Another new adventure???

Ah yes, the day has come and gone where I was supposed to get my period. Yesterday in fact I should have gotten that visit. But I woke up yesterday and although I had stomach cramps all day long (which I've had for a week or more already, and can't figure out why), it still never came. Woke up today and still, it never came. So J and I figured we'd make a trip to the pharmacy and see if they sell pregnancy tests. They do, but even their 'cheapies' are nearly twice as much as they are in the city, an hour away! Oh well, we picked up 2 and went on our way.

Now I want to describe the last few weeks. It was great at our appointment on Jan 4 when we got the OK to get pregnant. So, we stopped preventing, but weren't particularly trying, either! I found a website that tracks your cycle and gives you the most likely days to conceive. My particular days were the 15,16, and 17th (a Friday, Sat. and Sun.). So we did some 'trying' before those dates, however didn't actually get the job done on those dates except one time on Friday the 15th at night. So... paid close attention to how I was feeling after that, trying to notice any changes that may indicate I was pregnant. Nothing. We didn't 'try' again till the 19&20th. And that's right around when I started getting stomach cramps. Every. Freaking. DAY.

So online I went to see what other women have felt as far as early symptoms go. Turns out cramping is a big one! Who knew? Then a few more days went by and my boobs were really sore and sensitive to everything, and I was picking fights with J for any little reason! Again, more symptoms. I still wanted to wait though until I was 'supposed to' get my period this weekend. So that has come and gone, and here we are. I wanted to wait til tomorrow morning to take the tests, because morning is the best time for it to be accurate. J, however, wanted to try one right away to see what would happen. So I tried one out. It is hard to explain that feeling of being super, super excited but scared at the same time! Finally the one minute was up and I took a peek.

You really can't mistake the 2 lines on them! And this is a cheapie, no-name brand too! So here's to my last day of sanity, let the craziness begin!

We made a few phone calls, J's mom was the first to find out and is pretty excited, although this won't be her first grandchild. My dad was the first on my side to find out and was really excited. We made his day, he said! Mom and my Aunty I could hear screaming in the background while on the phone with J. My sister was excited, then we called my Gramma and let her know too. For the most part though we want to keep it quiet, of course we're only a couple weeks in and have a long way to go what with starting the injections and everything else that goes along with this. I'm looking forward to all of it though. I want to enjoy everything I can.

Now I'm going to be pretty busy here, getting started with that ECE course soon and getting all my new prenatal appointments going, hopefully starting working fulltime in a couple months also, things will be pretty hectic. But I don't think I want it any other way! Look at the proud papa-to-be! (and try to ignore the goofy look on his face, he was doing an 'I'm the man!' kinda thing)

EEEEEK! I am sooooo excited about everything! The due date is apparantly Oct 9, and I am exactly 4 weeks along today (or 2 weeks, from the conception date). 36 weeks to go!

A new adventure?

So I finally got a call from the daycare just to come in for a half day yesterday. It's been a month since the last day I worked there so that was, well, at least better than nothing! Before I went home I went to the office and talked to Tracy (the daycare manager) about that full-time job she mentioned before Christmas. Wondering whether she still wanted to hire someone fulltime and if she was still considering me for it. From the sounds of it she wants to wait until the little guys in the baby room graduate onto the older kid floor (March), and can add the babies on the waiting list to the baby room. More income for the daycare = more funds for hiring another full time person! So I told her I am very interested in the position and when the time comes that I would love to take it!

The only thing is, I have to take the Early Childhood Education course to qualify for this full time job. So I found out more about the course and still need to find out some more, but so far I know that it's a 2-year course that I can take through distance ed and will cost something like $4500 plus book costs for those two years. Not a bad price and I could probably get a student loan and get it paid off quickly, say even $200/mo payments would pay off $2400 in the first year! So I am now waiting for a call from the school and hopefully will know all the details soon. What really helps make up my mind is that without this course I can't get the job I love so much, but with the course I will have a full time 40-hour-a-week job having fun where even when J and I have a kid I will be able to work and be nearby to our child! I think this is a teriffic idea. I know the timing may not be the best as we are actually trying right now to get pregnant, but I wouldn't be the first to have a baby while 'in college'. If you really count distance ed as 'in college'! Either way, I know I am a smart and focused person and would rock that course!

