Some pictures from today

We got a lot of pictures today, but here are two really cute ones! The first one is of our little girl sucking her thumb! The second picture is her profile shot!

WE ARE HAVING A GIRL!!!

We had another sonogram this morning and found out we are having a little girl! We have all the pictures on a CD but are having trouble opening it up-I'll upload pics when I figure it out. BUT...we saw a LOT! She has hair...lots of it! She was doing a lot of thumb sucking! She wouldn't stay still...lots of kicking, punching, and flipping around! She has 10 toes and 10 fingers! We saw her spine, stomach, legs, arms! EVERYTHING! Her heart rate was 141/minute. We saw her nose, eyes, ears, and mouth! She looks perfect! :) She weighs 8 ounces and was just about 5 1/2 inches long. We are measuring on target, at 18 weeks.

My mom and dad came with us, and it was wonderful to be able to share this moment with them. :)

Funny story... on the way to lunch, Kris says: Oh no...we have to save for college..and a wedding! ...but at least we don't have to pay for a circumcision! (Our new insurance makes us pay for circumcisions). ...the way Kris thinks makes me giggle.

18 Weeks

Today marks 18 weeks! This has been an awesome week celebrating with friends and family!There haven't been a whole lot of new developments with the pregnancy this week. I've been feeling pretty good. I'm starting to have a little back pain and my body is having a little difficulty adjusting to this new weight gain-but things haven't been too bad. I do have a lot of trouble getting up from the floor...I normally dry my hair/put on my makeup from the floor in our bedroom. I've been really struggling to get up and down...so Kris got me a vanity so I could sit in a chair and do that. :) It's really nice and I'm grateful not to have to get up and down from the floor. :)

Well, I will have an important update tomorrow after we go for our sonogram to determine the baby's gender!!!

Here is a 18 week belly pic!

I'm confused...wasn't it supposed to be MY Snoogle pillow?

I walked into the bedroom yesterday to see this...

You can imagine my confusion since this was supposed to be MY Snoogle pillow. Since then, he steals my pillow as soon as I get up...sometimes he snuggles in while I'm using it!

17 weeks and more

What an awesome weekend this has been! :) WE WERE SNOWED IN!! We also started some new family traditions for Christmas! We spent an afternoon baking cookies, making fudge, and watching Christmas movies! It was awesome being able to spend time with Kris and Oreo!

Video of Kris, the newest pastry chef!

Also, Kris let me open one of my Christmas presents early! I've been having trouble getting comfortable when sleeping because I'm supposed to avoid sleeping on my back. I mentioned it to Kris Friday night and he let me open a present early! It was a Snoogle pillow! It doubles as a pregnancy and post-pregnancy pillow. It supports multiple positions when sleeping and sitting! It will also hold the baby when he/she is sleeping and when I'm nursing! It's an AWESOME pillow!


Here is a 17 week picture!

I'm in love with another man!

Kellan Elmer Shipman! I got to babysit Kellan today for about an hour and a half. He is so precious and was soooo good for me. We got to cuddle together, and I got to feed him! He was even sweet enough to hold his poop until his mommy got home! ;) I am LOVING being pregnant but am counting the days until I can hold our baby and enjoy these same moments!  :) 

Good doctor's visit

We had our 16 week doctor check up yesterday and it went well.  Somehow I thought I was getting my glucose test, but I didn't.  I won't actually get that test until week 28.  So, we checked the heart beat and my general health!  So far, I've gained 15 pounds!  My blood pressure's good the baby's heart rate is 150 bpm!  We talked about my weight gain and though the doctor said I was on the higher side of weight gain-she wasn't ready to tell me to diet!  CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?!  I'm on the HIGH side of weight gain?  That makes me giggle!  She did tell me I needed to do better about eating vegetables and being more reasonable about my sweet tooth!  :)

It was amazing hearing the heart beat again!  We've been spoiled with the number of sonograms we've had-so even though we were disappointed that this wasn't a sono appointment, it was so reassuring to hear that strong heartbeat!  She found it right away so we didn't have that second of anticipatory terror! 

The only annoying thing about the appointment was the Lab Corp technician that works in the office.  We got in to our appointment late and needed some bloodwork done.  The technician wouldn't do the bloodwork because she had "closed" 6 minutes ago.  And, she was nasty about it too.  :(  Oh well, I went this morning to a Lab Corp out here and actually had a great experience with their techs!  They even gave me a silly Crayon band aid.  :) 

After our OB appointment, we met up with the Olexias for dinner at Cheesecake Factory and walked around the mall a little before we headed back!  It was a great night and we enjoyed hanging out with them.  :) 

Our next sonogram will be in a couple weeks and we'll be able to determine the gender of this little baby!  :) 

16 Weeks

It's been an exciting week with the baby! I've been feeling the baby moving around since Tuesday and kicking. It's an amazing feeling and it makes me smile everytime! I've also found a new craving: RUNTS (the candy). I can't seem to get enough of it! I also have been on a baking spree. I made a cake, cupcakes, and cookies. I'm going to make more cookies this week...just for me. :) I've also rediscovered Korean food (thanks to my mom) and can't get enough of that!!! I think I may have rice coming out of my pores, at this point. :) Oreo definitely senses that something is going on with me. He follow me around everywhere and MUST cuddle with me no matter what I'm doing. He cuddles so that his head/paw is resting on my tummy or my side constantly. He also seems to be more protective of me these days...not aggressive-just more aware of sounds and is more jumpy. :)

Here's a pic of my belly! Sorry bout' the hair...not sure what's going on with it! :)

Tomorrow we have our 16 week check up.  They are going to check my glucose level...and I'm a little nervous about getting yelled at about my candy PROBLEM.  :)  We will also be able to schedule our appointment to find out the gender of this little baby!!  Also, coming up this week on Wednesday is the due date of our first baby.  :(  I'm sure that will be a difficult day, despite our joy over our current pregnancy.  I think I've covered all the stuff going on, but I will update tomorrow after our appointment! 

Thanks for checking in! 

