Work-related issues aren't issues, thank goodness

I did my research and contacted the Illinois Teratogen Information Service, as recommended by the midwife office I made my first appointment with for July 31st. ITIS is a state run organization that provides free information in regards to various exposures during pregnancy/breastfeeding. And I happily learned that my two biggest concerns at work--Isoflurane gas and x-rays--are truly of no concern. Because our Isoflurane gas is hooked up to a proper scavenger system, I don't have to worry about the minimal exposure I'm faced with. In super-high doses it can cause hemolytic anemia, but that would get caught by me a) feeling like junk and b) routine bloodwork. And x-rays are only dangerous during a single super-high dose directly on the uterus. So while lower back x-rays taken on me would be a no-no, being present, well out of the beam, wearing a lead gown, is fine. Minimal exposures over time don't have ill-effects.

So, all of our bases are covered in work-related issues!

Digital tests are so much easier to read

I keep looking for the "not" to show up. Wow.

The details of this past cycle, the first after our wedding, the first we ever decided to "not NOT try" to get pregnant...

-Probably ovulated on day 18
-Had sex as we pleased
-Average luteal phase is 12 days
-Average cycle length is 30 days
-Experienced mild and intermittent lower-abdominal cramping from day 20 on
-Upset stomach/heartburn occasionally in evenings from day 20 on
-Really crazy dreams (when I normally don't dream at all) from around ovulation on
-Tested 8 days past ovulation and got what we thought was an evaporation line, again on 9 days past ovulation and got a darker terribly-faint-what-I-thought-was-an-evaporation-line

-And now the digital in the afternoon of 9 dpo and a positive.

"Holy sh*t," were literally the first words when that little digital test read positive. They were said in an awe-struck, love-filled way though, of course!

The first tests: thank you, Dollar General!

Art insisted I take a test last night. "But I'm probably only like 8 days past ovulation," I protested. But no, if I've been feeling strange lower-abdominal mild cramping, I must take a test. So, I relented. And then we stared at that sucker on and off for 10 minutes until our eyes hurt. What we saw I'm sure must be an evaporation/"ghost" line (where those magic little antibodies are), but hell if I know what I'm looking at.

So, this afternoon, same story. Maybe it's the day light, maybe it's our crazed eyes, but somewhere after 5 minutes and before 10, we both saw the same thing. I have no idea if an evaporation/"ghost" line even translates into a digital image as it does in front of our eyes, but goodness, I'm at a loss. I should've taken a test when I KNEW I wasn't pregnant so I'd have some basis for comparison! Instead we're here over-analyzing. That second line is so faint, but geez, I really think it's there!