I can't believe how quickly time goes sometimes, and how far I get behind! I'm going to try to do a quick catch-up of our lives! We've had some exciting adventures going on! (Above) Our trip to the cabin in February. Thanks to our unusually warm winter, we barely had any snow. We still had a great time though and we always love spending time at the cabin. I like getting pictures of our family when we go because I think it will be so fun to watch our kids grow throughout the years as we make so many memories in this beautiful spot.
On to our biggest adventure as of late..... in late February we started our last and final round of IVF. After so many years and so much prayer and fasting, both Scott and I felt like this was something we needed to do. One last time, give it one more shot, and then move on regardless of the outcome.
Here I am snuggling my boys on my "Princess Days" - the two days following IVF are supposed to be low-key, relaxing, and lots of down time. The boys were so good to me. They brought me water and snacks, and did anything I needed them to. They are going to make amazing husbands one day!
About 10 days after our transfer (when they do the actual IVF and put the embryos back into my uterus) I had my appt to get my blood drawn. I was pretty sure I was pregnant, but cheated and took a pregnancy test anyway. I wanted to know and be prepared. It was so amazing to see this positive!! Something I've done 1000 times before with only negatives. BUT, even though it was positive, we were still cautious because we needed a good strong HCG number, which equates to a healthy pregnancy.
After my blood test, we got the results that my HCG was at 272 (anything over 100 is awesome), so naturally we were SO excited. The boys were jumping up and down and we were crying tears of joy! After a first blood test, they test again a week later to make sure the numbers have doubled and tripled as they should. A week later my HCG was at 3655, which is awesome.
About a week after my second blood test, I started having some pretty strong pregnancy symptoms. I was about 6 weeks by this time. They hit me hard. I was SO sick. My first inkling that there could be more than one baby in there. As hard as it was to be sick, I was so grateful because I knew that the sickness showed signs of a strong pregnancy. I've never been grateful to be throwing up and feeling miserable, but I was! Haha! I tried to stay positive, but I'll be honest, it was extremely difficult, on all of us!
At 7 weeks pregnant (March 24), they check for strong heartbeats via ultrasound. They also check to see how many babies. We were praying for one, and so excited to see TWO strong heartbeats. It was amazing. We were both pretty emotional. TWINS! They put my due date as Nov 8th, being 40 weeks. But with twins, we will probably deliver between 36-37 weeks, which will be the middle of October.
(Above) 8 weeks and feeling totally miserable... but loving the beginnings of that tiny bump!
One aspect of IVF that is not so fun are all the medications. Looking back, it doesn't seem like it was that big of a deal, and honestly, it's not, when you get to be pregnant and have a baby (or babies!). But at the time, it is really hard. I was on 2 types of progesterone daily, two doses of estrogen a week, and two injections of Heparin daily. The resulting bruises were battle wounds. I was sore everywhere and by the end, it got hard to find a place that wasn't already bruised, in my tummy (above) or in my back side. YOUCH! I was on injections for 3 months, starting before the IVF and continuing until 10 weeks pregnant.
Getting to see our little peanuts (above) made everything worth it! I loved getting to go to the Dr so often and see them and their beating hearts. Hearing a baby's heartbeat is the best sound in the world!!!
Over Spring break, we went with Krista's family to St. George. It was a great little get away. Even though I wasn't feeling great (I was 11 weeks) it was so nice to be in warm St. George and be able to be outside and have fun with the boys. Scott did a Sprint triathlon and the boys did their first kids triathlon. They did so great and it was so much fun to watch them!!
I "graduated" from my Reproductive Endo Dr. around 10 weeks and saw my "real" OB for the first time. More ultrasound pics of the babies. Always so fun. It is amazing to watch them grow in such a short amount of time! I love it!
12 week bump!
Eli's preschool fieldtrip to the farm. I barely made it through a couple hours without feeling like I was going to die.... or throw up everywhere. But he had fun!
