Peace Reigns....

Hey all - first of all, thank you so much for your kinds words, support and prayers.  We're hanging in here...my bleeding has stopped for now but I'm still having some cramping.  I spent the day relaxing (and praying) and trying to stay calm and peaceful. 

I didn't even get out of bed until it was time to get ready and go to acupuncture this evening.  Acupuncture always helps  - NO lie.  No matter how bad my day is, it always calms me and helps reset things.  Hope, the magician acupuncturist and future mommy herself, was able to calm more of my fears and talk me through a few things as well.  It helps when your acupuncturist specializes in fertility treatments and knows her way around the aches, pains and issues that come with a pregnancy.  Some days she more of a therapist than an acupuncturist, but I love her either way!  Go Team McGowan!

I'm holding my own for now and baby McG is hanging in so far as well.  On a lighter note, I feel like crap, so I guess that's good for now huh? :) I made B take me out for Mexican - because apparently our baby is going to be nicknamed Pedro, and that's the only food I want right now.  It tasted good and I scarfed it down like I hadn't eaten in a month.  Unfortunately about 10 minutes after I was done, the nausea moved back in.

I get it now though.  This will be the hardest three months of my life.  I had a great talk with a dear friend last night and she 'talked turkey' to me about this baby thing.  I learned a lot and I think I've got my big girl panties ready for the ride.  I can do this...I've been through hard things before, lots of them.  I just think I was so focused on the actual 'getting pregnant' thing, that the idea of 'what comes next' didn't really get enough focus.

SO as of today, I've had three great blood tests results and one scary episode.  My next ultrasound is on the 31st so I'll just suck it up and pray I make it to see a heartbeat.    God is good - I trust that this is meant to be.

I have peace in my heart no matter what and truly think I need to get my focus back on the positives and off of the scary parts.  So today I'm thankful for the the following:

1.  No bleeding - at all today.
2.  Great phone calls from my family (and pretty flowers too!  Thanks T&B!)
3.  I had great cuddle time with my Bubbies.
4.  Great call from my college roommate - she always cheers me up!
5.  Acupuncture and support from Team McGowan always picks me up too!

Lastly, I thank you for your notes and prayers....I truly believe this baby wouldn't be here if not for the power of prayer.   I hope each of you has had a great week and is looking forward to a relaxing and fun weekend.

Much Love and Happy Friday Ya'll!

Team McGowan

The end to a really, really long week - my weekly massage.  Boy, does that sound decadent or what?  I feel so spoiled....oh, wait a minute, MY massage has nothing to do with decadence and everything to do with functioning!  Bummer.  For a minute there I forgot who I was! 

I think I've mentioned I've had a few health issues over the past few years.  (Few is an operative word, but we'll work with it for now.)   Over the past three years, I've been going for acupuncture treatments on a weekly basis at the Charlotte Acupuncture and Wellness Center (CAWC).  They've done more to give me back my health than any of my doctors-  seriously you Doubting Thomases!  It truly works.  In fact, my doctors call everyone at CAWC, Team McGowan!  

Let me introduce you to my 'team':  Hope - aka Goddess du Needles, is the one who helped me to determine I was gluten intolerent, and basically who gave me back a normal life!  She's held my hand throughout all of my fertility treatments and has helped me in ways that no one else could with her knowledge and big heart. 

Todd is the other 'needle master' at CAWC and has spent many hours trying to rid my body of the evil trigger points that attack me.  He's amazingly patient and talented at getting those boogers to sit down and leave me be!  He's the quiet one - the guy amongst the ladies, but he can handle it - give him a bottle of Zhung Gu Shui (aka Stink Juice) and look out! 

For those of you who aren't lucky enough to have trigger points (heavy sarcasm), here is the definition of a trigger point from About.com:  A trigger point describes a taught band of skeletal muscle located within a larger muscle group. Trigger points are tender to the touch and can refer pain to distant parts of the body. So ouch right?  Basically, they are smallish knots of hell that take up residence in the most inopportune of locations- the least of my favorites is the one on the left side of my neck that keeps me from turning it and the mac daddy of all of them - the one by my right shoulder blade; that one 'clunks' every time I move my shoulder!  Awesome!

SO, Hope and Todd double team my body and get things to calm to a low roar and keep my body level so I can sleep and manage pain.  Cue, Tricia.  Tricia is basically the clean-up hitter of my pain management team.  She's the tiniest thing, but don't let that fool you- her hands should be registered lethal weapons.  She could probably render me incapacitated with her pinkie, but instead has a way of talking me through the pain and helping me to laugh about it.  

I get how my body is connected, so when I go in to see Tricia - let's call her Evil Hands, I can just tell her that I can't turn my head or move my shoulder - and she knows exactly what to do without causing me undue pain.  THAT my friends is skill.  I think the thing that makes it all smooth, is the calm, funny manner in which she attacks, I mean treats me.  I can handle me some pain, don't get me wrong, but it sure is nice to have someone who is causing me pain, do it in a way that makes it tolerable.  Whether it's the cursing or the paleness of my face, Tricia just knows when I've had enough.  :o)

Everyone at CAWC treats the whole person -which honestly is I think the CAWC is all about.  When you know you're going to be in pain, you mentally have to brace yourself to keep going back week after week, even when you know it will help in the end.  But the combination of mental AND physical support keeps me going.  The people keep me coming back.

So far, I think I've been almost kicked out of the CAWC about 5 times - for laughing too loud mind you.  When I'm getting my treatments, we all talk about really stupid things.  Things that I wouldn't be able to explain to you without looking like a crazy person - so we'll avoid that today.  Let's just suffice it to say, when they are done treating me, I still have a smile on my face.

Don't get me wrong, I hate Tricia on Saturdays, but on every other day of the week - she's one of my favorite people!   :o)  I'm really not sure what my life would be like without Hope, Todd, Tricia, Jennifer, and the entire CAWC team - but I know I'd rather knot know!  

So, thanks to you guys - for everything....