It's been a while...26 wks and counting

I can't believe how fast time flies. I'm still pregnant and today I'm 26 weeks.
WOW!!!!! So far things are going okay. I've been told by Dr. L that my pregnancy so far has progressed really well. Next week I go in for my glucose screening and I'm hoping that everything will be okay. I have not had a lot of weird cravings. I think the weirdest thing I've eaten was spaghetti w/kosher pickles (which is delicious) and I'm eating a lot more cereal..in fact i have to mix my raisin bran/w rice crispies and Cheerios...it tastes great that way. As far as the weight gain..Ive gained 11 pounds far. At first you could tell i was pregnant but w/in the last weeks i think I'm starting to round out some. I hope to take some pics of belly in the next couple of day. Norm wants me to this so that we can have those pregnancy mementos. Physically the hardest thing is sleeping at night and getting out of bed in the morning. But once I'm up I'm ready to go.. :-)

Quick recap of some important events that have happened up to this point.
I told my parents we were pregnant in Oct. They were shocked and not happy. My mom especially. She told me she couldn't understand why I would make such a "selfish" decision. My mom and dad do not accept that I'm gay. My mom cites her nonacceptance of Norm and I's relationship on her religious (Catholic) beliefs that loving another person of the same sex is a "sin". So my parent's reaction was not a surprise..it of course still hurt. Gradually they are dealing with the fact that I'm pregnant and will be a mom. In early Nov things really blew up and I had the worst argument I've ever had w/my mom. It was first time I've ever told my mom that I am just as ashamed of her and her actions. I even told her that if she was not my mom, i would have nothing to do w/her also. I think it hurt her to have her hear those words from me. I always been the one my parents turn to when they need any kind of help w/family problems w/my brother and his kids. (that's a really long story..and someday i hope to be able to put those experiences in this blog). Any how we didn't speak for a few weeks and I almost didn't visit them for Thanksgiving..but I did visit them b/c my nephews \let me know they really wanted me there. In December a incident occurred between my parents and my brother. And my parents reached out to me in that moment. During that tough time my mom was calling me two to three times a day...and in a conversation I had w/her, my mom let me know that she was sorry for accusing me of being selfish. And told me that she knew in her heart that I and NORMA will make wonderful parents of our baby. I feel like this is a first step in moving forward. I pray everyday that in time, my parents will begin to accept Norm and I. I am however at peace w/myself. I am thrilled and grateful that God has given Norm and I this chance to be mommies. And we are planning on giving our baby all the love and support that he could ever need.

okay now lets talk about some positive news....
Well we've found out that it's a "boy"!!!! At first I was shocked/nervous and Norm's reaction was over the moon... Now I'm just as excited as she. When I first found out I was pregnant I imagined myself having a girl (doing her hair, dressing her in dresses) I even had dreams that I had a girl. Two of my closest friends told me they felt it was a girl. So was caught off guard when we were told it was a boy. We have decided on his first name "Roman"..and are still working on a middle name. I wanted to give him a name that represented Norms involvement. She didn't like Norman so we thought of scrambling the letter in her name and came up w/roman. She love it!!! I also considered Ian...which is the first initial of our name w/the a for "and"..Irene and Norma's baby..(Ian). I'd like for a middle name but we still have not decided.

All the test we've had so far indicate that Roman is healthy and growing right on schedule. We did, however, opt out of the amniocentesis...i was worried about miscarriage risks and we both decided that even if we are told that Roman is a Downs baby...we are still keeping him and loving him all the way.

We told other family members and they are all very excited and looking forward to meeting Roman...I wasn't expecting a baby shower...but i looks like I'll be having two..one at my office and another w/my friends and family.

Today we painted Romans room (w/Eco safe paint) and purchased his crib and changing table from babies r us...things are gradually coming to order.

Well I'll close for now...b/c Norms calling that she's hungry..

Above is pic of the baby bedding we chose for Roman's room. :-)

9 wks

We are doing well. I had my first prenatal appt on 09-18-08. The litte one was measuring (is that right word) at about 7 wks 5 days. Dr L said that was very good and we got to hear the heart beat which was 158 beats per minute. Dr. L said that was excellent. I'm still having weekly acupuncture appts that I think has been helping me so much. I have had hard any morning sickness, and my fall allergies have been much much more bearable....I do feel bad for Norm. She has been getting pretty queasy on and off throughout the day. I've heard that the partners of a pregnant women can get PG symptoms but I never really believed that...I'm a believer now.
So far I've had sore boobs, lots of gas, and lots of feeling of bloated/fullness in my lower abdomen. And my clothes are starting to fit a little more snug.

