Oh happy day!

It's amazing what a breathing treatment for asthma and a good nights sleep will do for you! Today, I am in a better mood than I have been in days. I feel blessed to be pregnant and happy to have gotten a good night's sleep. I think it is all due to the breathing treatment I got. Apparently, most of the day Sunday and yesterday in the morning, I was in the throws of an asthma attack. I used the albuterol inhaler - which made things better for a couple of hours - but then I'd have to use it again. Being afraid what the side effects of the meds would be on Bryson, I called up my mid-wife yesterday. She immediately sent me for a breathing treatment. OH MAN what a difference! I could get a full breath of air. And I still can! I think that is what helped me sleep through the night (with the exception of the three potty breaks) - but I fell right back asleep! I just wonder if I would have had this treatment earlier in the pregnancy if I would have enjoyed it that much more.

That being said - I am loving feeling Bryson move and kick. It was amazing when J finally felt him move. He loves when she reads to him - he starts moving around and kicking. I think that is going to wind up being a favorite pasttime between those two. Mama J's reading time :) She can do that in the rocking chair she is currently staining (picture included in this post!)

Little by little we are getting our home ready for our baby. J has been staining and going through drawers. I have been trying to clean - and tonight I will complete the drawer empty-fest and then J can move the armoir into Bry's room. Once that piece of furniture is in there, I can start organizing his clothes and getting his room set up - along with the cat's new area. Sometimes I feel like I can't do a lot with this belly and all - but I'm trying to do what I can to help get ready. I think one thing I will do this week is getting all of the outlet plugs into the open outlets and cleaning off old stuffed animals (if that is possible!)

All in all - this is a very happy time. I am so anxious and exciting to meet our little one. We are just about 10 weeks away max from seeing his tiny fingers and toes. Ah - the joys of a great night's sleep :)

Almost 29 Weeks and Blurry

So the past few days, my vision has been horrendous. Things either look blurry or out of focus or just long/distorted. I called up the midwife today and she recommended I get an appointment with my Optometrist today. So I am now waiting to head over there to see what in the hell is going on with the eyes of mine. I'm hoping that the pregnancy has just changed my prescription - it's just so odd how it happened so suddenly. I'll provide an update after the appointment later.

Other than that, things are status quo. I'm in the third trimester - very uncomfortable - sometimes feel like I have a bowling ball in my crotch. But all in all believe things are going well. I feel Bryson move quite often - which is reassuring. I just can't wait to meet him. Little by little we are getting things done around the house. Kitchen has been cleaned and a spot has been made for bottles/breast feeding materials. The crib and changing table have been put together and our rocking chair has come in. We got the gate up in the cats room - and realized we need professional help in installing a gate on the stairs. The last thing we want is shoddy work done on the stair baby gate - to me, that is the most important one as it is the one that keeps Mr. B safe.

23 Weeks!

Today we hit 23 weeks. We got to see Matzoh Bry on an ultrasound scan a couple of weeks ago. He is doing great - actually measuring a little big. While he should weigh around 12 oz - he is measuring in at 1 pound 1 oz. Hoping this means he comes to see us a bit earlier than expected!! My favorite ultrasound pic was of his foot - it is so clear that you can actually see all 5 little toes. I can't wait to play little piggy with his baby toes :)

On a separate note, Jaime and I are driving down to see my family this weekend. The main purpose is that we get a free anniversary night in the hotel we got married in last year. But we'll also visit with the folks. I'm excited to see everyone because I look so different every time I see them. It's nice to have them experience the pregnancy with me (even if it is for little bits at a time). Unfortunately, Jen is sick - I'm hoping she gets better before we go down there. If she isn't, I won't get to see her -which makes me sad :( But I'll keep hoping!!

In the mean time, Bryson has been kicking away. If I eat a lot of sugar, he goes to town in there. I also played some music up to my belly this morning and he started grooving along. It was some Broadway music - J thinks we're going to have a Broadway star on our hands! That would be absolutely fine by me!! I can see it now - Bryson Cooke in lights :)

Half Way Point!

So here we are at 20 weeks - half way through. I've been feeling Bryson (his official name is now Bryson Michael) move more and more. He's been quiet today, but that could be because I ate such a huge lunch that it put him to sleep! On the way back from lunch, back up to the office, some stranger lady said to me "you've definitely got that pregnant waddle....and oh my gosh you are so swollen...you have no ankles!!" WHY WOULD YOU SAY THIS TO A PREGNANT HORMONAL LADY????!!!?! Needless to say, I've already phoned my midwife and am just waiting for a call back. Should I be this swollen at 20 weeks?? Oy - the joys of pregnancy.

