The moment we've all been waiting for!!

     FINALLY!

     Hard to believe that when I was pregnant with Lucy, we had already known for FIVE weeks what her gender was! (And we also already had a name picked out...) 
     Here'a the status report; baby A, heart rate of 148- very chill, super calm, lying on its belly. Baby B, heart rate of 153, super active, no chill- lying on its back. The ultrasound tech related their positions to a ying/yang sign. Head to feet!  They are currently 13 oz each- which I feel like is awesome! 
    So this ultrasound tech was AMAZING. Super fast talker, so efficient! She was descriptive and informative and had it all together. We didn't need the full hour in the ultrasound office because she was zipping around checking everything out  at record speeds. She also printed a bunch of pictures! :) 
Not to mention, she disproved the theory of the last ultrasound tech in no time at all. 
    We have zero names picked out, so that's interesting. Haha!

Rainbow!! How perfect!!

     As for this momma... we are back in the placenta previa situation. It's common for IVF patients to have low lying placenta due to the way the embryos are transferred. With IVF, embryos are transferred though a catheter and "stick" where the can, sometimes closer to the cervix because of being inserted. Sooo, like last time, we will wait it out. I am scheduled to go to another office in Louisville for a more thorough check at Maternal Fetal Medicine in the next couple of weeks, then back to my doctor to check on babies and four weeks after that we check on the placenta again. We are watching to make sure the placenta doesn't attach to the scar from last time and that it doesn't attach to my bladder. Tons of fun, right?  At that time (8 weeks from now) I will be drinking that melted popsicle drink to take my glucose test! Yay! 
     Worst case scenario, we deliver at 35 weeks to keep everyone safe. Best case scenerio, we wait them out and see how close to 40 weeks we can get! 


    I let Lucy know whats going on, she has little understanding... but she's excited about everything. Haha! Here's Lucy's take on the situation! 

Gender Reveal

     The room is green and all the furniture, including swings, bouncers, boppy pillows and such are all gender neutral. So we are set! The only things we really have left to get or borrow are monitor cameras that sync with the one we already have. I hung curtains today, feeling good about our time line. :) 

17 and 3

     I can breathe easy for another couple weeks. The relief should last longer this time.... yet the worry and the fear were almost at higher level for this appointment than others. It's a time to enjoy the lack of nausea and prepare for being uncomfortable and yet, its the hardest time because I have no evidence that everything is okay. Well, almost no evidence- I haven't felt them yet. The nausea is gone. But I am growing! So there's the proof. ;)
     We MADE it! 17 weeks and 3 days and both babies have healthy heartbeats. One was 148 and the other 153! We were scheduled for just a regular check in and we were lucky enough to get an ultrasound, because, well, twins. We were a couple minutes early with no one before us with an ultrasound appointment. I asked very nicely if finding out genders could be in the plan and the ultrasound tech was more than willing to try. And she tried and tried and tried. I laughed at first because she was shaking those babies up trying to get them to show off. My laughed trailed off as I began feeling like a punching bag. She tried. They both kept those legs closed tight. She almost thought she knew for baby A but couldn't be sure. She actually claimed one gender, then the other, then didn't know, then back to the first guess. Baby B was not having it. No cooperation. So basically, we are right where we were.We have zero confidence in the guesses. I asked if it was because there were two and she said, they aren't big enough to run into each other... it was just them not playing along. Ugh. 
     The relief from hearing that all looks good and hearing those heartbeats is indescribable though. 
     So to find out genders, we wait. We have an hour booked at the next appointment for the anatomy scan. So an hour to poke and prod and refuse to take 'no' for an answer! 

    We started getting ready anyway. The "brown" guest room is now green. The crib has been reassembled. The dresser that was once brown is now white. We are just getting started. All with Lucy's help of course, although she still has no idea. We've got plenty of time for that. <3

Waiting on our next appointment.....

If we were cute... and if we were normal, haha! We would've used a cutesy little announcement like this. So why not, right? <3 

Technically, the due date given to us from Dr Krause at our fertility specialists is August 2nd. My regular doctor, who will be delivering the babies suggested making it until 38 weeks then seeing what  happens. That would put us at the end of July (20-ish) but with two, who knows what's going to happen! We are planning on July for now, unless they are like Lucy- then I'll be pregnant forever. As of right now, we do not know gender! Crazy to think that at this time with Lucy (15 weeks) we knew what we were having and had a name picked out and ready. 

