Now what?

Well, we've had the weekend to let all this news sink in and now it's back to work for Dave and school for Emily.  We spent most of Friday on the phone with family and friends making sure everyone knew the news.  

Friday night we went to our favorite restaurant, Rooster's, to celebrate.  Dave drank wine, I drank Charlotte tap (that would be water).  With it being a rather emotionally eventful day we called it a night around 8:30p.

Saturday morning Dave played golf (surprise!) with his brother and I slept till noon.  Later that day we went to the mall and walked Pottery Barn Kids just for fun (I think Dave prefers Babies R Us). On the plus side, we did like the same bedding at PB Kids (of course we've got 9 months to figure all that out).  

I've been begging Dave (or as he would describe it--nagging) to write a post for everyone about his thoughts on this news.  He was a little reluctant, so this morning I interviewed him while he got ready for work.  Here's what he has to say:

What did you do after I called you on Friday with the good news?

"I was very happy, very excited.  I called my brother, my buddy James and my parents.  I was useless at work for the rest of the day."

How many babies do you think we will have?

"Well, based on your hCG levels it sounds like we are having 8 babies."

Do you notice any changes in me?

"No change in pregnant Emily verses normal Emily.  You always sleep a lot and ask me to fetch you things."

You put a bell by my side of the bed after transfer, why did you remove it this weekend?

"You don't need the bell any more, you are not on bed rest. . . wait, are you putting that on there too?"

What did you think of Pottery Barn Kids?

"The yuppies and prices scared me.  It seemed very hectic and crazy.  I like Babies R Us better they had babies there and people seemed to smile more.  PB Kids was very claustrophobic."

What do you think our first purchase for the babies should be?

"A new house. . . okay, maybe just a crib. . . or a bassinet, and a new puppy."

How do you think Lavender and Bailey will feel about our babies?

"They are going to be confused and threatened.   It will be competition for our attention."

There you have it folks, Dave's humbling thoughts on our impending parenthood.  As for me, I'm so excited to finally know I'm pregnant.  Of course, now I'm obsessed with all I should do to make sure I stay pregnant, deliver healthy babies, keep them safe, etc.  

All challenges I happily accept!!

Day 16: Moment of Truth

The clinic finally called with my test results.  Here's a transcript from the call:

Nurse:  Emily. . . how are you feeling?

Emily:  (on the verge of tears for the past 4 hours)  I don't know, you tell me.

Nurse:  Well,  you are way pregnant!  We normally like your hCG levels to be at least 100 and yours are 1228.  Those are great numbers, you are very, very pregnant.  We don't know if these high levels mean multiples, all we do know is you are nicely pregnant.

Emily:  (relief slowly taking over)  Okay, what next?

Nurse:  Well, you are 4 weeks and 2 days pregnant.  Your expected due date is July 15, 2009.  We want you back in on Monday and Thursday for more blood work.  We want to see your hCG levels doubling.  Then on November 24th we want you to come in for your first ultrasound.  We'll then know how many embryos implanted.

I'm suppose to continue taking the nightly progesterone shots and Vivelle patches for the next 2 - 3 weeks.

Folks, let me tell you, I've been handling everything relatively okay up until today (no cry-fests, no poor me moments).  The waiting this morning was harder than expected.  I did the blood work at 9:30a and then came home to wait by the phone.  I started going crazy around 12:30p--thank God they called me at 1:00p with the results.  

Now that I feel perfectly pregnant, I think I'll finally get out of bed, take a shower and go window-shopping for something pretty (yes, I allowed myself a day of sloth-ness. . . trust me, it was in societies best interest I not interact with humans this morning).

Phew!!  What a relief!!  I'm so excited and overwhelmed.  You all have been awesome supporters of Dave and I.  Your good wishes really have helped us get through this.  Much love and I'll be keeping everyone posted on the pending details.

Almost There!

We are almost there!!!  After two long weeks of waiting I'll go to the clinic and take a pregnancy test.  I don't need an appointment, I just walk into the lab between 7a - 1p and request a test.  Then I wait for my IVF nurse to call me with the results and further instructions.  This is the first of 3 test and they call it the 'baseline' test.

Election Day Revelations

Dave got up early this morning to go vote, I voted two weeks ago during early voting (along with my baby brother, there he is standing in line).  After Dave voted we talked about our voting methods.  

I voted for Obama and then found myself voting for any feminine sounding name on the ballot regardless of party affiliation (I call it the Hillary-effect).  When I mentioned this to Dave, he told me he did the SAME thing!  

I think his exact words were:

"When I didn't know the candidates I voted for the female, unless her name sounded bitchy like Cherie Berry."  

"Men really haven't been doing that great of a job; why not let women run things for a while.  Plus, men are always doing what their women tell them to do, I don't really see any difference."

"Personally, if electing women to public office means I might get to play more golf--I'm all for that."

Folks,  let's be clear on one thing.  I never influenced Dave's voting decision by promising him golf if he voted for more women (his fantasy world, not mine).  In fact, this was the first real conversation we had about who we voted for outside of the Presidential candidates.  

In other election related news,  my 'guns are cool' baby brother voted for Obama (he had me take a picture of his voting method).

Also, a few weeks ago I got a phone call from Grandma.  She told me she voted for the next President of the United States (via absentee ballot).  When I asked who she voted for she told me Barack Obama (yup, this is the same Grandma that months ago briefly considered voting for Palin)!  

Here is what Grandma had to say about her decision:

"Well, Palin seems to know about as much as I do on the issues and I know I'm not qualified to be Vice President of the United States."

"And did you know that Obama stopped his campaign to go visit his dying Grandmother?  Anyone who would do that has my vote!"

God bless you Grandma!  I love you and your thinking!  

Last night me and the little embryos attended our first Obama rally.  You know, the one in Charlotte that got a ton of national coverage because of Obama's emotional statements about the death of his Grandmother (I was right there).  I stood in line for 2 hours.  Then stood for another 2 hours waiting for Obama to speak.  I stood in light rain, heavy rain, misty fog and probably caught a cold (totally worth it).  

Take a look at my pics!

The back of the line around 3:15p

The line.

Right before the rain.   Waiting for Obama

Jake Tapper from ABC News giving a live report. 

Me taking a picture of Jake Tapper giving his live report on ABC News!

Obama!!!!

Almost iconic 

(if only I'd brought my really good camera)

Day 12: Okay, Fine!!

Irrational Emily has agreed not to take a home pregnancy test--or at least not tell anyone if she does (kidding).  I'm really too lazy to go buy a kit and follow the instructions properly.  The last time I bought a kit was a bit of a disaster.  

Apparently pregnancy tests are considered contraband in Texas.  When I first started Clomid last year I was traveling a lot to Austin, TX.  I was a few days late on my cycle so I decided to buy a test.  Went to Walmart.  Searched the aisles.  Found the tests behind glass casing and under lock and key.  Walked to the pharmacy counter for help.  There were about five workers behind the counter (four of which were female).  Of course they send the only teenage male to open the case.  He's obviously embarrassed.  I felt pressured to make a quick decisions.  Needless to say it was a big waste of money.

In other news, I've got a make-up exam to complete today and Obama is going to be speaking at UNCC this evening!  I'm debating whether to join the masses at the rally or go to my crappy night class (hard choice).  It really depends on if I can physically stand for as long as the rally lasts.  Yesterday Dave and I did lunch and a matinee, I was exhausted by the end of the day.