24 Week (and 3 days) Appointment

We had our 24 week appointment today and it was pretty much like the others  (baby boy is PERFECT and my body is doing whatever it is supposed to be doing) except today I got to drink an Oral Glucose Tolerance Beverage for my gestational diabetes blood. I must admit the super sugary, syrupy beverage really wasn't too bad. I got to choose from either orange or fruit punch flavors. I choose fruit punch and other than gagging once or twice, I had no problems getting it down in the 5 minutes I had. Them taking my blood, however, a whole different matter.

I don't mind needles or blood which is a good thing because after leaving the office and being about 20 minutes away, I got a call that they did not take the right vial and could I come back. Really?! Apparently, out of the six vials they had already taken, they needed to take a red vial, which they didn't, but they did have 3 extra purple vials. Lovely.

Anyhow, I get my results back tomorrow for the gestational diabetes. The other blood work I had done today had something to do with antibodies - I am O negative and the embryo is from donors who are both A positive. The blood work will check to see how my body is handling a 'foreign' object (a.k.a a baby) and whether or not I will need an injection of some sort at 28 weeks and again sometime near delivery.

Not much else going on this week. We did have two baby showers in Michigan a couple of weekends ago (from which we are still overwhelmed by the love and generosity of our family and friends!) which I will post on soon along with some new baby bump pictures.

Hope this finds you all well....GOD Bless :)

PIO Update

*PIO = Progesterone in Oil

I had my b/w done yesterday and received a call from the nurse at the NEDC today that I can stop all medications! I have no problems taking pills and I actually fell asleep during the last shot Todd gave me, so the medications didn't bother me in that way, but knowing that my body has taken over and is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing, is a REALLY good feeling :)

I have to have b/w done again next week just to make sure that my progesterone and estradiol levels are still where they need to be. After I hear from the NEDC about those results and assuming they are good, I will no longer need to report to the NEDC until the birth. Sad, a little because the NEDC has been nothing but great, but glad that our pregnancy will just be a regular pregnancy from here on out.

PIO No More?

*PIO = Progesterone in Oil

Apparently my ob is not as quick with b/w results as the place I usually get my b/w at (they usually have the results to NEDC later that afternoon). Anyhow, the NEDC got my b/w back from my last ob apt. My progesterone and estradiol levels are looking great meaning that the placenta is doing its job producing the correct amount of hormones. YEA! The nurse from the NEDC told me that I can cut the dosages for both the PIO and Estrace in half. So while I still am taking both 2x a day, the dosage is smaller. I will continue to take these dosages for 5 days or so before I have my b/w checked again. It looks as though my days of shooting up may be coming to an end....

No News Is Good News?

No News Is Good News - isn't that what people always say? Anyhow, I got my blood work done too late (I forgot about the time difference). By the time the results were sent to NEDC, they were closed. Well, I am guessing that is what happened because we did not hear from NEDC today. What is one more day, right?! Ugh. I did not give in to taking a HPT so we are totally in the dark. Hopefully, they call first thing in the morning!

On another note, I have not spotted anymore since Friday evening though I have had that 'feeling' I get before my cycle does start since then. The heartburn comes and goes as does the rash. The rash is becoming more concerning though as it is worse than before when it does appear (it comes and goes within minutes sometimes). I have tried to figure out the cause, but each time I think I know what is causing it, I am proven wrong. I hope to get into the dermatologist this week. As for other 'symptoms,' I have not wanted to eat because anything with a lot of flavor or substance has been giving me horrible heartburn. I have been living on cereal, strawberries, Goldfish Crackers, McDonald's Strawberry shakes and Chick-Fil-A for the last couple of days. Not super healthy, I know, but besides the heartburn, nothing sounds good or tastes good either.

On a third note, my current perspective: I am not seeing the glass half full or half empty, but rather even. I don't feel one way or another about this transfer. I think I have had my hopes up too many times before and got crushed, but obviously I think this can work or I wouldn't have gone through it all again. I am trying not to let Satan win this battle....Make sense?!

Before I go, I want to thank those of you who are following us for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement - all make this journey a bit easier!

Praying for good news tomorrow!