In all actuality though, I am enjoying my pregnancy more now than I was in past weeks. I enjoy feeling Bry move and love knowing that my body is creating something that is going to be brought into this world - who knows - maybe he'll be the next president of the United States! In all reality, I just want him to be a happy, healthy, person who makes other people just as happy in their lives.

And it's a..........................

BOY!!!!!

We are so excited and overjoyed :)

15 Weeks and Counting!

Now that I'm well into my second trimester, the icky pukey feeling has subsided. I am definitely getting some energy back and am starting to enjoy being pregnant :)

I must admit, now that I'm physically feeling better, the nerves are setting in. We have sooo much to get done before little Frogger gets here! It seems like we have so long, but I seem to be the queen of procrastination lately (can you tell by how often I post on this blog??) and if I keep procrastinating too much longer, stuff is NEVER going to get done! That being said, I think I will start off by talking Jaime into putting together our new desk this weekend. We had to downsize in the desk area because the huge L shaped one is not going to fit into our room with all of the cat stuff! I'm actually going to use this opportunity to get rid of a whole lot of crap that we have. So far, I got rid of 3 garbage bags worth of junk from going through a portion of our "storage soon to be our babies closet". While nerves are setting in, I know we will get everything done by the time it has to be done by.

Yes, this blog is all over the place - but that is what happens when you don't blog often! We have decided to go with a certified nurse midwife for our prenatal care and delivery. Here is the good part about it. She is a part of an OB's office - so should anything go wrong, there is an attending physician. Also, she only delivers in hospitals - and offers the option of pain relief/epidurals! So it's almost like the best of both worlds - a pain free labor, and the human touch and compassion of a midwife. I believe we are making the best decision for our family by going with the midwife.

Names - oy. Once we know the gender of Frogger, naming will be quite a bit easier. My mom came up with a new one today that I really like for a girl: Riley Leighton. Riley Leighton Cooke. Very different, but classy and cute. Our other options for a girl are still Ava Leigh and Graceyn Leah. Seeing them all here now though, I REALLY like Riley Leighton. A boy will be Matthew Jeremiah. Matthew Jeremiah Cooke. They say boys are easier than girls - tell you what - naming one sure is!!

10 and a half weeks!

Woo hoo!!! We are officially 1 week and 2 days away from our 2nd trimester. I haven't written much lately - I've been busy getting sick and sleeping - but an update is required at this time!!

We have had two ultrasounds - we heard the heartbeat of our little Frogger on both scans. Very strong heartbeat - one healthy baby :) On the last scan at approximately 9 and a half weeks, we actually saw the little arms and legs move around...sooo adorable and exciting.

So now we are approaching the beginning of the second trimester, and I am starting to feel better. I was very upset because I had been sooooo excited to get pregnant - but once pregnant, was having a miserable time. While I'm not completely out of the woods yet as far as exhaustion and nausea goes, I'm pretty sure I've hit the point that things will get better from here on out. I'm in Maternity clothes for the most part - but not quite showing yet - thanks to my overenjoyment of food prior to getting pregnant...but it doesn't matter - all I want is a healthy pregnancy :)

OH - and names have slightly changed:
Boy - either Jeremiah Matthew or Matthew Jeremiah
Girl - Ava Leigh

A Bundle of Excited Nerves

We have made it to 5 weeks!!! I am so happy and so excited but soooo nervous. I've grown attached to our little Frogger...and would be so upset if anything happened. I know my fears are completely unfounded...but fears they are none the less. From what I'm reading online...a lot of new mothers go through the same excited nerves that I'm experiencing.

On happier notes, we've officially picked out our names. For a boy...Jeremiah Matthew Cooke. For a girl...Makenzie Leigh Cooke. I love both names - but pray that no one calls Jeremiah Jerry. I may cry if that happens (not really - but I have an ENORMOUS dislike for Jerry). I was thinking we can nickname him JJ. And Makenzie will be either Mak, Makkie, Kenz, or Kenzie...love the options!

I am off to make my sick wife some breakfast - seems like she is experiencing the pregnancy hormones with me. I'll be writing more later!

4 weeks 3 days Pregnant!

I went this AM for my second Beta blood test. On Friday the count was 106. Today..........562!!!!!!!!! Little Frogger is moving along perfectly. I think the nightly belly rubs I get from J is helping quite a bit.

