Author Archives: rashellovesricky

16 weeks!

Posted on by
Reply

We’ll really almost 17 weeks now but I’m late so… Things are going just great. We are moving right along and I’m anxiously awaiting one of my favorite things feeling this sweet baby girl moving. It will start out as tiny little fluttering then soon it will be big kicks, jabs and rolls. She can hear now the app says! Hopefully she doesn’t mind out loud house with kids and dogs.

We are at the beach this week visiting Jen and KC and the Boys! Let me say Florida in December is AMAZING! It’s 80 plus degrees here still. But the perk is no crowds. We are staying in a condo this time on siesta beach the sand is gorgeous and the water is so nice too. The ocean is a bit chilly to actually get in for me but the kids don’t mind and there is a heated pool. I will enjoy that and just laying on the beach enjoying the sounds of the waves. Well scratch that Kailynn just got me in the cold ocean 😂. It wasn’t awful but it wasn’t warm.

Good news I still haven’t gained any weight! Woohoo not that I diet, exercise or anything really but it’s nice to know. I’ve never really gained much weight with any of my pregnancies. I’m sure that also why I enjoy being pregnant. I usually lose weight after baby is born and then fluff back up every time. 😂 My low iron is back and so is my ice cravings. I need to find softer ice to chew with my braces. I’m so worried I’m going to start snapping brackets but I also just can’t stop eating the ice! It’s a NEED. I just crunch it all day and night. Poor Ricky has woken up to me eating it in the middle of the night! I don’t feel to bad for him though because honestly I’m always awake from his awful snoring so I really get the short end of the stick.

I can’t believe how big the boys are. I seriously love so much that I get to see and spend time with the families I was lucky enough to help. This is the biggest gift and perk for me. I have best friends that I hope to know and love forever. Greenleaf and Oliver are the cutest and sweetest boys. Greenleaf loves playing with Kailynn and Everett. Oliver let me hold him! I was worried he wouldn’t.

As I lay on the beach typing all this I can’t help but wish we lived here. Or at least had a condo we could come to like this multiple times a year! That’s what I need more beach in my life. Now I’ll post some pics and put what baby Mac is up to this week.

If the reality of your pregnancy doesn’t quite feel real yet, it may after your little one starts kick, kick, kicking away. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel Baby Mac kick for another few weeks, so if you don’t feel that “quickening” just yet, don’t worry. Those kicks will be coming soon enough! At just over 7 inches long, and weighing 5.2 ounces, your little kicking bundle of joy just keeps getting bigger and bigger. The ears that have been moving to the sides of Baby Mac’s head over the last few weeks are now developed enough that your little one can probably hear all the sounds that you do, which is yet another way that they are preparing for life after their big arrival. And even though your baby’s eyelids are still sealed, they have also matured and developed enough that can detect light through your belly.

How cute 🥰 I love me pregnant
These days are my favorite
If I can’t take shots I will make them! 😆
Greenleaf is getting too big!

Ricky acts like he doesn’t like babies. 😂

Happy 14 weeks

Posted on by
Reply

Great news everything pregnancy wise has been so great. I’m not having any bleeding and my energy is coming back so I don’t need naps every day! I did get sick with what I thought was Ricky’s cold and my Dr had me go to my primary just to get tested to make sure I didn’t have the flu or Covid. I was positive I just had a cold I felt fine other then my nose was so stuffy I couldn’t breathe or sleep. The Dr came back in to tell me I had Covid! I was seriously in shock I really didn’t feel that sick. So needless to say I had a week off work. I wasn’t happy about that and I know my clients weren’t either. Everyone was extremely kind and wished me well. Thankfully I was only pretty sick for 2 ish days. Nothing awful though. Just a hangover headache and super stuffy. Now that I’m on the mend let’s do the fun stuff! Cravings: still fruit and I did have two buffalo chicken salads this week! I surprisingly am not craving ice yet. 😂 We all know it’s coming though. Im nervous for that now that I have braces I’m sure my orthodontist would say to not chew ice all day but seriously what am I supposed to do! I have to have it. I haven’t gained any weight yet woohoo!!! I am having stretching ligament pains. They always hurt. My best way to explain it if you haven’t had them is someone stabs you with a knife and each time move or breathe it feels like they twist it. I know that seems extreme but that’s kind of what it’s like. 😂

