100th post!

This is the 100th post in this blog! I guess I've had a lot to talk about this year! :)

I've been having 'growing pains' for about 2 hours now. I just KNEW I was going to have a growth spurt this week. Most twin surros I've talked with had a spurt around 22 weeks. I've also had a foot (I think) in my ribs. It feels like Baby B is turning herself around from transverse to breech, and back...and pressing out against my belly to aid her gymnastics. Baby A just kicks and squirms like usual. They have been extra squirmy today...no doubt caused by needing to expand their home a bit.

I'm getting some more stretch marks, too. And I'm sure there are plenty more to come! Let's just say I am glad the holidays are over and I can get back to NOT eating fudge, cookies, cake, etc. We hadn't spent much time at home over the past couple of weeks so we were at the mercy of my inlaws (and their tasty treats!) and several restaurants. The girls have been eating a little TOO well, thats for sure! Back to normal now though. :)

OH...and this may be too much information for some of you, but I am producing colostrum (early milk) already. I definitely didnt produce any this early with my kiddos, so I think its interesting, and worth noting.

Well thats all for now. I just thought I would take note of my suspected growth spurt. I will have a new belly pic on Friday, along with my 23 weeks update!

22 weeks!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! We sure did! Sorry for the late update, but today is Chris' birthday and we have been gone all day.

Everything is going great. Just getting bigger and bigger by the day! I'm starting to be able to sense the girls' personalities...well, the best I can at this point anyways. Baby A is the more active baby. She moves around quite a bit more than Baby B. Baby B gets wiggly while I'm eating, and then in the evening while I'm relaxing. But Baby A wiggles and kicks periodically throughout the day. I'm willing to bet that Baby A is going to be the more active of the girls, and Baby B will be the more laid back one. It will be interesting to see if I am correct. Only time will tell...M&B will have to let me know someday. ;)

Well here's what the babies are up to this week:

• Baby weighs close to a pound at this point!
• Baby can now hear your conversations more clearly than before!. When you talk, read, or sing, expect her to hear you. Studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero.
• Eyelids and eyebrows are fully formed.
• Fingernails have grown to the end of the fingers.
• Be prepared for all those "Why" questions coming! Your baby's brain has entered a stage of rapid growth, especially in what's called the germinal matrix. This structure deep in the middle of the brain serves as a kind of factory for brain cells and disappears shortly before birth. But the brain's amazing expansion program continues until around the five birthday.
• With some help from mom, baby's liver is starting to break down bilirubin, a substance produced by red blood cells.
• If your baby is male his testes begin their descent to the scrotum.
• Primitive sperm have formed and he is producing testosterone.
• Length is 10.94 inches (27.8cm); weight is nearly 1 pound (430gm).

I thought about doing another belly pic today but decided the change will be easier to tell if I give it some time between photos. I've heard a big growth spurt occurs around 22 weeks...so we'll see!

21 weeks!

21 weeks! Nothing new here. Just feeling the girls kick and squirm more and more, as they get stronger! Last night Baby A had the hiccups for a few minutes. I kept feeling "thump....thump...thump". Too cute. I have gotten bigger over the past week, I think. I definitely feel like it, and some of my pre-preg t-shirts dont even come close to fitting over my belly anymore! I have a new belly pic that I will post at the bottom of this post so you can see for yourselves. I think this may be the last belly pic in which I can wear my OSU shirt. Time to retire it, I suppose! Although I've heard that some of my readers will be glad that it goes away! ;)

Here's whats going on with the girls this week:

• White blood cells are under production. Leukocytes (or white blood cells) form our body's defense system. They help fight infections and diseases.
• Your little one's skin has changed from translucent to become more opaque.
• Your infant's tongue is fully formed. If you were able to peek you might catch your son or daughter practicing giving you a raspberry!
• If your baby is a girl, her womb and vagina are formed. Unlike males, females have a limited supply of eggs in their lifetime. At this point your daughter will have 6 million eggs. This amount decreases to approximately one million by birth.
• Baby swallows more this week. After your baby takes in amniotic fluid, his body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel. This is good practice for his digestive system!
• Wake and sleep periods become more consistent. Some research suggests that baby sets her internal clock to match the outside world's even before birth! Your eating and sleeping habits as well levels of light and noise serve as her signals.
• Length is now measured crown to heel.
• Baby measures about 10.51 inches (26.7cm) and weighs nearly 12.7 ounces (360g).

So they each weigh almost a pound, and are almost a foot long! I can really tell! LOL

Here's my big ol belly:

Next appointment is Jan 5th. :)

20 weeks!

Well I will jump right to the good stuff since I know you've all been waiting....

We had the ultrasound this morning and both babies are measuring right where they need to be. Both have all organs and body parts, no deformities or anything. And both babies are.....

GIRLS!

The choice on the poll that got the least votes is what they ended up being. Even I was wrong, as I was sure there were one of each. But there were clearly no boy parts on either baby. I could just sense the visions of pink & purple girly things going through M's head. Hopefully one of them will grow up to like hunting/fishing/sports for B's sake, but I know they are both going to be daddy's little girls.

We got some good pictures of the babies so I will post some but will leave out the gender shots. I dont know how they'd feel about their babies' girly bits being put on the internet, so I will err on the side of caution and not post those here. Each picture tells you which baby you're looking at.




















So congrats to M&B on your two healthy beautiful baby girls! Now we just cruise on through to the finish line! :)

Appointment today

Well I had a prenatal checkup today and everything was great. I've gained lots of weight, which my doctor was happy with (thank goodness) and my uterus is measuring right on track. The babies' heart rates were good, although very different. The baby on the left's heart rate was slower than the baby on the right. My doctor said that if there is any truth to the correlation between gender and heart rate, she bets I am carrying one boy and one girl. I told her that has been my guess all along. So we'll see on Thursday! The gender poll closed today, and most of you think its one of each as well. :)

My next checkup is Jan 5th. I'm hoping to not have TOO much weight gain since we're going through the holidays here. Lots of goodies and treats to eat!

In other news, we have been slammed with snow lately. I am hoping we get the last of it for a while tonight. We dont need any delays or issues with M&B's flights into the city! I think the snow is beautiful but I hate driving in it!

Well I will update again later in the week when I have the big news to tell. :)

19 weeks!

Every week that goes by is another celebration! Less than a week until the ultrasound and then we'll know for sure that both babies are healthy and their genders. I will make sure to update everyone as soon as I get the 'all clear' from M&B. After the ultrasound I will just kind of be on autopilot for a while. I will have a gestational diabetes test somewhere towards the end of the second trimester, and besides that, I'm pretty sure we'll just be crusing towards the finish line. Pretty soon I will be receiving more frequent ultrasounds and 'non stress tests' where they check the babies' movements and heart rates.

