A Frog Called Dot

We got to see little Dot again today.  The ultrasound showed a perfectly healthy little baby; although "Dot" is looking a little more like a little frog these days.  For some reason, I'm totally convinced "Dot" is a girl so I'm just going to start referring to "Dot" as a she.  She's measuring right on track.  I was 8 weeks and 3 days today and that is exactly what she was measuring.  I have to say that the boys were always measuring ahead and I found some comfort in that so it's ok with me if "Dot" hits a growth spurt and gets a little ahead of the game.  Her heartbeat was 176 beats per minute...of course my mom says that automatically means she's a girl.  I honestly don't care what "Dot" is, I am just praying she is healthy and that my body is good to her. 

Here are the ultrasound pictures (you'll be able to see in the first one how "Dot" has taken on the shape of a little frog):

I will see the doctor and have another ultrasound in two weeks on 4-13-09.  I hope to have more great news to share then.  

Thyroid Update

My endocrinologist is never surprised anymore when he walks into my exam room and looks at my lab results.  I am still seeing him about once a month but things seem to be different at each visit.  

Ever since the boys have been born my thyroid has been a bit of a nuisance.  We knew there were issues with it before I got pregnant with Joshua and Caleb but the issues seemed to be under control for the most part while I was pregnant.  After the boys were born it was totally out of whack again, which is when I found myself meeting with a new endocrinologist.  He's great... a bit chatty but has always seemed very interested in figuring out what it is going on with my body.  

He has put me through a lot of tests and eventually ended up putting me on some medication to treat my hyperthyroid.  As soon as I started that medicine the weight came on.  After the first twenty pounds hit me in the first month I decided to hit the gym.  Now mind you I was still not working so I kind of made that my job and I counted calories and kept a food journal.  I wasn't gaining anymore but I couldn't lose anything either.  I had to have more blood work done so he could check where my thyroid was at that point so I decided I was absolutely done with that medication.  I waited until the blood work and then stopped taking it.  I figured that way he would know what exactly was caused by what.  When I went in for that follow-up appointment the doctor, as usual walked in scratching his head.  I was headed into HYPOthyroid territory.  I had to admit to him that I stopped the medication and he kind of laughed and said that is what he wanted me to do.  

So I went to see him again after another round of blood work (mind you insurance is billed over $800 for each of these blood draws...isn't that absolutely crazy???).  He came into my exam room with the same puzzled look on his face and said everything is in the normal range.  My thyroid is officially normal, at least for the moment.  He will still monitor my blood work but there is still no need for medication.  I know God's hand has been in this and I praise Him for the most recent results.  Now I just need to figure out how to get this weight off (perhaps all those lunch outings at work aren't helping matters). 

Friday the 13th and Halloween

I had my first ultrasound today...I know...what was I thinking having an ultrasound on Friday the 13th.  Wayne met me at the doctor's office and Brandi took us back right away.  It was hard being in her office again and all I could do was pray that it would have a better ending than the last time.  She was, as usual, great!  I was measuring 6 weeks and 6 days today...that's 3 days ahead of schedule.  We got to hear the baby's heartbeat...that is just sweet music to my ears. The heartbeat was 128 bpm, which she said is perfect for how far along I am.  She said it will get faster and then slow down again towards the end.  She was also able to tell us that I got pregnant on my left ovary.  Here's a picture of our little "Dot" as Dr. Fenoughty has named it...

After the ultrasound we went to sit down with a nurse and do our medical histories.  They gave me the same bag of goodies they gave me the last time around.   I was surprised they did this so early because last time I don't think I did any of that until around the 12 week mark or so. Afterwards, she asked if I had an appointment with the doctor and I didn't.  She asked her if she wanted to go ahead and see me today.  She did.  I love that she makes time for me! There has never been a time where I needed to see her and she hasn't made time for me.  

She told me she is secretly glad there is only one "dot" this time.  I have to say that I wasn't sure how I would feel if there was one baby... I'm still not sure what I feel.  I'm relieved because I think having only one makes it a much easier pregnancy.  Then there is another part of me that was a little disappointed that it confirmed that the chance for twins had passed.   Then there is still another part of me (I know...who knew I was so complex) that reminds myself that I DO have twins.  I have two perfect boys that I can't wait to see again in Heaven. Today I'm just so thankful that that our newest baby measured perfect and had a perfect heartbeat.  Our perfect dot!

