Consult for IVF

We finally had our IVF consult... it was what we expected, but it was good to get the ball rolling again.

We had to bring Colby because our babysitter has been sick. I felt bad bringing him because I remember how crappy it felt to see others with happy babies when all I wanted was a happy, healthy baby. He was awesome though. Super happy and super cute! Dr. A liked seeing him- a product of her good work!

She began with "So, tell me about your pregnancy." It was a bit of a punch in the stomach. Of course I should have remembered that she had no clue what had happened- we hadn't had any contact since March '09- but it brought back the reality of what we were doing. (Coincidentally, we learned that Dr. A had her daughter at 27 weeks and spent 105 days in the NICU!) After hearing what happened and what we had gone through, there was really no discussion about how to proceed.

(1) We're going right back to IVF. A real IVF course this time because we did the IUI to IVF last time. So now we're in for the 2 month protocol as opposed to the 1 month IUI protocol.

(2) We will put back 1 embryo and that's it. I knew that was coming, but it still bothered me a little to hear. Logically I know it's the safest, smartest thing to do for me and baby, but the other part of me knows that my emergency C-section pretty strictly limits the number of future children, so not even the possibility of multiples cuts that number lower than I want to be.

We did the preliminary infectious disease testing today-- my poor arm wasn't used to being poked and prodded! It's still so sore from the little measly blood draw. It's going to have to toughen up again! I call again on Day 1 (or sooner if it doesn't come in a few weeks) to start with the "testing" cycle. I have to have the base blood and ultrasound done to see where we are. I also have to have a sonohysterogram done, which I'm not looking forward to seeing as the HSG I had last time sucked so badly. Then, once all testing is done, I have to call again on the next Day 1 to start the suppression faze.

So, figure mid-June for Day 1, testing through June/July, mid-July for the next Day 1 for suppression, then mid-August for stimulation faze, then mid-September for retrieval/transfer.

That's so far away!

And already-- my September is looking like:

(1) Full time Mommy to cutest baby ever

(2) Full time 1st Grade teacher (switching from Kindergarten)

(3) Full time graduate student (3 education Masters classes)

Why not add an IVF cycle and pregnancy? :)

Consult!

Consult tomorrow at 2pm! Woohoo!

Updates? ... Yeah right

I can't seem to find time to update or write about my millions of thoughts (IVF, crazy school parents, 10 months of missing my baby, everything) because there just is not enough time in the day.

I finally made some time to update the family blog, though. So, if you're interested in reading about Colby, visit www.thejamersontwins.blogspot.com for some scooting, butterflies, and 10 month photos.

Busy

We've been busy... a few bullet points because I really don't have time to write anything else!

• Mother's Day was good... we relaxed and I got to spend time with my little man all day!
• Colby is a rolling machine now. Back to front, front to back. But always to the left.
• He had fever #1 on Friday which led to a trip to the doctors. The fever was pretty persistent from 8am to 8pm on Friday. It would go down with tylenol, but it would come back with a vengeance before the next dose was due. But then it disappeared and he's been fine since. We didn't get much sleep on Friday night, though because he would also sleep while being held.
• We were given a nebulizer to use 3 times a day with him as a precaution. Sometimes he hates it, sometimes he doesn't mind it. Totally depends on the time.
• School is good, we're down to 24 days. Woohoo! The principal told the secretary that I am "Hands down, the best teacher here." Pretty good for someone who is just coasting through the rest of the school year!

March for Babies!!

Yesterday was the Boston March for Babies and it was great!

The day started off a little rough-- the weather was awful. We got caught in several downpours and even a thunderstorm while waiting in a huge line of traffic to get to the walk beginning. Eventually we made it to the parking- only to be drenched just getting Colby out of the car. I had to jump a huge river from car to curb to get him an all his gear out. However, despite the torrential rain we were still happy to be there!

We got under cover, registered, and then snapped a few photos in the "holding area" while we waited for the official start.

I apologize for this photo... I look incredibly creepy. I'll blame it on the cold, rain, and frizzy hair.

We met up with the rest of our team. We had 41 registered walkers and a few unregistered that were walking with spouses. We expected a lot of no-shows because of the awful weather, but we were pleasantly surprised that everyone came!! (Sporting umbrellas of course!)

My brother Chris, his girlfriend Stephie, and my sister-in-law Nikki.

Just waiting... :)

My friend Crystal and her boyfriend Ryan hiding behind her. And my brother Matt.

My brother Jeff and friend Michaela.

Our friends Becky and her baby Phoenix (in the gray stroller), Becky's brother Jeremy and his kids. (I'm not even going to attempt to spell their names-- they are very Italian names!)

Some even trekked up multiple states to be there with us!

My cousin Bill, his wife Martina, and their baby Danny all the way up from Virginia for the weekend!

Finally it was time to walk! The rain tapered off and we were able to go at it umbrella-less.

Colby enjoyed being pushed while all covered up and cozy. Eventually I took him out and carried him (all 18lbs 9oz) the last 1.5 miles or so.

Photo-Op before leaving!

They were playing music at the Hatch Shell and Colby LOVED it! I couldn't catch him dancing though!

After the walk we all headed back to our house to hang around.

Colby scooted around...

Attacked Kevin's glasses...

Played with Chris and Stephie...

Danced on the table...

Played with his Uncle Danny...

By the end of the night, after only two 20-minute naps ALL DAY (and he woke up just a little after 6) he was exhausted and getting grumpy.

Post-drool photo of his onesie.

And the back.

Overall, it was a GREAT day. Our team raised over $8,800 and the Boston walk raised over $650,000.

While Colby was in the NICU we were lucky enough to enjoy the same roomie-family for much of Colby's time. Leo was born 6 days after the boys and began his NICU stay in Colby's Level 3 room. After about 2 or 3 weeks Leo was moved to a Level 2 room down the hall. When Colby was finally moved out of Level 3 a few weeks after Leo, the only opening happened to be with Leo, so they were together again. The two were together again until Leo was discharged at the end of September. As you can imagine, Johnny and I spent a lot of time talking to Leo's parents-- whom we just happened to run into on the walk!!! It was so great to catch up with them-- I've been absolutely AWFUL and haven't gotten into contact with them since they left, so it was nice to see them. :)

We had Connor and Colby's info on the back of the shirts we all wore-- they said "in memory of Connor, 7/19/09 - 7/21/09, 2lbs 9oz" and "in honor of Colby, 7/19/09, 2lbs 3oz" so without talking to us people could easily know our "story". After the walk I had two different moms come up to me because of the shirts and tell me that they had had a similar situation with their twins-- losing one after only a few days while the other continued to thrive. It was nice to have them come up-- I can't explain why exactly, but it was nice to feel like someone I actually met "got it". One even invited me to join an online webring that she's a part of-- they're working on making a MA support group that can meet up.

All in all, despite the rain, being there to support the walk just felt right. I can't wait to do it again next year-- our goal will be well over $10,000!

Happy Mommy's Day-- Early!

Since Johnny and started dating we have had a hard time waiting to give each other presents.

I'd get my birthday gifts the weekend before.

Johnny would start asking about his birthday gifts as soon as I went shopping.

Christmas would be celebrated a few nights before all of the family festivities.

So why should Mother's Day be any different?

Tonight Colby- with the help of Daddy- gave me my first Mother's Day gift.

It was a perfect charm bracelet from all my boys.