I wanted to go back to the Covid story because the kids were so sweet about me being sick and wanting to make sure baby was safe and not sick with Covid. Everett is learning in science about all the good blood cells. How they chase down the bad germs and fight them off. Everett said if he could see in my belly he bets that all my good strong fighting cells just lined up around baby Mac to keep her the safest since she needs it most. I’m not really sure how it all works but I really like Everett’s pick! It sounds like a heroic story to save a princess. Maybe I’ll ask him to write me a book on it and see what he comes up with. ❤️

We are leaving in 2 ish weeks for the beach! I’m so excited to get away and hopefully sit in some sunshine and listen to the waves. We also get to visit Jen, KC and the BOYS!!! 🥰🥰 They are so big already. While we are there Karen wanted to do something for the kids and us for Christmas and so we decided/I tricked Ricky into driving to Disney for a much needed magical experience! It was that or the Tampa zoo. Disney was only 30 mins further so you can see the choice was easy! We are incredibly grateful for such a wonderful generous gift! We were going to skip disney this year and now we will keep our streak going 4 years in a row now. So I guess we can say Karen and Rodger officially win Christmas this year! 🎄 kailynn said I bet Karen and Rodger can’t wait to take their baby to Disney a lot too. ❤️ I’m so proud that my kids get to experience all of this they see how it works and how wonderful it can be!

Let’s see what sweet baby Girl Mac is up to now!

Baby Mac’s growing like wild — they’re between 3 and 3.5 inches long, the size of a beet! Your baby’s weight is only going to start increasing even more as they begin to add fat to their skinny little frame over the next few months. And the fur-like lanugo that’s covering most of their body will keep your little one warm until their baby fat comes in. 

Baby Mac is also moving like crazy in there, though you probably can’t feel it quite yet. By week 14, your little one can squint, frown, and even suck their thumb! And your baby’s liver, spleen, and kidneys continue to develop and function better every day. 

Another big development as you embark on the second trimester is Baby Mac’S immune system. The beginnings of your little one’s immune system started developing weeks ago with early immune system cells, but while Baby Mac is in your womb, they’re protected by the sterile womb environment — meaning that their immune system  won’t need to protect against pathogens just yet. And He is now producing white blood cells too, which will come in handy when your baby needs to fight infection on their own after birth, when your immune system will no longer be able to send strong, adult cells along. Your baby’s immune system will continue to develop for several months or years after birth, but they’re well on their way! Once they’re here make sure to follow guidance from their provider to stay on a recommended vaccine schedule. 

What’s new with you?

The second trimester is worth celebrating! Most folks report this trimester to be the most enjoyable of their pregnancy. There are, of course, some new symptoms that may be popping up, including headaches and dizziness. But sandwiched between the nausea of the first and adjusting to a very different, very pregnant body in the third, during the second trimester there’s a good chance you may feel more comfortable. Your breasts are going to continue to grow, but the soreness is likely to decrease, as will the fatigue. Doesn’t the second trimester sound a little more lovely?

Round ligament pain is common during the second trimester too, which occurs when your growing womb puts added pressure on the ligaments running from your lower abdomen to your groin. It sounds simple, but one of the best ways to deal with round ligament pain is to give yourself time to rest and to avoid sudden movement. In the longer term, performing pregnancy-safe exercises to strengthen your core can also help you avoid round ligament pain. If, however, you feel intense pain in your abdomen, or if your pain doesn’t go away after resting, you should call your healthcare provider. 

As you move full steam ahead into trimester two, it’s important that you continue to care for yourself in ways that allow you to feel your best and promote a healthy pregnancy. It can help to stay active with movement or exercise that you enjoy, eat nutritious foods that help you feel satiated and good, and get enough rest. And it’s important to start taking a prenatal vitamin high in folic acid if you haven’t yet started doing so.