And, Alisa B-if you are reading this: GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!  Hope to see pictures of your little man! 

The Baby is Kicking me!!!!

AAHHHH!!! I've been feeling funny things and wondering if that was the baby. BUT, just a few minutes ago it was unmistakable. I can feel the baby kicking me!!! :) SOOO cool and SOOOO weird!!!

15 Weeks

What a week! :) My belly is growing faster than I imagined!! :) Here are two pictures...

Jessica, Jason, Jacob, and Lily visited us from New York this weekend and we had lots of exciting times! FIRST of all...we learned a lot about kid-proofing our house! :) We discovered that some of our Christmas decorations were not well placed... and some of our furniture needs to be re-arranged a little. :) We were also VERY happy that Oreo did so well with both of them! Oreo has never been very good around children, but we've been working on that. This weekend, he did very well. I even have a picture of Oreo letting Jacob pet him!

Oreo was also very good with Lily. He let her pet him and even gave her kisses! :) It was very comforting to see that he was ok with kids. :) We still have some work to do, but we are encouraged! :) Jacob and I even got to snuggle together with Oreo.

Lily and I had our first piano lesson too! :)

We also had SNOW!!!! :) I didn't get a picture of it, but it was awesome. :)

On the baby front, I THINK I'm starting to feel the baby moving around. I can feel funny things in my left side, primarily. I'm excited to discover what these funny feelings are. :)

14 Weeks

Today is officially 14 weeks.  :)  I can't believe how much weight I've already put on!  I'm thankful to Kristen, who loaned me some maternity clothes!  I'm glad to only have to dress up for work a couple more days!  I sure love lounging in stretchy pants and tank tops! 

For fun...I searched the internet for myths on determining the baby's gender. Every myth/prediction was that it was a girl! I guess we'll find out in 6 weeks! :)  The newest symptom I'm encountering is hot flashes! I've ALWAYS been cold!  Even in the summer, I'm cold.  Now...I'm always hot!  We were watching a movie the other night, and I had the temperature down so low that Kris was in a sweatshirt, and was covered in two blankets AND whining about the cold.....while I was wearing a tank top and my pants rolled up!  Soooo weird!  :) 

I've almost kicked this nasty cold!  It totally stunk that I had to suffer through without medicine...but the saline nasal spray helped a lot.  Drinking lots of water and sleeping really helped....But Kris helped the MOST!  He took care of everything so I could rest and recover.  He's awesome.  :)

And finally...my newest addiction:  The Discovery Channel-"Birth Day" show.  I've been watching that for hours and hours!  There is something so fascinating and horrifying about watching these women deliver their babies.  I can't pull myself away!  I watched this one episode where a woman had to gain 150 pounds for her quadruplets!  OMG!  And a woman delivered a 9 lb 8 oz baby WITHOUT medication NATURALLY!  OMG! 

Anywho...thanks for checking our blog for the updates!  :)

Nooooooo...germs....

Great.  I'm sick.  I think I have a cold.  Can't figure out what medicine is safe to take...so looks like I have to suffer through.  :(  Yuck... Just when I got my energy back...now I'm back on the couch with tea and a blanket.  Ughhhhh..... Did anyone find anything for cold systems that was safe to take during pregnancy???

Ah....middle schoolers...the things they say....

In the 7th grade boys class the other day, this conversation occurred...

Them: Mrs. Nodi, how come teachers are allowed to chew gum?  It's not fair.
Me:  Well, I agree it's not fair.  I'm chewing gum because I'm nauseous and the gum helps.
Them:  Why are you going to throw up?
Me: I'm just nauseous.
Them: Are you sick?
Them: No, she's pregnant.
Them: Is that why you're nauseous?
Me: Yes
A HAND SHOOTS UP IN THE AIR
Them: Mrs. Nodi, what happens if you throw up your baby?

I'm BACK!

I woke up this morning refreshed...energized...and with a bug to start cleaning!  WOAH!  I've been a machine today!  Cleaned our bathroom, our bedroom, and am working on the 7 loads of laundry I STILL have left to do!  :)  ...and it's only 11 AM!  :)  I've got HOURS left to continue my cleaning frenzy!  :)  I feel so accomplished!  I've got a whole list of stuff I want to do and I'm excited about it...is there something wrong with me? 

YAY!  Enjoy YOUR Sunday...I know I already am! 

Oh yeah...today is officially 13 weeks!  :)

Learning to trust my intuition...

Ok....so we had a scare yesterday morning that resulted in us driving up to Annapolis to see our doctor this morning. Though I was concerned, I felt in my heart that the baby was just fine. But we went up there just to be sure.

Thankfully, it was an unjustified concern and the baby is doing great. We got to see the baby moving around A LOT and kicking A LOT. We were able to see the spinal cord, and the legs have already grown quite a bit since Monday. The baby did not want to stay still for the sonogram but we were able to see enough to calm my fears. The baby's heart rate was 151 beats/minute, which is great. I now weigh 125 lbs, which is 10 lbs in the 1st trimester, and 20 lbs since we first began trying to get pregnant! :) Can I just tell you that I LOVE to eat! It's just awesome!

Afterwards, I was able to get my flu shot at a clinic up in Annapolis, so I'm fully vaccinated! :) I had gotten the H1N1 vaccine about 5 weeks ago.

So, I will have to learn to trust my heart even if my mind is playing tricks on me! :)

Long BUT Happy Update November 2009

After our miscarriage in June, we decided that we would keep our next attempt private until we knew the baby was healthy. We started the process at the end of July and decided to use one of our frozen embryos.

August 26, 2009: Started the Del Estrogen shots once every three days. Started the baby aspirin.

September 6, 2009: Started the Progesterone in Oil shots every day. Started the Estradoil pill.

September 11, 2009: Frozen embryo transfer.

September 20, 2009: Took a home pregnancy test and it was positive.