Norm and I may have to pick a new OB dr. Dr. L is moving from the N. Austin office to the S. Austin office effective 11-01-08. She has told me that she'd love to keep seeing me. Norm and I love her so much. She's been such a huge part of me getting where I am today. My only concern is we leave in Hutto which is about 15 miles outside of N Austin. If I keep seeing Dr. Lockey it would take my about 50 minutes (w/out traffic) to get the S. Austin hospital she delivers at. I'm not sure if that's too far. Dr. L recommended a colleague of her's that I should see if i choose to keep in OB in the North side of town. She said he's very gay friendly, really down to earth, and well qualified (in fact he is the chief OB at the hospital he delivers at). Norm and I have three weeks to let her know...wish me luck...I'm trying not to stress about this but its really hard.

My next appt is 10-16-08. I am sending positive thoughts to everyone out there who is thinking of/ in the process of TTC's. Miracles do happen and will happen to you!

Blood work#2

I went to blood drawn Thursday, 08-28-08. C (Dr. L's nurse) called me Friday w/results. My HCG is 576 so has a little more than doubled since Monday. Dr. L wants me to continue the progesterone. I was scheduled for my first OB appt on 09-18-08. I'm excited and nervous.

I haven't had any spotting, but I have had slight cramps on and off. Tuesday was really worried b/c I a pain on my lower left side (front & back). I kept thinking ectopic. N..keeps telling me to stop thinking negative but I can't help it. I know that my age and weight can affect my chances of having a healthy baby. My left side was sore for three day. I emailed Dr. L...who called me and said that it's normal to have cramping and aches b/c of the changes my body is going though. She std that when I have my first ultrasound they will check for cysts on my ovaries b/c it can happen b/c of the clomid. Friday I'd didnt feel anything. Today, I awoke feeling very bloated and slight aches that come and go back on both sides. As I sit here typing I feel a slight soreness on the lower left of my back. Maybe it's in my head..but I hope it is nothing serious. Maybe these are signs of just being preggo.

Well Norm went to the work at the UT football game. She wanted me to go w/her but I told her I wanted to stay home to clearn house and watch a movie I rented. So I'm alone this afternoon. I feels nice.

Blood work#1

Went in Monday late afternoon to have my first blood work drawn. I left the office at 4:00 thinking I had til 5:00 to get there..(plenty of time I thought)..WRONG..Monday was first day back to school. Lovely summer traffic gone..cars were bumper to bumper. I called the Dr's office to find out what time lab closed..."4:30" I heard. Talk about freaking out, I knew there was no way I would get there in time. I called Norm's cell and told her I was stuck in traffic. Norm asked,"How far away are you". I replied, "About 30 mint." I suggested we meet at the PHO restaurant to have an early dinner and then call it a day. Norm yelled, "No way get you *ss here now." So, I put the pedal to the metal and zig zagged my way through traffic. I drove into the driveway of my DR's office at 4:27 pm. Norm was waiting at the front entrance for me. I stopped the car, jumped out, left the car running and ran inside. She had agreed to park the car. My doc's office is on the fourth floor. Luckily when hit the up button on the elevator doors opened immediately. I got off the elevator and ran to the docs office. The office clock said 4:27 (luck was definitely on my side). The front desk clerk was on the phone and she saw me gasping for air, pointing to the clock, mouthing the words "LAB". She didn't acknowledge me at first, but I kept pointing to the clock. Thank God she put the caller on hold, and asked "name...date of birth..who do you see...OK YOU'RE IN." I ran through the office doors to the lab.

My hands were shaking when I filled out the Lab sign-in sheet. The Lab tech saw me flushed and said "Don't worry, we're gonna see you". I let out a sigh of relief, got my blood drawn, and was out of there by 4:45 pm.

Dr. L called my this afternoon for the result:

<My progesterone is 27 (she said the was almost excellent) she wants me to still continue taking the supplement until at least I get the 2nd blood work results.
My HCG was 227 (since I have no test to compare..not sure if that's good yet).

I'm going back on Thursday for more blood work. I should know by Friday. Keeping positive that things will be fine.

IUI results

I POAS on my equate stick this am and saw a VERY faint line. So Norm and I went to the store and purchased the Clearblue Easy Digital test. I came home went straight to the bathroom. I read the instuction real quick and grabbed my cup. I counted 20 seconds on my watch set the stick down and began finishing up when I looked done and saw the result "Pregnant"...it didn't even take the full 3 minutes..I started YELLING for N to come to the room. When she came in I told her, "LOOK...I just barely laid the stick down...LOOK what is says!!" She looked and her eyes got so big...she then went to tell our kitty kids that the result said pregnant.

I'm a little in shock...my mind is racing a mile a minute...is this for reall..but I didn't have implantation spotting..is this a bad sign? I'm going to email Dr L and call her office tomorrow to get appt for bloodwork..I'm keeping positive that everything will be fine.

Thank you so much for the well wishes and postive thoughts...it means so much! :-)!

two days till poas

Two more days till we test....not sure what to expect.

The first week went by really quick. We have been really busy at work. I had the chance to work some OT. Working 10.5 hr a day was hard. I'd be soo tired when I'd get home. I have about a 1 hr commute to and from work everyday, but since I was going in earlier and staying later I saved about 30 min a day..that was nice. We will also enjoy the small bonus check next month. I think most of my symptoms were side effects of the progesterone (tired, bloated, gassy) i also felt twinges on both sides.