So here's what's going on at 19 weeks:

• Your baby has the same awake and sleep patterns of a newborn. He has a favorite position for sleep and recognizable active and rest periods.
• Throughout baby's body, nerves are being coated with a fatty substance called myelin, which insulates the nerves so that impulses can flow smoothly.
• Scalp hair becomes apparent this week. It has sprouted and continues to grow.
• The milk teeth buds have already developed and over the next few days the buds for the permanent teeth will begin to form behind the milk teeth.
• If baby is female the uterus starts to develop. If you're having a girl, the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place.
• If it's a boy, the genitals are distinct and recognizable.
• Your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and his or her kidneys are making urine.
• Your little one's size is around 6.02 inches (15.3cm) and 8.47 ounces (240gm).

I'm sill feeling good overall. The back pain is getting worse though. I went grocery shopping the other night and within 20 minutes my back was killing me. It's sciatic pain, so it was my lower back, down through the back of my thighs. Last night I made some cookies, and then had to make dinner, so standing in the kitchen for a couple hours killed my back too. I couldnt even clean all the dishes...I had to go sit down. I'm not sure what I can do about this back pain, so I just try to stay off my feet as much as possible.

Well the next time I update it will be after the ultrasound. If you want to vote in the gender poll to the right, you only have until Monday! :)

18 weeks!

Wow it feels like I just updated...because I did! ;)

Nothing new to report. We had a great Thanksgiving with our family and had lots of good food. I had turkey with gravy, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, stuffing, homemade rolls, green been casserole, mashed potatoes, and some truffle pie for dessert. Probably some other things I cant remember as well. We have some family friends in town from Amsterdam so it was nice visiting with them. They brought lots of chocolates and Belgian treats, and we snacked on them before dinner. Yesterday was Chris' little brother's birthday and he turned 16. So we are all going out to eat tonight...at the Mall of America...on Black Friday! It should be crazy!

I got up at 5am and went to Target this morning. There was a line all the way down the front of the building and around the side. It was crazy! I wasnt even there to get any of the 'special deals' that everyone else was after, except for the Nintendo DS with new Super Mario Brothers game, for Ian for his birthday. I got all my shopping done this morning! But of course my back hurts now so I am relaxing with my feet up until we go to dinner tonight.

Here's what the babies are up to this week:

• Vernix (a white cheese-like protective material) forms on baby's skin with the lanugo (soft, lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs); both serving to protect your baby's skin during the months in water.
• Your placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby. Don't forget those prenatal vitamins!
• Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs. He'll be putting these lungs to good use in just a few months!
• Her vocal chords are formed. She goes through the motions of crying but without air she doesn't make a sound.
• Features of baby's heart, including ventricles and chambers, should be visible during an ultrasound.
• Your baby measures about 5.59 inches (14.2cm) this week and weighs about 6.7 ounces (190gm).

And here is my fabulous belly:

17 weeks!

Here we are at 17 weeks! Well I am technically closer to 18 weeks now since I didn't get to update on Friday. But thats ok. :)

We visited some relatives that we haven't seen in years and that was very nice. I got to tell everyone about the surrogacy and they were all very very supportive and asked lots of questions. I am so lucky that nobody has said anything negative to me about being a surrogate.

I'm feeling good these days besides the back pain I've mentioned previously. It only bothers me when I've been on my feet for any extended amount of time though. Other than that, I feel wonderful!

Here's what's going on with the twinkies at 17 weeks:

• By week 17, baby weighs about 4.97 ounces (140gm) and is 5.12 inches (13cm) long.
• He or she has a much more normal "human" appearance now.
• She holds her head more erect and her body and limbs are longer in proportion to her head.
• Pads are forming on his tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent.
• Her eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed.
• Meconium (composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid), is accumulating in the bowel. This black gooey substance will become baby's first poop!
• The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger and continues to rush blood and nutrients to your growing baby.
• If your child is male the prostate begins to develop.
• Her skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.

So I am just about halfway through now, considering most twins are born around 36 weeks. It seems like it has gone by pretty quickly so far, but I know it will be crawling by towards the end. I bet it feels like an eternity for M&B already! At least the second half will be full of shopping and preparing, for them though.

Well, I will update again on Friday. It's only a few days away, and then I'll be 18 weeks!!

Hello!

Sorry to leave you hanging! We were visiting some relatives who dont have internet! Can you believe it? I could check my email from a cell phone, but couldn't post on here.



I am 17 weeks and feeling great...getting bigger every day. I will give a good update tomorrow once I've had some good sleep!

Maternity Clothes

Well I did it. I finally broke down and bought some maternity clothes. But I wasnt happy about it! lol

I got 2 pairs of pants and 6 tops at Motherhood Maternity. My problem is that nobody has maternity clothes in styles I like. I dont need dressy things and I dont want frumpy t-shirts. Does anyone make cute casual maternity clothes for women who want to retain some sense of style while pregnant? I LOVE the clothes on http://www.apeainthepod.com but frankly, those clothes are not in my budget. Why does the cute stuff have to cost $195 for a SHIRT?

Someone needs to design some cute, budget friendly maternity clothes for hip women. I think there's a huge market for it!

I used the belly expander when I tried the clothes on, and what's funny is that it only gave me a glimpse of how big I will be when I'm about 28 weeks along. They dont have a belly pillow big enough to show you what a twin belly will look like. So I just might end up needing bigger clothes down the line. Or I might just hibernate in my house, wearing PJs all the time so I dont have to worry about it. haha

16 weeks!

Here's whats going on with the babies at 16 weeks! Look, twins!

• Fat begins to form underneath skin, providing baby with insulation for the coming months.
• Did you know that both baby and placenta are now about the same size?
• Your little one has reached 4.57 inches (11.6cm) and approximately 3.53 ounces (100gm).
• His head and neck are held straighter now.
• This is a week of "mights!" You might hear the tiny thumps of his heartbeat with an external monitor now.
• The genitals are developed sufficiently that an experienced sonographer might be able to determine if your baby is a boy or a girl.
• Her heart is pumping as much as 6 gallons of blood a day and beats at a rate about double your heart rate.
• If you could take a peek inside, you would witness your child's reflexes in action! (Sucking, swallowing and blinking are now evident.) She is probably even hiccuping even though you don't feel it yet!
• Your baby has learned to breathe! This is apparent from the regular movements of his chest. Isn't it amazing that he is able to breathe "underwater," inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid? These actions help the lungs to develop and grow.

