ALOT Has Happened!

Im so sorry I haven't updated in FOREVER! So much has happened over the past few months!!
So, to start... we had our FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) April 9th, transfering 1 "excellent" grade embryo & 2 "good" quality embryo - so yes, 3 embryos & no, we are not crazy :) Both of our moms were able to be in the room with us during transfer, which is a little weird, but they are such big parts of our lives that we wanted to share our miracle with them!

Well, 8 days after transfer, they have you go in for BETA HCG testing (bloodwork that determines how much pregnancy hormone is in your body), which is basically the same thing as an at home pregnancy test, but can detect pregnancy within days of conception. Well, the number that the results come out to need to double every 48-72 hours. ANYWAYS... ours did!!! Which meant at least it was the beginning of a viable pregnancy!

Our next step was an ultrasound at 7 weeks! On May 12th, we went into Idaho Center for Reporductive Medicine & prepared ourselves for what we would see... which was a little beating heart on the screen! Heart rate was 181, and we have NEVER seen something more precious then our baby's heartbeat for the first time; we were both in tears.

Two weeks later, May 26th, we had our 9 week ultrasound at ICRM. It was confirmed that we were indeed pregnant. Dr Slater had told us that our 'Gummy Bear' was perfect & offically was discharged from them - onto the OBGYN to be a regular patient... such a bittersweet day for us. I wish I could stay with them through my entire pregnancy - what a wonderful group of women & Dr Foulk that care SOOO much about every patient! They went through each step with us & such a great support system!

So, we were offically "regular" patients! Our OBGYN (Dr William Madland) could hardly wait to haev us under his care, that he wanted to see us the very next week! On June 3rd, we went to see Dr Madland & once again, saw our baby 'Gummy Bear'. It was wiggling & dancing for us on the screen; it seemed to love showing off how big he/she was getting!

After a much needed vacation, important weddings to attend & seeing family in Oregon, we came back & had an ultrasound apt with Dr Bobrowski - a Perinatologist with St Alphonsus Maternal Fetal Medicine. This apt was to check on baby & make sure everything was developing normally. After our apt, we were cleared to not to be considered a high-risk pregnancy. Although we had this clearing, we were still asked to come back in 7 weeks to check up on baby & monitor the growth.

August 2nd, we have our follow up apt with Dr Bobrowski & are ready to determine what gender the baby is - we are 19 weeks so they should be able to tell us as long at the baby is cooperative. And... ITS A GIRL!! Heartrate was 147, weighing 9 ounces, perfect placement for both baby and placenta!We both were guessing a girl & it felt so great to be right! Later that night, we met our family for dinner. I asked everyone to wear the color of clothing they thought the gender was (no one knew), pink/red for girl & blue for a boy; Richard and I wore green since we already knew! I also ordered a cake that was chocolate with yellow writing on the top that said "It's A...?" with pink or blue frosting in the middle. After dinner, it was cake time!! And, despite the popular vote that it would be a boy, we revealed the pink frosting in the middle!! Such an exciting experience!!

Today - August 12th, I had my 20 week check up with Dr Madland... my first apt since April that Richard was not with me. I was a nervous wreck because he had always been there to hold my hand & keep me positive for appointments. I know he would have loved to be there though! Well, Dr Madland came in with a doppler to listen to the heartbeat and my worst nightmare seemed to be coming true - he could not find the heartbeat. I began to panic, and he told me to stay calm because the doppler battery was just giving out & went to get the ultrasound machine. To our delight, as soon as he put the wand on my belly, there is our baby girl kicking him to get the thing off her! haha we could not help but laugh! Everything was perfect - heartrate of 146 & weighing in at about 11 ounces. Such a relief!!

So far, I have been craving gas station deli dogs (which are better then the regular hot dogs) & have not been gaining too much weight. I started having morning sickness aroudn 9 weeks, but all was better at about 15 weeks! I don't have my regular energy, constantly tired, but definetly worth all of this!!

I'm off to go help the husband with dinner then clean house! If you have any questions, just ask! I know I left out a lot, but not on purpose!!

Loves to all!