Moving Foward in Faith

Every day my thoughts begin with a rub and a prayer... These babies will LIVE to declare the works of the Lord. Then I take a moment to just breathe. Then as the day goes on thoughts go to the what ifs. It is a very hard balance.

I went 'shopping' this weekend with D. Looking at cribs, bedding, you name it. The last time I had walked into that store was right before we lost our little angel to heaven. What an overwhelming moment and day. I got home exhausted. Nothing was purchased but ideas began. Before I left to shop I asked Grumps if I could buy the cribs if I found them. His reply, "I guess we could return them if something happened." Grumps is feeling it too.

We have had to just move forward in faith. God has this in HIS HANDS! I can't doubt. I can't be moved. We have to hold steady. When we finally talked about it all, Grumps seemed to begin to connect with the reality. He even brought up some name ideas. It felt good.

Tonight I made my first purchase. We don't have cute little names for our twins. We call them baby a and baby b. So lame BUT in our lameness I felt onesies that say just that, Baby A and Baby B. I can't wait to get the little package in the mail.

I am truly over the moon with these little miracles. Yes I am blah at times. Pregnancy is tough. But I KNOW it will be so worth it in the end.

The Real Truth

I know, it has been a long time again between posts. No excuse except nothing worth blogging about. Life is normal as normal gets.

Now onto my title. The Real Truth... You know before you get pregnant you listen to your friends talk about being tired, feeling yucky, having things stretch... You read books and they say the same things. Well lets be truthful.

*Tired is an understatement. You are a walking zombie. I never knew what tired meant. Yes I am not as tired but it still hits. When it hits there is nothing you can do but rest.

*The yucks SUCK! Nothing sounds good. Food is gross. It even seems like it will not stay down. Smells are gross. Nothing helps really. Also the yucks don't go away. They come and go. One day I eat and feel happy with food. The next day I can't make myself eat. Now headaches trigger the yucks.

*What do you think when you hear the word stretching? Yep I hear relief, comfort, stretch. When you are pregnant the word stretch really means hurt. It is crazy. Babies are growing and filling up a very small space. As they do it hurts. It hurts low. It hurts high. Even my girl hurts. Getting out of bed hurts. Rolling over hurts. It isn't bad but seriously, lets not use the word stretch but pain. Even today, I simply sneezed and yep I am not hurting all day.

I love being pregnant. I really do. I love watching my belly finally pop. I love lying on my belly and seeing where they have moved to once place. BUT lets be truthful. When I asked my mom about my girl hurting she told me "Yep, that is part of it but it is just something you shouldn't talk aobut." I disagree. You need to know there are muscles on your girl that stretch and truly hurt.

***We find out the genders in a month. OH MY it is becoming real.

Don't Hate Me!

Every day I think about posting an update. There have even been times I actually open blogger. Here is the reason why... TIRED! I get up TIRED! I go to work TIRED! I come home EXHAUSTED! I quickly check email and facebook and then close up for the evening.

I don't think I have ever felt like this before in my life. You think when you go to bed you are in heaven. Bed is the best place ever. Of course I wake up a million times in the night but still get many hours of sleep. When I wake up I hope to feel that rested feeling. Nope, it is the feeling of never sleeping. So my lack of posting has nothing to do with anything but being so tired.

Today I am at 12 weeks. PRAISE GOD! I live for Wednesdays! My belly has popped just a little bit. I thought I would be much bigger but because food wasn't my friend I lost weight. The babies are beyond perfect. I have seen their little selves many times. I have more pictures than I know what to do with. I am not complaining. I love every one of them.

I daily pray for my little ones to LIVE LIVE LIVE! Over the weekend I had some bleeding and eventually passed a clot. I could not let my thoughts go to any place but LIFE! After 3 u/s they little ones are still perfect.

Thanks for the emails and sweet thoughts. Your prayers are also greatly appreciated. We live every day with awe and amazement. We are beyond blessed!

The NEWS

I have GOOD NEWS!!!!

We are having twins with perfect strong heartbeats!  God is beyond amazing today!  Grumps was and still is in complete awe.  

