For this Wednesday, I would like to share my positive home pregnancy tests. As you all know, husband and I are expecting our first bundle of joy. We can't be more excited, every time I would think that a little baby will be coming out in this world soon and will be calling me "Mommy".  I'm so grateful that we were blessed with this miracle. And I'm honored that husband and I are going to be parents.

As soon as we started trying to conceive, I have equipped myself with home pregnancy tests. I was so eager to find out if I got pregnant or not. Most of the time, I just think I will get pregnant or I am pregnant. I'm very optimistic with this past months we were trying. Too much hope and expectation sure could break someone's heart, and I had some share of that.

With this January cycle, I thought my chance was gone when it hits 12dpo (days past ovulation) when I still got a negative on my pee test. I told myself, hmm, there's another tomorrow, I'm going to test again. To my surprise, a very faint line showed up the next day, and faint line but darker than the previous one on day 14, and a darker line on day 15.

Of course peeing-on-the-sticks didn't end on day 15. I went crazy and bought more, and tested again. I only stopped on my birthday, when I got a test line darker than the control line. I think it's God saying, 'Ok, you had enough, how many positive tests do you need, so you'd believe me?'..lol

That's all folks. I'm happy and over the moon!

It's confirmed: I'm 5 weeks/1day pregnant!

I just went to my first OB clinic visit yesterday for a urine pregnancy test. I called in Thursday and requested for a blood test to have them check my hcg beta, like I just had two months ago, but the unfriendly receptionist said this is what I just need, a urine test, for now. For me, I think it's useless since I've been peeing-on-a-stick (using home pregnancy tests) and it all came positive. And they're going to use the same thing, aren't they? She said their doctors don't trust home pregnancy tests, and so I said ok, (I won't argue then). I was just worried that my BFP would turn to BFN again, and I wanted to make sure I have everything covered. Getting pregnant is not easy as I thought.

Dave weren't able to go this visit, he should be at work at 11, so mom-in-law and I went ahead. She was very excited to find out. And as for me, I was calm and collected as I can be, for I knew it's going to be positive anyway. But when we got to the clinic, doubts sets in. Again, worried that what if after all the positive HPTs, it's another flanking negative again? So I gave the lab lady my pee-in-a-cup, and after a few mins of waiting, she showed me the result.

It's POSITIVE!

I was ecstatic. And I think I blushed. I was so happy it's confirmed. Finally it's official. She took out this number wheel thingy, and cross checked my LMP to a number, and told me, my estimated due date(EDD) is Sept. 24th! I'm 5days/1day pregnant! yay!

I'm a PREGNANT Birthday girl!

Yes, I just got the most wonderful gift on my birthday, and the best wedding anniversary for me and husband too for this month, God answered our prayers!... yes, I'M PREGNANT!

I found out about this wonderful news at 13dpo (January 10th), but I didn't believed my eyes seeing a very faint line on my pregnancy test. I tested again the next day, and sure is the line went a little darker, yet still faint. I told Dave about it, and he himself saw that 2nd line, that should say something huh?. On January 12th, I tested again. The line was darker enough for anyone to see that there is two lines. The next day, 13th, the day that were leaving for Florida, I POAS again, using First Response brand this time, and there it was, two pink lines! I am overjoyed, but we don't want to keep our hopes up (again) until we see my OB-GYN and get the news confirmed next week.

But you know what? this time, it really feels different. I really feel pregnant. I'm having symptoms that a pregnant woman normally experience-- sore bo*bs, increased appetite (I eat like a pig!), heartburn, fatigue, cramping (everyday for me, is that normal?) and there were two instances that I was nauseous.

So, I'm sorry that we chose not to break the news right away, we really wanted to wait until next week, but I don't see that happening--I myself can't hold it that long! I'm the happiest birthday girl! We'll update again as soon as I get back to North Carolina!

Love my little pregnancy ticker! 

12dpo.. BFN? Pregnant?

My chance of getting pregnant this cycle is getting slimmer(I think), I'm 12dpo today, cd 25 and a BFN this morning. I know I should wait until tomorrow to test as what my FF chart says so, but you know I couldn't. Ok I started testing since 8dpo and it's been BFN since then I know it's way too early to even get a faint line, but hey what do we know right?

Here's my 10, 11 and 12th dpo ICs (not even a smudge of a 2nd line)

AF is due on the 14th, also my chart's BBT are still high-it's looks good I should say, so I still have time to obsess. It's not over until AF shows, is it? lol

This two week wait seems longer than ever. And 4 more days on top of that! C'mon BFP!

Two Week Wait for 2011

And so this is my first and hopefully the last TWW (two-week-wait) for 2011. For non-TTCers, it is the two weeks that I have to wait from the day I ovulated to the day my next AF (period) will be. Some words or abbreviations I use maybe a too-much-information for some readers, but for us couples who are trying-to-conceive, that's the language we use! lol  Anyway, since I started charting my BBT 4 months ago, this is the first time I got a straight red line on my chart, and not a dashed crosshairs anymore. I'm on 6dpo now and chart is looking good. My chart showed I O'd on the 28th but it feels I did on the 30th, whichever, husband and I got it covered, ha!

I think I'm more in tuned with my body this time, plus the obsession of OPKs use helped. The OPKs I ordered online came on the 29th, a day late when I badly needed it. With the package of 40pcs OPKs and 10 HPTs, Wondfo brand, which I have used 15 already. A good deal for just $10 here.

With my pee sticks, it shows a surge on the 29th and 30th right? hmm, more like 30th. I'm feeling good this cycle, I really hope and pray this is our month. For those couples who are trying to conceive like us, babydust to y'all!

