Week 10 -- Gummy bears, lemon drops and kumquats.....and other fall happenings

Well friends, we have reached week 10!!! Baby bird trois is measuring normally for week 10, approximately the size of a kumquat.  We had our last appointment with our fertility clinic on 10/31 and have been officially released from their care. We met with our OBGYN last Monday and seem to like the practice. The Dr was calm and laid back. He reviewed Wren's medical papers/history and said in his opinion, the pregnancy was progressing nicely and didn't seem concerned at all with her small subchorionic hematoma. Speaking of which, there has been no bleeding at all this week for 6 days straight (Hellur hallelujer!!!!!). Hitting week 10 also marks a small milestone of NO MORE INJECTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, Wren has been a champ -- over 2 months of intro-muscle injectables, she has literally become a human pin cushion. Whew!

So here is the most recent sonogram picture of our little taken around 8 1/2 weeks. This was taken by our fertility clinic and for some reason they did a 3D scan in which I think little bird is in the adorable gummy bear stage!

In other news -- Wren's nausea has really started kicking in. She is drinking lots and lots (and lots) of lemon water. Also the Dr recommended vitamin B6 and ginger chews. Wren has also sort of adopted her own solution -- lemon drops!  

Fall is officially upon us here in the beautiful mountain state. Seriously, if you have never been to West Virginia in the fall -- it is a MUST! It is Wren and I's most favorite time of the year. Gorgeous scenery, crisp fall mornings and we are those die hard ''pumpkin everything'' enthusiasts! Fall also means PUMPKIN PATCHES!!!! Around here, pumpkin patches are a big deal and we take them very seriously. You don't just go get a pumpkin at the store -- we have at least 6 major farms around us who specialize in fall festivities. Wagon rides, petting zoo, corn mazes, pumpkin chucking, duck races, huge tube slides, you get the picture! And if you don't, well here are some actual pictures of our trip this year:

And here is another of just some normal fall splendor!

Also this month, Baby bird J had to get glasses. Isn't he adorable????!!! The boy said he wanted blue glasses, so blue glasses he got! FYI -- if your child is ever in need of glasses, we highly recommend MIRAFLEX brand. They are completely bendable and thus far, indestructible. Perfect for our on-the-go, rambunctious little guy.

Lastly, fall is perfect because, well.....it's Halloweeeeeeeen! I've gotta say, I think the boys REALLY enjoyed trick or treating this year. Can you guess their costumes?????

Love and happy fall y'all!!!!!

~Finch

Early Complications

This past Thursday began as any other morning in our home. Wren was up early with the boys (because they are the happiest little early risers on the face of this earth) and I was just getting out of bed to start my day after a long night at work. A few minutes had passed when Wren came charging up the stairs into the bathroom and said ''something is wrong.'' She sat down on the toilet and pulled down her pants to reveal an alarming amount of blood. 

Immediately Wren phoned our Dr and we were told to come in right away. I threw on some clothes and a hat, got the boys together and off we went. It was the longest 40 minute drive ever. She went into the office and returned in less than 20 minutes. She got back into the van (all while I was honestly preparing for and anticipating the worst), sonogram picture in hand and reassuringly said ''everything is fine.'' The baby's heart rate is perfect for 6w5d (then) at 117 bpm and everything looks good. Whew! What an immediate sense of relief and joy! So what is causing the bleeding???

Wren was diagnosed with a subchorionic hemorrhage. A subchorionic hemorrhage (subchorionic hematoma) is the accumulation of blood within the folds of the chorion -- the outer fetal membrane, next to the placenta, or within the layers of the placenta itself. These bleeds, or clots, can cause the placenta to seperate from the uterine wall if they get too large, if they develop in a bad spot, or if they aren't eventually reabsorbed by the body. Unfortunately, there is no explained reason why this happens and according to our Dr and other online readings, it is very common in about 20% of women. On the positive side, more than half of these women go on to lead perfectly normal pregnancies. However, these hematomas can lead to or cause miscarriages, placental abruption and preterm labor. 

Since Thursday, Wren has been on bed rest. The bleeding seems to come and go. We have a follow up appt tomorrow morning with our Dr and now that we have more info on what a subchorionic hemorrhage is, we have more questions to ask. Until next week (week 8), we are still under the care of our fertility clinic. This week, we will be deciding on who our obstetrician will be or if we will be referred to the high-risk Dr (like we had last time) as a result of this complication. 

Please keep us in your thoughts!!!! Hoping to have more news after tomorrow's appointment. 

Thank you for caring, 

~Finch

OUR 1ST ULTRASOUND!!!!!!!

We went for our 1st Ultrasound on Wednesday, Oct 8th and we are having "1 STRONG BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hooray!!!!!  We had a different doctor to do the ultrasound  (who we have never met in the practice) and he asked why our Dr. wanted to scan so soon that usually they aren't done until after 6 weeks and he looked at my beta levels and said "oh she thought you were having multiples again!"  We were 25 days past conception (5 weeks, 4 days) on the day of our ultrasound and we were able to see the heartbeat already and when he measured it - it was 83 bpm - Dr. said, " I guess this is normal because we don't usually pick up a heartbeat until after 6 weeks so I think you have an overachiever already!" LOL.  We are over the moon excited! Our next ultrasound is on October 20th :)   Thanks for all the positive thoughts and prayers - keep them coming!  xo, Wren

OUR BABY :)   super tiny but strong!

