1st Gym Time in.....a long time

I read somewhere that working out helps to combat the debilitating nausea that can come in the first trimester. I truly believed it to be a myth, but so far I've been proven wrong twice. The first was while we were up at Trapp and decided to do the 6.2 round trip hike to the cabin. The second was last night.

I've been telling myself for weeks that I need to get my pregnant ass to the gym 3-5 days a week.

a. To help combat the not so fabulous eating I've done lately. Thanks to the nausea.
b. So that I won't over gain in the next 9 months.
c. Stay stretched out and limber which will hopefully help with the birth.

So last night, as I slowly pulled myself up out of my work chair, I grabbed my gym bag and put on some work out clothes. I find changing at work forces me to get to the gym. If I just hop in my car, from pulling out of my parking spot, to getting to the main road, it's possible I'll convince myself to just go home.

I got to the gym and was oddly awake. Did a solid hour on the treadmill with random hills. Only moved at 3.2 to keep my heart below 140. Never got breathless, and drank almost 20 oz of water. After which, I did some light stretching and some ab exercises. Nothing strenuous, but enough to feel it.

As I headed home, I realized how awake I really was. I ate some dinner, eggs and  bagel to be exact and watched some tv. Knowing my feet were frozen and not warming up not matter how hard I tried, I drew myself a warm bath. (Don't worry, it was around 100 degrees, like I was told was okay.) Let myself warm up, then drained the water and got out. Curled up on the sofa, read some of my book (Bleed For Me).

Hubby came home about 30 mins later and we watched this week's Dexter & Walking Dead. At which time I passed out for about 30 mins at the end. We headed up to bed around 11:30, and now I was wide awake. Took about a half hour to fall back to sleep. Then awoke at 5am, like usual. Bladder full. Somehow I managed to roll back over a sleep a little longer.

Today has been a long, dragging day. I can't not wait to crawl back into bed.

Just a few things....

At yesterday's meeting, the nurse practitioner had asked if I was having any nausea or vomiting  I quickly replied that I thankfully haven't vomited, and that most of my nausea seems to be subsiding.

Boy was I wrong.

I woke up this morning, from a somewhat restful slumber, to a completely empty stomach. Growling and gurgling  I probably should have eaten immediately. Instead I jumped right into the shower. Continued to hack up a lung phlegm that seems to be plaguing me most days now. So much so that when I finally got in my car to head to work, still starving, I attempted to spit some phlegm out. Which ended up being a full out gag session and spitting on the side of my car. Awesome.

Every morning, I have my Vega One shake with frozen berries, banana and coconut milk. Usually it tastes scrumptious. Today, I took a sip and gagged. Thankfully I used a straw to down the shake, and managed to by pass my taste buds and get some of it in my stomach.

While sitting at my desk, I continued to suck down half the shake, until I couldn't take it anymore, and gave up. You win this round nausea.

Around 10am, I was starving again. But my usual Snap Pea Crisps and Red Pepper Hummus, was not sounding appetizing. So I switched out the Snap Peas for some Saltines. Managed to get down 1 cracker and hummus every 5 mins or so.

At noon time, I was hungry, but nothing sounded appetizing. But pizza. Thankfully there's a brick oven place 5 mins from work. Where I proceeded to go. And somehow I ended up ordering a cheese and crust only pizza. Which at first was not what I wanted. But after biting into it, I was super glad it didn't have sauce. Pretty sure that wouldn't have gone over well.

As I went up to pay for my pizza, I noticed some delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies calling my name. Mmmmm, cookies and peppermint tea.....perfect afternoon snack.

And while I have you here.....

I'm starting to believe that pregnant women should not be allowed to work full time. This whole making another human being thing is exhausting, and really is a full time job all on it's own. We should at least be able to work part time.

And what's with the US being so far behind on maternity leave laws?! Some countries offer a full PAID YEAR off. A whole damn year. Come America, step it up! 6 weeks at 60% salary is not a maternity leave. It's just plain insulting. (And the only reason I get a paid maternity leave, is because my work is kind enough to offer Short Term Disability plan.)

Oh yes, I'm sorry, I forgot our government is run by old men who probably still believe that it's the 50's and moms stay at home with their children and bake all day. My bad.

In lighter news, the Chinese Birthday Calendar says we'll be having a boy. And their apparently 90% accurate. We'll see about that China.

