Happy Transfer Day Lena!!!

The Miracle of Embryo Adoption:  

Our Journey to Lena Joyce

(All the pictures in this post are of Lena.) 

  ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
-Psalm 139:13-14

"Because after all; 
A person's a person 
no matter how small." 
-Dr. Seuss 

2006 –   Lena is created in a lab through the IVF process using her genetic Dad’s sperm and an egg from an egg donor and is placed in frozen storage 18 hours after fertilization.

July 2009 -  Dan and Elizabeth begin the adoption process.

November 2010 – Lena’s donor family decide that their family is complete and donate Lena and 11 other embryos from her set back to the IVF clinic for adoption.

December 2010 -  Our doctor at the IVF clinic matches us with Lena’s set of embryos.  

February 2011 - Our legal “adoption” of Lena is complete.

March 5, 2011 – Lena is thawed after being frozen for nearly five years.

March 9, 2011 – After growing for five days in a petri dish, Lena is transferred to Elizabeth’s body.

March 19, 2011 – We find out that the transfer was successful and Elizabeth is pregnant with Lena.

April 1, 2011 – We see Lena’s heartbeat on the ultrasound for the first time at six weeks.

June 21, 2011 -  At 18 weeks we find out that Lena is a healthy little girl!

November 3, 2011 -  Lena arrives three weeks early and is born by c-section at 8:57pm at 4lbs 3oz

Thanksgiving 2011 – Lena continues to be a beautiful and healthy blessing to her mom and dad.

December 2011 - Lena is one month old.

January 2012 - Lena is two months old.

February 2012 - Lena is three months old.

March 2012 - Lena is four months old.

We can't wait to see how our Lena will grow and change.  She is such an amazing little person and we are enjoying watching her grow up. 

Four Months Old!

Lena has changed the most between months three and four.  Her big milestone is that she has learned to roll over.  She talks so much!  She especially enjoys "talking" to Grandma when we visit every Sunday.  She now reaches for her toys and puts a death grip on them.  She loves to lick everything but especially her fists.  She rejected her pacifier over a month ago.  If we try to give it to her she just stubbornly pushes it back out with her tongue.  She also survived her first illness this past month when she got congested.  We are starting to get glimpses of her personality:  She is pretty laid back and will be content to just sit on our lap, stare off at something, or play in her floor mat gym.  She has some toughness in her which I witness when we change her diaper.  Instead of crying at the shock of the cold wipes on her bum she tenses up and clinches her fists at each wipe until her diaper is changed.  She is also very joyful.  The nurse asked yesterday if she was always so happy and generally she really is.  She loves seeing new things and is not happy anymore when I cover her car seat in the stroller when we are out for a walk or running errands.  When she unexpectedly hears or sees something new her eyes get really big.  She loves little blankies and likes to put them up on her face, especially when she takes her bottle.  Her favorite toy right now is still her gym floor mat.  She will work herself into a loud chorus of shrieks and yells as she plays.  It is pretty funny.  She loves to blow bubbles with her spit and does this funny gurgling sound almost likes she is rolling her tongue.  At the doctor yesterday she weighed in at 10 pounds 8 ounces and is now 23 inches long.  Her head is in the 10th percentile, her height in the 3rd percentile, and her weight in the 5th percentile.  Her head is now large enough to really start wearing all those bows I've been stockpiling for her and now that she is finally moving into 0-3 month clothing she has also been wearing more big girl clothes instead of just jumpers all day.  We have modeling sessions at least once a week.  It is so much fun and Lena just lets me put on and and take off outfits for at least 30 minutes straight without fussing.  She continues to be such a good baby.  We love our time with her and love watching her as she changes.

Favorite Things: Little Lily Hair Bows

Lena wearing one of her Little Lily Hair Bow headbands.

If you are looking for some cute bows and headbands for yourself or your little girl head over or Little Lily Hair Bows (on Facebook) and check out the selection.  Lisa, the owner, is a friend from college and does great custom work!  My favorites are her felt and ribbon flower headbands.  I just ordered this new St. Pattie's flower headband.  I love that it is St. Patrick's but it is not overly themed and can be worn all year.

I also ordered this new natural flower headband to go with Lena's Easter dress which is natural light brown and white. 