September 25, 2009: Shady Grove confirmed our pregnancy with an HCG level of 988

September 28, 2009: Shady Grove confirmed our pregnancy again with an HCG level of 5686, There was some question if we were pregnant with multiples…

October 3, 2009: WEEK 6

October 5, 2009: We had our first ultrasound at Shady Grove. They confirmed a single fetus AND we saw the heart beat. Stopped the baby aspirin.

October 9, 2009: Stopped our daily Progesterone in Oil shot and began using the Endometrin.

October 10: WEEK 7

October 16, 2009: We had our second ultrasound at Shady Grove. The baby measured at 8 weeks with a due date of May 30, 2010. We have been officially “checked out” of Shady Grove!

October 18: WEEK 8

October 19, 2009: Our first appointment with our OBGYN. We had a little scare and then the power went out right before our sonogram…but everything was just fine. The baby was doing great. We saw the heartbeat and he/she looked good!

October 25: WEEK 9

November 1: WEEK 10

November 6: Our second appointment with our OBGYN. Everything was perfect! The baby looks great. We saw her/his heartbeat, legs and arms, and the jaw starting to grow! We even saw the baby swimming around and flip flopping! It was awesome!! Everything is moving along as it should be!November 8: WEEK 11

November 14: We took our LAST intramuscular shot!!!

November 15: 12 weeks! I took my last two fertility medications.

November 16: We have our Nucal Translucency Test at Chesapeake Imaging, and we have an appointment with our OBGYN afterwards. The baby has 10 fingers, 10 toes, eyes, nose, mouth! The baby was sucking its thumb and flip flopping all around! The heartbeat was 158/minute. We got to hear the heartbeat and it was amazing! A new due date of May 28, 2010.

Here's two fun pictures of my growing belly. Sorry about the weird faces I was making! :)

Bad News Update

Last night, I had a dream...nightmare really. I woke up in the middle of the night crying because I dreamed the baby had died.

At 3:00 this afternoon, we were given confirmation that the baby's heart had stopped beating at 8 weeks and 4 days....on Mother's Day. This was 4 days after our last sonogram with Shady Grove where we had been told the baby's heart beat was strong, and he/she looked perfect and healthy. Between the fertility drugs I was still taking and the fact that my body didn't know the baby had died....I continued along for these past 3 weeks as if the pregnancy was normal.

Our doctor is currently scheduling us for a D&C within the next few days, which is a procedure to retrieve the fetus.

This will be our last post for awhile as we figure out where we go from here. Thank you for all your support over the last few months.

IT'S HERE!!!!!

THE BED IS HERE! Here are some pictures! :) This is our first real purchase in preparation for the baby!!! More bed for a little one to join us~AND~a comfy bed both Kris and I can actually get good sleep on!

Here is the old bed (after we moved the box spring out)...

Here is the new bed before we put the sheets on. Can you see the two different color labels on each side? Red is Kris, Gold is Me! :)

And, here our new bed is with Kris testing it!

And, here's a fun picture....this is from today. I feel like I've almost doubled in size since Saturday...

Week 10 pics

No big belly changes since last week...but here are some pictures. :) One is kinda' morbid...Kris decided I was better looking without a head! :) I know that my belly doesn't look too huge in these pictures...but to ME: I AM HUGE! :) I know....just wait...I'll really get big. :)

Out with the old...In with the new!

FINALLY...after 5 years of my whining and Oreo's hernia-WE PURCHASED A NEW BED. I am so excited!

Our current bed (which is Kris') is too hard for me, too high for me (I have to jump to get into the bed) and Oreo (Oreo got a hernia and required surgery for having to jump up and down off this bed!), and it's too small.

Our new bed is AHHHHHMAZING! We got a low profile bed (which cuts the box spring size in approximately half), which will make the bed A LOT easier for me to get in and out of. This bed is also a KING SIZE!!!! The best thing about this bed is that it has two sides. We laid down on this "machine" that calculated how firm a mattress we both needed. There are four levels of firmness labeled by color: gold (least firm), green, blue, and red (most firm). Kris was a red and I was a gold..so you know that we weren't going to find a single mattress compromise! This bed is half gold (for me) and half red (for Kris). It's SO comfortable!

They are delivering this tomorrow! So, we've spent the afternoon/evening cleaning the bedroom! Kris even cleaned our bedroom walls! :) So, tonight, just our mattress is on the floor in the bedroom so we can sleep! :)

We even get to use our king size sheets we got from our wedding tomorrow!!! :) YAY!!!

Week 10

Well, week 10 is off to a great start!

My back has been feeling a lot better. It still hurts every once in a while, if I move funny. I think the improvement is due to my exercising. :) I've been walking for 40 minutes and doing stretches/weight work for 20 minutes every other day. :)

This week, I've noticed that I've had a little more energy. I don't know if it's because my show is over and that stress is gone...but I'm happy to be a little more functional after work. :)

The newest development has been the shortness of breath. My general doctor here in Waldorf says nothing is wrong with me...though she did not really check very much. According to all the websites both Kris and I have been reading, it is normal to have shortness of breath...even at just 10 weeks. So, I'll double check that with our OBGYN on Thursday. I'm assuming that all is well. It dawned on me last night when I was having trouble breathing that it was actually a great sign that I'm experiencing this-it means the baby is growing!

Kris was in Florida for a few days and he brought back our baby's first toy: Mickey Mouse and he brought me a Disney Mom mug!! He is so sweet. :)

My newest food "issue" is that I never know what I want to eat! Nothing sounds good and nothing tastes good, but I'm always hungry. I'll think I want chicken...then when I have it, I don't want it. It's a vicious circle. :) I've found that I have become quite a fan for "Andrew Nachos"...which is something Andrew made for us when we were out in LA for spring break. Basically, it's just these AWESOME Costco tortilla chips, with cheese and jalapenos...microwaved. I LOVE this...I think I've had it just about every night this past week! :) THANKS, ANDREW! :)

Good news on the medication front. I've been on medication since....uh....March, I think. I FINALLY took my last medication on May 20!!! The only meds I am currently on are the folic/prenatal vitamins! It is such a GREAT feeling to be done with all those meds! :)

I forgot to write about this a while ago. One of my students and her family gave me a cute little gift when word got out about our pregnancy. I've included a picture of it...I leave this little bear on my desk at work to remind me to take it easy. :)

I'll post week 10 pictures this weekend! Have a GREAT Memorial weekend, everyone! :)

Week 9 pictures

Here's two pictures from today... :)

Lessons learned from teaching: Chapter 1

9 years of teaching is long enough to see all the horrible things parents do to their children and some of the wonderful things parents do for the kids. As I think back through these past 9 years, I'm going to write down some of the good and bad things I've seen happen and make a special promise to our baby to try not to do these bad things. Friends and family: please feel free to add to this list!!! This will be a fun working document. :) I'm interested to see what you have seen and what advice you have to give! :) BTW...seriously: these are all lessons I learned from listening to my students tell me about their home life.



