Monday, August 10, 2009

At this rate I'm basically screwed

I've been debating whether or not to blog about my pregnancy over here... ideally I wanted to wait until I hit the second trimester. But really, what's the point? The cat has left the proverbial bag, I actually pinched its butt so it would leap out with a giant MEOW.

But before I go on, I will say that it's really early. Only 3 1/2 weeks, to be precise. Which is sooner than most women even know they are pregnant. I am hopeful, but painfully aware that every moment is fragile at this point. My first ultrasound will be on September 1, and we are praying for a heartbeat. That would not erase all fears, but it would be a good sign. In the meantime, I am constantly running mental diagnostics on myself, wondering if the baby is still okay, how many are in there, girl or boy, did I pee enough today, am I still as bloated (yep!)...

My first clue that I was pregnant: I looked pregnant. I came home from a walking date with my friend last Monday, looked in the mirror... and DEAR GAWD! That belly wasn't there when I left the house that morning! I mean, sure, DH and I had made a batch of his mom's famous 10 Minute Cookies over the weekend. And sure, I had eaten more than my fair share. And the fair shares of eight other people, let's be honest. But come on, this was obscene. I can't believe my friend didn't freak out and scream that I was turning into a giant blueberry like Violet on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." I tried to chalk it up to pre-AF bloat, or perhaps the progesterone supplements I've been taking, because I'm a doubter like that. But in the back of my mind, I could here the little voice whispering, "This could be it, chica."

Sure enough, two days and six positive home pregnancy tests later (including one digital that said PREGNANT), I was starting to suspect that I might actually be pregnant. I called my nurse first thing on Wednesday morning. We had a zoo date in Seattle with our preschool pals at 10:30 am that day, and she said I could stop by their office at 9:45 am to have my first of two blood tests. I was only 10 days past ovulation, which is early for a test, but I was anxious to have it done.

Because now we had to leave the house earlier than expected, I frantically grabbed the Bean and all of our crap and flew out the door. To my relief, we made it downtown on time. I parked in a metered lot and stood behind an older man, waiting to pay for my spot at the automated machine. He was having trouble using it, and asked if I would go first so he could watch me. "Of course," I smiled. I opened my purse, and...

... no wallet. In my haste, I had somehow walked out the door with my wallet on the kitchen counter. I have never, ever done that before. ARG!!! What was I going to do for the rest of the day?!

The kind man offered to pay for my parking, God bless him. We took care of both our spaces, and I went into the office for the blood draw. Easy enough! I had a balance to pay, because of course they wanted to drain my bank account in addition to my veins, but fortunately I did have my checkbook.

Then it was off to the zoo. I desperately called a friend on the way there, who withdrew some money from the ATM and lent it to me so I could cover parking, zoo entry fee, and lunch. I felt like a huge dork, but at least a huge dork IN the zoo, instead of banging on the gates with a crying toddler in my arms.

The zoo itself was fine. I was nervous and shaken from the morning's events, but I tried to focus on the animals because Bean didn't give a crap about them, and after all this effort to go to the zoo, at least one of us should look at the chimps, dammit. Then my cell phone rang. It was the nurse, reporting my blood test results.

"You're hcg level this morning was 33.2. Which is lower than we typically like to see, but you did test early."

She instructed me to schedule a follow-up on Friday, to make sure that number had doubled. I thanked her and hung up. The conversation, of course, did nothing to calm my nerves. I was anxious to get home and jump on Betabase.info so I could compare my number to others. Was it actually low, or just low compared to other women's first betas, which usually occur closer to 14 days past ovulation?

Somehow I survived the rest of the zoo, and I raced home. I had finally reached our exit, on the final stretch before I turned into the neighborhood.... and I was pulled over by a cop.

I was apparently going 53 mph in a 35 mph zone. Which I had achieved in only about 30 yards since exiting the highway.

The cop was very nice, I'll give him that. "Can I see your license and registration, ma'am?"

Well, officer, you COULD see my license! If I wasn't a flaming MORON who left it on my kitchen counter! Which is actually right there, inside that house on the corner, the one you could hit with a stone from here, incidentally.

*sigh*

He gave me a ticket for going 10 mph over the speed limit, and didn't write me up for not having my license with me. I explained that I had found out I was pregnant that morning. "Well, that'll mess you up," he chuckled. Ain't that the truth.