For some reason 16 weeks feels like such a milestone to me. Maybe because it signals "4 months" or maybe because its just a few weeks away from the halfway point. I'm not sure...it just feels so neat to be 16 weeks along right now. I guess technically I am almost at the halfway point anyways since I know I wont go to 40 weeks!

I am feeling great. I mean it...really really great. I'm just barely still able to sleep on my stomach, but with one leg hiked up to roll me a little bit to the side. Pretty soon it wont be possible at all! I will definitely have to buy a pregnancy pillow to curl up around so I can sleep comfortably. I've also heard about something called the Belly Bra which is a tanktop/support garment that has an elastic band built in to help lift your belly. It takes the pressure off of your lower back. I wanted one when I was pregnant with Quinn, but I think this time it will be a necessity.

I already have pregnant posture, too. I dont think I am waddling yet though. Whenever I get up from the couch I have to brace myself and get up carefully, otherwise it feels like I'm pulling a muscle in my abdomen. Chris thinks its funny that I'm having to do it already.

Here's my new belly picture. I think I look smaller than I did 2 weeks ago, but I think its all in the posture. I even wore the same shirt for comparison.

So everything is going great! I did have a little bit of a freakout due to some bleeding, but it ended up being Chris' fault, and very common...so I'll leave it at that. ;) The bleeding didnt last long at all, and my doctor told me what signs to watch out for that would mean I would need to come in and be seen...such as clots, cramping, or contractions. But I've had none of that, and I feel great so there's nothing to worry about.

Can you believe it's getting so close to Thanksgiving already? I know I've got a lot to be thankful about this year and I cant wait to spend the day with my family. :)

Appointment

I had a doctor's appointment today and everything is great! I have gained a total of 10 pounds (2 pounds in the first trimester, and the other 8 in the past 4 weeks!). I think I'd be panicking if I were only carrying one baby, but since I'm carrying twins I'm doing just fine.

The babies are both doing great. They gave me an ultrasound, but it was on one of those really old ancient machines that aren't good quality for actually seeing anything. But the doctor just wanted to check and make sure both babies had good heartbeats, and they did. My cervix is still firm and closed, and all the other things its supposed to be.

We ended up having an issue with the scheduling of the Level 2 ultrasound though. When I made the appointment for Dec 8th, nobody told me that I had to go across the street to the hospital and have it done there, by a Perinatologist, since I'm carrying twins. So I found out today that I cant have my Level 2 at my doctor's office like we planned. So I called to set up my appointment with the Perinatologist, and they are booked solid on December 8th. They didnt have any Mondays or Fridays available, and I started to panic. M&B already have their air tickets booked and they have projects and things at work that we have to schedule around. So after a little bit of back and forth with M, we managed to find a date that works for her & B, as well as the Peri's office. So we are now scheduled for December 11th at 9:30am...which just happens to be Ian's 5th birthday. :) I'm glad we were able to get a date agreed upon, because there was no way I was going to have the Level 2 without M&B there to see it!

So all in all, a good appointment, with a little bit of stress thrown in. I also had to deal with my insurance company but it was minor and they were really nice and are going to get the issue taken care of. :)

15 weeks!

Well here we are at 15 weeks already...and getting closer and closer to the 20 week mark! The heartburn is still going strong and I'm still getting up 2-3 times per night to use the bathroom. But in general, I feel good! I have more energy and rarely get nauseated. I really love the second trimester!

So here's what's going on with the babies at 15 weeks:

• You may begin to feel some fluttering movements as baby kicks, flails, twists and turns (but don't panic if you don't yet). She can also grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck her thumb!
• Baby's legs have grown longer than the arms and the body is now longer than the head.
  And you'll be happy to note that he is moving those arms and legs often!
• His skin is very thin -- so thin blood vessel are visible. It's covered by a fine, soft layer of hair called lanugo. Lanugo comes from a Latin word meaning "down." This hair is thought to help insulate your little boy.
• The three tiny bones in his middle ear have begun to harden. The auditory centers in baby's brain haven't developed yet, so she might not really understand what you say but her hearing capacity is in the process of developing.
• Fingernails and toenails are growing.
• Eyebrows are beginning to grow and even the hair his head is sprouting. It will probably change color and texture after birth.
• All this and your little one is an amazing 3.98 inches (10.1cm) long and may weigh 2.47 ounces (70gm).

This morning when I woke up, I rolled onto my back and just laid there for a few minutes. I laid really still and I could feel the babies. Baby B is at the top of my uterus, near my bellybutton and Baby A is down lower. I could feel movement in both places. I'm sure its only a matter of time before they are karate chopping me!

Yesterday we got the first snow of the season. It was beautiful but it melted by the time the afternoon rolled around. It's lightly snowing right now but its not going to stick. I love this time of year. I really dont mind the snow as long as I dont have to drive in it! And I'm just hoping that the weather is nice when M&B are here on Dec 7th and 8th. But even if it is snowy, its pretty to look at. :)

Next week I will have a new belly picture. I havent weighed myself...I've been too afraid to. I've been eating a lot these days! I will get my official weight from my doctor next week. I have an appointment on Wednesday afternoon.

Special Day

Well today is a special day.

No, I'm not talking about what happened last night. lol

I've been feeling babies wiggling around all day. Today the kicks and wiggles became strong enough for me to clearly tell that they were just that, and not gas bubbles or other intestinal disturbances. They wiggle more after I eat, so luckily for them I have been eating all day. :)

I cant feel them on the outside yet, but in a few weeks I'm sure they will be strong enough to be felt on the outside of my belly. Wouldn't it be awesome if M could feel them when they're here in a month?

14 weeks!

Well here we are at 14 weeks already! The second trimester has been all I'd hoped it would be. I still cant eat certain things, but the nausea is mostly gone and I've learned a little trick for dealing with the tiredness: If I let myself lay on the couch and be lazy in the morning, I'm ruined for the whole day. If I get up and do things and keep myself awake, then by afternoon I am good to go. So no more being lazy on the couch in the mornings!

I keep saying how I will need maternity clothes soon, but its kind of sad to think I need them already. But I am carrying TWO babies, not one, so its to be expected. I want to go to Gap Maternity but the only Gap around here with maternity clothes is in Mall of America. And I try to avoid that place like the plague! I'm gonna have to give in soon though.

