11 weeks!

Wow, 11 weeks! I can't believe how quickly time is passing! I am almost out of the 1st trimester! Over the past several weeks, my nausea has subsided quite a bit. I don't know if I should get used to that or if it will sneak back up on me soon. But, for the time being, I am enjoying the relief! I have been feeling a lot of pinching and pulling in my uterus this week as well. From what I am told, this is probably round ligament pain, which is from my uterus growing and stretching. It doesn't really hurt, just freaks me out a little because I sometimes wonder if they are good feelings or bad. I am going to assume they are good and welcome them with open arms!

I had decided a while back that I would not be posting any bump pics until I was really far along. I am not the smallest person in the world to begin with, so I figured you wouldn't be able to tell that I am pregnant for quite a while. But now I am starting to notice a little bump -- whether it's the normal poochy stomach I had before with a little bit more bloating or the real article, I don't know. Nevertheless, I do have a growing bump, and wanted to start documenting it now so I can see my progress over the weeks and months to come. Grow, bump, grow!

Here is Baby Kirby's 11 week developmental update:

Baby's now the size of a lime! Your baby currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future. Your baby's favorite game right now is exploring their face and especially their mouth. Not only does this game improve your child's newly acquired voluntary muscle coordination of their limbs, but it also starts hard-wiring their hand nerves for newly gained sensations as they're now able to experience in their hands, because their palms can now "feel"! Extensive facial exploration also primes their facial nerves by setting the stage for a lifetime of subtle sensations from kissing to spitting! Final interesting fetal developments for the week: their newly acquired swallow reflex, and the beginnings of a sense of smell, which when combined with their maturing taste buds, will provide your baby with their first experiences of taste and smell in the womb.

Thank you, God, for 1 more week! I pray that Baby Kirby stays healthy and grows big & strong! Amen!

10w2d OB ultrasound

I went in for my 2nd visit with the OB today. I was reminded why I am going to miss my fertility clinic so much. The ultrasound tech hurried through the scan and went way too fast. I had to video, especially because Shawn was unable to go to the appointment. And he even said she went way too fast. I'll post it below. Notice all of the "click click click ok you're done!" Grrrrr!

My OB is nice enough, but just kind of blah. All she did was ask me basic questions about how I am doing -- no physical check or anything. I feel like it was a waste of time, but I guess not. Maybe once I see her a few more times, she'll start to grow on me. I have a followup appointment in 2 weeks, just to make sure things are still going well. I'm pretty sure there will be no ultrasound though. What's the point?? Sorry, just venting.

On a happier note... I received my doppler today! This way, we can monitor the baby's heartbeat at home, in-between ultrasounds. Even though you can hear the heartbeat via doppler as early as 10-12 weeks, I was told that it's usually a little early. I tried several times tonight for quite a while and not sure if I ever found it. Or, if I did, the baby moved away from it, and I lost it. Oh well, I'm not giving up. Maybe in another few days or a week, I will be able to find it consistently. The bigger the baby gets, the easier it will be to find and hear. Once I'm able to find it, I'll be sure to post a video.

Anyway, here is the ultrasound! This is my first abdominal ultrasound (vs. a transvaginal ultrasound). Notice at 0:20 the baby wiggles just a little bit. Enjoy!

10 weeks!

Can't believe I made it to double digits! And can't believe it's been 6 weeks since the positive pregnancy test! I'm hoping the next 6 weeks go by just as fast! We may know the gender by then... :-)

Here is Baby Kirby's 10-week status update:

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat -- a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

9w5d ultrasound

Today we got to see our baby again on ultrasound. I am 9w5d, and the baby measured at 9w4d -- which is perfect, as they want it to be within 1 week of the actual date. The heartbeat measured at 166 beats per minute, which is also perfect. This time, the baby actually looked like a little gummy bear instead of a blob. And it moved and waved at us!

Today was my last day at the fertility clinic. I didn't know that until the end of my appointment. I thought I might go back one more time next week. So I am officially released to my OB-GYN's care. I didn't think it would hit me as hard, but I actually teared up when I left the fertility clinic today. The staff has been through so much with me over the past few months and helped us to conceive a baby! I am forever grateful to Dr. Griffith and his staff! I will be so excited when we are ready to have our 2nd child so we can return to the clinic and have them transfer one of our frozen embryos. Ahhh the miracle of modern science!

Below is the latest ultrasound pic and video of our baby. In the video, the baby moves at around 0:57 and right before 3:00. It also waves to us at 2:30! Hi baby! Mommy & Daddy can't wait to hold you! Sit tight for another 7 months or so and keep growing big & strong! We love you!!

Mah Na Mah Na...

So, I got a text from my brother tonight. This is what it said:

Eric: "Just took another look at the pic you sent me of "blob kirby". It kinda looks like a muppet character screaming with it's mouth wide open. Can you see it?"

Me: "Mah na mah na... do doooo do do do... mah na mah na... do do do doooo..."

If you don't know what phrase that is, I posted the "Mah Na Mah Na" muppet video below for your viewing entertainment. And our muppet ultrasound pic as well. Enjoy!

9 weeks!

Today I am 9 weeks! I celebrated by getting some maternity clothes, as my pants and shirts have gotten a little snug lately. If any stranger on the street saw me, they would never know I was pregnant. But I still have some fluid on my ovaries from IVF, so that in combination with a growing fetus makes for some tight pants! And we all know that comfort is the goal!  I have been meaning to get some maternity/bigger clothes for the past few weeks, but kept putting it off. My parents are in town, and my mom had planned on taking me shopping while they were here. She texted me this morning and asked if I wanted to go shopping -- to which I replied "Not really. When is lunch?" Yes, I hate shopping that much!

