I can't believe we are approaching week 9..

Spoke with Lisa today and she is feeling good, says her jeans are getting tight..lol..mine always are, so whatever to that..lol..only joking! Lisa continues to take her shots 2x a week and takes daily meds 2x a day. She went last Wednesday for blood work, HCG pregnancy levels but no word on the results yet. She will go on Tuesday to Newport News for an ultrasound and more blood work. We are then switching to a new OBGYN group..lots & lots of nonsense with her current group. Lisa will then see dr's in Glouster closer to home and have another first appointment with the new group in early January. Continue with your prayers..Each Thursday we add a week to our count down. Thank you again for all your love and support!!!

8 Weeks today!

Hi everyone :) It's been a while since an update so thought I would post our first development progression today (as written from the Baby Center website):

8 weeks: Your baby is now 5/8 of an inch long, about the size of a kidney bean. New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. His arms have lengthened, too, and his hands are now flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart. His knee joints have formed, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.

It's amazing something the size of kidney bean can have so much stuff already! Went for my weekly blood work yesterday. Results won't be back until Monday probably. I'm sure the results will be fine, and I still feel OK so far.

Well today is XMAS Eve. Santa will be coming tonight. I love seeing the girls so excited. Miss being with my family and friends back home but we still try to make it special. Good luck Dee and JJ with your dinner tonight. I will be thinking of everyone there. Merry Christmas!

PS
Since XMAS eve fell on a Thursday do I get to skip my injection tonight? (haha, Just kidding you know I wouldn't mess that up)

Lisa has headed back to VA!

OMG...We can't believe our news today..JJ and I just arrived home from leaving Lisa, Jerad, and the girls..I cried the entire way home. I know that Lisa will continue to be a fabulous mom and do everything in the best interest of our children..BUT it is so sad to see her drive off and continue her life in VA..JJ and I have no doubts at all that baby A&B are as safe and loved as if they were her own and here with us caring for the pregnancy...Such an emotional journey we are on..We can't thank you all enough for all the prayers,calls, texts, and support we are continuing to receive.
Thank you again..we promise to keep you posted..Keep the prayers coming..luv to you all..Next ultrasound is in 2 weeks..

TWINS!!

Dee, JJ, and I were up bright and early for the long awaited ultrasound. The final verdict is in....two sacs + two heartbeats = TWINS. OMG! We are going to have twins. Double the size, double the delivery for me, double the care for Dee and JJ. LOL

So the all the waiting is finally over, now we can just enjoy the pregnancy like regular people. Approximate due date is July 23rd. (would have been Aug. 6th if it was just one baby) We are going to try to scan the ultrasound pics for everyone and continue to update progress and pics throughout the remaining months.

Jerad arrived last night to pick up me and the girls up. Heading back to Virginia tonight. It's been a long but very eventful trip. If I dont end up posting again soon...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our family and friends. May your holiday season be as blessed as ours.

POSITIVE!!

It's official..we got the call today from New England Fertility. Our results are POSITIVE...We are all sitting at my house in total shock, never thought it was really going to take the first time. Now we just wait and see if it holds and fully attaches to the uterine lining. We all shared many tears of joy with each other..thank you to all our family and friends and ESPECIALLY Shantai for dealing with all our (mine) anxiety..Lisa has offered to stay for another 2 weeks..bless her heart. JJ and I will be able to go to the first ultrasound with her. We will be able to hopefully hear the heart beat(s)..We will not know yet if there are one or two children on the way to bless us. Next Wednesday Lisa will go for more blood work to make sure her levels of HCG (pregnancy hormones) are rising. Then the following Monday the 14th we will have our first ultrasound.. Thanks again for all your prayers and support..we love you all!

And time goes by so slowwwwwwwly...

I created a countdown widget for us :) Yes, I do know I am computer geek.

Call from the embryologist...

So I got the call today at work that the remaining 4 morulas did not make it. They did not have any growth over the last few days. The let them go...no more morulas.
So we transferred 2 and have 2 frozen. I was hoping for better news this morning but I guess not. Now we just sit back and wait and pray that this cycle takes. Lisa is on strict rest..she better not be raising her heart rate or lifting anything while I am not home supervising..lol..Gotta have some fun with her and be a drill sergeant.
Hoping for fabulous news in 2 weeks...no more tears...

