8 weeks

How far along?:  8 weeks

Gender: Not finding out! We love surprises!

Weight gain: Ugh! I actually have now lost 3
pounds. Dreading the thought of possibly taking
meds.
I'm reading a book about having twins and it says
I should have gained 8 pounds by now.
How can I gain weight when food doesn't sound good?!

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but definitely getting close!

Stretch Marks: No

Belly Button in or out: In

Sleep: I had the worst night of sleep this week.
I couldn't get comfortable. I tossed. I turned.
I didn't sleep much AT. ALL.
The next day my mom bought me a body pillow.
Ever since, I've been sleeping like the two babies inside of me!

Best moment this week: We had another ultrasound this past Thursday
and were able to hear both babies' heartbeats.
They were the most beautiful sounds I had ever heard in my
entire life.
I cried, surprise, surprise.
My mother and father in law also found Chicco car seats
on sale for a really good price! Car seats--check!
Worst moment this week: I woke up yesterday morning around 5:30
hungry as all get out. I didn't have to go to the bathroom, but
thought, "Well, since I'm awake, I might as well go."
I went to the bathroom in the dark so that I did not disturb
Keith, but when I wiped I saw something dark on the toilet paper.
I flipped on the light and saw bright red blood on my toilet paper
and in the toilet. I yelled to Keith (who surprisingly woke up!)
and he came into the bathroom. I said, "What do I do? What do I do?"
I thought for sure I had lost our precious miracle babies.
I cleaned myself up and cried on the floor.
I called IRH and left a message.
I tried to go back to sleep, but there was no way.
They called at 8:20 and we were being seen by the doctor
by 9:30.
The babies checked out fine, thankfully.
Apparently bleeding is common with multiples.
Ugh! So scary!

Miss anything: My brain when it had positive pregnancy thoughts.
Now I am constantly wondering if the babes are okay.

Movement: No

Cravings: Panera salad and tomato soup.

Queasy or sick: This week I'm feeling pretty good!
Just keep that ginger ale flowing. :)

Looking forward to: New Year's Eve with some of our favorite friends!

7 Weeks

SURPRISE! WE'RE HAVING TWINS!

How far along?:  7 weeks

Babies are measuring 0.9 cm and 0.73 cm.
Doctor says they are right on track!

Gender: Not finding out! We love surprises!

Weight gain: I actually lost weight this week due
to all of my sickness. The doctor says if this continues
I will have to take some anti-nausea meds, but I'm
going to try to hold off as long as I can. 

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but maybe soon!

Stretch Marks: No

Belly Button in or out: In

Sleep: As I have said before, I've always been a
stomach sleeper. I have often wondered how I would sleep once
 I got pregnant. My body has naturally been having me sleep on my
side. Isn't it weird how our bodies just know?!

Best moment this week: Our ultrasound appointment!
Seeing the two flickering heart beats made my heart flutter.
Worst moment this week: Our ultrasound appointment.
The two days leading up to the appointment, I had lost all
pregnancy symptoms. I was hungry (which has been rare), my boobs
didn't hurt any more, I didn't feel as tired. After last year's miscarriage,
I was afraid I knew what this meant. Loss of pregnancy symptoms
means loss of baby.  So the day of our ultrasound, I woke up
in the morning and took a pregnancy test to make sure I was
still pregnant. I was freaked out when that double line was so faint
I could barely see it!  I cried when I left the house and all the way to work
thinking that we had lost our baby again.
Darn 3:45 appointments.
This day was going to be the longest day of my life!
Fortunately, it ended with our best moment of the week
(see above!).

Miss anything: Food, but what's new?!

Movement: No

Cravings: Fruit! I cannot get enough!

Queasy or sick: Some days I'm really sick, others not so much.
Ginger ale before getting out of bed has been a miracle cure!

Looking forward to: Our next ultrasound appointment on Thursday, December 26th!

Merry Christmas to all!

6 weeks!

How far along?:  6 weeks

The baby is the size of a sweet pea.

Gender: Not finding out! We love surprises!

Weight gain: I have finally weighed myself. 

We'll start counting the pounds from here.

Maternity clothes: Not yet.

