Jessica's Pregnant!

We accidentally found out that I was pregnant- yep. I didn't take the test because I had any kind of hope that our final round of clomid worked before went on to IUI.


 I had bought a pack of ovulation tests- the kind that includes a HPT in the package. So when I bought that pack I just took the HPT out and put it in the cabinet and forgot about it. Later in the cycle I was digging through the cabinet trying to find something-can't remember what at this point, and stumbled across the test. I took it out and placed it on the counter. That Saturday I was tired of seeing it on the counter so I decided to just take it, see that it was negative, and throw it away. So I took it and proceeded to pass out and not look at it until around 5am when I woke up again to use the restroom. OMG... there is a second line there... that's an evap. No way. Well.... maybe I should take another test just to make sure. Sunday morning when my husband and I woke up I told him that we need to go to the store and pick up some tests. That I didn't want to get my hopes up but the chepo test I took last night might have been positive- but it could just as easily be an evap line. He said it would just be faster if he went on his own and ran off to Walmart to get the tests. When he came back I went and took it. We went into the other room and waited and went back. I looked at the test and Daniel asked if it was positive or negative... I said I think I'm crazy because I see the second line! I handed him the test and he could see it too. We took the 2nd test in the box (Who WOULDN'T) it came up an even DARKER positive. We were completely in shock... I had no hope that anything would happen. when we got to see he midwife she sent us in for a dating ultrasound and we got to see our little jelly bean and hear the heartbeat. I never though I would ever be here. Its honestly been very surreal.

Here's what I was on-

150 MG Clomid CD 5-9
recommended dosage of Ovaboost (approved by my DR)
one a day women's prenatal soft gels (I read somewhere that your body will adsorb more of the nutrients because it doesn't have to break it down from a solid.)
I also went on a grain free, sugar free, low diary diet with lots of avocados and fish and coconut oil. I lost 25 LBS that month!

Well that's kinda our story so far... Hopefully it will give someone so hope. We tried everything we could think of for 5.5 years and something finally worked!

Farewell Post

Hey everyone!

This is my farewell post…I’m sad to be “retiring” as an author but I will be back to make some guest posts once the baby comes.

As most of you know, in April we found out that we were expecting and it was a complete shock. My sister had just lost her baby and we were all so stressed out and my husband and I had only DTD ONE time that cycle. I never expected to fall pregnant that month. I really think it happened because of God and the fact that the month before I had the HSG done to check my tubes for any blockages and I think it just cleared out my tubes. I am so grateful for the blessings that have come to us over the past 5 months. We’ve also just moved and are trying to get settled in before December! We find out on July 31^st if it is a boy or a girl and I will be very content either way.

I pray for all of you ladies everyday and I know that it is only a matter of time until you all become THE GREATEST mommies. I know there’s nothing I can say to really help because I’ve totally been there. I wish you call the best of luck and please know that you can always find me on Facebook and message me ANYTIME you’d like/need to talk to someone.

Hugs and Love to all of you strong, beautiful women!

Molly

Ashley's Update

Hey everyone, I'm so sorry I've been so out of touch.  Life has been very busy with the boys and going back to work.  However, even though I haven't been posting doesn't mean I'm not reading or thinking about you all.  As dates went by in February, March and now April, it brings me back to the huge milestones in the past 3 years, especially last year going through IVF.  I think another reason I've backed off (besides not having much time) is I remember like it was yesterday how I felt about hearing about others who had babies and I didn't.  So I know there is nothing I can say or do to make each of your situations better.  All I can try to do is give you hope and advice if you want it.  I don't want to rub it in anyone's face that I got pregnant and have two babies.  I just want to support everyone and help as I'm needed.  I know I'll always have bitter feelings towards those who take getting pregnant for granted, however it's a hard place to be in because I'm not in the same position as I was before I got pregnant.  For the first time in over 3 years I feel happy, complete and back to my old self.  I told my husband a few weeks ago - I never, ever want to feel that way again.  Meaning those two LONG years of active treatments every months with multiple doctors visits monthly, were by far the worst years of my life.  But it was truly worth every single tear and angry moment I went through.  I am here for you all, praying every moment.