THANK YOU for the encouragement, thoughts and prayers.  Please don't stop!!!

On the Eve

No words but please God don't let it be like our last pregnancy ultra sound. I can't bare to have another moment of complete silence from the doctor looking for life. I can't have the swimming through water, not being able to breathe moment. I can't have the world standing still, Grumps trying to console and me falling apart. I NEED to see life!

I hate how my world is tainted. I hate how it has been touched with death and wait and uncertainty before. Why can't the world be roses?

I live for a pregnancy sign. I live for feeling sick. I smile when I feel puky. I cheer when I can't eat another bite. No complaining. I need those moments.

Tomorrow I HAVE to see life! God you have to hold me tight. It has to be okay.

My BIG Secret

I have been pretty quiet this cycle. I haven't talked about it much with anyone. We felt like this one could be the last one. Of course when Grumps said that the track began to play again, CHILDLESS! So I held everything pretty close.

The day of my transfer (November 3rd) I drove myself. I spent LOTS of time in prayer and singing praise. I needed to find peace with it all. Because my little ones were growing slow, only one was really good, we decided to transfer 4. My doctor only expected 2 at the most to make it.

Fast forward to today! Today I had my 2nd beta. Yep you heard it right! I AM PREGNANT!!! It truly is a miracle. My first beta numbers were 2,599. Today they doubled perfectly. I go on Monday for my 3rd beta.

Grumps and I are cautiously excited. Today's results made it easier to breathe. I am telling those who ask or who were a part of it all. My mom knows because I was with her over the weekend when I tested. Other than that, we are keeping quiet as best as we can. I want to shout but really want to hold it close.

Now you have something to pray about. LIFE!!!!

Medical Math

I only teach 2nd grade. I didn't go to school to read a syringe or figure out how much medicine I need now. Tonight I put in my dose into my pen. I know it won't be enough. I have my other box ready to go that my nurse gave me. Of course the pen runs out. I open the box and BAM no meds. The box is empty.

FREAK OUT MOMENT!!!

I have 4 vials of 150 ius each. I am breathing easier. THEN I get my syringe and try to figure out how much I need. Of course my pen didn't end on a number. Nope, it ends on a line. How much is it really? I have NO CLUE! I do a little guess and pull it into my syringe. Nope, I can't figure it out. I get a smaller syringe and still can't figure it out. I pull out all the papers and everything and am REALLY LOST. Now before me I have many needles and syringes and still no guess.

My next step is frantically calling a fellow IVFer. She doesn't answer. HELP ME! I finally take a deep breath and just guess. Here I am guessing on fertility drugs at the end of my days with truly no clue if I am even close.

I am still freaking out and it has been over 30 minutes later. I know I didn't screw things up but the stress of it all is just driving me nuts. I hope my nurse can give me a real box tomorrow. I hope my estrogen levels don't freak out. I hope it all ends on a good note.

Thanks for listening to my freak out moment. I just had to get it out of my head. I am DONE with injections!

Ask Me Answers: Part 1

Lets lighten the load. Clear the air. Have some fun! I am tired of being blue.

Back in August I asked for you to ask questions you want me to answer. The questions came in but then work started up. I decided to answer the questions in parts. This takes the pressure off of me.

So here is the first question: Where did you meet Grumps and what/where was your first date?

Grumps and I have known each other for 12 years. We have been married for 10. Back in 1996 I transferred to a small Christian school in northern Georgia as a junior. Grumps transferred already holding a degree but wanting a year of Bible and history.

At this small school they created groups to help everyone make friends. All of my roomies and sweetmates were in one group. I was alone in another group. I decided to just join them. We were all a bunch of transfers. At that first meeting Grumps set across from me. I thought, MAN he is cute BUT we aren't here to date but to go to school. After that night we all just started hanging out together. Grumps and I were the only ones who didn't work so we found ourselves always together. We couldn't get enough of each other.

I could go on and on about how so perfect it all fell into place. How God brought Grumps from one corner of North Amercia and me from the other side. How we just fit and I just knew. I don't want to bore you. You will just have to come visit me for a night of wine and talk!

