And baby makes three...

That's right, folks! 1 week ago today, we found out we're having a singleton! I know, I've been a slacker and once again did not update my blog. Again, I apologize. It's almost like seeing the baby made the symptoms kick into overdrive, so the last week I feel like I've been more exhausted and nauseous than ever. So, it's made me a little lazy in updating my blog. But here I am! And here's the ultrasound photo. The baby is that little peanut thing. And let me tell you, words cannot describe how relieved my dear sweet DH is that it's not twins! I admit, I felt a twinge of disappointment. But that immediately disappeared as I watched the baby's heart beating fast and furiously. I feel so blessed and thankful to know that it's inside me.

Yesterday, we had our first pre-natal dr's visit with my OB. She's fantastic and answered all our questions. We could tell she was genuinely happy for us, knowing everything we've been through to get to this point. Because I've miscarried twice already, she's considering me high risk, so we're actually going to see her every other week until I hit about 17 or 18 weeks. She scheduled another sonogram for us this coming Monday, so we'll see how it's grown!

OK, I'm sleepy again, so I'm taking off. Til next time!

Waiting, Waiting...

Not much to update since my last post. It's mainly just waiting until my first ultrasound, which will be a week from tomorrow, on September 5. I've been, of course, trying to find out as much information online as I can in the meantime! There's a pretty good message board site called ivfconnections.com for those of us who have conceived, or are trying to conceive (ttc in message board-speak) using fertility treatments. I'm really anxious to find out at our ultrasound whether or not we're having twins (or more! eeeks!) Personally, I really hope it's twins. I know it won't be easy, but there's just something exciting about the idea of twins. Still, I'm trying not to get my hopes up and just relax until then. My DH is very, very nervous about the prospect of twins, though! Hehehe... That's OK, he was nervous when we were talking about getting a second dog, and now of course, we can't imagine our lives without her. I've included a photo that I took awhile ago of our two kids! Baylor is on the left, and Macee is on the right.

A lot of my friends have been asking how far along I am and when I'm due. This is where all this online research is coming in! If you conceive normally, you calculate how far along you are by the date of the first day of your last period. Of course, if you conceive using ivf, you didn't have a normal period! So, according to ivfconnections.com, they say to calculate based on 2 weeks prior to the egg retrieval. If I go by that, I'm 6 weeks pregnant at this point (or as some people say, "in my 7th week") and my due date is somewhere around April 22, 2008. Of course, all this is speculation until they confirm everything at my ultrasound. Still, it's fun thinking about having a spring baby. My birthday is in August, and my DH's is in November, so all the birthdays in our family will be spread out. A lot of my friends have spring babies too, so we can all celebrate together!

I'll tell you what though, those pregnancy symptoms really kick in! I've been exhausted! I can't believe how easy it is for me to just fall asleep. At the office, sometimes I wish I had a curtain or something across the door of my cube so I could close it and take a little nap every once in awhile. Plus, the nausea hasn't been fun, either. I seem to get the queasiest (is that a word?) right before meals, so I've actually been eating less than usual. Who knows? Maybe I'll lose a little weight before I gain some!

Happy Birthday to me!

Yep, it's my birthday! What a great birthday week it's been. On Monday, we found out that we are pregnant; on Wednesday, it's confirmed because my hormone levels are in normal ranges; on Saturday, I had a super fun party with my girlfriends; and tonight, my DH is taking me to dinner! I've already had friends and family calling me and emailing me to wish me a happy day. I feel so blessed to have such a loving and supportive circle of people in my life. I thank God for them every day! This picture is of me with the AWESOME tres leches cake that my friend Terri made for me at my girly birthday party yesterday. We all got mani/pedis at my favorite nail salon, which let us bring in lunch, mimosas (virgin for me!) and cake.

Still preggers!

So this morning, we went back to the Dr's office so that they could draw more blood to check my beta levels. They're technically supposed to double every day, but Keri the nurse told me that she was just wanting to make sure that they were at 60%. (60% of what, I don't know, but I'll just leave that to the experts!)

I just got the call! We're still pregnant! All my beta levels were normal! YAY! So we've scheduled the date of our first sonogram at my RE's office (Sept 5), and my first appointment with my OB (Sept 11). Woo hoo! We're on our way!

I've been feeling extremely tired lately, and I seem to fall asleep at the drop of a hat. My DH even told me last night while we were watching TV that I fell asleep while he was talking to me! Oops :-) I've also been feeling queasy off and on. Not full on nausea that makes me throw up yet, but still, that queasy feeling's not fun either. It seems to happen when I move quickly or in the car. Other than that, I've been doing great... just really happy!

