Quite the week

I know it's been a really long time since I last posted so I thought now would be a good time to update. Up till now everything has been going pretty good. I've been feeling good and the babies are doing great.
I am now seeing my OB every 2 weeks and having ultrasounds once a month. I love having ultrasounds. I love seeing my babies moving and healthy. They are looking really good. My last ultrasound the boy was 1lb 4oz, and the girl was 1lb 1oz. Their heartbeats are strong and they are moving like crazy.
Now to the last few days. My last ultrasound also showed my cervix is shortening. This just puts me at higher risk for premature labor. Because of this, they have decided to put me on bed rest. Luckily though, they said I can still get up to go to the kitchen to make myself food, shower, and use the restroom, other then that I am to keep my feet up. I am not allowed to do anything physical, no household chores, no lifting, no grocery shopping..etc. I know this will get old and having to depend on Erik and others to help definitely is hard but at least it's not strict, flat on my back. I am thankful for that. I am almost 25 weeks along and they want me to be on bed rest till 32 weeks. After 32 weeks they don't really care if I go into labor, although I am still hoping to go to 36 weeks.
Then I got a call this morning. I do have gestational diabetes. I will have an appointment made with the diabetes education center. I was really stressed out because all of this has been in the last few days. I know if I just control my eating everything will be fine but I still feel stressed.
Please pray that everything goes well and that I will be relaxed. God is good and I know I am blessed that I really have had a good pregnancy so far. I really am thankful.

15 1/2 Weeks

I am officially in my 2nd trimester and am feeling good! I have been so lucky in this whole process and pregnancy. Obviously, for the most part my IVF went smoothly and now, so far, pregnancy has been great. I haven't been sick at all. I get a little tired but what's new, I've always been tired. ha I have felt God with me this entire journey He has blessed me so much so far. Every prayer I pray, no matter how small, He answers.
I had an ultrasound at 13 1/2 weeks because of a little spotting. It was the first ultrasound that that I've seen them look like actual babies. I admit, I cried. Just seeing them moving around, putting their little hands up to their faces, kicking, and knowing that those were my kids. I am their mom. Still makes me a little teary thinking about it. It's been such a long road and just to see them erases all the hurt. I still pray each day and thank God for them as I will continue to do after they are here.
I had my 4 month check up today (2 days early) and everything looked good. The heartbeats were in the 150's and 130's. I am up 5lbs since my first appointment at 9 weeks. Yes people it's true I am gaining weight! ha
We have an ultrasound scheduled January 24th. I will be over 18 weeks and so hopefully that will be the day we find out what we are having. I can't wait and I know my family can't wait either. I'm not sure my sister Tara will be able to handle the anticipation that day, she can barely take it now. :)
Please remember to keep us in your prayers. I still get anxious from time to time. Please pray specifically that I can carry them past 36 weeks and that they are big enough to go home at the normal time. That is my specific prayer each night and I ask that it be your's. I would really appreciate it.

An Update is Here!

I have had a couple of requests to update my blog and I know I've been slacking so here it goes. I was supposed to have my ultrasound at 7 weeks. Time was going so slow to wait that 2 weeks from the bloodwork appointment until the 1st ultrasound. I was anxious, scared and nervous but tried not to think about it. The weekend before my ultrasound I started to have a little bit of spotting. I got extremely nervous so I called my doctor and they said everything was fine, but if I wanted peace of mind for the weekend I could come in, so I did. I was only 6 weeks and 1 day so we weren't sure if we would be able to see the heartbeat and I knew I wouldn't rest till I could so I prayed that God would allow us to be able to see the hearbeat. We went in and not only did we see one heartbeat but we saw two! They were so strong we able to hear them both (95 beats a minute, a tiny bit low but then again most can't hear it that early). We were so excited and I was relieved.

Although we were happy it seemed that we both should have been more ecstatic than we seemed, we both had our guard up. It was still early and we have had our heartbreak before so it was hard to get too excited. We told our family that we were having twins but decided to wait after our scheduled ultrasound to share with everyone else.

My uncle died that following Monday. My whole family came back to Iowa that week. It was a tough week but it was nice to see all the extended family. My mom and sisters were able to go with me to my 2nd ultrasound. Before I went I prayed and asked God that their heartbeats would be a lot stronger then the week before. I was a little worried about it so I asked Him that they would be at least 120 BPM. Once again we saw two babies heartbeats. At that time they were the size of a grain of rice but had a heartbeat, isn't that amazing? Once again not only could we hear them but they were strong heartbeats. Baby A's was 122 and Baby B's was 145. It was neat to be able to have my sisters and my mom with me and I think they were very excited too.

