We Are Having a...

Healthy, baby, BOY!

We have actually known for over a month, but yesterday we had our Level 2 Anatomy ultrasound.  We saw the proof that the blood test in February was accurate.  This time around, I was able to select a different option for my first trimester screening that allowed to test for gender.  The perks of being older :) We knew right away that we were going to find out the gender, and I was excited to find out over a month earlier than expected.  We told our family and a few close friends.  Jacob has known, so that means even more people know!  You cannot expected an over-excited 5 3/4 year old to keep that secret in.

Everything the tech and doctor were looking at yesterday looked good.  Baby was cooperating for the most part, but I did have to change positions towards the end, so they could see where the umbilical cord was entering and exiting.  He likes to keep his hands up by his face, just like his big brother.  Jake likes to look at the picture where it appears the baby has a thumb (or finger) in his mouth.  It reminded Jake of a few pictures of himself when he was a little baby and did suck his thumb.  He has since grown out of that, so it was a fun memory for him to think of.

This past weekend, both Jake and Joe were able to feel the baby kick.  I have been able to feel him for a little over a week.  Jake has been talking and reading to the baby a lot and wishes he would be born on March 29th, so they would share a birthday.  He is so excited to be a big brother.  It will be a long summer of waiting, but well worth it!

Our Story

I was testing out a program I will be using at school, called Animoto.  Here is my first creation.

A Long Time...

We were and then we weren't...

It has been a roller coaster of a week.  We started off last week on a high of celebrating our 7th anniversary.  We normally don't do much to celebrate, but this year we did go out for dinner at restaurant that was new to us.  It was nice to get out and spend time together. We were also celebrating the fact that for this first time in 4 years we had positive pregnancy tests.  Several to be exact and a blood test to prove it.

And then Thursday happened.  I went in for a repeat blood test and we found out that my pregnancy hormone did not double in 48 hours like it should have.  It could mean one of two things.  It was just a slow growing embryo that would take off soon, or it was going to be a pregnancy that wouldn't be viable and I would miscarry early-on.  I would have to wait until the next Monday to have another blood test to see what changed.

Fast forward to Monday.  My levels dropped by 70.  I was miscarrying.  I knew it was the case based on my symptoms over the weekend.  The fact that I have gone through this before gave me an indication of what the results were going to be.  I go in tomorrow to see how much the level has dropped.  It needs to get to 0 before we can proceed with anything further.  We may wait until winter to do a frozen cycle.  There isn't enough time before I go back to work to start anything now.

It was hard at the end of last week.  I couldn't believe how over the course of three days I went from being excitedly pregnant to the extreme opposite.  It was also a long weekend waiting until Monday to hear officially what was going on.  

A positive was that I did get pregnant after three years of fertility treatments.  It doesn't make it easier to know that I have  become pregnant three times, but have only brought one baby home.

1dp5dt

I'm one day past a five day transfer.  There are so many new acronyms that I have learned throughout this journey.  Yesterday morning, we transferred two blastocysts.  One was graded a 1 (the highest quality) and the other was graded a 2.  My doctor gave us a picture of both embryos.  It is surreal to think they are inside of me now.  The procedure itself was quick and painless.  They had me stay on the exam table for ten minutes right after the procedure before they moved us into the same recovery room that I was in on Tuesday.  It was emotional those first ten minutes.  I couldn't believe that we were at that place in our journey to expand our family.  

Now we are playing the waiting game.  I go in for my pregnancy test a week from tomorrow. I'm laying low the next two days.  Thankfully our parents are both able to help take care of Jake.  Lots of DVD watching and maybe some reading, too.  I did get a call this morning to let us know the remaining 5 embryos reached the blastocyst stage and are able to be frozen.  That was good news to hear.  

Transfer Day Is Here

I received the call this morning that 7 embryos are continuing to grow.  They will look at them again tomorrow and determine how many are still growing and transfer the best two.  If there are any remaining, we hope to freeze them.  The transfer is at 10:15 tomorrow morning.

Hoping for good news in the morning!

Retrieval Complete

Yesterday morning we went in for our retrieval.  They were able to get 16 eggs.  My doctor was pleased with that number.  He said it was above average.  We now have to wait until tomorrow to hear from the embryologist to hear how many fertilized and how many continue to develop.

The procedure itself was very easy.  The nurse I had and the anesthesiologist were great.  They were very friendly and took great care of me.  My doctor happened to be on the schedule to perform retrievals and transfers this week.  It was nice to take a short nap through it all.  The last thing I remembered was having the nose cannula (which made me think of my niece Payton) put in and then I was in recovery waking up.  We stayed there for about 30 minutes.  They gave me a pain medicine through my IV and once that kicked in, I was feeling much better.  So thirsty and hungry.  

I was able to join Jamie, Tim, Matt, Katie, and three of their friends for the OAR concert last night.  Thank you to my sister who was my chauffeur!  I was tired after standing up the whole time.  Jacob and I stayed around the house today and watched movies.  I am a little sore and dealing with issues from coming off the anesthesia.  Although it was gorgeous outside, it was what my body needed.  I was pretty tired, too.  There will be other sunny days.  At least I hope there will be.

Hoping for good results tomorrow!