Initial Blog Post

Hey Guys -
Since this is the first blog posting, there is a lot to update everyone on. So here goes...
We have recently found out that blood tests have confirmed that we are pregnant! Yeah!
As some of you may know, we began our In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process (same way we conceived Kameron) initially in October. Unfortuately we had a harder time this time around as my body didn't respond well to the amount of injections I was receiving. So, after about 3.5 weeks into that cycle, it was cancelled. Fortunately we didn't make it to the two-part surgery!

However, we started the next round in the first part of January, and this time it was a success! The doctors used a different method so my body wouldn't be so stimulated, and that seemed to do the trick. After a couple weeks of injections in the belly (which I must say I am proud of myself that I did on my own this time around instead of having Buddy do them), I had to have a shot precisely at 9:30 p.m. on January 15th to prepare my body for the embryo retrieval surgery approximately 36 hours later.

The embryo retrieval surgery was performed on January 17th in Nashville. Out of 10 embryos that were retrieved, 8 fertilized, but then only 3 progressed. This is pretty accurate to how it works, which is why I had to go through weeks of injections to have my body create a mass production! However, when we went back in 3 days later for the embryo transfer procedure on January 20, we were told that one more embryo was a 'trooper' and made it through! So, we now had 4 total.

The embryo transfer is typically done on day 3 or day 5 following the retrieval surgery. A day 5 transfer is preferred since they can better determine the progress of the embryos to see what to put back in, but a lot of times that can't be done. Sometimes the embryos just don't do well in the lab setting, so if they were to wait until day 5, they could actually lose them all. So, due to that and the fact that I didn't have a ton to play with, and mine didn't care for the lab setting (poor embies...they just wanted to be back where they belonged!), they decided on the day 3 transfer (Kameron was the same). See picture below of our 4 embryos that were transferred:

Because 2 of the embryos were a very low cell count and grade (two on the right top & bottom), a decision was made to transfer all 4 embryos back. FYI - 3 were transferred back with Kameron's cycle.

Following the embryo transfer, I was on bedrest for 2 days. I was also on a lifting restriction of 10 pounds (and still am).

Well, we couldn't wait until the blood pregnancy test at the doctors to see the results, so I took a few home pregnancy tests at the very end of January which came back positive! However, I was still anxious to be 100% sure through the doctor. Well, the pregnancy was confirmed on February 1st at my first blood test, which gives an accurate count of my hCG level. The first blood test gave a count of 89. For a normal pregnancy the hCG count is supposed to double every 36-48 hours, so to verify the first reading was not false, I was scheduled to go in for 2 additional blood tests. My blood test on Feb 4th gave a hCG count of 551 and a final blood test on Feb 6th gave a HCG count of 1976.

So, needless to say, after all we have been through physically, emotionally and financially to get to this point, we are THRILLED to be pregnant! Our estimated due date is October 13 - looks like we are meant to have October in our family (Kameron's birthday is October 21, mine is the 15th). The next step will be our first ultrasound on February 19th. That is when the ever popular question will be answered...how many embryos actually took?

So, before then, please take a moment to answer that question poll to the right of this blog page BY February 18 (it will disappear on the 19th). Also, please feel free to post comments (like signing a guest book) so we can hear from you all along the way! To post comments, see below. Just click on the word 'comments' after this blog session below and it will take you to a page to post. Let us know you've visited!

Stay tuned for more news as we progress and thanks to all of you who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers through all this, and will continue to do so! God has truly blessed us with a miracle! We greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness and support!