Well everyone...we have the results and it's wonderful news. We are PREGNANT!!
Sorry for the delay we were able to tell our families and close friends yesterday. I am obviously beyond happy. We found out on Tuesday that our beta was 171, however, on Thursday the beta did not double like the doctors like, it went up to 285 so they wanted a 3rd beta on Saturday morning. The beta came back at 771, which more then doubled from the previous count. The doctors like to see a doubling every 48-72 hours at the very beginning of the pregnancy. The nurses said that we didn't need another blood draw that they were happy with those numbers, so good news!
Our miracle has happened and we are just to thrilled with this blessing. We will be going in at the end of March for our 6week ultrasound. At this ultrasound they will be able to see the baby and possibly a heartbeat.
Tons of emotions right now but still just praying that everything continues to progress nicely. Long ago I knew that any pregnancy I had would not be easy. Forget about all of the the ectopics and the IVF I am still a Type 1 Diabetic and that brings a lot of extra worry to a pregnancy. Nothing, however that I cannot handle.
OMG, I can't believe that I am finally writing this. We will be having a baby in the fall and I am PREGNANT!!!
Thank you so much for all the prayers, love and support.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
The 2 week wait continues
Today, in technical terms I am 10 days past my 3 day transfer (10dp3dt) and so very close to completing the 2 week wait. By the end of this week I will know if I am pregnant or not. A BETA (a pregnancy blood test) will be done to determine if there is any HCG (the pregnancy hormone) in my system and if so how much. Now if there is :), then they will be looking at that number to double every 2 days.
Today, I am very calm and I have been for a couple of days after last weeks hormonal melt down. Do I have any symptoms of pregnancy...I have some but remember the reason the 2ww plays games with you is that most pregnancy symptoms are similar to period symptoms. I am also trying now to compare these symptoms to previous pregnancies as we all know all those ended. Here they are though for your reading pleasure, sorry in advance for too much info.
Today, I am very calm and I have been for a couple of days after last weeks hormonal melt down. Do I have any symptoms of pregnancy...I have some but remember the reason the 2ww plays games with you is that most pregnancy symptoms are similar to period symptoms. I am also trying now to compare these symptoms to previous pregnancies as we all know all those ended. Here they are though for your reading pleasure, sorry in advance for too much info.
- I am very tired.
- My boobs hurt and the veins in my boobs are dark (I know too much info)
- Horrible headache
These are the symptoms that really shouldn't be part of the side effects from the medication, since they just started happening late last week.
On a wonderful note our Michigan State Spartans are Big Ten Tournament Champs and got a #1 seed going into the NCAA tournament. My husband and I couldn't help but remember all of the wonderful memories that we share in East Lansing. Even though we are pushing 30 we couldn't help but wish we were in East Lansing to celebrate like college kids again. I'm sure we wouldn't be able to hang like we used to but you never know.
My husband and I cannot wait to raise little Spartans, we already have our Gabby. She know that if we say Go Green she puts her hands up like a touchdown. I, had to remind my husband that next basketball season there could be a little spartan cheering on his/her future college. The options really are endless in dressing a child in Spartan gear. :)
I would like to say thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. I will post until Wednesday and then return sometime this weekend to let you all know the results. We will be taking a little time to tell our family and close friends before we post it to the world via the blog.
This household is giddy with Spartan pride, I think a new Spartan outfit is needed for the tournament. So I'm off to go shopping and to let myself relax.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
7 Days Past Transfer
This is a hard time in the 2 week wait, at least for me. I'm about 1/2 way there and I'm going crazy. Every twinge, cramp, headache, etc. makes me think I'm getting my period or that I could be pregnant. My husband is great he keeps telling me it's not over until it's over. Friends, I'm a little depressed today, well a lot, I just don't think it has worked. I, of course, want a sign that it has, I need to be puking, my boobs killing and crying all the time, then I would think it had worked.
I am still praying that I am wrong and that I, like I tend to do, am just thinking the worst but hoping for the best. This, is my way of guarding my heart. I am strong, I know that and everyone around me know that, but this is where I break. I have such a inner faith that I am meant to be a mom and it hurts me terribly that my husband and I are having to work this hard and have so much heartache to get there. My dear friend told me the other night, (and I mean no offense to moms that conceived naturally) "Stef, all of this just means that you will look at your own child in a way that no other mom could ever possibly. You and B have worked so hard and that makes the outcome that much sweeter." Thank you to my support group because these are those times when I just need you to hope for me.