Well here's what's going on with the babies' development at 14 weeks:

• Thyroid gland has matured and baby begins producing hormones which will be used throughout his or her life.
• In boys, the prostate gland develops
• In girls, the ovaries move from the abdomen to the pelvis
• Little one may have learned to suck his thumb by this point!
• The bones are getting harder and stronger by the day!
• Baby's skin is very transparent still
• Lanugo (very fine hair) covers the baby's body and will continue to grow until 26 weeks gestational age - Generally this will be shed prior to birth. Its purpose is to help protect baby's skin while in all that water!
• Baby is 3.42 inches (8.7cm) long (the size of a lemon) and weighs about 1.52 ounces (43 grams) - approximately the weight of a letter!

And, as promised, here is my big belly. I decided to spare you all from having to see my pale, fleshy skin this time. ;) My pants are as low as I can get them so that they will still fit, so its making my behind look enormous. Its big but its not THAT big. haha

I will have another doctor appointment in a couple weeks. I am going to beg and plead to get an ultrasound just so we can check in on both babies and see how they're doing. I dont know if they will allow it or not, but it cant hurt to try!

Nothing else is really going on. Today is Halloween and Chris will be taking the boys around from house to house while I stay home and hand out candy to whoever stops by our house. Ian is going to be Venom (the black Spider man) again this year, and Quinn is going to be Batman. Chris and I wont be dressing up like we did last year since we wont be going anywhere due to lack of babysitter. Maybe next year!

Dont forget to vote on Tuesday! :)

My hair

So I was waiting until I was out of the first trimester before I dyed my hair. I dyed it a couple weeks ago. I'm really enjoying the darker look! I even felt like straightening it. I had put in some highlights but I think I would have rather left them out. So here's my new color:

Dont worry...a new belly pic is coming tomorrow with my 14 week update!

Here it comes

I've gained 3 more pounds, for a total gain of 5 pounds. :) By the time my next appointment comes around, I should have caught up to where I should be!

The heartburn is back too, but that's to be expected the larger my uterus gets. I have these Tums Quick Dissolve packets and they seem to work decently well. If it gets really bad, I know I can take Zantac. But lets hope it doesnt get to that point.

:)

13 weeks!

Week 13 update!!

• Your infant is about 2.91 inches (7.4cm) and weighs around 0.81 ounce (23gm) - This is about the same weight as 4 quarters.
• If you could peek in again you may spot baby as he begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements
• Eyes and ears continue to move and develop
• Baby's neck is getting longer, and the chin no longer is resting on his chest
• Her hands are becoming more functional - Baby may find it comforting to start playing with her fist.
• At this point all nourishment is received from the placenta
• On your next doctor visit you should be able to hear heartbeat with a Doppler by now - (Don't worry though if you can't, the heartbeat can be confirmed through U/S). Baby's heartbeat is much rapider than your own and may remind you of the race towards birth that he is running!

The babies are the size of peaches now! I feel like I am growing bigger every single week. I am waking up 2-3 times each night just to go pee. The nausea seems to be going away but I'm still pretty tired all the time. Hopefully that will change soon too.

Nothing else is really going on. Things are pretty uneventful, which is good thing right now. :)

12 weeks!

Well, depending on what website you look at, I am either entering the 2nd trimester or still a week away from it. The 2nd trimester is supposed to be the magical, uneventful trimester and I am looking forward to it! Here's what's going on in this uterus of mine this week:

• Vocal cords begin to form
• Those precious eyes begin to move closer together
• Ears shift to their normal place on the side of the head
• Intestines move farther in to your child's body
• His or her liver begins to function - Responsible for cleansing the blood, storing nutrients, and providing needed chemicals, this is an important event!
• The pancreas begins to produce insulin
• Guess what? Baby's average size is now at a whopping length: 2.13 inches (5.4cm) and weight: 0.49 ounce (14gm)

So there are two plums in there this week that have made my belly look like this: (keep in mind I have only gained 2 pounds...the jeans I'm wearing are getting snug and they used to fall off of me)

Tomorrow I will put up a gender poll. I'm so anxious for the ultrasound on December 8th! But I know that nobody is more anxious than M&B are! Ian has decided that the babies are a boy and a girl. Whenever he refers to them, he now says "the little boy and girl" in my belly. So...is he right? We shall see!

Appointment update

Well I had my appointment yesterday and since it was my first official appointment for this pregnancy, it took forever! I had a physical, pap smear, blood pressure, urine analysis, weight, fundal height check, and fetal heart tones check. AND they took 5 vials of blood. AND I had to get a flu shot. When she did the flu shot the first time, the medicine blew out the sides of the needle where it connects to the syringe. So I had to get stuck a second time in the arm so I'd actually get a dose of the flu shot.

We were able to get a clear heart rate for one of the babies, it was 164. We could hear the other baby's heart beat but it wasnt loud enough for the doppler to pick up to register the heart rate. But it sounded about the same. So that was very nice...to get to check on both the babies! She said anytime I feel nervous and want some reassurance I can come in for a fetal heart tones check.

This morning I woke up with a headache. I took some Tylenol but it wont go away. I just want to go to sleep and see if it goes away. =( I hope I dont get sick from the flu shot. Ugh!

OH - I gained 2 pounds. Finally!

My next appointment will be in 4 weeks when I am around 16 weeks pregnant.

Intelligender

Someone showed me the website for this product called Intelligender. It's a pee test that is supposed to predict the gender of the baby you are carrying. It detects something in your urine that is gender specific. In the case of twins, if you get a 'Girl' result then both babies have to be girls. If you get a 'Boy' result then at least one has to be a boy.

It's only $35 and I am soooo curious to see if its accurate, come ultrasound time. According to their website, you can use it as early as 10 weeks pregnant. You have to be off of Progesterone for it to work, and I am. :)

Sooo tempted! I know two people personally who tried it and it was correct.

http://www.intelligender.com

Things I can eat often (or: Welcome to the land of 'aversions')

Here's a list of some foods I can eat repeatedly. This only matters because there is a large list of things I can only eat once or twice and then the thought of it turns my stomach.

• cottage cheese
• yogurt
• bagel w/ cream cheese
• Del Monte fruit cups
• 100 calorie pack of plain Pringles
• ceasar salad (but last time I made one, the lettuce was bitter)
• chicken burrito from Chipotle
• fries

Anything else is a crapshoot. I've been craving chinese food and a loaded baked potato for a few days now. Once I get to feed my cravings, I wonder if they will be added to the 'things I can eat often' list or the 'things I never want to see again' list.

Here's a small example of things I cannot eat anymore.

