13w1d "No Show"

I get asked a lot if I am showing yet. Mostly by my family who all live in different states, but by anyone who doesn't see me often. And I get a lot of surprised looks as we have started telling people that we are expecting twins. Today at church this sweet little 8 or 9 year old girl, who's mother just had a baby, got this very concerned look on her face and stared me down looking from my face to my belly, back and forth. Then she said very worriedly, "but you are so small! How? How is that possible?" It was so precious. I had to remind her that even her mother was still small at one point.
Today at Easter dinner, M's family was expecting to see some sort of bump. I'm just not showing yet. To illustrate this point, I put the following 3 (horrible and unflattering) pictures together. This is me at 7, 10 and 13 weeks. Can you tell which is which? Um, no. If I didn't already know, I don't think I could either. They are in order. 7 weeks to 13 weeks, left to right.

I don't mind that I am not showing yet. I find talking with people about the pregnancy is a little awkward for me, so I don't mind being under the radar. I have been a little surprised at how easy it has been for me to say that they are the result of IVF. I wasn't sure how I was going to be with that, but it seems pretty natural - usually. I only bring it up if people ask about twins running in the family or if we were really shocked or something like that. I thought it would be hard to be open about it. I think I have gained a lot of confidence about talking about infertility through blogging about it and reading your blogs. Thanks to all you for reading and inspiring!

Which brings me to a slight oops moment... I would like to draw some attention via facebook to National Infertility Awareness Week. However, last night we announced our pregnancy. We didn't do a big post. I don't want belly shots and ultrasounds on facebook. So we posted the ultrasounds on our personal blog and shared the link with "Twins". We thought that would be less obnoxious. However, it seems to me like my next post shouldn't be "Hey everyone its NIAW." So I'm trying to think of a fix. Maybe I'll just wait a day or two and then post NIAW. Maybe it doesn't matter that they are back to back. Any suggestions?

12w4d "Recap"

Welcome to ICLW week! This is my first full ICLW week as a pregnant person and I totally understand if right now you want to close out and find someone else on the list to read about. I get it.

I am now 12 and a half weeks pregnant with my little miracle twins. Our perinatologist thinks that they are girls! and yesterday I walked out of my REs office for the last time in hopefully a couple years at least - well unless I go back to say hi or something. But I graduated with two heartbeats so I am now a "normal" pregnant person for the next 6 weeks (until my next high risk appointment).

I am not showing. I have not gained any weight yet. I am still throwing up occasionally (like once a day). I am not as tired anymore though, but I sleep like crap now. So pretty much life is good. I don't feel too sick, and feel just a little pregnant. Everyone seems to say the second trimester is the best - so I'm really excited for it. We are almost there depending on who you ask.

My week of Dr appts is over so I get to relax. have a 30 minute drive to all 3 Drs and so I usually call my mom, dad, or siblings. They were always confused because I was calling them on my way to my Drs appointment, yet again. But that is over now. and I'm down to 2 Drs and no appointments for 4 weeks. It was really scary though on Tuesday coming home from the OB. It was right before lunch, and I was pretty hungry. And I didn't think about it at all when they took 3 vials of blood right before I drove home... So I'm driving down the freeway, 70 mph, talking to my dad and my hands start going numb, tingling like crazy. Then my feet, and I'm having trouble breathing and starting to get super light-headed. I'm only 7 minutes from home now so I think maybe I can make it. But I am hyperventilating a little and can barely move my fingers. So I decided it probably wouldn't be good to pass out driving 70 mph and surrounded by semis. So I got off and bought some candy at a gas station and a drink of water at their cafe thing. The waitress was super freaked out when she saw me. I was all pale and sweaty. Took like 15-20 minutes to feel somewhat normal again. Moral of the story-- EAT and carry snacks with you (especially when you go to the Dr and get surprised with blood draws!)

12w3d "Surprise!"

This week is very doctor happy. I have three appts in as many days! Yesterday, M and I went to see our high risk perinatal specialist. It was a whirlwind appointment but the babies look good. NT measurements were "good". And guess what, he thinks they are girls!!!! We were totally not expecting that. We've been talking about our baby boy since 2008 when we started trying. Don't know why we thought we were having 2 boys but it looks like we were totally wrong. We are super excited about girls, too. Just totally surprised. I was already thinking blue nursery and clothes... Not anymore! Flowers and butterflies here we come! It is still early and he wasn't positive but we're going with it for now.

