First Ultrasound

I wanted to write a little update to let you all know what happened last night!

I was back in the ER, feeling much better for the most part, but I needed more Zofran and I hadn't been able to get a hold of anyone in the OB clinic. So, I'm sitting in the exam room and the finally doctor comes in. The conversation is as follows:

"So, you're pregnant?"

"yes"

"have you had any work done at the hospital that might show that?"

"yes. I was in here last week and they gave me a blood test"

"hmm... I don't see any labs in your file. Have you had an ultrasound?"

"No I haven't but I would really like one"

"okay. I'll go get a machine and also see if i can find those labs"

....Yay! I'm getting an ultrasound! I text Danny, who was up at work on the 5th floor, tell him they're getting the ultrasound machine and ask if he can come down. He told me later that he just slipped out the back door without telling the nurses he was leaving.

Well the doctor comes back in the room and tells me he found my labs.

"are you having twins?" he asks me.

"no... not that I know of..."

"well I ask because your Hcg levels are very high, and that can indicate twins. It's probably also why you've been so sick. The ultrasound should tell us more".

So he rubs some goo below my belly button and turns on the machine. Just then there's a knock at the door and the doc and the 2 nurses in the room all tell the knocker to hold on a minute.

"it might be my husband" I offer.

"oh, the husband" the doc says, and they let Danny in the room. After a short search they find a tiny blinking white spot on the screen, which they promise is a healthy heartbeat. I'm at a bad angle to see the screen and I keep saying "Danny, do you see it?.... Do you see it?... Danny?" but he never answers me, so I figure he must not be able to see it. When I turn my head to look at him I can tell he sees it though. He's just standing there with his arms crossed and his mouth open.

I did end up being able to see it myself, and there was only one baby, but one is enough for now.

***
I also finally got a call back from a nurse in the clinic and they set me up with a real appointment; Wednesday morning, October 12th. So excited!

Grandma's Words of Wisdom

My grandma once told me; "Rachel, you can't get through life without peeing in a cup", and though this is not my first time doing so, I can't help but laugh about her fortune cookie worthy prophecy while I'm making my way down the hallway of the Emergency Room, towards the bathroom.

Monday Night, September 19th. Danny is at work, I'm laying on the floor outside of the bathroom, trying not to barf. It's been days since I've been able to eat or drink much of anything. Yesterday I was able to keep down a cup of split pea soup; today, no such luck. When Danny calls he can tell how miserable I feel.

"Go to the ER" he tells me, "They can at least give you fluids so you're not dehydrated. Plus, I can come down and visit you".

I arrive at the ER at 11:00pm, and Danny comes down to meet me shortly thereafter. They hook me up to an IV, take some blood, and ask me to pee in a cup so they can run some tests, but I can't yet. They also give me some Zofran, which works wonders on my nausea. After my first bag of fluid I am finally able to pee. When Danny heads back up to work and they hook up my second IV bag I am finally able to drift into a light sleep despite the fact that I am starving.

They let me out into Danny's care around 5am, and we walk over to the Pharmacy to pick up my Zofran prescription. While we wait I spot a vending machine, out of which Danny gets me a Nantucket Nectar and a rice crispy treat, and I might go as far as to say it was the best breakfast I've ever had.

Since then I have been able to eat and drink every day, and with the help of the Zofran I am feeling much better, I still have some nausea, but no vomiting. I also got my Hcg blood test levels back, which came it at a reassuring 150,885 (Yay!).

**
FYI: We have decided to call the little one Politoed (Danny's favorite option). Tomorrow I will be able to schedule my first OB appointment for sometime after October 9th (week 10), soon enough we will see the little Politoed for the first time...

It's time to vote!

First things first: It may interest (some of) you to know that right around noon today I threw up. Yay! I know I probably won't stay excited about this for long, but I take it as a good sign. Danny came in and tried to comfort me, I stood at the sink and splashed cool water on my face, and when I looked up at him we were both smiling. Week 6; Day 2... right on track.