BAD BAD BAD:

1. I will not make my child feel like they cannot talk to me; force him/her to go into therapy; and then berate him/her about it.

2. I will not make my child wait at school alone for a ride because I am too busy to come get him/her.

3. I will not be THAT parent that blindly accepts my childs version of the truth over the teacher, while at the same time: I will not allow a teacher to treat him/her with disrespect.

4. I will not miss his/her concert's/games/awards ceremonies/any event because I have to work.

5. I will not bribe my child into good behavior or good grades with materialistic items and then take them away when they displease me.

6. I will not overlook one single speeding ticket; I will not blow it off as a one time offense; I will not let it pass without serious education about the impact of reckless driving.


7. I will not spend his/her college fund on a trip abroad and tell him/her that it was "my money" anyway and then kick him/her out of the house after graduating from high school.





Great idea:

1. I will help our child see both points of views of difficult situations, argue both sides, and teach him/her how to come to a good decision.

2. I will help our child understand that everyone makes mistakes, what's most important is the lesson learned.

3. I will be active in of our child's activities and school, even when he/she doesn't want me around...while still letting him/her have their individual freedom.

4. I will teach our child to appreciate those around him/her that do nice things for them.

5. I will teach our child that even though they have a driver's license...the do not need a Camaro to get from place to place.

BIG WEEK!

Well, this week was my last choir show. It was a pretty exhausting week and I'm still recovering. :) But, the show was great and I am proud that that was my final product. As I have all my "lasts"...it just makes it all the more real about this little blessing we are growing. :) It was such a mixture of emotions as I moved through the week, and especially on closing night. I am very excited about what is next...but it really is so sad to leave something you love so much. But...I guess it's better to leave something when you still enjoy it, rather than wait til you hate it to leave. My parents came to the opening night show, and surprised me by attending the closing night show as well! I didn't even know they were there until the end, while I was tearing down the equipment! Kris' parents came down for the closing night show, as well! So that made the night EVEN more special!!!

This week I've noticed a few changes. My back pain starting easing about halfway through the week and my weight is fluctuating a lot more. I think I have had my first food aversion...red meat. This is really odd because I LOVE red meat. But, I ate a McDonald's hamburger and ...that did not go so well. Then, I ate a Red Robin hamburger and I couldn't stomach it...then a little while later, I saw a commercial for a juicy T-bone steak and I thought I was going to be sick! So, I think I will be staying away from that!

I've been having an issue with Claustrophobia over the last couple weeks...so I've been working on that quite a bit. Has anyone had this problem when they were pregnant??? Low lighting, especially, gives me trouble. Even last night, we were eating at Carrabas...I had a little trouble, but when I'd look at the windows I'd feel a little better. It's so weird. Anyone else experience this?

This afternoon, I think we are going to try and go to my FAVORITE restaurant "Gilligans" to have crabs and to celebrate my last shows! I hope that the baby will let me enjoy THIS favorite of mine. :)

Week 9

Today marks week 9 for our pregnancy! :) I'll try to add a belly picture soon. I guess the new news on weight gain is that I am officially out of all my regular pants. I bought my first pair of maternity jeans last week. :) I think they would be great to wear, in general, for Thanksgiving! :)

I'm still not suffering from any nausea yet...although sometimes my stomach turns funny and I get a little queasy.

I am still really fatigued...but I think some of that is due to the fact my Spring Show is tomorrow and Friday. I'm hoping that next week I will feel at least a little better with the fatigue.

My back pain has been fluctuating a little. Today, I was mostly ok...with back spasms being few. The last couple days...my back has been pretty painful and has reduced me to tears.

Exercise has halted a little...I don't know if I can say it halted when I only did it twice. But, I am looking forward to getting back into it after the show is done.

What to expect.com says this about our baby's development:
" Your baby is busy building muscle, but all you may want to do these days is take a nice long nap. Chances are you've never felt so tired in your life and for good reason: Your body is working overtime preparing for motherhood as it develops the placenta, your baby's lifeline. Your baby, now the size of a green olive, has grown about an inch since last week. Tiny muscles are beginning to form, so while he might not be ready to pump iron, he's gearing up to move his arms and legs. It's still too soon to feel anything in your belly, but you might be able to hear something at your next checkup."

It's so fascinating to read about the changes from week to week. :) I'll post pictures at my next blog!!

WHEW! LONG update!

Well, hello! Long time no update! I'll try to bring everyone up to speed from our last post. Over spring break, while we were in California, I took a pregnancy test. It was negative. I took one the next day it was positive! I took another one immediately and it was positive! And, every day for the rest of the week I took one and it was positive!!! Our bloodwork appointment was April 13 and we got confirmation that we were pregnant!! :) We were very nervous about publicizing too much information too early. So we decided to wait a little while. We did tell our families immediately and had our private celebrations. :) Because we got pregnant through IVF, we had to go back two more times for more bloodwork...confirmed pregnancy! This brings us to our first sonogram!

A week after we confirmed our pregnancy, we went to Shady Grove for our first sonogram! When you look at the picture, do you see the image that resembles a diamond ring? Well, the diamond part of that is our baby! They told us that the heartbeat was strong and that the baby looked perfect! We were pretty stoked. At that point, our due date was around December 21, and at week 6.

