I've Been a Slacker!

Ok guys, sorry for not updating!  After losing the twin, I think I just wanted to wait until it was more concrete and out of the first trimester.  Well a lot has happened!  We are now 21 weeks along, and found out October 19th that it's a boy!  I will admit, I was a little disappointed (I really wanted the girl!)  But I am excited now and we are thinking of names!  The bump has really grown, there is no hiding it now.  People who see me ask when I'm due without knowing ahead of time I am pregnant.  It's exciting that the world can now see what is making us so happy.  The old ladies touching the belly is slightly weird though, I'll admit I am not used to that.  I like my personal space, so strangers touching your belly out of the blue takes me by surprise!

We started getting to work on the nursery once we found out what we were having.  In one weekend, I bought the crib / changing table, registered at Babies R Us, picked out and bought the bedding, and started laying the hardwood floors.  Picking out the bedding was a hard choice, because little boy stuff just isn't as cute as little girl stuff!  But we chose a red white and blue little aviator theme - patriotic airplanes, so fits his daddy!  And we'll paint clouds on our sky blue walls and Randy will even make a few model airplanes to hang.  It's getting so exciting.  Our next doctor's appointment is November 16th for the 24 week appointment.  
 
As far as how I am feeling, I am about 120% better!  The morning sickness is gone, I'm not very tired, and I just feel normal.  The only thing plaguing me is heartburn, and it's torture!  I have discovered I can take Zantac, but I think my body is finding a way to get around that.  I had some heartburn before getting pregnant, so I'm getting used to it.  We also get another ultrasound at the 24 week appointment so they can see some extra detail.  Here is a photo of him at 20 weeks - it's a back view and you can see his spine in detail, very neat!

9 Weeks

We have hit 9 weeks!  I want to try and write a blog each Friday, but I'm late usually!  I went to the doctor this last Friday, but Randy was out of town so my mom brought me.  They wouldn't let me go alone since I am still not supposed to be driving.  And they are strictly watching what all I do!  During the ultrasound, we got a perfect view of the baby.  As you can see, you can clearly see the baby from a side view, and even the umbilical chord!  I even saw the heartbeat finally.  And the most amazing thing, during the ultrasound the baby started to kick and wiggle.  It was incredible.  Randy hated to miss it. The blood clot is still there.  You can see it in the bottom right of the photo.  The doctor wanted me to keep taking it easy, but to have limited activity.  He was weary about me returning to work as far as I drive, so we decided that this little life is way more important than risking it.  I go back this Friday, so we are praying that we'll reach that point where the baby is that much bigger than the clot.  The doctor doesn't seemed worried, so that helps ease our nerves! On to the baby...

The baby is now an inch long!  It's amazing at how soon it goes from microscopic to now.  It is about the size of a grape.  All the essential body parts are there, even if tiny.  His teeth are starting to form, and the heart now has four chambers.  The eyes are formed, but the eyelids remain shut until about 27 weeks.  The sex organs are forming, but won't be distinguishable for a while!  The best part is the placenta is just about fully developed (between 9 and 10 weeks) and should take over hormone production soon.  Thank heavens!

If anyone is wondering why I use "he" - I just have a feeling!  I just know it's going to be a little boy :)  We'll find out in about 11 weeks!  Also, the doctor took me off estrogen patches and I had nausea relief for about 2 days.  I didn't get sick at all, it was fantastic.  And yesterday, my body caught back up to the missing estrogen.  So still nauseous - had my hopes up too soon!  I'll give another update this coming Friday.

Everyone keep praying!

Long Overdue!

The head is to the right of the arm/leg buds

Ok, so I have been REALLY bad at writing.  So much has happened since that positive, I just haven't had time.  Things have been a roller coaster since then.  First we found out it was twins at 5w4d.  We were super excited, but super scared.  Then at 6w6d I developed a massive blood clot and lost one of the babies.  It was a horrifying and painful experience.  The silver lining was the other baby was ok, but I had to stay bed rested until the clot cleared itself up.  So, I am now 8w3d and still on bed rest until this Friday when I'll be 9 weeks.  So now that our roller coaster has been told, time for the good stuff...


I am SOOO nauseous!  It started at 5w5d and hasn't let up since then.  I was hoping I'd inherit the gracious good luck of my mother and not be nauseous at all during pregnancy.  Instead, I think God let it skip a generation, and let her lack of nausea make up itself in me.  The doctor gave me a Rx for Zofran, which is fantastic.  It stopped the wake up in the morning till you go to bed sickness, but I'll still get sick at some point during the day.  I actually lost some weight the first couple of weeks due to not being able to eat much.  And I'm still limited on what I can eat, because certain smells trigger that run to the toilet feeling.  Randy and I even switched sides of the bed so I can be closer to the bathroom!  Good thing to, because I think my minimum bathroom runs at night is around 3-4 - so lack of sleep is also included!


