PREGNANCY WEEK 7- NEW YEARS EVE 2014!!!

Dear Baby Thompson,

You sure did make your Mommy smile when she saw you on an ultrasound last Sunday with a strong heartbeat of 125 at 6w4d!!!! (see earlier post)... According to babycenter.com, this week your hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities I'm daydreaming about holding and tickling! Technically, you are still considered an embryo with a small  tail, which is an extension of your tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. You have doubled in size since last week and now measure half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry or a bean.

You now have eyelid folds partially covering your eyes, which already have some color. You also have a tiny nose with tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your  brain are growing, and your liver is churning out red blood cells until your bone marrow forms and takes over this role. You also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your  growing intestines is bulging into your umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from your tiny body!

Mommy told me that she sees a change in her belly button already....probably due to the fact that her uterus has doubled in size because of your fast growth spurts!  But she isn't complaining!  

Mommy has had an increase in the nausea department!  The last few days, she has been having a hard time keeping down her meals.  She is not sick 24/7, but the food just doesn't like to stay down! Another new symptom is a change in Mommy's breasts.  They are full, sore and her nipples are darker. ....Just like they did when she was pregnant with your sister.  Speaking of Gracyn, she says the cutest things (wish I could share on her blog....but you are still our sweet secret)..... She reminds Mommy that she is pregnant and not to pick her up.....she is a big girl and will do it herself!

We love you very much!  MiMi 

6w4d ULTRASOUND!

Mommy had an elective ultrasound today.  According to tracked ovulation you are 6w4d but today...you are measuring 6w6d (2 days ahead) with a strong heartbeat of 122-125!  If you look closely, you can see little arm and leg buds!  YAY!!!!

CHRISTMAS 2014

This is your first family of four photo!  Mommy is 6 weeks pregnant with you....and your sister, Gracyn is 2!

PREGNANCY WEEK 6!!!!

You are the size of a sweet pea and just "experienced" your first Christmas Eve!  You are definitely a sweet gift to your Mommy and Daddy!   This week you will be growing like crazy with blood circulating and your heart beating!!!  We look forward to seeing your precious heart beat at the next ultrasound in a few days!!!!  Even though you look like a tadpole, you are developing ears, nose,eyes and a chin.... You even have small limb like paddles forming arms and legs!!!!  AMAZING!  Mommy's morning sickness is in full swing!  She vomits at least once a day!  Her heightened sense of smell doesn't help the situation either!!! A new symptom is insomnia at night, which adds to her exhaustion during the day! But you are soooo worth it!!!  

Looking back at your sister's blog during week 6, Mommy had her name picked out and it stuck!  Mommy and Daddy have been talking about possible names such as Emmerson Mae or Sawyer James....time will tell!  The belly picture below is definitely a progesterone bloat, since you are still sooooo very small and our precious little secret!!!!

5w3d- CLEAR BLUE DIGITAL UPDATE!

The digital continues to read 3+ (5+weeks!) and today's HPT looks GREAT!!!!  Caitlin got her first 3+ reading yesterday when her blood level HCG was likely in the upper 4000 range. After researching clinical trials, she is in line with most women tested. It is important to remember that these are blood level hcgs because the urine level reads far less!

5w2d- FAULTY HPT?

Want to know how to drive yourself insane?......look below...... With perfect daily progression HPTs, Mommy gets this result today.....YIKES!  Two days ago, the Clear Blue digital read 2-3 (4-5 weeks pregnant).... For peace of mind, she took another Clear Blue hoping to finally see 3+ and she got it!  But the two tests sure do contradict themselves!!!!!!   I am leaning towards a faulty test and sticking with the Clear Blue read!!!!!  However, convincing Mommy that all is well is another story!!!

Update:  Mommy took another test this evening and the control line is lighter again!!!!  Different concentrations of urine or she is starting to experience the hook effect once the HCG reaches high levels.....hopefully she gets a 3+ reading again tomorrow on the digital!!!

PREGNANCY WEEK 5!!!!!

Wow Baby Thompson you are already the size of an orange or apple seed!  During the ultrasound to confirm you are definitely in the uterus, the yolk sac was pointed out and the tech said your heart will be beating soon.  I am pretty confident I saw the fetal pole, but since that was not the purpose of the ultrasound, the tech would not verify (but the comment about your heart beating soon pretty much gives me the answer we are looking for!). We have a elective ultrasound set up for December 28th!  You will be 6w4d then and we should be able to see your beautiful heart beating away!!!!  This week, you look like a tadpole with many of your major organs forming!  Mommy has had many pregnancy symptoms including, heightened sense of smell, sore breasts, cramping, fatigue, constipation, gas, nausea and has vomited a few times...she also has blurred vision and dizziness from progesterone (prometriem pills), but she doesn't complain and says overall she feels wonderful during this pregnancy!  She definitely has the pregnancy glow!!!!!  You are a true miracle and we are all blessed!!!!