Today, which marks week 8, we had our second sonogram! In this picture, if you look for the image in the little circle...you can see that the head has formed!!! Today's appointment was a big one! We were given our final instructions from our fertility clinic and released to our OBGYN!!! Today, our due date was moved to December 16. Alisa told us that our due date will continue to change! :)

So, officially, we are pregnant and expecting a little one in December! :) Thank you for all the prayers and support from our friends and family!!! :)

Our next step will be to meet with our doctor, for the first time, on May 20. We have decided to deliver at Anne Arundel Medical Center, in Annapolis, MD. Our doctor is highly recommended! We are looking forward to meeting her in a couple weeks!

As for the progress, for me...I've been really lucky! So far, I've been moody, exhausted, constantly hungry, some acne problems (GRRRREAT), parts of me are growing A LOT ( :) ), and I'm gaining weight! :) Because I am normally such a small person, the weight gain on me is fairly startling. :) I can only wear a couple of my regular pants...and I already have two pairs of maternity pants. :) It's all tummy fat right now...but my body is definitely loving the food I'm putting into it. Food cravings are pretty nice: pickles, vegetables, FRUIT... Thanks to Kris, I'm eating really healthy, and quite often. :)

So...I'll continue to update the blog at least once a week and once I get into the second trimester-I'll post pics of me and my baby bump! :)

Test is scheduled!

This'll probably be the last time I update until April 13...but I wanted you to know that our pregnancy test is scheduled for 7 am on April 13. We will get the results back by the end of the day... :)

The only other thing going on is that I'm still having a considerable amount of pain and the doctor's have told me to start the Vicodin again if it continues. Our doctors are telling us that my ovaries are still really swollen and that they will eventually get back to the normal size. So-basically I just have to deal with it... :)

So, hopefully the next thing that will be posted here will be a POSITIVE pregnancy test result!

TRANSFER!!!

The transfer was awesome today. Our doctor called us a few minutes before the procedure to tell us that our embryos were in excellent condition and that he recommended transferring ONE! He said that we would have a 65% chance for success with one, and that the chances for success would not increase with two. He also told us that if we did transfer 2 embryos, we were looking at a 50% chance for twins. He told us he highly recommends transferring 1. Normally, the success rate for 1 embryo is 43%. Normally, the chance for twins in a single transfer is 1.43%.

So, they took us back to the room and the other doctor talked with us for a while. We found out that we had 6 in the blastocyst phase, and a couple that may reach that in the next couple of days. Of those, 2 of them were "Primo IAA". This is the best they can be. The embryo is a double layer. The innermost layer is where the "baby" is. That layer was given a grade of an A because the quality is high. The outer layer contains the placenta and that layer was also given a grade of an A. He told us you couldn't get better than that for an embryo...We have 2 "Primo IAA" embryos!

So, we opted to transfer 1. It could not have gone more perfect. We watched the catheter go in, and watched our little "soon to be baby" shoot right in! The doctor was able to implant it real high so that it was perfect!!! It was incredibly emotional watching this process, knowing that we may have watched our baby start its life!

At the end of the procedure, they gave us a picture of the embryo we transferred! AND, they told us that they were going to be freezing 5 embryos today and that 2-3 more may be frozen on Wednesday! All our embryos are in good shape!!!

Now, I'm on bed rest. Kris got me some yummy lunch and now I'm just going to read some books and enjoy my day!!!

We have an appointment on April 13 to find out if we are pregnant or not. If the test is positive, Kate told me they will mark me as 4 weeks pregnant-at that point. :)

VERY emotional day! :)

Transfer schedule

Shady Grove just called! Our Embryo Transfer is scheduled for Monday at 11. We have to be there by 10:30. She said the procedure will take 5 minutes...5 MINUTES!!!! After ALL this, the most important part will take 5 MINUTES! She also said that I would be on a strict 24 hour bed rest order following the procedure.

She said the worst part will be having to wait 12 days to find out it we are pregnant! :) Everyone say extra prayers for us!!! :)

Transfer is Monday!

Alisa called and said that our 11 fertilized embryos are still hanging on strong and are very good quality! They have scheduled our transfer for Monday! We won't get our time until tomorrow or Sunday...but it WILL be Monday.

I'm still pretty sore, but I did go to school today and did make it through the whole day. As soon as i got home, though-I did take a Vicodin and am re-attached to the heating pad...and now, I'm feeling ok. :)

Pictures from the retrieval. :)

These are two pictures before the retrieval!

information from Alisa regarding retrieval/transfer

Well, I stayed home again today because I was still pretty sore this morning. I'm doing better now, and able to move around more that before. I'm still pretty confined to the bed, though. Thank goodness for this laptop! I've been at least able to catch up on work, and watch this week's episodes of Dancing with the Stars! :) Bye Bye, annoying Denise. :)

Anywho...Alisa called a little while ago to give us our official numbers. They did retrieve 16 embryos. Only 13 were mature, and out of that number only 11 have fertilized. She can't confirm the transfer date until tomorrow because they want to see how many survive the day. If it's a 3 day transfer, it will be on Saturday. If a 5 day transfer, it will be Monday. So...I'll update everyone tomorrow on when it will be. :)

11 is still a really good number for fertilized embryos and we hope that they are excellent quality! We'll find out tomorrow!!!

Stay tuned for more!!

Retrieval went GREAT!!!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Retrieval, Tomorrow!!

Hey guys, Kris here hijacking Jen's blog. Just wanted to let everyone know that the retrieval is tomorrow morning, bright and early at 8:15. We have to be at Shady Grove at 6:00 so tomorrow is going to be a very early and exciting day!! Jen is almost asleep now at 8:30 but I'm sure it will be a restless sleep all night. Wish us luck and we will update tomorrow about how the procedure goes. Talk to you all then!!!!

trigger is DONE!!!

TRIGGER IS CONFIRMED FOR TONIGHT!!!

