So that's what it feels like

I've heard and read about round ligament pain, but haven't experienced any (that I know of)...until about a half hour ago.

I've had pains, twinges, pulling, stretching, crampiness and general pressure in my lower abdomen from very early on (pretty much from week 5 or so). It was everyday for the first few weeks and then slowly decreased to once or twice a week for a little while. The feelings have been picking up speed again during the last week. I'm 11w3d so I just figured it was more ute adjusting as it starts to move above my pubic bone (according to all the books and Dr. Google this is about the time when things start shifting up).

I was sitting at my computer tonight and got up pretty quickly to walk to Hubby's desk for more printer paper. Once I got to his desk I had a horrible tight pinching sensation on the right side of my abdomen stretching down to the top of my thigh. I sat down on the bed thinking I just got up too quickly. That still didn't help so I actually laid down. A few deep breaths (and anxiety-ridden thoughts that I tried to push away) and the pain thankfully subsided.

I was able to get back up and move about as though nothing happened. I actually wondered if I imagined it because it went away as quickly as it came. It was a really odd and scary sensation I'm going to have to get used to or I'm going to drive myself nutty thinking horrible thoughts every time I feel it. Does the brain of someone whose experienced loss and IF ever stop with the worrying?

ABCs of me

I've been trying to think of a new blog topic that doesn't relate to the Woowoo, but I have to admit. I'm boring and other than work and being obsessed with the Woowoo, I've got nothing else. Until I saw E's post on Many Many Moons. Thanks for the idea E - I'm going to steal it:)

A-AGE: 34

B-BED SIZE: King, but up until two months ago we had a queen. We have a 15+lb cat who can't NOT sleep with us, and when he does he sleeps perpendicular to us, so for our own comfort we were forced into buying a king. Best. Decision. Ever!

C-CHORE YOU HATE: Dusting. It's so easy, yet I loathe it.

D-DOGS: Nope, just the fat cat although we'd like to get a dog once we are out of apartment living.

E-ESSENTIAL START YOUR DAY ITEM: Orange juice. I don't drink caffeine (even before the WooWoo I never did), so OJ is how I get going.

F-FAVORITE COLOR: I don't color discriminate. It varies with my mood.

G-GOLD or SILVER: Mostly silver, but I do wear some gold.

H-HEIGHT: 5'8"

I-INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: None, unless you count the clarinet I played in middle school??

J-JOB TITLE: Art Director at a financial services marketing agency.

K-KIDS: Woowoo on the way, due 9/10/11

L-LIVE: New York City, specifically the Upper East Side

M-MOM'S NAME: Marcia

N-NICKNAMES: Doobers. When I was a baby my dad started calling me that and it stuck for both my parents. No one else ever called me that unless they were teasing me. It was one of the last things my mom said to me before she died.

O-OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAYS: Two, but I only remember one. I was 6 months old for the first, and 22 for the second.

P-PET PEEVE: Rude people. Granted, I can be one of them at times, but I try to keep it in check. Unfortunately, I think I'm living in the wrong city if my biggest pet peeve is rude people.

Q-QUOTE FROM MOVIE: I can rarely remember movie lines, but was just talking to a co-worker about one this morning: "Schnikees" from TommyBoy

R-RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED: Right

S-SIBLINGS: None, only child but now have a brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

T-TIME YOU WAKE UP: If I'm working out in the morning it's 6:15am, otherwise 7:30am.

U-UNDERWEAR: Yes, but only thongs.

V-VEGETABLE YOU DISLIKE: Peas.

W-WHAT MAKES YOU RUN LATE: My husband. I used to be annoyingly on time until I met my husband. He is constantly late, sometimes by a half hour. We've found a reasonable middle ground and are usually 5-15 minutes late. It still drives me nuts, but I've learned to live with it.

X-X-RAYS YOU'VE HAD DONE: Surprisingly, not too many. Broken arm, ankle, and multiple chest x-rays.

Y-YUMMY FOOD YOU MAKE: I'll pat myself on the back and say I'm a pretty good cook, but I think the best thing is my beef wellington (only made on special occasions for Hubby)

Z-ZOO, FAVORITE ANIMAL: Hmmm, hard to pick. I'm fascinated by hippos. They look so big and innocent but in reality they are mean, mean creatures!

Double digits and a new doc

I hit the 10 week mark yesterday...woohoo! I know that's not necessarily a milestone, but being in the double digits feels good. I had my first OB appointment on Thursday (9w5d) and the Woowoo measured in at 10w0d. Apparently we were both anxious to hit the double digit mark.

After a lot of research, phone calls, and reference requests I was able to get into a very well respected, cutting edge, OB/GYN practice near my apartment. I wasn't really concerned with the location, but the proximity to my apartment and the delivering hospital is an added bonus. I met with my doctor and he was wonderful. I was with him for almost two hours and never felt rushed. He really took his time to talk with me about everything. I think (hope) I'll be an easy patient for him. The practice specializes in high risk and multiples and I'm not either of those. But he didn't seem to mind and treated me with as much as care as I assume he gives to his high risk and multiple moms-to-be.