There are many cute bows in the stores these days but I love ordering from small business owners.  They customize their products to your needs (Lisa can change the colors and size of the flowers and the headband to your specifications.) They are much better quality and I like supporting small business owners/stay-at-home-moms like Lisa.
If you don't have Facebook you can order by emailing Lisa at: lilygyouandme@gmail.com

Lisa - Owner of Little Lily Hair Bows

Weight Loss Update

February has been a great month so far getting back into my physical disciplines of healthy eating and daily exercise.  I started with this simple game plan and so far it is working:
1.  No eating after 8pm (even during middle of the night feedings)
2.  Make and eat a large chopped salad before every dinner.
3.  Put veggies into everything I make.  (protein shakes, pasta dishes, soups, etc)
4.  Exercise everyday:  even if it is only going for a 30 min walk
5.  Substitute decaf hot tea with splenda for hot chocolate, chai latte, and apple cider.

So far this month I have lost five pounds for a total of 8 pounds of baby weight lost.  It feels good to be disciplined again.  I have set three mini goals in my weight loss journey:
1.  Lose 30 pounds by the time we leave for Chicago.
2.  Lose 60 pounds by the time we leave for Hawaii.
3.  Lose 78 pounds by the time we try for baby Shack #2

It sounds like a lot, but having done it before I know it is very do-able.  =)

So we are on our way to going from this chubby couple...

... to going back to this less chubby more in shape couple!

Our Special Valentine

Three Months Old!

Lena sitting in her Bumpo for the first time.  She likes the new sit up position. 

She has been very fascinated with her tongue lately.  She tries to lick everything in reach.  I am sure this will only get worse as she learns to grab things.

She is just outgrowing newborn clothes and can now wear 0-3 months clothes!  It is really funny because when we are out everyone always comments about how tiny she is.  At 9.5 pounds now she is enormous to us! 

She is a great baby but she still has her "moments".  She can get really mad really fast; especially when she is eating and you take her bottle from her.

She loves her mama and pop and smiles quite a lot.  She even giggled for the first time the other day.  We love to spend lots of time singing and playing in the activity gym mat.

Like I said she likes to lick/eat things...it is kind of funny sometimes like the other day she was licking the side of her high chair.  Crazy girl..

She likes to scream too.  Usually this happens when she is having a really good time but is getting tired.  It is that typical madness-before-the-crash type of thing.  When she screams we know it is soon nap time!

Favorite Things: Victoria's Secret... whaaatttt???

Yes you read it right.  I LIKE Victoria's Secret mainly for one fabulous product that they sell:  their yoga pants.  I first discovered the VS yoga line nine years ago when I was first married to Dan.  (Come on now... what young bride to be hasn't perused the pages of a VS catalog?!)  Back then I had no idea that VS sold clothing.  I ordered a few pairs of classic yoga pants and I was hooked for life.  Here is what I love about them:
1.  They come in a variety of colors and styles.
2.  They come in several lengths including long length!!  YES- no more high waters!
3.  They are so versatile: from workouts and lounging to dressed up with cute heals or boots and a fancy top.
4.  They are SUPER comfy.  I wouldn't wear them otherwise.
5.  They are of a very high quality and last a long time.  I just ordered more towards the end of my pregnancy after having my original pairs for 9 years!
6.  VS offers deals on their yogas quite often which makes them affordable.  I get mine 2 pairs for $50.
7.  VS yoga pants fit my body in its various states of chubbiness and skinniness. 
8.  Most importantly they are cut to flatter the body.  This is what distinguishes VS yogas from many other brands and in my opinion makes them worth the money.

The classic yoga pant that started it all.

 Don't let the size zero models scare you away from this product.  I am no skinny mini and their size XL fits me just great!  This time around I tried a few different yoga pant styles:
The Yoga Foldover Crop Pant

 The Yoga Foldover Pant

And my new favorite the Yoga Pocket Pant which sadly VS no longer carries  =(




Considering that VS no longer carries the yoga pocket pant the classic yoga pants are still my favorite.  Try them out!  Your wardrobe and your backside will thank me!

Remember Friends:  
1.  Never pay full price!  Wait for a sale or there is always a discount code to use when ordering online.
2.  You will get VS catalogs in the mail ETERNALLY for ordering from them.  I always get to the mail first and burn them before Dan even knows they are there... he he he.