5 Months Old - Here We Go Again

Well, Sir Chance is 5months old already.

He is wearing 9 month old clothes because I am 28 1/4” Long. 
He weighs over 17 lbs. 
He is allergic to peas. I break out into hives all over my body. Yucky. Scared mommy. 
He now pays attention to the animals, especially Lala; even though she doesn’t want him touching her (that’s who he is watching in the picture).
He loves to eat and laugh.
He take naps twice a day and eat fruits/veggies three times a day.
He only wakes twice a night because he HATES being wet and he makes mommy and daddy change his diaper.
He's discovered a new vocalization: squealing/screaming. It’s very loud and annoys mommy and daddy. Granny just takes her hearing aids out.
He rolls from back to front, then get pissed off because he hates tummy time.
He's still getting donor breast milk, so the liquid gold is still flowing through his bones. Just got a new shipment last night. I wish there was a way I could thank these mommies for helping him grow.
Black cherries seem to be his favorite so far. Not mommy and daddy’s favorite because of the poops it gives him.
Nana taught him to chew hid feet while in Cozumel, so now he hoes that when he can. Mommy doesn’t appreciate the wet socks.
His favorite toy is still the owl on his kick piano.

He drools all the time. Hopefully he'll get teeth soon so he's not going through 8 bibs a day. 

That’s his progress!

We've decided to harvest for a sibling for Sir Chance.  Our harvest cycle is the last week of Nov/first week of Dec.  My AMH is less than 1 so it doesn't look good for getting many eggs, if any.  It's sitting at 0.64.  If it drops below 0.4 they won't harvest at all.  So we have to get as many eggs as possible before my AMH drops below 0.4.  To give you an idea, my AMH was 1.81 last Feb 2016, before we harvested for Chance.  It has dropped significantly in just a year, which means my ovaries are dying.  So if you are reading this and you pray, pray your little hearts out that we get 2 good embryos with this harvest.  We agreed that we would harvest up to a total of 3 times to get (hopefully) 2 good embryos.

I started the BCP last Monday, and I should start the shots in a week or so.  We will be doing whats called a micro-Lupron protocol.  I'll explain what that is in more detail the closer ti comes time for the shots.

We are under the thinking anything we get is just a bonus this time, but we still would like a little for Chance.

More updates to come.