The screams and girly squeals make my mom heart overwhelmed with joy 🥹 

(Huge thanks to karen and Rodger for helping make our trip even more exciting and fun!!! I can’t wait to show you a million pictures you probably don’t really want to see! 😂 )

I think if she has blue hair I should get some special hairstylist achievement award! Like an Emmy or something along those lines. 😂
I know we don’t want real mice in our homes but this little one is so wonderful she’s just tearing up stuff inside me and using it all for her bedding nest. It’s ok I want her to get extra cozy. I want her to pull all the extra fat from the walls and just use that stuff most. 😂

12 weeks!

Posted on by
2

Next week I will officially be in the second trimester and I’m sooooo happy and excited for it. This is when I love pregnancy most. No more shots or drugs. Baby girl is going to be moving around a lot and soon I’ll get to start feeling it! That’s my most favorite. I seriously can’t imagine a better feeling in the world. I hope I never ever forget the joy and happiness I feel when I get to play with all these babies I’ve had rolling around inside me.

I have had a crazy last week. We unfortunately had a big scare last Friday. I went the the bathroom and there was so much blood. As crazy as it sounds I was confused on where the blood was coming from. Ricky of course was great and jumped into action. He called my mom and my dad came straight over and got Everett and also got our pizzas we had just ordered. We got to hospital and of course they took forever. 3 hours later we finally got in a room and the drs came in. They did the ultrasound and he was super secretive with it and that made me more nervous. Thankfully though he finally said he could see her and she was moving a lot! So I asked to see and he showed me. The ultrasound looked awful lol it looked like it was from 1972 lol. The quality was just so bad. I didn’t think she had a head. He assured me it was there. 😆 So Saturday I stayed in bed all day and did nothing. Thankfully I had no more bleeding all weekend. Monday I went back to my OB and we did another check. Baby girl still looks great. Praise Jesus! I don’t think I’ve ever been so relieved and happy to she her sweet little hands moving all around. She was touching her face and just wiggling all over. It was so great.

I’m just so happy and relieved we have made it this far. I know it’s all going to just fly by from here now. I’m happy for Karen and Rodger of course but oh so sad for me. I wish human pregnancies could last longer. 😂 I know most people don’t feel the way I do about that. I’m just going to do my very best to soak it all in and enjoy each day with sweet baby Mac! I can only imagine how sweet and perfect she is going to be. ❤️❤️❤️

How’s Baby Mac?

Your sweet baby continues to grow rapidly, measuring just over two inches long, about the size of an apricot.

Right now, Baby Mac is starting to develop reflexes as their brain continues to grow and their body to curl their fingers and toes. Your baby’s nerve endings are developing right along with their reflexes, and at this point, if you poke your abdomen, Baby Mac will respond by wriggling (though you almost certainly won’t feel it). And your wee one’s neck, which they’ve only just started to form in the last few weeks or so, has already begun to straighten as they lift their chin off of their chest.

Baby Mac is also just starting to practice breathing by inhaling and exhaling the amniotic fluid that surrounds them, which is made up of mostly water, their skin cells, and their waste. This may seem a little icky, to be sure, but it’s also just one of the many incredible ways your little one is preparing for life on the outside.

Pretty soon, your little one’s intestines are going to  move into their abdomen. Baby Mac is beginning to form the waste that will become their first poop, a tarry substance known as meconium.

What’s new with you?

The good news? As you move toward the end of the first trimester, it’s likely that many of the more unfortunate symptoms you experienced in the first trimester may be behind you, like fatigue and nausea. You may, though, have a few new symptoms popping up. Symptoms like increased vaginal discharge, headaches, saliva, and flatulence along with a heightened sense of smell are all common symptoms right now.

Heartburn is another notable symptom that causes many pregnant folks a lot of discomfort. This is because the same hormones that relax your muscles to make it easier to give birth also relax the valve that keeps the stomach acid out of your esophagus. Your expanding uterus, which by now has grown to the size of a softball, doesn’t help either. As your uterus grows, it puts pressure on your stomach, which can push acid into the esophagus. Thankfully, there are a number of steps you can take to try and reduce your heartburn. You can eat nutritious food in smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, and take your time when eating. You can also avoid food and drink that increases heartburn for you (for many people this can include spicy foods, caffeine, greasy or fatty foods, acidic foods like citrus or tomatoes, and carbonated beverages), and avoid lying down right after eating or eating shortly before going to sleep. And while staying hydrated is important and you should be drinking water throughout the day, some people find it helps to drink water between meals but not during meals. It may take some trial and error to find what works for you, but hopefully some of these will help. And don’t feel that you have to go it alone — speak to your healthcare provider if your heartburn is persistent so they can help you find some relief.

