What a day...
So with such terribly low hcg levels, I was expecting either a) an ectopic or b) an empty sac (if they could even find it - your hcg supposedly needs to be over a 1000 for the u/s to pick up anything). Well, I opened my legs, looked up to the ceiling and prayed that the baby wasn't stuck in my tube. It isn't! There was a sac! AND A HEARTBEAT! Me and hubby watched it flicker, flicker, flicker on the monitor! I am trying to keep myself restrained with happiness. I know this doesn't mean that everything is okay. It isn't. The doctor was still clear that the hcg levels pointed to an impending miscarriage, but he also said (after I asked him) that it is possible to carry a baby - a healthy one - to term with abnormally low levels. He said that it is rare, but that he knows of a few cases. Loooooooooooooord, let me, DH and baby fall into that *rare* category, please!
They didn't call back with the bloodwork (I'm disappointed about that), but they've scheduled me for another ultrasound a week from today. The doctor said that the baby is a week behind in fetal development. It looks like it's five and a half weeks instead of six and a half. I remember that my temperature didn't rise for days after my IUI. I told him that maybe I ovulated a few days later than we think? Even so, it would still put me at the beginning of the sixth week and the hcg levels are still incredibly low.
But I am so shocked that baby had a heartbeat even though he's tiny and not growing like he should. And he's in my uterus! Girls you have no idea how frightened I was that this was going to be an ectopic! Relief...
Prayers, good thoughts, whatever you call it, please keep sharing and sending them to baby! I am going to try and be positive over the next week. Baby is going to make it. Baby is going to make it. And yes, "realistically" I know that we're going to miscarry, but I've got to let my "paper answer" take its course. I've got to put some faith in the answer, even though it doesn't seem possible.
This is long. Sorry.
MsJMouse - I think hanging out with your sister is preparation for the daughter(s) you will one day have.

Rosa - I hope that you find the job that makes you happy. That happiness will produce further (baby) happiness.

mrsmax - I hope that acupuncture works out well for you. It cleared up my acne (I did it for about 11 months) and always relaxed me. I've been thinking about going back and pray that it works some magic for you.

Crumbs - DH will have stellar results! But I am praying that the results will be a non-issue because your cramping is due to implantation!
To all you gals - here's to believing that "anything is possible!"