This go round....we aren't scheduling an early gender ultrasound. Also, we have ZERO names picked out. 

I have an appointment February 25th and I will be 17 weeks and 3 days. There is a possibility, since I get an ultrasound at every appointment- we may be able to tell...maybe...if the ultrasound tech is feeling helpful...haha! 

For sure though (as long as everyone cooperates) we will know by March 15th. I have an anatomy scan for my 20 week appointment and they will be looking at all the pieces and parts and counting toes and fingers. We will definitely know by spring break! 

Then the fun begins! Names, another crib, clothes, diapers, all the things! 

Isn't this the truest statement!

As for now, I am done throwing up! My energy is coming back although I love naps so much! I have hit this sweet spot of not yet bumping totally out but also not feeling anything yet. The itching continues! I do feel like it’s much less frequent, but once the hives start- it’s like my skin is on fire.  It worries me sometimes that I can forget I'm pregnant. It worries me when I don't have symptoms but then I am thankful not to be nauseous and totally exhausted. And then I worry some more. 

This is my kind of Valentine. This is for all my TTC friends! <3

When you get to Gran's, you take over Dallas' seat and enjoy your blueberry muffin. 

And in Lucy-ville, all is well. She is on the go, even with a snotty nose. She's constantly singing and dancing around. Remember when she refused to go to bed? Turns out that was just a minor 3 night inconvenience. Tonight she even told me,"See you in the morning!" All it took (as of right now) was one night of ignoring the tiny demands and not going into her room to pacify or respond to her. Since then, no problems. 

She sweetly told me the other day, "When you get widdle, you can sit in the bathtub and I'll wash your hair!" So sweet, right? Hehe! She is SUPER into Daniel Tiger right now..which is wholesome and innocent, so go ahead little lady.  

Still no idea of what's to come and we will see just how long we can let it go. She is super eager to paint the nursery! We got green paint to cover the brown and she's asking every day to help paint! We will see how that plays out as well.... 

In case you didn't know, Zesto is OPEN. Just in time if you ask me! 

Checkin' in at 13 weeks and 5 days!

     A great improvement from last doctors visit, we got to see the ultrasound tech! And the doc, but yea, yea. We have pictures and we got to listen to the heartbeats, although it was a very brief listen. Also, despite what the nurse practitioner said last week about the pregnancy being just like a singleton and having twins is no different..... she was wrong. After talking to the ultrasound tech and doctor Lewis, they both informed me that we will be checking on their heartbeats every visit with an ultrasound since the doppler gets confusing with two heartbeats going on. :) Yay! 

     So we will see them again in about 4 weeks! Then almost 3 weeks after that, we will have our anatomy scan to check all their parts and maybe (hopefully) find out genders so I can start really getting stuff together! 

     They are looking good and healthy! Baby A was chilling on its belly, and baby B was on its back. They both wiggled around for us to see. Baby A's heartbeat was 142 and Baby B was 144.(just for fun, Lucy’s was 163 at 13 weeks) They are officially "too big" to get in the same camera shot, except for one picture we got of their heads, haha! I thought since they were growing we would get better pictures but these are still kind of hard to see. Another thing that I found very interesting is that they are not together- like one baby is on one side and the other on the opposite. With transferring the embryos in the same catheter, I assumed they would stick together to implant or at least be in the same area. Turns out, they each have an independent spirit and split up to implant. Looking forward to seeing that in their personalities! ;)
Our due date is August 2nd.... but that would be 40 weeks. 

     The ultrasound tech was awesome, and although the doctor was laaaaaate (we had the first or second appointment and instead of 8:15 she came in at 9- but polar vortex, right?) she was also great. We documented the itchiness and decline of nausea. We talked about making it to 38 weeks and that my kind of twins (fraternal) was the lowest risk of twins because they have their own placenta and nutritional source, and made a plan to stay healthy.  