• Ice cream, any variety
• peanut butter (plain or on a sandwich)
• Frosted Miniwheats cereal
• Anything Mexican other than Chipotle (I'm so sad!)
• Pretzels
• Chocolate (I have a ton of Halloween candy and havent touched the chocolate stuff!)
• Bananas
• Grapes
• Pizza

I have two pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream in the freezer that likely wont be eaten by me. I was eating it every night, and then all of the sudden....I just cant. Pregnancy does some really silly things to your body and mind sometimes.

Appointments

Well I will have my first official 'new OB' appointment on Wednesday at 2pm. I wish I could have an ultrasound just to check in and make sure the babies are doing well. I think they are just going to weigh me, measure me, check my cervix, talk about any concerns, etc.

I also scheduled my big ultrasound for December 8th at 9am. That's only a month and a half away!

11 weeks!

• Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function.
• Fingers and toes have separated.
• Hair and nails begin to grow
• The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics - It will be just a few more weeks before your ultrasound can show if you are having a boy or a girl! Have you been dreaming of pink or blue?
• Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for your baby while she's nestled within your womb.
• The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice contractions that digest food.
• Your baby is about 1.61 inches (4.1 cm) long and weighs 0.25 ounce (7gm).

So I've got two limes rolling around in there! I swear I feel them bumping around already. Sometimes its obviously gas bubbles or something, but other times it clearly feels like little bumps and nudges. I knew I would feel them earlier since they're twins.

Well I am off the Progesterone injections but I have to use Prometrium suppositories (3 times a day) for 11 more days. They are pretty gross. I think I'd rather be doing the injections! LOL.

Ian is really interested in the babies. He knows to be careful around me and not use my tummy as leverage when he gets up from the couch. I've fully explained that these are M&B's babies and that they will not be coming home with us when they are born, and he is very happy about that. But he does like to hug my belly and say "Mama, I love these babies." He's such a sweet boy. I wonder, if he was in school right now, if he'd be telling everyone at school his own version of this? haha

Chris is out of town until Tuesday so I'm on my own with the kids until then. Yesterday went well, although the boys have already said that they miss their Daddy. When I went to sleep last night, it was so quiet without Chris' wall-rattling snoring, that it was hard to fall asleep. It was just too quiet. But once I was asleep, I was totally knocked out! I might take the boys to an apple orchard this weekend if I feel brave. I've been stuck in the house so much lately...I really need to get out and do something interesting.

Well...the second trimester is around the corner! Already! This pregnancy seems to be going pretty fast for me now, although I know its crawling by for M&B. I remember feeling like I was pregnant for an eternity when I was pregnant with Ian. It took us 2 years to conceive and I was totally impatient and couldnt wait to meet him and see who he looked like, what his temperment was, etc. My pregnancy with Quinn flew by since we had so much going on...we sold our house & moved from TN to MN during the pregnancy, then lived with my inlaws for a couple months until we found a house to rent. I sure miss my Mother In Law cooking for me every day. =)


I really want a cake doughnut. Too bad we dont have any doughnut shops around here. Just grocery stores with bakeries...but its not the same. =(

Weighty Issues

Never in my life have I had trouble GAINING weight. I really dont get it! I eat as much as I possibly can. I've even taken the advice of my book about carrying multiples and having full fat, premium ice cream every night before bed. I eat more junk than I ever have in the last couple of years...but my metabolism has shot through the roof! I wish it would give me energy too, but I guess I cant be that lucky. I can eat a big meal and then an hour or so later I get those really strong stomach growls and that feeling that you're starving and your stomach is going to start dissolving itself.

So here's where I stand with my weight = 0 lbs gained.

I thought I had gained a couple pounds, but next time I weighed myself I was back to my normal weight. When I started injections in March (for the mock cycle) I weighed 140. That's the smallest I've ever been. By the end of the mock cycle I was at 155 and I have hovered there ever since. 155.4 to be exact. I would really love to have this metabolism once the babies are born...thats the truth! Especially because I will be hitting the gym HARD once the doctor clears me in the spring. But good golly...this is NOT the time to not be gaining weight! Everyone tells me that eventually the weight will pile on and that the babies are getting plenty of nourishment. So I'm sure in the future I will be posting 'OMG I gained 10 pounds in 2 weeks!' or something similar. ;)

Now, where's that Halloween candy I bought today...

10 weeks!

Well I am now into the double digits! 10 weeks pregnant today! Here's what's going on with the babies at 10 weeks:

• Baby is now called a fetus in "medical terms".
• The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth.
• While a bit strange to envision, baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development!
• Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point.
• Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep baby growing strong!
• Baby will be about 1.22 inch long (3.1cm) and weigh 0.14 ounce (4gm) at the end of this week

And here is my belly pic for 10 weeks. I'm rapidly outgrowing my clothes! My uterus is roughly the size of a 16 week singleton pregnancy.

And the babies are about the size of prunes (1.2 in long)

Tomorrow is our quarterly surrogate support meeting here in Minneapolis. I cant wait to see everyone again and meet the new girls. I will also get to officially announce my twin pregnancy. Some of the girls already know but it will still be exciting to announce it. I will also get to see my counselors again and I just love them. Ooh...and we get free dinner! :)

I'm doing well. Same old, same old! I need to go grocery shopping right now, but having to think of meals to make and write out a list is making me feel... 'ugh'. I have a love/hate relationship with food still. Come on second trimester! :)

OH - and I stop progesterone this week, thanks to the placentas kicking in and providing all the progesterone these babies need! No more nightly shots!

Yay!

I got my medication weaning schedule!!

I have a week and a half of progesterone left (nightly injection) and about 3 weeks of Delestrogen (every 3rd night) and Estrace (2x day). I'm so excited! Soon I will be able to just go to bed when I'm tired instead of having to sleepily load up a syringe and stick it in my behind! Plus this also means that Shady Grove is confident that my body will carry these babies on its own without the help from the meds. I'm so happy! I will celebrate the day I take my last injection! :)

9 weeks pregnant!

No belly picture today. I am going to wait until next week. I think we'll see more change every 2 weeks or so. :)

Here is the 9 week update: Baby is officially a fetus and no longer an embryo!

• Baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want!
• Most joints are formed now - and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing.
• Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - This is amazing to see! At only nine weeks, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose!
• Fingerprints are already evident in the skin
• Average size this week -- length 0.9 inch (2.3cm), weight 0.07 ounce (2gm)
  

I'm doing ok...dont want to bore you with any complaining so I will just say I am still having difficulties eating. I almost asked for an anti-nausea medication at the doctor's office today, but I would rather wait it out and see if it passes soon rather than have to take a medication. It's perfectly safe for pregnancy, and MANY girls I know have to take it, but they are also actually vomiting and I am not. So I will hold out and see if it gets better. Ginger Ale helps sometimes...other times the carbonation makes it worse. I'll live. ;)

Now here's the best part of this post: ULTRASOUND PHOTOS! :)

Baby A's body and Baby B's head:

Baby A (the little circle in with the baby is his/her yolk sac) and Baby B. If you look really hard you can see little arms on Baby B.

