Life With the Shacks!: There's No Fooling. . .

. . . we saw TWO heartbeats today! We are blessed with twins and today I am six weeks pregnant! Baby A on top is measuring 3.3 millimeters and and Baby B on the bottom is measuring 3.0 millimeters which is right on schedule. We had a nice smooth ride out to Dr. K's office and got there 45 minutes early. The office was full but they took us right in and a few minutes later we got to see those little flicker, flickers on the ultrasound monitor. It was quite surreal and exciting. He encouraged us to remain cautiously optimistic. I would say we are more optimistic than cautious. We know the risk of loss but it can't take away the immense joy we feel today. At a mere six weeks with two heartbeats this is the longest pregnancy we have had and we will enjoy every day our two little ones stay with us. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and encouragement. I feel so at peace and excited. We were not given an official due date yet but the FET due date calculator says November 25th. =) Our next ultrasound appointment with Dr. K will be on April 11th. Looking forward to seeing how much our little twinos change between now and then!

Body Fat Loss Goal

Start: 38.7% Body Fat at 207.0 lbs = 80.1 lbs of fat

Goal: 33.0% Body Fat by September 1, 2013

----------------------

Wk1: 38.5% at 204.0 = 78.54 lbs of fat (-1.56 lb)

Wk2: 37.8% at 205.5 = 77.68 lbs of fat (-.86 lb)

Wk3: 36.9% at 203.5 = 75.09 lbs of fat (-2.59 lb)

Wk4: 37.3% at 204.0= 76.09 lbs of fat (+1.00 lb)

Wk5: 37.4% at 201.5 =75.36 lbs of fat (-.73 lb)

Wk 6: 37.1% at 199.5 =74.01 lbs of fat (-1.35 lb)

Vacation

Wk 7: 36.2% at 198.0 = 71.6 lbs of fat

Wk 8: 36.7 at 196.0 = 71.9 lbs of fat

Wk 10: 35.9 at 198 = 71.0 lbs of fat

Took a break for FET#4....

Wk 11: 36.2% at 194.5 = 70.4lbs of fat

Wk 12 (September 1st):

Our Adoption Timeline

2009

7/29 Bethany Preliminary Application Submitted
7/31 NEDC Application and Donor Letter Submitted
7/31 Fertility Records Retrieved and Mailed to NEDC
8/3 Birth certificates obtained
8/7 Bethany Full Application Submitted
8/10 NEDC Release and consent forms notarized and mailed
8/12 Bethany Homestudy Begins
8/15 We announce our adoption plans to family and friends
8/18 Livescan Finger Printing for homestudy
8/18 Physicals completed
8/19 Bloodwork completed
8/24 Second physicals completed and paperwork submitted
8/27 First Aid and Adult/Child/Infant CPR Certification
9/3 DMV to request driving records (2.5 hour wait for a 5 minute transaction)
9/16 Lots of xeroxing!!!
9/18 Dropped off most homestudy paperwork at Bethany
9/21 Marriage certificate obtained
9/27 Dan and Elizabeth finish their self study questions!
9/29 Fertility records, donor letter and profile pictures mailed to the NEDC
9/30 Home study paid for and paperwork complete! Interviews to be scheduled soon!
10/8 First home study interview
10/13 Second home study interview
10/19 Third home study interview (home visit)
11/4 Home study completion date!
11/14 Home study mailed to the NEDC
11/30 Email from Knoxville Bethany that homestudy is approved and approval is sent to NEDC
12/1 NEDC states that we are 25th in line for a mock transfer appointment at the clinic in TN and they are already booked through March. = (
12/6 Submit our embryo recipient profile on Miracles Waiting
12/7 Began search for an adoption lawyer with experience in embryo adoption.
12/17 Submit our application to Snowflakes with Nightlight Christian Adoptions
12/23 Family Profile and matching fee submitted to Snowflakes
12/29 More paperwork submitted to Snowflakes (contract draft)
12/31 Fax new patient forms and past fertility records to Fertility and Surgical Associates (Dr. who is doing our FET)

2010

1/8 Matching interview with social worker from Snowflakes
1/11 Patient consultation and examination with FET Dr.
1/22 Matching begins!!! Our profile will be shown to prospective donor families
2/4 Saline ultrasound with Dr. K
2/8 Pre-op with Dr. K
2/11 Laparoscopy surgery
2/16 Snowflakes notifies us of a possible match!
2/18 We accept and our match with four 6-day blasts is official!
3/20 Begin Birth Control Pills (BCP) This puts my body in a "waiting pattern" as we finalize our contract and ship the embryos to California
4/7 Sign our embryo adoption contract with notary and pay our second to last chunk of adoption fees
4/24 Donor family calls off the adoption
4/26 Matching begins again. Looking for a new donor family.
6/23 Snowflakes notifies us of a possible match!
6/25 We accept and our match with four blasts is official!
7/21 Sign our embryo adoption contract with notary
7/22 Begin Birth Control Pills which puts my body in a "waiting pattern" as we wait for the embryos to arrive in California
7/28 Our adoption is finalized today when the donor family signed the contract!
9/1 Embryos are delivered to our clinic in California
9/20 Meds delivered, shot clinic, Dr's visit

