Birthday Present for Mom

We told Abbey on Saturday about our news and she was happy and wanted to know if we were having a boy or a girl.  We told her that it was too early to tell so we have to wait a few more weeks to find out.  She wanted to know why it's taking so long to find out.  (Love her to pieces!)

Since she has been praying so long for us to have a baby, we wanted to teach her that Heavenly Father does answer prayers and that He did hear all those prayers that she said.  We asked her to continue to pray for us and especially the baby that it will continue to grow and be healthy and strong.  She said she will pray for the baby.

On Sunday, we went over my brother's house to celebrate my mom's birthday (55).  We had dinner and icecream cake!  Then we handed my mom an envelope with the ultrasound picture.  My mom is a woman of very few emotions.  I was expecting her to just look at the picture and not say much.  When she opened the envelope, she didn't have her glasses on and didn't know what it was.  She had the picture upside down and thought it was a cat!  After she put her glasses on and Steve pointed out the baby parts, she was happy.  She didn't jump up and down, but I could tell she was happy for us.

(Me, mom and my niece Mya, after they blew out the candles)

I've had light spotting all weekend.  Nothing to be worried about, but of course, I still worry.  Today is 11w2d and we have an appt on Thursday with the OB.  Can't wait to see baby Vietitaly on Thursday. 

Peri.natologist - 10wks5dys

My IVF nurse had warned us that going to see the Peri.natologist may be a bit scary because they are trained to deal with worst case scenarios.  She's had patients leave the Peri.natologist's office and come straight down stairs to their office crying!  Yeah, she was right about the scary part.  We did come down to see them after our appointment, but there was no crying....just a little worrisome. 

They go through a lot of information and do lay it all out as far as risks and what could possibly happen.  Steve was really intrigued by it all and was taking it all in.  I was just scared thinking, 'uh, I hope my baby doesn't have that or I hope we don't have to go through that.' 

Overall the appointment went well.  The dr. said that everything seems to be coming along good.  They will see me every 4 weeks to monitor baby and make sure things are progressing like it's suppose to.  He agrees that I should stay on the Love.nox as long as possible for now.  We will return in two weeks to do the first trimester screening.  I need to really watch my sugar intake since I have PCOS (that will require a lot of work on my part since I have a big sweet tooth!)

I think between my regular OB visits and the peri visits, we should be able to see more of baby.  We could have just sat there all day and watched the screen.  Every time we see the baby, we are just in awe of God's creation. 

(Heartbeat was 174 bpm)

This baby needs a name while it's in womb.  We've been trying to come up with one and I think we may have one.  Promise you won't laugh??  Since I'm Vietnamese and Steve's Italian (50%) the best we could do is Baby Vietitaly (pronounced Viet-ta-ly).  Get it?  Too cheesy?  Okay, ya'll can stop laughing now.  Please tell me if you have a better name because we're open to suggestions!

Spotting Scare, But All Is Well - 9wks2dys

I started spotting a little this morning and it was bright red.  I was scared out of my mind thinking the worst was happening.  I know they say spotting in the first trimester is common, but when you've experienced multiple miscarriages, it's the scariest thing ever!

I called my new OB (who I was scheduled to see on Wednesday) and they had me go get an ultrasound and then come in to see them.  I was a nervous wreck all morning until it was time to go to my appt.  I said a little prayer at my desk and turned it over to the Lord.

When we got to the Imaging place for the ultrasound and the tech did a regular ultrasound we could see the little heart beating away.  Then she did the vaginal ultrasound and we saw the little baby waving it's hands and feet, like it was doing a little dance!  It was just amazing.  It made my heart melt. 

We were then off to see the new OB.  He was super nice and was very easy to talk to.  He didn't seem concern at all since the ultrasound showed that all was well with baby.  He thinks that the spotting was probably the second sac slowly dissolving.  He said the spotting may be around for a few more days, but not to worry.   We will return to see him in two weeks. 

I am so grateful that everything is okay.  What started out as a scary morning ended with a great moment of seeing the baby getting jiggy wit it.  Thank you God!

Last Appt With the RE!

I am 8 wks 3 days.  Today was my last appt with the RE.  I will miss him and our wonderful nurse!!

Baby's heartbeat is beating away at 171 bpm.  As tiny as the baby is, we were able to see the little 'paws.'  It was amazing. 

Next week I go see the OB and the week after that, the perinatologist.  Just four more weeks to the 12 week milestone. 

I'm taking it one day at a time, one blessing (aka milestone) at a time.

