A Faster Heartbeat!!!

Well we went back to the doctor today for our second ultrasound to hopefully see a faster heartbeat and of course growth. We got great news. The tech said she would like to see a heartbeat between 120 and 180. Our baby's heart was beating 164 bpm...YEA! We were so excited. You should have seen the look on Robby's face...he was a proud daddy. The growth of the baby was good, right where it should be. The growth of the gestational sac was a little small. It was measuring 7 weeks and I'm 8 weeks and 1 day today, so a little small, but nothing to worry about. Our nurse seemed very happy that things looked good (probably because she had to tell 2 women before me that they were miscarring). So she was happy to have some good news.

Ok, as for pictures...I tried to scan the first ultrasound picture into the computer but it turned out horrible. Today's pictures I tried to take a picture of the picture with my camera...and that also turned out bad. I am going to upload one of todays pictures, but it's REALLY bad. I need to figure out how to get these ultrasound pictures on my computer. If anyone knows - please help!

On a personal note: I still have the worst breat tenderness EVER! It is almost like they're getting more sore each and every day. I have been blessed (I hope it is not too soon to say that) to not have any nausea or vomiting. My clothes are starting to fit a little tight around the waist...I guess I'm entering that "I just look fat" stage where no one knows you're pregnant. At least summer is almost here and I can hide inside my house until I actually "look" pregnant. Not to mention...acne! YUCK...all the hormones and progesterone that I'm taking is causing an ulgy breakout. Robby has been great. He rubs my feet and gave me a wonderful back rub tonight (my boobs are killing my back)! He has been cleaning house for me. But it's driving me crazy because he will only vacuum once a week, and I usually do it every other day because there is dog hair everywhere! Speaking of dogs...I have more pictures below for you to enjoy. Please advertise for us. We have 11 Goldens to sell. They are $500 each. We have 7 males and 4 females. They are too cute. I would keep them all if I lived on a farm! They will be ready for a home June 23rd.

An update on my IVF friends:
Emily - had her baby girl, Isabella Grace Richards last Tuesday, so she is a week old today. She is soooo cute. I went to visit and got to hold her on Saturday. I have also uploaded a picture of her.

Hayley - TWINS...yes, that is right. She is having two. She is two weeks behind me, so she is 6 weeks and 1 day pregnant today. She is having her ultrasound Thursday to see the heartbeats. I went to Barnes and Noble today and bought both of us the "Your pregnancy week by week" book. Guess we will probably be doing a lot of shopping together this summer. Congrats Hayley!

Enjoy the pictures:


This is Isabella Grace - Isn't she cute!



Okay, this is a bad picture, but you can kind of see baby.



These are our two biggest boys!



More boys...we have lots of boys.



Group picture...aren't they cute...you know you want one!!



Another big boy



Our darkest pup...and it's a girl!!!




Sound Asleep!

1st Ultrasound

We had our first ultrasound today at 2:00. We didn't have to wait too long before they called us back. I was a little nervous...because I really wanted to see a heart beat or two and was afraid we might not see anything. But when she when she stuck that probe up me it wasn't long before we saw the sac. She zoomed in close and there it was...the heart beating. It was the coolest feeling to see a little heart just beating right there on the screen. I was so excited. After a while I asked if there was another one in there or just one and she said just one. I was kinda hoping for two just becasue two embryos were put back and of course I wanted them both to take, but I'm very happy with one baby. She measured everything, the sac, the yoke, the baby...and it all measured perfectly! However...when she measured the heart rate, she wanted it to be at least 100 beats per minute and it measured 85. I was worried after that. I just WISH that once we could go to the doctor and have a 100% perfect visit without leaving worried about something for the next week. The nurse said not to worry and that they would measure it again in a week. My next appointment is scheduled for May 27th. I think I just need a BIG coca cola to make the baby's heart rate go up!!!

Well, I would love to post more pictures of the pups...they are so freaking cute! But I am leaving for Austin right now and don't have time. I will next week.

Kelly

HCG levels are good!!!

Just heard from the nurse like 2 minutes ago and my HCG level is at 500 exactly. The nurse this morning said it needed to be around 300. It went up "beautifuly" those were the nurse's words. I am sooooooooooo excited I don't know what to do! My next appointment will be my 1st ultrasound on May 15th...that seems like forever.