The cysties are still hanging around, but they have reduced in size (just under 6cm on the left and 7.5cm on the right). He wants them both to be well under 6cm before he'll allow to me start running again, but he thinks that will happen in the next few weeks.

My next appointment is Friday 2/25. I'm scheduled for my NT scan, genetic counseling and then my 12 week OB appointment with one of his colleagues. I can't believe I have to wait a full two weeks to see my little Woowoo again. I've definitely been spoiled with the weekly ultrasounds!

I also started with my pre-natal trainer last week. Um, I need to make a mental note to not go three months without picking up a weight again. Sore is an understatement. It was a good sore though, a sore that I've missed. Fortunately he's certified in pre-natal training so he knows what I should and shouldn't do to make sure the Woowoo is well protected. I'm hoping he'll help me keep my body in check for the next seven months and make my delivery a little easier on my body.

I have a busy week ahead with lots of work (both full time AND freelance), a few dinner plans and training sessions. The three-day weekend coming can't come soon enough.

A hangover...without any alcohol?

A hangover? While I'm 9 weeks pregnant? Yep, that's exactly how I felt Tuesday!

Since being on the TTC/infertile journey I haven't partied like I used to in my younger days. At least I thought that was the case until Tuesday afternoon. I was having a typical day, feeling good and getting stuff done at work. After I ate lunch I felt like I was catapulted back to 2004 with one of the infamous weekend hangovers. I was so horribly nauseous with a dizzying headache, my mouth was beyond dry and I was constantly hungry but nothing sounded appetizing. There were a few times  I really thought I was going to have to run to the bathroom, but I somehow held it together. I made it home on the train (wishing I had a plastic bag with me the whole time), made myself eat some dinner and promptly fell asleep for an hour and a half. I woke up feeling like a rock star...almost as though nothing had happened. I actually wondered if I had imagined how horrible I felt a few hours earlier!

So yes, apparently it is possible to have a hangover with having consumed any alcohol!

Graduation and an award!

Yesterday was my last appointment with my RE. He released me to my ob-gyn (still have yet to actually find one!) at 8w3d. It was bittersweet. I'm so thankful this pregnancy has progressed without any major problems, but also nervous to not have my weekly blood draws and u/s. He also told me I could stop the Endometrin suppositories. I'm not going to miss the nastiness of those, but I will miss the reassurance I got every time I put one in and saw no spotting (sorry, TMI).

I want to thank Mrs. Brightside for my very first blogger award:) I still feel too new to the blog world to get an award, but I'm honored!

Here are the rules:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award
2. Share seven things about yourself
3. Award to recent discovered bloggers
4. Make sure and contact the bloggers and make them aware of the award

So, here goes...seven things about myself:
1. I was born in Michigan where both my parents grew up. My dad was a die-hard U of M football fan. The day my mom was ready to come from the hospital with me was New Year's Day and Michigan was in the Rose Bowl. My dad made her wait until half time to pick her up. Thankfully she was just as big of a football fan so she didn't hold it against him:)

2. I have only had two surgeries in my life. The first was when I was six months old and I had a tumor on my neck the size of an orange that had to be removed. The second was my senior year in college when my lung collapsed and they had to insert a chest tube for a week to "reinflate" it (actually they drained it of the fluid that leaked in).

3. I am a shameless "The Real House.wives of..." addict, except for the Atlanta series. I religiously DVR and watch all the others, including the reunion shows which are the best part!

4. I am an only child. Some people think that makes me spoiled, some people feel sorry for me. Honestly, I loved my childhood. My parents were always very good about letting me bring friends on vacations or anytime they thought I would want someone around other than them. Yes, I guess I am a little spoiled. Most of the time, I would get what I wanted, but it was also within reason. My parents were generous, but weren't excessive with their generosity. I thank them for that today, because I really value all that I have.

5. I met my husband on my first day of college, but we didn't start dating until three years later. We knew each other and hung out with the same people, but never realized there was a spark.

6. Believe it or not, I really don't like to talk about myself (I know, I know...then why the hell did I start a blog about myself?!?!). Needless to say, it's making this award really difficult to complete.

7. Even though I'm only 8 weeks into this pregnancy, I have to say the best thing are my new, HUGE boobs! I can't stop staring at them in the mirror. I've always been a consistent "B" girl (maybe even a little on the small B side), but now I'm more than filling out a "C". Hubby is loving it too!

I'm guessing these bloggers have already been tagged with this award, but they are new to my blogroll so I thought I would tag them again. I've really enjoyed following their journeys the last few weeks/months.
Uneggsplained Infertility
Allison's Wonderland (she was just tagged recently, so see her recent post Award & Telling & Stuff)

So that's it in my fairytale world these days. Wish me luck as I continue my ob-gyn search. I'm starting to get a little anxious about it!