Thank you for all the prayers! 

7 Wks 5 Days

My heart is filled with sadness lately for these lovely ladies who have received BFN on their cycles; Baby on Mind, Julia, and Hillary.  Oh how I wish I could take away their pain.  I continue to pray for them and I know that God is the only one that can ease their burdens. 

I know it's hard for some people to read about pregnancy annoucements or progress when they are still struggling with their own journey.  And some people choose to no longer 'follow' or just check in once in a while on those blogs. 

I get it.  I've been there.  I understand how incredibly hard it is.  Please know that if you decide not to read my blog anymore, I understand completely. 

I will be 8 wks on Saturday.  I've never made it past 8 wks.  My very first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, but I didn't find out until my 12 wk appt, but the dr. guestimated that it probably happened around 8 or 9 wks, but they weren't sure.  My second miscarriage was at 8 wks.  And my third miscarriage was a week after my first beta (the numbers never got high enough, then dropped).  I've been anxious this week as we approach the 8 wk milestone.  I go in next Tuesday for my last appt with the RE.  I keep praying that this tiny little life inside me is still growing. 

I had two people approach me at church on Sunday and asked me about my pregnancy.  I was suprised that they even knew because I'm pretty sure they do not read my blog.  I guess I shouldn't be too surprised because people do talk, regardless if you think you can trust them.  It is what it is.  I know they all mean well.

Steve left this morning to go to upstate NY to visit his family for the weekend.  I can't go with him because I don't have enough vacation time (and I need to save what little I do have).  Since he's always been the one to give me my shots, I've been practicing the last week to give myself my Love.nox shot (blood thin.ner).  It's not too bad doing it yourself.  I haven't been bruising at all since I've been doing it.  I still have plenty of battle scars, but at least I'm not getting anymore (Love.nox is notorious for bruising). 

I will spend the weekend with Abbey celebrating her real birthday and counting my blessings for making it to 8 wks.  I have to take it one day at a time and keep putting my faith in the Lord. 

6 weeks 5 days Ultrasound

I was nervous for our 6 week appointment this morning.  Steve gave me a blessing last night and I felt the love of the Lord in so many ways.

Our appointment this morning went very well.  We saw one good looking flickering heart!  It was amazing to see something so tiny flickering away at 122 bpm (beats per minute). 

The RE did find a second sac, but it was really small and there wasn't anything in it.  That was a little hard to hear, but I am so grateful for one healthy growing baby inside me. 

I am half way through the first trimester.  I go back in 2 weeks for an 8 week ultrasound.  Then I will be released to my regular OB and the Perinatologist.

My heart is very full.  I keep seeing the image of that tiny little flickering heart and it gives me such hope.  Thank you all for the prayers and kind words.  You've all lifted us up and we continue to count our many blessings. 

(I will post the ultrasound pictures tonight.  Just for record keeping purposes because someday, I would like to print the blog out into a book for memory keeping). 

Prayers From Perfect Strangers

Every morning and every night when I say my prayers, I thank Heavenly Father for the life (or lives) that is growing inside me.  I pray that He will continue to watch over them and keep them growing.  And that's all I can do...pray.  I have to constantly remind myself that it is all in His hands. 

I still worry though.  Anyone who's had multiple miscarriages knows that the worry never goes away. 

I scheduled my six week ultrasound for next Thursday.  The nurse said I should go ahead and schedule an appt with my OB for my 9 wk appt.  Well, I had to find a new OB because my current one no longer does labor and delivery, but he did give me a referral.  I called and schedule that appt, then I started thinking, 'oh my, maybe I should wait before I jump that far ahead?!'  Yikes!  The appt is on the calendar. 

Earlier this week I had a friend announce on face.book that she was expecting #3.  It turns out she is as far along as I am.  I was surprised that she would announce it so early!  Is that what normal fertile people do? 

We have only told a few close friends (and of course, who ever reads this blog knows).  And only one of my coworkers knows.  She has been praying for us and she shared our news with her good friend.  I received an email from her friend (whom I've never met) and it just made my day.  I am amazed by the kindness and prayers of perfect strangers.  I wanted to share her email and psalms verse. 

"I have been praying for you and thinking a lot about you, especially over the last week. I read these verses out of Psalm this morning and thought of you immediately. I thought about the tiny life growing inside you and how God has known this child from the minute of conception. I often ponder on the thought that God knows every thing about our lives from the moment He creates us. What an awesome God we serve. I pray that He will watch over you, your husband and this tiny life that grows day by day. May you have a blessed day."

