Numbers, Numbers, Numbers...

Everything in this process is now about numbers.  Have I ever told you how much I dislike math?  I never liked it as a child in school, disliked it even more in high school, and I still don't like it.  So now, as an adult trying to add another life to my family, I'm faced with more numbers. 

Wednesday May 18, 2011
My husband and I left the house early and headed to Durham.  We arrived at the Reproductive Endocrinologist's office an hour early.  They were able to get us right in and after a little difficulty getting my vein, the nurse drew some blood.  Right there, in that little blood tube, were the numbers I've been anticipating... how much hCG my body is producing with the implantation of my maybe baby.  Only a few hours and I'd get an idea of how well this pregnancy was progressing.  Around lunch time I received a call from Dr S, who works with Dr W.  He said, "Great news!  You're pregnant!"  He went on to tell me that my starting hCG level is 155.  He explained that this was an excellent starting number and they were very optimistic.  He made plans for us to return on Friday for another blood draw to check the progress of the hCG.

If you remember from the previous pregnancy, my numbers never even reached 155, so I was pretty excited but trying to remind myself that we had a long way to go.

Friday May 20, 2011
Today was a mix of emotions to begin with.  I went to Durham, had my quant levels drawn and returned home.  I was anxiously awaiting my blood test results and was feeling very emotional. I've been thinking of my Grandpa L.  My Grandpa L passed away May 20, 2007 and I miss him SO much.  We had a lot in common, and I always felt a little special since I was his first grandchild.  I'm thankful that God allowed me the opportunity to be with Grandpa before he passed.  The night before, he told me that he loved me while we sat together.  Looking back, I wonder if he knew that his time was near.  I had never lost anyone close to me before, and this was especially hard. 

Finally, around lunch, Dr S called me to tell me my quant level.  He again congratulated me and told me that numbers were looking great and this hCG level was 303.  I panicked!  They didn't double!!!  They are suppose to double!  If they were 155, they should now be 310!  Dr S reassured me that my 303 was an excellent number and that although he understands my fear, he wants me to relax and feel comfortable that I have a healthy growing baby right now.  He told me that they only get concerned if quant levels aren't in the 60th percentile or greater, and since I was 303, I was considered in the 98th percentile (whatever that means).  He stated that this was excellent and he wanted me to try to relax and take it very easy for a few weeks.  He's scheduled a sonogram for June 13th where he says I'll be 7 weeks and 3 days and we should be able to see a heartbeat.  He went on to say that once we see a healthy heartbeat, my chances of miscarriage decrease considerably.  Whew!  What a relief!  I'm still as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (a saying my father-in-law uses), but I'm feeling a little more optimistic.  Then, while punching even more numbers... guess what my due date should be?  January 27, 2012.  Why is this date so important to me?  Well, it's very close to my Grandpa L's birthday... January 26th.  

I'd love to share more of my day with you, but my husband just called and said to get ready to go.  Apparently his mom is excited about the positive news so far and wants to celebrate.  She's taking us to the Olive Garden for dinner, which only happens to be my favorite restaurant! 

Please keep us in your prayers as we try to survive the next 3 weeks (see!  more numbers!).  I'm very scared, but very hopeful.