I just love acting crazy. 😂

Happy 9 weeks and 3 days

Posted on by
7

How’s Baby Mac?

Happy 9 weeks. Things are going along pretty well. I’ve still been feeling pretty good. I have had a few days were I felt nauseous and just not good. But it hasn’t been to bad. My legs are also super crazy itchy from the meds I guess. So much so that I accidentally bruised myself pretty bad. I swear I didn’t think I was scratching that hard. Just 12 more days of meds. Not that I have a count down. 😂 I get asked alot how I’m feeling and I generally always say I feel good and fine. Because that’s generally true. We did have a scare last week though I had some slight spotting of brown blood. It’s never a good thing to see blood when you are pregnant. I tried to relax and not worry. I went to the dr and thankfully baby Mac was just fine in there. We didn’t get an explanation for what or why the bleeding happened. Thankfully since then I have had nothing though so that makes things much better!

I’ve had a couple people also ask about cravings. I guess I would say I am maybe craving soups? Lol I have been eating lots of soup the last week or two. I also always crave fruit in the beginning of my pregnancy’s. I’ve always loved fruit but, with each pregnancy I feel like I just want yummy ripe fruit all the time. Our next appointment is November 3rd. Karen is going to be in town for this one. I’m excited for her to be here. It feels like it’s been forever since I have seen her now. I’m thinking of all the fun St. Louis things to show her. Mostly food! 😆

Baby Mac is now almost an inch long (.9 inches), the size of a pecan, and though they’re not fully developed, all of their essential muscles and body parts are present. Your little one’s kidneys, liver, brain and lungs that are all starting to function on their own too, and they’re even starting to develop taste buds! Although Baby Mac’s eyes are forming more complex structures, their eyelids will shortly fuse shut for another four months or so. Your baby’s inner ear is also beginning to form the fluid that will allow them to develop a sense of balance. Baby Mac also has toes, bones in their arms, and joints that bend in their elbows.

Perhaps the most exciting part about week 9 is the increased likelihood that you may be able to hear Baby Mac’s heartbeat using a fetal doppler, a super special first for you and your little one. Baby Mac’s heart has been beating for a while now, but now it’s really starting to develop, forming distinct chambers and valves. They grow up so fast, don’t they?

My poor leg!

Happy 8 weeks today!

Posted on by
1

I have a drs appointment at 10:45 but figured I would update now. So far things have been going great. I feel totally normal as usual other then the pregnancy headaches I get from time to time. I haven’t had any this week though so that’s been really nice! On one hand I’m so surprised it’s been so hard and taken us this long to get here. This has definitely been my hardest ivf experience. So so many shots and the emotions can be overwhelming. On the other hand I’m like WOW 8 weeks! I seriously can’t believe I’m 2 months in. It almost makes me sad really. I just love pregnancy so much and everything goes so quickly. Im really trying to enjoy each and every step knowing this is my very last one. 😔 (I know I have said my last one like the last 3 😂) This is baby number 7 though so this should probably be it. Ricky is ready for me to be done. I on the other hand would honestly probably have babies for people until I was 50 if I could! I think there will always be apart of me that is sad knowing I will never be pregnant again. That these are the last baby movements I will get to feel. That this birth will be it. My last. Sad is the only word I have for that. It’s sad.

I also know how blessed I am though that my body has done all of these thing. That God has allowed me to have my two perfect babies and then go on to have 4 more with 5 cooking! 7 babies honestly doesn’t even seem real to me. I am so blessed to have had all these babies. I love my little part in their big lives. I’m so excited for this pregnancy to progress and for all the fun things I know are coming. Her little movements! That’s always my favorite. I want to slow down though and not rush this. I’m sure Karen and Rodger are the opposite they obviously want this time to go quickly so they can have her back. I guess I hope times goes slower for me and super fast for them. 😆 That seems fair!