Onto our first date! Remember we were ALWAYS together. For 3 weeks we hung out and just laughed and talked. Finally Grumps decided we needed to go out just the 2 of us. We drove to a dollar theater not too far away and saw Phenominom. On our way back to school I wanted to take him to a place I had been before when visiting the school. First let me say I had no idea this place was a make out place. I just thought it was cool. We drive down to hang out at the bridge/water. We decide to leave my lights on so we could see. SEE we weren't going to make out at all. We didn't even hold hands. Well this is where the problem comes into play. The lights weren't just on. They were on high. When we got back to the car it was dead.

We began to freak out. We were in the middle of no where. I had only one number. We had curfew. We were at a make out spot not making out. We called the one number, got someone who I have never met but she came and jumped us off. We get back to school and explain to the guards why we were late. Of course they didn't believe us. I get to my dorm and tell my dorm mom, she doesn't really believe me either. The best part is our next date we get lost going home also almost running out of gas. We were late again. We still hadn't held hands.

Stay tuned for the Part 2. You girls have come up with some crazy questions!

Repeated Track

Just like Mel I have been quiet lately. My heart is heavy. Feeling blue.

Over a year ago I had something on a repeated track. You know what I mean? When the song won't leave your head. It just repeats. Not even the whole song but just the one line. You try to remove it with another song but it finds its way back into your head, your dreams, your day. My repeated track was March 21, my little angel's due date. The date would scream to me every day. Every second. March 21, March 21, March 21.... The more I heard it, the sadder I got. My heart felt like a boulder. I couldn't breathe.

Once March 21 came and went the track stopped. Finally peace in my head. Yet the track has seemed to be replaced with something else, the world childless. I hear it a million times a day. It doesn't leave. There isn't peace from it. It makes me sad. I feel hopeless. I am just going through the motions until that word becomes the soundtrack of our lives instead of the repeated track.

Here is one ray of sunlight... I know longer feel sick with envy or bitter with the news from others. It is just a fact, while my childless track continues to repeat.

Comfort Food, Krispy Cream D's and HSGs

It all begins with Saturday having a me day. I am sick, a week and a half sick. Grumps had to work. I decided to just fill my day. I unpacked from the house stuff that went on. Cleaned from the grime and went to a movie by myself. Rarely am I home alone for a full day anymore. I find myself filling my world to the fullest. I guess I do this so I don't have to think about life as it is right now.

Saturday I started to get blah. I felt it hit in. It was like a warm blanket wrapping itself around me. That sounds inviting and all but you know when you got hot under your blanket and can't get out? That was me for sure. I was stuck. I wanted out. I began to struggle with it. Here is where the comfort food comes in. I just had to get out of the house. I wanted to see the new N. Sparks movie. Movies like that are perfect for going alone. I go to the movie too early. You can't sit at a movie that early by yourself. Off to the store I went. I hadn't planned to get food but when I passed the deli section and saw good friend chicken and mac cheese I couldn't say no. Guess where I ate it? HA! Right in my car at the movies. Teeheehee!!! I couldn't help laughing at myself.

Today I had to make the scary drive over the state line at EARLY morning time to have my 4th hsg. Yep 4! I was told by my doctor it shouldn't hurt since they are pros. I laughed. There was no way it wouldn't hurt, I was the pro at having them. The bright spot in the morning was the HOT sign lit up for donuts. The hsg... totally a piece of cake except for the assistant not knowing how to get the machine working while I was wide open with a view of my cervix for all to see waiting! The results... swollen left tube, scar tissue and block on the right. I am waiting to see if there is a new action plan from my doc.

If you made it to the end of my post then I give you a fire cracker. This was painful. HA! I just needed to let you know I was alive. Crazy but alive!

Thank You

I have nothing else to add. I just needed the hugs and words. I am lost right now. With work and life and what to do next, I needed you. THANK YOU!

Updated!!!

Ha! I don't remember posting this. I went out for our traditional beer and wings. I enjoyed MANY beers. When I came home I guess I posted. I have NO memory of this. Oh so funny! It is still true but I can't stop laughing!

It has been confirmed...

I got the call this afternoon after my beta. It is a true negative.