I am also sad to say my very best friend who's wedding I didn't get to stand up in, in August because I was put on bed rest two days before, was diagnosed with PCOS in January.  She is still in the early stages of all the works, but it just brings back all of my bad memories that I hope she doesn't have to go through.

Bless you all and baby dust 2013 is the year :) 

In shock...

Hey everyone! I haven written in a while because we've kind of been on a break from ttc because we had plans to see our fertility specialist next week. In the past month I've lost my nephew, started a new full time job and been completely busy. I woke up this morning and felt so off. I took THREE wondfo hpts and each one of them looked like they may have had a line but I wasn't sure if it was real or an evap line. I took TWO clear blue digitals and they both came up as POSITIVE! I freaked out and called the doctor and went in for blood work and they confirmed that I'm pregnant! I'm entering into my 5th week and I just can't believe it. God is so good. I will continue to support all of you and will pray for each and every one of you!!

Confusion!

Okay so a little update! I'm on cd 43 out of a usual 30-33 day cycle. We didn't keep track of anything this month and tried to relax. I realized my period was late and so I've been testing and I swear I got a Bfp on Monday. I've only had bfns since then but feeling very nauseous and very sore boobs. I had a bit of orange cm today and the only way I noticed it was because I stuck the toilet paper up there (sorry to be blunt!) There's no more though. I was excited on Monday, confused yesterday, and insane today. I called the doctor and they want me to retest on Monday and then call them. *sigh*

Long time no chat...

So I never posted my official results from my IVF in May, mainly because I don't want to "jinx" it, but also because I still don't quite believe the results myself. My husband also finally gave me the green light to share with the blogosphere but....

It worked.

Praise God, it worked! We are due with our little bundle (singular) in January. I have some thoughts I've scribbled down since we found out, mostly about the fear and anxiety, I hope to share that with you across the coming week. But for right now I'm ending the suspense.

I'm finally pregnant :'-)

Ashley's Update

Well, things are going well with our pregnancy!  We are 14 weeks now and we had our first perinatology appointment yesterday, and the perinatologist said we are having twin BOYS!  I never tell patients before 16 weeks just to make sure the genitals are completely done forming but he was confident both penis's were too large to be clitoris....so we'll make sure in a couple more weeks ...but we are THRILLED!!!!

Other than that, I've started a belly since 10 weeks but now its much more prominant, I feel I'm doing and looking really well for twins.  We are excited to share our boy news with our families this weekend and we are going to do some scouting for cribs, carseats, highchairs, etc. tomorrow!!

I think of you all, all the time, I'm sorry I haven't been on here as much as I'd like, summer is just always so hectic and I don't always get on the computer very much.

Ashley's Update

Ashley's Update
Well ladies, sorry its been so long.  So much has been going on.  I was in the hospital for a few days again last week due to severe right lower quadrant pain. My right ovary is still 9+ cm.  I was feeling great last Wednesday and had my last ultrasound at my RE's office at 7am at 3:15pm I started having severe RLQ pain like I did a month ago.  I took some Tylenol and tried to get comfortable then I called my OB office at 4:15pm because nothing was getting better and my OB prescribed Vicodin and told me to go into the ER if that didn't help.  So my DH ran to the pharmacy on his way home and then got home at 5:15pm.  In the mean time I was shaking, vomiting and nauseous.  I took a Vicodin and thought it helped in the first 20 min. however after that the pain just kept getting worse and worse. We ended up in the ER at 7pm had and ultrasound and MRI.  They admitted me and the pain did not subside until in the afternoon on Thursday.  I still have a dull pain but nothing compared to when I had to go in.  My right ovary will hopefully go down in size in the next three weeks, and hopefully we won't have to deal with this anymore.  On a better note, the babies are doing great.  Heartbeats are strong, both are growing good.   I was so worried about taking the pain meds but the doctors assured me that they do not affect the babies unless its used for long term during the pregnancy in which the babies become addicted. 