Change Of Plans

Been a little busy recently, so now is the big post.
I went to my regularly scheduled OB appointment May 31.  Chance actually didn't want to cooperate again; he wouldn't move.  He got the buzzer again.  We did get 8/8, so all was good.
We went camping over the long weekend.  The heat had my kankles the size of softballs...no kidding.  Hurt...OMG.  Doc wasn't worried about the swelling.  Throw back to olden days when women would try to bleed to death; they needed the extra fluid, hence the swelling.  He warned me the swelling would be worse for two weeks after the birth.  He wasn't kidding, but we will get to that later.  I wasn't going to do my 24 hour urine testing while camping, so I started it Monday when we got home.  Turned it in Tuesday about 4p.  The results weren't back when I went for my appt on Wednesday at 1p.
We decided to go ahead and induce me at 39 weeks, so June 7.  Knowing this, I called the Henna lady to come apply my belly Henna, as the color peaks at a week....just in time for the induction June 7.  Well, perfectly laid plans change.  My 24 hour urine came back while I was having my Henna applied.  The proteins in my urine were 329.  Normal is 100.  300 is BAD.....329 is VERY BAD.  Even though my blood pressure was still normal, I was severely pre-eclamptic.  I was on the verge of having a seizure.  So I was told to be at the hospital at 7p, no ifs, and, or buts...
So we loaded up all our gear and headed to the hospital Wednesday May 31 for my induction.
We arrived and were ushered into LDR room 2.  This is the room they put me in for my last miscarriage.  Things came full circle in that room.
I had to make several phone calls to get things in order.  The amazing diaper service lady delivered all our cloth diapers to the hospital so we would have them when Chance was born.  B is awesome.  She's been amazing since we've been home too.
They inserted the misoprostol (cytotec is the brand name) to help start contractions and soften the cervix.  They do this before they start the Pitocin......
I got my first dose around 1930.  I started having contractions about 30 min later, although I couldn't feel them.  They just showed up on the strips.  (They strap a fetal heart monitor and a contractions monitor up to your belly).
I got my second dose of miso around midnight.  This dose caused me to hyperstim.  The contractions came every 1-2 minutes and lasted 1-2 minutes.  It was so painful they had to give me fentanyl for the pain.  I was texting the DH that if this is what labor is like, I am a wienie and want an epidural for sure!  Because I was hyperstimmed, the nurse called the doc to make sure he wanted me to get the third dose at 0400.  He did, but he said we could wait till 0500 to get it.  So with the third dose, it settled things down.  I was contracting every 4-5 minutes for 1-2 minutes, and it wasn't painful at all. Each time I was checked, my cervix hadn't changed at all.
Doc came in around 0730 to check me himself.  Of course my cerix hadn't changed at all, and my BP had started to creep up.  So the decision was made to go ahead and do an emergent c-section.
Well this messed everything up.  My DH was downstairs working, so the doc went and got him.  I had to call the doula, my parents, the birth photographer, and anyone else that needed to know.  All through the night they tried to get a different IV in me.  It didn't work out so well.  So when the anesthesiologist came in to prep me for surgery, we decided an EJ (external jugular) would be the best solution for the IV.  He tried to get me in the right side, but ended up blowing the vein.  So we tried the left.  He got the IV in, but it was very positional, so I had to keep my head turned to the right in order for it to work.
Everyone showed up just as I was walking to the c-section room. Whew.
However, on the way to the room I decided I should pee first.  While on the toilet I decided to throw up.  Always awesome to be sitting on the toilet and puking into the trash can.  I got sick from the bolus of Ancef (antibiotic) they had just given me.
We get to the room at 0900 and the spinal goes in.  Unfortunately for me, the spinal decided it was going to take it's sweet time to set up.  So on my head I went.  For 20 minutes.  I never lost motor function (as in I could always move my feet), but the warm feeling that slowly made its way up my body, told me the spinal was working.  Of course I decide to get sick again during the wait.  Cut time was finally 0930, and baby was out at 0933.  Doc doesn't mess around.
The DH was so busy playing doctor, helping the anesthesiologist keep me from being sick, he missed the actual birth.  While we were waiting the 5 minutes to clamp the cord, he looked over the drapes and got to see Chance pee all over everyone!  When they pulled his head out, he let out a little cry.  I decided to cry then.....
So baby was handed off and they started to close me up.  After he was printed and wiped off, they brought him to me so I could skin to skin.  He was so little.  He was born 06/01 at 0933.  He weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces, and was 21 inches long.
Well, about 5 minutes after we started skin to skin and they started closing, I got sick again.  Horrible heaving.  They almost didn't get the baby off me before I started retching.  It was so violent, I started to push my small intestines out of the incision they were trying to close.  I started pulling so hard on the stitches, they had to cut them out and wait for me to calm down.  This was accomplished by putting me to sleep for about 10 minutes.  When I woke up from my short nap, I wasn't sick anymore and my incision was closed.  The anesthesiologist decided to do a TAP block to help with post op pain.
They wheeled me back to my room and everyone was there.  We immediately started skin to skin again, and he had his first feeding.  Remember, I can not breast feed as I don't have the equipment thanks to breast cancer; so I had donated milk.  The coolest thing is my birth photographer had a new baby and she was breast feeding.  She was so engorged from the fast action of the morning, she didn't get to feed her little one.  She got a pump and pumped fresh breast milk for little Chance.  That was so amazing.
They transferred me to my post-op room and we started to get things under control.  However, because I pulled so hard on my abdomen when I got sick, my abdominal muscle on the right side started to spasm.  It hurt so badly I was crying.  They were alternating dilauded and 10 mg Oxycodone.  It wasn't even touching the pain.  Awful.
After several hours, they finally called the anesthesiologist on call to help with the pain control.  He gave me a lidocaine patch and fentanyl.  I was a new person.  We were in the hospital for 4 days.  We came home Sunday afternoon.
We are now two months old.  We had been supplementing formula at night to help the breast milk last longer.  We will be taking a trip to meet our donor next week and pick up the last of the milk avail.  We have increased our volume from 2 ounces every 2-3 hours to 4 ounces every 4-5 hours.  He seems to be much happier with this arrangement.  The only issue is the formula constipates him as it is fortified with iron.  He went from pooping every feeding to pooping every 3-4 days.  Pediatrician isn't concerned.  Said by the 7th day try prune juice.  I got Mommy's Bliss Constipation Ease, with has prune juice in it....it seems to help when I remember to give it to him.
So since he isn't pooping regularly, he is trying.  Which means he isn't sleeping; which means I am not sleeping.  Brutal.
Hopefully we will get back into the groove of things with sleeping.  He went from sleeping 6-8 hours pre formula to sleeping 1-3 post formula at night; sometimes less at a time.
A friend suggested yesterday to sleep him on his stomach.  I tried it this morning and he slept for 4 hours!!!
He got his first set of shots Tuesday.  He took them like a champ.  Hardly cried at all. I preloaded him with Tylenol to help.  He's been a little cranky the past few days, so the sleep today has really helped.
We had grown since our last appt at 2 weeks old.  He is now 11 pounds 12 ounces, and 22.75 inches long.  Head circumference is 39.25 inches.
We are well on out way to growing up.
He took his first plane ride on Sat July 29th.  We flew to Houston for his Global Entry Interview.  He did fantastic.  No issues at all.
Just getting ready for Cozumel in Oct!!

