HCG is on the rise

I had to have my HCG, progesterone, and estrogen levels checked today again. My HCG was up to 2,699. The value is expected to double about every 48 hours so I am right on target. The nurse referred to my level as "awesome." She was telling me about when she gave Billy the good news on Tuesday and how cute he was. She said she could tell he was trying to hide that he was getting emotional, but she knew. She said it was so touching that she almost started to cry.

The other hormone levels were also right on target, which means I have to keep up my medicine regimen-estrace (orally & vaginally twice daily), progesterone shot in the butt every night, baby aspirin, and pre-natal vitamin. I just added Expecta, which is a vitamin that contains DHA. This is an omega-3 fatty acid that is important for the baby's brain and eye development. I want a smart baby!

My ob/gyn told me several years ago when we started trying that DHA is a great supplement because some research has shown that first borns may get the reputation for being smarter because they leech up all the DHA. Then, if a woman doesn't replenish her levels before the next baby comes along, the next one doesn't get as much.

Liane talked to the doctor yesterday about her situation. It turns out that some of her eggs had the same genetic abnormalities as mine did. The doctor said that if she wanted to have more than one additional child, she should begin trying immediately. However, if she only wants one more, she has some time because she does have some good eggs left. She's going to talk it over with Jason, and they will decide what to do. I guess everything does happen for a reason, and at least she now knows her options. She would not have had these insights into her future fertility if she had not gone through this process.

As for me, I'm pretty tired in the evenings. I usually lie down on the couch around 6:30 and don't get up again until I have to. I think I'm going to cook big pots of stuff this weekend so that I don't have to deal with it throughout the week. I had leftovers from book club that we just reheated most of this week so I think I'll stick with that plan.

I'm also insanely hungry! I want to eat all of the time. Sometimes, my appetite frightens me. I've trained for marathons and not eaten like this before. Right now, I'm doing hardly any activity, but I'm starving. The nurse gave me permission to walk, but she added, "I know what you are like. I'm not saying you can do any marathon walking, but a leisurely stroll is fine." I just want to be able to take Winnie out for a 30 minute walk 3 or 4 days a week. I got permission for that.

I'm still having the same problem with sleeping as I was before I found out I was pregnant. I fall right to sleep at night, but I wake up a couple of times and have a hard time falling back to sleep. This morning, I woke up around 3 a.m. for about 30 minutes, and then again at 5 a.m. At that point, I tossed and turned until 6:30. Then, I fell back to sleep and didn't wake up until 8. I need more uninterrupted sleep.

I guess my only other symptom is that I am gassy. I'm not farting, but I burp a lot. Billy claims it's not abnormal for me to be a belching machine, but I usually only burp a bunch when I drink carbonated beverages. The last few days, there has been no correlation between carbonated stuff and burping. I wish Billy's gassiness was only burping.;)

I return to the doctor next Friday to check all of my hormones again. If anything comes up between now and then, I'll post an update.