10 Weeks Pregnant

It has been a while since I posted last, everything with our babies is great; however they keep scaring me. About every other week I start cramping really bad. Sometimes it is so bad that it wakes me from a dead sleep or so hard that it is difficult to stand up. Just yesterday I called the doctor because I started bleeding again, and passed a few clots. We went in for another ultrasound and everything looks great. There are still two babies, with great heartbeats. The only other weird thing is that it is hard to sleep I am very uncomfortable at night. In the next few days I will be able to stop all my other medications, and then hopefully I can try to be as normal as possible. We will have our next appt on May 11, I will then be in the second trimester; that is my next goal.

Baby "A"

Baby "B"

A few weeks ago was Easter, we were blessed to have my family here at the house for Easter dinner, and the money hunt. We had my cousin Dave and his wife and their kids, uncle Todd and Brian, My sister and her kids, and some of Steves family. It was so fun to hide all the eggs and watch the little kids go hunting. Poor little Aiden cried, I think it made him nervous hunting with all the other kids; too much pressure. Quincy of course found  the golden egg, after telling him that if he didn't he couldn't be mad and he would have to congratulate the other kid. What I really enjoyed was spending time with my sister. I guess I didn't take any pictures of the egg hunt, only video and it was long, sorry.

This week my little sister came to town. I haven't seen her since Christmas. It was good to hang out and talk and laugh. 

Retrieved, Fertilized and transferred

RETRIEVAL:
Timmy and I drove up Feb 21st and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for an Egg retrieval on the 22nd. They gave me an instructions list for the retrieval that I followed to the T. I was instructed to use one vinegar and water douche (yes I said it) before bed and then one in the morning before the retrieval. I could not sleep at all that night. I was not totally uncomfortable and I think I was really nervous for the procedure. We checked in about 0930 and I went back to the procedure room, while Timmy completed his business in the other room. Dr. Chuck placed an IV and then gave me versed and fentanyl, this only made me relax a bit but did not cloud my judgment at all. It takes a lot to knock this red-head out. Later on Chuck stated that I was his most coherent, talkative patient. :) that would be me. After waiting for Dr. Faulk they put me to sleep and I woke up crampy, and once again very talkative. Timmy did video me waking up and asked me lots of questions, but I won't share that with you it is just 12 min of boringness. Dr. Faulk told us that he was able to retrieve 18 eggs. We were very excited about this because we thought we might only have 15. After the retrieval I started Progesterone shots Intramuscular (IM), and started two pills, one an antibiotic Doxycycline, and another hormone Medrol (I was taking this SQ but now just PO).

My sister in laws Bonnie and Christie dropped this off 

It was full of fun gift cards that have really helped us.

FERTILIZE:

The day after retrieval we were called by the lab manager to keep us informed about our embryos, she stated "Timmy's sample was tremendous." His sperm was able to fertilize all 18 eggs, however there were 5 that were degenerative, and two that were small and they were not sure if they would continue to grow. All in all we had 11 embryos that looked great. The next 2 days were very uncomfortable with cramping and bloating. I felt full all the time, not to mention I was constipated, and little did I know I had a UTI on top of all that. We were called friday the 24th with instructions to come for a Blastocyst transfer on Monday the 27th. We were so excited to have a blastocyst transfer. With a Blastocyst transfer there is a lower chance of the embryos splitting, also the pregnancy rate per transfer is higher when blastocyst embryos are transferred on day 5 to 7 than when earlier-stage embryos are transferred on day 2 or 3. The implant rate is higher when embryos progress to the blastocyst stage, fewer embryos can be transferred while achieving similar or better pregnancy rates for each transfer. 