Like I said I feel great. Some of my pants feel tight at the end of my day but that’s what stretchy leggings are for! I wouldn’t say I’m craving anything really yet. Oh I forgot to say I will get to stop my meds and shots on Oct 28th!!! I do want to rush that part by. Obviously the shots are zero fun and then I feel like I’m a regular pregnant person when I don’t have to stab and inject myself every single day. (Worth it though)

I still hope and pray that baby girl is growing and enjoying her cozy little belly home. It’s amazing to me every single time I read what the baby is doing and how they are growing. Each pregnancy this part excites me. I love seeing and reading all about it on my pregnancy apps. It’s so amazing how fast they grow and all the changes that happen in 9ish short months.

As always thanks everyone for the love and support.

At eight weeks pregnant, Baby Mac is dancing up a storm and won’t be an embryo for much longer!

How’s Baby Mac?

Baby Mac is in their last few days of being an embryo, which means that the brand new, teeny tiny internal organs and systems under their see-through skin are almost all formed, though they’ll continue to develop over the next several months. That tail is also celebrating its last hurrah, and pretty soon it will disappear completely. Baby Mac’s webbed fingers and toes are poking out from their little limbs, which are growing longer every day. And your little one’s facial features are becoming more prominent, as their lips, nose, and eyelids are looking increasingly human-like. Your strawberry-sized bundle of joy is also moving around like crazy, although you almost certainly cannot feel it. Baby Mac’s head, still tiny compared to yours but large in proportion to the rest of their body, now makes up half of their total body weight!

What’s new with you?

Your baby bulge might start protruding at this time, as your appetite increases to match Baby Mac’s. The placenta is also picking up its hormone production, giving yours a break. You’ll likely start to see fewer mood swings soon.

If you’re noticing new growth at your midsection, it may not be a baby bump just yet. At this point it’s probably just water retention. While you might not be showing yet, your uterus has already started growing, and that growth is only going to speed up in the coming weeks!

If you’ve had a good appetite so far in pregnancy, some of that growth at your midsection could also be whatever foods you’ve been noshing on. (If you haven’t experienced any morning sickness yet, there’s a good chance you’re not going to — lucky you!) And if you’ve been experiencing cravings, you’re not alone. Many pregnant folks experience cravings during pregnancy. Cravings are a lot like aversions in that we don’t know exactly what causes them, though it seems likely that it’s got something to do with all the hormones coursing through your body. One theory is that cravings point out nutrients you need more of in your life. Cravings probably also have as much to do with your need for stress relief or your heightened sense of smell as they do with anything else. Keep in mind that cravings are not your enemy — they’re a normal part of pregnancy. So whether you’re craving spicy sweet potatoes or caramel ice cream, an oat milk latte or pan-fried tilapia, if you want to follow through on those cravings, know that it’s okay to do so in moderation. (Though if you’re craving non-food items, like dirt or paint, be sure to speak to your healthcare provider, as you may be experiencing pica, a nutrient deficiency.) Remember that when it comes to your diet, it’s really all about balance.

But if eating is a struggle right now and you’re feeling rather nauseous — and for many folks morning sickness can be rather rough at this time — trying sucking on a ginger lollipop or switching to a chewable prenatal vitamin. You might also consider eating smaller meals while increasing the number of times you eat throughout the day. And if your morning sickness is really bad or you are concerned about dehydration, speak to your provider.

And if you don’t typically engage in physical activity or just haven’t been feeling up to it recently, you may want to see if you can engage in a half hour of light exercise or some gentle movement each day — doing some movement that you feel good about can help you feel much better on all fronts

This was me the other night. My belly was very big so I’m blaming this tiny strawberry girl. 😂

Ultrasound day!

Posted on by
4

Today was our first ultrasound. Baby girl was in there and her little heart was flickering on the screen. It was such a beautiful little thing to see. We have all worked so so hard to get here. I’m so happy that it seems like we have made it to the other side now. I hope she keeps growing big and strong. I’m just so happy and thankful. She had a heart rate of 110 bpm

✨TRANSFER THREE IS MEANT TO BE✨

Happy 6 weeks

Posted on by
Reply

Today I am 6 weeks according to my pregnancy app. I just did an ivf calculator online and it said our due date would be May 18th. That seems like a great due date to me! Tomorrow at 1:30 will be my first ultrasound where they are looking for baby girl and looking for a heartbeat. They said sometimes you can’t see the heartbeat but I’ve always been able to see one at our first appointment so I sure hope we can this time too. I’m excited and a tiny bit anxious just because I was so worried about our first number of 44. But she sure has made up for it in all the following beta numbers! She more then doubled every single one.

