Totally slacking

I was doing so well at keeping this blog up to date and then bam total slacker lately! Life has been moving right along nicely, with my morning hugging the toilet, but hey this girl cannot complain - worked too hard to not feel this way right?
We had our Maternit21 testing this past Friday and I almost walked out of the office. They had us sit with a genetic counselor first for whatever reason. She wasn't the same one we met with when they dropped the bomb on us about me being a carrier...and boy do I wish it was. After she introduced herself and said she's been trying to find the letter/file on us, jumped right to 'why are you here? why are you doing this test?'
I was taken back at first and said it was recommended by both doctor's so we are going with their suggestion. Started to go on and on about how this one only tests for this and the amniocentesis tests for this and then explained the difference between two of the tests with the needle (which hubs knew I wanted NO part of). I just felt that we were wasting her time and were bothering her. Hubs got to the point where he couldn't take her rudeness anymore and snapped back - told her that with the PGD testing we had a very high chance of her being okay. They doctor's wanted us to make sure everything was covered so that is why we are here. I love that man!
She seemed to have gotten the picture - I think she would have gotten it more if she was more prepared with all of our paperwork/history before bringing us in, but hey that's just my thought.
Our appointment sheet said blood work and ultra sound - well I wasn't down for an ultra sound and was furious (mainly because I just wanted to see her again). They took my blood and sent me on my way. Rush home to try to squeeze in a quick nap before the Bruins game we were going to that night but didn't have much luck.
Had a lot of fun at the game but not sure how many more I'll make this year (not that it's a long season). Being at the game and not being able to enjoy a cold beer just wasn't the same...hahahah makes me sound like a lush, but you know what I mean. Was a late night and up early the next morning for one of my nephew's hockey games.
Spent the afternoon shopping with my mom and ended up buying stuff for Amelia - I always feel like I'm jinxing it by doing stuff like that. Couldn't resit though - got her the cutest little bathing suit....yes, she will be a beach bum just like her mother! Once we got back to my house my parents left and I started to watch the movie Heathers (loved that movie). Remember the first 15 minutes and then when I woke up it was the ending....really! Wasn't feeling so hot so I took it easy and then got ready for dinner with the hubs family.
Sunday marked 11 weeks. I still can't believe I'm saying it - took my first belly shot for the Mafia IVFers and rested the rest of the day.
Hubs ordered a Doppler for home so I'm super excited to try that bad boy out, but know I have to keep in mind I might not be able to find it. We don't go back until the 13th - which seems forever and a day away.

Still growing strong

We had our first OB appointment yesterday. They brought me back for blood work, urine, blood pressure and weight (which I think their scale is WAY off....just sayin' - HA). Grab the hubs and start heading to the room - when I was then informed they were going to do a pap....awesome! I do as I'm told and get undressed from the waist down and look at the hubs who is just staring at the counter.....
Hubs: 'what is all that stuff for?'
Me: 'oh, you'll see!' hahah
Our doctor comes in and she is so thrilled that we are finally preggers and so begins the conversation. We went over everything from diet, exercise all the way to delivery methods. Due to my previous surgery (thank you again Dr. F*** Face) there are complications with both normal delivery and c-section. As we went over what those would be I just stopped her and said all I cared about was what was the safest way. If I get another scar, big deal.....seriously 3 on my stomach now, what is one more right? Then she tells me we aren't doing a pap so she wasn't sure why I was told we were.....awesome, sitting there butt naked for no reason! HA
She tried to see if she could hear the heartbeat (told me the chances were low because it was too early) so I asked for an u/s! I had to make sure everything was okay. I had to know Amelia was still with us - yes we have her name picked out :)
We were able to get in for an u/s right after lunch and I was over the moon thrilled. She laid me down and asked to just pull my pants down a tiny bit - as I was ready to rip them off again....laughed at myself for being so used to dropping my drawers every time I walk into a doctor's office!
And there she was - nice strong heartbeat and measuring a couple days ahead from the last time. The tech zoomed in and we were able to see her wiggle. It was one of the most amazing things to see, I couldn't help but tear up. We've been through hell and back and to be able to see that, was amazing. Even though she still has a tail, she's starting to look a little bit more like a human.
The hubs was so cute with his big smile on his face and saying how cool it was to see her move like that so early on - kept asking me later that night if I could feel her kick :) love that man so much!
Our next venture is Monday when I go in for the Maternit21 testing - we chose to do this basically so all parties are prepared if God has something planned for us. That and I felt way more comfortable knowing it was strictly blood work.
Now just going to relax and enjoy every day - even if it starts off face first in the toilet :)

