The Delivery of our sweet JD

So it's been almost a year since my last post...oops! A lot has happened since then and my husband and I are so in love with the new addition to our family.

JD entered the world at 11:26am on April 11. He was 7lbs, 10oz and 18.5 inches long.

 I want to recap what I can from the hospital so that one day JD can read about how he came in to the world. It was a very exciting morning for the two of us. JD was a "Frank's breech" baby so we checked into the hospital for the scheduled c-section around 9:00 that morning. They brought me into the operating room around 10:50 where they prepped me for surgery. What I remember (it's been a few weeks), they gave me the numbing meds via spinal cord- key words were bend forward like a shrimp it will feel like a bee sting. Needless to say that was the most horrible bee sting I have ever felt but within minutes my toes were tingling and I was strapped down to the table. They did the catheter (my favorite part as I was up every 10 minutes to pee!), draping over my head and pulled the tools over at this time is when Clint entered the room. He was a hot mess- he was so excited that he was crying. I thought he was worried about me, I remember reassuring him that I was OK. The anesthesiologist let us know that they had started and she would tell Clint when he could stand up and watch. I felt no pain but a lot of pressure and the moment they told Clint he could stand up I remember being able to take a deep breath and feeling the loss of pressure from the inside. The smile on Clint's face as JD arrived is something I will never forget. Clint said that when he stood up they pulled him out butt first and as they turned him over he pee'ed everywhere! They brought him over to the warmer and checked all his vitals. I am, of course, still on the table and looking over at my sweet baby boy. He was crying, feet and hands were blue but what a cute little thing he was. After he was wrapped up they handed him to Clint to carry to the nursery for cleaning and weighing. Clint was so excited that he started to walk out of the delivery room, the nurse had to ask him if he was going to show me our baby!

 So now that Clint and JD were gone Dr. Kim had the ever so fun task of putting me back together. What I did not like was that I had nothing to distract me from what the doctor was doing. Next time I will have to bring music! There was lots of pushing and I started to feel sick. I was given an injection in the arm to make the uterus shrink and the anesthesiologist also gave me something to help with the nausea and to calm my nerves- I liked that medicine! Don't remember to much following that other than being in the recovery room and the nurses pushing on my belly, OUCH! I know that once I could wiggle my toes that they brought me back to my room where I got to finally hold JD in my arms for the first time.

 Now, there are pictures of me holding him but I really don't remember actually getting him. Funny what medicine does to you. I do know that day 1, I was really itchy, breast feeding was harder than I thought, and cuddling with JD was awesome! I was hungry but could not keep anything down and as soon as I was given pain meds I would start going in and out of sleep, even in mid sentence. That night I ate ice chips and JD slept on my belly just as he did when he was inside. It was fun to see him move and finally know what he was doing inside of me! Day 2- I was finally getting the hang of things and got to get up and walk around. The hospital had a dinner for Clint and I that evening, complete with table cloth and battery operated candle! I ate a lot that day! Friday AM, Dr. Kim came in and said I was free to head home!


 Our car ride home was so precious - I sat in the back with baby, he was sooo tiny in the seat and we stopped at Baby Beach to put JD's feet in the sand. Clint was worried about the sun...we had absolutely no idea about anything...funny how things have changed in 15 short weeks!

Pale shade of green?

Well it is confirmed- we have 1 baby growing strong!

Tuesday was the appointment in Ohau and we were not only able to see our little comma but also able to hear the heartbeat.  It was amazing, Clint was doing the video and I don't think I have ever seen him smile quite so much. We both stopped talking....that is amazing in itself!

After we left the doctors office (quite relieved) we, of course, went to Target! I purchased my first maternity clothes and Clint and I went through and looked at all the cute little baby stuff.  I believe he did play the video every 5 minutes while he walked around!

This week for me has been interesting- I am losing weight.  Why? No, I am not throwing up, just not eating. I feel horrible. Almost like I had way to much wine the night before. My bagel and cream cheese would not work this morning but funny that a glass of milk and now a smoothie seem to be helping. I am hoping that when I stop taking the progesterone and the estrace next week that will help as well. I am on hormone overload! Yes, even the crying has begun. I cry over baby socks, puppies, kittens- yea, I know really stupid stuff.  Why was I praying for symptoms last week?  Well it is all worth it and its all for a great cause....our sweet little nugget (aka comma)!