Beginning Sunday night I began to feel like I'm going to or have started my period. I've been cramping all week. I've checked so many times and nothing. (this is a symptom I've never had before) Starting Monday, I began waking up at 2:00 am and am unable to go back to sleep until 3:30 or 4:00 am. (New symptom) My breasts have been tender from the inside but not the outside (make sense). However today my breasts are really sensitive to the touch I don't even want to take my bra off. ...Could this mean something?

You know it may mean nothing...my boobies have always been sensitive so maybe the meds are just making them super sensitive.

My BBT's have been in the low/mid 98.00's. This am my temp jumped .1 degrees to 98.5.

I'm already making plans for our course of action next month...this may be jinxing but I want to let myself believe that my time is NOT running out....that the money isn't running out. The financial cost of this experience has been a topic of discussion (arguments) more times that I'd like to admit. Norm is the person who mainly manages our finances. She is so worried and doesn't want us going into serious debt. We haven't maxed out credit cards but I'm halfway there with at least one...I think the biggest thing that has been hard is getting used not having all the extra spending money we used to have...Before TTC, we'd go out to happy hour, stop by Target, or go away for the weekend whenever we wanted. On many occasions we would pick up the bill for dinner w/our best friend couple R and F. And during the holidays we'd always buy three to four gifts each for our nieces and nephews....not any more.

Norm loves taking weekend trips (even if its just the Nuevo Laredo or maybe New Orleans). We used to take long weekend trips to Nuevo Laredo and stay at a small hotel in the Mexico side. We'd get up early in morning have breakfast of huevos rancheros and head to the mercado to shop till we dropped. Then in the early afternoon and we'd walk to "our" cantina "LA MINA" (yum the cold TECATE's w/Lime were perfect) Norm would head to a few street vendors to buy tacos de al pastor or hotdogs w/jalepenos and tomate. We'd relax at La Mina drinking and listening to Paulina Rubio, Thalia, and the Vega boys on the juke box, talking to fellow tourists or locals long after the sun went down. It was so much fun. I know she misses our trips.

Now all our "extra" income is going to the baby initiative. Having a child is my dream. Norm loves me and supports me but she really is doing all this for me. She has said that she thinks she's too old to have a child, but if this is my dream, she's going to be right behind me, doing what ever she can. I love her so much but it breaks my heart to know she's misses our "old" life...

Tonight we met in town for "happy hour" (which for me means 1/2 price appetizer's not margaritas $2.00). At dinner she looked into my eyes and said, "I want a baby. I want us to have our baby and I can't wait for it to happen. We are going to keep trying until it happens."....I pray that it really does.

And TWW #3 begins

Woke up early this morning traveled into town to get 2nd insem this cycle.
I felt NO discomfort today. Yipee!! Our donor's count was 45 million w/50% motility..is that good?

Afterward we picked up my prescription for progesterone and came home. N's family came over for breakfast. We cooked Barbacoa last night in the slow cooker. We had tacos (corn tortillas) w/fresh guacamole and pico de gallo. And fresh fruit (watermelon and pineapple). Yum! I've read some blogs that mention eating fresh pineapple after insemination. Even though I'm not sure exactly how this helps I'm giving it a try. Only thing..I don't like how my lips and gum sting afterward. (ouch!). Company was great and everyone left about 1:30 p.m.
We haven't told anyone that we tried AGAIN this month...I just don't want to have to explain anything to anyone if it doesn't work...again.

After everybody left, N and I began to read the paper and watched some the the Olympics until we both fell asleep on the couch.

Watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics was so stunning and breathtaking...N and I were like kids at the circus...we kept oohing and ahhing at the amazing choreography and the lighting effects (too cool!). The different sequences one after the other were so incredible and just as I'd say out loud "This is my favorite performance." The next would begin and it'd be even better..If I had to choose the 2008 drummers sequence were my favorite...but the acrobats walking on the sphere were out of this world :-)! NBC too many commercials .....N and I were tearing up when Yao Ming walked w/the nine year old little boy who survived his school collapse in the earthquake. When I saw the boy I thought he can't be nine years old, look how tiny he is....then I thought...Oh wait he's walking next to Yao Ming...okay a full grown man would like nine year old next to Yao.....he is so TALL!!!

When I talked to D at acupuncture yesterday I mentioned how I cried when I heard the story of the nine year old boy saving himself and his two of his classmates and doing it because he was a hall monitor....D just said, "Well you know it was probably a lie." Chinese communist propaganda. Okay D, I accept your viewpoint but I believe and call me nieve...whatever..but i believe it was the truth....I do believe miracles can happen and with enough determination that sweet child was able to help himself and others. God bless that babe.

Well, here we are Sunday afternoon...tired and not looking forward to the work week. Norm just yelled,"Want some burnt popcorn w/kosher pickles!" I love that woman......