37 Weeks 5 Days (16 Days To Go)

Once again, I got reminded I haven't been updating my blog enough...LOL
Went to the OB last Wednesday at 37 weeks.  Sir Chance decided he didn't want to move during the BPP ultrasound.  This is the first time he hasn't wanted to move continually.  He did breath the whole time though.  I suspect he was in a food coma as I had just eaten Chick-fil-A moments before my appt.  The US tech took a little sound buzzer (normally used for people who have no voice box to help them talk) and buzzed him. He moved then....  I got an 8/8 once again.
I have officially gained 20 pounds with this pregnancy.  I am very disappointed in myself.  I only want to gain 15 pounds at the most, since I started out overweight.  I am allowed up to 25 pounds.  I have been sitting at 8 pounds the entire pregnancy, until we got back from Turks and Caicos.  This last appointment showed I gained.  However, I think  it is all baby.  He had a growth spurt while we were in Turks and Caicos.  His head is lower in my pelvis, but his bottom is still up against my diaphragm.  I am just waiting for the "lightening".
I had some swelling of my feet and ankles two days last week.  Man it hurts.  I showed the doc and he wasn't concerned.  He said it was preparing my body fort after the delivery, in case there is excess bleeding.  The body stores water to keep us safe.
I asked him about membrane stripping, because the partner I saw the week before asked if I was going to have it done.  He was VERY adamant he was not going to strip my membranes.  He said it hurts badly, and doesn't really help with labor progression.
Something came up with my urine sample this time that has him concerned.  He didn't say what it was, but he ordered blood work and a 24 hour urine sample.  Awesome, I get to pee in a bowl and save it in the fridge for 24 hours.  He also said he was going to schedule my induction for 39 weeks.
So if I don't go into labor this week, I will be induced June 7 at 0500.  We should have a baby June 7.
His nurse said something about PH +1, but I don't know what that means.  There was also blood in my urine, but I had just gotten waxed and had a little bleeding.  I pulled out my panties to show them the blood on said panties.  They were ok with it after I showed them the blood.  Maybe his concern had to do with my answer to one of his remarks.  He mentioned the pressure in my pelvis coming and going.  Not Braxton Hicks, just pressure.   I said I wasn't having any pressure that comes and goes.  Who knows.
We did go camping this weekend for Memorial Day out on our ranch.  He told me to stay away from the dairy products (hard to keep really cold and listeria away in an ice chest), and stay off the four wheelers (don't want abruption - or a tear in the placenta).  The only issue I had all 5 days, was swelling of my feet and ankles from the heat and humidity.  90 degrees with 90% humidity reeks havoc on the body.  I did have issues sleeping on the air mattress in the tent.  It made my back and pelvis hurt, so the last night we stayed, I went and slept at my parents house instead of sleeping at camp.  I also put ice packs on my feet.  This didn't help the swelling at all.  Even after we got home today, I kept ice packs on them for 2 hours, then soaked them in the 75 degree pool water.  They are still swollen at this point (2120), but at least they seem to be getting less swollen.  I can see 2 veins in my right foot; ankles, not so much.  I would be ok with the swelling if they didn't hurt so much.
I have had a couple days of diarrhea.  Apparently this is normal after 37 weeks.  It's the body preparing to make room for the baby to come out.  I also had a decrease of the discharge I have had the entire pregnancy too.  This could be from dehydration, or I lost my mucous plug (the mucous that blocks the cervix) and didn't know it.  I did have a few days of Braxton Hicks at camp, but they didn't last long.  I have had no bloody show...which would indicate I lost my mucous plug.
Next BPP and appointment is Wednesday at 38 weeks.
We will have our son soon!