THE TRANSFER:

Our transfer time was at 1300 we got there around 1215 and we waited for them to give me the valium. I don't really think this medication worked either. I am assuming it was suppose to help me relax but it didn't. We waited another 30 min for the doctor and when Dr. Faulk came in he gave us embryo update. He started to say that we only had 5 that had survived. He feels like the damage that was done to my tubes had damaged my ovaries as well and my eggs are not very of good quality. They would let us know the next day how many we would be able to freeze. They set me up in stirups and numbed my cervix, they told me not to talk and to completely relax my whole body. With ultrasound they were able to see exactly where they were transferring the two perfect embryos that they had picked for the transfer. After that I laid flat for 20 mins and they gave me my next set of instructions. I would be on bed-rest for the next three days. I would continue my pre-natal vitamin, my baby aspirin, as well as the progesterone shots, and would start progesterone suppositories. 

Waiting for the transfer

Here are my two little embryos transferred right into my uterine wall!

Now I have been on bedrest for 2 and a half days, I am excited to get back to normal but also a little nervous. I have done all that I am able to do. Heavenly Father is in charge now and whatever will be will be. 

My cute husband everyday packs up my cooler with snacks, sets up my pillows, sets out my medications, and gives me my shots. He is so sweet!!

Egg Retrieval scheduled

I was suppose to update this when we went up to Pleasant Grove on February 10th, but in all reality nothing really exciting happened so I waited. Up until the 10th I was taking Lupron injections.

These didn't bother me one bit, got a few small bruises nothing major and never hurt going in. Then for our appointment on Feb 10th I had an ultrasound, to look for cysts (there were none), and Timmy gave a back-up sample.

 On the 12th which was a sunday I started taking the Menopur and the Brevelle and continued taking the Lupron. These were also given subcutaneous but 1 full ml. They stung a little bit I just had to push them slow. I got a really big bruise from one of them but surprisingly that injection hurt less than the others. The only thing I didn't like about doing three shots a day is I ran out of sites. 

Then the magic started to happen. On friday the 17th I went to get my Estradiol level checked. It was 664. I continued my medications and had an ultrasound on Sunday the 19th. Dr. C counted my follicles with Timmy's help and I had 15. My smallest was something like 9x9 and the biggest was 20x18. They thought I would be getting close so they checked my Estradiol level and it was 1606. Dr. C was not sure if they would wait one more day so I waited for the phone call. They wanted me to go in for one more ultrasound and Estradiol level on Monday. After working all night long I went in around 8:30 and we counted my follicles again. The biggest now was 20x20 and the smallest was 9x13. In one day they grew so much and most of them ranged around 19mm, and my Estradiol level was 2706. I received the phone call on Monday around 4:30 pm that we would do the egg retrieval on Wednesday. 

They gave me some instructions and wanted me to follow them precisely. I took the HCG 10,000 units at 10pm. They call this the "Trigger injection" that means in 36 hours all my matured eggs will release. 

Then when I woke up this morning I took my PNV/BA and the HCG Pregnancy test. 

 Now do you see that test? I had to do a double take, it is positive....I haven't seen one on my self ever, I have been waiting to see one of these. It was a bit of a shocker when I called them with the results, and they tell you "Oh that is what it is suppose to say." I am assuming they are just measuring my HCG level from injection the night before.

Today Timmy and I are driving up the Pleasant Grove and staying in a hotel for the night because bright and early...well 9:00 we will be making our way to harvest those eggs. I will let you all know how it comes along and how many eggs we retrieve.

Starting Injections

I had to stay at home all morning because I was waiting for a special package. The package finally came and I opened the box, Holy Crap that is a lot of stuff. It took me a while before I started to identify everything in there. It is my whole IVF cycles worth of medication.

I knew what I had to do next and I was not too excited. I knew it would only be a subcutaneous injection (which means the needle is fairly small). I still was not excited. I had to do the count down...a few times, call Timmy and then do the count down again. It actually didn't hurt until after it stung just a tiny tiny bit and as you can see it turned a little red. 

Don't mind the chubby belly (it will only get worse)

I have to really make sure that I keep this updated (if not for anything but to show my children what I have gone through :). We will be going to Vegas this weekend for my nephew Ryker's blessing. I have an appointment on the 10th in Pleasant Grove so I will be updating this probably around then, unless there are any changes. So far until then I take my Prenatal Vitamin, Baby Aspirin, and the Lupron.

