Double the Trouble

We've had a blast this week letting all our family and friends know of our news. Most responses are shock, then disbelief and then big smiles. We are so grateful for all the love ans support!
I didn't think being pregnant was going to hit me as hard as it has. The fatigue is probably the worst. Getting anything done during the day takes massive amounts of will power and then in the evenings I'm sleeping by 10 and dragging myself out of bed in time to get the kids on the bus at 8:50. I've figured out that if I eat every hr to 2 hrs (something substantial, not just a piece of fruit) The nausea is avoided... but if I don't it hits me hard, and then I don't want to eat. The books say that with twin pregnancies, I need to eat an extra 600 calories a day!!! I have yet to reach that goal on top of my regular diet because there isn't much that sounds appetizing.. Sugar definitely is not my friend. No ice cream, candy, chocolate, cake, etc. It's sad. I'm not a fan of chicken, or rice.. potatoes not so much either. So finding the calories I can handle have been difficult. One thing I do like... Burgers! Red meat is always a good thing in my book. :)  But more than one a week is a little much.
So, because the babies are sitting one in front of the other, and I'm still very bloated from all the meds they had me on, plus others I'm still on.. I'm already showing! This is ultra fun, not many would notice, in fact I just look chunky right now, but I have definitely grown out of my regular pants.

My super good friend got me this shirt when I was going through the treatments and said "I'm gonna keep it in my closet until we know your having twins :)" She was super optimistic, and right! I LOVE the shirt! Really the best shirt I've ever owned. Here is a picture of me waring it, with my belly. It says "There's two peas in my pod." Here's to Best friends and my two Peas!

TWINS!!!

 

So this morning I was so nervous about the ultrasound test that I threw up for the first time, just after breakfast. Lovely. Nerves. So I left an hour early, (because I'm anal like that) and it's a good thing I did because there was a huge crash on 1-5 that slowed down traffic to close to a stand still... took me the whole time to get there. Just on time. Aaron met me there, took a long lunch. I waited on the table pant-less for what seemed like forever and the Dr. came in and shook my hand as if he totally knew what he was going to find. I immediately saw the two bubbles flicker on the screen and started crying. He said "Looks like there are two!"

 He then measured baby A and then was able to zoom in to a beating heart beat... and then he turned on the sound!! I heard the heart beat!

He then proceeded to go after baby B.. this baby is further back kind of behind the other baby, so its harder to see, but the baby measured at exactly the same size and the heart rate was exactly the same as baby A. He said that they are a little small, but the heart rates look great and strong. I will go in again for an ultrasound next Friday to see how they are growing. Probably bringing home more pictures! We are thrilled and so grateful for this miraculous gift we have been given from Heavenly Father. Egan and Evelyn were so funny, they knew I had the appointment today and when they got off the bus they were asking about it.. when we got inside I showed Egan the picture and he yelled "TWO BABIES! I KNEW IT!" He'd been praying for two for the last month now. His little testimony I'm sure has grown as ours have on how Heavenly Father answers our prayers.
I've been on cloud nauseous nine all day!  Calling everyone who knew about the appointment and now preparing this blog to go public. So here it is. For some of you reading this, this may be your first visit to my blog, and this is the first entry you read. This is certainly not the end of posting our story, but it is a happy ending to our ivf journey.. for now :) Feel free to start from the beginning and also read about the amazing gift that made it all possible.

3 Days and Counting until Ultrasound.

We took a little weekend jaunt to Utah and let all of Aaron's family know the good news. It was a very nice short trip. It also helped to pass the time away.. we still have 3 days until the ultrasound to see how many babies are in there. And if everything is okay. I'm getting nervous and anxious about it all..... Praying that all is well.

8 Days until Ultrasound...

There really isn't much to report... Just each day ticking by slowly. I'm looking forward to seeing the wee little one(s) on the screen, and see if all is right.
Tomorrow we leave for a VERY quick trip to Utah to tell Aaron's family the news. We wanted to tell them in person. Absolutely must see their faces! :) We'll be home Sunday night, and then it will be only 5 days :)

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day and this morning before Church Aaron and kids let me sleep in, and cleaned the house. And when I was up they gave me their presents. I got some beautiful cards and art projects from the kids that they made in school. And then Aaron pulled out this adorable gift. It's a super soft music box stuffed animal giraffe! So incredibly cute! Love it! I've been planning a nursery theme for quite a while now and have decided officially that we will go with Giraffes and a jungle them :) I also got a great new book and a sweet card from the hubby.
I feel so blessed this Mother's day to have the privilege to be a mother to two wonderful children and to be carrying my first child. With all the sacrifices we make to be mothers I must say it is ALWAYS worth it. I am also very grateful to the amazing mothers who have influenced my life. To my Dearest Mother, to my Grandmamom, Grandma Hill, Step Mom Lonna, and my sweet Mother-in-law Diana. I wouldn't be who I am today without them.

