Heidi and Aaron's Roller Coaster Ride: June 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

Check Up

Today Lady L and I had a regular ob appointment. We saw the cutest little baby wiggle around, open and close the mouth, and even waved to us. The heartbeat measuered at 150 beats per minute, and our little bebe is just over 12 cm from crown to rump. Here are a few pictures from our visit today:

Just us girls, her son the photog:)

Our sweet alien baby looking our way

Arms

High five everybody!

I don't really know what this is. Any ideas?

At 17 weeks (tomorrow) the baby has hair, eyebrows, and fingernails.

Lady L is feeling good, and looking great. She has not felt any giant kicks or jabs yet, but feels the baby fluttering around. We will be returning in 3 weeks to have the big anatomy ultrasound. We are very excited to see more of our sweet babe.

Love,

Heidi

Friday, June 22, 2012

16 Weeks

I know I am 2 hours early in writing this, but I am so excited that we are almost 16 weeks along! Lady L is doing well, looking marvelous, and is SHOWING! I hadn't seen her in a couple of weeks, and was happy to see such a prominent "bump." A few days ago, she sent me a text that one of the donors she was taking blood from asked her "So are you pregnant or just a little chubby?" I was appalled, but she thought it was funny, and after seeing her, it's becoming more obvious by the second:) She looks great, and is as energetic as ever. Her husband, J, recently started a new job, and he seems to be enjoying it quite a bit. However, he has no time off earned, so for the rest of the doctors appointments, it will be just us gals. Of course Aaron will be at the big anatomy ultrasound, and I am a huge fan of girl time, anyway;)
Next Friday we will hopefully get another peek at our little sweet pea. He or she should have developed taste buds at this point! He or she is around 4.5 inches long, and weighs about 2.75 ounces. There is still a lot of growing to do. Here are a few pictures of the growth so far:

Side view

I don't know why this one is goofy, but her own kiddos wanted to make an appearance.

Profile view:)

As always, we thank you for your love, prayers, and support!

Xoxo.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Movement

I just read a message that Lady L sent me earlier today. She felt the baby flutter today! She won't be able to feel any big kicks or anything like that for a few more weeks, but flutters are wonderful! Just a bubbly little reminder that somebody is growing in her belly:)

We are so excited about the baby flutters Lady L had today!

Our Timeline

5-21-2005: The stars allign, and I meet my soul mate, best friend, and goofball of my dreams: Aaron:)

7-4-2006: We are engaged!

7-7-2007: Aaron and I get married!

8-1-2007: We are thrilled to find out we are 2 weeks pregnant, but devastated to discover that it's an ectopic pregnancy, and will not be viable

7-7-2009: We have a positive pregnancy test, and are thrilled, but later that day discover something is wrong. This was either an ectopic pregnancy that flushed itself out, or a miscarriage (most likely ectopic)

8-15-2009: We are pregnant! We later determined it was in fact ectopic.

3-9-2010: We are pregnant, we found out it's ectopic, and has ruptured my right fallopian tube. It's not salvagable, have a surgery to remove the tube and pregnancy.

4-1-2010: Concerned, we have every test imaginable run, and have perfect results on both of our fertility results. Doctors urge us to continue trying, "one of these times it'll reach your uterus."

9-15-2010: Pregnant! We enjoy a few weeks of pregnancy before learning, another ectopic.

10-15-2010: We have had enough. Moving on to next journey. Based on our good test results, we decide to attempt in vitro fertilization, and make an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist

12-9-2010: Recieved our IVF plan, are so excited to start on 1-1-2011.

1-21-2011: We learn that our first cycle will be cancelled. One mutant follicle took over one ovary. We must buy more meds, and try again after another cycle

3-8-2011: After another cycle, we have much better results. They retrieve many eggs from both ovaries, and fertilize all of them.

3-10-2011: They put 2 of the embryos into my uterus, and we freeze the other 4 high quality embryos.

3-18-2011: Positive pregnancy test

3-29-2011: Ultrasound reveals two embryos have attached, and both are in my uterus!

7-1-2011: We have our anatomy ultrasound, which reveals both babies are looking perfectly healthy. One girl, and one boy. We then learn that my cervix has opened. We have a cerclage placed, and begin couch-rest.

7-23-2011: Back in the hospital for the duration, as Baby A's membranes are squeezing through my cervix.

7-28-2011: Our hearts break as we meet our sweet, beautiful, and precious children: Savannah and Charlie. They each lived for an hour, but will be in our hearts forever.

10-5-2011: After several medical complications after the delivery of our twins, and looking at all of the possible options, we apply to Catholic Charities to begin the adoption process.

11-9-2011: Feeling unsure about attempting to adopt, we announce on facebook that we are looking for a gestational carrier.

11-9-2011: Several amazing, beautiful, generous women offer to become a surrogate for us. Lady L is the first one to respond, and we begin "the process"- whatever that means.

1-4-2012: Lady L, her wonderful husband, Aaron, and I attend our "gestational carrier consult" at Mayo Clinic's Reproductive Endocrinology Department. We all pass psych evaluations.

1-6-2012: Lady L and her husband have passed all of their blood work and communicable disease tests:)

1-26-2012: Lady L passes her mock transfer and uterus ultrasound.

2-3-2012: Aaron and I have passed our tests, and we mail off the retainer agreement and fee to our attorney:) Moving right along!

3-22-2012: At 8:22am, our medical team transfers two embryos to Lady L's uterus.

3-29-2012: I received a text from Lady L with a picture of a positive pregnancy test!

4-3-2012: Official HCG beta= 263 "good, strong number."

4-5-2012: Second beta (should be at least 526, double of previous beta)=833! Beta more than tripled!

4-27-2012: First ultrasound, we see our perfect, beautiful little soul and hear the heartbeat.

7-20-2012: 20 week ultrasound, everything is going well with Lady L, and bebe is looking great. We find out it's a girl!

12-18-2012: Lady L gives birth to our beautiful miracle baby. Maizy Sue is the greatest joy in our lives.