We are expecting.....

a BABY!!!!!!!


Yes, that's right Jared and I are expecting our first baby due March 24, 2009. I still can't quite believe it after all this time, and we are so very excited! We appreciate so much all of the support, love, and prayers that we have recieved over the past two years. It has been a long, hard road for us, but in the end it will all be worth it when we bring a new little life into our family. I am 10 weeks along, and so far everything is going just the way it should. It has been so hard not to share with everyone up to this point, but we just wanted to make sure that everything was going to be okay. We are getting to the end of the "risky" time and we are so excited to share our news with all of you. I will definitely be blogging all about this exciting time in our life, so you all will get to hear all about everything that is happening.

Below are my thoughts over the last 10 weeks before we were officially announcing.

July 16, 2008 Finding out

I took a pregnancy test and saw my first ever positive. I cannot even describe the emotions that I had going through me. First, was utterly disbelief (I think that "holy crap" were the first words out of my mouth) and shock, and then extreme happiness and thankfulness. Even though we have been trying for this for almost two years, I think that I really had gotten to the point where I had no expectations that it would ever happen. After I took the test, I did not know what to do with myself! I started to cry and pace back & forth across the house. Jared wasn't home yet and I didn't want to call him and tell him on the phone. My next thought was "doctor!-that is someone I can call" :o) So I called and made an appointment for my beta blood draw. I was so shaken up that I knocked over the entire bin of dog food onto the floor while I was dialing the number!

I did start to suspect something when I got a sunburn (so many preggo friends have warned of this) the weekend bfore from sunbathing on the deck , and I was very tired that day when we went on a walk. I still didn’t really think it was possible. I have had so many imaginary pregnancy symptoms in the last two years, that I have learned not to trust them. I decided to buy a digital test on the way home from work. I had never used a digital test before, and I thought that maybe it was a joke when it turned positive and that all the digital tests came out positive. :o) When Jared got home, I presented him with a gift bag with the test in it. He says that he just had a feeling when he was driving home-weird because I had lots of feelings over the last two years (convinced I was pregnant this time), but he never did until this month. So much for women's intuition! He knew, as soon as I handed him the gift bag what it was. He hugged me for the longest time, and when he pulled away he was brushing away tears-shh, don't tell him I posted that! I think sometimes I forgot that this whole process was just as hard on him as it was on me, and boy has he been a trooper and the most wonderful support that I could ever ask for.

I had every intention of waiting until we got back from Mexico to tell our families, but my dear husband just could not wait :o) We called his parents and met my family for dinner to tell them all the good news. I think they all were in shock too, but very happy for us. I am feeling very cautious because I know that it is so early, but I am also so excited that something we have dreamed about and waited for so long for is finally happening.

Apparently, that tiny bit of endometriosis was the problem, because we got pregnant on the first try after surgery. It is so strange to now be on the other side of this journey. We tried for so long to get pregnant that I kind of forgot what happens next! I still feel very strongly that I want to be a voice for infertility. I hope to continue to be a support for those struggling with infertility, because I have definitely been there. It is something you can truly only ever understand if you have been through it. It is an absolutely indescribable roller coaster to live on. We went from a doctor telling us that we would probably never have a biological baby without IVF to concieving a baby naturally 7 months later. The best advice I can give is to always get a second opinion and make sure that you feel comfortable with the doctor that you are working with. I feel very sure that if we had stayed with the first doctor that we saw, that this little miracle would not have happened. We changed clinics and found hope. While I know we have a long way to go, I feel a little like the sole survivor of a tragedy. I feel so grateful that I have a little life growing inside me, but I also feel guilt because there are so many couples still struggling. I am so happy for us, but so sad for them. I am so thankful to all of my friends and family that have been such a wonderful support for us during this journey, and know that we will continue to have your support as we embark on this next chapter.

July 18, 2008 Good numbers

I got my beta back and it was 827. Very good. We are officially pregnant! My due date is March 24, 2009. No adult beverages in Mexico for me!

July 28, 2008 Feeling good-tired, but good

I have had a very busy few weeks. The trip was great. I felt pretty good for the most part, just very, very tired! Jared made fun of me and affectionately called me "pokey" because I was moving so slow. I told him that this growing-a-baby business is very tiring work. We are both just so thrilled! We had a nice visit with his parents this weekend, and they are so very excited too. I have only had a little nausea. It seems to come on when I get hungry, so no skipping meals for me! And lots of naps! I am trying to make sure that I am walking every day and I ordered some pre-natal fitness videos to help keep me strong and hopefully full of energy. We took this picture in the sand while we were in Mexio.

August 8, 2008 Nausea City

Well, my little nausea has turned into a lot of nausea. "Morning sickness" for me is all day sickness :o) While I don't enjoy the constant nausea, it is a sign that all is still well. My current and strongest aversion is meats. I can't stand even the sight of chicken, steak, or fish:o) And Jared's worst fear has come true-I don't want Mexican food! I am about 7 1/2 weeks today and I will see the OB on Wednesday. Jared is going to miss it because he is going to be out of town, but he will be at the next appointment for sure.

August 13, 2008 Our first glance

I had my 8 week appointment today. They did an overall physical, bloodwork, and an ULTRASOUND. I got to see our little peanut for the first time! I was so nervous and afraid that something was going to be wrong, but as soon as it came up on the screen I could see the little yoke sac, head, and arm and leg buds. The baby even wiggled it's little bottom one time for me while I was watching. It was absolutely amazing and I teared up (ummm..who's surprised?) I was so sad that Jared couldn't be there for it and he was so bummed, but I texted him a picture as soon as I could so that he could see it.