor appointment is scheduled for Monday, April 11th and my last NST is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12th. If I make it that long.
Currently, I am 2cm and 80% effaced.
I've had one real contraction (around 3:30 this morning), and even though I waited for more, nothing. Such a tease.
I was guessing the cervix would be closed, so I was happily surprised to hear I was dilated at all. We all know I could still go right up until induction day, but there is a glimmer of hope for earlier.
Oh, and they switched to a non-digital scale at my doctor's office. According to that scale, I am up 18 pounds from pre-pregnancy. I want the digital one back!

*edited to add* I've also had some light bleeding/spotting since the internal exam (which is to be expected). However, there has been threadlike things in the toilet...doesn't look mucus-pluggy...but I really have no idea what it is...I'm sure she jsut distrupted something while digging around in there. Hopefully that will help labor along!

13 days

I just got home from walking up to our local fruit market/grocery store. It's right on our corner and wonderfully lovely. Lots of Michigan grown and Michigan made products. Today has been our first day that has been decent in regards to temperature (high of 63), however it has been overcast and rainy. I decided to press my luck and walk up there because I "needed" fruit and ice cream.

I bought a lovely quarter watermelon and a pineapple. When I got home, I cut it all up and had a nice afternoon snack. (With some Michigan cheese and pretzels too!)
I haven't been to the market since last fall, since it's been too cold or snowy or icy to walk up there. Walking in there today was an immediate flash back. I loved it. I can't wait to walk up there again all the time this summer (and this time, with a stroller!)

While in line, the lady in front of me and the clerk asked when I was due. "13 days." Of course, then the general line of questioning followed, but it's so nice to be able to answer...13 days. Ladies, that is less than 2 weeks. She could come at any time. Bring on the baby!

Walking

In search for a nursing bra, we walked the mall for about 2 hours (in hopes of possibly jump starting labor). Of course, that didn't work. I had two fake contractions and that was it. Last night we tried hot sauce. No luck. Tonight I'm going to try some pineapple. I know she will come when she is ready (and when my body is ready too), but as selfish as it may be, I can't help but try to urge this labor and delivery along.
I want to meet our daughter!
I did find a nursing bra at our local maternity store. We only bought one, seeing how we don't exactly know how large my bosom will grow or which I will prefer after my milk arrives.

Luckily there is nothing exciting in this post.

I find this part of pregnancy rather boring. By now (10w5d-but measuring even further ahead) I am starting to feel better. I have less bouts of nausea, less extreme fatigue, and I am sliding into a routine at work. The bloating even has seemed to pause itself. It's still there, just not getting worse.
I am completely grateful for all of this.
My research doc appointment, which was scheduled for Thursday has been rescheduled until October 14th. I now have to wait until October 14th for any confirmation that this pregnancy is still going along as planned. I know in my heart it is, but I do like that confirmation. By then I will be 13 weeks along. Woot.
This time, last time, spotting began. I have been kind of following along my blog from Sprout during this pregnancy, but I am going to stop now. I'll go back and reread a little later, just not right now.

No news

I just talked to the research assistant. No results yet.
I sure hope we get them today.

First u/s

My first ob u/s is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 31st at 11am. The day before, on Monday, I go for my second beta.
Good thing this weekend is jam-packed. I will have to stay busy to avoid thinking too much about next week!

I thought I could do it...

you know, go a day without testing. I couldn't. I tested right before bed last night. Line came up clear as day, very quickly.
Heartburn has been gone for a few days. All of my symptoms are gone, really. I have somewhat tender bbs, but other than that, nada.
I know symptoms come and go, so I am not too worried. I am getting very excited about my beta on Monday. The nurse told me that they space their betas a week apart! So I go Monday for beta #1 and have to wait a WHOLE WEEK for beta #2. Then, another week for beta #3. I told her that most doctors ask you to go within 3 days, but she kind of ignored that comment. I think she is just following the protocol for the research study. She did say that when the beta is between 2000-4000 she will bring me in for an ob ultrasound. Technically, my beta could be in the range when I go on Monday (23DPO), but most likely she will wait for the second beta to make sure it's rising.
Oh, and I still don't have an ob. Since we moved, I have wanted to get one, but then I was waiting to see if we were pregnant or not. I guess I should call once I get my beta numbers. I know they usually won't see me until 8ish weeks anyway, but I should still try to get "on the books" if they are booking ahead.
Today is 19DPO or 4w5d. Time seems to be standing still. Monday will be here before I know it, right?

Results are in...

I'm pregnant.

The office does not do the betas until 1 week after the positive qualitative test, so now I have to wait until next Monday to get my first beta. That will put me at 23DPO. I know I could call my high-risk doctor or my old pcp's office and get one before then, but I really don't have a problem waiting. I know I'm pregnant. Obsessing over numbers won't help any situation. Now, I may change my mind mid-week..lol.