5w0d- FIRST OB APPOINTMENT & ULTRASOUND!

Mommy had her first OB appointment!  It went well!  Blood pressure is 124/82, a trace of protein was found in urine (seems to be her normal), the midwife took her history down and the OB did the exam.  She has the same friable cervix that she did while pregnant with Gracyn (blood engorged and irritated)..... So she will be on pelvic rest this entire pregnancy as well!  Poor Daddy!.... He did say he didn't see any blood this time with the friable cervix (great sign....she spotted several times with Gracyn)..... But she might spot after the vaginal check up and not to worry.....She did complain about pain on her left side, so the OB decided to check and make sure the pregnancy is in the uterus.  Not only is there a gestational sac in the uterus, there is also a yolk sac!  RIGHT ON TRACK!  WHAT A RELIEF!!!!  There is also a corpus luteal cyst on her right ovary, which is pretty large.  The cyst is pushing the uterus over to the left, which is giving her left side pain!  The OB is not concerned and said that they usually resolve themselves within the first trimester.  Now we know which ovary produced this sweet egg!!!!

5w0d- HPT PROGRESSION!

More HPT comparisons!  24 hours, 48 hours and 8dpo-21dpo!!!!!  Yes, Mommy is an HPTAHOLIC!!!!!

4w6d (20 dpo)

The 24 hour comparison was about the same, but the 48 hour comparison shows a definite difference!  The Clear blue digital still reads 2-3 weeks dpo, which is 4-5 weeks pregnant..... Definitely in line with this pregnancy but wondering when it will read. 3+ (5 weeks+ pregnant).  

4w5d (19dpo)

The control line continues to get lighter and lighter!!!!!

4w4d (18dpo)

The first picture is a 24 hour comparison.  The second picture is 48 hours.  

4w3d (17dpo)

The obsession continues!!!!! Hard not to obsess after two losses. I have a VERY strong feeling that this pregnancy is sticking and thriving!!!!! Below are 24 hour , 48 hour and daily comparisons!

PREGNANCY WEEK FOUR!

You are not even 3mm long yet, but your brain and central nervous system are already beginning to take shape, and your embryonic form is going from two layers of cells to three. How amazing is it that all this is going on totally undetectable to the outside world? ......But we know your Mommy's secret!!!!! 

4w2d PREGNANT!!!!!

Taking more from the control line (4w2d, 16dpo)! It s a little hard to see it happening in pictures, but definitely evident in person!!!!!  Gracyn told Mommy this morning first thing when she woke up, pointing to Mommy's belly (Mommy had not even talked about the baby yet today) "That baby is big and strong like Gracyn"  I wish I could post this to Gracyn's blog, but toooooo many close friends and relatives read that one.....Right now, she is only telling the immediate family!  It is sad how miscarriages from the past rob you of the joy and confidence in early pregnancy!  

4w1d- HPT AHOLIC!!!!

Yes Mommy is a HPTaholic !!!!  Haha!   The first picture shows a 24 hour progression since 8dpo.  The second picture is another 12 hour comparison.....You can see the pregnancy line stealing color from the control line!!!!!!

2nd BETA 4w0d

The second beta number is...... 4w0d- 298!!!!!!  Doubling time 39.3 hours from 3w5d - 128!!!!!  WOOT, WOOT!!!!  The OB is so pleased that she does not have to do a 3rd Beta!!!!  First OB appointment is next Wednesday....Mommy will be 5w0d then! 

4w0d

Just as Mommy was bragging about not being sick during this pregnancy, her luck changed!  Tonight at dinner, the chillie didn't settle well!  It came back up fast and furious!  YUCK! The only cute thing about this episode was your little 2 year old sister!  Gracyn patted MOMMY'S back and said, " You sick Mommy? (Patting back)....Awe, you feel better....."  PRECIOUS!

3w6d (13dpo) - 12 HOUR COMPARISONS!

OMG is an understatement!  These two HPTs are from today, 3w6d (13dpo) just 12 hours apart!  

FIRST BETA!!!!

A 24 hour comparison!!!!!!  The test dated 12/8/14 was the first Beta draw at 3w5d (12dpo) was 128!!!!  WOOT WOOT!!!!!