Week 5

So this week our little nugget(s) are the size of apple seeds. This is also the week that normal women find out they are pregnant. I know that I am fortunate for knowing early for a few reasons.  I have been taking prenatals now for 4 months along with extra calcium. I had my last glass of wine with Partice at the gallery a week before the transfer and have been able to eat healthy and nutrient rich meals for the last few weeks. The unfortunate part is the waiting game. Since we have learned earlier we have had more waiting - the 10 days after the transfer, and as of today we have another 10 day wait to see just how well our transfer went. We are, of course, hoping for twins.
This week I have noticed some subtile changes.  Sleep seems to happen more frequently. Now, I do wonder if it is baby or the fact that I have caught a cold. Yes, a cold! Tuesday was the sore throat followed by Wednesday - Friday sore throat, stuffy and coughing to today just sounding hoarse and my ears feel clogged.  BOO!  We have also layed off the shots this week and are using the "alternate method" to let my poor rump heal. Tonight, however,  I have brought the ice pack to the gallery with me and will resume shots when I return home at 10.  You will never hear this from me again but I am glad to resume the shots...
Looking forward to the next set of changes!

Positive Positive

The long 10 day wait is over!  We are positive, positive that we will be having a baby!

Saturday morning we were up early so that Clint could do 8am Crossfit and I could be at the lab early for the first of the 2 blood tests.  With all that done we headed to baby beach, we hoped that it would bring us some luck- around 1 we needed to head home so that I could get ready for work and decided to stop by Cilantro's to get my favorite - Nachos!  As life would have it I get the news as I am being handed my food. I run outside and meet Clint with a huge grin, give a giant thumbs up and we both become teary eyed in the parking lot!  Like high schoolers we jump on our phones to start spreading the news that the first test came up positive.  It was so exciting and wonderful to know that everyones prayers had been answered and that we are FINALLY becoming parents!
Today's news while exciting and awesome was nothing near the excitement of Saturday. I let Clint answer the phone today to get the news- figured it was his turn, I like to share! :) I will be sleeping easy tonight, and am excited to share the news with Rotary tomorrow.

Remember the date....8/23, that's when we find out how well it all worked!

Embryo Transfer

Clint and I ate our way through Oahu. Upon arriving Wednesday we went to Chili's for lunch, drove around the north shore and for dinner stuffed our faces at Red Lobster.  We did enjoy our ride around the island, we saw a cove with 30+ turtles and was amazed at the beauty of the north shore and inner Oahu. I still find it amazing how each island is so different. Before our gorging at Red Lobster we managed to get pedicures and do some mall walking and people watching at Ala Moana.
Clint was up early on Thursday morning for work. He walked a few blocks to the nearest Starbucks. I got up around 7. I was a bit tired as we about froze from the AC and a inconvenient fire alarm rang all night. Of course Clint did not hear a thing! Christine our PA calls around 7:15 to go over the day with me since it is her day off and will not be there for the transfer.  At this point I am starting to get excited! Clint comes back and we head out for our next meal- Denny's, where we both order 2 eggs.  He finds this so amusing! We head back to the hotel, pack up and over to the Doctors office we go.  I am drinking my water so that my bladder is full for the procedure.  Clint and I also showered last night as we can have on NO perfumes (like from deodorants, soaps and lotions).  We are finally brought into a waiting room where we wait for Dr. Frattarelli.  When he enters he tells us that out of the 7 embryos that 4 have made it to the blastocyst stage and he will be giving us 2 of those and freezing the other 2. If for some reason the remaining 3 turn into blastocyst  he will then freeze those as well.  Now that my bladder is full, we are taken into a curtain room where both Clint and I put on booties and hair nets, I change from the waist down and wrap up in a sheet.  We walk across a small hall way and into the transfer room where I get to lay on a bed with a giant harness.  There is a TV screen to my left that has my name on it. I verify that its me and then its magnified and we get to see our 2 embryos. Pretty cool to say the least. Clint is video taping everything so I see mostly his back and the back of his head. The embryos are sucked up into a turkey baster, brought into our room where a very thin tube is placed through my cervix and the eggs are placed into the top of my uterus.  At this point (still looking at the back side of my husband) the nurse also has a sonogram on my belly and we all of a sudden see 2 bright spots at the top of the uterus. There they are in the easy bake oven! From here I am transferred to another bed, wheeled out and lay there (with a VERY full bladder) for 20 minutes. During this time Clint is texting and emailing everyone we know pictures of the embryos.  My favorite response was from Aunt Manda back to Clint- "awe, they look just like you"!
So here are the rules: for the next week- no swimming. I am to drink plenty of fluids that include juice, sports drinks and of course water. No alcohol, smoking or drugs- really?! Continue with the progesterone injections (will be using the suppositories to let the bruises heal for the next 3 days) and my favorite- continue my normal life, minus really strenuous activity. Oh darn, just when I was thinking of training for a marathon!
When we left the dr's office the first thing we both did was to put on deodorant when we got to the car! We made a trip to Target to browse around, found Puka Dog in Waikiki  for lunch and then sat on the beach until it was time to go home.  We were picked up by the "Adult Hendersons" brought home showered and then to Outback for a quick dinner.
Last night I slept like a champ- apparently it poured all night?  I am feeling fine- like nothing is new other than my butt still hurts.  We now have 22g needles, apparently the 18g are for drawing out the fluid not injecting it. I cannot express the amount of pain the 18g needles are- these 22g are a piece of cake! I am so thankful for that.
So now the waiting begins... August 8th!