7 Week US

I was feeling really calm today. Until I got in the car to drive to RSC for our US. It had nothing to do with the actual scan though. I felt pretty confident, and still very pregnant, so I had good feelings about the upcoming scan. But on the way there, on the back roads, I got stuck behind a little old couple doing well under the speed limit. I finally get around them after they turn, and hop onto Rt 2. To only be pinned between the person in front of me doing under the speed limit, and the little old lady next to me doing the same speed. Off to the back roads again, and finally start moving. Oh wait, lovely, there's a cop behind me. Ugh. Some days you can never win. The whole ride I kept telling myself "God is telling you to be patient and calm down." So I did.

I finally arrived to RSC at the exact time Chris did. Gotta love perfect timing. Walked into our appointment and was greeted by the same receptionist who had told us about the triplets. Headed back to our US, and thankfully Deb greeted us once again for our scan. Apparently she pulled rank and asked that we see her again. Got to love this woman! No time wasted, she jumps right to the heart beat so we can breath a sigh of relief.

And there it is.

One strong little heart, beating away! 126 beats per minute to be exact. (They like to see over 120 at 8 weeks. We are only at 7 weeks, so all good signs.)

Those two little gray lines are the heart. Along with our first little EKG.

Baby is about the size of 10 dimes stacked up, or 10mm. Up from 2mm last week. The round circle is the yolk sac. Above is the little bean.

After the scan we met with the nurse practitioner. Apparently she had reviewed last weeks scans and was preparing all week to give us bad news, or a new course of action. She was happily surprise at the nice strong heart beat today, and I swear she was more excited than we were. She was very positive. Stated last week we looked like we were a little behind in growth, but over the past week, we've caught right up. 

Hubby and I are still being cautious and attempting not too get too excited. Although we have made it further in growth than our first pregnancy. And my Hcg is higher than our first pregnancy as well. But going through this again at the exact same time of year as before, has us super worried. I really don't think I'll truly breath a sigh of relief until we reach 13 weeks. (Only 6 more to go.)

And here is our first official belly shot. Exactly 7 weeks. Hubby thinks I'm starting to show. Belly is just starting to stick out a little. (Also check out our new entryway decor! Do we like?) Could I be any paler? 

As of right now we are officially no longer patients at RSC! Hooray! We will begin seeing our OB next week. Our first consult with them is on Monday. I am beyond glad they now have an office in our home town, right around the corner. Makes life so much easier.

The receptionist gladly said her good byes and wished us luck. It has been great to have such nice, caring people getting us to this point. RSC has been wonderful this time around. So thorough, and understanding. Thanks to them, we are happily 7 weeks pregnant.

What is this?

Yesterday began something completely new. Well, maybe it didn't start yesterday, maybe it's been a few days. But yesterday was really the first day I started to become concerned. I'm guessing it's stretching, possibly of my uterus. I've been getting what I can only describe as mild quick cramps. They are kind of a mixture of flutters, warmth and cramping. They aren't anything like menstrual cramps, but they definitely feel like some kind of cramping. Not painful at all. The honestly feel more like my implantation cramping felt like.  I still don't feel like "cramping" is the right word to use, but I can't think of any other way to describe it.

Any thoughts?

Today is also the beginning of 7 weeks. Still amazed and in awe that we've reached this point. I still feel symptoms every day. Most recently the nausea has turned to an empty stomach/starving feeling. I wake up in the morning to an empty stomach. And if I go longer than 3 hours without eating, my stomach begins to rumble again. Most of the nausea is gone in the mornings, and only seems to come around at 3pm. Along with some serious exhaustion. Yesterday at 3:30 I felt like I got hit by a Mack truck. And at 4:30 I was in jeopardy of falling asleep at my desk.

I did manage to make it to the chiropractor last night after work though. My lower back is super tight and didn't really release at all. My neck however feels so much better. After the appointment, I popped into Hannafords to pick up some fish and veggies for dinner. Some how Cinnamon & Sugar Pop Chips found there way into my carriage...... Headed home, put dinner together, and immediately after eating, I was asleep on the sofa. Hubby could see how tired I was, and even though he was doing work, he offered to do the dishes so I could sleep. 8pm. Yup, out cold. Woke up around 10 and headed upstairs. Read for a bit, then feel asleep.

