Telling Family

I thought it was really cool that for a few days, Mark and I were the only people who knew about it. I liked the fact that we had a secret between us and nobody else knew. If you know Mark you know that he is terrible at keeping secrets and hates surprises. So it wasn't long before he started bugging me to announce it. I told him we needed to at least wait until my appointment on June 26th before we told anyone. He thought we should at least tell our immediate family now and then wait until after the appointment to tell others. I was adamant about waiting until at least 12 weeks to post online and make the official announcement. Because, you know nothing is official until it's on Facebook!

So we kinda compromised, and by 'kinda compromised' I mean baby daddy basically got his way. Don't get me wrong, I was just as excited as he was but I was also hesitant because it's still so early. I just didn't want to tell people and get their hopes up, which would get my hopes up even more, and then have something happen, ya know? 

So we had agreed to tell his family on Father's Day when we went to his parents' house for dinner. On Saturday I got a call from his sister, Carol. She told me she was coming to Stafford for a baby shower but had some time to kill before it started and asked if I wanted to grab lunch with her and Jordan (her stepdaughter). So, I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to tell her...but I didn't want to do it at lunch and Mark wasn't planning on going to lunch so I had to get her to come to our house. I told her that Mark needed to show her something so she should come to our house first and then we'd go to lunch from there. She got there (late, like always) and was like "ok Mark what do you need to show me...we don't got all day!" I had to go put the card we got her out on the deck because I didn't want the roommates to hear her when she yelled (which I knew she would do). So we took her outside and Mark handed her the card. It just said "Carol" on the front. He said "it's an early wedding gift" (Carol and Josh are getting married next month yay). 

She opened the card and immediately said "awwww yay" and started crying. I told her not to cry because I had just done my makeup and I didn't want to mess it up. Of course, she made us tear up too just like she did at our wedding. Bunch of cry babies. We all hugged and told her that she was the first to know (and told Jordan she was the second). When we were driving (separately) to lunch I saw her all giddy behind me in the rear view mirror. I knew she had called Josh to tell him (because I told her she could tell him of course). When we got to the restaurant she said "I had to call Josh and tell him he was going to be an uncle again...he said to tell you guys congratulations!" Then at lunch I told her everything that had been going on, she asked questions about stuff, and we chatted about everything. She said when Stevie had his kids she was in college so she was never really close with them when they were babies so she's really excited because she kept bugging me to make her an aunt again soon.

Sunday rolls around and Mark, Steve, and Blake went to play golf. I went to check out the new farmer's market (I was not impressed at all) and then stopped by Megan's for a little while. I was prepared to tell her but I didn't know how to tell her. I don't think I have mentioned yet that she's also pregnant (I told you in my first post that my little sister Devon was pregnant but we have since found out that Megan is too). They're only about 8 weeks apart from each other. How cool that all three sisters are pregnant at the same time huh? Man, poor DeeMaw (that's what Logan calls our mom). So, I told Meg I needed a picture of her belly. She told me she looked like crap today and wasn't prepared and I said don't worry it's just your belly so it doesn't matter...I'll tell you what it's for later. So I took the photo and then said that I bought this collage frame and I was going to put a photo of Dev's belly in the first slot, then a photo of her belly in the middle slot, and then mine in the last slot. She was like "I KNEW IT! Congratulations!" Gary walked in at the same time she was yelling and she told him. She said our cousin Cassie told her that I didn't drink the night before at a bachelorette party because "I was broke" (that was the only excuse I knew to use because I had used the headache excuse last weekend when we went out for margaritas). She said to Cassie that she bets I'm either trying to get pregnant or found out I am pregnant because it wasn't like me to not drink at least one drink while we're out at the bar. We told Logan he would be getting another new cousin and he couldn't care less...until all these babies come and he feels like he doesn't get any attention anymore. 

I was texting Dev while I was at Meg's house. I asked her how long she thought she would use the breast pump. She said she didn't know because it all depended on how Jeremiah liked it or if she was producing enough milk or whatever. So here's the text convo with Auntie Dev after that: 

Next up...Mark's parents. We made cards for them as well. The card for his dad is a Father's Day card but instead of it being to DAD it was to PAPA (what his grandkids call him). We got a birthday card for his mom and instead of being to MOM it was to NANA (what her grandkids call her). So we got there around 5pm for dinner. Mark handed both of them their cards (which didn't have writing on the envelopes) when we first walked in the door. Papa started opening his card immediately while Nana was harassing him because her birthday wasn't until next weekend. He said "just open it". So Papa is still in the lead and opening his faster than Nana. I'm stressing out because I don't want him to ruin it for her. Luckily it worked out to where they basically were reading their cards at the same time though. So Papa says "Congratu..." and then Nana chimes in and finishes his sentence (well, word) with him and says "...lations!!!" Then we all hugged and everyone was happy and excited. 