Im feeling totally fine other then my darn pregnancy headaches and being a little extra tired. Im thankful for it all though because we worked so so hard to get here. My butt is getting pretty lumpy and sore as well. You should see all my sharps boxes full of needles! There is so so many. I sure hope tomorrow I have a wonderful ultrasound and get to share the good news with you all. Thanks for all the continued prayers I appreciate each and every one!

What is baby Mac up to this week?

Pregnancy is in full bloom, and unfortunately some common symptoms might be starting to kick up now too.

How’s Baby Mac?

Baby Mac is now the size of a chocolate chip, measuring approximately 1/4-1/2 an inch long. This may not seem huge, but just think about how much your little one has grown in the past month, from a tiny collection of cells to the increasingly complex human being-to-be who is currently in the process of sprouting all of their facial features. Your baby’s cute little nose and curious eyes are just starting to form, although right now they merely look like little dark spots on an oversized head. Passages and arches that will grow and develop into parts of Baby Mac’s ears and jaw are forming, and their nose won’t be far behind.

Development of Baby Mac‘s lower body lags behind that of the upper, making them look a bit like a mermaid, and they may already be wiggling their flipper-like arms! Baby Mac is also starting to straighten out from their formerly curled position, and that tail is making its way to its final destination in their back.

These upcoming weeks are some of the most important for Baby Mac developmentally, so if you aren’t on a prenatal vitamin yet, it’s important to start taking one immediately. During this week, Baby Mac’s neural tube is beginning to close,  so it’s especially important to be getting folic acid — from prenatal vitamins, as well as from the rest of your diet — as it can help prevent neural tube defects.

What’s new with you?

A lot of changes are happening!

One big change you might already notice is feeling tired. But not just normal tired. Even though your body hasn’t grown in size much yet, it’s doing a lot of work that can leave you fatigued. Your body is producing significantly more blood than it’s used to in order to get nutrients to Baby Mac, which is an energy expense that may leave you with lower blood pressure and lower blood sugar. The added progesterone coursing around your body could also be tiring you out. If you feel like you can manage, going for a walk, doing some gentle yoga, or engaging in another physical activity that you enjoy might help a bit: the endorphins you release may make you feel less sluggish. And you should listen to what your body needs and rest, nap, or tuck in for bed early as needed.

Your breasts are also likely to be sore at this time, and your nipples may stick out more than normal. This tenderness will probably last through your first trimester, as your breasts continue to grow. This change is completely normal, and is simply a product of increased blood flow to your chest as your body primes itself for breastfeeding.

And if you’re feeling sick to your stomach right now, you aren’t alone — over 70% of pregnant folks experience nausea in the first trimester. During the sixth week of pregnancy over 80% of pregnant folks experience nausea, which often starts in the morning (hence the term “morning sickness”) before dissipating in the early afternoon. However, this term can sometimes be misleading, because nausea during the first trimester is not exclusive to mornings, and that awful feeling could hit you at any point during the day or night. A few things that may help?

Try eating several small snacks throughout the day, avoiding triggering smells, taking your prenatal vitamins with a meal, having food or drinks with ginger, keeping hydrated, and getting plenty of rest. And if you can’t seem to find much relief, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider. And for serious morning sickness or concern for dehydration, you should definitely speak with your healthcare provider.

Beta number 3!