37 Weeks (21 Days To Go)

Just left my weekly OB appointment and BPP ultrasound.  Chance scored and 8/8 on the BPP again today.  Remember, they check amniotic fluid levels in each quadrant, he has to move, he has to breathe for 30 seconds in 30 minutes, and he has to have a good heart rate.  Get one point if any of these things is not as it should be.  2 points if he does all these things.  So he got 8/8, which is 2 points for each thing.  He was in a little bit of a food coma and didn't want to move, so he got "buzzed".  They took a little probe that makes noise and put it on my belly.  He moved after that!! LOL
Appt went fine.  I got checked.  Cervix is still hard and not dilated.  Chance is still high, but his head is low in my pelvis.  He needs to drop more.
The doc decided to go ahead and schedule the induction at 39 weeks.  So I will go into the hospital the evening of June 7th, and hopefully have a baby June 8th; unless Sir Chance decides to come on his own before.
I've had some swelling in my feet and ankles the past two days.  Doc isn't concerned.  He says its storing fluids for later; ones needed after delivery.  I went and got my blood work done, and they want a 24 hour urine sample.  I assume because there was a little bit of blood in my urine sample this time.  However, I had just gotten waxed and had a little bleeding from the waxing.  I showed them my undies to prove this, but they are getting it anyway to be sure.
My BP was the lowest it's been in weeks, so they aren't concerned about pre-eclampsia.
Question brought up last week by the other doc was stripping membranes.  I asked my doc if he does this.  He adamantly said NO!! Not only does it hurt, it doesn't really do anything to help labor.  What they do is once you are dilated, they stick their finger up in the uterus through the cervix and run it around the inside of the cervix to "strip" the amniotic sac away from the cervix and it's opening.  Yeah....that doesn't sound pleasant.  No thanks.  Especially when it doesn't do anything to help speed labor along.  It won't put me into labor at all.  Yeah. I'll pass.  Glad my doc doesn't do it anymore.
I will be camping this weekend.  Only rules I was given was no riding four wheelers and no dairy.  Hard to keep dairy cold in ice chests camping.  No four wheeler because of chance of abruption.  Pretty sure I can get around our ranch anyway.  Fishing.  Having a good time.
Maybe I'll go into labor..........

35 Weeks 5 Days (30 Days To Go)

Someone I know gently reminded me last night I hadn't posted in a while.  She knows who she is..... so here we go.
Went to my 35 week appointment last Wednesday.  My BPP test was great.  I got 8 out of 8.  They score movement, breathing, heart rate, and amniotic fluid levels.  I have only gained 8 pounds.  I am super happy about that; however I suspect I will gain more in the next 4 weeks.  Because my BPP has been 8/8 the last few visits, I have been downgraded from high risk to normal pregnancy.  This means I will NOT be induced at 38 weeks as my OB has been telling me this whole time.  That puts a kink in plans......
Chance looks great.  He's measuring 6 pounds.  Still has a giant noggin.  His head is measuring 3 weeks large.  OB isn't worried about a big head, he's more concerned about a large abdomen.  He says it makes it hard to get the baby out with a large abdomen, and they usually get stuck and end up with an emergency c-section.  Yuck.