Psalm 139:13-16
13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.

Beta #3, IVF #3

Beta #3, IVF #3 = 3,303  (at 19DP5DT - 19 days past 5 day transfer)

That's a lot of 3's!

No, we're not having triplets.  I don't think the numbers are high enough to be twins either.  I am just happy that the numbers have gone up!  I am 5wks 2 days along. 

I go in next Wednesday for an ultrasound!

Thank you for all your prayers!  It means the world to us!

Beta #2, IVF #3

I just got my beta #2 results...

1570

I'm still soaking it all in! 

Thank you all for making me feel so loved with all your comments.  I'm scheduled to go in on Monday for a third beta.  Please keep us in your prayers!

Have a wonderful weekend!

IVF #3 RESULTS

I went in for my beta test yesterday morning and told the nurse to call our home number and leave the results on our answering machine and we would check it when we got home.  I didn't even POAS during the whole 2WW!!   

I was nervous the whole day!  Then when we got home, you would think that checking that answering machine would have been the first thing we did, but it wasn't.  I could see the flashing message light and it just made it even more nerve racking!  We decided we would change out of our work clothes because we wanted to be comfortable when we hear the news.  LOL.

Finally, we changed and went down stairs and hit the play button on the answering machine. 

We heard our lovely nurse's voice and I could tell she was smiling from ear to ear.

Our beta #1 came back at 761!  I don't think I've ever had a first beta that high (or any betas that high!). We just held each other, in our comfy clothes, and cried tears of joy!  We go back on Friday for Beta #2.

Our hearts are full of love and gratitude to all of you who have offered prayers on our behalf.  I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who hears our prayers and has blessed us immensely on this journey.  We are far from being out of the woods so I ask you to continue to keep us in your prayers as we continue on this journey. 

*** Disclaimer to all my real life friends - Please do not tell anyone or mention it on my FB wall.  Because if YOU start telling people and something happens, YOU will be responsible for following up with them!  So, you may then ask if I don't want people to know, why post about it on my blog??  Well, because I have wonderful blogging friends who have supported me on this journey and I want to share with them to give them HOPE. This is not an easy journey and we need all the hope and prayers we can get.  Please respect my wishes. Love you all!!***

Transfer Complete

Two little embryo's were transferred.
We had one 'Excellent' embryo and one 'Really Good' embryo. A third one was just okay and the rest of the three stop growing. 

I am home resting, grateful for my wonderful husband and all those who have kept us in prayer.

I am praying that these two special embryo's will nestle in and stick around for the next nine months!

Day 5 Transfer Scheduled

We are scheduled for a day 5 transfer on Thursday (time TBD). 

6 of the embryo's continue to grow.

My RE is out all week, but calls into his office daily.  At the beginnng of this cycle I asked him if he would transfer 3 embryo's and he was hesitant, but said he would have to wait and see.  According to the nurse, it looks like he is still recommending only 2 embryo's. 

I know, I know....you only need one GOOD quality embryo, but seeing how it's my last cycle, I was hoping for 3! 

I am praying so hard for this cycle to be successful.  The thought that this is possibly our last chance makes me anxious.  I am praying for God's comfort through this cycle.  I am praying for strength.  I am praying for peace in my heart.  I am praying to Be Still and Know that He is God and He is in control. 

Lucky 7

10 Eggs were retrieved
8 Matured
7 Fertilized

Praying those lucky 7 will continue to grow!

A Filet, A Lobster, and A Trigger

We went to the Capital Grille for dinner to celebrate our 10 yr anniversary.

Yummy!

Steve ordered the Filet Mignon

(with a side of the best yummy/creamy red skin mash potatoes ever!)

I got the Lobster!  Oh my!

Yummy, Yummy Lobster!

Chocolate Hazelnut cake 

(A bit disappointed with this one)

Right before we went to dinner, I got the call from the RE's office with my trigger time and retrieval time.

We triggered last night at 8:00 pm and scheduled for retrieval on Saturday morning at 6:00 AM!!

That means I have to get up at 3:00 AM to leave my house by 4:30 AM to get there by 6:00 AM!

Yikes!

This whole week (with the exception of today), I've had to get up at 4:30 AM to make it to my early morning monitoring appts.  So, as you can imagine, I am very tired already!  My poor hubby is just as tired, but he has been a trooper. 

I'm so glad the weekend is upon us now.  I'm looking forward to taking naps on Saturday and Sunday.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!