First Encounter with Kaiser Doctors

The doctor visit today was completely inconclusive.

My blood pressure was elevated. I have had that happen more and more when I go to the doctor... then at home it is fine. I think I am becoming one of those people who have a high reading due to nerves/worry. ESPECIALLY today!

So, the Kaiser facility is SUPER nice. It is the most efficiently run doctor's office I have ever been a patient in! We checked in early, about 20 minutes before our appointment, and we were taken pretty much straight back. They had me do a urine sample, then we went back to wait. We had to wait on an ultrasound room to be ready.

Ahh..the wonderful "internal" ultrasound. YUCK! ha ha!

The doctor warned us that we might not see anything at this point, it being so early. He did see some fibroids. I was not aware that I had fibroids but I am not surprised. It shouldn't cause any issues though and he did see a gestational sac. That is the only thing really to see at this point anyway. It did measure the right size for 5 weeks. He said it was not perfectly round which might mean something or might not. I have researched that a bit since I got home and have found it is actually quite common and normal. It was reassuring to even see ANYTHING. My worse fear was that with the symptoms I have been having that there would be nothing there at all.

UPDATE: I have since found out that fibroids very commonly cause bleeding during pregnancy. Not that this is awesome news, but could be a very reasonable explanation for what is going on other than something being wrong. It won't necessarily cause problems but may cause more pain throughout....

He sent me over to the lab for blood work. Another awesome thing about this facility. It was right across the lobby to another waiting room and I only waited about 5 minutes. I was in and out for the stick in less than 3 minutes. I am supposed to come back on Monday for more blood work and they will compare the HCG levels. Those levels double every 48 hours in early pregnancy, so they will be able to tell if everything is progressing normally at that point.

It was VERY hard to read the doctor. He is new to me and seemed very nice...had great bedside manner and made me comfortable, but not knowing him I don't know if he tends to be overly cautious or whatnot. He did say that whatever was going to happen would happen at this point, and I am guessing that he is leaning on the side of preparing us for the worst. Besides, no one knows how I have been spotting and cramping at this point except me. Hearing stories from other people, it seems to have no rhyme or reason. Some people experience very heavy bleeding and have perfectly healthy babies...some people start out just like me and miscarry.

The point being: We are not in control of this one way or the other. I know that we have trusted with this entire situation from the beginning and there is no point stopping now. I am glad that we have a busy weekend. The doctor told me that it wouldn't matter if I sat around or went bowling...there is nothing to do but wait.

Thank you for your prayers.

Sooner than Later

Well, we get to see the doctor sooner than we thought. I am still having some problems so they want me to come in tomorrow morning. I am praying that everything is okay. Please say a prayer for us!

First Appointment

I scheduled our first pre-natal appointment today! It will be Wednesday, January 6th, at 9:40am. The lady that I talked to from Kaiser was so very nice. She seemed happy for me! ha ha!

The first appointment is with one of the midwives. I am happy about that. She said the appointment would last about 50 minutes. Hopefully, Corey will get to go with me.

I am having some cramping this week and other little stuff that is worrisome, but I am trying really hard to not worry. I remember having similar things go on when I was pregnant with Katie. It is hard to not worry though. We told everyone so early and it has made me extra paranoid about something happening. I know what I am experiencing is normal, but, wow....everything is something to potentially worry about!

I also talked to the benefits and billing person! Agh! Never good news there. Well..at least we have coverage! It is definitely better than what we had before, but we still have $3000 in copays to get ready for. Hopefully I will successfully have a natural birth experience for MANY reasons, not the least of which is a 30% coinsurance to pay if I were to use "other" options. eek!

