1st day as a SAHW...

That's "Stay at Home Wife" for those wondering...ha ha! Okay, so (i) I'm not really a SAHW and (ii) it's not that funny to be laid off, but I'm trying to be as optimistic as possible about this new phase in life. With my mom here, I am probably going to wait until Monday to really start the job hunt, but I've made several contacts, provided some resumes to people who think they can help, and looked a bit online. So...there's some progress. But today...just consider me a lady of leisure. Or a lady with way too many errands to run over the next two days before she can relax and who's in total denial! Whatever!

xoxo
V

5 weeks, 1 day...

Your baby's microscopic heart begins to beat this week—although it won't be detectable with one of those cool Dopplers for a few weeks, so you'll have to wait a little longer to hear that satisfying "whoosh-whoosh" you're so anxious for. Here's what else is under construction:

With the beating of the heart, blood will begin to circulate throughout the body. Your baby's first organ system will be up and running!

The beginnings of the brain; the cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems; as well as all other major systems are under way.

Your baby's new digs—the amniotic sac and the placenta (aka the hotel and the restaurant)—are still forming at this point. (Maybe you should send a housewarming gift.)

All that high-speed development and your baby is only 2 millimeters long—about the size of a sesame seed (check one out next time you're chowing down on a bagel—you won't believe how tiny it is!).

**3D Pregnancy

So much going on between baby and job (or the lack thereof)!

So I was 5 weeks yesterday. Yay! We heard back from the doc that my beta for 17DPO (last Friday) was 500mIU/ml. This is high (avg is 132mIU/ml and the range is something 17-429mIU/ml), but the doc still wants me to come in this Friday for another set of tests to make sure everything is doubling every 48 hours the way it's supposed to. So fingers crossed, prayer prayed.

I decided not to take pics until I'm actually showing (or maybe I'll start at 8 weeks or something), but I did take one last week at 4weeks, 0days just for comparison purposes. Figured I'd get it out of the way before the bloat starts. So...this pic is from 4 weeks, 0 days. I know you love the outfit! This is the type of sexy outfit Mike is able to see me lounge around in on a nightly basis. ;)

I've just started getting what I would call real symptoms. I've had the weird twinges and pulling feeling for about a week, but I'm now plagued by headaches, really sore boobs (thankfully, the "really" sore part is mostly at night) and nausea. No vomiting yet unless throwing up in your mouth counts (yes, gross, I know!), so hopefully I can get away with just a bit of quesiness. But who knows...it's still early. My mom apparently had very bad m/s with me and my brother. Fun times!

Finishing cleaning out my Dechert office today. I cleaned out the Lawyer's Committee office on Monday and most of Dechert yesterday, so just a couple of more drawers and two pro bono memos (to pass the cases to the next "lucky" associate). I also sent my resume to two people this morning who think they can help me out with the job search...so let the fun begin!

xoxo,
V

1st Appointment

Prior to our first appt, I felt the need to reconfirm for myself that I actually was pregnant, so I took another digital pregnancy test. And there it was...a beautiful "yes+". We had our first appt yesterday at Physicians & Midwives. Mike was sweet enough to come with me even though we both knew it was super early, we wouldn't be seeing baby, etc etc. I'm grateful and love that I'll be able to share the experience so completely with him...well, all of the experience other than the pelvic exams, which he is still squimish about and had to leave the exam room for and wait in the lobby. I suppose I understand the initial hesitancy! :)

Anyway, my doc got me in so early because of a history of ovarian cysts and a sharp left-sided pelvic pain that I had last Saturday, which has continued as a consistent, dull ache. I've had this pain on and off for years, and it's always accompanied by an odd, golfball size mass on my lower abdomin. Anyway, the doc feared an ectopic pregnancy (if a cyst was blocking the ovary/tube), and so did I.

After a pelvic exam and much pushing and proding on my tubes and ovaries (nice!), the doc determined the chances of the ectopic pregnancy were low (or rather in the normal 5% range). My cervix was closed and my ute was soft...yay me! As far as he could tell all was well, albeit early. Anyway, so what is the painful, funky mass on the side of my belly then? He let me stand up and show him the mass the way I always feel for it (by throwing out my hip), and lo and behold...it's a completely unbaby-related hernia. Yay! Is it possible to be happy about a hernia? Yes. Ecstatic. Doc says we'll have to have it repaired eventually, but for now...it's staying right where it is through this pregnancy.

