Friday, October 7, 2011

Dispatch from Beta Canyon

I’ve been doing a pretty good job of staying hopeful this week as I wait for my next beta, aided in large part by the mountain of symptoms that do a lot more “coming” and a lot less “going” than the first time I was pregnant. Maybe it’s a girl. They’re supposed to make you sicker, right? ;-) I’ve already made a mad dash for my work bathroom (false alarm) and have been leaning heavily on saltines and ginger ale, at least during the day, because in another change from last time around, my “morning sickness” really does seem to be worse in the morning and early afternoon. Dinners haven’t been bad so far, knock on wood. Also in the “new and different” column, I had a weird thing happen a couple of nights ago where the muscles in my legs went tingly and numb like I’d just run a marathon. It came on like the flip of a light switch. Needless to say, I haven’t run any marathons lately (or, you know, ever) but it was the end of two long (read: normal) days with no naps, unlike the three that preceded them. I went to bed as soon as I got E down and woke up the next morning with my legs feeling exactly the same, as if I hadn’t rested at all. They still feel weak and shaky. Weird. But good, right?

After Sunday, I didn’t test again… until this morning. My symptoms have been reassurance enough and, frankly, I was scared of getting a result that appeared to be any lighter with too many days left to worry before my next beta. Yesterday, I had a few breaks in my symptoms which allowed the fears to creep in* and then last night, I felt exhausted, but still the best I’d felt in a week. This, of course, completely freaked me out. I woke up this morning and gave myself another in-bed pep talk: Even if it is lighter, all is not lost. Hormone and dye levels both fluctuate. The sticks can only tell you so much. And then I headed for the bathroom.


Um, yeah. That's by far the most positive pregnancy test that has ever been under my roof!


*I will admit to writing a post yesterday about how difficult and draining the uncertainty of early pregnancy is. I saved the draft because it’s an honest snapshot of one dip on the rollercoaster, but I’m not going to post it because it feels wrong to put anything other than gratitude out into the universe right now.

15 comments:

Stacey said...

LOL the rollercoaster is just insane. I hate the early days when you just feel like maybe it was a mistake and you're not really pregnant.

Your body adjusts to the levels too so you'll have those good days mixed in with the bad and that makes you go insane thinking you should be sick constantly.

I had very similar pregnancies both times--one a girl, one a boy.

Love that super dark control line. Makes me smile. So happy for you!!!

tbean said...

I was so crazy sick so early in my pregnancy that we thought it was TWO girls in there. Clearly not.

I'm re-living my early pregnancy days as I read your posts. And this one in particular made me laugh. See here: http://alittleturtle.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/reverse-test/

xoxo
You are doing awesome mama!

♥N said...

I hear you on the rollercoaster! I had the same "dip" in the last couple days. I had been SO tired and my boobs had been SO sore and then all of a sudden I was feeling pretty normal and it scared the heck out of me. Everyone assured me that the symptoms come and go but it's still tough. I just wanted that "I can't keep my eyes open" reassurance. Thankfully this morning, I can't keep my eyes open! LOL

If I had any tests in the house I would be peeing on them too!! I have had 3 beta's and they were all outstanding but I am in the waiting for an ultrasound phase. Just as nerve wracking. Maybe I will go buy some!

Sugar said...

That's a pretty shade of pink...heck it's so dark it's almost red...good for you!!!

Anonymous said...

Now THAT'S a positive pregnancy test! Yay!

Inlocoparentis said...

Holy smokes, that's quite a line!

Heather said...

VERRRYYY positive! Loooveee it!!!!

Anonymous said...

I wish all pregnancy tests could be that clearly positive!!! Whoohooo! When's the next beta?

anofferingoflove said...

Whoa!! Beautiful stick! :-)

Allison said...

Definitely positive!

Now we just need to find out if there's one little one or two in there, right?

Anonymous said...

Look at that beautiful line!!

Anonymous said...

PS- I think your pregnancy test should give my pregnancy tests a pep talk. You know. Just to help them along a bit this month.

Lucy said...

That is one of the best pee sticks I've ever seen!!!! :)

Lex said...

Nice looking stick! Congrats :)

Anonymous said...

That's is the most crazy positive test I've ever seen!