Noah John Butchino

IT'S A BOY!!! I was shocked, but still overjoyed. It is such an amazing feeling to know that there is a little boy growing inside of me right now. I almost feel weird saying "my son"...but that's exactly what he is! I was seriously expecting a girl, but there was no mistake. The doctor had barely touched my belly with the ultrasound and he goes "Whoa...do you want to know what you're having??" Of course we said yes. He goes "Here's one leg, here's two legs, and here's three legs!" LOL, and was he right!! Plain as day!! Steven is very proud!! (sorry about the photo quality. We are without a scanner, so we took a picture of the ultrasounds with our camera.)

2nd trimester!!

Hello! I'm still alive, LOL! I actually had a bit of a breakdown, so I had to back off from the internet for awhile. I have been reading about a lot of terrible things happening to women in the IVF world lately and I think it all just hit home. I woke up last week in the middle of the night crying because I had convinced myself that the baby's heart had stopped. Now that I know all of the things that can go wrong, I play them over and over in my head until I am sure they will happen to me. So, for my own safety and the baby's, I have decided to step back a little bit from message boards, blogs, and websites. I'm still here, just trying to do what I can to keep my body and my mind healthy for the baby.

As for the pregnancy...I am doing great. I'm getting huge and still feeling woozy every day. I kinda thought the 2nd trimester would come and magically wisk away all of my morning sickness...I was very wrong!! I am still taking my Zofran every day and can't wait until I don't need it anymore!!

So, that's pretty much all. 6 more days until our gender scan!! I'll be sure to update with either pink or blue writing! Here's a 13w2d bump pic...I'm getting huge!!

OMFG...I live at Home Depot now!

I'm doing good. I am sick today...but I'll live. I ran out of Zofran and I'm waiting for the refill. Its so hot here, which makes the nausea even worse! I'm inside with the central air on. That's where I'll be for the next 6 months...if anyone needs me! I had a massage yesterday, so I decided to shop while I was out. I spent a 1/2 hour in the parking lot at Target hanging out my window...throwing up! People probably thought I was drunk!! I did get a bathing suit, though...success!!

Steven and I had a busy, busy weekend. Friday after he got home, we went to Home Depot. My mom had called me earlier in the day. She works at Walmart and bought us 11 shrubs for our walkway @ 50% off. She said we would have to run out and buy the weed paper and mulch. We bought 5 bags of mulch (what were we thinking??) and came home. That trip was $50. Steven rotatilled and my mom got home at 8pm with the plants. We put them in the ground, layed the mulch...surprise...we came up short...very short!! Saturday morning, we headed back to Home Depot. We got 12 more bags of mulch. Steven also got me 2 rosebushes...I love them!! That trip was $150. We came home and he mowed the lawn before we headed out to a wedding. Sunday morning, he resumed the gardening while I was at a bridal shower. I came home and the 12 bags of mulch were laid...STILL not enough. OMFG!!! BACK to Home Depot!! We got 10 more bags of mulch...and a bunch of other flowers and stuff because they were just so pretty! That ended up being over $200! So...my mom's nice gesture ended up costing us $400...good thing we got our stimulus check!!! Poor Steven has been resting and playing video games. This weekend ended up being a record setter for hot days. He was working in our yard in 90+ degree weather for 3 days...all for his dear ole' wife! What a trooper!!

If you can, please say a prayer for my friend, Jess. Her beautiful baby girl, Jenna Faith, was born 11 days ago and is suffering from seizures. So far the cause is unknown and they will not know anything until further testing can be done.

To the left, to the left...ovary.

My left ovary hurts. (I'm pausing so you can feel bad for me.) Anyway, ever since I began stims, my left ovary has burned. At first, it was constant. After awhile, it became less frequent. I still have days here and there where it hurts so bad, I could scream. So...I have self-diagnosed myself. It is mild OHSS. No, really. I knew it from the beginning, but refused to tell Dr. A because I was terrified of a cancelled cycle. After my beta, I was just too excited to worry about it because it seemed to be getting better. Now, I think I am going to come clean to Dr. S at my next appointment...just to make sure that it isn't serious.

Today was crap. We woke up today to a flat tire on our only vehicle. Steven went to get the spare out from underneath the truck and it was stuck. He assumed it was because of the lift that I get on to drive from my wheelchair. I waited until the lift manufacturer opened then called. Apparently, they had nothing to do with it...but our spare would not come off. So...we were stranded until my friend Katie got here. She took Steven and the tire to Walmart and he had them patch it. He missed the whole day of work. Ridiculous! I hate my car!!

I need to go somewhere and woo-saaaaaa until I am calm! BREATHE!!

Don't Mess With the Zofran

LOL, sorry...couldn't help myself. I want to see the new Adam Sandler movie, Don't Mess With the Zohan...thought it would be a funny title. But seriously, its true! Nobody mess with my miracle drug!! I am feeling human for the 1st time in 6 weeks...I like food again!! It was scary to know that I had actually lost 3 pounds. I knew the baby wasn't getting what she needed. I wasn't even getting what I needed. I felt so sick and so weak. I just wanted everyone to leave me alone to puke by myself. Very scary!

So...I got my diaper bag!! Very exciting! I saw it on eBay for $100. It is originally between $250-$300 normally, so I had to grab it up. It is a black, Juicy Couture bag and it says "Couture Baby" on the front. I can't wait to fill it up!!

We also got a bassinet. One of the big cheeses that Steven works for just had a baby boy. He brought in a barely used Eddie Bauer bassinet (white and tan) and gave it to us! I thought it was very nice of him and his wife to think of us like that. Anyway, it is in the nursery and it is just so neat to look at it and know that in 6 months, my baby will be in there! I am so emotional these days!!

Well, still waiting impatiently for my next appointment!! I will update again when something exciting happens!