I can't believe I'm going to say this...

...but I'm pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd use a zillion more exclamation points if I didn't think you'd find it boring :)

I'd write an entire post of exclamation points if it wouldn't make me look crazy uncreative.

Last week was pretty much the greatest week of my life: My best friend's wedding, which equaled an entire week of hanging out with her and her family. And the discovery that I am carrying a living, growing blessing inside of me :)

You'll hear all the details about how and when I found out in my next post that I will be writing to my little one. (I actually wrote it a couple days ago, but we wanted to wait for me to talk to my doctor for the first time before telling many people).

Pretty much just my parents, my in-laws, my best friend and her family, and my husband's best friend and his family know. We're not really going to tell many other people until I'm farther along. But I know that women who will understand all the mixed emotions I'm feeling right now will be reading this, and I wanted some support from someone like that. So, thanks in advance for your support, dear readers :)

And, for those of you who know me in person, based on this post, you can probably tell that we're trying to keep this on the DL, so please don't be making any announcements on facebook or anything! Thanks!

So, here's the deal:

As one of my last posts said, my doctor wanted me to go in for a hormone test right away after I found out I was pregnant. So, Tuesday, as soon as we got into town, I had some bloodwork done.

They told me that they would call me with the results within 24 hours.

No such luck.

So, this afternoon, I couldn't wait any longer and called them.

I was told that the person who told me not to call for my results didn't know what she was talking about (great).

First, I found out that my hCG levels are consistent with how far along I should be based on my last period. I am just over three weeks along. Very, very not far. Very, very early.

But my hCG is looking good, praise God!

However, my progesterone is lower than they want it to be and than it should be. It was measured at a 14, and they said the lowest they want it to be is a 15, but preferably closer to a 20.

So, they told me to come in again today for another test to see how things are developing.

And they put me on a progesterone supplement, which, they warned me, is likely to make me fairly ill.

But hey, if my body isn't making enough progesterone for me to really feel some symptoms, why not manually bring them on, right?

To some extent, I want those symptoms. I want to feel pregnant.

And, quite frankly, I don't care if the progesterone pills make me so ill that I have to stay in bed for the next nine months, as long as it means that this pregnancy is going to progress as it should and that my baby will be strong and healthy when she/he is born. I'm sure some of you understand how I'm feeling.

And then, I will likely need to go in for another blood test next week to see if the progesterone supplement is working.

But it makes me nervous that they need to supplement my hormones already.

Am I defective?

Is there something wrong with this pregnancy already?

My husband and I are SO excited; we will be completely crushed if something bad happens.

But for now, I'm just trying to stay peaceful and calm.

My first prenatal appointment is September 9th, which doesn't seem so far away.

It actually really helps to have that tangible date that I'm waiting for.

It makes me feel like everything's going to be okay.

It's only a few weeks away - baby and I can hang on until then!

And, at that point, I'll be about seven weeks, so I'll be half way to the mecca of fourteen weeks.

And on a side note, Brady is so cute! He is so concerned that I eat enough of all of the types of food I need to eat. I feel like he's trying to fatten me up! This morning he told me how "it's not about being hungry; it's about eating what you need to for baby!" And he also told me, "I don't ever want you to be thirsty while you're pregnant," because apparently hydration is important, and if I'm ever thirsty, it means I'm not drinking enough.

He's also making me drink and eat some gross things (like milk...yuck), but I'm willing to sacrifice for baby's health.

I just love how much he has taken it upon himself to make sure that baby and I are healthy - it is so endearing!

On another side note, I've been having lots of cramps lately. Is this normal? I don't have any bleeding or anything, so that's making me feel okay about the cramps, but they are more severe than I would expect. Thoughts?