Now the two week wait...

Well I am sitting here on Dee & JJ's couch resting. There was no pain involved at all during the procedure and have remained pain free since then. I don't have to stay in bed, but just take it easy for the next 48 hours. No heavy lifting, exercise, going up and down stairs, no doing anything to raise breathing or heart rate.

The procedure went very smooth, took less than 10 minutes for the transfer. Amazing after all these months of waiting how fast it was over. As Dee mentioned below...the decision on how many eggs to transfer was a bit difficult. In the end we decided on transfering just two strongs blastocytes. I think everyone but Dee (me, JJ, and Dr. Lavy)thought it would be best not to go for a 3rd egg. Even though the third egg would have been a weaker (lower grade) there was still a chance it would take and possibly result in triplets. After the procedure was done I had to stay in recovery for 1 hour. Dee and JJ kept me company and we enjoyed beverages and snacks until I was allowed to leave.

I have my usual weekly Dr. appointment set for next Wednesday then one week from that is the bloodwork for the pregnancy test. OMG! We will be on pins and needles awaiting the results. Oh, also found out today I still have to take the Delestrogen injections and Crinone for another 4-6 weeks, oh joy!

There won't be much to report until our results in 2 weeks- December 2nd. Until then everyone please send prayers, positive thoughts, and STICKY VIBES our way.

PS
Missing my girls :( Stayed over Dee's house last night b/c she cooked me a special "last meal" of stuff I won't be able to eat when I am pregnant. Believe me she already has informed of a list of foods I am not allowed. I have to say her "concoction" came out delicious and it was really thoughtful of her and JJ to do that for me, especially after getting up early for Dr. apt,having to work all day then go grocery shopping and cook it. My mom watched the girls at her place last night but we are having a bunch of family here tonight for pizza so I will get to see them all in a couple hours. Staying here again tonight so I can rest without having to watch them. Amanda is NOT going to be happy about having to leave without me. :(

We are home!

So today is a very emotional day...we met with Dr. Lavy and spoke of how many eggs were still vital..All 8 were still there this morning but 4 turned into the next level called blastocyst. 4 still remained as morulas. Dr. Lavy said it was completely our decision on how many to transfer but he would suggest 2 blastocyst and possibly one morula. He said we should freeze the 2 remaining blastocyst and wait until day 6 which is tomorrow to see what the stages are of the remaining 4 morulas. Dr. Lavy sat with us for a while to discuss pros and cons and what his medical opinion would be. We never though this was going to be such a hard and emotional decision. Many tears were shed...and continue to be..You just don't know if you made the right decision and that is the worst part about it. SOOO..we transferred 2 grade A blastocyst and already froze the remaining 2. Tomorrow the embryologist will call us to let us know the stage of the remaining 4 morulas and hopefully they will be to the blastocyst stage. Then they will also be frozen. Did we make the right decision? did we not?..who knows it's all in Gods hands.

WOW...it's already here..

So I finally spoke to the embryologist today around 2ish..ALL 8 embryos are still in great shape.
So what happens after day 3? Two days later they would like it to be a blastocyst. The day before it becomes a blastocyst (tomorrow, Tuesday), it should be a morula. A morula forms when the 8 cell embryo divides further, and at the same time the cells become very close to each other. The embryologist said all 8 are morula's...
Lisa is over now, I made her, her favorite food..Shrimp! She enjoyed all the mercury and asparatame she could tonight..Shrimp cocktail, lemon pepper shrimp over linguini and some good ole red fruit punch crystal light...Told her to get it all out of her system now...lol..Organic milk even in chocolate is in the fridge for her waiting..lmao..
We are heading down to Stamford tomorrow morning. JJ and I will meet with Dr. Lavy and then the 3 of us together. We will not know for 2 weeks if the transfer took and then for the typical first trimester wait period..As soon as we have anymore news to share we promise to post...keep us in your prayers tomorrow...luv, Denise, JJ, and Lisa.. :)

Grow Embies Grow!

Well today is supposed to be a "day of rest" where the lab doesn't even check on them. It stinks not knowing how many cell divisions we are at now. Keeping our hopes up for more good news tomorrow. The transfer will be Tuesday @ 9:30am.