He's got chubby little cheeks!

We went to Turks and Caicos for our babymoon.  Solid week of relaxing by the pool.  The place we went has Sesame Street Characters that go around the resort and entertain.  One of them, Zoe, came by while we were at the pool.  Everywhere she touched me, I broke out into this strange rash/fungus stuff.  OMG did it itch too!!  I still don't know what it was, but lots of lotion and benadryl, and I forgot about it and it went away on it's own.  

My BP was a little high at my appointment, and I was dilated to a 1, so doc told me to stay close to the house and rest.  Nothing exciting.  I stop my aspirin on Wednesday at 36 weeks.  Hopefully it will help the bruising. 

Reflux.  Reflux sucks.  As does costalchondritis.  This is inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs.  It just happens to be near my Xyphoid process...which is the little notch at the base of the sternum (breastbone).    I am waiting for the "lightening" or what they call the drop.  Once he drops, he will be off my ribs and stomach.  His little butt is right on my stomach, with one leg on either side of my stomach.  So when he pushes up to stretch is legs, or donkey kicks as my DH calls it, he pushes right on my stomach.  If I have recently eaten, I throw up.  Nothing I can do about it.  It's like he just pushes it back out.  SUCKS.

Weekly BPP ultrasounds and appointments from now on until delivery.

31 Weeks 6 Days (57 Days To Go)

Everything is good with Sir Chance.  He is very active again today.  I have started my weekly BPP (biophysical profile) ultrasounds.  This just measures growth, the amniotic fluid, and checks the heart rate.  I see the doc every two weeks; so this week is ultrasound only.  Doc appt is next week.
The DH is stressing about me getting the hospital bags packed.  He wants me to do it now, so he doesn't have to run back and forth to the hospital and house if I go into labor early.  So to appease him, I started packing the bag last night.  Not the baby bag, but at lease mine/his.  Just have toothbrush, hairbrush, pillow, blue tooth speaker, and house shoes (when they arrive) left to put in the bag.  DH asked why I don't just put a regular toothbrush in the bad instead of the electric one; I'm not sure I remember how to brush my teeth with a regular toothbrush!! I've been using an electric one for so long......
A friend of ours with an 8 month old has graciously volunteered to donate breast milk to us for at least the first 3 months of Chance's life.  She said she may go longer if it's not interfering with her sleep or schedule.  We are so appreciative and thankful she is doing this for us.  She currently has 1000 ounces in her freezer waiting for pick up.  Going to try to get it this weekend.  She also gifted us clothes and a moby wrap.  She mentioned she had some formula as well.  Since she won't take replacement bags or monetary reimbursement, I am going to bake her a cake (she loves my cakes) and give them some home grown beef.
I have had Braxton Hicks a few days.  Nothing serious and it never lasted long.  Felt like menstrual cramps; super low in my pelvis and pressure on my bladder.  It felt like my uterus was very small again.
At the last ultrasound (last week) Chance had turned face down.  So now his position is head down, face down, or occiput anterior.  OA is the ideal position for birth.  Occiput is the back of the babies head.  Anterior describes the front of the mother's pelvis.  There are other positions the baby can be in for birth, but OA is the best.  OP or occiput posterior, is when the back of the baby's head faces the back of the mother's pelvis (head down, face up).  This is where back labor comes into play, because the baby's head is pushing on the mother's tail bone essentially.  Transverse is where the baby is laying sideways.  This is bad.  This requires a c-section if the doc can not turn the baby into the head down position.  Oblique is when the baby is diagonal.  With twins, this position is ok, but a singleton makes for a long, hard, and painful labor which normally results in a c-section.  The final position is breech. This is when the baby's bottom is downward toward the pelvis.  This will def get a mother a c-section.  So far Chance is exactly where he needs to be for me to have a vaginal delivery.
We interviewed pediatricians this past week.  Interesting.  They do their best to sell their practice to you.  Very salesmen like.  Like with my OB, when you ask a question they don't know the answer to, they blow it off.  I get they are "experts" in their field, but not everyone is ignorant; and some people have legitimate questions.  I'm not sure they are used to educated questions.
My folic acid has been making me vomit the past week.  I couldn't decide if it was the aspirin or the folic acid, so I finally started taking them separately.  Yep, it was the folic acid.  I have been instructed to stop taking it for a week, then start again, but only one.  We are so close to delivery, the extra folic acid probably really isn't doing anything to help the baby.  Most, if not all defects are closed by now and the extra isn't really necessary.
I can't believe after 5 years of trying, we will have a baby boy in arms in 6 weeks.  That's crazy!!