End of April, Will turned NINE!!! What?!??!! He is the best little nine year old we could ask for. He is growing up to be such a great kid. We had fun with gifts, getting him out of school early, and having a friends party that weekend.
We also had another ultrasound of the babies that week. Thanks to Scott's amazing Labor and Delivery staff, they told me to come in whenever I wanted to check on the babies. I have taken them up on their offer several times! Especially in the beginning when things are still risky. It is so fun to see them in there wiggling around!
Will's friend party, laser tag, pizza, and games (Above) Our anniversary - 12 years!!! (Below)
We celebrated by going out to our favorite little spot here in Utah, the Tree Room at Sundance. The food is absolutely AMAZING and the atmosphere is perfect. Oh how I love this man!!
Mother's Day 2015 - feeling SO lucky!
Payson Temple Open House - gorgeous!
15 weeks. A big milestone in the pregnancy of twins! Making it to 15 weeks was a relief, to say the least. I was still sick, but starting to feel better.
I felt like I needed a change, so I chopped 8 inches off my hair!! It feels great and has been so nice with the hot weather this summer. Plus, I just love seeing that growing belly! 17 weeks.
Now that we are official Eagle Mountain residents, we made it out to the Pony Express Rodeo. It was so much fun! We had a great time. Taylor and Clay came down, and it was so fun to see little Mac! I was grateful I was feeling better, and I finally got to have my first Waffle Love experience. It did NOT dissapoint!
Hello Baby!!! 16 weeks
For Mother's Day, Scott bought me plane tickets to go visit Liz in AZ for four days. It was so much fun. We always have too much fun together, and laugh the whole time. Liz is a true friend and sister, I'm so lucky to have her around! We loved hanging out in the 104 degree weather, and chasing little Rowen around. He's a cutie!! We also enjoyed some pedicures and a little shopping. Plus lots of yummy food, as always!
After I got home, summer was officially underway! I bought the boys some squirters to kick it off. They had fun with them, unfortunately we don't have grass, so it was kind of hard. The first few weeks of summer also means swimming lessons! They did amazing, as usual!
18 weeks! Grow babies grow!
At my OB appt, just after 18 weeks, we were able to do a gender ultrasound. We were SO excited. I have been dying to know what the babies are. To tell the boys we filled balloons with confetti and had each of them pop one. They were shocked (as were we) but so excited to find out we are having TWO BOYS!!! I couldn't be happier! I love having boys and I feel so lucky in so many ways.
Hello babies!!! These pictures are from our gender ultrasound. Baby A (below) has a profile that is the spittin' image of Will! Can't wait to see the boys when they are born and see who they look like. I thought for sure we were having a boy/girl. So I was surprised when it was two boys. But honestly, I couldn't be happier. Every once in awhile I think "Oh, I'll never know what it's like to raise a girl" but I haven't been sad about it. There are so many things I love about having boys, I think it will be so much fun. Plus I love that the boys will all have a fun and unique relationship with Scott, and with each other. I love that I get to raise FOUR missionaries, and four little men to become husbands and providers. I couldn't be happier.
Last weekend, Scott took Will and Eli to the cabin with his parents. It is amazing fishing on Yellowstone lake right now, and they wanted to get the boys up there to catch some fish! I had to work on Monday, so I didn't go with them. I missed them terribly. But thought about all the fun and memories they were making together and couldn't help but think of how many trips the boys (all 5!) will have together in the next many years. SO FUN!
The boys had a great time and it was good for them to spend time with Scott and with his parents. I'm glad they were able to make those memories together.
20 Weeks! Growing more and more everyday.
Feeling the babies move. Finally feeling better, just little moments of sickness here and there. Appetite like a crazy person. SO TIRED all the time. A little trouble sleeping and getting comfortable at night. Loving every single second!
And last but not least.... the boys ran a kids run for the hospital, as part of the AF Canyon Half that Scott helps put together. They had a blast and did really great! It is such an inspiring event and for such a wonderful cause. I'm so happy we get to be part of things like this through Scott's career.