We stopped by my mom's house on the way home from his parents' house. I texted her when we were on the way telling her that we were going to come by and pick up the bassinet for Dev's shower (Mark had agreed to put it together for her and have it at our house for the shower). So, she wrote back "Ok I'll pop the trunk" so that must mean she really thinks that's ALL we're coming by for and that we aren't gonna come inside. When we get there, we walk inside because I had to pee really bad anyway. I brought the collage frame in a Target bag and gave it to her when I got out of the bathroom. "What's this?" she says. "Just a little something I picked up for you," I said. 

Here's the frame: 

First pic - Devon: Baby Boone September 3, 2013

Middle pic - Megan: Baby Moneymaker October 24, 2013

Last pic - Me: Baby Savage February 15, 2014

Sorry, it's really small but it was the only frame I could find that had three slots.

And the video. Megan told me that Mom was going to say "nuh uhh" and sure enough that's pretty much all she says, hehe! 

We had a blast telling our parents and sisters and loved their excitement and reactions!

Of course, since I'm around my best friend, Laura, in the carpool and all day at work, I had to tell her too. So a while ago when we were at Hobby Lobby we saw some chalk boards and dry erase boards. She said she would write on them for me each week with updates and I could take a belly picture next to it. So, I bought the dry erase board and some markers and took a picture of them for her. On Monday,  I told her I bought her something over the weekend. She said "nuh uhh...shut up...you are?!" and then I had to apologize for lying to her and saying that I had started my period already but I wanted to tell her in person and I didn't see her over the weekend. By the end of the day on Monday, Laura had already done a few drafts of what she wanted to write on the board and pinned a bunch of things to her When Shann Gets Pregnanthttp://www.pinterest.com/lauraabordelon/when-shann-get-s-pregnant/ board on Pinterest. She keeps saying how excited she is and can't wait to help me throughout the pregnancy since she just had her daughter last year and of course she wants to help plan the showers too.

The only other person we have told so far is my other cowoker/friend, Claudia. We have become really close friend over the past couple years. We take turns bringing in salad ingredients each week and make a big salad for lunch and split it. It was her turn to make the salad and I didn't want her to put the feta cheese in there so I had to tell her not to put it in mine. She did the happy dance and said she's so excited and happy for us! 

We will end up telling the rest of our close family and friends after my appointment on June 26th. Thanks to everyone who already knows and is keeping it a secret for now! 

Official Confirmation

I called my OB/GYN and asked them when I should make my first prenatal appointment. They said unless there have been previous complications the doctor won't see you until at least 8 weeks. I gave her my information and she looked in my file. She said the doctor would need to see me ASAP only because of the miscarriage in January and the chemical pregnancy in April. So I made my appointment for Friday, June 14th at 3:40 p.m. Everyone thought I was leaving work early to take my dog to the vet (his actual appointment was Saturday morning). 

Dr. Kil told me that my urine tested positive and things looked a lot better this time than they did last time. He said last time there was a very faint line because the levels were so low and he knew that pregnancy would be terminated but this time there was "no question about it". He told me he didn't want me to change my lifestyle but I needed to use my common sense obviously. He said congratulations and seemed genuinely happy for me considering all that I had been through the past few months. 

I told him I had a list of questions for him:

Q: I have a history of headaches so is Tylenol the ONLY thing I'm allowed to take because I usually take Excedrin Migraine and the neurologist gave me a prescription for Sumatriptan? 

A: "I definitely do not want you taking the Sumatriptan and stay away from any medicine that isn't Tylenol. If you absolutely need to take medicine for a really bad headache or migraine then I'm going to write you a prescription for this and only take it if the pain is unbearable."

Q: I fractured my foot about a month ago and have a follow up appointment with my podiatrist on June 20th and need to know whether or not he can take x-rays. 

A: "In a case like this, you need to know if your foot is still fractured or if you can get by without wearing the boot since it's fully healed. I would definitely get the x-rays but you need to wear the protective shield over your abdomen area."

Q: Is the rumor true about not being able to get your hair highlighted?

A: "There are so many rumors like this one and of course there is no way to tell whether or not things like this contribute to harming your baby...but it's better to be safe than sorry so I don't want you highlighting your hair until you're 3 months."

Q: What about exercise? 

A: "We encourage exercise in order for you to maintain healthy but I don't want your heart rate getting over 140 while doing cardio so I recommend walking on a treadmill that shows your heart rate so that you can monitor it and not overdo it."