Posted on by
3

You guys I seriously can’t even believe I get a beta number 3. I had counted us out after beta one and expected bad news for beta 2. What a huge huge surprise we had on Monday. Todays beta test needed to be 543. I went in this morning first thing and did it. Then I went to get a facial to try to relax and calm myself. It worked. I love being pampered. I mean who doesn’t right. 😂

Well the numbers are back and they are 1373!!!! Wow wow wow I’m so excited and shocked yet again. Doubling times should be every 48 to 72 hours they say and ours is 27 hours. Woohooo to say we are excited would be an understatement. I’m still so thankful to God for allowing this to work this time. I know things could still go wrong but I’m learning to be thankful for the here and now. What we have today is incredible and I am so over the moon happy. This little girl is so loved and I’m so lucky to get to help in her life story. How lucky am I! I’m waiting on the call from the clinic still but we will be doing our first ultrasound next week for the heartbeat confirmation. By my calculations on the internet ivf calculator we are 5 weeks today and my due date will be May 18th!!! Sounds like a perfect birthday month. Please keep praying for baby Girl. I started calling her baby Mac because I heard Rodger say it and I thought it was so sweet and adorable. So grow baby Mac grow.

✨Transfer three is meant to be✨

Here is what baby Mac is up to at 5 weeks

Your baby’s developing neural tube, which will become the brain and spinal cord, has recently grown a little tail — so your baby looks like a tiny little tadpole — but this will disappear back into the spinal cord soon. They also have a number of other amazing organs and bodily systems that are continuing to develop, like their digestive system, stomach, liver, nervous system, and, yes, brain.
But Baby Mac isn’t just a brainiac, they’re also full of heart. Baby Mac’s circulatory system is under construction and their heart is already starting to form its different chambers. In fact, a heartbeat may even show up on an ultrasound by the end of the week!
What’s new with you?
Now’s about the time when you’ll be missing your first period. And with pregnancy well under way, some common symptoms of early pregnancy may be starting to pop up. You might be experiencing a few physical effects from the increased production of hormones in your body, including sore breasts and a frequent urge to pee, all of which is totally normal.
Morning sickness, or nausea, is also very common for many folks, especially in the first trimester. The good news is that this usually decreases by the end of the first trimester. But if you’re feeling sick to your stomach at present, there are a few things that may help you get some relief well before then, including eating a several smaller snacks throughout the day, avoiding triggering smells, taking your prenatal vitamins with a meal, having food or drinks with ginger, keeping hydrated, and getting plenty of rest. And if you can’t seem to find much relief, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider.
This can also be a good time to start thinking about the habits that will allow you to feel your best and promote a healthy pregnancy. Among other things, it can help to stay active with movement or exercise that you enjoy, eat nutritious foods that help you feel satiated and good, get enough rest, and start taking a prenatal vitamin high in folic acid if you haven’t yet started doing so. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about any of these things. The groundwork that you lay now can go a long way toward helping you get the self-care you need throughout pregnancy and even postpartum — you deserve it.

Beta number 2

Posted on by
5

Well it’s technically still Sunday night but I can’t sleep. I’m so nervous for tomorrow. This weekend went faster then I thought it would have but it was still not fun. I’m just grumpy that our number was 44. I just felt like it was going to be better then that. I also just know too much. I know lower numbers statistically don’t have good results. I know there are exceptions and you all have no idea how much I want us to be an exemption. I want this to be an inspiring story we can tell others that sometimes low numbers are fine and that you don’t have to necessarily worry. I just also want to be cautious and protect my heart. I feel like emotionally I’ve just been beat up if that makes sense? The highs are so exciting and high but man the lows are just so so low. I’m surprised I haven’t even cried since the nurse called me. I’m not sure why. I’m definitely sad but I also feel like I’m so sick of crying about something we have zero control over. I hate that we just have to put all our trust and faith into everyone and everything else. Karen and Rodger are so deserving and it’s so hard to not seem to have an answer on why this hasn’t worked so far. We have done everything right. All the tests, meds, acupuncture and superstitions too! I just want tomorrow to be such a shock and surprise for us all. I want to be able to cry tears of joy. I want Karen and Rodger to be able to be happy and excited for great doubling numbers.

All I can do is pray and hope for great news tomorrow. I’ll post the beta numbers once I can. I will be at work too so that’s going to hopefully help my day go faster and hopefully keep my mind busy regardless of the news.

Beta came in early today. I’m glad because I’m so swamped today at work. Ricky opened it because honestly I was just so scared. You guys the number was HUGE! it went from 44 to 217! I called Karen immediately from the floor and I just ugly cried. I’m still waiting for the drs office to call us but this is very good reassuring news! Thank you to everyone who called, texted, prayed, sent good vibes and wishes I appreciate each and every one of you!!! Today is a good good day. I can’t even believe it.