Still no crazy symptoms - happy about that :) Praying it doesn't get too bad!

It's official! I had my first blood test on Friday - HcG level = 106!!! The nurse (Rebecca) said they like to see the count between 80 and 100, so she was happy with my count! Woo hoo!!! J actually said "I wanna hear the words!!" and Rebecca said "YOU'RE VERY PREGNANT!" :-D

I go for my follow up blood test tomorrow - and as long as all is ok, we go for our first ultra sound at 7 weeks.

On another exciting front, my best friend E just found out she is pregnant as well! She is 6 weeks - so two weeks ahead of our 4 :)

POAS-aholic

I took 4 tests so far - ALL POSITIVE!!! Including a digital one that told me this AM that I indeed was "PREGNANT!"

It's funny...I don't feel pregnant yet - I can't wait to start experiencing it.

OMG OMG OMG

I was a bit hesitant to post yesterday...but today (11 DPIUI)...we are sure......BFP!!!!!!!!! Yesterday it was very faint on both tests I took (the first in the bathroom at Super Target haha). This morning...a tad darker. WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!! This was our first IUI...I am still in disbelief and awe that it worked. Blood test is scheduled for Friday to confirm!! OMG! :)

Half Way There!

Today marks the halfway point of the 2ww. 7 dpiui and 7 more to go until the official bloodwork pregnancy test. I personally want to cave and take one on Sunday (Father's day - I thought our dad's would enjoy a BFP) but I don't think J will be OK with that. I'm going to ask what she thinks though. Poor thing went to the dentist today and isn't feeling too good at the moment!

And here go the symptoms:

A massive amount of hearburn.
Slight cramping on and off - mostly off.
Extremely conjested (I think this may be from a cold).
Feeling fat - would like to think this is bloating - as that would be another symptom - but I will go ahead and say it is truly due to the fact that I overate b/c I was bored at work today).

And there you have it - my positive thinking has declined a bit and I'm starting to think I shouldn't be so excited. Off to shower away my negative thoughts.

3 dpiui

EXTREMELY nauseaus....has got to be from the HcG trigger shot though. No way I'd be getting symptoms this early.

Also still kind of crampy. Started progesterone last night - this could be why.

Today I said to J...I'm 80% sure it worked...just a feeling.

Who would have thunk??

Last night we ordered in from Chili's. I normally LOVE my burgers Medium to Medium-Rare. Last night they came in just like that. I about puked!! The raw mean just made my stomach turn.

That being said I am 2dpiui. Obviously, these symptoms can't be pregnancy symptoms - tooooo early. They are most likely from the HcG injection - which can mimic pregnancy symptoms from what I am reading here on the Internet.

2dpiui symptoms - still burpinga lot :)

1dpiui

I am nauseaus! Keep burping and more comes up than air (I know..TMI). I also felt a bit crampy today. From everything I'm reading, this is all probably from the HcG shot. Praying that the little ball of cells is in there and making it's way to it's place. 13 more days until the pregnancy test...here's to hoping!

I almost forgot!

So a good nap helped me to remember ome of the most important things about today's IUI!

15,000,000 swimmers with 61% motility - dr. felt this was a good specimin!! Thanks anonymous doner! :)

Day 1 and counting!

In our journey to conceive, I have done lots and lots of Internet research. I found so many helpful sights - many that educated me and made me more excited. But none that I was fully able to relate to because our journey is a little different than the majority. My other half and I are lesbians. Lesbians trying to start a family (or expand our family, which at the moment consists of my wife, me, our dog, and our 4 cats!).

We decided to start our family about 1 year ago. We went through all of the testing (found out I have PCOS - which can make it difficult to conceive) and decided this month to begin our adventure! So this past month, I've been pumped full of hormones (Clomid and HcG) in the hope that a few of my follicles would grow and rupture and allow one (or more) of my eggs to get inflitrated by liiiiitle tiny sperm. This first month went as follows:

CD 2 - lots of tiny follicles - 4-6 mm
Clomid CD 3-7
CD 12 - 9 mm follicle (disappointed it wasn't larger)
CD 16 - 11 mm follicle
CD 19 - 16 mm follicle (woo hoo!!!)
CD 22 - 23.5 mm follicle!!! (FINALLY!!!) HcG shot at 8:45am
CD23 - IUI #1 (That would be today) :)

So now we're waiting to see what happens. I'm so nervous the sperm is going to fall out....I know..silly to think...but just praying it goes where it needs to go.