So...next steps. My first sonogram will be scheduled for sometime at the end of next week or the beginning of the following week. Hoping to hold out long enough that we get to see the lil' heartbeat. And my next appt with the doc is Saturday, March 7th. Yep, Saturday appts...got to love that! It'll make it much easier with Mike's work schedule. They did take blood yesterday to check for everything under the sun, including just my betas. So I'm hoping to hear back early next week that my HcG is in the right range. Doc said he'd decide when he saw the results if I needed to come back for a 2nd one. Don't really understand this since I thought the whole idea was to measure the doubling of the #s every 48 hours (or something), but he's the doc...I may ask about it on the phone though.

Lastly, no "strenuous" exercise until my next appt. Great (please note the sarcasm). I asked if this includes running and boxing (which we do 3x per week EACH) and he looked at my like I had two heads...apparently running and boxing are strenuous. He told Mike to take me for a "nice stroll"...yikes! I have decided that elliptical and low weights are not strenuous and will continue with that for now. I don't need to start looking pregnant any earlier than necessary...especially as a result of last night's General Tso's Chicken rather than actual baby-related weight. ;)

Unfortunate events...

I found out yesterday that I am being laid off and next Friday (Feb 27th) is my last day of work. Great! I have to admit that I had sort of been given the heads up that this was likely, but I had no idea it would be happening this soon.

The one positive in the whole situation is that I was laid off prior to our Munich trip that was scheduled for March 4th, and I had bought travel insurance for this particular trip. So we get a full refund on our plane tickets. Yay! Several people have told me that we should still go on the trip, but honestly...I have no interest. With Baby H on the way, it just seems irresponsible to take a week long trip to Munich...especially since Mike doesn't technically have any vacation time left after Christmas. whoops! And I like the idea of being able to start my "time off" by cleaning up around the house and getting organized.

"Time off" -- yikes! Hope I find something soon!

Cheers -
Vicky

4 weeks...

Your Baby. Your microscopic embryo is already hard at work this week creating the placenta, umbilical cord and the basics of his or her body.The embryo is now made of three layers that will transform into the different parts of your baby's body. The endoderm, or inner layer, will become your baby's intestines, liver and lungs. The middle layer, or mesoderm, will become your baby's heart, sex organs, muscles, bones, and kidneys, and the ectoderm, or outermost layer, will develop into your baby's hair, skin, eyes, and nervous system. Believe it or not, your baby is already starting to look like a tiny little being (not necessarily a human being) complete with a head, a mouth opening and a primitive brain and heart.By the end of this week, your baby measures about 1/25 inch long, about the size of a period (like the one at the end of this sentence, not the one you just missed).

*3D Pregnancy

Happy Valentine's Day!

So I'm a few days late on this post, but I figure better late than never. We had an amazing Valentine's Day! Mike and I spent it in Salt Lake City with our friends Jill and Kevin and their adorable baby boy, Dylan. The day was spent skiing at The Canyons and the night was spent relaxing and eating pizza. Yum! Valentine's Day also brought with it some wonderful news. We're expecting...

Baby Husband!

That's right. We're expecting a baby and could not be more excited! Even with all the fear and apprehension that bringing a new life into the world causes, I am (we are) simply elated and can't wait to really feel like the journey has truly begun.


My first doc appt is on Friday (February 20th) at 2:45 pm, so we're hoping to get some good news. That being said, I'm very, very early (only 4 weeks 1 day as of today, February 18th), so I don't think the doc is even going to be able to tell/see anything at that time. We're going in so early though just as a precaution...I have a history of ovarian cysts and had some fairly sharp pains on my left ovary over the weekend, so the doc wants to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. I'm praying that everything is perfect, but I also believe in God's will and the fact that He absolutely has a plan for us and for our baby. So it's all in his hands now.

Assuming all goes well, my EDD (based on ovulation) is October 27, 2009. So we're going to have ourselves a lil' PUMPKIN! Yay!

As previously mentioned, I'm going to use this blog as a journal of our experience. I'll try and include pics, commentary, etc. along the way, and I look forward to sharing it with everyone and hope everyone enjoys it!