✨TRANSFER THREE IS MEANT TO BE✨

✨TRANSFER THREE IS MEANT TO BE✨

✨TRANSFER THREE IS MEANT TO BE✨

Beta day!

Posted on by
Reply

So it’s been a long hard 10 days since transferring. Remember this time Karen and I decided we wouldn’t test together before I left. As cool as it would be to have a positive test together it just wasn’t working in our favor the last two times and I couldn’t stomach the disappointment again. Once I got home I knew it was going to be hard to not test but I really didn’t want to fall into the pee stick trap where I was peeing 3 times a day and over analyzing each and every line or lack there of.

I had asked Karen when she thought we should test or if she didn’t want to know at all until beta day. She thought Tuesday seemed good because it was 7 days after transferring. I didn’t hold out as long as I wanted because I kept having weird feelings. The random nausea and occasionally I got dizzy. Of course this all could be because of the drugs but I was on the same drugs and same doses each time and I wasn’t nauseous the last two times. So weird. Ricky was a firm no on me testing. The poor guy has to watch me emotionally beat myself up each time it doesn’t work. So he wanted me to just wait for beta day.

I had to get the kids birthday cards so when I was in Walgreens I just happened to walk by the pregnancy tests. 😆 Actually I hunted them down. I was very proud of myself though because I only bought enough for one single test a day! Once I got home I snuck into the bathroom and hid them. Well guess what I found when hiding them. A cheap Walmart test and a cheap strip test. I didn’t think I had any. So I caved and figured what’s that harm In getting rid of these. So I did them. The Walmart test was stark white. 😔 But I swore I could see a tiny something on the strip test. I couldn’t believe it but I just kept it hidden so Ricky wouldn’t see.

This was the strip test.

I was excited but still scared. I showed a handful of people and I was convinced to do a first response that evening to see if anything would pop up.

Here it was! So light but there.

So the next morning would start my once a day tests. I got up to pee and was a bit disappointed when the line was basically the same as the night before. I had to remind myself though that it was less then 12 hours difference and my HGC levels just wouldn’t jump that much over night!

Here is the first and second together.

Now I prayed so so hard the next morning that my test would be noticeably brighter. I needed to feel peace. I was so excited but worried what if it was another chemical/miscarriage. We felt so gutted after that I didn’t want to feel that way again. So I peed and I prayed and prayed for the whole 10 mins before I went to the bathroom to check the test. When I got in there I could see right away it was noticeably brighter!!!! I seriously burst into tears happy thankful tears. I just kept thanking God for this gift of a good bright test. I didn’t have to guess about it getting brighter it was clear to see. I cried in my bathroom floor for probably 10 mins. I was just so happy.

Just look how much brighter this was!

So that brings us to Tuesday. The day Karen wanted to test and know. I asked her Monday night what time she wanted me to call her and she said they had changed their minds and she just wasn’t ready. I totally understood. It’s such an emotional roller coaster. So I kept peeing just once a day and watched the lines. I was so excited that they were still there and much brighter then we had last time but I was still worried knowing really anything can happen and sadly there is nothing we can do to change that. On Thursday Karen texted and said she was finally ready to know. So I sent her all the pictures I had. That brings us up to date until now really. While we are so excited we are equally nervous because we know nothing is a guarantee.

From 4 all the way to 9dpt that was yesterday

I went for my blood work and now I’ll wait all the hours to see what it is. I’m 10 days past transfer and I’m hoping for a number of 100 or more. I think that would help me feel safer. I know some people can have lower numbers and everything still be fine. So I’m trying to not get to caught up in it all. Really the next number doubling is what actually matters! So I’m sure they will have me do another blood draw on Monday and we will wait, pray and hope for a great double time for the numbers.

Beta number is in.

44 is the number. It’s pretty low and not a great start. They said they would be cautiously optimistic. 😔 This is not the number I was hoping for. They did say they have seen numbers like this and they turned out to be successful pregnancy’s so I will wait for Monday to get here and test again. Let’s hope it goes up by then. Pray pray pray.