Two for One Special!

YES! We're going to be a family of four, and YES you're looking at a picture of TWINS! This is a very very VERY emotional post for me. We've waited sooo long and some of you know about our miscarriage we went through close to two years ago....guess we're making up for lost time!! OH MY GOSH-- I finally get to be a mommy!

Let me take you back to the beginning of this miraculous journey.....

Dreams, Prayers, and Miracles definitely are answered and do come true! We got pregnant from doing a procedure called In Vitro (IVF). I've always known what "this process" was called, but I never knew how delicate and INVOLVED it was. It starts out with two months of preparation: Birth control pills/baby aspirin/antibiotics for both partners etc. Then in the second month: daily shots were helping my ovaries produce eggs and keeping my eggs at an even playing field (all eggs have to mature at the same time), some shots were to cause the release of my eggs, and other shots were given to replace a hormone that my body did not making enough of. The other shots I didn't understand what they did, something with my follicles. I also had to take suppositories and douches and weekly ultrasounds/blood-draws became my bestfriends.

So this next picture is the day of my egg retrieval. My ovaries produced 22 eggs...that's nearly two years worth of eggs from a healthy womans ovaries. That is very good!

BEFORE... morning of surgery/ getting ready

AFTER.... trying to wake up

trying to wake up....Doc and Shane said I slept forever and apparently I was pretty funny and entertained everyone as I was waking up from the anethesia. The Dr. was able to get 18 eggs out of the 22 I produced. Time for them to meet Shane's sperm and fertilize. Yeah baby! Sexy time!

The Doc consistantly watches the eggs for 2 days straight, literally losing sleep.

Two days later is TRANSFER DAY. This is the day they put the fertilizerd eggs (now embryos)back into my uterus. Doc chose the best 2 eggs for me and then we had a third great egg we chose to freeze.

My mom flew in town to help us out during this emotional time. She took this picture of Shane and I in front of Docs office getting ready to transfer our embryos' back into me. I was on Valium and could hardly walk straight but feeling sooo good! I kept droping my M&M's. It was hilarious

THIS IS THE DOC! honestly one of the greatest men we know! He's the best embryologist in the world. Actually, I'm being as serious as it gets. He's famous for what he knows-- Doctors would kill for the opportunity to work with him, they write him letters all the time about it, especially the 'U' -they practically beg him. He studied directly under Dr. Edwards who invented the In Virto procedure. I LOVE this man! If anyone is having a hard time getting pregnant call me, this is your guy! He's done most celebrities and won't tell you who, but think about the celebs with twins. HA! There truly isn't a more experienced and knowledgeable scientist! Shane and I are so blessed that we were spiritually directed to meet Dr. Richards who has become one of our dearest lifelong friends! Doc loved Shanes shirt

I know how this must sound but I'm going to express myself anyway...the lights were off, both doctors were setting things up for the tranfser, my mom and Shane were sitting next to me, and when they wheeled in the incubator with the embryos in it there was a very spiritual feeling in the room. I don't want to go into too much detail because it's a special sacred memory for me but you could feel those spirit children around us. I knew then it was going to be a success.

This is about an hour or two after the transfer. I had to lay still for a long time. I wish I could end on such a spiritual good note....

BUT I actually got a rare and serious side effect from my procedure. Only 1% of in-vitro patients get diagnosed with this. I can't believe I was one of the 1%. It's called hyperstimulation and I had a pretty advanced case of it. Basically I had fluid passing through my blood vessels and going into my body cavity; which shouldn't happen. Normally, fluid is absorbed through the bloodstream, then the kidneys, the bladder, then out through the urine. Mine was filling up my body cavity and putting pressure on my lungs making it nearly impossible to breath normal. My waist is normally 24in and I my tummy swelled up to 38in feeling rock hard and looking 6 months pregnant. I'm still sleeping upright because it's not completely gone. I struggle the most at night. We spent the other night in the hospital running tests. My ovaries are the size of grapefruits and they're supposed to be the size of almonds. I was constantly worried about the twins, but because of Dr. Richards, my babies are peaceful and healthy despite the awful and invasive side effect! I still have some major recovering to do but for the record: I'D DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!... ANY DAY ANY TIME!

The Doc, Shane's parents, and brother-in-law came over to give me a blessing one night and I've had several from Shane during the late quiet hours of the night. I've had nights when I felt my father in heavens arms around me and I knew everything would be ok. I just need to be patient. Thank you to everyone who prayed for Shane and I. It is bringing tears down my cheeks for all the support we've had. The flowers, homemade meals, visits, prayers, and cards have been the greatest things! I think my heart has reached it's deepest level of gratitude that I've ever felt in my entire life. You all have been so christlike and it's such an example to me. All of our prayers have been answered! Especially thanks to my mom who came up and cleaned and cooked and watched movies with me! I can't believe I have two healthy little heartbeats inside me! Thank you everyone! I cannot wait to see Shane as a father. Kids absolutely love him and he is so deserving of this. I'm thankful we have been blessed with this privelidge. TWINS! Ahhhh, lots of work but also an absolute dream come true!!!