FET #1

9/22 Last BCP
9/27 Start Delestrogen injections (.2cc) twice a week
10/4 Mock transfer (lining too thin increase Delestrogen to .3cc)
10/11 Appointment to check lining & do blood work (lining looks great!)
10/13 Progesterone in oil (PIO) shots begin (once per day)
10/18 Frozen embryo transfer (9:45am PST) (Transferred two 5-day blasts one hatching, one expanding 50-60% intact)
10/18-10/21 No work order - rest during implantation time
10/22 Bloodwork for progesterone and estrogen levels (looks great)
10/28 Pregnancy test (Beta #1) - Negative

10/29 Debrief with Dr. K - Notified of a possible new embryo donor match through Dr. K's clinic
11/7 BCP started
11/10 New donor match confirmed through FASAC (5 blasts)
11/15 Legal paperwork begins on new embryo donor match
12/13 FASAC donor family calls off the match
12/15 Another new donor match confirmed through FSAC -12 embryos (six 2PN and six blasts)
12/15 New donor couple signs release paperwork /Legal paperwork begins
12/26 Receive egg donor and sperm donor profiles for our match
12/28 Sign legal retainer to work with our lawyer. Pay attorney fees for our legal paperwork. ($750 to the donor's lawyer and $350 to ours)

2011

1/25 Receive the donor contract
1/26 Review and revise contract with our lawyer
2/1 Sign and notarize our FSAC embryo donation contract / overnight check to have notary go to donor family's home
2/10 Re-sign and re-notarize our FSAC embryo donation contract for the donor couple's lawyer.
2/16 Our adoption of 12 2PN embryos through FSAC is final!

FET #2

2/11 Last BCP
2/11 Baseline ultrasound and consultation with Dr. K
2/16 Start Delestrogen injections (.2cc) twice a week
2/23 Visit Dr. K (check lining & do blood work - increase delestrogen to .25cc)
3/2 Appointment to check lining & do blood work (lining 9.8 & looks great!)
3/4 Progesterone in oil (PIO) shots begin (once per day)
3/9 Frozen embryo transfer (1:00 PST) Transferred two 5-day hatching blasts
3/9-3/12 Bed rest - implantation time!
3/14 Blood work for progesterone and estrogen levels
3/17 Positive home pregnancy test 9dp5dt
3/19 Beta #1 @ 10dp5dt - 425 (official preg. test)
3/21 Beta #2 @ 12dp5dt - 1121
4/1 Ultrasound #1 (6wk) - two fetal sacs and two heartbeats - Twins! Baby A - 3.3 mm Baby B - 3.0mm
4/11 Ultrasound #2 (7w3d) - Baby A no heartbeat measuring 1 week behind Baby B - measuring 7w5d and a heartbeat of 150bpm, 13.8mm
4/27 Ultrasound #3 (9w5d) - Baby B measuring 10w1d, heartbeat of 180bpm and 28.8mm - Released from Dr. K
5/10 First appt with new OB (11w4d)
6/6 Second appt with OB (15w3d)
6/21 Anatomy Scan (17w4d)- It's a girl!
7/5 Third appt with OB
8/1 Fourth appt with OB
8/23 Glucose Test (I passed!)
8/29 Fifth appt with OB (27w3d)
10/31 36 week ultrasound - baby measuring small but facing the right way
10/31 Admitted to labor and delivery for preclampsia - labor is induced
11/3 After four days the induction officially fails and Lena Joyce is born via c-section at 8:57pm at 4lbs 3oz

2012

FET #3

9/17 Phone consult with Dr. K
10/4 Baseline ultrasound/blood work and consultation with Dr. K
10/5 Start Delestrogen injections (.25cc) twice a week
10/11 Dr. Visit (check lining & do blood work - increase delestrogen to .3cc - lining is 10.5 and looking good)
10/18 Dr. Visit (check lining & do blood work - lining is 9.6 and looking good)
10/25 Dr. Visit (check lining & do blood work - looking good)
10/31 Progesterone in oil (PIO) shots begin (once per day)
11/5 Frozen embryo transfer (10:00 PST)
11/5-11/7 Bed rest - implantation time!
11/10 Blood work for progesterone and estrogen levels
11/15 BETA #1 - Negative

2013

FET #4

6/29 Phone consult
7/16 Baseline ultrasound/blood work and consultation with Dr. K & Start Delestrogen injections (.2cc) twice a week
7/23 Dr. Visit (check lining & do blood work - lining is 10+ and looking good)

7/30 Dr. Visit (check linning & do blook work - lining is great)

8/9 Two 2PN embryos are thawed (only one survives)

8/9 Progesterone in oil (PIO) shots begin (once per day)

8/13 Frozen embryo transfer (Time 11:30am PST) - Transferred 3 blasts

8/13-16 Bed rest at Grandma's house! - Implantation time!

