Passing the Test

I received my blood results today. Who knew I'd want to cry over blood results? I have a phobia over needles by the way (I get hot-cold sweats/faint/puke...). I surprisingly did well when they took blood for the baby - go figure.

My HCG levels were supposed to double:
Tuesday: 675 Thursday: 1448
My Progesterone levels are supposed to be above 14:
Tuesday: 27.9 Thursday: 24.9

The nurse told me that my levels look GREAT for this time during the pregnancy. I'll be 5 weeks along on Saturday.

I'm amazed that most people don't tend to know they are pregnant yet at this stage. I mean, I felt weird 1.5 weeks BEFORE I could take the pregnancy test. I guess I'm just super in tune with how my body normally feels...and how none of this feels normal.

I still feel like I'm holding my breath - Awaiting a calamity. I suppose I'll feel that way the whole 9 months (if I make it that far). I mentally add that last part onto anything I say about the pregnancy.

As far as exercising is concerned, I told them about the activities I do during the 3X Challenge. They said it would be okay. I should just, "Take the intensity down a notch". Ummm, isn't that the point of a "Challenge"? I think I'll probably cut out the Jumping Jacks (because they make me huff and puff pretty hard). I'll cut out the Planks and Sit-Ups just to go "easy" on the babymaker region. I'll cut down the intensity level of the elliptical too, but I won't stop doing it. Walking of course, is fine. I was a competitive swimmer in high school - I'm much more coordinated in water than on land. I should get a local membership and go swim once a week - activity variation and easy on my joints.

Pregnancy Symptoms Thus Far:
-Aches in my ligaments (or something) connecting my legs to my torso *Getting better
-Increasing Night Sweats
-When I arch my back my tummy feels tight when I stretch out
-Mucus production increasing in sinuses (I read about this). It isn't helping my already problematic sinus issues. Nothing like having mucus drain into an already mildly queasy stomach - bleck.
-No issues with Smell increasing & it won't be an issue at all (I was born without a sense of smell!)
-Peeing ALL THE TIME
-I want to cry when I get happy (this is NOT normal for me)

I've been wondering in the back of my head when I should tell my parents. With the holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years) it is going to be hard to keep declining alcohol and not have people figure it out (or assume) on their own. I'll be 12.5 weeks at Christmas. I already told my husband that we will be making "fake" mix drinks for me to throw people off - I don't need any added pressure from well-intended family members. I already get asked EVERY TIME when I'm going to start having kids (They don't know I had a miscarriage - Only my parents know). If only they knew how badly they are putting their foots in their mouths. Oy!