We are so very lucky!

Hello fair Bleaders!  Well, we made it!  My 2nd trimester started Sunday!  The first trimester is the big hump where miscarriage is more probable than the other two, and we've now crossed that bridge.  Wahoo!!!!  I feel a great sense of relief!  And a little bit more energy these days.  Still waking up with a headache (at least the last 2 days) but hopefully that will subside soon as the 2nd trimester is supposed to be easier than the 1st and I'm supposed to feel like a million bucks (according to Trainer's Wife).  Let's hope she is right. 

Before, I get to talking about what progress the baby has made up to now, let me explain why we are so very lucky.  First off, we made it this far.  So many women don't.  And we have, without a lot of drama and no abnormalities thus far.  However, that isn't what makes me feel so lucky.

Last week, I stopped off at Dr. H's office for a quick visit with Holly.  I had some moderatly expensive meds that were individually packaged and since the pharmacy wouldn't give me a refund, I asked Holly if I could donate them to her for another patient, since they had given me some freebees I wanted to return the favor.  Holly, of course, accepted enthusiastically and told me she had just the couple to give them to. 

Dr. H is currently treating a couple who have a 3 year old daughter who needs a bone marrow transplant.  So the parents of this little angel are trying desperately to get pregnant with a miracle child to cure their other child.  Talk about pressure!  We simply wanted to get pregnant to have a child.  These parents need to get pregnant to save their other child.  And not only that, the child they do get pregnant with needs to be a perfect bone marrow match!  I can't even begin to imagine.  I thought this process was stressful for me, but I can't imagine what they are going through.  So Bleeps, that puts it all in perspective, we are very lucky.  I was more than happy to give Holly whatever we had left over that she would accept and I only wish I could have done more to help.  Please keep them in your thoughts, they need all the help they can get.

I also had taken in some ultrasound pictures to show off, because who better to show than the nurse that helped create that baby?!  She loved looking at them because as she said, "they only get to see them about 8 weeks when there is just a little blip of heartbeat, not when there is a nose, and arms and legs!"  She was very excited and told me at least twice that I looked great. 

Also, something interesting happened in the waiting room while I was waiting for Holly.  There was another couple sitting in there and I don't know what they were there for exactly, but I had an idea (obviously).  They paid me no mind when I walked in and was sitting waiting.  But after having this conversation with Holly (in the hallway out of their eyeline), when I walked out I had their undivided attention.  I felt like living proof that IVF can work and things can go smoothly.  Who knows what was said after I left, ultrasound photos in hand, and maybe nothing was.  But if I gave them even a smidgen of hope that they could be in my shoes soon, then I'm a happy lady. 

Now for a baby update:
How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

How your life's changing:

Welcome to your second trimester! Your energy is likely returning, your breasts may be feeling less tender, and your queasiness may have completely abated by now. If not, hang on — chances are good it will soon be behind you (although an unlucky few will still feel nauseated months from now).

The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby, and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.

Now for the personal update from me: 
Like I said, the last two days I have felt a wee bit better.  Saturday I did a bit of maternity clothes shopping.  MBM's sister had given me a huge wardrobe of maternity clothes that I went through and then passed some on to another friend, but the one thing missing was some great jeans.  As we get closer to winter, I live in my jeans, so that's what I needed.  Having already had a bunch of tops and dress pants, I was willing to spend a little more for jeans if I could find them.  Motherhood Maternity really delivered and now I've got 2 new pairs of very stylish jeans that are a bit dressier that I love.  Also found a few tops at Kohl's that were on clearance.  I was kind of disappointed by the department store's (Kohl's and Old Navy's) selection of maternity clothes.  Old Navy's was tucked in almost a back corner of the store with maybe 2 small racks, whereas Kohl's was tucked between "Women" and "Girls" with only about 4 racks.  I know there are stores that specialize in maternity clothes, but they are dang expensive!  Thankfully MBM's sister gave me a bunch, otherwise I'd be out a pretty penny today!

And Sunday I actually had enough energy to clean!  J is overjoyed! (Smile) I did the floors, vacuumed, cleaned bathrooms, cleaned carpets, paid bills, did laundry, and was actually not a bump on the couch.  Like I said, I still wake up with headaches, but the morning sickness is less and less.  Have started to have more of an appetite, but not back to normal at all.  We'll get there I know. 

Now for a sad note.  You all know how much I follow Guiliana Rancic because of her and her husband's battle with infertility. Well, Mama K alerted me this morning that it was announced that she has breast cancer that was discovered because of her 3rd IVF cycle.  Here's the story from the Today Show:

So please say a little prayer for Guiliana that she not only beats breast cancer but that she gets to have the baby that she and Bill have been trying so hard to get, the baby that will hopefully have saved her life!

Again, I feel so lucky today due to both of these stories.  And I hope you are lucky too!