Stretch Marks: No

Belly Button in or out: In

Sleep: So tired! Tired doesn't even cut it....exhausted!

Best moment this week: Peeking at fun baby items

while out Christmas shopping. Fighting the urge to buy things!

Worst moment this week: This week I am sick. I mean vomiting

sick. How many more weeks of this?!?!

Miss anything: I long for the day that food sounds good again.

Movement: No

Cravings: Fruit of all kinds: bananas, oranges, strawberries, grapes,

but especially Halos. I cannot get enough of those things!

Queasy or sick: Sick. :( Some days it's just the morning, some days

it's just the evening, some days it's ALL. DAY. LONG.

Looking forward to: Our ultrasound THIS Wednesday!

5 Weeks!

Week 5 has brought with it a whole new range of feelings!

Last week I was feeling so good,

this week the queasies have started to set in.

I wouldn't trade any of it, though,

if it means Little Baby Messer is growing

happy and healthy in there.

How far along?: 5 weeks
The baby is the size of an apple seed!
Gender: Not finding out! We love surprises!
Weight gain: I still haven't weighed myself.
I really should set a reminder to do that in the morning.
Maternity clothes: Not yet.
Stretch Marks: No
Belly Button in or out: In
Sleep: VERY SLEEPY! I sleep on my stomach and am having
difficulty this week. Not because of my belly, but because of my chest.
Wowza! The girls have never hurt like this before!
Best moment this week: Keith and I do an ornament exchange each
year for St. Nick's Day. This year he got me one that said,
"Sharing a Secret." I thought it was very cute and clever
since we are sharing a secret this Christmas!
My mom also purchased a cute baby bump and dad-to-be ornament
that I can't wait to hang on our tree!
Worst moment this week: The constant nauseous feeling...
I love food. When will it smell good again?!?
Miss anything: Food!
Movement: No
Cravings: Grilled cheese and vegetable soup.
Queasy or sick: Queasy. I haven't thrown up....yet.
Looking forward to: After the ultrasound on the 18th, I plan on buying
the baby (or babies?!) some small Christmas gifts. :)

Thankful for Our Little Miracle.

I finally get to do Bumpdates!
I made my chalkboard two summers ago
in hopes that I would one day be able
to take pictures with a growing baby bump!

Let's get started!

Big Sister, Maddy, wanted in 

on the fun, too!

I made Keith pose by the first chalkboard.
I know this won't be a weekly occurrence,
but I told him he at least needed to do it the first time. :)

How far along?: 4 weeks
The baby is the size of a poppy seed!
Gender: Not finding out! We love surprises!
Weight gain: I haven't weighed myself in a longggg time...
I guess I better go do that.
Maternity clothes: Not yet.
Stretch Marks: No
Belly Button in or out: In
Sleep: VERY SLEEPY! I was actually contemplating letting a student teach for me
so that I could take a quick nap.I'm sleeping well minus
the waking up to pee (this starts already?!?)
and the CRAZY dreams.
(I think I have to stop watching Criminal Minds for 9 months!).
Best moment this week: Sharing the moment I found out I was
pregnant with Keith. I had thought about taking the pregnancy test
the day before while Keith was at work, but I am so so so HAPPY
that I waited until we could share this moment together.
Worst moment this week: The constant worry that what happened
last December will happen again this December.
Miss anything: Keith has been brewing all kinds of new beer
and I won't be able to try any of it!
Movement: No
Cravings: Not really. I am shocked that I'm NOT craving
sweets though. I thought for sure I would be eating
ice cream EVERY DAY.  I guess we shall wait and see...
Queasy or sick: Neither for now.
Looking forward to: The ultrasound we have scheduled for December 18th!


And, last but certainly not least, this little goodie showed up from who else?
Savannah!

Savannah continues to take care of me in every phase of my life!
Love her and these preggie pops!

Blessed Beyond Words.

At 8:12 A.M., our alarm clock went off.

We had bread to bake and rolls to let rise.

Why?

Because it's Thanksgiving, of course!

One of my most favorite holidays!

Keith was oh so kind and rolled out of bed to go down stairs

while I laid in the bed contemplating taking a pregnancy test.

Today is the day.

The day that the Dr. B told me to test if I had not started my period.