The nurse told me on the phone to not get too excited yet, until we see the numbers rising. I felt like say, "I know lady, I've been around the TTC block a few times." She's really nice and means well though. She just doesn't deal with informed people too often, I guess.

The only symptoms I have had is heartburn...oh the heartburn. Every day. Almost all day. Not so much fun. I may have a few hours of relief during the day, but not much. I haven't tried Tums or anything yet, I have just been watching what I have been eating to see if that made a difference. Also, tender bbs, and some tiredness. Other than that, all is well. The line on the hpt was almost as dark as the control line today. I am glad they are getting darker still. I am not sure when I will stop testing.

Today, after our day of errands and IKEA, I went upstairs to take a nap. We have a door at the bottom of the stairs to keep the dogs out of our living space upstairs. Our kitties enjoy it upstairs because it is the only carpeted place in the house. As I was dozing, our cat, Joey jumped on my back (I was laying on my stomach). He started kneading my back (which is not unusual). He was trying to make a comfy spot to lay down, or so I suspected. He jumped down and I started to smell something bad. Poop. I turn over and he had POOPED ON THE DUVET COVER. Now our cats don't have accidents. They are very well behaved and neat. BUT HE POOPED ON ME. This wasn't just a little turd or two. It was like a big pile of dog poop on the blanket. He was locked upstairs and couldn't get to his litter box downstairs, so HE JUST POOPED ON ME. WHAT? Needless to say I was awake then. Luckily, it was fairly easy to clean-up. But still, MY CAT POOPED ON ME.

Later, when I was back downstairs, I was going to eat my leftovers from our lunch out today, and as I was walking into the den, I dropped my entire lunch on the floor. Nothing was salvageable. I was so upset!

So first, the cat poops on me, then I loose my lunch.

I guess I will never forget B's 30th birthday.

Wondering...

So it's been over a year since I was pregnant with Sprout, and although I remember it, I was in a different place then. I remember being worried and a bit obsessive, but the excitement was there too.
Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled beyond belief that I am pregnant. I even said the other day to B, "I'm not worried about losing this baby."
However, when I woke up this morning and my bbs were less tender than yesterday, my mind went there. You know that horribly dark place.
I'm hoping to stay occupied this weekend and not think too much about symptoms or lack-there-of. I have had some pretty awful heartburn the past 4 days. That's a pregnancy symptom isn't it?

Well Lookey Here...

We have crosshairs! (And solid ones at that!)
It looks like we had some perfectly timed insems (minus the first one that was a little premature). I am feeling very good about this cycle. Bring on the BFP!
Today B leaves for VA for a few days to visit her BFF before she deploys to Afghanistan. Please pray for safe travels for B and a safe tour of duty for Sarah. She is one of the sweetest and most gentle people I know and to think of her in a war zone is heart-wrenching. I am so glad B will be able to spend some time with her before she leaves.
B returns very late on Friday night, so I hope her being gone keeps me distracted from this TWW. I think I am going to stop temping after tomorrow. We will see if I can hold out.

Ask and ye shall receive...

Temp dropped this morning...97.8.
CD1 is right around the corner now...hopefully today!
I also received this in my email this morning (part of a daily meditation I get emailed to me):

"The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us."~Aiden Wilson Tozer

PS. The temp shift pushed my O date back to CD18...oh FF, you are so silly!

No news.

FF is confused about my chart. Either I'm triphasic (at 13 or 14 DPO) or 4DPO. Research and Fertility/Monitor settings give me the later DPOs, but Advanced and Fertility Awareness give me the other. Either way, tomorrow is my last day on the pro.vera.
I had good news when I went to the drug store to renew my Fol.gard. It's now covered under my insurance. Woot. I'm wondering now if my prenatal will be covered too. I guess I will see when I transfer it over. (Do you guys play the prescription transfer game so you can get $25 gift cards?)
I've been testing every day, and it's still stark white. I'm thinking I'm only 4DPO, so the chance of me being pregnant is -.4555%. I'm looking forward to my next visit with research doc. It will be next Friday.
It has been hella hot in our parts lately. Heat advisories and such. We are looking at over 90 every day, and add humidity on top of it and people are melting. We aren't used to these temperatures in the north..at least not for days on end. I am very grateful for ac in the house. However, my van's ac has to be repaired, so I limit my driving on these super hot days. Today I am tutoring at the zoo. It will be a hot one, but perhaps we will spend a lot of time in the Arctic Zone. =)

Tested

So I tested...and maybe more than once.
Nuttin.
Negative.
White Space.
Currently I am 11DPO, so it is still early. My bbs are hurting more and more. Tonight I am very emotional. I just feel like crying, and for no apparent reason. Whether period or pregnancy, hormones are whack.