Family is in the loop

The cat is finally out of the bag with both of our families! We drove down to my parents house Sunday for my dad's birthday and made him open his gift before taking them out to lunch:

I recorded his reaction and it was priceless - he got all teary eyed and then turned it to show my mother who just screamed and covered her face. I had to stop recording then because the tears started to flow but wish I kept going. I asked her if she read the bottom frame and I'm surprised the neighbors didn't come over from how loud she got! My youngest nephew (who is 4) was staying with them while my sister was at the hockey tournament with the rest of her family came into the room and asked what was going on. We told him he was going to have a baby girl cousin and he responded, "but I want a baby brother"....yeah good luck with that one kid! After my mother's heart started beating at a normal pace again she leaped up and went into one of the back rooms and came out with a box. It was a box my grandmother had started when my middle sister was first pregnant (12 years ago). I opened it up and it was a box of girl clothes.....she finally got her great granddaughter that she can now protect from above with the rest of my family upstairs!

Had lunch and then waited for my other sister/her kids and brother/wife to arrive. My mother had positioned the frame on one of the end tables but couldn't wait for them to find it on their own....so impatient she was :)
My sister was sitting next to me on the couch with her head on my shoulder and my mom asked if she wanted to see what we got dad for his birthday and just pointed. She immediately covered her face and started to cry - I just busted out laughing. Then cried some more when she got up to read what the bottom frame said. My brother had a huge smile on his face and said he knew and my sister in law's face was priceless - she looked at us like it was a joke and then realized it wasn't and ran over to give me a big hug and cried......lots of tears of joy :) Going to be a very busy summer with babies: my godparents daughter is due at the end of June - my sister in law is due at the end of July - and I'm due towards the end of August.

Still in shock!

And there we have it folks......our one little bean measuring 7wks 2 days! Leading up to this moment I felt I could burst into tears from fear. Fear that there would be nothing there. Fear that there would be no heartbeat. Fear the heartbeat would be weak and we would have to prepare ourselves for another miscarriage. 

They call me in to change into the gowns but told me to keep my shoes on....perfect day to be wearing my UGGS - hubs just busted out laughing when he saw me. We were brought in to the room and she had me lay down so she could do an external u/s first....and then, all of those fears vanished when she said, 'I can see a flicker'. All I could do from crying was squeeze hubs hand. Wipes my belly off and asked me to go empty my bladder - mind you I had JUST gone before going into the waiting room. Get back and the bed is now ready for the internal, hello stirrups.

Then came Wanda the Wand - oh how I have not missed you! The u/s tech was doing her thing, checking the ovaries and surrounding areas. I couldn't stop thinking get on with it! I want to see the heartbeat.

There it was. That fast little flicker that I have longed to see. Heart beat of 153! She said that was perfect - right in the middle of where it should be for this time. Everything looked great and she congratulated us. Had to wait a few minutes for radiology to say all was good before we were allowed to leave to head upstairs to meet with the doc.
I didn't realize it but that was our last meeting. I told her I wasn't ready to 'go upstairs where the "normal" women go" and she just laughed. Told me I could call her with anything if I ever needed her. I thanked her for helping our wish come true and never giving up Hope.
After our appointment we went out for lunch and hubs couldn't wait any longer and sent the u/s picture to his sister. She was so excited and said she knew since we bagged out on the New Years party. I then sent it to one of my sister's who is out of town at a hockey tournament for her boys - she was balling and was so excited. I told her I was sorry for lying to her for so long and she said she would only forgive me if we name her Erin. Mind you we still hadn't received the call it was a girl yet. Once we did, I sent her a text asking if she was sure I had to name HER Erin.....nothing, no response. Headed over to his parents house and they were surprised to see me, kept asking if I was off today. After the barrage of questions I told his mother that she needed to look at that paper that was on top of the pie dish (had to bring back from Christmas). Within seconds of her opening up the u/s pictures, she burst into tears and hugged me. Wouldn't let me go! It was so sweet.
My sister finally called me later last night and was so excited and just kept asking questions. I finally stopped her to ask if she didn't understand my last text message and she said no. When I told her it was a girl I had to pull the phone away from my ear because she was screaming/crying.....mind you with other hockey mom's in the room! I just think she is more excited that she can finally go to the other side of Gap Kids/Baby Gap :)
Sunday will be the big day we tell my family. It's my father's birthday today so I am going to go down to take him to lunch and then my other sister and brother will be coming over for cake.....his gift will be a frame with the embryo - the u/s - and then 'Coming in August'. I'm going to try to find pink stuff to put around it - his first granddaughter. Sunday cannot come fast enough!!!!!!!!!!!