3w6d- (13dpo)

Missed period is not until tomorrow!  Looks like things are progressing nicely!!!! WOOT WOOT!   The first picture is comparing 3w4d to 3w6d for a 48 hour comparison... The next picture is a 24 hour comparison! Nice strong lines for being days before a missed period!!!!!

3w5d (12dpo)

3w4d (11 dpo)

The first picture is 48 hours, the second picture is a 24 hour timespan!  Since the HCG levels seem to be rising appropriately, Mommy has decided to do a blood draw tomorrow!

3w3d- 10 dpo

48 hours later!  Looks like a healthy pregnancy!  Prayers continue. .... Mommy is going to wait on a blood draw until Wednesday, when you are 4w0d!!!!  She started her progesterone 3x per day, baby aspirin, and has been on prenatals and extra folic acid since ttc. She has her usual dizziness, blurred vision and bloating from the progesterone....but her boobs are more firm and she is already constipated!! She was neausous earlier, but also extremely hungry at the same time.....almost to the point of being shaky! 

GUESS WHAT!!!!!! (8 DPO)

On Monday (6dpo) Mommy felt twinges...Implantation?????  Thursday  December 4th, your Mommy sent me this belated Birthday gift!!!! That faint line is 8 dpo, which is 3w1d pregnant!!!!!  

OVULATION! (CD 16-17)

Tracking ovulation!  Calendar days 16, 17, and 18..... Let the baby dance begin!!!!! (November 26, 2014)..... If all goes as planned, this little one will have it's first Thanksgiving tomorrow!  haha)

FOLLOW UP OB VISIT

Our hearts are slowly healing after the 2nd miscarriage.  Caitlin had a follow up OB visit.  The pathology testing ruled out her blood disorder as the cause.  It also ruled out chromosome issues.  The OB said it was a "normal" miscarriage where something just didn't line up in the development of the fetus!  We hang on to the fact that she can get pregnant and the fact that they can make a healthy baby    (Beautiful Gracyn, who will be TWO in a few weeks!).  PRAYERS continue!

HEAVY HEARTS!

We lost the heartbeat! The baby stopped growing at 8w2d. We are NUMB!

9 WEEKS PREGNANT!

Dear Baby Thompson,

We took a sneak peek at you last Tuesday at an optional ultrasound place that is close by.  My how you have grown!  You are still measuring 5 to 6 days behind, but you are growing right on track each week with a healthy heartbeat. Your heart was a beautiful flutter of 156!  Sometime this week you end the embryonic stage and enter the fetal period! WOW! You will measure about an Inch long, the size of a medium green olive or grape. Soon your head will straighten out and will be more fully developed, Your ears will be much more prominent and some new organs (the liver, spleen and gallbladder) will be forming.  As your muscles develop, we should see more spontaneous movement at the next elective ultrasound on Tuesday!  We can't wait to hear your heartbeat and movements on the home doppler.  Mommy was able to hear your big sister around 10 weeks pregnant.  Since you are growing behind schedule, it may be closer to 11 weeks or so with you.....Time will tell!  

As for Mommy, her belly really popped this week!  She still has all of the normal pregnancy symptoms, but I think she is turning the corner from projectile vomiting to just being nauseous!   The main food aversion is hamburger!  Now that is doable! Yay!

Love you!

9w0d- MOMMY's VIEW!

This is Mommy's 9 week pregnant belly from her view! The belly has popped much sooner with this pregnany....plus Mommy still has a progesterone bloat going on!  Soooo dang cute!

8w4d ULTRASOUND

Despite spotting light pink a few days ago.....Baby Thompson continues to show appropriate growth each week measuring 7w5d with a strong HB 156!  We saw the brain, spine, arm/leg buds and the amniotic fluid, which means the kidneys are functioning!!!  It is amazing the difference from last week to this week!  A true miracle in the making!!!

8w1d- CRAVINGS!

Guess who just got out of bed at 10 pm to make waffles! Haha!

8 WEEKS PREGNANT!

Dear Baby Thompson,

Mommy is 8 weeks pregnant with you!  Wow time is flying by.  Your big sister is keeping us busy!  Mommy continues to have all the normal pregnancy symptoms....for example, when she brushes her teeth, she has a hard time not puking.  Her gag reflex is in full force.  Little Miss Gracyn is sooooo concerned for Mommy and keeps asking "Mommy OK?"  Mommy is doing great aside from the sickness and extreme fatigue!  This week she went out and bought maternity dress pants for work.  During the last pregnancy, she was able to wear scrubs to work, but now is in more of an administrative nursing position!  These new pants allow her to breathe!  Her non pregnancy pants were just too uncomfortable ....even unbuttoned!

