journey of life

This film trailer for “The Business of Being Born” prompted me to get researching on birthing.

With Valentine’s Day peeking around at us, it’s time to start thinking of buying sweets for our sweeties. Which candy will my hubby want the most on February 14?

a. licorice bits
b. conversation hearts
c. gummy bears
d. pop rocks

Ovulation Tests : If you are trying to conceive and are looking for some guidance as to when you are ovulating, I would suggest picking up some ovulation tests. I purchased my tests from Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com (ordered through Amazon), where the tests were much cheaper than those found at your local drugstore. Although we got pregnant without the use of ovulation tests, they can be a useful tool, especially if your periods are irregular. For three months prior to getting pregnant, I would see a surge indicating ovulation was happening. Why I failed to see a surge when we actually conceived is beyond me.

Pregnancy Tests : Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com also sells pregnancy tests for under $1/each, but if you are in a pinch, run to your local Dollar Tree. Their pregnancy tests are just as accurate as most other tests you will find at your drugstore. With the cheaper tests you will need to take a cup with you to the loo, but in all honestly, peeing in a cup is your easiest option.

Need some help analyzing your results : Check out Pee On A Stick for pictures, advice and comprehensive test information.

Everything looks good and we saw a beating heart of 131 today! The baby is measuring right on target…I am hopeful…but also reluctant to get too excited.

We are still on Jamaica time, mon. Everything in Jamaica runs slow, very slow and stop. So, that’s why this week TAGT is actually on Wednesday. Yeah, mon. Anyway, while in Jamaica we were introduced to several drinks, including:

Painkiller
2 ounces dark rum
1 ounce cream of coconut
4 ounces pineapple juice
1 ounce orange juice

Dark ‘N Stormy
2 ounces black rum
4 ounces ginger beer

Ambassador
I couldn’t find an online recipe for this one, but from what we recall it had Amaretto, bananas, rum, some sort of creamy something, served frozen.

Ting
A soft drink made with grapefruit juice.

Which drink was the crowd favorite?

a. Painkiller
b. Dark ‘N Stormy
c. Ambassador
d. Ting

I don’t watch American Idol, VH1 or MTV and I don’t listen to mainstream radio stations. Therefore, I have decided from now on to rely on others to keep me updated with the hip music scene. Thanks to my sister-in-law, I can now identify such songs as “Crank That” by Soulja Boy Tellem and music from The Fray. When did I grow so old, so fast?

Now, it is my turn to return the favor. I stumbled across this video, by popular UK artist Mika, and can’t decide if it’s awful or awesome. Either way, it makes me laugh and want to squirm around the house.

Thanks to Gwen, I ran to Old Navy today and bought four pairs of shorts.  With their great clearance (fifty percent off already marked down) prices, the grand total was a whopping:

a. $9.00
b. $12.00
c. $15.00
d. $20.00

$100

I know. A Benjamin Franklin seems like a lot to pay for a set of blocks, but I’ve been drooling over these Alexander Girard Alphabet Blocks for months now. I just don’t know if I can wait until our niece turns four to buy some. Maybe I should put them on my wish list.

Received a call from the doctor’s office. My hCG numbers went to 2300 in three days, so things are looking really good. Deep sigh of relief. A small milestone that means things are continuing to move forward and the pregnancy is progressing.

Or, somewhere thereabouts that we got pregnant. In reality we have no idea. After several months of using ovulation strips to help pinpoint when I was ovulating, we actually conceived without their help at all. I was slated to ovulate around December 21, 2007, but the ovulation tests weren’t giving us any signs. So, we just went about our business.

When the New Year rolled around, we celebrated with my in-laws, complete with beer (just one, though, just in case I was actually pregnant) and champagne (a few sips of bubbly, didn’t want to overdo it).

Wednesday, January 2, 2008 : I rolled out of bed feeling strange, so I decided to give it a go and take a pregnancy test. After several minutes of waiting…nothing. I proceeded to feed the dogs, do a load of laundry, check email, make coffee, fix something for breakfast, and after several hours…voila. Positive.

Of course, I still wasn’t convinced. Pregnancy test literature claims test results are invalid after a certain period of time. On the flip side, however, positive pregnancy tests are positive. False positives are rare, unlike false negatives, which are common. Still, I was dubious. Knowing I had two more pregnancy tests, I waited out another day to catch my first morning urine of the day on Thursday.

Thursday, January 3, 2008 : I woke up early after a fitful night of sleep. I promptly headed for the bathroom for another urine sample. Dip in test #1. Wait several minutes. Two lines. Two lines - positive.

Shock. Disbelief. Excitement.

Rip open test #2. Because this is a more expensive test, it HAS to be foolproof. Dip in test #2. Put cap on (it’s one of those expensive kind with caps, not a cheap-o strip). Wait several minutes. Two lines again.

Two positives along with a semi-positive from the previous day totals to three positives. I must be pregnant. But, of course really early on.

As I am processing the information, my husband stumbles down the stairs to take a shower. I pointed towards the windowsill where the tests are sitting. Because he has not completed the required classes to earn your Ph.D. in deciphering pregnancy test directions, he is clueless what the test results indicate. I told him it means I am pregnant. Shock. Disbelief. And, after a hot shower to wake up, excitement.

Both of us can’t believe it happened. When and where it all happened is a complete mystery. However, mission accomplished. Let’s just hope this one sticks.