Q: Should I keep taking the prenatals?
A: "Yes, continue taking what you have been taking and I will also give you some samples of other brands for you to try out too."

Q: From my husband - Can you tell yet if it's twins?

A: (After laughing at Mark) "It's definitely too early to tell just yet since you're only 4 weeks along." 

He wants to see me back in 2 weeks to do the sonogram and bloodwork so my appointment is set for June 26th at 11:30 a.m. My mom and sisters are going to go with me since Mark can't take leave at work (bummer). I'm excited to see high HCG levels for once and to be able to see a little heart flicker next week! 

Central Virginia OB/GYN has been great to us so far. Dr. Kil is super nice and understanding and doesn't rush through appointments. He makes you feel welcome and makes sure to ask if you have any questions. Dr. Kil delivers at both Mary Washington Hospital and Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. We are going to deliver at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center since it's brand new and I was there most of the time when my best friend had her baby last year. It's very nice, clean, and comfortable there so I think we'll feel at home...well, as much "at home" as possible in a darn hospital. 

Here's the nice man I was talking about. Although this looks like a mug shot, haha. 

Hyung Joon Kil, MD

Dr. Kil earned his medical degree in 1983 at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia and completed his residency at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kil has been board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology since 1983. His specialty interests include minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic hysterectomy, in-office sterilization, management of menopause, and endometrial ablation. Broadening his expertise, Dr. Kil is now a Diplomate of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, an Associate of Laser Vaginal Rejuvination Institute, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Gynecologists. Dr. Kil offers aesthetic procedures such as Botox and Radiesse and is pleased to introduce these procedures to the Fredericksburg and surrounding areas.

Period and Ovulation Tracker

This is the phone app I was telling you about in my first post.

Search for "My Days" in the app store.

So the red on May 11 was the first day of my last period. Every month, when I start my period I click the day and then add it. The app automatically knows my cycle and knows that my period is only 4 days so it was over by the 15th.

All of the hearts indicate that we were "intimate". Too bad it doesn't let you put two hearts if you were intimate twice in one day, lol.

The greenish yellow color indicates ovulation starting on the 21st. The days highlighted are when I'm fertile but the brightest day (26th) is supposed to be the most fertile day. Sounds gross, but the E on the 24th indicates the egg-white cervical mucus/discharge that I noticed. I wanted to make sure I documented everything, sorry if it's TMI! So the day after the mucus was the day we conceived (25th).

This app has been super accurate for me and it definitely helps regulate my cycle, which I now know like the back of my hand. I knew that I was supposed to start on June 9th so I took an EPT test on June 7th and got a faint line. Then I didn't start on June 9th so the next day, June 10th, I took the Clear Blue Digital test and within seconds it read "Pregnant"!

I think our weekend getaway to the Bed & Breakfast in the Shenandoah Mountains was just what we needed. It was stress free and relaxing and we enjoyed ourselves. With our busy schedules I feel like ovulation came and went so quickly and we didn't even get a chance to try before the app said I wasn't fertile again. Time is precious when trying and you never know when that exact moment will be so we were glad to be given a lot of opportunities that weekend!

I think this pregnancy will go by super slow for me since we found out when I was only just over 4 weeks along. We were on the verge of making an appointment with the doctor to find out if there was something wrong since we had been trying since December with one miscarriage, one chemical pregnancy, and no other luck for a successful pregnancy. I will try not to complain about anything during this pregnancy because I know we're just lucky to have been able to conceive. I would rather have morning sickness and a healthy baby than feel great and not be able to get pregnant. We are so blessed and happy now that we have succeeded and can't wait to see what the future brings for us and Baby Savage!

Surprise!

We found out on June 10, 2013 that we are expecting our first baby!

Baby Savage is due on February 15, 2014

What is a Chemical Pregnancy?

Since my last post, Mark and I have still been trying to conceive every month. We ran into a hiccup in March/April. It ended up being a chemical pregnancy. See below for the dates and details.

Chemical Pregnancy:
4/12-4/14 light bleeding, not bright red
4/13 faint line (first response)
4/14 fainter line (first response)
4/15 heavy bleeding and cramping
4/15 negative (clear blue digital)
4/16 heavy bleeding and cramping
4/17 regular bleeding no cramping
4/18 light bleeding no cramping

4/13 faint line

4/14 fainter line

4/15 negative

I just wanted to share this information with anyone who might be experiencing the same thing. I had no clue what it was and if I hadn't taken the tests and gotten faint lines I would have probably just assumed it was my period.

We will continue to keep trying :)