I know too well what it would mean to never have a child of my own. My dear Aunt and Uncle, whom I love dearly never had any of their own. We have talked countless hours about my situation and our decision to put so much into this. I know it hurts them probably, as much as me, to see "their princess," go through the same heartache they went through all those years ago. They have been a huge part of my life, you have to wonder if they had any of their own if we would have been so close, I would like to think so but you just never know. I questioned this very early on, "If I was meant to only be an Aunt?"
I asked a good friend of mine who is also going through fertility treatments what she thought about that, she gave me the best response anyone could have ever, "Stef, you aren't just an Aunt. Do you see the way all the kids look at you and the way you and B give your life to making their's better. In life sometimes being "mom-like," doesn't always mean being someones mom it means opening your loving home, your heart and giving all your love to them. Plus you will be an amazing mom and your will always be an incredible aunt." I totally loved the end of the conversation, "Wish we could cry over some Chardonnay but I still fully believe your pregnant, so deal with it."
Love it!!
My thoughts and prayers today are simply reminders of the wonderful people and things in my life and that I stay strong and hold on to the fact that I still could be pregnant. Also, to quit letting my nervousness and fear of another heartbreak stop me from being positive. I ask for some extra prayers today, it's just one of those days.
I am still praying that I am wrong and that I, like I tend to do, am just thinking the worst but hoping for the best. This, is my way of guarding my heart. I am strong, I know that and everyone around me know that, but this is where I break. I have such a inner faith that I am meant to be a mom and it hurts me terribly that my husband and I are having to work this hard and have so much heartache to get there. My dear friend told me the other night, (and I mean no offense to moms that conceived naturally) "Stef, all of this just means that you will look at your own child in a way that no other mom could ever possibly. You and B have worked so hard and that makes the outcome that much sweeter." Thank you to my support group because these are those times when I just need you to hope for me.
I know too well what it would mean to never have a child of my own. My dear Aunt and Uncle, whom I love dearly never had any of their own. We have talked countless hours about my situation and our decision to put so much into this. I know it hurts them probably, as much as me, to see "their princess," go through the same heartache they went through all those years ago. They have been a huge part of my life, you have to wonder if they had any of their own if we would have been so close, I would like to think so but you just never know. I questioned this very early on, "If I was meant to only be an Aunt?"
I asked a good friend of mine who is also going through fertility treatments what she thought about that, she gave me the best response anyone could have ever, "Stef, you aren't just an Aunt. Do you see the way all the kids look at you and the way you and B give your life to making their's better. In life sometimes being "mom-like," doesn't always mean being someones mom it means opening your loving home, your heart and giving all your love to them. Plus you will be an amazing mom and your will always be an incredible aunt." I totally loved the end of the conversation, "Wish we could cry over some Chardonnay but I still fully believe your pregnant, so deal with it."
Love it!!
My thoughts and prayers today are simply reminders of the wonderful people and things in my life and that I stay strong and hold on to the fact that I still could be pregnant. Also, to quit letting my nervousness and fear of another heartbreak stop me from being positive. I ask for some extra prayers today, it's just one of those days.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Bed Rest and Begin of 2WW
I am finally done with my best rest and am now able to get back to my blog.
Transfer Day
We had our transfer as planned at 10:45am on Friday morning. Although, I have been to our clinic many many times there is something about transfer day that makes me emotional and grateful to their staff for being a part of our journey. One of my favorite nurses, Fran came and got me and I was extremely relieved, she will answer any and all questions you have and she is very gentle. The area where the transfer happens is in a back area of the clinic, it looks much more like a hospital setting. There Fran got me situated and into my bed, where I could get prepared.
Just a little reminder, girls don't forget to get your toes done before you have your transfer, oh and please don't forget to shave your legs :)
The embryos did well and 2 thawed just perfectly, typically only 80% of embryos thaw correctly. We we thrilled to hear that. Dr. Dodds said they looked wonderful, embryos have different grades.