I have a few more unsavory side effects that I won't describe!  But you can look up early preggo symptoms and get the gist!  So far, things are going well.  The baby is starting to look more baby like and less sea monsterish. He is about 3/4 of an inch long. The eyelids are forming, the nose is starting to form, and the ears are developing inside and out.  The heart has divided into chambers.  Elbows and knees have started to form and the arms and legs are growing longer!!  The fingers and toes are webbed, but beginning to take shape.  By week 10, we'll leave the embryonic phase and hit the fetus phase.  In the picture you can see the head is to the right, with the arm/leg buds to the left on the bottom.  It's amazing.  We are so excited!

It's POSITIVE

We had our beta yesterday and it was positive!!  A 128!  And as you can see from the picture the day before, I've been excited!  And pretty much too excited and busy to write this very important entry.  Randy and I are so happy, we have never reached this point.  We want the prayers to continue so we can make it past the first trimester.  

Our next step is another beta on Tuesday, 6/29.  They want the number to double every 2 days, or every 48-72 hours is ok.  They will do a couple of betas and then schedule an ultrasound around 7 weeks.  I am currently 4 weeks pregnant.  So lets pray that everything continues to go well!  

I would like to start writing about each week, where the baby is and what is happening with me, but I am afraid to jinx it!  I will say that the morning sickness has started!  The first 2 times it was when I was hungry and didn't eat quick enough.  But last night I was reading a wave of nausea hit me, I had to put the book down and lay down.  The fun has began!  I've never been so excited to get sick in my life!  

One more non-jinxing moment hopefully - the due date will be around March 3, 2011.  :)

Transfer Day

Well today was our FET transfer day!! The transfer went smoothly and ideal, so no problems there. They thawed the first straw, and only one made it :(. But they thawed the second straw and both made it! So we put back 3 perfect blastocysts! Here is a picture of 1 of the 3. Secretly I think I was hoping for 3, just to up my chances since the likelihood of triplets was low. I think I should be knocking on wood about right now? ;) Randy is a little nervous though, which is understandable! I just really hope this is it and we don't have to go through this again. I'm tired of needles, and strict schedules, and all around disappointment. I'm ready to be pregnant, so that I can move on to the freaking out because I'm pregnant and don't know what to do! I've been focused for over 2 years on the getting pregnant part - don't know much about what to do after! But at least on that end, I'll have people to talk to who have been on THAT part of the journey! So keep praying and cross all your fingers and toes!

Quick FET Update

The dates have changed slightly.  The FET will be pushed back by a day to Wednesday the 16th.  I went in for my ultrasound/blood work on Wednesday and my estrogen was a little low and the lining wasn't as thick as they would like it.  I'm trying not to worry, but they sounded surprised so it did scare me a little.  They gave me additional estrogen to take, so I really hope it works.  They didn't want to do another ultrasound/blood work before the ultrasound, which has me a little worried.  I might call on Monday and ask them about it.  The GOOD news is that the pregnancy test will stay the same, Friday the 26th.  With moving it back a day, 10 days later is on a Saturday, but they want me to still test on Friday.  So now instead of a 10 day wait, I have a 9 day wait.  A little ray of sunshine, right?  I started my daily Progesterone IM shots today, ouch - so it's a needle or more  day now.  And if it's positive, the progesterone continues for at least 3 additional weeks.  OUCH!  At least I'll be a happy-hormonal-morning-sick pin cushion!  Keep praying!!

To 1 or to 3

We went to the doctor today to discuss our options for the FET (frozen embryo transfer).  They will unfreeze 1 straw with 2 embryos, but not all the embryos always survive.  We had to decide if we wanted to stay with 1 or unfreeze another.  If another was unfrozen, and both survived, then we had 3 embryos.  We were torn on what to do, so we went to get the doctor's opinion!  My biggest fear is "what if all 3 take?"  I think I might die.  From lack of sleep.  And money.  And Randy might leave me.  :)  All those sound like bad options on my end.  But then we weigh the options - the first failed, so what are the chances that ALL 3 would take?  And I'd really rather not have to write another BFN next to my user signature on my fertility forum sight.  It's getting long, and a BFP would look so much better.  The doctor advised if it comes to that, to unthaw another straw and put back 3.  He said our odds of all taking are around 5%, and it would more likley be twins.  Which I can totally live with!  So if everything goes ok, our transfer will be June 15th, and the beta test on June 25th.  Keep praying!!

Babydust!!