Also, I am an aunt (my side of the family)!  My only sibling (my sister) had her first baby 5/6/12.  He is beautiful 6 lbs 12oz 19.5"  - Brayden Lee.  We spend from Saturday 5/5/12 at noon until Sunday at 10am in the hospital.  She went into labor and progressed good but he was turned on his side instead of facing her back so he wouldn't come through her pelvis.  She started pushing at 2am 5/6/12 for 2 1/2 hours with just a little morphine and then they decided to do the c-section at 4:30am.  He was born at 5:50am.  She is one strong lady!  We spent some time with them after he was born and then again on Mother's Day.  I really feel me finally being pregnant helped with everyone to bond even more through the birth of my nephew.  I truly feel so blessed!!

Mrs Red's OHSS

I am 8dp3dt and the past 4 days or so I've had absolutely no symptoms and been a little bummed. Occasionally I'll get some AF type cramps but not strong or anything and only after being up for too long.
So anyways I went yesterday for my progesterone and estrogen check and they called after lunch to let me know both were normal: e2=812 and progesterone=55 so that was great news to me, I know they don't indicate pregnancy but my IUI cycles it was never more than 20 for progesterone and e2 was always low... So I was happy.
So this morning.... I'm laying in bed after going pee at about 4 am and I feel restless. I couldn't get comfortable, felt hot and like I couldn't breathe right. Then the hubby gets up at 530 to take a shower and I roll over to take up more bed space, which usually helps. But then I notice a pain on my left side/back kind of a shooting pain like a kidney infection meets constipation/gas feeling but I didn't feel gassy and didn't feel I needed to "go", so I'm whining and rolling on my back hoping the pain will go away.

Then hubby gets out of the shower and hears me whining and come an sits with me asking what's wrong. Said to try to "go" and I try but nothing. The trying just made the pain worse. Then I lay down and try to find a comfortable position. Really the only thing that 'helped' was the fetal position over a pillow.

Then the pain started getting intense and I wasn't getting any relief, my whines turned into sobbing pain. Hubby rubbed my back which seemed to make it subside. We did my daily PIO shot and hubby continued to get ready for work. Then the pain came back with a vengeance! I got so dizzy and was in a dripping cold sweat and we decided to go to the hospital. We called my RE line and left a message but the pain was too intense, hubby basically dressed me like a baby because I was just crying and couldn't move, every movement hurt like heck.

The pain migrated to my uterus/ovary area AND my back. After I was dressed I felt so nauseous and said 'I think I'm going to throw up' and he said lets go to the bathroom, as soon as I stood up I felt it, ran the two steps and got some on the floor but most in the toilet. It was a weird gel-like yellow vomit (TMI I know lol). After it finally seemed like my stomach was truly empty we started leaving to go to the hospital. When we got halfway down the street the RE called. I told him the morning events and he said to come in around 9 as a walk in. I said ok but sat there thinking, uh... 2 more hours?! Hubby said it would be better to wait if I could but we would do whatever I wanted. I was actually feeling a little better after throwing up, so we sat in the car until the pain all seemed to dull, it was still there but tolerable. Came inside and laid down and then a miracle happened, I fell asleep. Hubby woke me up and I said I wanted to shower since I was feeling a little better and the pain wasn't as bad.

We went to the clinic and they took my weight, which I lost 10 lbs from the start of this cycle :-) and then took me to the sonogram rooms, asked for a urine sample and then did the ultrasounds. They said 3 weeks is too little to see anything and really didn't look at my uterus more than a split second to measure it. Then that's hen we saw, my right ovary was HUGE! And there were 2 big pockets of free fluid just hanging out in my belly. I had a few 3 cm cysts on my right ovary, then my left had 3 3.5 cm cysts. She said my ovaries should each be the size of one cyst! Then she checked all my organs and everything looked fine. They measured my belly which was bloated and said to monitor my weight and belly size, if it gets worse they will need to drain the fluid.

So I officially have OHSS. It's not as bad as some people they said but it's new to me and the hubs. They also said that its likely that I'm pregnant but to wait until Monday for my test. I did read some forums that said to eat a lot of protein and Gatorade since the fluid lost in my tummy will dehydrate me and contains protein and I'll be losing sodium. Let's just hope this doesn't get worse! But I'll be taking it easy til it's gone.

