Another week down - 6 weeks and 1 day pregnant today. Acccording to the What to Expect When Expecting application on my phone - the baby (babies?) is the size of a blueberry.
Other than being extremely tired and certain smells starting to bother me, I've got no pregnancy symptoms, although I just feel a little "off". But trust me, I'm not complaining that I'm not sick like most people!
Anxious for our appointments next week - regular OB on Monday and fertility clinic on Wednesday.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
5 Weeks and 1 Day
Five weeks and 1 day pregnant today - that's IT??? Considering it's about a 6 week prcoess prior to even getting pregnant for us, no wonder it seems longer. Just finished my last set of labs and my next appointment will be an ultrasound! Then we'll get to see what we're dealing with...one baby or two. My plan of care will be slightly different if pregnant with two, and I definitely see bed rest in the future. But enough speculation - I'll find out what the plan is soon enough.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Happy Anniversary!
Happy 4th Anniversary to my hubby! We've made a lot of memories together these past few years. Since we can't take a trip to celebrate this year, we're headed to our favorite steak house for dinner tonight.
Today our twins would have been 6 months old. It's so hard to believe that it's been 6 months. We miss those babies every single day and nothing could ever replace them, but we are looking forward to giving them siblings here in the near future.
Today our twins would have been 6 months old. It's so hard to believe that it's been 6 months. We miss those babies every single day and nothing could ever replace them, but we are looking forward to giving them siblings here in the near future.
Monday, September 13, 2010
More Labs
Busy weekend....baptism, birthday parties, football games....enough to wear a pregnant woman out, no matter how far along she may be! Word has traveled quickly throughout our family and friends - I think it's safe to say the entire town knows we're pregnant again.
Another round of labs this morning, and besides the fact that my veins have had enough poking and are starting to refuse to give up any more blood, the results were good. Beta hcg is still doubling every few days. Final round of labs on Friday and then I move on to the ultrasound!
Another round of labs this morning, and besides the fact that my veins have had enough poking and are starting to refuse to give up any more blood, the results were good. Beta hcg is still doubling every few days. Final round of labs on Friday and then I move on to the ultrasound!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Pregnancy Labs
Well, yesterday was the big day....the mother of all labs....the pregnancy lab! Of course, I already knew it was positive, because I've cheated - twice. :) On Monday, I took a home pregnancy test, and there was a very, very faint line. On Wednesday, I repeated the test - and there was no doubt it was positive - so we went ahead and shared the news with our family.
As soon as I got in the car and turned on the radio after my appointment, a U2 song played. U2 was one of my oldest sister's favorite bands. I believe in signs, and I know this was just her way of saying that she is here with me, and everything will be OK. I can't bear the thought of my future children not ever getting to physically meet their aunt, but we will certainly tell our children all about her.
My due date will be May 19, 2011. I am 4 weeks pregnant.....36 more weeks to go.....
As soon as I got in the car and turned on the radio after my appointment, a U2 song played. U2 was one of my oldest sister's favorite bands. I believe in signs, and I know this was just her way of saying that she is here with me, and everything will be OK. I can't bear the thought of my future children not ever getting to physically meet their aunt, but we will certainly tell our children all about her.
My due date will be May 19, 2011. I am 4 weeks pregnant.....36 more weeks to go.....
Monday, September 6, 2010
Football!
First football game of the season was Saturday, a big college rivalry. It was a fantastically beautiful, almost fall-like day here, couldn't ask for anything better. Oh, except for if I could drink beer at the tailgate. Bummer....another football season with no beer or bourbon. :(
Oh, did I mention that my husband and I are "a house divided" on the rival teams...and my team won! I have bragging rights for the next year. :)
Oh, did I mention that my husband and I are "a house divided" on the rival teams...and my team won! I have bragging rights for the next year. :)
The Implant - August 29, 2010
Ahhh, Valium, how I love thee....was super nervous this morning waiting to see if the IVF clinic would call and push the implant to Day 5. The assigned call time came and went, and that means we are going ahead with the Day 3 transfer, so I got to take the Valium to help me relax for the procedure. I took a 2nd one at the clinic. Veeeerrrry reeellllaaaxxxxed.
My IVF doctor said that he was implanting 2 "drop dead gorgeous" (his words, not mine) embryos. I'll take it! The picture we have is very pretty, and you can see all 8 cells in each embryo.
Apparently the Valium lasts for awhile, because my hubby said that on the drive home, I said we could have 5 or 6 kids. HA! While I would definitely love to have more than one child, we'll see how this round goes.
Now the hard part.....the 2 week wait for pregnancy labs! I'm sure I'll cheat and take a home pregnancy test beforehand....
My IVF doctor said that he was implanting 2 "drop dead gorgeous" (his words, not mine) embryos. I'll take it! The picture we have is very pretty, and you can see all 8 cells in each embryo.
Apparently the Valium lasts for awhile, because my hubby said that on the drive home, I said we could have 5 or 6 kids. HA! While I would definitely love to have more than one child, we'll see how this round goes.
Now the hard part.....the 2 week wait for pregnancy labs! I'm sure I'll cheat and take a home pregnancy test beforehand....
The Call - August 27, 2010
The call came from the IVF clinic this morning. Of the 22 eggs retrieved, 12 were mature and 9 fertilized. With 3 great looking embyos and 1 on the border, the clinic suggests a Day 3 transfer, but that could change at the last minute. The last time we were a Day 5 transfer, but lost a few embryos in those 2 extra days, so I think the clinic wants to be cautious.