I'm now sitting on my OBs table (with no pillow-lame) waiting for her to come in. And tomorrow I graduated from my RE's office!! After the onslaught of Dr visits this week it will be a strange 4 week wait before I'm in again.
Oh she's here...

11w3d "Growing"

Today's appointment was pretty routine, and the nurses didn't do much to make it feel otherwise. I was the only one there but I still felt like I was totally rushed through my ultrasound. Maybe just in comparison to last week when the nurse was real slow and just let me watch them kicking around for a minute. I don't really have much to complain about though. They are doing well. They are big - like 2 inches long now! They were moving like crazy so it was really hard to hear the heartbeats. Actually we only got one's heart rate, but they are both still beating! I was a little worried they wouldn't grow very well this week because I was pretty nauseous and didn't eat too much. But today was the first day they measured days ahead of me. Usually they measured 2 days behind but they were 2 days ahead today. Not too big of a difference, but I was surprised! (who knows how accurate those things are though)

Since we are going ahead with the shower in the end of May, I have been registering for baby stuff. This has been very weird and a little overwhelming. First of all, I have no idea what I want and need for a baby, let alone twins. There are some many items available, and I am sure 90% is unnecessary. Plus it is just weird to think about buying things for our babies. I am still in my first trimester (almost done though!). I can't picture baby stuff in our house yet. So I feel like I have just registered for this that and the other and we'll see what I still want in 6 months. It is a strange feeling to be having a baby shower for me. Exciting, overwhelming and a little unnerving.

Win-A-Vasectomy Campaign

Dear Ingrid,

 

I am writing concerning your current "Win-A-Vasectomy" Campaign. Although I disagree philosophically with the main premise of limiting human reproduction, I believe that you are entitled to that opinion. I support your goal to have dogs and cats spayed/neutered. I have no problem with men voluntarily choosing to receive a vasectomy.  My concern arises with the claim that you are promoting human sterilization in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week.  According to the dictionary, "to honor" means 1) to hold in honor or high respect, 2) to show a courteous regard for. How does your campaign show respect and courteous regard for the following goals and purposes of NIAW (found at http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html)?

1. ensure that people trying to conceive know the guidelines for seeing a specialist when they are trying to conceive.
2. enhance public understanding that infertility is a disease that needs and deserves attention.
3. educate legislators about the disease of infertility and how it impacts people in their state.

I am trying to understand your perspective on this claim. I would very much appreciate your explanation as to how you think your campaign honors NIAW. To offer sterility "in honor" of infertility awareness seems as ludicrous a claim as honoring cancer awareness by promoting radiation showers. Your campaign seems to have nothing to do with helping the public and legislators understand the disease of infertility, the emotional and physical consequences, the current treatments available, and the need for funding and research. It seems that your campaign has the goal of creating more infertile people. That goal does not honor NIAW. Neither does it strengthen your campaign for spaying/neutering animals.

 

I ask you to please respect the purposes and motivations of NIAW and all those that have struggled and are struggling with infertility and remove the connection between your campaign and NIAW.  Thank you,

 

 

Amy Broadbent

10w3d "Summary"

I had my 10 week visit today. I love seeing them every week! It will be a bitter sweet graduation to "normal" pregnancy when I won't get weekly ultrasounds. They are looking great. Moving around like crazy, they just make my heart melt.

I thought I would copy Mrs Lemon and record a bit of my 10 weeks pregnant life.

How far along: 10 weeks 3 days
Symptoms: Tired (exhausted), Nausea (and no appetite), Sore Uterus, Gas, Constipation,
Baby Related Purchases: Not yet.
Maternity Clothes: My sister gave me a maternity dress for my birthday last week. So I now have 1 item.
Sleep: Love it! Pretty light sleeping, occasional potty trips, usually I get to sleep in. YAY
Best Moment of the Week: The ultrasound. Plus non-baby related, it was General Conference this weekend so M and I got to listen to the Prophet and Apostles. Always love that.
Sweetest Moment: M trying to hear their heartbeats through my belly.
Movement:I can see it on the ultrasound and sometimes I think I can feel them moving, but probably not.
Cravings: Mac and Cheese, Pizza,
Gender: We still think they are boys...
Belly Button: In
What I miss: Not much, Feeling good I guess.
What I am looking forward to: less than 2 weeks until my big detailed high risk ultrasound. Supposedly we will be able to find out the gender (even at 12 weeks).
Weekly Wisdom: Keep busy, even if you feel crappy.
Milestones: No more hormone meds!
Sticky Bun is the size of: a prune?