Third Beta

Well I went for another beta today and Beta #3 was 3951.  We go for our first ultrasound on Wednesday morning!!!! 1 or 2??!!!  We only transferred one embie so if it's two --we are having identical twins this time... Come on Wednesday! 

Beta tests

Beta #1 11dpt (days past transfer) -460!!!

Beta #2. 13 dpt ---990!!!!

We are out of town until Monday so our third beta isn't until then....and first ultrasound not for two more weeks....

Need your vote: are we having 1 baby or 2 babies?!?!??? 

6 days post transfer

It's still early, but the wait was painstaking (seriously, Wren took this test at 430 am because she couldn't wait!). We have a BFP 6 days post transfer!!!!!!!!!!!! Granted, this is just a home urine test (blood work scheduled for Oct 1st), but we'll take it! Wren is also all ready showing multiple signs of pregnancy: tender breasts, emotional, tiredness, head cold, etc.

Baby bird #3 expected to hatch June 2015!!!!!!!

For now, we are keeping this to ourselves and blog friends...,ssssshhhhh, keep it a secret.

With happy hearts,
Finch and Wren

Transfer Day

10:50 am -- Here we are, the day has come (insanely quickly, might I add)!!!! I'm currently sitting in the waiting room while Wren is receiving a pre-transfer acupuncture treatment. Our FET is scheduled at noon. Please be sure to send all your best positive energy, baby-making ju-ju our way. After the FET we will return for a second acupuncture session and then head home for the day. Wren is on a strict warm food only eating plan to provide the most optimal incubation chance for implantation. Pregnancy teas laced with raspberry and goji berries, soups, oatmeal etc.

Incredible to be going through this experience again. We of course are still anxious and semi-nervous, but on a much different level than our previous transfer. Knowing the procedures and expectations has put us more at ease, more comfortable with this process. This. Process. That. Is. Going. To. Create. A. New. Life. A. New. Tiny. Human. To. Add. To. Our. Family.

Again, keep us in your thoughts and we will keep you posted.

Namaste.
Finch

Migrating back to Blogland

Greetings old friends in Blogland! After our 2 year hiatus from writing, Wren and I have decided it's time to blog again. We find ourselves, not as overwhelmed in the toddler years as we did during the infant stage. We have missed blogging and following along with some of our favorite blogs. Luckily, we have connected with several of you via other social media sites and have truly enjoyed having you as a part of our lives.

So, after two years, it would seem we have a lot of catching up to do. O and J are now 2 1/2 -- soon to be 3 in Dec (crazy, right??!!). They bring us so much joy, love and laughter every day. They are completely fearless, loving, caring, early to rise, energetic, onery, anything-with-four-wheels-obsessed boys. The best way I can catch you up is with a picture slide show:

This photo is from our Second Parent Adoption Sept 17th 2012. What a wonderful day in court this was!

 Here are O and J in the Fall of '13

This was during a vacation to DC Jan '14. Our hotel room overlooked a very busy intersection AND a firestation! They were beside themselves watching every taxi, garbage truck, bus and firetruck that passed.

The boys also have refined taste in their sweets! We had to stop in DC cupcakes while in town

These are from their 2 year photos

Mama and her boys -- all snow/winter birds for sure!

Spring '14 brings the trains out of the mountains. These two have locomotive fever...

and a great sense of style!

Mondays and Thursdays are THE BEST at our house -- garbage day! Yeah, we are on a first name basis with the driver

Beating the summer' 14 heat with the splashpad

Rocket Pops on Memorial Day

Meeting Burt and Ernie on summer vacation to Sesame Place

Boston Pride

Their first MLB game at Fenway

Picking flowers for Mommy at a local farm

P-town dunes -- adorable!

Mommy and her beach bums!

Searching for ''treasure'' (shells) with Mama

Blast off!!!!!

4th of July fireworks

They are some bike ridin' fools!

Our beautiful family <3

So, that has been our adventures in raising these sweet fellas! There were times when we felt like we were just treading water, doing the best we could to keep it together for that day. But we have navigated our way through it. It's not always rainbows and butterflies, but honestly, there is no other way either one of us would have had it. Hard to picture our life with only a singleton. Even through the chaos -- IT'S. JUST. TOO. MUCH. LOVE!!!!!!! 

Now that we are all caught up -- there is some other news we would like to share....

****WE ARE TTC 3.0****

Yes, indeed friends, we are so excited to be expanding our family! Wren is going to carry again. If you remember, we have 6 frosties put back. Our FET (frozen embryo transfer) is set for Sept 18th. Right now Wren is on estrogen injectibles and will progesterone around the 12th. We are set to transfer ONE embryo for now....I think. We keep debating back and forth between one or two, haha.

Ahhhhhhh, here we are, finding ourselves in all too familiar waters; Dr's appointments, bloodwork, birth control ***womp, womp, womp***, all the medication. And yet, all totally and completely worth it to bring another amazing little life into our world.  

We look forward to sharing and chronicling our journey with you all again. Much love to you all!

~Finch