Here is a 3D photo of the babies. She isnt sure which is which since she had to rotate the screen so much to get a good shot of both of the babies. The baby in the front looks bigger just because its closer to the ultrasound wand. You can see the umbilical cord connecting with the yolk sac with the baby in the back.

Ultrasound

Today's ultrasound went great! Both babies are growing well and measuring right where they should be. They were both in sync with heart rate...176bpm. I got some good pictures and even a 3D photo as well.

I will post a better update in a few minutes...I am going to scan in the ultrasound photos. :)

Answer for Janice

I will answer your question in a blog entry because I dont know how to contact you otherwise!

We used one of the MD locations of Shady Grove. Our transfer was in Rockville. We transferred 2 5-day embies on 6/18. So you wanna know how I made it through the 2ww? Well the first week I tried to keep my mind off of it. I went about my life like normal and didn't allow myself to sit there and overanalyze every little twinge or emotion. I took a HPT on 5dp5dt and it was negative, which really put me in a bad mood. The next night I took another one and it was positive. Getting the positive test was what helped me make it through to the beta. I took another (digital) test on 10dp5dt and it came up positive immediately, so thats when I really believed that I was good and pregnant.

You didnt mention in your comment if you have cheated and tested yet, so I am assuming you are just holding out for the beta. The 22nd isnt too far away now! Good luck and I hope your FET was successful! Please update me! :)

8 weeks pregnant!

8 weeks 8 weeks 8 weeks! I'm 2/3 of the way through the first trimester! haha

Well I have actually been feeling better the last few days. I still have some nausea, but I have a little more energy and I've been able to eat a bit better too. It really helps that Chris has been absolutely wonderful and has been helping me out some. He has made dinner a few times, he has let me sleep in more in the last few weeks then he has in the last few years...LOL...and he isnt nagging me about the house being a disaster. I do need to finally do some laundry today before Chris runs out of clothes to wear to work!

Here is what's going on in my belly this week: (but x's 2!)

• Cartilage and bones begin to form - At the end of this week baby will have already completed 1/5th of the journey 'til his birthday!
• The basic structure of the eye is well underway - The position is more "newborn" like already!
• The tongue begins to develop
• Intestines move out of the umbilical cord into the abdomen.
• Body grows and makes room - Two months along and this little one is growing inside and out by leaps and bounds!
• The fingers and toes have appeared but are webbed and short
• Baby's length (crown to rump) is 0.61 inch (1.6cm) and weight is 0.04 ounce (1gm)

I have finally put on a couple pounds now that I am able to eat better. I am definitely bigger than I was in my 6 week belly picture! Here's my new belly pic:

Its time to start buying bigger clothes. I'm able to mostly live in my jammies right now since I dont really go anywhere, but soon I will need something for going to church, grocery shopping, dr appointments, etc. I think the people at the gym are probably thinking "Wow, even though she exercises 3 times a week she's getting bigger!" HAHA if they only knew! At some point I may have to stop exercising. I dont do anything high intensity...just some walking on the treadmill and some elliptical machine. But carrying twins is a totally different ballgame from carrying one baby, so I know I will have to make some lifestyle modifications. Which is perfectly fine. Anything I can do to keep the babies healthy and strong, I will do it!

I am excited for my next ultrasound on the 26th. Any opportunity to check on the babies and make sure everything is ok is fine by me! Plus I will get some more pictures to send to M&B. I bet they've been showing their pictures to everyone ever since they got back home!

I will be putting up a gender poll once I reach the second trimester. I know M&B are curious to see what you all think we've got in there. Since 80% of you were correct about me carrying twins, I cant wait to see what the majority votes for with the genders! October 18th is the day I will set up that poll. So watch for it! :)

Time to prepare

Well I went to the library this morning and checked out a couple books about being pregnant with multiples. One is called "When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads" by Dr. Barbara Luke and the other is called "Expecting Twins, Triplets, and More" by Dr. Rachel Franklin.

I want to know the best way to keep myself and the babies healthy. The first book has a nutritional guideline in it that is purely for making sure the babies have high, healthy birthweights. So I have lots of reading to do!

Speaking of eating...I am really having a hard time with my eating. Thinking about food makes me feel more nauseous. Thinking about cooking anything makes me feel yuck. Nothing sounds good, nothing tastes particularly good, but when I do eat something my stomach feels a bit better. I can eat things that are made for me or given to me. I know that sounds weird...but preparing it myself really makes me sick. If Chris makes me something to eat, I can eat it just fine. If we go out to eat, no problem. Its making it very difficult for me to eat well. I need some kind of prepackaged meals that are healthy but not 'diet food' since I am obviously not looking to lose weight!!! I dont know if that even exists. I hope this feeling goes away soon so I can eat normally again. I love to eat and I cant wait for my body to love to eat too! haha

Other than that I am good...still exhausted...still have to take a nap everyday. But the nap never feels like enough!

I try not to complain because no matter how awful I feel it is totally worth it. But I know M&B appreciate the honesty so I will continue to tell you all how I really feel. I know it will get better eventually...and honestly it could be SO much worse. I'm just thankful to have these two little twinkies growing strong in my belly no matter how yuck I may feel at times. :)

Can you believe it!? TWINS! I'm still just amazed and soooo stinking happy for M&B. It's so amazing. Absolutely amazing.

The moment we've all been waiting for!

Well, we had our ultrasound this morning. M&B got to be in the room with me, which was awesome. The room was small so the monitor was turned towards the tech and they were standing behind her. I couldn't see anything! I laid there patiently, waiting for the tech to say something...ANYTHING. Eventually I just said "Well is there one or two!?!?" And the tech said, "It looks like there are two sacs here." I said "I KNEW IT!". I just knew it! She had to check and make sure both sacs had babies with heartbeats and they did.