The transfer was a little different than previous transfers because of the new protocol of injecting HCG straight into my uterus before the embryos were transferred. I wasn't even sure what to expect when I was wheeled into the operating room. The transfer begins much like a pap smear, girls you know how it goes, your feet in stirrups legs wide open. The big difference is that with an IVF transfer they need to prop your bottom up so that they can look clear to your cervix. So anyway enough of that, the HCG protocol calls for the doctor to inject the HCG with a catheter similar to the one used for the embryos. Then the fun part you have to lay there in that same fun position for 8 mins.
After the 8 mins. then a new catheter is used to inject our beautiful embryos. Pretty simple. After that I had to lay with my legs up for an hour. I again, am not a sit still type of person, I kept on asking my husband, it it time yet. I was ready to go home. They finally came in and said you can go home.
...this was my face
We drove home, with my feet on the dash laid back and the bed rest began. All day Friday I laid around with my feet in the air, my sissy, Ang came over with my nephew Mason. This was so wonderful I love watching my husband with him. Most of you reading this know us well enough to know that we LOVE being an Aunt and Uncle. Saturday and Sunday were much of the same, just laying on the couch. My niece Gabby came to keep me company on Sunday.
Now the famous 2 week wait (2ww) begins. Anyone who has gone through IVF knows well that this is the horrible 2 weeks after the transfer before you can find out if the procedure has worked or not. It's really is terrible, every little twinge, cramp, etc. gets you thinking. Doctors tell you not to take home pregnancy tests because they can be wrong and really the pregnancy hormone has already been injected into you so that can cause false negatives or positives. I, however, do not listen to doctors, I will start taking home pregnancy tests at some point. I'm not sure when this time but much closer to the end of that 2ww.
Today is 4 days past my transfer and I am still going to lay low although I could get moving a bit. To me this is part of that decision to not work, that I am going to relax and take everything in. I have already been asked, "Do you feel pregnant?" That is such a hard question for me because I very well know how many medications are in my system and how many I have to continue with all of which can make me "feel pregnant." I am also too scared to say out loud either way. Am I optimistic, yes. Have I put my Faith in this, yes. This is one of those moments in life when you really have to just pray.
I am really excited though and just pray that this is the time.
Transfer Day
We had our transfer as planned at 10:45am on Friday morning. Although, I have been to our clinic many many times there is something about transfer day that makes me emotional and grateful to their staff for being a part of our journey. One of my favorite nurses, Fran came and got me and I was extremely relieved, she will answer any and all questions you have and she is very gentle. The area where the transfer happens is in a back area of the clinic, it looks much more like a hospital setting. There Fran got me situated and into my bed, where I could get prepared.
 |
| Here I am right before being taking in for the transfer...cute I know :) |
The transfer was a little different than previous transfers because of the new protocol of injecting HCG straight into my uterus before the embryos were transferred. I wasn't even sure what to expect when I was wheeled into the operating room. The transfer begins much like a pap smear, girls you know how it goes, your feet in stirrups legs wide open. The big difference is that with an IVF transfer they need to prop your bottom up so that they can look clear to your cervix. So anyway enough of that, the HCG protocol calls for the doctor to inject the HCG with a catheter similar to the one used for the embryos. Then the fun part you have to lay there in that same fun position for 8 mins.
After the 8 mins. then a new catheter is used to inject our beautiful embryos. Pretty simple. After that I had to lay with my legs up for an hour. I again, am not a sit still type of person, I kept on asking my husband, it it time yet. I was ready to go home. They finally came in and said you can go home.
...this was my face
 |
| This is how Gabby helped with my bed rest, she rested with me :) |
Today is 4 days past my transfer and I am still going to lay low although I could get moving a bit. To me this is part of that decision to not work, that I am going to relax and take everything in. I have already been asked, "Do you feel pregnant?" That is such a hard question for me because I very well know how many medications are in my system and how many I have to continue with all of which can make me "feel pregnant." I am also too scared to say out loud either way. Am I optimistic, yes. Have I put my Faith in this, yes. This is one of those moments in life when you really have to just pray.
I am really excited though and just pray that this is the time.
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