My next ultrasound was scheduled for 2 weeks later. Again I started spotting a week later and naturally worried again. I knew in my head everything was fine and they told me with twins I would probably have more cramping and spotting as my uterus would grow more than average, but of course I needed peace of mind. This brings us to last Friday I went in again for another ultrasound at 8 weeks 1 day. They were so much bigger and had strong heartbeats. Baby A's was 170 BPM and Baby B's was 168 BPM. We were supposed to have another ultrasound next week but the doctor said we are ready to graduate to an OB doctor now. God is so good and I am so thankful. I make it a point to pray to Him everyday and thank him for blessing us with two babies.

Not only are the babies doing well but I am doing good as well. Both Erik and I are more at peace and more excited everyday. We've talked about names and Erik even texts me how the babies were growing this week. ha I haven't had any morning sickness which God probably knew is my weakness and may keep me from work and well, no work no pay. But in return my face is a mess with red dots but I will take that over nausea. :) I have been craving fruity chewy candy pretty bad. Chewy Jolly Ranchers are hitting the spot pretty well. Starburst are good too! I've been a little more tired then usual but not anything horrible (I went to bed at 7:15 one day this week).

I am so thankful for all of you and your prayers. Please continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy and healthy babies. Also pray that I am able to carry to term and they are big enough to where they won't have to stay in the hospital long. I know many times twins come early so I am really praying that I can carry them as long as possible no matter how uncomfortable I get. :)

Waiting...

I am almost 6 weeks along and will have my ultrasound next week. I am very excited and anxious. This morning I was having one of those anxious times. I am close to the time I had my miscarriage a year and a half ago and I couldn't get it off my mind. So I went upstairs and prayed and God gave me such a peace. I am feeling so much better.
I've been feeling pretty good so far. Last night I was able to stay up till 9:00. I had been going to bed between 7:00 and 8:00. Sunday I felt queasy all day but other then that for the most part been feeling pretty good.
I still thank God everyday for this blessing He has given to us. I am so so thankful to Him. I am also so thankful for those of you who are still praying. I ask that you still pray just as hard for a healthy pregnancy and that I will continue to feel peace. I would really appreciate that. Also pray that the ultrasound next week goes well and everything looks good.
God is good!

He is a rewarder if them that diligently seek Him.

I know alot of you have been anxiously awaiting an update. God has answered our prayers and I am pregnant. I went in on Sunday to have labs done. They like to see anything over 100 and mine was 535. Which is good. Then I went back in today to make sure they were going up and they were 1500. Dr. Cooper called me to let me know and congratulated me.
We are very excited. I have been praying and thanking God ever since. He has been so evident through all of this. I have never seen Him so clearly.
Thank you all so much for praying. I know that is the reason this worked and went smoothly. This whole infertility thing is very hard to go through and I can't imagine how people do it without a faith in God.
I ask that you continue to pray just as hard for a healthy full term baby (or babies). I have an ultrasound scheduled for Nov. 4th to make sure everything is still good and to see how many are in there. :) Please don't forget to pray. I am so excited but still cautious.
Again I cannot thank you all enough for your prayers. You will never know how much we appreciate it. Like I've said many times it feels as if the pressure wasn't all on my shoulders and I had other people talking to God for me.
I will keep you updated after the ultrasound to see what that says. Did I mention I'm pregnant?!?! God is so good!

Implanted

Ok this won't be long because I am sick and want to go back to bed but I thought I'd update everyone since I haven't been keeping up.
Out of the 6 eggs that were fertilized only 3 made it to Tuesday, the day of my transfer. The 2 they put back in they said looked great and were "text book" embryos. It took literally 3 minutes to put back in then I had to lay there for a half hour.
The nurse had warned me that my bloating could get worse after this. And yes it did! I look like I'm 3 months pregnant and on top of that I am so nauseated. I haven't been sleeping well at night because I am so uncomfortable and sick. Last night though was a little better and the nurse prescribed me some nausea medicine that seems to help a tad.
They say to get the bloating down I am supposed to drink lots and lots of gatorade. Which I am but it's hard to eat or drink in large amounts when you feel so bloated and that nothing will fit into your stomach. But like I said I am feeling a little better today and am so thankful for that.
Please pray that this will work and these 2 babies are growing inside of me. Also pray that I feel a little better. I don't handle nausea well and the bloating is very uncomfortable. I know in the end it will all be worth it. :)

Fertilized Eggs

I got a call today and out of the 25 eggs, 16 were able to be injected and only 6 were fertilized. At first I was a bit disappointed but I think I was getting a bit greedy. I had alot more eggs then normal and because of that I expected to have all these eggs fertilized. Having 6 eggs is actually average and a good thing. We only need one to take. We will go in on Tuesday to have the transferred. Please pray this takes the first try. God has worked everything out perfectly thus far and I know he will continue to be there.
Tonight I start my progesterone shots. These, I hear, are not fun. They go in my hip/butt and are intramuscular (longer needle). They have to be done at the same time each day which makes it hard because of Erik's work schedule.
Well that's all I have for today. I will keep you updated. Please pray that all 6 eggs do well and continue to do well.