We Kicked Infertility's Butt!

I have FINALLY made it to the 2nd Trimester! So far so good. My morning sickness has almost gone away, but rears it's ugly head every now and then, to keep me on my toes I guess. I've had bad allergies lately, so it's a little worse than usual because of the drainage in the back of my throat. I know, GROSS! My gag reflex is SUPER sensitive since I got pregnant, so I can't just hack up what's sitting on the back of my throat because it makes me vomit, EVERY time. I'm just going to have to ask my doctor for a Rx of zyrtec. It's safe for pregnancy, but they prefer you don't take it until after your 12th week. I'm am 13 weeks and 3 days today!! WOOHOO!! It feels great. I know the websites and apps say that I would be able to feel the baby at around 16 weeks, but I SWEAR I could feel it the other night. I mean, it's the lightest little feeling, and it wasn't gas bubbles. I'm sure of it. If you've ever held a butterfly and felt it's wings flap against your skin, it's like that, but from the inside.

12w 3d. Since I missed posting that week.

My cravings have changed, slightly. I still really like deviled eggs and corn muffins, but lately, I have been craving pizza like nobody's business!! I just can't get enough of it. Not a healthy craving, but I've trying to gain weight still, and I eat a lot of salads and fruit too. So, I'm not eating bad food all the time. Just every now and then. I still haven't gained any weight even though my belly is getting bigger and bigger. It seems like this baby is soaking up ALL my nutrients before my body can even get any. My husband thinks that's the reason I've been SO sleepy and sick lately. I'm not sick sick, but just icky feeling. He believes that the baby is getting good nourishment and is healthy, but I'm malnourished and suffering a little. I can't help but agree with him on that one.

How I feel every time I weight myself. I never though

I'd actually WANT to gain so bad.

I haven't taken a picture of my belly yet today, so I'll have to put it in my next post. It's slightly bigger than in my 12 week photo. People are actually noticing and not assuming I'm just getting pudgy. Which is funny, because the ONLY things getting bigger are my boobs and my belly. My pants are REALLY loose and wrinkle around my legs, I still can't button them though. I'll have to post picture of that too so y'all can see how much weight I've lost. These jeans use to be pretty tight. I'm just hoping that my weight problem will NOT affect my baby. It hasn't so far, and I hope it stays that way. My next post will be about the foods, medications, and activities that we can and can NOT partake in while pregnant. My doctors gave me a little purple book that explains it all, and I'm actually surprised with some of the stuff I can eat and what not. Until next time, ladies and gents!

"Healthy diet means healthy baby."

Yeah, easier said than done! lol

Stay safe, stay healthy, and God Bless,
Ashley

First off, let me apologize for starting this blog later than I promised. I've been SO sick, but now I'm starting to feel better and have more energy to post again. I can not be more excited about this pregnancy. Right when I started to give up hope, God had another surprise around the corner. If y'all have followed my other blogs, then you know a little about my history with infertility and what my husband and I went through to get to this point. For those new to my blogs, here's the short and sweet version.

This is the MRI of the cyst on my right ovary.

It's the big, white, egg shaped oval on the left.

It was pretty big and uncomfortable. Looks demonic. lol.

The "horns" are my pelvic bones. lol.

No, I never had to do IVF or give myself shots every morning. I thank God for that, and I'm so sorry for those who have to and I pray for all of you. I did, however, have surgery to remove a monster cyst on my right ovary and some endometrium. I was diagnosed with endometriosis late last year, but they said I probably had it for quite some time. It explains a LOT of things I experienced growing up. SEVERE cramping and bleeding, and after marriage, my inability to get pregnant. After the surgery they put me on a shot treatment that put me through chemical menopause to kill off the rest of the endometriosis they couldn't get to. I was estimated to be able to try again and succeed pregnancy a YEAR AFTER my last shot which was March 5, 2012. I didn't start my new cycle until May 21st. A month before my mom bought me an ovulation monitor to help our chances. Once I started I tried the monitor to just test it out. Of course I was hoping for success, but I didn't expect to ovulate, especially succeed the first try. God is FULL of surprises, and let me tell you, we were SO surprised! This wasn't suppose to be possible, but it happened. A true miracle. Don't give up, ladies, because your miracle could be just around the corner!

I'm 11 weeks and 6 days today. I DO have a small baby bump, which is SO weird to me because I've never had a belly in my life! We had an ultrasound yesterday and the baby looked GREAT. We recorded it too, so I'll post the video of it.

Can you believe it?!?! How amazing! Our little peanut!

We wont know the gender until I'm 20 weeks, or something like that, but we already have names picked out for both genders, already have the nursery furniture set up, and have a theme and wall color picked out. LOL! I know it's still early, but we've wanted this for SO long that we just couldn't wait to start decorating and everything. The names we have picked out is Tristan James for a boy, and Makayla Carolee for a girl.

My symptoms have subsided a bit this week, which is GREAT because now I can eat! I had such bad morning sickness that I couldn't even keep down water, so I had to go in and get IV fluids. They gave me some Zofran, which is for nausea, and it's done WONDERS! I'm still losing weight which worries the doctors a little because now I've lost 13 pounds since I got pregnant. I'm on a no exercise and high calorie diet. I'm trying. I can eat popsicles, Jiffy Corn Muffins, and Deviled Eggs all day long. Anything else I have to lay down and fight the urge to throw it back up. I'm almost done with the first trimester, and everyone has promised that the second trimester will be the best and I'll feel great. I surely hope so. I already feel a little better this week than I have been. Hopefully that's a sign of relief in the next couple weeks. I still have really sore boobs, but they are huge and AWESOME!! LOL! I also have constipation, but it's not bad. I take a lot of potty breaks, I'm gasey, and I have a backache all the time because I had to change my sleeping position already. I sleep with 4 pillows now. One in front, one in back, one between my legs and one for my head. My sleeping nest. I WAS a stomach sleeper, but it's too uncomfortable now. PLUS, I have awful dreams, so I wake up a LOT at night, and not just for the potty breaks. We'll see if any of this improves, and I'll be sure to let y'all know. I have to go so I can try and feed this baby, but I'll put the progression photos, below, of my belly starting from week 4. Stay safe and stay healthy, ladies!