IVF here we come!

This January was particularly exciting because we had our initial consult for IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). Timmy and I were very fortunate that our doctor came down from the Salt Lake area for our first appointment. Timmy and I knew after all that we have been through that we would need IVF in order for us to have children.

We met with Dr. Faulk from Utah Fertility Center on the 27th of January. At this appointment we quickly talked about the process and a rough estimate of how much the procedure would cost from start to finish. Because we completed the majority of labs and procedures with Dr. Chalmers we only had to do a water ultrasound, so they could see the inside of my uterus. I was at the perfect days in my cycle so we were able to start the whole process this week. When he said that I just about cried. Timmy and I have been waiting about two years and finally we get to have a baby. It was such a shock because you go month to month trying different procedures, surgeries, and medications and nothing works. I leaned over to Timmy and said, "Do you think we should wait?" He thought I was crazy but it maybe nervous starting so soon. You think of all the things that you haven't been doing as well as you should...the right diet, taking vitamins religiously, exercising. For something like this you feel like you have to be perfect to start so there are no screw ups.

Timmy and I started our Doxycylcline today which is an antibiotic. Tomorrow I will be starting my Lupron injections SQ in my belly, and my baby aspirin. Some people have to go on birth control for a cycle before all of this, luckily I didn't have to because my cycles are always right on time. In ten days we will go up to Salt Lake and I will have an ultrasound, get some labs drawn and get instructions for my next set of medications. A few days after that I will no longer be able to exercise, I will get my labs drawn again have three ultrasounds and then we will be up in Salt Lake again for the egg retrieval, this will be a surgery with anesthesia. Timmy and I will come back home and then 5 days after that we will drive back up because this will be our Embryo Transfer day. After that I will be on bed-rest for 48 hours. I will have to stay on some injections after that for a few weeks and following should have a positive pregnancy test. This whole process will take just a little over a month. I am so excited and nervous I can hardly contain myself. I have not been sleeping well because I just want the time to fly.

I realize there are many risks involved with this procedure...I have a 20% chance of miscarriage, risk of Ovarian Hyper-stimulation, I might get sick, I will have bruising from the injections, taking so many hormones I will possibly have some mood alteration, I will gain weight from the medications. These are just the side affects I am worried about. I am trying to stay positive but know that through all of this I have a better chance of having a baby. Timmy and I are so excited and I will try and update this through the good the bad and the ugly.

Ending the old and starting a new

The end of the year is coming fast. A few things happened the past few weeks that we have been super excited for. Tyler came home from his mission, and Christmas.

Tyler served his mission in Paraguay. It was fun listening to him share stories about the people and show us pictures of Paraguay. It is crazy to think that there are so many places in the world that are not as blessed as we are. I am so so grateful to live in the United States where we have so many freedoms that others can not enjoy.

  Tyler's "nice shoes"

Christmas was so fun this year. We were able to spend time with both our families, and we also enjoyed a big Christmas. Timmy and I decided that because this will hopefully be our last Christmas together (without kids) we would buy nice gifts for each other.

 Loves the hats and Angry Birds!!

 "It's what I have always wanted." (Wipe-out for the Wii)

 Playing Angry birds with his auntie Trini

 Q's Talent, "Must be Santa."

 Tyler's Talent

 All the kids

 Super heros

 We picked Christie and Moss, we hope they liked their gift

 They look so excited

They love their new TV, and don't forget about the ladder

We also got to talk to Riley on Skype. He is so excited to be in Chile and is loving every minute of it. He does miss his family though.

Here is Timmy and My Christmas. He got a gun Xdm 40 and a few other things, and I got a Bosch, a printer, pendant lights for my kitchen and glass to cover my kitchen table and buffet. I love my honey!

 This is Timmy being excited

We even got to do some fun stuff, we went Repelling...even mom went!!

Now that the new year is almost here, we need to start thinking about our new years resolutions. I have a few that I didn't get to accomplish this year, so those will be the top of the list. What are your New Years resolutions. P.S. I love working with Mandy!!