I've been waiting for almost two years to write this post, and now I don't know what to say. I will let the picture explain it.
Today is 11 DPIUI, 13 DPT and this is the first day that I have actually believed that I am pregnant. I started getting positive tests at 7DPO, but I have used every excuse in the book to not believe the tests until this morning.
While testing out my trigger, I was getting a very faint line at 5 DPIUI and 6 DPIUI. The 6 DPIUI was so light that I figured 7 DPIUI would be completely gone. After coming off a 12 hour night shift, I peed on the stick, put it with the others and went to bed. Eight hours later, I looked at the test and said, "Well, that's not right." It was darker than the rest and obviously invalid.
For the next few days, I kept getting positives but they were so light within the testing time frame that I didn't believe them. As a recipient of a previous bad batch of Wondfos, I convinced myself that they were false positives because they would darken up after the time limit. This was a new batch of Wondfos, so I dipped one in water. Huh? Well that was blank. Cue moments of Holy SHAIDOHAHDIHEFFFFDAHIHDH is this possibly for real?
10 DPIUI was the first day that I could first see the second line within the time limit. They're still faint, but are getting darker.
HOW I TOLD DH:
Well I kinda didn't. He asked me. So I had to fess up. On 9 DPIUI, he looked at my line of pee sticks/trigger tests and asked what they meant. I tried to explain about a trigger fading and that if it gets darker then it's a BFP. He said, "Why is this one darker?" I said, "Because it could be ..." and I proceeded to explain every situation about why it was not a real BFP. Since then, every morning, he has asked if I took another test.
This morning I woke up at 4 a.m. for dayshift and when I saw the obvious BFP, I tried to contain my excitement and wanted to wait to wake him until closer to his wakeup time. He woke up anyways and came out of the bedroom and just looked at me.
Him: Are you going to the doctor today?
Me: Yes.
Him: What did the test say?
Me: It says I'm pregnant.
We hugged and he mumbled, "Thank God."
And then in classic fashion for him, DH said, "Have you told the father yet?"
We're classy like that.
WHAT WE DID
This was our last cycle trying with help. We were looking towards saving for adoption or further fertility treatments. We did a Hail Mary with the RE and pushed the injects to the max that we were comfortable with.
We did a combo of Femara 2.5 mg, Gonal F 75 IU, Menopur and a trigger with IUI on CD 14. Crinone Progesterone gel 8% from 2DPIUI. DH's post wash was 49 million and we released 3 follies. We hit 0-3, 0-2, IUI/O.
I didn't do anything out of the ordinary except for eat lots of tomatoes. Apparently, three tomato plants in a garden is enough to feed about 10 people a day. I had lots of them, so I ate lots of them. I drank lots of water because I didn't have any Diet Dr. Pepper in the house. I have been running and training for my 5k in September. I went to the zoo on Wednesday and saw a stork. We had a discussion about things and I think we had a special moment.
SYMPTOMS
No I don't have morning sickness or my mucous plug hasn't come out yet like some newly pregnant women swear to, but I do have random cramping and a burning sensation type of cramps. It's different than my AF cramps. I also have the zits of a 16 year old girl. This one is completely new to me since I get about 3 zits a month. Right now I've got 4 and my face looks like it may explode with break outs. My Bewbs. Oh dear Bajeezus my boobs hurt. Of course the progesterone gel is probably causing most of it, but seriously, this is the biggest symptom for me. You may think I am crazy, but they are bigger. I've had small boobs my whole life and they're barely fitting in my bras. Normally I can fit into a 34A, but I tried that on this morning. Yeah, uh no. I look like Dolly Parton in that little bra. So, I put on my 34B which has always been comfortable and I'm seriously debating taking it off during work. It's like I got an instant boob job. Score!
Bloat. Enough said. The RE thinks I may have some minor OHSS from the three follies. Currently, I'm just drinking lots of Gatorade, trying to rest and eating more protein. They say it can be worse when you're pregnant, so this makes sense.
EDD: April 28, 2014.
BETA: HCG was 76 and progesterone was 27.3.
My RE's office is awesome and when I called before coming in, the receptionist had already told everyone in the office, so when I walked in, they all started smiling and crossing their fingers. When I was leaving, the receptionist, said, "I've got my legs, arms and fingers crossed. Good luck!"
Since my results came in at around 3 p.m., my RE's office has called three times! They are so stinking nice! The nice blood nurse called initially with the results. The 30 seconds that it took her to pull up the results was the longest month of my life. After her, IVF/IUI Nurse and RE's wife called next and congratulated me and when she confirmed how many DPIUI I was she said, "Wow. That's early. And that's a good beta." Yes, Ma'am and I understand what that means. We both paused and both know that betas aren't a good indicator of multiples, but it's also something that is possible. 15 minutes later, Wonder Woman Nurse Mary called and was also so excited for me and reminded me of my Monday appointment.
I will go back in on Monday to check to see if the beta's double. (For those not familiar, many IF patients are blood tested for HCG beta numbers. A viable pregnancy should have doubling beta numbers every two days.) After the betas reach a certain number and I get a few more days along, I will go in for my first scan/US in a week or so. At that point, RE will be able to see how many little guys are implanted. To say I am a little worried about multiples is an understatement. A singleton was our wish. Twins would be outstanding, but triplets would scare the crap out of me. Being pregnant with multiples scares me more than the care for them after they're born. I know there are many complications for a multiples pregnancy, so it would be worrisome.
But, at this point, I am overjoyed and will be ecstatic no matter what.
I will continue the progesterone gel through the 1st Trimester unless the RE changes that plan in the future.
WARM AND FUZZIES: I can't explain how much I love you guys. There are too many of you to name one by one. I know I will forget some, but Say1009, RunCiCi, Sunlavender, Charmed, Banker, Panther, Gonz, Stufie, and so many others. If I left you out, it's not because I don't want to hug and squeeze you. I am just so frazzled right now that I can't type. I want to roll all of you guys up into a little ball and carry you in my pocket.
If you know me in real life, please, please, please, do not post anything on my FB wall. We won't be coming out there for a long time. Much love to you guys! I can't even begin to explain how much you all mean to me.
We will be telling a select few IRL friends when the time is right. If you're one of them, please know that I will announce it to you soon and please keep it quiet. This is the downside of reading the blog. You get to know sooner than others but you won't get a personal announcement until we feel comfortable sharing. Much love!