So for now to keep myself busy (like watching a 3 and 4 year old isn't enough lol) I have added 2 pics and 1 quote for y'all to enjoy. 2 more days! 2 more days! 2 more days!

Embryologist Calls..

Great news continues..thank God..
All 8 zygotes are continuing to mature and divide. 2 have divided into 2 cells and the remaining 6 are at 4 cells. They will not be transferred until they reach 8 to 10 cells. Monday is off for the transfer and will take place on Tuesday. A day 5 transfer makes the embryos hopefully stronger. The remaining embryos that we do not transfer will be checked on Wednesday and the embryologist will let us know which we can freeze. Tomorrow is considered a day of rest..they do not take the embryos out of the incubator, they will be checked again Monday...thanks to everyone for your continued love and support..

Good news

Heard from Dee this morning...8 eggs fertilized!!(out of the 11) 2 weren't mature and one dissolved after being fertilized. They will call each day with updates which I will I post here. So exciting. :)

No new news for me...usual bloodwork and ultrasound today. Everything is still looking good so far for our Monday or Tuesday transfer.

11 Eggs...

Today was our retrieval day! JJ and I headed down to Stamford for 7:45AM..Anxiety was surprisingly low..(no xanax..lol) Once they called me in the blood pressure started to kick into high speed..JJ went to the OR waiting room with me, we met with the anesthesologist and Dr. Lavy. Then I headed back to the operating room. UGH! first thing I saw stirrups..and anesthesia..yeah not a pleasant thought, but it was all good..Dr. Lavy is a fabulous doctor and ans as well as his staff.. Shantai is amazing..they all really relax you. I was talking with him and the anesthesologist and the next I knew I was in the recovery room. 11 eggs were retrieved. They hope for 5 to 10..so my ovaries did a good job!
JJ and I headed home about an hour after in recovery. Thanks Jamie, Lisa, and mom for the visits..and to everyone for the calls and prayers. It really means a lot of us..Today's retrieval is day 0, tomorrow day 1 and so on. They hope by day 4 or 5 the embryos will be at their full potential and then the transfer will take place. Probably Monday or Tuesday of next week. Any remaining embryo's that are at a good vitality will be frozen for future use..shhhh don't tell Lisa she signed up for 2 rounds..Tomorrow we will see how many mixed well with JJ's (baby batter)..Jerad's creation of a new saying... So at home now, resting on the couch with my mom and Lisa keeping me company..My mom brought me a heating pad that was my Noni Lota's..talk about old..on high, it's warm..better than nothing.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support..This journey is surely on it's way!!

Another medication...

Started my progesterone gel yesterday. Twice a day until further notice. So, since today is Thursday I have 1 prenatal vitamin, 2 of the suppositories (yes, that is how I have to take the progesterone...now stop laughing), and then my delestrogen injection. Still alot less than D had to take. Although after today, she will be on a lot less.

Tommorow morning I have my weekly appointment for bloodwork and ultrasound. Should be the last appointment before the transfer. (tentatively set for Monday, OMG!)

Let's get this blog thing started!

Ok...so D and I discussed this a while back now on doing a blog for everyone, unfortunately I have been computerless since July so we will be missing some of the process here. Guess it's better anyways then boring with you with details of TONS of paperwork, medical evaluations, psychological tests, and health insurance issues. So lucky for you here it is all all summed up...after months of bumps in the road we are finally getting to the exciting stuff we have been all been waiting for the TRANSFER!! WOOHOO!

The girls and I arrived November 1st in CT. Had a doctor apt. on Wednesday for bloodwork and ultrasound. My blood levels and uterus are progressing fine. They gave me some prenatal vitamins (why are they always so huge?!?) to take daily. I'm not complaining b/c so far I have that and just one injection (Delestrogen) on Thursdays and Sundays. D on the other hand is a human pin cushion already. Ahhh...we both just have to remember it's all worth it in the big picture.

D is picking me up in an hour and we are spending the night at her house. Can't wait to hear what happened with her 2 two doctors apts today. We are waiting to hear when she will be ready for the retrieval. Looks like it might be a little later than the original plan. Patience, patience, patience...