Alisa just called and confirmed: WE ARE DOING THE TRIGGER SHOT TONIGHT! For those that don't know what this is....here's a quick explanation. All the hormone shots I've been taking were creating follicles in my ovaries, making the follicles mature, and producing estrogen. SO, I'm all crampy and bloated because I have so many mature follicles...the Trigger shot (which is given through the muscle) will force my ovaries to release the follicles. On Wednesday, our fertility doctor will take all those follicles out and make our magic "brew". A couple days later, our doctor will transfer those fertilized eggs back to me...and we wait to see if we are lucky!!! :)

Alisa told me that I had 6 mature follicles on the left and 5 almost mature ones on the right...there are still 10 that are in the maturing process. SO...I don't really know how many they will take out on Wednesday!

MORE GOOD NEWS: My estrogen level shot up to 2037!!!

MORE GOOD NEWS: The ONLY shot I have left to take is this Trigger. NO MORE Lupron, Gonal F or EVIL Menopur. :) :) :) :) So, I just really have to get through this big shot. If you are interested in what is going to happen to me tonight, check out this website (training video for the Trigger shot). http://www.shadygrovefertility.com/ Go to RESOURCES. Go to VIDEOS. Go to the bottom and click on the box that says "Click here for Injection Training from Freedom Fertility Pharmacy." And click on HCG and it will show you the training video. If you're interested in the other shots, we took: Lupron, Gonal F Multi dose and Menopur

I have another acupuncture appointment today, so she'll need to get me all relaxed for this BIG shot.

We'll be getting a call sometime around 6 tonight with our exact time for our Trigger and our Retrieval time for Wednesday! :) I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S HERE!!!!

I'll update more after the Trigger. :)

HOLY ESTROGEN, BATMAN!

Right on track

Shot was alright this morning...it's definitely getting harder to find a spot to give the shot that doesn't already have a hole! :) My tummy is covered with dots from previous shots!

Cramping and bloating are definitely getting more intense...but that means the follicles are growing. Today, we found out that one of my ovaries had 2 follicles that had matured (size 18/19) and at least 4 more that should be mature by morning. The other ovary had 4 that are close to maturation (in the 14/15 range). So, it looks like we are still on track for a retrieval on Thursday/Friday. We are expecting a phone call later today that will confirm the follicle sizes and my estrogen level. But, the doctor said everything looks really good.

From this point, we have to go in for bloodwork/sonogram every day until the retrieval.

still nothing new...

I guess, aside from the incredible cramping and bloating, today was a boring day in our IVF world. :) Shots tonight went very smoothly...even the EVIL Menopur was somewhat kind to me. :)

Will update after tomorrow's appointment!

Thanks for calling to check on me today, Patty! You made me smile! :)

Nothing New

There's nothing new today to report. VERY bloated, VERY crampy. I've been attached to the heating pad just about all day. Though I had some sensitivity at the injection site this morning-my morning shot went alright.

I did go for my monthly facial and that was very relaxing. My esthetician is getting married and we've been chatting about fun wedding stuff. I've been her client for over a year now!

We'll see what the evening shots bring...hopefully all will be well.

Good gracious-someone deflate me!

Seriously...I don't think my pants are going to fit much longer! :) Kris calls me the "Bloated Girl."

Good shot night. The Gonal F was smooth as silk. The EVIL Menopur is still painful, but at least I'm prepared for it now.

Good night everyone!

Feeling like a big fat cow who ate a watermelon big enough to feed a family of 23

So, I am two days into the "feeling like a fat cow" phase of the IVF cycle. I am so bloated and crampy from all the follicles...I am SOOOO uncomfortable.

Well...we did get good news from the doctor today. He said I'm responding very well to the treatments. He said I should be on track for an egg retrieval on Thursday/Friday. At this point, we don't want my body to create any more follicles...he just wants the follicles to get bigger.
The follicle size needs to be 18...and my largest one is 12. He said the cramping and bloating will continue to intensify until the retrieval...so he basically told me I needed to deal with it. :( He did tell me I could take Tylenol and use a heating pad to help...the heating pad does help a little.

The good news continued when Alisa called me. They have reduced the dosage for my two evening shots!!! The EVIL shot was cut in half!!!! :) So...I'm pretty happy about the medication change. In addition, my estrogen level is doing GREAT! It jumped up to 608!!! This is GREAT!

Anyway...we go back for more bloodwork/ultrasound on Sunday.

Thank you GonalF and Menopur

Good shots tonight. Gonal F NO problem. Menopur-it stung a lot, but I was more prepared for it and I pressed through!

The pin cushion is feeling yucky

Well, today was a tough day. I did pretty well with my shot this morning. I didn't have any trouble and I was relieved that there was also minimal pain. The rest of the morning was rough though-I was really nauseous, and I woke up with a major headache. I had a field trip/performance so I had to go to school. Along with the nausea and headache, I have also been very swollen in my lower abdomen and very sore there. I've been struggling all day. I know that my lower ab is swollen and sore because of the follicles...but that doesn't make me feel less miserable today.

I'm hoping that the evening shots go smoothly tonight...we have another bloodwork/ultrasound appointment tomorrow morning. I'll update after the evening round...

Jen, the little pin cushion

So, Mama and Papa Nodi have a new nickname for me: Pin Cushion. VERY creative. I certainly feel like a human pin cushion.

Well, my evening shots are DONE. I tell you what...I'm having a HECK of time with these shots! Tonight, my needle got stuck IN MY belly after I injected the Gonal F. I was trying to pull the needle out AND MY SKIN WAS STICKING TO IT! That did not make me feel very confident on my EVIL shot: Menopur. Well, I managed to keep the needle in for the entire injection. It hurt, and the newest development: I had blood back up into the needle at the end of my Menopur shot. SERIOUSLY-if Menopur was a person, I would punch him/her in the face. I might even push him/her down, pull his/her hair, and kick him/her while he/she was down. I hate this shot.