OMG...

We're Pregnant!!! YAY!! The ivf procedure was successful! I'm so excited! (Can you tell??) So that's one obstacle out of the way. We'll go back to the Dr's office on Wednesday for another blood test to make sure my beta levels are what they should be (and levels on the high end of the spectrum COULD indicate multiple pregnancy -- eeks!). Then, once those results come in, they'll schedule my first sonogram and let me know when to notify my regular OB.

So, keep your fingers crossed for Wednesday, and then for that all important 12 week date when we're more likely to be out of the woods. I'm not exactly sure when that will be, since I can't calculate how pregnant I am based on the first day of my last period. According to Babycenter.com, though, and what I've read of the different stages, it appears that I'm 3 weeks pregnant. We'll wait to hear what the Drs say, though.

Yay!

Catching Up: Pregnancy Test Today!

Bad Cathy. no posts since egg retrieval?? I'm really sorry, this process has been a bit draining, so I haven't been able to bring myself to write much in the past few days. However, this morning, DH and I went to the Dr's office to have my blood drawn and get our "official" pregnancy test results.

So the past 11 days have been really long, with this day always in the back of my mind... waiting... waiting. The implantation itself went fine. They implanted 2 embryos on day 3 (1 in "excellent" condition and 1 in "above average" condition). This photo shows the 2 embryos that were implanted on day 3. The one on the top right is the "excellent" one, and the one on the bottom left is the "above average" one). The procedure itself took a little longer than usual, and it made my RE a little cranky, hehehe. I was doing a full bladder transfer (no fun for us girls with wee bladders!) because apparently there's a little bend in the path to my cervix that made it difficult for him to eyeball the transfer. So he had to pull out the sonogram machine for it. Plus, I guess my tubes and whatnot were a little swollen from the retrieval, so that didn't make things much easier. All in all, though, the embryos were implanted successfully. Now it's just down the wait. Oh, did I mention that already?

So I was on bed rest for about 48-72 (Dr's orders were 48, and I upped it from there). Bedrest was not quite as fun as I thought it would be. It's fun to lounge around in bed because you want to... not as much when you HAVE to. After that, I took it pretty easy. I worked from home all last week too, and I wasn't feeling well on Friday, so I tried to take a sick day. But, as work sometime goes, I ended up working that day too. I'm still not feeling that great, so I'm trying to take it easy from work today too, since I ended up working on my sick day last week.

I haven't been doing much differently. I've definitely been drinking more water, and I'm trying to drink more milk. And eating more veggies too. Cutting back on the fried stuff (french fries are my downfall). I feel sleepier a lot more during the day (of course, that could be partly because we've finally hit the triple-digit temperatures here in Dallas), and I'm bloated and gassy. But, if it means I'm preggers, then bring it on! Hehehe...

OK, back to work. I'll let you know when they call me later today! Keep praying and your fingers crossed!

egg retrieval

so this morning, we had the egg retrieval. my DH took me to the hospital at 7am (that's earlier than i leave for work!) so that we could prep and be ready for the procedure at 8. the nurse (i think her name is krystal) was a pretty lady who said that she had taken this position at the assisted reproductive technology center as her "retirement" position. she used to be an er nurse! she was telling us stories as she put in my iv about husbands who would faint at the sight of her sticking a needle into their wives. she was funny and nice and made us feel very much at ease.

the anesthesiologist was also very nice. he explained that for this procedure, they don't do the typical general anesthesia for surgery since they didn't want to put me on anything that might interfere with the whole fertility process. so basically he was going to give me something for the pain and something to put me to sleep, but not too heavy.

finally, it was time, and they took me into the room for the procedure. the anesthesiologist did his thing once i was settled into the room and i was quickly out. don't remember a thing until they woke me up to make sure i was ok back in my room where my DH was waiting. i went back to sleep, and they took my DH out to provide his sample and informed him how my procedure went. he told me they retrieved 13 eggs! that's great, because the dr had told us that they usually like 10-12. apparently he got all 13 from my right ovary only because my left one somehow "slipped" out place, whatever that means. :-)

so i've been at home today, slipping in and out of sleep because of the painkillers. i basically feel like my stomach is totally bloated and it hurts to try to suck it in. and i get crampy every once in awhile, only slightly more severe than usual (hence the painkillers). the embryologist will be calling us every day to give us progress reports on how many eggs are fertilizing and how they look.

all in all, not a bad experience! i'm still dreading the progesterone shots, which start on wednesday. i'll let you know how those go. i'm off for a little nap!

cheers,
cathy