Thanks a million for all your prayers...but keep them coming. I still need to hear a heart beat or beats :)

Kelly

WE HAVE PUPPIES :)

Saturday Holly's temperature finally dropped 98.0. This meant within 24 hours she'd deliver. She started panting Saturday night and wanted to sleep under our bed (she loves it under there and it's usually where she sleeps) but Rob and I thought it would be a good idea to put her in the whelping box just incase she deliverd. We got a baby monitor from a friend of ours to hear her during the night, but she just cried all night and tried to escape her kennel set up in the garage...so finally I got about 6 pillows and made a pallet on the floor and slept next to her. That calmed her down and she slept for a while (tossing and turning all night). Robby came out to the garage about 6 a.m. Sunday morning wondering what in the world I was doing. I told him I was going to get in bed and it was his turn to stay with her. I got in my comfy bed about 7:00 and not 20 minutes later Robby and screaming "KELLY". I jumped up and ran out there. Holly became a mommy with her first pup at 7:20. It was a girl. Robby did a great job helping Holly deliver the pups. The next one came at 9:00 (yes, an hour and 40 minutes later). I thought "Holy Cow...this is going to take all day!) It was a boy. The next 5 came a little faster and ALL BOYS. I was freaking out because we had 1 girl and 6 boys. Thank GOD the next 3 were girls and we thought we were done. It was 1:00 and Holly went to sleep. Poor baby was so tired. And so were we. We sat around just watching them and petting Holly for a few hours then Robby was going to run some errands. I was out in the garage by myself when I swear I noticed another contraction. We knew there would be at least 9 but possibly 11 from the x-ray. And we had 10 so far. I called Robby on the phone and told him to get home ASAP that Holly was having more contractions and bleeding again. He had only made it to the end of our street and turned around. We watched her for about 20 more minutes and out came another pup. A BOY!!! Another boy. So we have 11 total pups. 7 boys and 4 girls. They are just the cutest things you've ever seen. It was an amazing experience. I have posted lots of pictures...some of them are gross so beware.

As for me...I went to the doctor this morning for some more blood work to check my HCG levels. The nurse has not called with results yet, but I will post those tonight if you're interested with more information and possibly have my 1st OBGYN appointment set up if things look good.

Enjoy the pictures:
Kelly


Holly is laying down where I slept all night. She liked that spot better.



Robby rubbing the pup and Holly looking at it.



Here is one being born.



They latch on real fast!!!



Here is one already starting to dry. How cute!



This is where we kept them while the next one was being born.



Here are two pups trying to stay warm.



What a good mommy!



How cute is that???



Mommy's tired...Pups are hungry!

POSITIVE...as of right now!

Ok, the moment everyone's been waiting for! I've kinda been telling a little fib. I found out on Monday that I was pregnant. I just wanted to wait until today to tell everyone so Robby and I could be happy or sad by ourselves before everyone else knew. When the nurse said it was positive...I said "ok, so when do I need to come in again?" I just didn't know how to get excited. Don't get me wrong, I AM and so is Robby...very excited, but because I lost my first pregnancy 4 years ago, it's kinda hard to be overly excited. The nurse explained that this was a VERY EARLY pregnancy test and my HCG level was 56.5. I was 4 weeks pregnant that day. According to the study requirements you have to take another pregnancy test two days later. So Wednesday morning I went in again. It took them forever to call me back with levels that day. Finally at 3:00 (right at dismissal) the nurse called. My HCG level was 75.9 :( I just wanted to cry right then. I knew that technically your level rises about 60% a day...so I did the math and knew that it should be about 144. She did say that the level was a little lower then they expected...but to keep in mind it was STILL VERY EARLY! In fact if I wasn't in the study and was a regular IVF patient I still wouldn't have had my pregnancy test until tomorrow or Monday. Dr. Schnell wants me to have more blood work Monday morning to check the levels again. If they are still too low, we will have to schedule an appointment with Dr. Schnell to discuss what to do (I'm assuming a D&C...just like last time). But I can only HOPE and PRAY for a good high HCG level and try to stay positive. Please pray that this pregnancy is viable and that my levels skyrocket!!!

And by-the-way, Holly is still acting fine. Her temperature has not dropped yet...so who knows when she'll have those pups. Hopefully this weekend!

Kelly