Infused Water Wednesday :: Strawberry + Orange + Mint

Today's infused water: Strawberry + Orange + Mint

Ingredients {to fit in the Chilaqua 24 oz. bottle}:

• 3 strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 1/2 orange, rind removed and diced
• Sprigs of mint, torn to release flavor
• 5-6 ice cubes
• Filtered water

I do feel that the colder the water, the better. That may be just a preference thing, but I also think it helps infuse the flavor in the water. If it sits out at room temperature, it just doesn't taste very good.

Verdict: Yummy! :)

I liked this orange flavor better. I have noticed that the orange has to infuse a little longer than the other fruits I have tried so far. And I actually got more refills out of this recipe too. I will definitely make this one again!

5 Weeks

How far along? 5 weeks 

Days since transfer: 17 days

Meds: Day 37 of Estrace, day 24 of PIO

Total weight gain: -0.8

Maternity clothes? WAY too early :)

Sleep: I actually have been sleeping a lot. I wake up a lot in the middle of the night to pee, which is new for me. And I take a nap almost every day.

Best moment of the week: Hearing that our numbers had more than doubled, and scheduling our first ultrasound!

Miss anything? Nope.

Cravings: Still with the pickles...otherwise, I am just eating food in general ALL. THE. TIME. Seriously. I can't remember feeling this hungry so consistently, since I rarely feel hungry with Crohn's. 

Symptoms: I have never peed so much in my entire life. I have had a little bit of nausea, mostly at night, but it comes and goes. Not too bad yet.

Looking forward to: Our first ultrasound!

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Size of baby? About the size of a black peppercorn, an orange seed, or a BB pellet {still teeny tiny}

Development: Looking like a tiny tadpole :) The neural tube, heart, digestive, and circulatory system are forming.

Heartbeat: Even though we can't hear it yet, the tiny heart{s} has/have already begun to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood. 

Movement: Too soon

Gender predictions? We're just hoping for 2 healthy babies!

**This post was written at 5 Weeks, but was not published until after we made our official announcement. I back-dated to the actual day so we could have all of this for our own records and memories.**

Embryo Adoption :: Beta # 2 {FET #3}

Today I went in for my second blood pregnancy test to see if my beta numbers were rising. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. While I felt more confident going into today than I did last time {because of our high number on Monday}, that nagging fear still crept in. After all, we were pregnant last time. And last time our numbers fell. And I have walked the road of infertility. We just know too much...

When I went in for the blood test, the nurse who has walked with us from the beginning made sure to come over and give me a congratulatory hug. She has been such an encouragement throughout this process, and it is so sweet how she is genuinely sharing in our excitement. Love. Our. Clinic.

When she called this afternoon, she had more good news! Our beta number had MORE than doubled: 3038!! Our babies (?) are growing!!

{Excuse me while I do a little happy dance and jump around the room in excitement}!  :) :) :)

I think Mike is pretty excited too...

   

    

I have woken up the last couple of days with a smile on my face, thinking to myself, "Erin, you're pregnant! There are {hopefully 2} babies in there!" This is REALLY happening! The Lord is being so gracious to us, and we are beyond thankful.

{Excuse me while I fall to my knees and praise my faithful and good God}!

Today I scheduled my 6.5 week ultrasound, my 8.5 week ultrasound, a pregnancy orientation with my OB's office, and my first OB appointment. Definitely a VERY fun day! :)

Infused Water Wednesday :: Orange + Lemon + Lime

Today's infused water recipe: Orange + Lemon + Lime

Ingredients {to fit in the Chilaqua 24 oz. bottle}:

• 1/2 orange, rind removed, diced
• 1/2 lemon, rind removed, diced
• 1/2 lime, rind removed, diced
• 5-6 ice cubes
• Filtered water

Verdict: Not great

I was excited about this citrus combination, but was disappointed in the flavor. I couldn't really taste the orange, and I know it was a flavorful one {because I can eat that fruit!} It really just tasted like a strange lemon/lime water. So I won't be drinking this one again. Plus, this one didn't look as pretty in the bottle :)

Embryo Adoption :: Blood Pregnancy Test {FET #3}

With our last 2 transfers, we waited for the nurse to call with our beta results from the blood pregnancy test. This morning I just couldn't help myself...I wanted to know the feeling of peeing on the stick and seeing those magical words {strange, I know...but not to those who have walked the road of infertility}. So I took a deep breath and saw what we have prayed so long for...

The weeks estimator is from ovulation {which in our case, would be 5 days before transfer day}, so I am actually 4 weeks pregnant

And another...because I was worried about a false positive. It took 2 seconds to show up!

I just started weeping and saying, "Jesus! YOU did that, Jesus!"  :)

I still, of course, went in for the blood pregnancy test. And it was such a beautiful moment to hear the nurse say, "Congratulations, Erin! You are pregnant!" She told me that they like to see the first number between 50 and 100. Our number? 1300. 1358 to be exact! I could hardly contain my excitement! I had prayed for 500, so that I could know beyond a shadow of a doubt. He gave me more than 1300...

Jesus. YOU did that, Jesus.

Of course, we know that we're not out of the woods, and my beta number still needs to rise in order to confirm that our babies are growing. But today we praise God for the life He has provided!

How far along? 4 weeks

Beta Number: 1358!!

Days since transfer: 10 days 

Meds: stopped taking Cabergoline; continue Metformin daily, day 30 of Estrace; day 17 of PIO

Total weight gain: -1 {better start focusing on my calorie intake!}

Maternity clothes? WAY too early :)

Sleep: I stayed up late to ensure I could fall asleep. I slept really well...until I had to pee at 4am :)

Best moment{s} of the week: seeing the positive pregnancy tests, hearing the nurse say "you are pregnant!" and seeing Mike's face when I told him the beta number

Miss anything? nope

Cravings: Pickles. No joke. Specifically the sweet gherkins. At least it's not with ice cream ;)

Symptoms: I feel pretty normal. I have been tired from the progesterone, and the last 2 days were a little stressful because I had some cramping and light spotting. But the nurse said it was probably just baby {babies?} snuggling in deeper to my uterus.

Looking forward to: hearing that our beta numbers doubled appropriately

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Size of baby? about the size of a poppy seed,  {teeny tiny}

Development: already growing the cell layers that are the beginnings of the nervous system, hair, skin, GI tract, pancreas, liver, thyroid, skeleton, blood system, connective tissue, urogenital system, and muscles...nothing much ;)

Heartbeat: too soon

Movement: too soon

Gender predictions? we're just hoping for 2 healthy babies!

**This post was written at 4 Weeks, but was not published until after we made our official announcement for our second pregnancy. I back-dated to the actual day so we could have all of this for our own records and memories.**