-34 weeks

If you haven't read it on Facebook or knew it already, I am 6 weeks pregnant! And now, I feel like I have so much to say, but I really want to get it right. Let's start from the very beginning...

How We Found Out: On May 11, I felt different. I usually don't have any cramping until the day or two before I start, but this was day 22 of my cycle and I was experiencing them. I also felt a few sharp pains just below and to the left of my belly button. The 14th was the earliest I could test--that 5 days before your missed period. That morning, Jimmy and I were getting up early to go to a concealed weapons class (I know, I know! How Republican of me!), so I took a test first thing. I saw the first pink line start to come up on the test, but I forced myself to go back in the bedroom and wait. Jimmy started making noise and I fussed at him for making so much noise, telling him the baby didn't like it. "What baby?" "Our baby!" And I ran into the bathroom to get it and show him. Sure enough, there were 2 pink lines! Jimmy had only had a few hours of sleep, so he didn't see the other line at first. I told him to look again. He rubbed his eyes and saw it. We laughed and held each other and of course I cried.

How We Told Our Parents: We wanted to tell our parents in person. I was going to a coupon class May 21st with Jackie, Jennifer, and MaryEllen (Jimmy's mom, sister, and aunt), and we toyed with the idea of telling them all then. However, the opportunity presented itself for Jimmy and I to tell our moms together. We orchestrated so that Memorial Day weekend Jackie would come with us to visit my mom and family. I just knew, because someone always says it when Jimmy's family gets together, that someone would say, "It's so great we're all here together!" But, after about an hour and a half, no one had. So after being prodded by Jimmy and Jennifer (via text messages), I said, "It's so great we're all here together!" And Mom and Jackie are all, "Yes, it is fun!" Then I add, "Plus one...." Silence. "What?" "We're all here together...plus one more...about 5 weeks plus one more." It took a few minutes to sink in, but once it did, they were so excited!
We told my dad when we visited him that Monday. We were talking EOGs, and I told him I got some medical exemptions for the EOG. When he asked me what they were, I told him how I'd gotten to eat crackers, drink water, and sit down. "How'd you do that?" "Well, they let you do that when you pass a pregnancy test." I think he was equal parts concerned and happy, but I know it's because he's worried about me. I'm the first person to ever be pregnant on Nplate, as far as Dr. Metjian knows, so I don't blame him a bit. However, a good friend told me via Facebook he was on "cloud nine," so that makes me happy!

The Medical Stuff: We had an orientation appointment Tuesday, May 31st. It was a good visit to get acquainted with the Duke Perinatal clinic. A nurse went over my 8 page questionnaire, basically confirming we don't have any known genetic risks and that Jimmy doesn't beat me. On June 14th we have our first ultrasound and obstetrician appointment. We are so excited! As far as symptoms go, I am exhausted after work every day. I am hungry a lot, but really prefer small amounts more frequently. Overly sweet smelling stuff doesn't smell good at all to me. I have craved water, and had two smaller ones for watermelon and pizza. My hips have hurt a bit, and a sweet friend has suggested the Snoogle pillow.

I am a little worried about miscarriage, mostly since we found out so early (at 3 1/2 weeks!), but I've heard that those risks dramatically decrease once the heart starts beating. I am a little cautious there might be two, because I've had two dreams that they are twins! I really am so excited about the next 34 weeks!