The Follow Up!

So, I haven't been on in a bit, because things have gotten crazy! But good busy crazy :) I went back to ORM on Friday to get another blood draw to make sure the numbers have doubled. I went with my friend Shanae and we had a blast.
After they drew my blood, I was able to talk with Genevieve about a few questions I've had. Yes, I can finally have sex again! Yes I have to keep taking ALL the medications. No, I may not start crazy zumba again... unless I take it way easy. :( I still have to keep my heart rate under 140.
So Shanae and I went out to have a little fun while we waited for ORM to call me back on the results. We took a look at a Maternity Store! It was so cool to just walk in! Expensive, but cool. We then went in search of lunch and ikea. While we were there I got the call! My numbers more than doubled and were at 608! Another happy dance. They said all will be well, and they will see me on Friday the 25th for an ultrasound and more blood work! They can't determine twins until the ultrasound. I'm just thrilled all is well! Two whole weeks to wait to see heart beat(s)!
Aaron and I had a bet the night before on where the numbers would be and the winner gets to pick a design of a t-shirt for the looser to wear. My guess was 675, and Aaron's guess was 550.. with playing  price is right rules... Aaron won..... his design has yet to be determined but I was gonna put on him "I'm so awesome, I got my wife pregnant and wasn't even there" LOL
Here comes another two week wait. Hopefully not as agonizing though. 

The Day of Miracles

Last Night I couldn't sleep.. So I stayed up and read my scriptures.. This typically gets me sleepy enough to pass out relatively quickly.. not last night. I read through to the end.. about a hundred pages. I found an amazing peace come over me after reading some scriptures that I have read before but they especially spoke to me this time. In Ether he speaks of Faith and how we will not receive what we are wanting until the trial of our Faith. And that we need hope. I knew that if I exercised my faith In my Heavenly Father all would be ok. After a prayer in my heart and reading the scriptures I fell asleep peacefully.At about 4 Aaron and I woke up and he asked me, "How are you feeling?" I said "Pregnant." Because at that moment I knew all would be ok. whether I was blessed to be pregnant now or later it will work out ok in the end. We dozed for a little longer..
I woke up at 6 to get ready and left for the Dr at 6:45. Traffic was insane, and I got there just in time for my 7:30 appt. They drew my blood and said we'll call you between 1 and 2.
I got home just after 8 and chatted with my friend Shanae, got the kids on the bus and then relaxed on the couch for what seemed like forever. I played games on my phone.. and watched a baby story on TLC.. torturing myself again I know.... but I couldn't help it.
At 11:15 (Early!) Genevieve, my Nurse from ORM called. She said when she saw my results come back she wanted to call me right away. My first words were, "Oh I'm so glad its you who called!" She has the nicest softest kindest voice I think I've ever heard. Anyway... she said that my levels looked great! I had a 296.8 HCG hormones which is definitely prego!They are looking for a number between 100- and 300... so we did good! She said my estrogen and progesterone look great and that they will be weening me off of those, but I will be taking them for the time being. I go back in on Friday for another blood test to see if the levels are doubling. If they grow a ton it may indicate multiples! From there we will schedule an ultrasound! That's I think at about 7 weeks. So, as of today I am 4 weeks 2 days pregnant! My baby is between the size of poppy seed and an apple seed. Love it! Sweet Baby Grow! I still can't believe it really.. its unbelievable.
I was so not going to tell Aaron over the phone, so he knew he had to wait until he got home to find out. So, after they called I just text him and said "they called" he text back "i'm coming home" He came home for a long lunch and I was able to tell him right away. Of course he would be the first to be told. We hugged and cried. It was amazing. The kids got home shortly after that and I told them... they were like... "where is the baby?" Silly kids. I'll post their reaction to it all soon.
So just for kicks and giggles I went ahead and peed on an EPT test I had tucked away from several months ago. I've never (obviously) gotten a positive result from one and guess what?! It was positive! Too Cool!

I am so amazed at the love Heavenly Father has for me, this is such an incredible blessing!

Tomorrow...