30 Weeks (70 Days To Go)

I can't believe we are so close to having this baby boy.  First trimester went really quickly.  Second trimester seemed to drag on.  This one seems to be going quickly again.  Not sure I am ready!
Went to my Ob appointment on Monday.  It was one of the worst appointments to date.  No, nothing was wrong with the baby.  The DH says I was being overly sensitive.  I'm not sure I was; IDK.
I went into the appointment with what I felt were legitimate questions.  I felt my wants were dismissed and belittled.  My OB really made me feel stupid and it hurt my feelings.  I came home and cried for several hours.  The DH thinks maybe the OB had never been asked the kinds of questions I had, and he didn't really know how to answer them.  I know my OB would never hurt my feelings on purpose.  We have been friends for waaaaayyy too long; since 2005 (I've been his patient since 2010).  Maybe it's the hormones.  I just felt really bad after I left.  All in the past now.
I go next Wednesday for the BPP scan at 31 weeks.  The Biophysical Profile measures everything via ultrasound.  Femurs.  Humerus.  Head circumference.  Belly circumference.  Heart.  Lungs.  Bladder. Well...you get the point.  Measuring his growth to make sure all is still good.
We've had storms everyday for the past few days.  Everyday I have had a migraine.  Not being able to prevent them sucks.  I am able to start taking the Topamax the minute the cord is clamped, but it takes 6-8 weeks to titrate up to the dose that actually helped me.  The rub is, if we want to try for another baby (yes, we are thinking about trying for a girl) I have to be off the Topamax for 6 months before we try again.  The Fertility clinic won't allow us to try again for 6 months post partum.  They want to make sure my hormones are back to normal before we start messing with them again for the harvest.  So, if we do want to try for the girl, I can't start the Topamax at all.  It takes 12 weeks to titrate off the medicine; so there is no point to even start it.
Back to the storms this week.  Apparently Chance doesn't like storms either.  He has been VERY active the past few days.  Especially yesterday.  Normally when I go to video him moving about, he stops.  Yesterday, he only stopped moving for about 30 minutes.  Not soft kicks either.  Hard kicks up under my ribs.  Doesn't feel good at all.  Hopefully the video will load.

Hopefully you can see the video.
Pretty sure we have the nursery all ready to go.  Still need a few things; waterproof covers for the mattress and changing pad...stuff like that.  Waiting until after the baby shower Saturday to really get the few things I may need.
Since my DH and I have agreed to vaccinate a little differently than what the CDC schedule is, my DH commented I better take the documentation with us when we interview the pediatrician next week, to back up our positions.  So, that's what I am doing the rest of the week/end.  Gathering all the case studies backing up our positions on vaccinations.
One never realizes how many opinions people have until you have a baby.  I am getting bombarded with advice about the nursery, and car seats, and strollers.  It's very overwhelming; especially since we are not doing anything conventional with our child.  Many strong opinions about how and why we are doing it incorrectly.  Sheesh.  You raise your kids, I'll raise mine.  I just hope we don't raise an a-hole.
Until next week.....

