Second Ultrasound

Getting our second ultrasound was a pain! We didn't want to go through the Pittsburgh clinic because they couldn't schedule an appointment for me until the 2nd week of September, they were not friendly, the environment was sterile, but mostly because they are 2 hours away from where we live (not good on a work day). So, I made phone calls around Altoona for nearly half a day, trying to find anyone who does early transvaginal ultrasounds at 9 weeks. It was hard to find someone, but thank goodness for Conemaugh Health and Dr. Khouzami. Apparently, he is the only doctor in the central Pennsylvania area that deals with high risk pregnancies. Because of this, he was able to do our ultrasound. His office is located in Johnstown, and it's about 1 hour away from Altoona.

This second ultrasound was a big deal to us - we get to see the baby T-Rex again (Lara has me calling it that now too =T), we get to hear the heartbeat, and depending on the the results sent to our reproductive clinic in Reno (NCRM) of this ultrasound, I could get taken off the majority of my medications. As of Wednesday, I was on a prenatal, baby aspirin, 2000 mg of Metformin, a progesterone suppository at night, and taking an intramuscular injection of progesterone in oil every morning since July 9. For the injections, I alternate between hips, and they are very bruised. Lara gives me the injection every morning, and she feels around in three spots everyday to find the least painful spot to inject. It sounds awful, but it's not so awful when she does it and I'm playing Candy Crush ;) Lara's the best for me in everything. Love my lady!

Anyway, we get there on time and its raining buckets (mercy buckets for Amanda). We make our way up to the office, and the office receptionist reminds me so much of the receptionist at NCRM that I want to give her a hug. She was very warm and cheerful! We wait around, watch the Today Show a bit, and I get called in. The nurse or X-ray tech (not sure which) was also very friendly...score! We did the usual - get undressed from the waist down, cover with disposable sheet, get in the stirrups, and scoot all the way down. She wouldn't let Lara take video or photos :( But here's a few pictures from our sonograms:

 This is a picture of the sonogram for our baby at 9 weeks and 6 days. The arm and leg buds are much more pronounced and s/he looks really like a baby!!! We even saw the umbilical cord. She got the audio of the heartbeat immediately, and the baby's heart was racing. Truly like horses galloping...it made me giddy!

This picture actually shows a front view of our fetus. Ha, placenta in your face! That's the big protrusion on the right. This was THE COOLEST MOMENT of the ultrasound. If you can see the arm buds in the photo, imagine both of them moving around like crazy. Our baby was moving around like crazy. Apparently, like Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and Ray Dalton...the ceiling can't hold our baby either ;)

Stats: Fetus is 9 weeks and 6 days; 3.06 cm long from crown to rump (1.2"); heart rate at 178 bpm

NCRM received the report of the ultrasound the same day, and told me that the baby was perfectly on target for size and heart rate. Also, the placenta was formed well enough that I could stop progesterone cold turkey =D I'm also off the baby aspirin too, so now all I have to take is the Metformin until my regular OB takes me off it and the prenatal vitamin until I stop breast feeding.

I'm so happy that Lara and I could have this miracle baby, and we thank science and the amazing people at NCRM for helping us build a family. Stay tuned for more baby updates!

Oh, I just thought about it...my mom, sister, and dad call/text incessantly and ask how I'm feeling...so why not share it with everyone.

This baby is LEGIT! Seriously, this pregnancy has been ideal. No morning sickness unless I don't eat within an hour of waking up, lethargy passed in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy, and these are my notable symptoms:

emotional (probably worse on Lara than it is on me :( - I did say she was amazing, right?)

The baby doesn't like to entertain my diverse eating habits (no to Indian, Chinese, Mexican, etc.) which leads to the last of Pepto Bismol's maladies

Gaseous - both ways. ew. I'm like a  troll. Lara and I like to point out how sexy this symptom is...

Heartburn - try not to eat huge meals (boo) or consume onions, tomatoes, and other foods in excess that cause me to eat Tums like candy