As for you, we will know more at the next ultrasound on Tuesday evening.....will you continue on your normal growth pattern of about a week behind schedule, or will you start to show a growth spurt?  We continued to be reassured that this is a healthy pregnancy since you've had a strong heartbeat since 5w6d, with appropriate growth since!  On the next ultra sound we hope to see arm and leg buds.....hopefully more! You should be between the size of a blueberry or maybe even closer to the size of a raspberry!  Sometime this week, you will measure about a 1/2 inch from crown to rump.  This week, your lips, nose and eyelids will form and soon your tail will disappear!  We hope to see your heart beating in the 150's or more as you spontaneously start to wiggle!

We love you!!!!

FIRST BABY GIFT!

ULTRASOUND COMPARISONS!

Ultrasounds 8 days later.....on left baby is measuring 5w6d with HB of 105 and the ultrasound on the right shows our baby measuring 6w5d with a strong HB of 130!!!!  GROW BABY GROW!!!!

7w4d- SPOTTING AND ULTRASOUND

Caitlin woke up to more light pink spotting today.  After a few wipes, it was completely gone.  Que the freak out!......an ultrasound was set for the evening to check for peace of mind.  This made for a VERY long day and to top it off, Caitlin couldn't shake her morning sickness.  After lunch she said she vomited so fast and hard that it spewed out of her nose and when it the toilet water, she got slashed!!!!   YUCK!!!!  On the way to the ultrasound I was confident the little bean was fine because Mommy was soooo sick.  We made a few pit stops to and from the ultrasound place.  Baby bean is growing right on schedule ....still measuring 5-6 days behind....at 6w5d with a nice strong heartbeat of 130!!! The tech is not concerned about the measurement since appropriate growth and a strong heartbeat are present!!!!  I know the dates concern Caitlin, but I keep reminding her that if the ultrasound techs and OB are not concerned, then she shouldn't be concerned.  She needs to let go of her anxiety and enjoy the pregnancy!  Hard to do after experiencing a miscarriage with the last pregnancy!  Little Miss Gracyn kept saying that she wanted to see the baby in Mommy's belly (she knew we were going to the ultrasound place). Tooooo cute!

7w2d- SICK!

Wow, Caitlin is far more sick during this pregnancy.  Week 7 has started off challenging in the morning sickness department.  Often Caitlin is VERY hungry, but keeping the food down is another thing!  After she pukes, she feels much better....but having vomit spew out of her nose is making for trying times.  Caitlin says it feels like something has invaded her body!  (Ummm, yep!) Another symptom that she noticed today was lactating boobs!  That didn't happen until she was about 7 months pregnant with Gracyn!  Maybe it is due to the fact that she breastfed Gracyn and her boobs just know what to do this time?  Who knows!  At least all these symptoms are signs that the pregnany is progressing nicely!  And.....it's been a week since the last spotting episode! :-)

7 WEEKS PREGNANT!!!!

Dear Baby Thompson,

Do you know that Mommy and Daddy have already picked names for you?  If you are a boy, you will be named Emerson James (after your late grandfather on your Mommy's side of the family).  If you are a girl you will be named Emersyn Mae (after your Great Grandmother on your Daddy's side of the family).  Either way you will be nicknamed Em!

Mommy had a roller coaster of a week with you, spotting, whacky HCG numbers and emotions.  The ER doc said she had a SCH (bleed), the elective ultrasound tech believes you were a twin and the second baby didn't stick...the bleed was a second sac!  The OB ultrasound tech said the vanishing twin syndrome made sense with all of the evidence (hcg, and bleed), but found no evidence in the uterus.  meaning all has resolved....We will never really know the truth, but I am leaning towards the twin theory!  Bittersweet theory, but we are lucky to have one healthy baby with a strong heartbeat!!!!

Mommy has all of the usual pregnancy symptoms....Heightened sense of smell, sore breasts, bloated belly, heavy feeling in her uterus, some cramps, constipation or diarrhea, tons of nausea and vomiting several times a week, plus extreme tiredness....especially after lunch!  She just wants to sleep, but with a toddler at home....that's impossible!  But taking care of Gracyn is helping the days pass quickly!!!!

As for you, you are the size of a blueberry! Your intestines are developing, the chambers in your heart are forming and your brain is expanding!!!!  Your eyes, ear buds, arms and leg buds are forming!  You also have an appendix and pancreas!  SIMPLY AMAZING!  A MIRACLE!

We love you!

BIG SISTER!