The Doll Palace

Up late and bored one night, I stumbled upon a magical website that lets you make your own paper 'dolls'. Being a total geek, of course I spent the next couple hours putting together little people in fun and fabulous combinations. Here is what I came up with:







I am not entirely sure if they will even show up in this format, but here's to trying! There are 3 here. The first, perhaps because I was the least tired and was contemplating the fact that that particular day was supposed to be the best day to concieve, represents to me someone like Persephone, the youthful goddess of spring and new life. Of course when TTC, it is nice to think I've got someone like that watching over me, making sure things will turn out OK!

I have high hopes for the future, for myself, J, and everyone else involved in our lives. I know this is only our first month of trying, and there are lots of obstacles on the road ahead, but I believe we do all that we can do and that will be good enough. If I am the best me I can possibly be, what more could be asked for?

As a side note, the year has been off to a good start, we are halfway through January and so far so good. I've been working out most nights for 45 minutes on the bike, and plan to bump it up to an hour soon. Also the soonest I can take a pregnancy test and expect an accurate result should be around Feb 1, so here's to getting through the first little bit! Actually to be honest, I would rather get preggers next month, just because I would love to have a baby around my own birthday, or a little Halloweenie! Of course though anytime would be fine with me!

Do you want to hear the good or the bad first?

I had my Hematologist visit yesterday and it went really well. J and I were finally given the go-ahead to start trying for a baby! I know having one will mean 9 months of taking blood thinner injections in the stomach and lots of un-pretty bruises because of that, but if that is what it takes, it is all going to be worth it. We hope to start trying tonight ;)

Anyways after that appointment I went to get 500ml of blood taken out because it was more convenient to do it there than wait a couple days and do it at home. It went smoothly as usual but maybe because I hadn't eaten in 5 or more hours or maybe because I had my period at the same time :o but after the needle was taken out and I sat there putting pressure on the spot, the room started to spin and a few seconds later I passed out right there! J was freaked out but he quickly called a nurse and laid my hospital chair down into a bed. I woke up within 5 to 10 seconds, feeling like I had woke up from a long nap, and confused about why I was lying down instead of sitting. The nurse stuck an IV in my arm just to rehydrate me and we had to stay an extra half hour or so, until I could walk around the ward without feeling dizzy. It was a strange feeling that I don't want to experience again. I knew I was passing out, and as soon as everything went black I had a few really, really fast dreams. It was weird... But fortunately J was right there, I was in the hospital already, and it didn't last long. He was pretty worried, it reminded him too much of some of the things that happened last year to me. But we got out and got some supper, and were on our way home shortly after that.

I tell J that to keep his mind off of me passing out, he should be thinking of us finally getting to have a baby like we have been wanting so much!

Here's to the best, happiest, healthiest 2010 possible!

Happy New Year!

We are about 40 minutes into the year 2010, and I just got inside from standing out in the shovelled walkway to the house looking up at a cold but incredibly bright full moon. You know how often a blue moon appears on New Year's Eve? About once every 19 years. So tonight is a special night, one to pay special attention and reflect on all that has happened in the last 12 months, and then close that chapter and begin a new one. Here's to all the hopes and dreams for the coming year, perhaps this rare moon in the skies will be a sign of wonderful things to come. As I sit here warming up from being outside enjoying the cold and quiet, I have a lot of thoughts running through my head about the year ahead. Some small idle wishes, some grand dreams for what life might bring this way next.

Here's to hoping that life will go on in all its beauty and bits of new knowledge and pleasure for everyone to enjoy to the absolute fullest!