9 Weeks done JUST 30 weeks and 6 days to go...

Since the last blog Christmas has quickly come and gone... Daniel and I did some traveling and lots of running around and entertaining... Considering I was already feeling tired all the festivities really kicked my butt and I was left with very low energy levels by the end... Although the holidays were filled with lots of hustle and bustle we were truly thankful the entire season for our blessing that has been given to us!!

We went in yesterday December 29th for our last appointment with the fertility doctor when we arrived at 7am the office was a ghost town which is totally unusual for a Monday morning. I signed in and we were immediately whisked back for vitals and then off to the exam room. This was the first time that we had seen our actual doctor since our first round of AI he was out for our last round so he had lots of catching up to do. He asked all the questions that were asked at our last appointment by the other doctor and then he went to calculating... He came up with the due date of August 4th AAAHH a day later than what we were thinking but I'm still going with the 3rd :o) hey a girl can dream right!! Anyway he did the sonogram and there our little one was the doc commented how much the baby had grown and then zoomed in and boy he was right. Although little bit is still measuring 2.11cm which is still as tiny as a Lima bean we have grown out of the shape of the Lima bean we now have arms and legs you can see the spinal cord the eyes and ears and the tip of the nose is forming. The picture doesn't do the baby justice from what we could actually see in the office and yes of course we could still see the little heart beating strong. Daniel commented on how you couldn't see the heart bulging as much as we could the first time but then quickly remembered that there is a lot more baby for the heart to pump through so we probably won't be able to see the heart beat quite like we did that first time (the memories of that first sight of the heart beat still amazes us!) The doctor was pleased with our progress and felt as though it was safe to release us to a regular doctor. We have done research have talked to everyone and anyone that has had a baby to see what Doctor they have used and have even considered the birthing center here in town. But when it came down to choosing the right person we really felt like we should see who the fertility doctor would recommend considering all that we have been through we trust that he would us give the best recommendation of someone that would take as good care of us and our little one as he has. So we talked with Dr. Winslow about what we wanted in a doctor and he recommended highly recommended the Women's Physicians of Jacksonville group he told Daniel that he would send his own wife there if they were to ever have another baby. So we have our first appointment with Dr. Amy Wrennick on January 20th he reassured us that if for some reason we weren't happy at any time with this group that we can transfer over to someone else so to get started we are going to go with them and see what happens. Friends of ours from church recently had their baby at St. Lukes hospital and had nothing but good things to say about them. So last Saturday we went and took a tour and really liked what we saw. They have huge birthing suites that are fully equipped for every stage of the delivery process so you don't have to be transferred into different rooms. The suites are also equipped to take care of the baby after the delivery so that the baby never leaves the room. They focus on mother/baby care so you and your baby have the same nurse taking care of you and they also do not have a baby nursery so the baby stays with you 24/7. They were recently taking over by St. Vincents so they have been remodeling and the rooms were beautiful and the nursing staff that we came in contact with seem really nice and helpful and another pro is that they have a breastfeeding consultant at the hospital 7 days a week. So with all of that said we are onto the next phase of our journey meeting with the new doctors, picking hospitals, and just watching our little one grow and develop before our eyes. I can not finish this update without letting you all know how amazing my Daniel is... Since the moment we found out that our little one was on the way he has been over and beyond good to me. You name it he has done it cleaned, cooked, washed dishes, washed clothes, catered to me, and most of all he has been so good about praying for our little one constantly. I have been sooooo blessed with all that he has been doing for me to make sure that I am getting enough rest, not lifting things, eating properly, and reminding me to take that NASTY vitamin every night. He is truly a wonderful husband and I am extremely thankful for him and can't wait to see him holding our little one that he has waited and prayed for...

The lima bean is beating

Yesterday was the day we had our first Ultrasound... Well we have had tons of Ultrasounds but it was the first one that would show us our little one and its heart beat. When we checked-in at the dr.'s we were immediately whisked back to an exam room.....little did we know we would have a famous hour wait ahead of us it seemed like FOREVER! When the dr. finally came in he quickly began the Ultrasound after checking around to make sure that my ovaries were still clear free from cyst from the medicine it was straight into my uterus where our little one was sitting incased in its safe sac of fluid.... It was a little lima bean with a tiny little bulge that was going in and out at a super fast speed.. Yep that’s right our little bean has a heart beat the doc said it looks like it has been beating strong for a few days now. The baby is measuring right on track at 6weeks and 3days and everything looked perfect. After the exam he asked us how many rounds on AI we had endured and Daniel proudly said 2.. The Doc immediately turned to me and said WOW you’re our star you don't hear of 2 rounds very often... A star huh I sure haven't felt like a star but whatever it takes to add to our testimony of how faithful God is.. We were given another Ultrasound date of December 29th at this appointment the baby should have grown a decent amount and we can see something bigger than a lima bean... That day will also be our last appointment with the fertility doctor that alone was music to my ears!! So we have 2 weeks to find a doctor so our search is on. Daniel and I both left that appointment so excited and amazed that this was all really happening we have a little lima bean with a strong healthy heart beat growing inside of me! Daniel was so amazed that something that tiny .595 cm had a strong heart beat beating so quickly after just a short time of growing inside of me... We are way excited and now our wait begins Girl or Boy its the only surprise left....

Blood Work Round 2

So yesterday was the second round of blood work.. My appointment was later in the morning so Daniel wasn't able to go with me.. So I found myself going to get stuck with the big bad needle all by myself!! I have become quit the brave little cookie :o)
As I sat in the waiting room yesterday where every chair was full I was looking around at the faces wondering which side was everyone on? Who was on the victory side with me? Who was still waiting on the bench for their turn to bat? I listened intently to a couple who were discussing all the medicine RX that they needed to remember to ask the doctor to refill and discussing how they hoped this round would work etc. It was only 5 or so weeks ago that Daniel and I were having such similar conversations. There are no words that I can ever express to you that can make you grasp what an incredible miracle our child is to us! We have had a up close ride in the journey of reproduction and it truly is a miracle on how the timing for each and everything has to be perfect in order for life to be formed.
I got my blood work done and headed home for a nap before work.. Have I mentioned that I love naps!! Anyways the nurse called me late afternoon yesterday and said that the levels were rising appropriately and that everything was looking great and she scheduled our first ultra sound for Friday, December 12th. I quickly text Daniel after I got off the phone and explained to him that WE WERE HAVING A BABY!! For real every report we have been getting is telling us that we have overcome so that nagging fear that something is going to go wrong has to be silent!! Daily I think we are realizing that this is for real we have been so numb for so long we are having to re-learn our emotions. We are both so excited and thankful... We have been so encouraged over the past few days to hear the congratulations pour in from friends and family but most of all to hear how this blog has ministered to people... Some might be dealing with infertility others might know of someone that is and they have been sending our blog link to these ones that are hurting and longing for answers. For me that has made our journey completely worth it we have a story and a testimony and no matter how much the devil has tried to keep us silent or has tried to defeat us we will forever proclaim the goodness of our God! I am more in love with my husband and my Creator than ever before and their is an overwhelming sense of love for this new little one on the way!!