I finally got back home. I looked up my hcg level online and was comforted to find that it was nice and high for being only 10 days past ovulation. I called DH to tell him about the ticket and the blood test. He suggested I stay inside for the rest of the day. I complied.

So here I am, at 3 1/2 weeks pregnant, and I have two problems. Apparently, pregnancy brain has set in early. I cannot muster productive thought for more than 20 minutes a day, it fades quickly and I'm forced to rely on post-it notes to remember to do things like get dressed in the morning and close the fridge after taking something out. And seriously, THIS STOMACH! I'm all about the baby bump, I think they are adorable. But what the heck am I supposed to do at 3 1/2 weeks pregnant when I CAN'T BUTTON MY JEANS! I got out my maternity clothes, but it just seems wrong to wear them so early. Suggestions, Internets?

At this rate, I am going to weigh an extra 85 lbs and do nothing more than mumble incoherently by the time this baby is born.

But you know what? I'll take all of it. Gratefully.

18 comments:

Jen said...

I love that post. I mean talk about one problem after another with such great news mixed in!

Oh and try deferring the ticket. Some cities will let you do it without even going to court. Just check online or call. Or some cities also offer traffic school to keep it off your record. Sadly, my DH has caused me to become a pro in this department of knowledge.

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

Sorry about the ticket, super happy about your great hcg and BFP!! Yipee!!

Aunt Becky said...

Dude! Hooray! And I was in full out maternity clothes by the time I was...hmm...8 or 9 weeks along with Mimi?

Michelle said...

Wouldn't that just figure you get pulled over when you don't have your license. At least he did not give you a ticket for that.

Red said...

Haha! What a day!

I am in maternity clothes already too. I figure since I have them from Champ's gestation I am not actually buying pregnancy clothes so it is ok.

Kristina P. said...

I am excited for you!

Several people asked me from my post if I'm pregnant. I had my period last week, so I highly doubt it, but it could totally turn into one of those I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant shows.

Nicky said...

"I just found out I was pregnant" didn't get you out of the ticket entirely?!? Bummer.

Congrats on all the good news!

Lisa said...

HAHAHA, What a day!! I had to break out the maternity clothes early this time too...I swear at 7-8 weeks I looked like I did with Z @ 20! ;-) Well maybe not THAT bad. But I was definitely in maternity clothes months earlier than before. Bust out the belly band!

Beautiful Mess said...

WHEW! Your day makes ME tired! Sorry about the ticket, but YAY about the pregnancy!!! Sending you lots of love and peace until you get to see the little one on September 1st.
*HUGS*

Unknown said...

i'm happy to hear that the outlook sounds so good! :) will be keeping my fingers crossed for you!!

Furrow said...

you certainly know better than I, but how could you only be 3.5 wks preg? didn't you have your IUI over 2 weeks ago?

At any place on the ticker, I'm thrilled for you and am sending positive preggy vibes.

Nel said...

Yay!!!! That is SO exciting! And for the record, I have NO idea how people keep pregnancy a secret for a full trimester. I mean, I get the purpose, but it just seem impossible! Congrats!!

Alana said...

Sunny, SOOOO tickled for you. And loved reading your humorous story...wallet-schmallet. :)

Sarah said...

I remember being able to keep my first pregnancy a secret at work for a really long time. This time around it was ridiculous - especially from other moms who are particularly astute to those types of things. I popped super early in comparison - stupid abs, why didn't you fully return??!!! Oh, but the joy of wearing elastic band pants and not feeling like a grandma - no joke, I LOVE them.....Project Runway should make stylish elastic band pants a task.

Coffeegrljapan said...

Yippppeee!! I'm so excited for you. As for maternity clothes - how about one of those belly band thingies that supposedly allow you to wear your regular pants longer?

tinybud said...

Dude, you can totally call yourself 4 weeks pregnant once you are 14DPO! Sounds so much better to make yourself almost 5 weeks (and it is accurate I promise!)

momofonefornow said...

Wow!!!! This is really exciting! I have been so caught up in my own crazy stuff that I had like 400 post in my reader that I hadn't read. Sorry for the delayed congrats.

Also, it has been awhile since I clicked through and I LOVE the header! Cuuuttteee!!!!

Kathy V said...

Wow I check in after awhile and Bam there is great news watining for me. I need to check in more often apparently.. Congrats!!!!!