We are still trying to absorb the reality of all this....I think that will take awhile! Thanks for sharing in our excitement and for your prayers.!!!Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Pictures
Here are the ultrasound pictures I thought I'd share. The pics to the far left are from my most recent ultrasound at 6 weeks. There's not much to see except for a little white blob and the middle picture you can see how the heartbeat was identified and heard with the white lines at the bottom. The bottom picture is of the embryo itself right before the transfer.
We are still trying to absorb the reality of all this....I think that will take awhile! Thanks for sharing in our excitement and for your prayers.!!!
We are still trying to absorb the reality of all this....I think that will take awhile! Thanks for sharing in our excitement and for your prayers.!!!
Monday, November 22, 2010
God is so GOOD!
I've had a lot on my mind the past couple months that I've been keeping to myself. So, I have a lot to share.
We decided to go ahead and try our frozen embryo the end of October. Fortunately the prep was a lot less involved with the frozen transfer than with the fresh embryo transfer (like we did with Braden). The worst part is the progesterone injections in the hip that Curtis has to do. I had 2 sets of ultrasounds and blood work one for baseline and a 2nd to make sure my endometrial lining was thickening appropriately (which it was). We scheduled the embryo transfer for October 28th. I also had been doing the acupuncture appointments as before- weekly for about a month leading up to the transfer.
They didn't thaw the embryo until the day of the transfer because it was already a 6 day old blastocyst which basically needs to be transferred right away after thawing. We were told the thaw success rate was 50%. So, we were preparing to do all this prep work and get to the morning of the transfer and have the embryo not survive and all would be for naught. But, with much prayer, it survived the thaw!!! Unfortunately the biologists couldn't "grade" the embryo because the cells were still very compacted from the freezing process. But, at the time it was frozen, it was a 3AA which is very good. So, we showed up for the transfer the morning of October 28th having just had an acupuncture appointment. I took my valium in the parking lot so by the time they called me back I was feeling like I'd had a couple glasses of wine- very relaxed. The actual transfer was quite simple. It was ultrasound guided and the biologist loaded the embryo into the catheter, gave it to Dr. Jarrett who then placed the embryo in my uterus. Afterward, they just had me lay still for 10 minutes and then I was free to get up and get dressed and leave. That day and the next were then supposed to be "bed rest" days. Curtis kept Braden downstairs most of the rest of that day while I hung out in my bedroom. The next day Braden went to the sitters, Curtis went to work and I had a lovely day of sleeping in, reading, watching movies etc. It was fabulous!!! I think I need to schedule a day like this once a year! It was so refreshing. Then the next day it was back to life as usual. And beginning the long, very long 2 week wait. My blood test for the pregnancy test was scheduled for Weds, November 10th. Last time with Braden I began to feel some pregnancy like symptoms the weekend before the blood test including swollen, sore breasts. This time I wasn't feeling anything. Maybe a little more tired, but thought it was nothing remarkable. So, Curtis and I were just sure this pregnancy test was going to be negative. We've been doing a lot of praying and soul searching and knowing that God is in control and that he could do anything if he so chose. We knew the odds of success were low. Typically the odds for a frozen embryo transfer are about 25-30% and usually 2-3 are chosen to transfer, but we only had 1 to chose from. We kept praying, but inside didn't feel very positive about it. Well, to both of our shock and disbelief my first blood test came back POSITIVE!!! My HCG level was 912!!! It was only 200 something with Braden! I then came back 2 days later for a repeat test expecting the level to double, which it did and more. On November 12th I went back for more blood work and they called that afternoon that the HCG levels had gone up to 2092! We were still shocked beyond words and praising God for his grace and mercy. But the fear wasn't over yet. I was scheduled for an OB ultrasound today to make sure everything looked OK. We've been so nervous wanting to make sure there was a baby there with a heartbeat and all. Dr. Jarrett did the ultrasound today and was quick to point out a perfect gestational sac, yolk sac and a fetus with a heartbeat!!!! We were even able to hear the heartbeat. So we can finally breath a sigh of relief and let it settle in that I actually am PREGNANT! I've been reluctant to post anything on my blog this time, just not wanting to get ours or anyone else's hopes up if it didn't work out. At least now I feel much more comfortable sharing our news, although still won't tell the general pubic for another month or so.
