Angel of Death: Joe’s New Employer

I’m so proud of my hubby — he’s landed a new job!  And in less than two weeks of searching!

Joe is moving from public accounting with its horrible busy seasons and budget crunches to North America’s largest provider of funeral, cremation, and cemetery services.  Of course, he’ll still in accounting — but shouldn’t the death industry be a little less…well, fast-paced?  Fewer customers should call with complaints, eh?

I joke that Joe chose the right industry for making a change.  Energy, oil, and gas — the most common Houston industries — could be unstable if taxes on windfall profits are enacted.  Death, on the other hand, impacts everyone.  And with so many baby boomers approaching the croaking age, funeral services could have quite the boom.

Besides growth potential, the new job has an added bonus — an $11K increase in pay.  God is such a perfect provider.

Jessica Hates Work

Days like today (and the day before, and the day before that…) really make me wonder why I ever questioned SAHM-hood.

I want to rip every piece of paper on my desk to shreds.  I want to kick every filing cabinet until the drawers are smashed.  I want to scribble with fat, unwashable Sharpie markers down every hall.

(Disclaimer:  If the eighth floor of my building is actually vandalized tonight, I was not the culprit.)

I’m going to find an alibi now…

Heartbeats and Happy Ultrasounds

At 7w4d, Joe and I heard the most amazing sound — Beany’s heartbeat!  It was so rapid, so alive — a wonderful 160 beats per minute!  It was at that moment I realized Beany is a living being inside me.  What a miracle.

And yesterday at 9w4d, I saw Beany again in his/her first ultrasound photo where he/she actually looks human!  Heartrate was a strong 176 bpm.

I feel so blessed that God is stitching together a most perfect creature in my womb.

My weight, blood pressure, and progesterone are great, my OB says.  Whatever I’m doing right, I’ve just got to keep on doing it.  (Unfortunately, I don’t think that includes the pan of brownies I baked last night.  Can we say CHOCOLATE CRAVING…?!)

Flitter Flutter

I had an OB appointment to check my progesterone and look for Beany’s heartbeat on Thursday.  I haven’t gotten the results of my bloodwork back, but the ultrasound — well, I’m so glad it’s immediate.  I hate waiting.

Beany’s still measuring on-target for 6w4d, and we saw the faintest little flutter of a heartbeat.  To Joe, it was magical.  To me, I’m automatically alarmed:

Why is it so faint? 
Why isn’t it beating faster?
Why does it look like barely-there, blinking blob?
Why isn’t the nurse practioner measuring it?

A mother’s worry begins at conception, I’m learning.

The nurse practioner does want to see a stronger heartbeat, so we go back next Thursday at 7w4d.  At this appointment, we *must* see a better heartbeat, she says.  (Gee, that’s pressure.)

She assured me everyone is different and it may be early yet for us to see Beany with a strong, pumping heart.  But I keep comparing myself to others on FertilityFriend, and it starts me down this path of doubt.

Dr. Nanda probably had good reason to tell me to avoid the internet.

I’m Pregnant!

I’ve tried waiting to write this entry, but I can’t hold it in any longer:  I’M PREGNANT!

Because my chart was looking so promising on April 9, I took an HPT after work.  The result?  A faint, pink line!  I studied it under every light, tilted it in every direction, and uploaded a photo onto Fertility Friend for others’ expert opinions.  Sure enough, the line was there — a BIG, FAT POSITIVE!

I told Joe as soon as he came home from class.  I’ve been prepared for quite some time with a cute onesie with “Tax Deduction” written across the top.  (Could a CPA be told any better way?)  I laid it on the bed with the HPT, and when Joe saw it — WOW — there’s no way to explain his happiness.  We hugged and kissed and cried.

The next few days were a roller coaster.  I saw my GP, and the urine test came back negative.  Then more HPTs came back positive.  And finally the bloodwork came back positive, and I was able to breathe easy.  I’m due December 21.

We had our first OB appointment and ultrasound this past Monday at 5w1d.  Joe came, and we saw Beany’s (yes, that’s our name for him/her so far) yolk sac.  Unfortunately, my progesterone was low, but our doc started me on Prometrium 200mg orally.  Everything else is progressing perfectly, as Dr. Nanda said.  Our next appointment is Thursday at 6w4d, where we’ll hopefully see Beany’s heartbeat.

We’ve told my parents, a few key friends, and I’ve told work (because of some concerns with my moving to a next assignment).  We’re waiting until Mothers Day to tell Joe’s parents, because we so want to see their reaction in person.  So, if you’re reading this entry and you haven’t been told in person — well, that means you can’t breathe a word of this news to anyone.

I can’t believe I wanted to skip this cycle…

Just Another 2WW

I’m 9dpo, and my chart is looking better than usual.  In fact, it’s been such a different cycle than the previous three:

• I ovulated on CD15, when my usual window is CD17 – CD19.
• I had cramps since 6dpo — although not so bad today.
• I’ve been in a great mood.  (Yes, that’s abnormal.)

If we conceived this cycle, my estimated due date would be Dec 21.  Wouldn’t it be just my luck to have a Christmas baby?  I almost persuaded Joe we should skip this cycle so any possible son or daughter wouldn’t have the curse of receiving combined Christmas and birthday gifts.

My usual LP is 10 days, so I’ll be testing Thursday.  And maybe tomorrow if my temp rises.  I found a two-pack of Answer HPTs for $10.99 at Randalls on Sunday — a very good buy.  Maybe I’ll have a good reason to use them tomorrow.

San Diego — Sans Plans

Joe and I rarely take a “real” vacation — you know, a trip that doesn’t include visiting family.  To date, our only real vacation was, well…our honeymoon.

But to celebrate our second anniversary and the end of Joe’s busy season, we’re going to San Diego!

San Diego was an easy choice.  Joe wanted tropical (San Diego by day), but I wanted cool breezes (San Diego by night).  Joe wanted Hard Rock Cafes (there’s three in driving distance), and I wanted educational (the zoo and museums).  And, of course, we both wanted Legoland.

We’ll be there four days, three nights.  I can’t wait!

Our vacation also qualifies as a “coping saw” trip.  It’s a term one of our pastors coined for a getaway with the sole purpose of relaxing and reconnecting as a couple.

(If I go to Tijuana without a passport or birth certificate, can I cross back in as an illegal immigrant and get government freebies?  Hmmm…)