I forgot to tell you my funny story for the day. It's funny and embarrassing all at the same time. SO...I was sitting in the stirups waiting for my ultrasound. My doctor walks in and says hello. Another doctor walks in and introduces herself as Dr. Soandso. "I'm one of Dr. Widra's fellow's." So, I respond with the first thing that popped into my head: "Well, hello fellow!" :) Did you remember that I'm laying in the stirups waiting for an ultrasound exam, undressed from the waist down? ....I'm an idiot!

one more day closer...

Well, today was an interesting day. I had a MAJOR problem with the Lupron this morning. I picked a bad place to inject this morning. I tried to get the needle in and it hurt, so I pushed harder-then a bad word or two escaped out of my mouth. Then I started bleeding...this is BEFORE I actually gave the shot. So, we had to disinfect everything again before trying the shot again. I did get it in, but it burned. I thought Lupron and I had made friends...so today was extra disappointing.

On top of that, because of my needle problems-we got out of the house late and hit traffic on our way to DC. We made it about 10 minutes late.

Our appointment....good and bad. BAD: They drew my blood and it 1)hurt and 2)bled a lot. GOOD: Our actual doctor did the ultra-sound today and he was really happy with what he saw. My right ovary had 12 follicles and the left had 8. He said that now we have to make sure they grow larger and not keep increasing. Alisa, our nurse coordinator, emailed me this afternoon to tell me that my estrogen level shot up from 53 to 232. This is very good.

I'm waiting for Kris to get home so we can do these two shots last night...but I'm dreading them.

First Protein Shake

Kris made my first protein shake....not bad! We are using Goat Whey protein poweder. He mixed it with fruit punch and bananas. It's a little sweet for me, but it is very yummy! I'm actually looking forward to having it tomorrow morning. :) I think this is something I CAN get used to!

Me and the Menopur are ENEMIES!

Ok...so OFFICIALLY: I detest this Menopur shot. I can't figure out how to give this to myself without hurting! Today, I was done with the GonalF shot in seconds with no problem. When I went onto the Menopur, I got half the dose in before the pain was so bad that I pulled the needle out (quick reaction). Kris had to change the needle head again before we could attempt to give the rest of the dose. But even then-it really hurt. I don't know what's going on what that shot....but it's EVIL.

Tomorrow we have another bloodwork/ultrasound appointment to check my progress. I am anticipating an increase in medication again. I'm hoping that I can get some answers about why I'm struggling with this stupid Menopur shot...

On a health note, our acupuncturist suggested I start drinking protein shakes because I'm not getting enough. So, we'll be sampling our first home made protein shake tonight. I'm hoping they aren't too yucky!! I am going to mix it with fruit juice and some fresh fruit. Perhaps it'll be a yummy treat!

Update from appointment

So, it looks like my estrogen level is rising at a good rate and they are expecting it to come up even more. The follicle count is good and we are headed in the right direction. They only increased dosage to one of my meds (thankfully an easier shot) and we did that tonight with no problems.

The Menopur (the thicker one), on the other hand, is continuing to give me trouble. Today, after I pulled the needle out-there was a bubble of medication just below my skin I had to push and disperse AND there was an unpleasant amount of pain associated with that.

On a non-medication side of things, I had my first acupuncture appointment today. I don't know what to think of it. It was very relaxing and I did feel very dazed when I left. I definitely had lots of tingles for the next hour throughout my body. BUT, within an hour of the treatment-WHILE we were sitting at PF Chang's having dinner-I had an unusual panic attack. It came on real fast and I actually had to take one of my meds. It came out of the blue and was very strange. Since I hadn't had one in some time, I guess I'm assuming the acupuncture may have triggered it?

Anyway, I see her again next Monday, and then once in between our retrieval and transfer.
We're still on track, so far, for a March 26 retrieval.

Jen is a follicle making machine

We had another bloodwork/ultrasound appointment this morning. So, we were up early, got my shot in and out the door by 7! Another great morning with that shot.

Our appointment was good. Apparently, I have 8 follicles in one ovary and 7 in the other! I had 7 and 7 on Friday! Good news!!!

So far, everything is on track and our nurse coordinator, Alisa, is happy with our progress. We are expecting another report this afternoon and anticipate a medicine increase....but I'm going to be alright! :)

I'll update after we have the official results of the tests this morning!

...off for my first acupuncture appointment!

still going strong...

Well, despite the incredible mood swings...I am still feeling pretty ok about these shots. I had a good shot this morning and my 1st of the evening was good. The second shot of the evening...I'm still struggling with. It's a thicker medication so it's harder to push through the syringe...tonight, I put the needle in and had Kris push the stopper. Though that worked well with getting the medication in-there was more pain at the injection site. So...I'm not sure what the best course of action is for that shot. We'll probably try the same method tomorrow.

The best part of all this is that I finally figured out the best way to get the needle in with minimal pain and bruising.

Tomorrow, we go back to the fertility center for more bloodwork and another sonogram. I am anticipating an increase of medication following this appointment. I'm just hoping and praying that it's not yet time for the big shot. My first acupuncture appointment is also tomorrow and I am really looking forward to that.

I'll keep you posted following the appointment tomorrow.

yup...that's right...JEN rocks it!

Look at this face:

This is AFTER the evening shots!!! Today was a GREAT day....I had a great shot this morning, wonderful day hanging out with Kris, good 2 shots tonight, our dinner is well on its way to being amazing and we have a funny movie to watch tonight! We are opening my favorite wine tonight so I can have a glass tonight and tomorrow...and then Jen goes dry. :)

And the victory goes to......JEN!!!!

Ok, so I woke up this morning ready to kick these shots in the butt. So, I came downstairs, washed my hands, prepared my needle, and taught my shot a lesson! In and out all before Kris even realized what I was doing. :) I found a good spot now for these shots...no pain, no burn, no bruise.

Good day for Lupron. :) AND I was rewarded with lots of bear hugs from Kris!!! What a way to start my day! :)

2 more shots

Today was a ROUGH day. I think I spent more of it crying than not. :( The good news is that I have a wonderful husband who does nothing but comfort me and try to make it easier for me and a great friend (Kate K) (who has already been through all of this) who keeps encouraging me!

