Drinking Water

Well, I got in trouble today.  I'm not drinking enough water and I have had protein show up in my urine.  I have to go back in a week to double check.  So, here is to water.  I thought I had been doing really good.  I didn't drink any caffeine until a couple weeks ago.  I have been traveling a lot though.  I got to experience a Remkes girls trip to Napa (missed out on the yummy wine, still worth it) and we went to Colorado Springs for 10 days to spend time with Chris.  And traveling all day yesterday, I didn't drink a lot.  So here is to water!

1st Perinatologist Appointment

Yesterday, I went to our first perinatologist appointment.  Everything is looking great!  I am 13 weeks and baby is growing great.  Weston went with me to the appointment and we got to FaceTime Chris so he could see a lot of the ultrasound.  Baby loves it's hands and loved whenever Weston would talk.

 We are going to be proactive and check out the baby's heart as much as we can, since it's older brother has his heart defect.  So far, it doesn't look like we have anything to be concerned about, but we will also go see Weston's cardiologist to have fetal echo cardiogram done in a couple months to double check.  Baby A is still floating in there and doesn't seem to be effecting anything.  The perinatologist advised me also to take it easy and listen to my body.  We also found out that I have an anterior placenta; which means, my placenta sits right in front of the baby, so it may take me longer to feel the baby move.

The sickness is finally subsiding and I am feeling more and more like myself and a human being.  It's amazing how you reach the second trimester and everything starts to feel good again.  Let's hope that keeps up all the way into the third trimester!

Week 11

 Hey there Baby Remkes!  Week 11 and everything is going great! Baby is growing really good.  Mom is sick and doing a whole lot of nothing.  I am also on "careful rest", which means, no lifting anything above 20 lbs and taking it easy.  I forgot about the no energy part, literally, no energy and nothing sounds good.  Except milk.  I am drinking a gallon every few days, by myself.  And I have become a vegetarian, and if you know me, I love meat.  The joys of pregnancy!

Bye Bye Progesterone

See ya later! It's been real! Glad I am done with you.  Even more glad you were a suppository and not a needle.

Baby Announcement

Its official! Weston (and his parents) are so excited to announce, he is getting a new crew member April 2017!

#IVF #ivfsuccess #fourthroundsacharm #familyoffour

Bittersweet

Today is a bittersweet day.  I had my follow up and last appointment with my fertility doc, Dr Gurtcheff.  She has been amazing and wonderful to go thru this process with.  We have been so blessed to have her in our lives!

Last night, I decided to ask my mom to go with me to my appointment, Chris couldn't make it home for this one, even though he tried (out of town projects suck).  My appointment was at 11am, we headed down and waited.  Dr Gurtcheff started the ultra sound and went immediately to Baby B, who looks great! Strong heartbeat and is growing great! Baby A on the other hand, no longer has a heartbeat.  The medical term for this is "vanishing twin" and happens often.  Many mothers don't know about it because it happens before the first ultrasound.  It does raise our pregnancy risk a bit higher, as it could effect Baby B; but it should dissolve back into my body.  We are devastated.  Yet, we are eternally grateful for Baby B!  We are feeling many emotions and working thru it.  Chris FaceTime with us and we were both able to tell Weston about Baby A.  He is such a sweet kid and has been very understanding.  He said he is sad, but know his baby is in heaven.

 So here we are! Expecting! It still doesn't feel real.  After one success, two failed attempts, here we are with another success!!  Our due date is April 27, 2017........my 36th birthday! How crazy is that timing! And I am more than willing to share a birthday!! Now to let baby grow and develop.  We need to make it to week 10 and should be out of the clear.  Only a few more to go. 

I go see my OBGYN next week and I continue the progesterone suppositories until the 29th.  I am on baby aspirin also until October 13th to help with blood clots.

Twin Update

This afternoon, I went in for a check on the babies.  We didn't get bad news, but we didn't get good news either.  So Baby A (the baby that would deliver first) is growing, but is significantly smaller than Baby B.  Dr. Gurtcheff said it could be because Baby A implanted after Baby B and is appearing smaller.  When measured, they are measuring about 3 days apart.  Both have strong heartbeats, so now we just wait and see what happens.  We could keep both, loose one or possibly loose both.  Only time will tell.

Here is a comparison picture.  The top was last week and the bottom is this week.

Once again, we will have to wait, have patience and put our faith in God's hands.