   This ultrasound was another sigh of relief and we can rock and roll for a few more weeks before checking in on them again. 

    In the life of Lucy...she still has no idea, haha. Although she is too smart for her own little 2 year old self. She even asked me why I had a doctors appointment. She was content with the answer, "to get my belly checked." She's more concerned that the zoo is not open in the winter....she really wants to "walk through the beads and see the alligators. The bats are soon tute because they're so tiny. I want to feed the lorikeets water because they are thirsty. I only like the baby gorilla, not the big ones..." Deep breath child! 

     So she is busy making her own big summer plans and winning royal rumbles... and being a ridiculously cute toddler. She's basically an expert at stalling before bed- which is earlier than I anticipated. She can talk circles around needing milk, a different baby doll, no a different one, needa tell you somefing, kisses, hugs, stories, songs, blankets, no a different blanket, yada yada yada- until she's blue in the face. We've been using pictures of bedtime procedures since before the big girl bed and she was and is great with all that (thanks conscious discipline!) but the closing of her eyes and quieting her mouth have become our greatest challenge. Too much to say and too much to see! She's the definition of inquisitive toddler! All is well! 

Now I'm Normal?

    I could basically copy and paste my blog post from our first visit to the regular OBGYN with Lucy.....

Except, I knew what to expect this time and was even more disappointed. :( 

They took blood work, urine sample, asked the same questions several times. The nurse I had was unbelievable. You could tell she was the "mother" of the staff. Everyone reported the problems to her and she was able to direct the other ladies seamlessly to cover everything all while concentrating and being super attentive to me. She was awesome. I would love to have her help every time! 

So when I asked if they told her I was coming from the fertility specialist and expecting twins- I was shocked when she said there was no report. She even seemed surprised that no information was passed on. The only information they passed on was my appointment time. That made me feel so unimportant. I seriously called and explained all the details, let them know I was bringing paperwork, and even made kind of a big deal about having multiples- not a care was given. TAKE ME BACK TO DR. KRAUSE!!!

     So I got over it and carried on. I had a limited and quick conversation with the nurse practitioner, set up the first available ultrasound appointment (Next week!) and got done and out- although all that took over an hour. Part of that hour was spent in the waiting room (no big deal, waiting is part of the game) listening to a pair of mothers guess when their teens had sex by comparing the due date given by the doctor and where the teens were and when. So here I sit just being "normal." 

Some awesome-ness though, I went to yoga tonight. Before the transfer, I was hardcore working out every Tuesday and Thursday with a cool group of fit camp buddies. Since the transfer, I have been taking it SO easy. Like walking was the extent of my exercise. :) I missed that hour twice a week. Tonight was awesome. It was relaxing and so good to stretch and chill. 

More awesome news, I haven't thrown up since last Tuesday! Yay!!! I woke up last Wednesday and the nausea was barely there and it's only gotten better! Here I am listening to every sign and signal from my body, trying to focus on what my body is saying. I still have the itchiness- so theres a sign things are still moving and grooving. I almost miss the nausea because it was a sign that things were happening. Almost.  I still feel tired but I can get stuff done! The last few weeks I was just working on surviving. 

A huge THANK YOU for being part of my circle!!

All is Well

     

     For some reason, this appointment made me so nervous. I had no signs or signals to be, but it was really stressful to wait two weeks after seeing that everyone was okay to check in again. I was slightly losing it.... 
Here's the thing about infertility. Heck, it might be the same for every pregnant person- I don't know. So our first go round with IVF, we assumed everything was fine all the time. We got that positive result that we expected- even though we knew the stats and data on the fifty percent success rate. So after that it was hopeful, but pretty confident about the whole process and development. It was assumed every appointment would be easy and every update would be great. And then, we had this summer of disappointment and failure. That changed everything. We now had this first hand knowledge of loss and empty promises. It wasn't assumed everything would be successful this time. It was amazing, and a ridiculously over joyous moment when we found that happiness again. Now, we celebrate every happy moment! We don't assume it will always be perfect- even though, so far, so good! It's harder on the in between times- so much harder. It also makes each check up a gigantic sigh of relief. 