8/15-16 Lots of light cramping and twinges

8/19 Blood work for progesterone and estrogen levels - normal
8/23 BETA #1 @10dp5dt- 15 (low positive)

8/27 BETA #2 @ 14dp5dt - 0 (negative)

9/7 Miscarriage

FET #5

10/31 Phone consult / cycle started

11/1 Baseline ultrasound/blood work and consultation with Dr. K & Start Delestrogen injections (.2cc) twice a week

11/8 Dr. Visit (check lining & do blood work) Increase Delestrogen to .3cc twice a week

11/15 Dr. Visit (check lining & do blood work, talk with Dr. K about transfer plan)

11/17 PIO shots begin once per day

11/22 Transfer Day - transferred three blasts 1 from FSAC match and 2 from Snowflakes match

11/27 Blood work for progesterone and estrogen levels: estrogen 922 / progesterone 42

11/28 First positive home pregnancy test (FRER & Wondfo)

12/2 BETA #1 - 50

12/4 BETA #2 - 84

12/8 BETA #3 - 514

12/20 Ultrasound #1 6w5d - One fetal sac and one baby with a heartbeat! 122bpm, 7.4mm, measuring 6w3d

1/6 Ultrasound #2 9w1d - 175bpm, 25mm, measuring 9w4d

1/17 Ultrasound #3 10w5d - 160bpm, 42.2mm, measuring 11w3d

2/4 First OB appt. / Ultrasound #4 13w2d

3/3 Second OB appt. 17w1d

3/17 Anatomy Scan/Ultrasound 19w1d - Looks great! It's a girl!

4/3 Third OB appt. 21w4d

4/28 Fourth OB appt. 25w1d

5/28 Fifth OB appt.29w3d

6/9 Sixth OB appt. 31w1d

6/30 Seventh OB appt. 34w1d

7/14 Eighth OB appt. and 36 week ultrasound - baby girl looks great - approx. 5lb 11oz -24% for size
7/22 Ninth OB appt. 37w2d - tested positive for strep
7/29 Tenth OB appt. 38w2d - first cervical check dilated 1/2 cm and 60% effaced
8/5 Eleventh OB appt - 39w2d - second cervical check 1/2 cm
8/10 Baby Girl's Official Due Date
8/12 Twelveth OB appt! - 40w2d - third cervical check 1 cm
8/13 Monitoring with belly monitors: looks good
8/15 Ultrasound monitoring: amniotic fluid is low admitted to labor and delivery
8/15 McKinley Jane is born via c-section at 3:45pm at 7lbs5oz and 19.5 inches long

Our Infertility Journey

6/2003 Married
5/2004 First began TTC
5/2005 Post-Coital reveals hostile cervical mucus
6/2005 Semen Analysis normal
7/2005 Consultation with RE
8/2005 IUI #1
9/2005 IUI #2 with clomid
2/2007 IUI #3
3/2007 IUI #4
4/2007 IUI #5
5/2007 Hysterosalpingogram (normal - tubes not blocked)
12/2007 Natural pregnancy
1/2008 Miscarriage at six weeks
7/2009 Began our adoption journey
1/2010 Consultation with new RE
2/2010 Laparoscopic surgery to explore for endometriosis (no endo /fallopian tubes are contorted and blocked)
Prognosis: IVF and adoption are our only options to have children. A natural pregnancy would be miraculous.

Where we've been...

Aruba (June '08, June '13)
Boston (one glorious evening in Dec. 2004)
Cabo San Lucas (June 2004)
Catalina Camping (July 2011)
Chicago and the Midwest (May '12)
Conneticut (Thanks Bob and Rachel! - Dec. 2004)
Costa Rica (June '13)
Croatia (Aug. 2010)
Crystal Cove Camping Mar 2014
Greece (Aug. 2010)
Hawaii (Maui June '03,Jan'14) (Oahu and Kauai Aug/Sept '12)
Hume Lake Camping (Aug 2013)
Italy (Aug/Sept 2010)
Las Vegas (too many times to count!)
London (Dec. 2006)
Montana (E only April 2006, Aug. 2007)
New York (Dec. 2004)
Newport Coast (Apr '07, Mar '08, Apr '10, Apr '11, Apr'14)
Palm Desert (Aug '05, Jul '06, Jan. '10, Aug '10, Dec '10, Aug '11,Mar'12, Jun '14)
Paris (Jan. 2007)
Pine Grove / Monterey (June 2006)
Puerto Rico (July 2008)
San Diego, CA (Jun '14, Jul '14)
San Francisco/Sacramento (too many times to count!)
Seattle (Aug. '02, Dec. '03, Aug. '06, Nov. '09, Jan/Feb '13)
St. Pete Beach, Florida (June 2007)
Texas (D in June 2007 / E in April 2003)
Turkey (Aug. 2010)
Washington D.C. (Dec. 2004)

Life With the Shacks!

Friday, April 1, 2011

There's No Fooling. . .

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Life With the Shacks!

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