27 Weeks (91 Days To Go)

Had my 27 week check up today.  All is well with sir Chance.  He is measuring right on schedule now; except his head is measuring a week big.  He definitely has is father's head.  I say that; since neither of us was there for the conception, this baby could turnout half Black half Asian for all we know! LOL  He is weighing almost 3 pounds now.
My glucose challenge results were 102, so I passed with flying colors and I do not have to repeat it.  Whew.  That orange drink is gross.
I've been having right sided back pain after I eat.  That is a sure sign of gall bladder stones.  He ordered blood work and an ultrasound to check and make sure all is ok with my gall bladder.  He doesn't expect any abnormal results, but if they happen to change later on, we have a baseline to know they have changed.  He said if my labs did come back abnormal, he would treat me a little differently, because gall bladder disease is bad for the fetus.  Just watching it at this point.  He kept asking me if I was itchy.  I was only itchy last night.  Not sure what the itchy has to do with gall bladder disease, but it does somehow.  Oh, the DH says it indicates an increase of bile acid salts.  People with kidney failure also have itchiness.  Increase in uric acid in that case.
My first flying experience went well.  We went to Chicago last weekend.  Only problem was having to pee and sitting in the window seat.  Fortunately for our trip to Cozumel this weekend, we are first class and I won't have to worry about crawling over everyone; only the DH.
My ankles and feet have been hurting, so I bought some compression socks.  The pain went away after wearing them for 2 days.
I also got 2 cavities from this acid reflux.  I had those fixed last week.  They were little, acid erosion cavities that didn't require any numbing medicine.  In and out in 30 minutes.  The reflux is now controlled with 150mg Zantac BID (twice a day); that's when I remember to take it of course.
Sir Chance will be here before we know it.  The DH and I have discussed maybe trying for a girl after Chance arrives.  We can't do anything until 6 months post-partum.  My hormones have to get back to normal before we can stim and harvest again.  We may change our minds after he arrives.  One may be enough. LOL
I am now on the every two week visit to the OB.  I will see him every two weeks until I am 36 weeks, then every week until delivery.  I joked about having the baby Memorial Day weekend on our ranch while we are camping and fishing. Asked him to join.  He said home deliveries are for pizza only! HA!
Here is our little man........

He is currently head down and looking to the right; face up.  Hopefully he stays head down and he rolls over.  We want him to be face down for the birth.

24 Weeks and 6 Days (106 Days To Go)

Nothing exciting has been happening.  I got to experience the glucose challenge test last week.  I go into the lab NPO (no calories after midnight and nothing at all 2 hours before the test) and they gave me a bottle of orange drink to drink down in 5 minutes.  This drink is orange crush minus the carbonation.  After I finish the drink, they start the 1 hour timer.  After 1 hour, they draw my blood.  This test for gestational diabetes.  I passed with flying colors.  I was a little concerned because I had eaten my vitamins as I walked out the door to the lab.  My vitamins are gummies, and have 5 calories per chew. Oops.  Obviously didn't effect the test.
We hired our doula last week.  It will actually be a pair of ladies.  I'm super excited to work with them. Tulsa Family Doulas is who we went with.
We also hired our birth photographer.  She just had her own baby, so it's a good thing I am not due until the end of May.  Pickled Moments is the name of her company.  Super cute.
Chance is active as ever.  He is like the new kitten Zoe, he knows when 0515 rolls around.  It's time to get up, even if it's a day off.  He gets very active after I eat, and as I lie down at night when we go to bed.
I get pretty tired going up the stairs.  Unfortunately our house is 3 stories, so stairs are everyday, multiple times a day.
I am finally showing.  I really started showing last week.  We had a formal event last Saturday, and the red dress I purchased to wear fit last week, but Thursday when I went to put it on, baby bump had grown and we couldn't get the dress to zip.  Oh man.... It's ok though, I had a back-up green dress that was just as beautiful.

The style of this dress just makes me look fat.....that's ok.  People at the event that knew I was preggo loved it.

I finally broke down and bought some maternity swim suits for our trip next month.  They aren't much different than a regular tankini.

I also broke down and post on a FB page requesting breast milk.  Since I don't have the equipment to breast feed, I have to get donated breast milk if I want Chance to have any.  I would rather have a few weeks as opposed to none, if I can get it.  

Trying to find a formula is very daunting.  There are so many different brands, organic or not organic, sensitive, gassy, etc....  It really boils down to what he likes in the end.  I hope he likes the kind that makes a ready to use bottle.  It would make it a lot simpler when we travel.  I wouldn't have to keep up with bottled water AND sand of formula.