So I met everyone for lunch, and they said they were going to take the girls (my nieces) by Baby Gap to look at clothes. My SIL said "You know, they have maternity stuff there too, if you want to look." So I figured what the heck. Well, it turns out that was their plan all along -- to get me shopping for some clothes and not look at baby clothes! I walked out of their with a pair of pants, a pair of jeans, and 9 shirts! I am so thankful that my mom and SIL care enough about me to force me to shop! They are the best! :-)

Here is the current 9-week status for Baby Kirby, who has just graduated from being an embryo to a fetus:

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape or green olive — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Thank you, God, for 1 more week!!

8w4d ultrasound

Today I had a followup appointment at the fertility clinic. They needed to get bloodwork from me to make sure my estrogen and progesterone are all normal. Everything looked good. I went in assuming that I would not be doing another ultrasound this week. I called my insurance to see if they would cover 2 in 1 week, and they said they cover only what is "medically necessary". So, I told Shawn to go ahead and leave town that day to visit his family, since I assumed he would not miss out on an ultrasound. (He had not missed one yet!) After I did my bloodwork, the girl told me to go in room 2. I said "Actually, I don't think I can do an ultrasound today. I've already had one done this week." So they told me to have a seat in the other room while they contacted my insurance. Five minutes later, they were leading me to room 2 again. So, I guess they did indeed consider another ultrasound medically necessary. Not only are they checking the baby, but they are looking to see how much fluid is still on my ovaries from the IVF meds. Lucky me! :-)

Here is the 8w4d ultrasound. My phone was running out of storage space, so the video kept stopping and I had to quickly delete some pictures off to keep rolling. So there are 3 videos of the same ultrasound session. One day I will vow to learn how to splice the videos together! 163 bpm -- woohoo! Grow, baby Kirby, grow!

8w2d OB ultrasound

Today was my first appointment with the new OB-GYN. Her name is Dr. Gibson, and she seems like a good doctor. I will be able to deliver at St. Lukes, which I hear is a wonderful hospital. Apparently, you get treated like royalty when you are checked in there. Looking forward to that! They also have a Texas Children's wing in the hospital, which is one of the best if something happens with your child! I will go back and visit Dr. Gibson in 2 weeks, after I'm released from the fertility clinic.

We also got to do an 8w2d ultrasound today! I asked the ultrasound tech, who was apparently subbing for the usual girl, if we could video the ultrasound. She went to ask a nurse and came back stating that we apparently could not. I immediately looked at Shawn and said "We need to find a new OB." She said "Well, let me go ask Dr. Gibson, just to be sure." She came back and said that Dr. Gibson did not mind at all. Sometimes it's worth complaining to get what you want -- haha! Sorry for the blurry video and poor sound. 151 bpm -- yay!!

Our little astronaut

8 weeks!

We are 8 weeks today! It seems like only yesterday when I was just 4 weeks and found out that I was pregnant. The last 4 weeks have gone by so quickly. I hope the rest of my pregnancy follows suit!

As for symptoms, nothing is really different. I still have morning sickness from time to time, mostly in the latter half of the day. I actually slept quite a bit this weekend too -- sleeping in, as well as taking naps. Also, this week, my nose has been very stuffy and congested. (You will hear in the following video that this is normal during this time as well.) But I'm pretty much getting used to this whole first trimester funfest. I'm just blessed that it's all happening, even if I do feel a little crappy! It's all for the cause and so worth the sacrifice!

We have our first OB appointment on Monday. I think it's just preliminary paperwork and testing. I don't even think they are going to do an ultrasound. But, of course, Shawn (aka "Daddy") is going with me. He wants to be a part of it all, and I love him for that! We also have another appointment with the fertility clinic on Wednesday, and they will do an ultrasound then -- thank goodness! I think I will see them for maybe 1 more week after that, and I will graduate completely to the OB. I will miss having weekly ultrasounds to see our little peanut, but I guess graduating means that we are in good health and things are going as well as possible. And I can't complain about that!

Here is what Baby Kirby is up to this week:

Your baby is growing at an amazing rate — about a millimeter every day — and now is the size of a large raspberry. Your little berry is looking a lot less reptilian (even though she has webbed fingers and toes, her tail is just about gone) and a lot more baby-like these days, as her lips, nose, eyelids, legs, and back continue to take shape. Her heart is beating at the incredible rate of 150 times per minute — about twice as fast as yours! And even though you can't yet feel it, she's now making spontaneous movements as she twitches her tiny trunk and limb buds.

Dear God, thank You so much for this tiny blessing! We are so thankful for another week! Please continue to keep our little bean healthy & strong. All the power & glory is Yours, now and forever. Amen.

7w5d Ultrasound!

We got to see our baby this morning! Today I am 7 weeks and 5 days. The heartbeat is a strong 136 bpm -- normal is between 120-160. And we could hear it so clearly this week! As you'll see in the video below, when I would breathe normally, the ultrasound had trouble picking it up consistently. So I tried to hold my breathe for as long as I could to get a few good readings. It was challenging, but worth it!  We sure wish iPhone cameras had the capability of zooming in. The little heartbeat was fluttering, but you couldn't see it as clearly this week as last week. And, due to the lack of zoom on my phone, we couldn't capture it very well on video this week. But it was there! We can't wait to see baby Kirby again next Wednesday!  Thank you, Lord, for this tiny blessing!! :-)

P.S. I just realized that I am 7 weeks and 5 days on 7/5 (July 5th)! Pretty cool!

Heartbeat at 136 bpm