So, Tomorrow is the big day. In 12 hours they will be taking my blood to check for HCG hormone to see if I have a baby growing inside of me! My nerves are shot, I'm a complete mess. Today and the last week and half I've been going through fazes... one minute I totally believe I'm pregnant and another I just so can't wrap my mind around the possibility and don't think it could even be close to true... I cycle like this about every 5 minutes or so. Of course you can imagine my thoughts are ALWAYS on "AM I PREGNANT?!" I occupied my time today with a trip to the mall with a friend.. fell in love with some maternity pants at Old Navy.. saw some adorable baby clothes... and got a few things I actually needed like body wash and some sandals for the kiddos. I've also been spending some time killing pigs on my phone with the Angry Birds.. LOL. I don't think I'll sleep a wink tonight... sort of like last night when I stayed up until 1 reading what to expect when your expecting... torture?.. yes... can I help it? ...no.
This Mother's day will either be the worst yet, or the best yet in history. Aaron and I are planning a trip up to my parents house for the day on the Saturday before. I'm looking forward to seeing all the family... my sisters will be there including the one who just had a baby a few weeks ago. I'm going to try and focus on celebrating my mother, and not my own motherhood this year. So,... Deep breaths.
I will write again tomorrow... Hopefully with good news. They will call me between 10 and 3 with the results. Praying for our Miracle!

Mothers Day Lesson

Sunday I gave the Mother's day lesson to the Young Woman in our ward. It was a great experience, but bitter sweet. You can imagine the emotions and things was feeling.... luckily I asked all the women in the ward to participate. I asked them to email me a few words on how they felt about motherhood and their "divine roles". Each girl stood to read one. It was amazing. Here is the handout I gave each of the girls:

I bawled reading this quote to the girls:   “Yours is the grand tradition of Eve, the mother of all the human family, Yours is the grand tradition of Sarah and Rebekah and Rachel, without whom there could not have been those magnificent patriarchal promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob which bless us all. Yours is the grand tradition the mothers of the 2,000 stripling warriors. Yours is the grand tradition of Mary, chosen and foreordained from before this world was, to conceive, carry, and bear the Son of God Himself. We thank all of you, including our own mothers, and tell you there is nothing more important in this world than participating so directly in the work and glory of God, in bringing to pass the mortality and earthly life of His daughters and sons, so that immortality and eternal life can come in those celestial realms on high.” Jeffrey R. Holland

They must have thought I was a mess!

I closed with this one: "Be a woman of Christ. Cherish your esteemed place in the sight of God. He needs you. This Church needs you. The world needs you. A woman's abiding trust in God and unfailing devotion to things of the Spirit have always been an anchor when the wind and the waves of life were fiercest." J. Reuben Clark, "I say to you what the Prophet Joseph said more than 150 years ago: 'If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates'"

I am feeling not a whole lot when it comes to symptoms.. my chest is sore... and I'm tired.. but it can all be because of the meds I'm taking or just PMS symptoms on their way... I really don't know what Wednesday will bring. Trying to keep my head up. It just all seems so impossible.  Two days... Tomorrow... and then the test! 

5 days and Counting...

Everyone says that the wait is the hardest part... I think I'd have to agree with them. It's terrible! Every twinge, cramp, and pressure I pay attention to. Like there's a time bomb in there :)
I'm anxious for and yet dreading the test on Wednesday. Wednesdays are half days for the kids at their school.. so they will be home when I get the call. Aaron will not because he has to work and has taken quite a lot off for everything all ready. I'm not about to call him at work with the news... I'm still trying to figure this one out. If it's good news then the kids and I will celebrate... but if not... I hope I can keep it together for them.. and Aaron. Here's hoping for a celebration!

2 Down 7 to Go...

... Days that is. :) It was nice to get up and do things today... I think I may have over done it. Feeling crampy and sore. Tomorrow I will take it much easier!

Another Miracle happened today. My Grandpa sent a wonderful note with a donation toward the building of our family. He didn't know that we were in the process, just felt impressed "by the Lord" to help. Another amazing miracle, because we've found out that this process costs a more than expected with a little extra tests here, and more drugs there.
I know Heavenly Father is taking care of us and will always provide a way. I cannot express how grateful I am for all of the blessings he bestows. Tears of Joy.

A Log...

Yup, thats what I feel like today. I'm a log. I'm supposed lay down, with no more than a 45 degree angle all day in bed! I can only get up to pee. I did sneak in a tooth brushing and change during a trip to the bathroom. They told me at ORM that this helps the embryos to settle in and implant. I am able to take a shower and move around like normal tomorrow. (semi normal: no exercise, intercourse, stretching, bending etc until prego test.)
So here starts the countdown. My pregnancy test is the 9th of May, today is the first. So we are on day one... 8 to go!