Well, Hello there.

Oh, life.  You're so busy.  I had grand intentions of being better at writing all summer because I wasn't working... but then again, I was home with 3 adorable kiddos so I was really working so much more.  BUT, let's see where we have been....

Last I updated was around Colby's 3rd birthday.  He had a great birthday and is an amazing 3 year old.

We buzzed his hair a few weeks back.  Or Johnny did after begging me to agree, but I wasn't too sure because I love his hair.  But I gave in and he cut it and it was so short and I was a bit heartbroken.  It's growing out already so I'm surviving.

The girls are both full-on walkers.  They're in to everything.  Syd's always on the go just wandering here and there, but in new situations she'll hang around and want to be held while she takes it all in.  Zoe's more of the adventurous one.  She's a climber and always exploring everything.

We've been spending a lot of time at parks and splash pads and outside enjoying the beautiful weather.  

And me?  Well, I've been a bit preoccupied with these kiddos.  And the newest one due in April.

... I'll let that one sink in ...

We are amazingly, surprisingly pregnant and due in April.  April 6th to be exact.

No IVF.  No meds.  Nothing.  Except thrilled.

To back up... after we had the girls (and the boys at the time too) we said we'd try on our own (meaning no birth control), expect nothing, but plan on the next round of IVF down the road.  We were thinking December 2012.  And I haven't had a spontaneous period since... maybe before the boys?  I haven't had a single period since having the girls.  But I also didn't want to be one of those people on "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant," so even though the odds were seemingly zero because I don't ovulate on my own, I would test every month or so just to be sure.  I never expected anything, but would always get my hopes up a little.

So in late July I asked Johnny to get tests one day on his way home.  Again, I knew the odds weren't in my favor, but I was just feeling different so I let my hopes get up a little.   I was breaking out like crazy, my back was killing, I wasn't feeling well, I was exhausted.  You know, the symptoms that could mean just about anything.  But I tested the night of July 24th and got the the faintest line.  The kind that made me squint and ask Johnny if I was crazy.  Still not sure, I tested a few more times over the next day or so and the lines got darker, so the 27th I went for blood work and it came back at 88 and my progesterone levels were good.  I went back in on 30th and my levels had risen up over 300 and things were looking good.  

At this point I was convincing myself that this couldn't really be true because we had been through so much and what are the odds?  And all that.  But I went in on August 13th for an ultrasound and found myself at 6w2d (because I had no clue because of not having a period).  Then I went to see my doctor on August 24th and measured 8 weeks exactly with a good heartbeat.  (HUGE sigh of relief)

We told my parents and one brother at about 7 weeks.  I called my brother in Texas a little while later and then we told my other brother this weekend when we finally saw him.   Mostly everyone was a little shocked, but happy.  They might think we're crazy, but that's all okay.  :)  My oldest brother and his wife- I had Colby tell them that I had a baby in my belly and I got zero reaction from them.  Nothing.  No congrats, no questions, nothing.  It was a bit weird.  Johnny just told his parents this past weekend (9 weeks) and he told his brother tonight.

I go in at the end of Sept for a high risk consult to discuss a cerclage and whether or not I should be on preventative Lovenox this time around.  My OB is doing a cerclage no matter what high risk says, but he just wants that second opinion.  (I love my doctor... I could go on and on about that, but I won't)  I might have to go on Lovenox because of that clot I had after having the girls.  That one I'm not positive about, but I have a feeling I'll be on that after the cerclage.  

That same day I also have my 1st trimester screening.  Assuming all of that goes well, my cerclage will follow shortly and then a perfectly happy, healthy, fabulous *singleton* pregnancy will follow!  :)

And with that, Colby's begging for Thomas videos on my computer.