Acronyms:
TTC- trying to conceive
AF - Aunt Flo
BBT - Basal Body Temperature
O'd - Ovulated
OPK - Ovulation Predictor Kis
HPT - Home Pregnancy Tests

A round of prenatal vitamins

For women trying to conceive, we need the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamins to ensure a healthy body for a pregnancy. And once pregnant, we need a higher dosage as Iron, Folic Acid, Protein and Calcium, etc. And since we don't meet these required nutrients with our daily diet, we then sort to supplements. There is no such thing as the best prenatal supplement out there, since every woman has different needs, or for some, conditions to address.

I had the "trying-to-conceive mind" way long before my husband agreed and told me he's ready. So when I had my pap smear test last May, I have asked my doc if she can recommend me a prenatal, (just in case my husband and I decided we're ready the next day or week or month, I have it handy..lol) so she prescribed me Prenexa. What makes it different from others is that it has plant-based DHA, that's responsible for softening your stool-she said. I like it, but not the price. I have to pay an extra $35 on top my insurance coverage. Pricey for a 30 piece softgel capsules! Despite the price, I took it for four months, until I switched to Geritol Complete + folic acid this cycle. I have read various testimonies about this multivitamin supplement, that it aided some women with fertility issues and that it helped them to get pregnant. If a lot of women have used this and it got them a BFP, then it won't hurt to try right? This miracle multivitamins doesn't have enough Folic Acid though, so ladies suggested you need to buy a 400mg one (and so I did). 

I know I shouldn't switch to anything until I see my OB, but after a pregnancy fluke last month, I'm up for anything right now. I will see her this January 4th for a check-up. Until then, maybe I can get this one slide. I'll be O-ing around the end of the month, it would have been nice if I could see her before that, but January 4th is the soonest available she have on her schedule,, so oh well..

Noting from my favorite pregnancy book:

You should not take a prenatal vitamin or any other supplement without talking with your doctor....Take prenatal vitamins only as directed. Large doses of anything--even a good thing--can be harmful. Don't take more than the RDA for any vitamin or mineral--most of all vitamins A and D--without getting your doctor's OK..

My only concern with Geritol is that it has 120% of vitamin A (6,100 I.U.), when my book says my prenatal multivitamin should contain no more than 5,000 IUs of it. hmm, what do you think?

BFP BFP BFP...BFN

I never thought I would memorized most of pregnancy acronyms and abbreviations until my husband and I finally jumped in into the TTC club. I've been ready for this ever since we got married, and I just got the sweet 'go' from him four months ago. We are now both ready. How ready am I? Well, a bookshelf of conception and pregnancy books, OPKs and HPTs on hand, an online BBT chart, healthy dieting, been taking my prenatal vitamins everyday (ok, I skipped some days), lurking in to some pregnancy discussion boards, support from family and friends, and tons of prayers. Oh and exercise!--does household chores count? if yes, then I'm all set!

I am equipped with positivity, thinking having a baby is just easy as BDing on that important day. Well it's NOT on our first three months. It's more complex than I thought. There goes my sanity trying to figure "How come?", "Why not?", "What did we missed?" and all sorts of questions of disbelief. I think I have stressed myself out too much and was on on the verge of losing hope. I know I shouldn't whine about that, because there are couples who have been trying for years and still has full of hope. Silly me. Yes, I'm impatient. On our third month, I know it's going to be BFN, husband has been busy with his job. Now that he just been promoted as Manager. So took a break on the third, after all it'll be Thanksgiving in a few weeks.

So two weeks before Thanksgiving, husband and have gone busy with getting the house ready for Thanksgiving. His sister and family are coming over, as our yearly tradition. He's on the middle of finishing up the roof installation and I was in charge of cleaning the house. OCD like me, I always go overboard. I always want everything to be tidy-looking as possible. So I re-painted a couple of doors. Even planned on re-painting my kitchen cabinets and the guest room walls, but we were short on time. In the middle of all this, a week before our guests gets here, my AF is already 6 days late. Hmmm. But not very long, I got it, and after that I have been spotting ever since.

2nd faint line -Wondfo brand

Must be stress. But at the back of my head, nahhh it's not. I never had spotting for 4 long days. There has to be something going on. So on day 5th, I POAS as soon as I got up in the morning. Result showed a 2nd faint line. Does that mean I'm pregnant? questioning the accuracy of this $1 pregnancy test. So maybe not. It's a cheap brand anyway. Went to Walmart and grabbed a FRER, a brand name test, thought this should give me a more convincing result--it better be, it's $14 for a 3 piece package! Come 6th day, POAS again, there's another 2nd faint line! My heart raced to the roof, I was in awe. OMG, I'm pregnant! While I was dancing in the tune of La-di-da-la-di-da-I'm-pregnant, my husband was still in bed snoring off good morning. Ran to our bed, woke him up and showed him my test. I was like a little schoolgirl showing off my A+ test paper to her father..lol..that kind of joy I mean. "Honey' I'm pregnant". He can't believe it himself. I know he's half excited inside, but he said no it's not positive, there should be two bright lines. That took my excitement away. Maybe he was right, there should be two. Come lunch time, took another test, there really is a 2nd line, a little darker than the first one, but still a faint line. And I remembered someone posted on the boards, a line is a line, if you see a two lines, faint or darker, you're pregnant! After consulting some TTC couples on one of the discussion boards I frequent, they all agreed, I am pregnant. I AM PREGNANT!