Baby A

Upside down Baby B

     The great news is, everything and everyone is great! We were able to see heartbeats and sweet wiggly babes. Baby A is great at waving and Baby B is great at fist pumping, river dancing and front flips. We happened to be checking on Baby B while I was laughing and that certainly stirred things up. 
     Another super exciting development, I am done with progesterone shots!!!!!! I am also finished wearing the estrogen patches!!!! I am on my last pack of progesterone suppositories too- so almost done!!!! 

 In not so exciting news... I am still throwing up occasionally, itch like crazy most of the time and I am soooooo tired. So. Tired. 
Here we are at 11 weeks though! We graduated from our dear Dr. Krause at the IVF specialists. Usually IVF patients stay until 10 weeks but our timeline worked out that we got to see her 10 weeks 6 days. That was reassuring for me. We are scheduled for our "meet and greet" at the regular OB-GYN in two weeks. There won't be any exciting news though. This is the appointment when they start treating you like any other pregnant person, lol. We don't even get an ultrasound! How rude, right? :) So all my favorite people were at Fertility and Endocrine to see us off- if you ever know anyone that is looking for a place to go- let them know that Maddie, Karen, Donna, Julie, Cassie and Dr. Krause are like family and will make sure to take care of them. 
Also, Lucy still knows nothing about this adventure except 'sometimes mommy's tummy feels yucky.' 

Ready, set, update!

     Twice the itchiness, twice as early. Twice the nausea, twice the exhaustion, twice the "can do" attitude. See where I'm going with this? Twice the support system, twice the love, twice the efforts and trials. How many times can I say "twice" before it starts sounding weird...? :) 

     So here we go! I am ONLY 8 weeks and 6 days, but I am ONLY one appointment away from graduating from Fertility and Endocrines specialized care. So, this is still earlier than most pregnant women feel comfortable sharing- but c'mon, blog posts, Facebook updates, who am I am kidding- I like to share. (So for the person that sent me the text about not telling them...it's public knowledge, don't try to ruin my day!) So share, I shall! And I have pictures for you! 
I kept them to myself until we had made it a little further because, things happen, cells could quit growing(been there), and what if it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to? But also, what if I need people to know? What if I want to celebrate the good news? So here ya go! 

     Right now, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWINS HERE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!


     We are not shocked or surprised but we are thrilled. We chose to transfer two traditional IVF embryos on November 14th. We carefully assessed their grades and their qualities. They will be fraternal twins  as they each came from their own embryo. Technically, they got their start the same way Lucy did, at the same time- weird, right? 

It was the same cost (not that it should matter) to thaw two embryos and they both went in at the same time in the same catheter.
 I went in to the consult appointment ready to argue my points (in hopes of transferring two) with Dr. Krause because the first round of IVF, she was not so pro multiples... this time, she brought it up first! So of course we agreed! We know the risks, we understand what we are getting ourselves into... and as our friend Aaron put it, "With the third kid, we had to switch from man to man to zone defense." We're ready, well..... we're ready to try anyway! :) 
We had a clue that both embryos stuck at the first blood test, the pregenecy hormone called HCG was at 1267 and in two days the number is supposed to double. My HCG tested at 3315 the next blood draw. We were getting confident but still weren’t positive they would both continue growing. Then the ultrasounds, we could see heartbeats for both! Then at the most recent ultrasound, we watched them both squirm and swim around and wave their little limbs. So. Cool. 
    
     The only thing that I am taking two times as much is the folic acid, the rest of the medications stay the same. I am still doing progesterone shots, estrogen patches and other progesterone. Hoping at my next appointment, 10 weeks, that we are done with those things and just keeping up with vitamins! 

Day 5 Blastocysts Nov 14

Positive Pregnancy test after the two week wait. Nov 26

First ultrasound, Dec 10
6 weeks, 4 days

Second ultrasound, Dec 26
8 weeks 5 days

Otis is thinking PAWSITIVE (or dreaming)

 Christmas was totally awesome of course. I felt awful but look at this cool kid. We celebrated all day long with a nap in the middle. She loved visiting and playing as much as she loved the presents. 

Day after Christmas, cruising. 

If you didn't get to see my house all decorated for Christmas...sorry, it's alllllll put away!!!