I finally decided to do it.

Keith was home and would be there to comfort me

when the test showed up negative.

I yelled down stairs to him,

"I can't hold my pee anymore.

I guess I will take a test."

He yelled back up to me,

"How long does it usually take?"

Not feeling very positive about this month AT ALL,

I said, "Oh, about 5 minutes or so."

I went to the bathroom,
and got out one of the cheap 25 pack pregnancy
tests that I had purchased many months ago
when I was testing every month.
I did my business and the stick IMMEDIATELY had two lines.

I was in shock.

I ran to the top of the stairs and yelled,

"Keith! You need to get up here right now!"

Keith came upstairs and said,

"2 lines is good?"

I was crying tears of joy and said,

"Yes, Yes, 2 lines is good!"

Not being satisfied, I was ready to throw on my gym shoes,

with my pajamas still on mind you,

and head to the store to buy tests that say

"Pregnant or Not Pregnant."

I didn't want any confusion.
I needed the pregnancy tests for dummies.

Keith, being the wonderful husband that he is,

volunteered to go to the store for me.

When he got back, we saw this: 

I was in disbelief. Utter disbelief.

I did not have an ounce of hope this month,

and here I stand. A mommy.

A word that I've always wanted to be since

I was young and playing with my Cabbage Patch Dolls.

A word that in recent months I wasn't so sure I was going to be.

Mommy.

That is such a sweet word.

I am ever grateful to God who listened to my prayers

and fulfilled them at a time when I needed it most.

I am thankful to my husband who constantly reassured me

that I was not in this alone.

I am thankful to my family and friends who have stuck by

me during this dark time in my life.

Look for Bumpdates coming soon!

Keep holding on.

They say that 3rd time's a charm,

but what about the 4th time?

Is there anything to be said about the 4th time of doing something?

Good luck?

Do better than last time?

You'll get it this time?

Who knows what to say,

but here we are.

The day of our 4th IUI.

I woke up early this morning in excruciating pain.

Pain like I was going to start my period.

The pain was so strong that I felt like my

ovaries were going to explode right out of 

my body.

The only place to go:

the cold bathroom floor.

My safe place as it as been for so 

many years when I have felt this way

about an oncoming period.

However, this time is different.

Today is ovulation day, not period day.

Is this what I was supposed to be

feeling each month on day 14?

After about 15 minutes or so,

I was finally able to pick myself

up off of the floor and get ready for work.

Work went by quickly as the kiddos

always keep me movin' and shakin'.

We had Keith's appointment and

while there we dropped off a delicious

pumpkin roll to the staff that Keith's, mom,

Lisa had made.

Before it was my turn in the doctor's chair, 

we  ran to B Dubs for a quick meal.

Finally it was time. Cycle Day 14 at 4:00.

Dr. B came in, said his hellos,

mentioned how he loved the 

"calorie free" pumpkin roll,

looked at my chart and was

pleased to see that there

were 3 nice follicles developing on

Saturday.

He must have sensed the negativity in 

my voice when I quickly said,

"Yeah" because he said,

"Well, I think it's good."

I then told him about my painful morning 

and he said that this could be a good sign.

I guess so, but good signs

come with A LOT of pain.

I reminded him again,

as I always tell the doctor's before IUI,

that I am okay with twins.

They always chuckle when I say this,

but I am dead serious.

I do not want to take this fertility journey 

ever again.

EVER.

The insemination was over quickly,

and we were on our way.

The funny thing is,

I went home, threw on my yoga gear,

and headed straight back to the institute for our

monthly "Ladies Night In."

Yoga was so relaxing that I once again

almost fell asleep.

Panera was provided for dinner,

but my favorite part was the sperm and

egg cookies that were for dessert!

Our host has a great sense of humor.

If you don't laugh about infertility,

you will cry,

so I'd rather be laughing.

We all shared our stories,

and the group was shocked to hear 

that I had just had IUI a little over an hour

ago.

I told them a little yoga may relax me.

Nothing else has helped so far!

There were left over sperm and egg cookies,

so our host let me take some home to Keith.

Notice I picked the girl sperm!

Happy Insemination Day!

Let the 2 week wait begin...