A Good Year Ahead

I'm convinced 2008 is going to be a good year.

How could it not be, with nearly 3 finished homes on the market to sell and a new baby on the way? I'm filled with hope today, January 3, 2008. The Manning Homes journey began in 2003 and while it has taken a little more time than we expected to really pick up steam, things are definitely looking up. This despite the housing depression of the late '00's which has brought doom and gloom to so many.

The even better news is that we saw two pink lines on Sunday, December 30 after four diligent months of trying for number two. It took six months of charting before September to get up my courage after the less-than-joyful experience of Ella's pregnancy, but here we are. Ready to go. I've done a lot of thinking, a lot of breathing and a lot of praying and I truly believe this time is going to be better.

For this first post, I'll back up to a couple of weeks ago...and I'll say now that I plan on writing about all things pregnancy for the next 36 1/2 weeks so I kind of hope no one really reads this. If so, they may wish they hadn't. Ha! During the time I have been readying myself to be pregnant again, I've often wished I kept a better record of what my days were really like the first time around with Ella. So here goes nothing. Maybe not remembering is a blessing. We'll see.

I ovulated on December 17, and I tried my best to ignore the anticipation of the inevitable coming of AF or a BFP in the weeks to follow. It was helpful that we had Ella's 2nd birthday, Christmas and my parents coming for a visit to distract me. On Friday, December 28 (11 DPO), I spotted and was sad. Of course, I still tested because I love to make myself more miserable, I guess. BFN. AF was surely going to show up on Saturday as scheduled. But then she didn't.

She didn't come Sunday either. Even better, my temp was up. So I tested again. And again. And again. Three tests can't lie, right? So I called Wes upstairs and shared the news. I could see he was nervous. Excited, sure, but nervous. Wow, we're really going through this again, weren't we? We hugged. We laughed nervous laughs. We decided to tell my parents right away so we could do it in person.

We had Ella hand the digital test to Nana in the kitchen. She thought it was a thermometer but quickly figured it out. "They're pregnant, hon," she said to Rocket. "Who's pregnant?" as he looks up from eBay online. "I am." says Wes. We laughed more and passed around bear hugs. Now Nana and Rocket have the nervous look, too. Guess they do remember the nights where I said out loud how I was suicidal and just wanted out of my body. Was it really all that bad? I hope not. This time I'm prepared.

I'm prepared, and I'm hopeful. Very hopeful.

Now to today. I'm 4w3d along and due on September 8, 2008. All of our immediate family knows the news, but we're waiting a bit longer to spread it further. I have an appointment on the 9th with a PA at my OB's office and I'm on the waiting list for Dr. Smith's cancellations. I hope that works out. My only symptoms are sore boobs and off-and-on cramping/pulling that happens all day. And my bladder/IC seem to be good so far. I'm still taking Elmiron, but only twice a day, instead of three times. Eventually, I think I'll stop all together. And I'm praying for remission. Please, oh please, let me go into remission.

I expect that the m/s will hit me about this time next week. We'll see. Until then, I'm enjoying each hour and doing what I can to stay positive. It really may not be as bad this time. And truly, what got me before was the anxiety and panic, not the nausea. I can handle this. I'm not alone and this time, I understand what that prize at the end is all about.