53 days to go...

Well this last week has been full of pre embryo activity!

Let's start with Thursday, Clint left for Ohau!  Friday was to be egg retrieval day and with that being said Clint would have a 2 hour window to do his part- deliver the sperm.  Well as all things go they moved the retrieval date back a day to Saturday.  So poor Clint finds himself in Ohau for a few extra hours but I think both of us were glad that he was there and ready if he was needed. Thursday evening he met with Julie from Pacific Egg Donor Inc, I had no idea but Clint was getting to meet up with our donor.  He called with so much excitement - he went on and on with how awesome of a job we did picking her (let's just remember, she was my first choice). He also said how much the 2 of us had in common and a few minutes after that she friended us both on FB.  I did not think that I would want her in our lives but have completely changed my mind for a few reasons. One being- if there are ever any medical problems. I also like the idea of our possible babies knowing who she is and what a giving person she is. Lastly, I don't think any child is hurt by having a few extra people to love them! She is such an extraordinary young lady, I myself cannot wait to meet her and give her a huge hug!

So Saturday arrives, 7:45am I send a message to our donor letting her know that we are thinking about her and that there are so many people praying for her. Looks like our prayers have been answered at this point because at 9:45am I get a text : Mission Accomplished! Whoo hoo is all I can say! We had a bit of wait time on Saturday but they let us know they were able to harvest 53 eggs! From this point they fertilized 10 and placed 27 into the freezer!  We would have to wait till Monday to see just how many embryos we would have. So now the real fun begins....progesterone shots!

I can very easily say I have a WHOLE new respect for IVF/donor egg moms. We are the crazy bunch that want children so bad we will endure 8+ week of shots with the biggest needles (not long but thick) and a fluid the consistency of Vitamin E oil.  While I was excited for Clint to get back I was also scared shitless. Really you want my husband to give me shots....my husband who will get a pair of scissors and cut skin growths off his leg, the same man who has also NEVER given anyone a shot! AND lets not forget draw him a picture of where to give me these shots- really!!?  So the night went as this: Clint picked me up from work, I grab the ice pack I brought with me to work and ride home with it attached to my right butt cheek.  So we get home and it is finally shot time. Clint readies the GIANT dart,(I refuse to look at the needles, so he has put everything into a purse of mine and uses it as his DR bag) makes some marker marks on my rump we get into shot stance.  Shot stance looks like this: we are left hip to left hip and I grab the back pocket flaps of his shorts, he has one arm around my back and holding on to my waist- you know it might just be easier to take a picture.  Needless to say I hear, "here I go"- "O Crap!!, I am going to have to redo it- it all ran out" to my reply of "WHAT??!!!"  Yes, that is right, the fluid ran down my leg and NOT into my cheek!  So here we go with injection #2 for the evening- first icing the left cheek and poke and all done!  Whew! I get my massage on the injection site to ensure that I don't get lumpy butt syndrome. So not that bad, well at least that was until about 3:45am when it became uncomfortable to lay on the memory foam mattress.
Sunday was a fun day, I sat very carefully on every and anything that my butt came into contact with. I have bruises- 2 of them, one on each cheek.  Cheryl and Jim came over to the house after church and before I left for work.  Upon entering the house she says- "Can I see your butt?", well at least I am getting some sympathy!  So lets fast forward a few hours, ice on rump on the way home, ready for shot #2 (really its the 3rd one but #1 did not count).  Ready and jab...not so bad!  Good job honey! Massage was good too!
Here it is now Monday. I get up and am not sore where I was injected last night.  Clint got word from the PA that we have 7 embryos growing strong!! We attended Crossfit- which greatly helped the soreness. Our dear friend Vicki Jackson came by around 2 to show Clint how to better give me the shots and also recommended that we go by the pharmacy and get  22g needle vs the 18g darts we are currently using.  I am in agreement with that, unfortunately that will happen for tomorrow! BOO!! Hope tonights injection goes as well....

25 days and counting

Not too much excitement on the quest for baby.  I started to take Estrace last Sunday 2mg a day and then sonogram every week to check the uterine lining. It does look as if the calendar is set - July 22nd for egg retrieval and at this time I will begin progesterone injections (boo) and then July 27th for implantation.   On Wednesday I go in for more blood test, Thursday I move up to 4mg of Estrace per day, Friday I go to Ohau for another sonogram and more blood work.  The best thing I can say about the Estrace is that I have not had any hot flashes! That is a more than welcome relief! Just can't wait until the 27th and then the 10 days following to know if it worked!