We feel blessed beyond words that this has actually worked!!! We feel that God has been incredibly merciful to us in allowing us to get pregnant with this frozen embryo which has cost us about $3500 compared to the shared risk plan we did with Braden and likely would have done again had this not worked which is more than $20,000. But to do that again would have been an incredibly huge financial burden with my working part-time now. Curtis especially was stressed about that. Also, we no longer have any frozen embryos so we don't have to deal with the ethical decision about what to do with that. We feel like we can make a clean cut and are so excited to put this whole fertility journey behind us. Beyond excited.
One interesting fact about all this is that this baby was actually conceived before Braden with our first IVF cycle. We'll explain that to them when they're about 18. :)
TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!!
We decided to go ahead and try our frozen embryo the end of October. Fortunately the prep was a lot less involved with the frozen transfer than with the fresh embryo transfer (like we did with Braden). The worst part is the progesterone injections in the hip that Curtis has to do. I had 2 sets of ultrasounds and blood work one for baseline and a 2nd to make sure my endometrial lining was thickening appropriately (which it was). We scheduled the embryo transfer for October 28th. I also had been doing the acupuncture appointments as before- weekly for about a month leading up to the transfer.
They didn't thaw the embryo until the day of the transfer because it was already a 6 day old blastocyst which basically needs to be transferred right away after thawing. We were told the thaw success rate was 50%. So, we were preparing to do all this prep work and get to the morning of the transfer and have the embryo not survive and all would be for naught. But, with much prayer, it survived the thaw!!! Unfortunately the biologists couldn't "grade" the embryo because the cells were still very compacted from the freezing process. But, at the time it was frozen, it was a 3AA which is very good. So, we showed up for the transfer the morning of October 28th having just had an acupuncture appointment. I took my valium in the parking lot so by the time they called me back I was feeling like I'd had a couple glasses of wine- very relaxed. The actual transfer was quite simple. It was ultrasound guided and the biologist loaded the embryo into the catheter, gave it to Dr. Jarrett who then placed the embryo in my uterus. Afterward, they just had me lay still for 10 minutes and then I was free to get up and get dressed and leave. That day and the next were then supposed to be "bed rest" days. Curtis kept Braden downstairs most of the rest of that day while I hung out in my bedroom. The next day Braden went to the sitters, Curtis went to work and I had a lovely day of sleeping in, reading, watching movies etc. It was fabulous!!! I think I need to schedule a day like this once a year! It was so refreshing. Then the next day it was back to life as usual. And beginning the long, very long 2 week wait. My blood test for the pregnancy test was scheduled for Weds, November 10th. Last time with Braden I began to feel some pregnancy like symptoms the weekend before the blood test including swollen, sore breasts. This time I wasn't feeling anything. Maybe a little more tired, but thought it was nothing remarkable. So, Curtis and I were just sure this pregnancy test was going to be negative. We've been doing a lot of praying and soul searching and knowing that God is in control and that he could do anything if he so chose. We knew the odds of success were low. Typically the odds for a frozen embryo transfer are about 25-30% and usually 2-3 are chosen to transfer, but we only had 1 to chose from. We kept praying, but inside didn't feel very positive about it. Well, to both of our shock and disbelief my first blood test came back POSITIVE!!! My HCG level was 912!!! It was only 200 something with Braden! I then came back 2 days later for a repeat test expecting the level to double, which it did and more. On November 12th I went back for more blood work and they called that afternoon that the HCG levels had gone up to 2092! We were still shocked beyond words and praising God for his grace and mercy. But the fear wasn't over yet. I was scheduled for an OB ultrasound today to make sure everything looked OK. We've been so nervous wanting to make sure there was a baby there with a heartbeat and all. Dr. Jarrett did the ultrasound today and was quick to point out a perfect gestational sac, yolk sac and a fetus with a heartbeat!!!! We were even able to hear the heartbeat. So we can finally breath a sigh of relief and let it settle in that I actually am PREGNANT! I've been reluctant to post anything on my blog this time, just not wanting to get ours or anyone else's hopes up if it didn't work out. At least now I feel much more comfortable sharing our news, although still won't tell the general pubic for another month or so.