Baby A's heart rate was 138 and Baby B's heart rate was 156. Nice and strong! They gave me an estimated due date of May 3rd, but since its twins they will be born in April. M&B were absolutely thrilled. It seriously made my day...no, my whole YEAR...to see the looks on their faces when they saw their BABIES on the screen for the first time. Now they get to do all the fun planning and shopping, and choosing names. The names part wont be easy but I'm sure they will choose SOMETHING before the babies are born. ;)

So today was an awesome day. M&B got to meet my doctor and she answered all of our questions and let us know what to expect with monitoring and such with a twin pregnancy. I need to gain 35-45 pounds (yikes!) and M wants me to start NOW. haha

We need nicknames for the babies so they dont have to be known as Baby A and Baby B for the rest of the pregnancy! Anyone have any suggestions? :)

7 weeks pregnant!

Sorry for the lack of updates...I have been absolutely exhausted. I nap while Quinn is napping during the day and I go to bed fairly early but I just never feel like I've gotten enough sleep. I cant wait for the energy boost that the 2nd trimester provides!

Here is a baby update:

• Elbows form - Again, taking a peek inside you could see your baby's fascination with bending and flexing. Later you will swear you can enlist your child as the star of the next "Karate Kid" movie!
• Fingers start to develop - These digits often become your baby's first toy!
• Feet start to appear with tiny notches for the toes - It is fascinating that at less than a half inch, your little guy (or gal) already is leaving "footprints" on your heart!
• Ears eyes and nose start to appear - Although they may resemble an alien life form, these all "shift" soon enough into a more normal appearance.
• Intestines start to form in the umbilical cord - Did you know that initially the intestines are not formed inside your baby's body?
• Teeth begin to develop under the gums - Thankfully, right now you won't be dealing with teething pain!

The ultrasound is Monday! We are looking forward to seeing M&B even though they wont be here very long. Please be thinking about us on Monday morning...we're hoping for a nice strong heartbeat!

I hate to cut it short but its Quinn's naptime and I am looking forward to my nap as well. :)

6 weeks pregnant!

Today I am officially 6 weeks pregnant so its time for a pregnancy update.

I am still exhausted and now a touch of morning sickness has crept up on me. For a good hour last night I was so nauseated I couldn't do anything but lay down on the couch. And this morning I have a bit of queasiness, though nothing like it was last night. Hopefully this little trend goes away quickly. I've got kids to play with, meals to cook, and a house to clean! LOL

Here is the baby's development at 6 weeks:

• The arms and legs continue to develop - These limbs are stretching out more and more. Later on you will be feeling those feet and elbows up close and personal right in your bladder!
• Brain is growing well - Did you know that over the course of the remaining months that your baby's brain will develop over 100 billion neurons? This is just the beginning!
• Lenses of the eyes appear - If you could catch a glimpse inside, you would notice your baby's appearance becoming increasing like a newborn's.
• Nostrils are formed - The position of the nose seems to shift into its proper place as well. Soon, the nerves running from the nose to the brain appear.
• Intestines grow - Initially these are actually located outside the baby's body within the umbilical cord.
• Pancreas - Your baby is now equipped to deal with digestive enzymes and take on processing the insulin and glucagons the body needs to function.
  

Since I am 6 weeks pregnant today, that means only another 4-6 weeks of injections! It will be nice when all of that is over. I know my bottom will sure appreciate it! And I will start the second trimester on October 18th. Right smack in the middle of fall....my favorite time of the year. I cant wait to go to an apple orchard and buy big bags of Honeycrisp apples. I am craving them so bad but they aren't in season yet. They are seriously the best apples ever...and they were developed here at the University of Minnesota! And of course we will have to pick a pumpkin from the patch to decorate and put out on the front porch. I cant wait to see how many kids go Trick or Treating in this neighborhood. I think I will have Chris take the boys out while I stay in and give out candy. Oh I love fall so much.

And now I leave you with my first belly picture.
Right now it's mostly bloat, but hey I've gotta start somewhere.

Um

So whoever voted that I am carrying triplets needs to make themself known! LOL

Beta #3!

My third and final beta (thank goodness!) was 12,166! Exactly where it needs to be!

Now we all have to sit here in anticipation for the next 2 weeks until the ultrasound on the 15th. Hopefully the time will go by quickly!

Beta #2! And an update

So I am finally home from the fair...with a full belly and a sunburn. I couldn't ride any rides (for two reasons...#1 I am pregnant and #2 someone had to sit with Quinnie!) but I still had a great time. My father-in-law took us and paid for everything. It was a really long, fun day. You dont want to know what all I ate, but I will say that although we ordered all the horribly bad fair food you can imagine, we split it all so I only ended up having a couple bites of each thing. So, not too bad. I finally got my rootbeer float, too.

Ok onto the beta news. My beta came back at 3303!! A nice solid number! I needed my previous number to at least double within 48 hours, and it did more than double so we're good! According to betabase.info my doubling time is 32.27 hours! I have to go back in for one more beta on Tuesday, and then 10 days from that will be the ultrasound (Friday 9/12).

Today I am officially 5 weeks pregnant with 'Baby C' (or the C Babies). Here's whats going on at 5 weeks: (All instances of "your baby" are of course aimed at M&B!)

• First heartbeats begin - If you have an early ultrasound you may not be able to recognize this tiny being as a baby, but there is no mistaking what it feels like seeing your child's heartbeat on that screen. That rhythmic beat is echoed in your own heart.


• Umbilical cord develops - This is your baby's lifeline in utero. It bears the responsibility of pumping in oxygen, removing waste, and supplying the necessary nutrients for the remainder of your pregnancy.


• Blood is now pumping - All four heart chambers are now functioning, insuring your baby's body will receive all it needs over not only the remainder of your pregnancy but throughout life.


• Most other organs begin to develop - Your infant's lungs start to appear, along with her brain. Already your little one is preparing for a quest for lifelong learning!


• Arm and leg buds appear - While they may not appear to be much at this stage it is ok to dream of the future. Just imagine your ballerina twirling and jumping around your kitchen floor. Or perhaps you will have the precocious boy that throws the perfect pitch -- right through the neighbor's window.

I am feeling great. Some fatigue everyday around 3pm, but thats to be expected when you're growing another human being and trying to take care of your own kiddos and husband. I've heard that morning sickness usually starts around 6 weeks or so, so we'll see if I can escape it like I did with my boys. Here's hoping!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is beta #2! My appointment is at 9am, and then we are all going to the MN state fair. So I wont be home until late tomorrow to update about my beta results. I will, however, call M&B once I get the call from my doctor. I can leave everyone but them hanging for a few hours. ;)

Most people who hear my first beta number think I'm carrying twins. It is entirely possible since we transferred two embryos! So we shall see in a couple weeks at the ultrasound! I wonder how high my beta will be tomorrow? It needs to be at least double my previous number. I can feel the additional hormones pumping through my body. My temper has been extremely short today. I yelled at Ian and felt so bad about it. He just wouldn't stop bugging me about his internet not working and I told him that I cant fix it and he has to ask Daddy about it. I feel so bad. =( I think going to the fair tomorrow will make up for it!

