If it's not one thing, it's another

I have been riddled with muscle cramps since Thursday. I think it's just muscle spasms at least. It has been difficult to breathe because of the restriction on my right side, high up, chest level that feels like a knife in my lung. Today the pain wrapped from the front to my back shoulder blade, up my arm and into my neck. Michael and I tried stretching and massaging it out, but nothing works. If I sneeze it's excrutiating as well as if I twist or bend or reach. Good grief I'm tired of having issues! I'm worried I might be really low on potassium or worse, have a swollen gallbladder. I had to call the doc today because I couldn't stand it anymore. He gave me 5mg of Valium to hopefully get me through the weekend and then I'll see him Monday. I think it's helping. If anyone has had similar experiences, I'd love some advice. I'm eating bananas like a monkey and drinking lots of gatorade.

Weird math

Went back to the doc for blood test #2 today. Everything looks great they say...and my levels are high. Levels of what, I don't know. There's a lot of things I don't know. I did ask the nurse how far along I was. She said....FOUR WEEKS!. I asked how that was possible because the babies have only been in there for two. She said that they count starting with the first day of your last cycle. I guess the embryos were living in a dish for 5 days without me. It's just weird math to me, but hey, I love the fact that I'm 2 weeks further along than I thought I was. That means I've got only two more months of highly treacherous times left. I'm dreaming of reaching my 2nd trimester so that I'll feel more stable.

My 4 a.m. wake-up call

Last night, for kicks, I took a home pregnancy test. I was really sure that it was too soon to show up on one of those, but I figured it wouldn't hurt since I knew the real results. There on the strip were those two pink stripes...TWO. For the first time in 3 years, it was actually positive. You'll never know how many times I've taken that same test, just to see the lone single line. We went to bed soon after that, relishing in our day and our discoveries. It was around 4 a.m. that I woke up. Wide awake. And it was at that moment that the realization hit me about what had taken place the previous day. I tried to stifle my sniffles, but the sobbing shook the bed and woke Michael up. The only way to explain it was a tremendous release. It's as if I'd been running a really long, grueling race with obstacle after obstacle and finally, I made it to the first mile marker. I've never made it to any mile marker before. I never went back to sleep. But it wasn't so bad. I spent the rest of the night in thought about the milestones ahead.

Guess what?!

After taking the blood test at 8 a.m....it wasn't until 2p.m. that the doc called me back. He said with his little french accent, "Congratulations!" I was a bit stunned. I stammered for a bit before asking, "really?". My next question was based on the fact that all through this I've had something to do, somewhere to be, some drug to take....something. So I asked what seemed to be a logical question. "So, what do I do next?" He kinda chuckled and said, "Well I guess you grow a baby!"
Ha! Is that all? So, I'm officially pregnant...according to the doc. I'm excited yet fearful. It's so early, yet I have to tell everyone.
Now I must wait for 2 more weeks to see exactly how many buns are in the oven. At that point, I'll still only be 4 weeks along. Please keep your fingers crossed that everything goes well and continues to stick.

Compliments of my Aunt Mary Ann

This very amusing, yet totally appropriate story was sent to me by my Aunt. I had to share with everyone so enjoy.

"Well while you are on the subject of eggs, I set 32 chicken eggs and only one hatched in the incubator. First time that I have tried it that way. So, after 21 days of burning electricity and having to listen to the fan blow in that thing in my washroom, I am finished. The roosters must have taken the winter off because how else did I get a bunch of bum eggs. And as luck would have it I go out there and now have 3 chickens wanting to set, so I obliged them and gave them back so many eggs that they will have a time moving them around.
The Moral of the story is don't blame it on the incubator. It is the lazy roosters or the quick running hens."

Here's a picture of her lone, but very handsome chick.

For those who'd like to inquire...

I've been asked many times in the last week if I am indeed pregnant. I'll tell you what I am. I'm nauseated every day, I'm very sore in the abdominal area and other sundry spots. Who knows the cause of these symptoms. So, we wait for 8 a.m. on Monday the 25th. I finally was instructed to come in for my blood test that day. I suppose the truth will be revealed at that point. Although, my sister has a co-worker who did in vitro and for 4 months, no blood or pregnancy tests registered her as being pregnant. Now that would be a surprise for sure. She now has a little boy named Alex. So, if all could wait impatiently with me until Monday....then we will all see.

The waiting

This waiting is very frustrating. Part of me will be surprised if anything stuck....a big part of me. It all has to do with the unfathomable outcome that this could all work. I wonder as I'm walking around or climbing the stairs...are we sure they didn't just fall out already? People ask me...do you feel pregnant? Umm, no. What does that feel like again? Seeing as how I've got nothing to go on. I fight the urge to go get one of those early detection pregnancy tests for fear I'll have a false response. I'm saving all of my responses for the actual blood test I think. And I wonder how they decide who gets to tell the lady she's pregnant...or not at the doc's office. I can just see them in the back room, "No, I did it last time, it's your turn, I'm all out of kleenex anyways." In the meantime, I'm going to work on taxes. There's a good subject to take my mind off of absolutely anything else. I hate taxes by the way. It's like an olympic event in my life that takes a year of preparation. I'll let ya know how it goes. I've supposedly streamlined the process over the past 5 years...so, it's nearly 9 a.m. on Saturday now...we'll see.