We feel blessed beyond words that this has actually worked!!! We feel that God has been incredibly merciful to us in allowing us to get pregnant with this frozen embryo which has cost us about $3500 compared to the shared risk plan we did with Braden and likely would have done again had this not worked which is more than $20,000. But to do that again would have been an incredibly huge financial burden with my working part-time now. Curtis especially was stressed about that. Also, we no longer have any frozen embryos so we don't have to deal with the ethical decision about what to do with that. We feel like we can make a clean cut and are so excited to put this whole fertility journey behind us. Beyond excited.
One interesting fact about all this is that this baby was actually conceived before Braden with our first IVF cycle. We'll explain that to them when they're about 18. :)
TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
21 months
Dalmation puppy Braden with his Princess, Chloe
Peak-A-Boo!
Braden with his cousin, Megan
Family photo at the pumpkin patch
Picking the perfect pumpkinBraden continues to become such a big boy. Halloween was definitely more interesting to him this year than it was last year. Carving pumpkins was exciting for a moment, but he lost interest quickly. He did have fun picking out pumpkins with his cousins at the Beasley's Orchard pumpkin patch. The Halloween costume took some serious bribbing. Intitally when trying on his "Puppy Suit" he would say "OFF" and pull at it and whine about it. We had to eventually bribe him with candy to wear it. On the evening of Trick-O-Treating, he had no problem putting on his Puppy Suit. :)
Our biannual cabin trip this year was to Camp Amigo in Sturgis, MI. We had a good time as a family taking a pontune ride, hiking around, playing in the gym, eating good food and enjoying being together.
Braden continues to try to be more and more independent. He wants to TRY to put his own shoes on, pull his pants up and even feed himself. Sometimes he does a great job, but when he needs help he is resistant to it. The "Terrible Twos" are fast approaching. He does, however, have a very sweet heart and often obedient when asked to help with something (ie. pick up his toys etc.) The teeth brushing issue has gotten a lot better lately. When threatened with a spanking, he has behaved quite nicely without even fighting it. It used to be that he and I would have a nightly quarrel over teeth brushing. It was been such a refreshing change to have him cooperate.
His speech continues to take off. He amazes me daily with how much he can say. He routinely is putting together 2-3 word sentences such as...."Mommy, sit you"- meaning, Mommy, sit by me(you), also, "More milk please" etc. Language acquisition is so amazing to me and how they just pick it up without having to be taught much.
I've pondered whether or not to put him in pre-school next fall. I'm still debating. I'm positive that he would be ready intellectually and socially. My concern is MY spending time with him. I would be working Tues/Thurs and he would go to pre-school on Mon/Weds from 9-1. So on those days I would bring him home and put him straight to bed for a nap. So essentially I wouldn't be with him 4 days out of the week. Now I know those that work full-time do this routinely. But I wonder if I were to start this schedule, my part-time working wouldn't be worth it in getting to spend time with Braden. The jury is still out, but I may be waiting another year until he'll be 3 1/2. He would still spend 2 years in pre-school before starting kindergarten which surely would be enough. I'd be interested in hearing anyone elses thoughts on this matter.
We are eager for Thanksgiving next week and spending time with family and Thanking God for his Many Many Many blessings. May you all have a blessed week.
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