The doctor told me over and over that this is a different pregnancy.  She said she wasn't going to tell me not to worry because that's not going to happen.  She would be worried if she was in my place also.  She pretty much said there are no restrictions.  We aren't going about this pregnancy any different than any other pregnancy, with the exception of me having free reign of coming in anytime I want to so that I can see the baby and hear its heartbeat.  Oh and the doctor thinks it's a girl.  She says the name Dot just doesn't work for a boy:-)  As far as scheduled appointments, I don't have another one until April 13.  Brandi was standing there when I scheduled that apointment.  I told her she can go ahead and put me down for that day too and it was done.  She said she'd see me before though...she is right.  I'm not going to make it a month without seeing Dot.  As I was leaving she said, "see you next week".  I thought that was funny because she's probably right.  I'm grateful that they are so understanding of the worries that they know are going to go through my head.  

Oh yeah...you're probably thinking..."ok, why the title?"  I almost forgot.  So today was my first scan and today is Friday the 13th.  My due date, according to measurements, is October 31st.   I told them that I don't know if I need those negative things against me.  The doctor assures me that the double negative equals a positive...I guess we'll go with that.  We got a kick out of the dates though.  

Celebration

On Sunday, February 21, 2009, Wayne, my husband, was baptized.  Now he had been baptized when he was around 10 years old but didn't do it for the right reasons.  He loved to make adults happy back then and thought that would be a good thing to do to bring joy to his family.  Last Sunday he stood in front of our congregation and shared his testimony.  He worked really hard on this and did a fantastic job.  People at our church are still coming up to me telling me what a blessing his testimony was.  I am so grateful to God for making Wayne the man that he is today.  Below, you will find video of his testimony.  You won't see the actual immersion because YouTube has a 10 minute limit and Wayne is a little, shall we say, windy:-)  I tried to include all of his testimony though.  You'll have to forgive me for the shaky camera...I think I might have been more nervous than he was:-)  You can also read a copy of his testimony on his blog.  

Chocolate Milk and a Pickle

I don't remember being so hungry with the last two pregnancies.  I feel like I'm starving this time around.  I'm craving lots of snacky type food...probably not the wisest of choices when you're pregnant.  This morning before we headed to church I knew I needed to eat something because even when I'm not pregnant the pastor has to stop his sermon each time my stomach starts talking, reminding me that I haven't eaten.  Isn't that always the case...your stomach only seems to growl really loud when everything gets quiet and there are tons of people around.  I find a good cough when it starts tends to cover it up :-)  

Anyway, so this morning before we left I hit the fridge.  What did I want?  What did I want?  Well I can tell you what I ended up eating was a pickle and a glass of chocolate milk.  Then on the way to church I had a handful of garlic pretzels.  Yes, I most likely smelled just lovely during the service!  Don't worry I ate a piece of gum when I got there so hopefully that masked my morning choices.  I guess you could say that is a weird craving.  The combination of foods I keep choosing seem to be weirder than than the foods I guess.  

This pregnancy has still not sunk in yet, minus the pickles and chocolate milk.  I am having trouble accepting that this is really happening.  Dr. Fenoughty called me yesterday to tell me that my HCG levels looked great.  I was really appreciative that she actually called herself.  My HCG on the 2/25/09 was 481 and on 2/27/09 it was 1428.  She said that was great.  They tested my progesterone on 2/25/09 too and it was good at 29.1.  I don't know why I had gotten such a low progesterone when they checked to make sure I was ovulating but I was really glad to see it back up.   She wants me to go for my first ultrasound in two weeks.  I gotta tell you, I really wish there was a fast forward button, at least to get me through the first half of this pregnancy.  

I'm working really hard to leave this in God's hands but I'm not going to say that I don't find myself worrying every once in a while.  Sometimes I go to the bathroom just to make sure there is no bleeding, like I think I could lose this baby at any minute.  It is going to be a battle for me but I know God will pull me through it.  He always does.  I know that He is in control of everything that happens and I trust Him.  

It has been really hard not to share this with my parents.  I really want to tell my mom but we decided we would wait until we got through that first ultrasound before we do.  Besides that, she left for a 14 day cruise today with my dad and two of their friends, one of which just happens to be my boss' boss at work.  I thought it might not be so good to make her have to keep that secret for 14 days.  We'll just say we're doing it for her benefit:-)  As for telling anyone else, we aren't in any hurry.  There are a few girls I want to tell from the message boards but I'm finding it difficult to even tell them.  I just want to give us some time before we let anyone else in on it.