Last night's sleep was not stellar though! I've been tossing and turning after 4am most nights. Today is the first day I really feel like I'm dragging ass. Thankfully it's a short day for me. So my afternoon will include a nap.

And tomorrow is our next ultrasound. I feel oddly calm and relaxed about this one. Hoping to see and hear the heartbeat this time. Or two. Either one will do.

Food Aversion #1

One of the things I've noticed the most is how much my appetite has changed. I get full much sooner than I used to. Only eating about half the size of a plate I'd usually eat. But about 2 hours later, I'm starving again. Most days I wake up to my stomach rumbling, screaming to be fed. I prefer to have my shake and slowly sip it over a good 2 hours. This seems to give my stomach time to adjust to being fed, and keeps the nausea from coming on too strong.

Last night, starving once again after only a few hours, I decided to make some stir fry. Used brown rice noodles, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, tofu, tomatoes and mixed some Liquid Aminos and Sweet & Spicy Chili sauce. Sounded pretty appetizing at the time.

Until I started cooking it.

Then put a small amount on my plate.

At which time, I attempted to take a bite. 

Ugh.

I used to love stir fry. It was my go to meal. Especially if it contained onions and mushrooms. 

NOT ANYMORE!

I could only stand 3 bites before I felt like I might vomit. 

So I went to my new go to meal/snack.

Crackers and hummus. About the only thing that went down easy last night. Considering I used to eat stir fry ALL THE TIME, I'm assuming this to be my first food aversion.

Also regarding the hummus and crackers, I've found that Cedars seems to use the best ingredients regarding health to make their hummus. And the crackers are Back To Basics brand. Also using only the best ingredients. Definitely more expensive than Ritz, but they don't seem to bother my stomach.

Too Early?

We've all been told that everyone's body reacts differently to pregnancy. Some women don't start showing until 4 months. Then there's some of us who can't button our jeans at 6 weeks. And yes, I am the latter of the two. Yesterday was the first day I rocked maternity jeans. And I'm not embarrassed to say so. Let me preface by saying the 2 comfortable pairs of jeans I own right now, that still fit well, I brought on vacation. They are in need of a wash. So yesterday, I attempted, several times might I add, to wear a pair of dress pants. However I am so swollen, nothing was comfortable. So I said screw it, and threw on the only pair of maternity jeans I own.

Heaven.

Who ever invented maternity jeans, had to be a woman. Elastic waist bands are so the way to go. I got up before my husband, so he was unaware of my rocking of the elastic band. Until we got to our ultrasound. Where I sheepishly stated that they were the only things not making me want to slit my wrists.

He laughed.

I was comfortable.

And that's all that mattered.

I felt even better about my decision when the nurse practitioner said my ovaries were so large (secreting all the necessary pregnancy hormones) that I should be pretty uncomfortable. And things probably won't fit well. Bingo!

So there!

Bending over is a slow and careful process. I think about every movement. I get up too quickly, I am rushed with exhaustion. I move too fast, my body reminds me to slow down. Every movement has changed. Even hiking on vacation last week, reminded me to take it easy. I was able to complete the 6.2 miles, but there were slow and steady. Until the end, where I desperately needed a bathroom.

I will say I'm feeling more confident and happier now. The nurses phoned yesterday and told me my hcg has gone from 783 on Tuesday, the 13th, to 3842 on Monday the 19th. So in 6 days it was a little higher than a 60% increase every 48 hours. Still in normal range. I have pushed for another round of blood work to be done next week at our ultrasound. Just to be sure the hcg is still rising.

Fingers crossed.

Results Are In

There is officially one strong little bean growing right on schedule. Measuring exactly 5 weeks and 6 days. Both the sac and yolk were visible along with one 2mm little fetus. No heart beat yet, but we'll be going back in for another ultrasound some time next week.

As happy and as thrilled as I am, I am still feeling oddly sad. Knowing one of our little embryos either didn't implant or didn't grow. It's still a loss. And deep down I had hoped for twins. It's been four long years of trying and grieving. The thought of having two at once, to me, meant this journey would be coming to an end. Knowing that we would like more than one child. Who knows what the future holds.

For now, I am slowly allowing myself to feel the joy of today's results. It's still a very long road ahead, one we've walked only one path on. Experienced only one outcome. I hope and pray these results are different. But I know I have no control over the outcome. So for now, I will keep reminding myself what a blessing today is. That for the second time, we've seen our little one.