We have decided to use cloth diapers.  We also are going to use the diaper service here in Tulsa.  We will still use disposable diapers for travel, as it would be gross to try and use both while traveling.  I wanted to know the best diaper so I set up a little science experiment.  I got the new born size of every brand of diaper avail.  I then took a set amount of liquid and poured it into the diapers over the same amount of time.  I timed how quickly the liquid absorbed into the diapers.  I then continued to pour extra liquid until the diaper "leaked" (aka got too full and started to run out of the diaper).  Surprisingly, all the diapers were within seconds of each other on absorbency, and they all "leaked" at the same amount of extra liquid.  I have determined the only reason for leaks would be the fit of the diaper.  As far as hypoallergenic goes, Honest brand diapers were the most hypoallergenic according to the ingredients list.  So for disposable diapers, we will start with Honest brand and see how it goes.  Just like formula, its trial and error in which ones to use and which one he likes.

It dawned on me the other day we will essentially have to have 2 nurseries.  We need a partial nursery in the basement, since that is our family room and we spend the most time there.  I really just got a pack n play and changing table to put down there.  There will also be a Baby Brezza down there as well, so we don't have to go upstairs to make a bottle.  The changing table I purchased has drawers, so I will keep extra clothes downstairs as well.  Less times I have to climb stairs with an upset baby, the better.

I have to do another glucose challenge test at 28 weeks.  Normally one wouldn't do another glucose test so quickly, but I am 40 and IVF, so I am a special case.  I get my next ultrasound at 28 weeks as well.  The docs will decide then if I need another ultrasound before 34 weeks.

I still haven't gained any weight.  I am super excited about that, because I will not allow myself to gain more than 15 pounds.  Starting this pregnancy over weight (even though I lost almost 40 pounds before I got preggo), allows me the ability to gain less weight.  If I have to get pregorexia to keep my weight down, I will do it.  I have already informed my DH this is what will happen.

The only real fear I have about this pregnancy is when 38 weeks rolls around and it's time to induce, the little bugger will be head up and I will have to have a c-section.  Boo.

Nothing until next time......

20 Weeks 5 Days (135 Days To Go)

I'm a little late updating everyone.  I will be twenty-one weeks along come Wednesday; two days from now.  I went for my 20 week scan week before last, at 19 weeks 2 days.  Everything looked fantastic.  There was a room full of people with my DH, my M, and my D.  The ultrasound tech is due the exact same time I am, and she was showing more than I am.  I am a little sad about that....I thought I would be larger.
Well Chance is once again measuring large.  His head, arms, and legs were measuring almost 22 weeks.  Everything else looked normal.  He was hiding his head in my placenta, so we didn't get a good 3-D image.  He was very active as usual.
No more ultrasounds until 28 weeks.  Appointments every 4 weeks until 30 weeks, then every 2.
Nothing to report other than I am a little sad I don't look pregnant.  The nursery is all set up.  1 Car seat is here and ready to go; second on order.  The stroller will be here any day.

He still likes to suck his fingers.  Hopefully you can see the video of him moving.  Pretty cute.
Now we just wait......

17 Weeks (161 Days To Go)

Well, we have reached another milestone in this pregnancy.  17 weeks today.  I have overall felt really good, except for the occasional cold and migraine.  I have actually had a migraine for 4 days now.  It is trying to get cold here (matey snow), but it won't make up it's mind.
We have been slowly getting the nursery together.  We only have one more piece to get to complete it; the glider/rocker.  It should arrive sometime next week.  We have the rug, the bed (really just a mattress on the floor), a bookshelf, and a dresser.  Not sure much else could fit into that room!
Carter's had a great after Christmas sale, and with my 25% coupon I got from buying maternity pants, I got quite a few different sized onesies for less than $100.  They came in 5 packs for $5 or so.  I got NB through 24 months.  Friends and Santa got Chance 4 new onesies for Christmas.  Super cute.  I'm not sure he will ever fit into something so small!!
I go to see the OB on the 18th...so 2 more weeks.