I have someone who is going to be a birth coach/doula for me at the hospital! My best friend from high school's mom has been a nurse for years and is currently in doula certification training. She has had a baby at home before and I am very blessed that she is willing to include me as one of her training experiences! She can help me be in control at the hospital of what procedures and things go on and will be very helpful in encouraging me through hopefully not having any drugs! Isn't it great that I have that available???? Doulas can be very expensive and since she would be there just for me, it will be like having my own private nurse the whole time! She will also help Corey out with knowing how to help me during labor. Since she is still in training and my friend's mom, she said she would not charge me! What a blessing! It will be comforting to know also that I have someone local I can call (since my doctors and hospitals are in Kennesaw!) I just think this is the neatest thing to happen, and what timing!!! She is in training NOW when I could use someone!

If you read this, please say a prayer that the cramps and other symptoms I am having will go away just for my own sanity! :)

Extra Positive!

This morning I took ANOTHER test, with a DIFFERENT brand and YES it is definitely positive! It showed up DARK this time! :)

I feel so blessed and the sick feelings I have been having the past few days have lessened tremendously. I really think it was nerves about our trip and about the outcome of this situation!

Please pray for me as we enjoy the rest of our trip. I cannot express how thankful I am for this chance for a trip with Corey, just the two of us, before our lives get rocked again forever!

POSITIVE!

I wasn't sure...I had told Corey about my hunches and the barely barely showing up pink lines on the previous tests that showed up after the "official" time period.

In the middle of the night we had a terrible storm...it really shook me up I guess I was having another weird dream or something. But then..I decided to do another test since it is now officially "the day" to be able to tell.

AND..........................

It is positive!

Still "kind of" faint, but it showed up immediately this time and there is no doubt it is there!

WOW! I can't believe it only took one month. God is so good to us and we are very grateful and so aware of what a miracle event this is! We are going to tell the kids this morning...and then they get to tell the grandparents! I can't wait to see their expressions! We thought about waiting until we get home from the trip, but we are just too excited. I have now rethought my decision to ride anything and everything I want, lol..I guess things change when they are more REAL!

I am quite nervous.... because I have already felt nauseous, but I hope it is just from the anticipation of finding out and about our trip. I always get the feeling I am getting a stomach bug the day before we go on a big trip! ha ha!

Now to start saving for that $3000 copay for the insurance! agh! I told Corey I was going to put a donate button on this blog! HA! AND I was only halfway joking!

Faint Line?

I am so convinced right now that I am definitely pregnant! I have not been sleeping well, and I have woke up at around 5-5:30am two mornings in a row feeling very yucky. I have just sat there in the bed, awake, until I brave the cold and go in the kitchen to get a snack. Then I feel better, go back to bed, and sleep like a ROCK until the kids wake us up around 8am.

I have been using a lot of the tests that I ordered in bulk. The past couple that I have taken have shown a VERY VERY VERY light pink line in the test area. I dunno...it could just be a fluke, but I am not so sure.

I should know by the end of the week FOR SURE.

We are leaving first thing in the morning for our Disney trip. I have researched it and my feeling is that I can do pretty much anything that "I" would normally do on this trip...since IF I am pregnant, it would be barely so.

2 Days!

I have been feeling SO funny this week...well...the past couple of days anyway. I really really really think I am pregnant. I have hesitated to write it down because I could just be making symptoms up in my head, but I decided that if I'm not superstitious, then I'm not superstitious, so no worries!

The most prominent symptom I am having is eating issues. As in...I feel shaky the moment I am hungry and nothing tastes good. Food is okay, but usually, I love food and everything about it. ESPECIALLY the week before "the" week. But over the past few days, whatever I think I am in the mood for just doesn't cut it! I am not exactly nauseous, just feeling very picky and non-satisfied with food. A great way to start out our trip which is going to be jam packed full of pre-planned, FREE and abundant food! Let's just hope God, in his wisdom, will grant me the grace to want what we already have reservations for!

I say all this knowing that I could just be creating all this in my head since I expect it to happen. :) I could very well be VERY wrong.

Oh..and Corey found my blog. He was using my computer and it showed up under my profile when he was looking at my other blog. It's not that I wanted to keep it a secret, but I didn't want him to feel pressured by the fact that I created a blog. He should know by now that creating a blog about something is no big deal for me, right?! ha ha!