Yesterday was a whirlwind!  I went to the hospital, beside my work, and had my blood test done by 10am; plenty of time for my doctor's office to get the results before they closed at 1pm.  The lady who drew my blood said the results would be ready within the hour.  I was in clinic at work the rest of the morning and constantly checked my phone in between patients.  By noon I was getting worried!  I told my head nurse "something's not right, why haven't they called me?!"  She explained they are probably like us and crazy busy.  I jokingly told her she was wrong, that's it's all about me, and their sole responsibility that day was getting my results.  I finally couldn't take it anymore so I called my coordinator at 12:30pm.  She had just called the hospital ten minutes prior and the results weren't ready!  I instantly was worried I wouldn't get the results that day!  Then she told me "I can tell you that your test on Wednesday was positive, your levels were really high, so you're pregnant!"  I think I responded with "Oh my gosh!!" in a surprised tone!  I wasn't really surprised, just wanted to know if they were sure!

A couple of people asked me this week if I feel pregnant.  I told them it's too soon to have symptoms, and thought I have no idea what being pregnant even feels like, but I sensed I was.  I was a little sad that my breast pain went away after the follicle stimulating hormones and I had no other symptoms to indicate I was.  I should be careful what I wish for!!  On Thursday, while I was getting ready around 6am, all of a sudden a huge wave of nausea and a hot flash came over me and I had to stop what I was doing and go outside to cool down.  I was in shorts and a tank top, and even the cool morning air wasn't cool enough for me.  The nausea sort of went away, but I couldn't finish my coffee.  That morning at work I kept getting mild waves of nausea that were relieved by eating little bites of fruit here and there.  I told Lee I'd be surprised if my test was negative and his response was "the nausea could be from anything!"  Mr. Optimist had suddenly turned into Mr. Pessimist!  I kept telling him to "think positive!"  I think he didn't want to get his hopes up and wasn't going to believe it until it was confirmed.

Once I got off the phone with my coordinator, I immediately called Lee to tell him the partial news.  I told him my test was positive from Wednesday, but they were waiting on the results from that day, and as long as my numbers are still going up, then I am pregnant.  He yelled "woohoo!" then said "I have to go, I'm in the middle of a work crisis."  Work crisis?!  Hello, I said we are PREGNANT!!!  I learned later he was at a job with several workers, standing outside a locked house because no one told the homeowners they were going to be there that day and he had to figure out what to do with each guy.  He told me to call him when I heard back from Karen, so once I heard, I texted him and said my levels are even higher.  I didn't want to call him again because he seemed stressed, so I thought a text was best.  I sent the group text to him and my mother about the second result and he asked if that meant we were having twins.  I told him not necessarily and I'll explain later.  My mother and I proceeded to talk in Emojicons.  When I got home to greet him he asked "so are you pregnant?  I don't understand pictures."  He didn't understand that my high level of HCG that day meant I was pregnant (even though I thought I had explained it well), and I guess he needed to hear "I'm definitely pregnant!"  I told him he should've called me!  Here I am telling my closest friends and family and my husband didn't even fully understand?!

We didn't do any big celebration last night (I was exhausted from all the happy emotions), but we hugged a bunch, made dinner together and relaxed.  We already referred to each other as "Mama" and "Daddy" with the dogs, but we started calling each other "Baby Mama" and "Baby Daddy."  We talked about when the due date would be if we had one baby or two, and about how cool it would be to have twins, but we'd be happy with just one.  Realization started to set in, and we talked about how much we have to do in 8-9 months!  Our kitchen is our biggest stress (nasty, broken tile, gross old cabinets, spaces between things where we've removed cabinets or appliances, a stove sitting by itself without a cabinet, a huge gap between the old tile and new hardwood we laid, etc) and we somehow have to figure out how to have it done before baby!  We finally agreed we'd "figure it out" and went back to the happy celebratory state!

There has been so much good news lately in our lives it seems God is answering prayer after prayer!  Lee hasn't been happy with his job for a long time and the commute has been killing him (plus our finances!).  Out of the blue last week, he got a call from a contractor who is located in Scotts Valley (where his parent's live) who wanted to interview him.  He was given Lee's resume by the designer of Lee's parent's kitchen after Lee renovated it two years ago.  Lee had an interview with him on Tuesday evening and was told Wednesday morning he got the job!!  This contractor has been in business about ten years, mostly works in Santa Cruz County (i.e. close to home!) and has so much work he's having to turn down some.  We checked him out online and he has proper licensing and a clean record.  He is starting Lee at the same pay he was making "over the hill" as we call it, in San Jose and after six months, he starts accumulating vacation time!  His current boss started doing that two years ago, but it only lasted for six months so any time Lee has to take off, it's unpaid.  Lee is taking his test in three weeks for his contractor's license, and was going to wait until the after the test to look for another job, but this one fell into his lap!  Lee's a bit overwhelmed by everything right now.  On top of this, he's currently renovating his parent's bathrooms after work and on weekends.  Even though it's all good news, I think his already scattered brain is overloaded!

Hopefully once he starts his new job and takes his test he will settle down.  I myself have been in a state of euphoria since the transfer and hope I can continue this feeling!  I went back to work on Wednesday after having an anxious day on Tuesday and completely dreading returning, but it hasn't been so bad.  There is so much drama/tension/anger/stress with people there and the vibe isn't good, but I'm trying to keep myself in a bubble and not let other's drama get to me because it has nothing to do with me.  My baby(s) is the most important thing right now, and I'm making sure to take care of myself.  I allow myself one cup of coffee in the morning (which my doctor said was totally fine) and only take medications prescribed by my doctor, plus prenatal vitamins and extra folic acid.  I'm allowed to take Zyrtec, but have been trying to only take it a few times a week.  I haven't had wine in weeks and the break from drinking feels nice (but I do still crave it!).  I already drink plenty of water and I stocked up on ginger ale, which I think will be my new best friend if/when the nausea hits.

I believe my doctor said once the pregnancy tests are done (I have another tomorrow and my final one on Tuesday) I'll be able to lift over ten pounds.  Banjo has done great getting himself in and out of the truck, but Kazoo is another story.  Even though she can launch in and out of Lee's big truck with no problem, she looks at me with her big doe eyes as if to say "carry me, Mom" when she's in mine.  I've spoiled her too much, but I do miss carrying her around!  Lee has gotten better at the injections, but it's hard to believe I have 7-9 weeks left of them!  After the first few days of absolutely dreading the injections and severe pain, all of a sudden I could barely feel them going in and the pain afterwards wasn't there.  I got a little cocky after that thinking they would no longer hurt, until Lee hit a nerve and numbness went down my leg.  Some days I don't feel it, some days I yell in pain.  I have knots in both hips and currently my right cheek feels like I'm carrying a ten pound painful weight in it, but it's all manageable and totally worth it!!!  I know he will be relieved once we're done with injections!

Thanks to all who congratulated me yesterday, hugged me, praised God with me and cried with me!!  I have been waiting so long to be able to say "I'm pregnant!" and it felt good, although still so surreal.  Every time I think about it I smile, and every time I speak about it, I cry!  I know I have a ways to go until I'm officially in the "safe zone" in three months, and until then, it isn't Facebook official, just our little secret!

Please continue to keep our sweet baby(s) in your prayers and pray that they continue to grow healthy and strong!

Love,
Chelle