Currently craving: a rootbeer float. Alas, I have no rootbeer. :(

PREGNANT! Beta = 1178!

First of all - I totally tested last week. *giggle* I was just good about not posting it on here. I got a positive test last Tuesday, the 19th. I was 6dp5dt. I then got a beautiful 'pregnant' on a digital test on Saturday morning.

So I knew I was pregnant. Then the symptoms started and I just KNEW that it was going to work this time! I've had heartburn every day, after everything I eat or drink, since 4dpt. I've had the crampy/stretchy uterus and the bloating too. And now I have the only kind of morning sickness I ever get, and that's "nothing sounds good so I dont want to eat but I have to make myself eat SOMETHING".

My beta came back at 1178! So really we could have one in there or two! I go back for a redraw on Friday morning to make sure my numbers are rising appropriately, and then depending on that number I may or may not have another beta on Monday. Then I will have my first ultrasound 10 days from my last beta. M&B will be flying in for the ultrasound. We'll all find out if there is one or two babies growing in there! :)

So there's the exciting news! I'm so excited to finally get to experience this surrogate pregnancy and to share it with all of you. I will post baby development updates, belly pictures, and of course my cravings/aversions/feelings/symptoms/etc.

CONGRATS M & B! :)

Still waiting!

Well they've had my blood since 8:30 this morning and results are back within a couple hours. So now we're just waiting on someone who has the time to call and 'interpret' them for me. All I need to know is the number! No interpretation necessary! Argh!

I called and left a message for the nurse to call me ASAP with my results. Dont they know the whole country is going crazy with anticipation here? hehe

Betas

There is a big beta list on the surrogate messageboard I post on, and I just checked it today to see what the beta levels usually look like around 14dp5dt. As it turns out, the levels are all over the place! Here's the breakdown:

14dp5dt
Singleton: 75, 138, 178, 209, 435, 640, 688, 711, 853, 861, 913, 963, 1000, 1078, 1112, 1546, 1690, 2050
Twins: 1103, 1275, 1398, 1632, 1890, 1941, 1973, 2179, 2273, 2951, 2980, 3150, 3520, 3603, 3760, 6823
Trips: 1611, 2440
Quads: 5300

I an anxiously awaiting my beta tomorrow! I need a big healthy number! But not TOO big...LOL.

Appointment is confirmed!

I called my doctor's office to make my appointment for Wednesday morning, and they wanted me to come in today so they could order my results STAT and get them back for me today. I wish! I told them that I have to come in on Wednesday, per Shady Grove's orders.

I know my doctor is very hopeful for us and a big healthy beta number! I think I am the only surrogacy they've had and it has been a learning experience for everyone up there. They have finally understood that I am 'special' when it comes to certain tests and ultrasounds. I think my lab nurse, my ultrasound tech, and my doctor are all very excited and hopeful of a positive outcome this time! I cant wait for them to meet M&B when they are able to come for the ultrasounds and stuff.

I am anxiously awaiting my results on Wednesday!!

Frustration

My nurse at Shady Grove never calls me back. She never called back when I asked to have my beta moved up and I left her a message earlier this morning telling her that I need refills on all my meds. I wonder if I will hear from her today since I REALLY NEED MY MEDS! And with the previous cycle she rarely called me back.

Please call me back! I dont like talking on the phone myself, but in a professional situation I think its imperative.

She actually used to answer her phone, and now she doesn't.

Please call me back. Or I will flood you with calls today.

EDIT: She called me back! She is calling in my refills of the meds I need, and she said they still need me to wait until the 27th for my beta, because they know what my level SHOULD be at that point so to move it up would throw it off. I still think this was way too long for a beta. Last time I didn't have to wait this long. But whatev. I just go with the flow. :)

My beta is forever away!

Today is 7dp5dt or 12DPO. I am feeling good. Sore breasts, tired, bloated...but overall feeling good. I woke up sweating around 2am this morning and felt a little nauseated but quickly went back to sleep.

My beta isnt until Aug 27th which seems very far away. I wonder why they are making us wait a longer amount of time this time? I still have a full week until beta day! And by then hopefully I will have some big huge beta numbers.

Well thats it for my update. I feel pregnant, but I also felt pregnant last time and we all know what happened with that.

So, we wait.

Gettin the itch!

I must say that I am proud of myself for not obsessing this time about whether or not I am pregnant. Today at church I started getting the itch to test since I have two pregnant friends there. My friend Molly was due a couple days ago and is rather large and uncomfortable, and my friend Noelle is 8 weeks pregnant and having terrible terrible morning sickness. She has already been hospitalized once from dehydration! So after being around preggies, I've been analyzing how I'm feeling. I cried through each prayer this morning. Not sobbing or anything, but teary eyes and sniffly nose. I never cry through prayers! We were praying for all kinds of things...for Molly and Noelle, our pastor when he goes on his ministry retreat, for our message today, for us to give God control over certain aspects of our life that we are struggling with, etc. So maybe some hormones are kicking in! Or maybe it was just a really good spiritual day for me. We will see!

I also devoured a burrito at Chipotle. But that's really nothing new. That burrito was totally awesome.

In other news, my backside is pretty bruised up from all the injections! Putting a needle through an area that's already bruised and swollen is no fun. But of course its all SO worth it. I used to actually be afraid of shots and needles, so I was very proud of myself when the time came for my very first injection and I stuck it in without fear or panicking. I've come a long way. Sticking a needle in my rear is like second nature now! ;)

No, I'm still not going to take a test unless M asks me to. :)

More details

Deana has requested more details so here's what I remember:

M had 14 eggies retrieved and I think 10 of them fertilized. By the time I made it out to Annapolis there were 8 still growing, and then by the day of transfer (3rd day) there were 6. The doctor said there were 2 embryos that were definitely growing faster and stronger than the others, so they transferred those two. I dont know if any made it to freeze...I just texted M to ask and will update once I know that information. I really hope they had some to freeze this time! That would make a sibling project much easier down the road. =)

I am feeling good. No 'signs' yet but today is only 3dp5dt. I haven't even been tempted to cheat and take a test...and yes I know it would be WAY too early to test right now anyways. ;) I'm just trying not to think about it so that I dont sit here and obsess about it. I'm just taking it easy.

I will update when I have more to tell. And hopefully its good news!