I am still numb but fine. You know, you stay grounded during it all ready for this moment of disappointment.

I have questions for my doctor.

Thanks for being there along the road. We aren't sure if we will transfer our little frozen embryo next or do one more fresh ivf. The plan right now is beer and wings tomorrow with friends.

Weak

I was weak this morning. I caved and tested. I had discovered one test left from a long time ago. As I peed on the stick I was hoping for good things but really expecting the worse. I have been super crampy.

Well... It was negative. I still have my beta on Tuesday but it is over. I hate that there isn't relief in knowing.

Out of Kids' Mouths

The cutest little girl ran up to me today and gave me a big hug. She pulled back and looked at me. Before she turned away she said...

"That dress sure makes you look pregnant!"

Their honesty is brutal!

My Big Ones

Oh it is so much fun being a teacher. Today a mom of a previous student stared me down on my way into the lunch room. I knew what she was thinking. "Is she pregnant?" We waved and I quickly moved on. This is the lady who gave me a fertility book saying it would bring me good luck.

During the class bathroom break she hunted me down. You won't believe what came out of her mouth. It really makes me laugh just thinking about it. She moved in really close and said, "MAN your BOOBS are HUGE! Is there something you want to tell me?" I am surrounded by little 7 year olds. I want to laugh my head off. Instead I say, "It's the hormones. We are still trying." My favorite response EVER comes next. "I have a flutter and goosebumps. It is going to happen. I feel it." She then kisses me on the cheek and whispers how she will pray.

I LOVE how all big things in life happen because of a flutter and goosebumps. I must have missed that a long time ago. HAHAHAHHA!

3 Little Ones

I left all of you hanging with my HUGE SWOLLEN ovaries and the info of my many eggs. I guess I should fill you in.

I transferred on Wednesday with my substitute husband, D! I got the call from my sweet doctor that morning letting me know 4 had made it. One embryo was really good. 2 were good. They all had slowed in growth. The rest were growing but turning abnormal. The decision was made to transfer 3.

We arrived in Scaryville with D and I making sure everyone knew we were best friends, not lovers for a second time. When they called my name we went into the other waiting room. The nurse said, YOU (that would be me) sit here. Sir (that would be D) sit here. She then looked up and realized D was not a sir but a mam. EVERYONE was laughing. She was so embarrassed. It was a priceless moment.

We are then moved into the transfer room. I had been nervous all night and morning. My fear was nothing would make it for transfer. Here is where the cool stuff began. The transferring doctor was my retrieval doctor. It is wonderful to see a familiar face in the Big office. They were very kind to explain everything. Making sure I could see my little ones get 'dropped' into my insides. At that moment my breath caught. It wasn't sperm like the before IUIs. It was LIFE!!!! I began to pray out loud while the other ladies in the room began to cheer the little ones on. It was so moving.

Everyone left (of course before they left I told jokes about my good luck not shaving look and the many shirts I will make if I get pregnant and have a little one. I also said my little one will fear Aunt D because she was there when the little life was created AND when the little life was placed inside mom.) and D began to pray for the little ones to live and thrive and be. As she is praying the amazing embryologist comes in with my CUTE picture. She is tearing up watching D pray with her hands on my belly. She then says how special this was for her. She not only helped transfer them but inseminated them. She said it never happens that way. Too many perfects.

Of course it all ended with D and I at Cheeburger Cheeburger for yummy food. I finally made it home to rest in bed with my heating pad. My ovaries were still grapefruit sized, pushing my uterus up. Now we wait.

I am trying very hard to stay grounded yet stay full of faith and hope. So many are praying for life. I can't thank everyone enough for the emails, txts, phone calls, cards, fruit, food, shots, rides, dog babysitting, millions of offers to help... Grumps finally returned home to view the photo of what he missed. I am now ready to be pampered. HE OWES ME!!!!

Cluck cluck cluck

That would be the sound that should be coming out of my mouth. Yep I am a hen. Now my friend says I am equal to a teenage egg donor. Here is the update.

They retrieved 31 eggs. There were more but my endo was blocking them. 28 were mature. 19 fertilized.

