This is the first glimpse we had of Baby Riggs.  I woke up in the middle of the night (September 2nd at 3am) to go to the bathroom and decided that was as good of a time as any to do a pregnancy test.  POSITIVE!!  This was the 4th or 5th test that I had taken... the previous ones were all negative and I was about to give up hope.  But, the test on this day was the answer I wanted!  I went to tell Caleb, and luckily he was not on the phone this time!  HA!!  His reply was, "Seriously?!"  It was an AWESOME day!

This ultrasound was done at 6 weeks 1 day.  I had had some of the exact same pains on the Thursday and Friday before this day as I had had last time I was pregnant.  Of course I was shaken up about the pain.  I remember getting a call from the nurse about scheduling the ultrasound while I was out to lunch with Caleb.  I was crying and I definitely could not eat.  I went in for this ultrasound and we could barely see the baby (it's the little speck over to the left side of the black area), but we could see a strong heartbeat.  YAY!!

The next time I saw anyone at the doctor's office was at 9 weeks.  It was the appointment where they take all of your, your husband's, and your family's medical background information.  I was SO proud when my blood pressure was 118/55!  Last pregnancy it was REALLY high (one of the signs of Triploidy).  And, I knew that my blood pressure before I lost my 53 pounds was not good anyway.  Lose weight, people, it is the best thing you will EVER do for yourself, your life, and your family!

These 4 ultrasound pictures are from yesterday.  I am 13 weeks and 1 day today, so yesterday I was 13 weeks exactly.  The first one is Baby doing a headstand.  The second one is Baby's feet.  The third one is Baby's leg and hand.  And, the fourth is a profile laying down shot (you can also see a hand).  The ultrasound was SO awesome.  I LOVE Stephanie, one of the ultrasound techs at The Women's Health Group in Manhattan.  I've had all my ultrasounds with her (fetal demise, follow up after D and E, cyst, 6 week 1 day, and now 13 weeks).  She tells me exactly what I'm looking at and she is SO thorough.  Plus, she doesn't care that I mess up her good shot when I laugh!!  This ultrasound was done because I walked into my appointment wanting to get the first trimester screen to see my chances for genetic abnormalities.  Dr. Priddle (in my opinion the BEST OB/GYN EVER!!  and he's cute... don't tell Caleb) convinced us not to do that since I DO NOT want an amniocentesis by any means (since it increases your chances of miscarriage).  But, he still let us get the ultrasound and see what the nuchal translucency (one part of the first trimester screen) of the baby was.  It was 1.5 = normal!!  Baby's heartrate on the doppler before the ultrasound was 159 bpm and 161 bpm during the ultrasound.  (Too bad they proved the heartrate and gender prediction wives tale is false... I secretly [or not so secretly] want a girl!) 

My next appointment is December 1st.  I don't get to see Dr. Priddle, so hopefully it will still be a good appointment.  I will hopefully remember to update between now and then (at least you got 2 today)!!  I am having a FANTASTIC day!!!  Hope yours is just as great!

I'm Thankful for...

My miscarriage. 

That may be strange to say, but really, both Caleb and I would not be where we are today without it.  Let's look:

- I would never have lost 53 pounds.
- I would not be working at my job and meeting new friends there.
- I would not have found the BEST OB/GYN ever!!
- Caleb would not have gotten to meet his son/daughter until 5 months old.
- Caleb would not have gotten to be around for the pregnancy (appointments, feeling kicks, etc)
- I would not be eating as healthy as I am now.
- My blood pressure would not be AMAZING (116/54).
- Caleb and I became closer because of it.
- My faith got stronger because of it.
- My friendships grew because of it.
- Caleb and I would not have gotten to do some of the things that we have done recently.
- I would not be enjoying this pregnancy as much without it.
- Certain things in life would just not have meant as much without it.

Thank you, God, for giving me Hope even if just for a short time.  You had a plan for me before I was ever born, and I'm so thankful!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13 (NIV).