So, this means it's high time we decide on a name for the little bun whilst (s)he is in the oven. What am I supposed to call this thing that is causing me so much (long awaited) trouble? After much consideration, and only one outside suggestion (thanks TeeTee), Danny and I have narrowed down the field of more than 600 possibilities to the following six. Study up, and then cast your vote here on this blog by clicking on a choice to the Left. The Poll closes Wednesday at Midnight, so hurry up.
<-----

Horsea

Horsea is a Dragon type Pokemon. It is cute because it has an attack called Bubblebeam. You have a 50/50% chance of getting a boy or a girl.

Charmander

 Charmander is a Lizard pokemon. His main attack is ember. You have an 88% chance of catching a boy charmander. As he grows up he becomes very strong (and very strong willed).

Eevee

Eevee pretty much looks like our dog Delilah. You have an 88% chance of getting a boy Eevee. S/he has A LOT of evolutionary stages, so you can evolve him/her into whatever you want (and you know it's gonna be cute).

Politoed

Politoed is (obviously) a frog Pokemon, with a 50/50 chance of being a boy. One of her attacks is called Swagger, and is meant to confuse the opponent. Another attack is Hypervoice, a "horribly echoing shout with the power to inflict damage". Sounds like me when I was born.

Poliwag

Poliwag is a tadpole Pokemon, and probably looks the most like the baby right now. Some attacks include: Bubble, Hypnosis, Watergun, bellydrum, and wake up slap. Where do they come up with this stuff?

Tepig

Tepig is from the newest Pokemon game. S/he's a fire type, and wags her tail when she's happy. She is strong and nimble.



So, cast your vote now!

Breaking News!

We are unbelievably excited to be pregnant with our first child! 

On August 31st I took a pregnancy test, which turned positive, very quickly and very unexpectedly. I couldn't believe it. I took the test, set it on the counter top, turned around to turn on the shower, and when I turned back around I saw a dark line. "That is SUCH a line", I said to Danny. In fact, I didn't even believe there was a chance I was pregnant. The only reason I was taking the test was because my period tracking app on my phone (yes, there's an app for that) said I was a couple days late, and it seems to me that every time I get a negative pregnancy test my period starts the next day.

4 years ago...

Danny and I (married 4 years on Sept 8th 2011), have been trying for a baby for years, and have already been through one miscarriage, in October of 2009. The pregnancy tests this early on in our first pregnancy were positive, but faintly colored, so we are feeling much more hopeful about this time around. Over the past year we have tried multiple IUI's (Doctor administered turkey baster method), which never took. We had also started talking about InVitro Fertilization and adoption.

Danny was diagnosed with Testicular cancer last August, and his sperm count was almost non-existent after the surgery (900 thousand). Needless to say, we were not expecting to get pregnant any time soon. In fact, his analysis last month showed only about 10 million sperm, half of the typical number for a healthy guy.

Enough of the negative; the point is I am pregnant again and we are beyond thrilled! is there a better word than thrilled? Whatever it is, that is what we are feeling.

Today we went to Barnes & Noble and picked up a pregnancy organizer/journal, and I've started filling it out. I love checklist, so this little book is heaven for me (The What to Expect Pregnancy Journal & Organizer). After that Danny took me to Baby Depot to look around, which I always wanted to do. We actually used to joke about it when we used to drive by.

Togepi

"Oh look, Baby Depot, let's just go get one there".

Now we are trying to pick out a new Poke'mon character to call the baby before we find out the gender. Our last pregnancy was Togepi (see photo). I'll post the name and a picture of our new Poke'mon when we decide (suggestions accepted).

We are both looking forward to every moment of the next 8 months, and everything we have to experience after the birth we've been waiting for for so long.

I know the Navy keeps us far from home, so read up and follow us on our baby voyage!