I have drank SO MUCH gatorade to stop any swelling. It has worked but man I don't want to drink anymore of it ever again. I also ate more steak than a person should eat.

As of today we will be transferring on Wednesday. We will transfer 2 embies at day 5. DAY 5! I am praying there is something there by then. I know there will be. Today I had 5 at 8 cells. Then we go down from there.

Tomorrow is the first day of school. I am happy I get to great my students at the door instead of a substitute. Now for Wednesday and Thursday I will be on bedrest relying on my girls since Grumps is out of town.

What I need from you? PRAYERS!!!! I really want this to work. I know we all want ivf to work for us but I am just not sure I can do this again.

By the way, I haven't forgotten about the all about me questions. Maybe I will begin working on it while on bedrest.

Blood Shooter

Nothing seems to ever be easy for me any more.

Yesterday was my trigger day. After having u/s and b/w every day for a week I finally got the call. Of course Grumps is out of town and couldn't help me. I had a list of people who offered to assist in giving me the shot but the one I had set up to shoot me up couldn't. You know how the call goes, you are going to trigger at 7pm. I get the call at 5pm. I really don't have time or the clarity of mind to call my backup. I decide to ask my friend from work who I do everything with. She starts freaking out.

As she is following me home from work (leaving work at 6:15, getting stuck in traffic) she is panicking even more about the shot idea. I am beginning to wonder if this will be a solo job. I had planned to do everything solo from the beginning, except Grump wasn't a fan. He had given me a shot once and caused the side of my leg and butt to go numb. He was afraid what I would to myself. Well we get home. I get the trigger ready. She is now deep breathing.

I lean up against the table, putting my weight on my left leg. My friend takes the HUGE needle in her hands and begins to REALLY freak out. I start laughing which isn't good when a 1 1/2 inch needle is about to go into your butt. SO I just did it myself. No pain, very easy EXCEPT... I pull the needle out and blood shoots EVERYWHERE. I have blood squirting out of me like a fountain. It is splattered all over the floor. I am laughing and trying to get something to stop it all. My poor friend, shocked. Did I hit a vein?

HA! I really wish I could have had a video. I have never scene anything like it before in my IF life. Now the plan, retrieval is early Friday morning. Transfer is of course still up in the air. Monday, would be day 3. The first day of school is on Tuesday. My doctor said I could go to work if I was feeling up to it. My boss said, NO. She wants me to stay on bedrest. What do I do?

Finally, my estrogen level is super high. I had to cut my trigger in half. I was told to drink lots of sport drinks and eat protein starting tomorrow. I am also to keep a check on my weight. OF COURSE I have this problem to worry about! Did this happen to anyone else? Any tips or thoughts?

Ask Me

Let's wrap this summer up right. I need to get my mind off EVERYTHING and just have some fun. SO you have a job. Ask my ANY question you like. I am an open book. I don't get embarrassed and for sure not shy.

Let's laugh and have some fun!

Home and Fluffy

We have been back from our vacation for a few days now. We had a wonderful time. Grumps worked hard to plan a wonderful trip full of good food and great places to rest our heads. We reconnected in just being together. Life couldn't get in the way.

Now being back home the ivf and back to school countdown has begun. It looks like both will be right there with each other. I am praying my body doesn't take too long to respond. I can't miss the first day of school. I really can't miss any days of the first week. It all has to just run VERY smoothly. I am laughing though deep inside. When do things run smoothly for me? Of course my retrieval would be on the open house day. Of course my transfer could be the first day of school. That is how my world works.

My other 'issue'... raise your hand if treatments have caused you to gain weight. A lot? I am out of control large. It makes me sad. My boobs are HUGE! My body just feeds on these drugs. I am at the point I could rest my chin on my girls. I can't do a thing about any of it until I am done with these stupid drugs. Please tell me I am not the only one? PLEASE!!!!

The word has been spread to the mouths of my school. I might look pregnant but I am for sure not. They have my permission to tell everyone.

So I am serious about my question. Did you gain weight? How much in total? Did your body love the drugs? I don't want to hear about how thin you were through it all. I don't want to hear about how you exercised and ate healthy. Now it is time to chime in!!!