Today, we were told to add 2 more shots to our regimine. I now have 1 shot in the morning and 2 shots in the evening. This will continue until at least March 26. I was REALLY nervous about doing these shots because of all the trouble I was having with the Lupron (in the morning). Though, it was unpleasant, I was able to inject both shots tonight. Kris had to mix the second shot...but we got it in. I mixed the first shot and accidentally bent the needle....so that shot hurt because it went in crooked and kinda' got caught in my skin. :( But...I did them. So...I hope these next 10 days or so go by quickly!

Appointment today

Well, Lupron was still not my friend this morning. I didn't bruise, but I do have a red mark. :(

We had our Lupron evaluation today, which consisted of blood work (MORE stinkin' needles) and a sonogram. We should find out this afternoon where we are in the cycle and will receive our medicine schedule for all those NEW boxes that arrived yesterday. We did find out that I have approximately 7 follicles in each ovary, which is above average and is more than I had in January! So...that is good news. :)

After our evaluation, Kris and I headed to Starbucks to kill time (2 1/2 hours to be exact). :) Our nurse coordinator, Alisa, walked in and she came to talk with us for a little while. She is really nice and very attentive. We are lucky to have her working with us. :)

After we finished up at Starbucks, we headed back to the center for our injection class. This was a validating experience and an un-nerving one.

I found out that I was injecting the Lupron correctly and that some women describe what I was experiencing. The nurse suggested that I inject below my belly button (where there is a little more fat). She thinks that since I didn't have a lot of fat where I have been injecting, she thinks I might be hitting muscle....causing me pain. :) I'm smiling because she is insinuating I have muscles in my abdomen: the only 6 pack I have is of Corona! :) hee hee hee.... ANYWAY, so I'm going to try the new place tomorrow.

I found that the other 2 shots I have to give are the same size needle as the Lupron (which is very small)...so I feel better about those shots. The other two are mixing shots, so I have to mix fluid with powder. I'm glad we went to the class because now I feel better about that mixing process.

The one I am DREADING is the intramuscular shot that Kris has to give me in my butt/upper hip. This one, he will be mixing and injecting. It's a thicker and longer needle. :( Actually seeing the size of the needle makes me unhappy...but I only have to do that shot once. It's a timed shot, so based on our next sonogram-we will be given an exact time to administer that shot. Our nurse told us that this shot will hurt and it will bruise the muscle. She said that we are tearing the muscle fiber...that's why it will hurt. She said I won't feel the medicine going in....just the needle bruising the muscle.

So....we are almost to the middle of this process. I'll keep you posted.

Bad Lupron BAD!

Today was a bad medicine day. You can watch the video below to see why, if you're interested. I'm trying to stay positive and excited, but am having trouble with that today.

Feeling pretty good

Today is day 5 and I'm feeling pretty good. I'm getting used to these shots and feeling pretty comfortable with the whole process. The only thing that was different today was that I must've been a little rougher than usual with my needle because I actually bled a little today. I don't know if that is normal, so I'll try to be more careful tomorrow. My choir competition was last night so I was unusually exhausted this morning... so I might not have been paying very close attention...probably not good to be handling a needle when I'm not "with it", eh? ;)

We are supposed to receive the rest of our medication tomorrow...so I'll get to see the nasty shots I'm going to have to take. :(

I've also made an acupuncture appointment and go in for my first visit on Monday. I'm really excited about it. We had originally made our appointment for Friday, but had to move it to Monday for scheduling reasons. For some reason, I'm not the least bit worried about the needles my acupuncturist will be using. :)

Nothing new to really report. Just moving through these steps with great hopes!!

MET

Day three...this day was exciting! I had read some blogs on women taking these Lupron injections and were given some tips to help with the burning. SO...I tried a new way to give the injection and it went so much better this morning! The pain I normally felt was significantly less. :) YAY!!!

Then, Kris and I were off for our Mock Embryo Transfer! This procedure will help us when we do our final step towards baby making! They practiced the procedure and figured out what equipment and stuff they would need for me. I was really nervous that it was going to be painful. Everything I read about it mentioned pain...our nurse coordinator even told me to take some pain killers before we came. I was so happy that there was no pain! It was a little uncomfortable...but no pain!

The most painful thing about today was: the Social Security Administration. We have been trying to change my name on my SS card...and we ended up having to actually go to the office. It took us 2 hours to get my name changed. It was INFURIATING!

The next big thing happens on Friday. We go for our Lupron evaluation (where we will check the progress of those injections, and get the schedule and dosage of the other shots), we have an injection class that will teach Kris how to give me the yucky shot (in my hip), and I have my first acupuncture session!

Stay posted!

The meds...in the beginning...

The video below just shows you where the "magic" happens every morning and a little overview of what meds I'm taking right now. :) Don't worry...I'm not going to post video of me actually injecting myself...I'm too much of a wimp to let that go public. ;)

ok...so I am a wimp...

So....today is day two of those silly little shots. I can definitely say that 1) the needle does not bother me at all and 2) the burning sensation of the medication is NOT pleasant. All Kris kept saying was, "oh boy...how are you going to get through the birthing process?" So, I'll admit it-I have no tolerance for this kind of pain. :) I guess I can only hope that the more I do this, the less it hurts. It burns and itches all at the same time. :( I guess the good news is that it only lasts for 5 minutes or so....but still...

I just have to keep thinking about: Evie, Jacob, Lilly, Alayna, Ellie, and all those little babies!

Day One

Well today, I took my first dose of Lupron this morning! I was really nervous about giving myself a shot (in the tummy)...but Kris cheered me on and reminded me of why we were doing this! I was pleasantly suprised that it really didn't hurt once I got the needle in! I definitely felt like a newbie when I couldn't get the stopper to go down...but I figured it out. :) I was surprised a few minutes later when my tummy started to burn-but it did pass within a couple minutes and all is well. :)

In addition, I had to take children's aspirin this morning (and will continue to for some time). It is grape flavored!! It was very yummy...I will enjoy taking those every morning. :)

Thanks Kate K for all your help and chatting with us as we prepared for this first step!! :)