Ashley's IVF Results

So after our transfer (3/26/12) I ate LOTs of pineapple! A few fellow IVFers and I also read what helps implantation that fresh pineapple is supposed to help implantation. So I ate 1/2 of pineapple 3/26-3/30! I thought its worth a shot! I love fresh pineapple. I had some mild cramping throughout the week and I thought my bloating (from the retrieval on 3/21) was starting to go down on over the weekend. Monday I woke up and I was really bloated again (I was hoping this was a good sign) we also received our letter from the embryologist that we had 5 embryos frozen- great news! We only lost one embryo :) Most people only get to freeze one or two - we are so lucky. Tuesday I had a little break down before going to bed. I was crying thinking about receiving bad news on Friday. I hadn't had any symptoms or if I did I attributed them to other causes (having a headache for two days 3/29-3/30, vision changes for the past week, breast soreness but I am taking progesterone) I also woke up at 10:44 pm that night with horrible cramping very similar to when I have my period except a little worse. Wednesday I had to be up at 4:00 am to go in for my first bHCG lab. I prayed the whole way there 1.5 hrs. When I got there I asked the nurse if she would be calling me today if the lab came back at 0. She said they still make you come back on Friday so that's when I'd get results. I told her I was just curious because my DH and I were contemplating taking a hpt test even though I didn't really want to find out that way because we would have family at our house as soon as we got home on Friday and they'd be staying the whole weekend and I also would be having my sister's baby shower on Saturday. So I went to work and on my drive home from work I was trying to figure out if it would be best to take a hpt that night or Thursday night, when my phone rang! A the nurse's voice said "Ashley, this is Jean, I've just been dying to call you all day, your labs came back great! Not just good, great!" I said crying "Oh, I didn't expect to hear from you today, thank you so so so very much I can't tell you how much this means to me." She said I just couldn't have you waiting and thinking about this all week and then having to go to your sister's baby shower on Saturday. I didn't want you to worry, and if I had any doubt I wouldn't have called you but your labs are great, with a possibility of twins. Your bHCG is 332 and progesterone is 169." After I hung up the phone I cried, no balled like a baby, to the point I probably should have stopped the car! I was so happy and in shock! A few minutes after I calmed down I called my husband to see when he'd be home. He said he had to work late and would be home in a few hours. So I was trying to think of a way to tell him! We originally thought we'd find out by me peeing on a hpt and we'd both find out at the same time and have it confirmed on Friday by a call from the doctor's office. So I got home and made a sign/card that said "we are finally pregnant". When my husband got home I was trying to act as normal as possible. After a few minutes I said come here a minute we need to talk, so I had him come into our bedroom and sit down at the edge of the bed. I told him Stella and I have something to tell you. (Stella is our lab) I handed him the card, he opened it and a huge smile came across his face and he said "really?" and I told him all the details of the nurse calling. We decided to not tell any of our family until we received our results on Friday to make sure things stayed positive!

So Friday morning my mom road with me (clueless) to my appointment. The nurse asked what my mom thought and I said I haven't told her yet. She laughed and said she's road with you three times now you need to tell her on your way home. I said yes it's been hard keeping it from her. So after leaving the clinic I told her. She is so excited and happy :)

Friday afternoon Jean called and said your labs came back great again today they more than doubled 872 today! She said she thinks we are having twins!! :) (We hope so too!)

Friday night we told my parents and my sister & her husband, I put a little piece of paper saying we are pregnant and candy in a plastic Easter egg for each of them. We also told my husbands parents and siblings at our Easter Gathering on Saturday, and my grandma on Easter. We will tell my other grandparents today or tomorrow. Everyone is very happy. One of the most special parts in all of this is our due date is 12/12/12, which was my grandpa's birthday. He passed away 3.5 yrs ago and I can't help but think he's had a hand in this. We thanked everyone for their prayers and asked them to continue to pray for everything to go well and for us to have healthy pregnancy and baby(s).

We will tell the rest of our family and friends as soon as we know if there is one or two and we see heartbeat(s) which will be in the next week or two and know that everything is going well. I am fortunate that I am a sonographer and can find out sooner than our viability ultrasound that is scheduled for 4/25.

I've been feeling pretty good, bloating, tired, and crampy but I'm enjoying it! We are SO excited and still in shock it's so hard to believe! We are praying for everything to work out and continue to go well - hoping for the best and ready and hoping for twins, but would feel very blessed with one as well! :)