The Retrieval - August 26, 2010
Woo-hoo, retrieval day! Was up bright and early for the appointment. Only up 4 lbs from the retrieval last year, not bad, all things considered. The medications make you gain weight too, so hopefully I'll lose some lbs before a pregnancy is confirmed.
Procedure went well and 22 eggs were retrieved, up from only 14 last time. Fingers crossed there will be some embryos to freeze!
In much more pain after the procedure this time than last, from what I can recall. But it will be worth it in the end!
Procedure went well and 22 eggs were retrieved, up from only 14 last time. Fingers crossed there will be some embryos to freeze!
In much more pain after the procedure this time than last, from what I can recall. But it will be worth it in the end!
August 2010
The process has started...weeks of pills and shots. I actually learned to give myself one of the subcutaneous shots in the belly this time! I was very proud of myself, and did the shot 3 days in a row, then my husband felt like he was "missing out" on the process, so he took over again. I really think he just likes causing me pain! ;)
BACKGROUND
We married at the ripe old age of 30 in the year 2006. Being as most of our friends were married years before us, they had mostly all moved on to starting families by this point. We wanted one year to ourselves before taking on the quest for children, so after a fabulous 1st anniversary trip to Hawaii, we got down to business. The first few months were spent "not preventing", and when that didn't work, we moved on to ovulation kits, then a fancy fertility monitor. At the magical one year mark and still no pregnancy, the doctors finally agreed to see us for a fertility work up.
I won't get into details here, but we met the criteria for infertility. Many tests later determined that we were candidates for ICF with ICSI, and 21 months after we started trying to get pregnant we had our first IVF treatment.
Success! At the 6 week ultrasound, we were pregnant with one and were told we had a vanishing twin. At 8 weeks - SURPRISE! The vanishing twin had reappeared, and we were indeed pregnant with twins. We were ecstatic. At the 20 week US we found out they were healthy boys. My husband and I were so excited we took the day off work and registered for all things baby - times two.
Then came 23 weeks - my cervix started to open, and I was placed on home bed rest, allowed out only for weekly appointments at the high risk doctor. At 24 weeks, my cervix was completely gone, and I was immediately put on hospital bed rest. Apparently I had been having contractions, but I didn't feel anything. At 26 weeks and 5 days, the doctors could no longer hold off the contractions with medications, and our two precious boys were born.
Although I had made it past the viability stage at 24 weeks, 26 weeks and 5 days was still just to early for my babies. They each passed away within 5 days of their birth. The funeral mass was packed - it was truly unbelievable how many people's lives these babies touched in only a few short days. We found out about the March of Dimes Walk for Babies about a week before the walk; we ended up raising over $3000 - the highest for a new team, and 9th place overall. I told you these babies touched many lives!
My husband and I decided to get away a few weeks after the funeral, and while we were gone we learned that my oldest sister had been diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia. When I returned from our getaway, I spent weeks at the hospital with my parents, our other sister, and many friends. My oldest sister passed away only 5 weeks after her diagnosis, leaving behind her husband and two beautiful teenage daughters. The Light the Night Leukemia walk is coming up in a month - and again, our team has raised over $3000!
The loss of my babies and my sister within 2 months of each other is a lot to handle. Way too much. I've cried every single day for the last 5 1/2 months. I am by no means healed, but I am ready to move forward. Which is why my husband and I have decided to try IVF again. So here we are...ding ding ding...Round 2 begins...
I won't get into details here, but we met the criteria for infertility. Many tests later determined that we were candidates for ICF with ICSI, and 21 months after we started trying to get pregnant we had our first IVF treatment.
Success! At the 6 week ultrasound, we were pregnant with one and were told we had a vanishing twin. At 8 weeks - SURPRISE! The vanishing twin had reappeared, and we were indeed pregnant with twins. We were ecstatic. At the 20 week US we found out they were healthy boys. My husband and I were so excited we took the day off work and registered for all things baby - times two.
Then came 23 weeks - my cervix started to open, and I was placed on home bed rest, allowed out only for weekly appointments at the high risk doctor. At 24 weeks, my cervix was completely gone, and I was immediately put on hospital bed rest. Apparently I had been having contractions, but I didn't feel anything. At 26 weeks and 5 days, the doctors could no longer hold off the contractions with medications, and our two precious boys were born.
Although I had made it past the viability stage at 24 weeks, 26 weeks and 5 days was still just to early for my babies. They each passed away within 5 days of their birth. The funeral mass was packed - it was truly unbelievable how many people's lives these babies touched in only a few short days. We found out about the March of Dimes Walk for Babies about a week before the walk; we ended up raising over $3000 - the highest for a new team, and 9th place overall. I told you these babies touched many lives!
My husband and I decided to get away a few weeks after the funeral, and while we were gone we learned that my oldest sister had been diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia. When I returned from our getaway, I spent weeks at the hospital with my parents, our other sister, and many friends. My oldest sister passed away only 5 weeks after her diagnosis, leaving behind her husband and two beautiful teenage daughters. The Light the Night Leukemia walk is coming up in a month - and again, our team has raised over $3000!
The loss of my babies and my sister within 2 months of each other is a lot to handle. Way too much. I've cried every single day for the last 5 1/2 months. I am by no means healed, but I am ready to move forward. Which is why my husband and I have decided to try IVF again. So here we are...ding ding ding...Round 2 begins...
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