The "Gummy Bears"

We had our final appointment with the RE's office today and both babies are measuring right on target (7w4d) and look great. They are the size of gummy bears now and are taking shape. Baby A had a heartrate of 165 and Baby B was 167. I got my final med instructions (stop my PIO and patches 3/24) and we've already scheduled our first OB appt for 3/22 at which point we will be 10 weeks+.

I'm feeling pretty darn good. I carried twins to this point with my last surrogacy (lost Twin A around 8wks) and felt way worse then. So far the queasiness has been tolerable, the fatigue manageable and everything else pretty typical of a regular pregnancy. I have to stop over analyzing my symptoms (or lack of) and try to just enjoy that I'm pregnant with twins and let myself believe they are going to stick around.

I was able to have lunch with K&S afterwards. They are both very excited that things are continuing to progress and I think like me, are getting used to the idea that there are going to be TWO babies. We discussed our upcoming appointments and our move to the OBs office out here in my area. Very excited that WE HAVE GRADUATED!!!

The Gummy Bears

They are really hard to get in the same pic due to how close they are together. You can see in the image of Baby A - the sac above it is Baby B's ... you just can't see him/her due to the angle.

Two for Two!!

Last weeks lil nondescript squiggles with barely visible yolk sacs/fetal poles are now two adorable lil blobs with HEARTBEATS!!!! Both babies are measuring right on target (6w5d)and had perfect fetal cardiac activity. Baby A 130 bpm and Baby B 135 bpm. Baby A is in the straight up and down position in his/her gestational sac and Baby B is laying down and cozy in his/hers.

The u/s tech pointed out a subchorionic bleed at the top of my uterus and said not be alarmed if I experience some spotting/bleeding and that it's very normal in IVF pregnancies but, as of now I haven't had any. Otherwise all is looking great and we'll wait from instructions from the RE as to whether he would like another u/s before releasing me to the OB.

My symptoms are still pretty mild. I have some waves of queasiness throughout the day but nothing overwhelming. I'm experiencing the other usual stuff too like sore breasts that have grown a cup size (!!!) and increased CM. I got hit with a head cold this week - YUCK! I've been healthy all winter long and now that I CAN'T take anything I get sick. My husband [Jason] says it's because my body is putting in overtime baking these two babies and it left my immune system vulnerable. Only other thing of mention is that I get in what I call "food moods". I'll have an appetite for one thing and one thing only ... guess it's the same as cravings but not for anything strange. The other day I wanted cream soup, it didn't matter what kind I just REALLY wanted a creamy soup. LOL One of my other favorites when pregnant is fruit so I'm pretty excited that this will be a summer pregnancy with lots of produce choices. :)

Keep growing lil beans!!!

I Wasn't Convinced ...

... nor was I making any predictions but guess my labs were indicating a lil more than just a solid pregnancy.
TWINS!!

We are 5w5d today and did not see any cardiac activity but are hopeful to see heartbeats at the follow up next Thursday. They are smooshed in there pretty tightly together so the u/s tech was having a lil difficulting getting a good image of the yolk sacs/fetal poles but she assured us the gestational sacs are measuring on target and all looks great.

We are all very excited but still cautious, my IPs have experienced loses and as many of you that followed along with my previous journey know, I lost a twin 8 weeks into my last pregnancy so ... not quite ready to start buying doubles of everything but, we are all very excited and pray both continue to develop. K&S are expecting not one but TWO babies this fall!!! Our due date is October 13th.

We've Got A Sticky One!

As a recap the first two betas were ...

11dp5dt - 403
13dp5dt - 1070

Today our third and final beta at 15dp5dt is a nice strong 2240!!

I think we've got a sticky one! We are anxiously awaiting our first ultrasound at the end of next week - Thursday can't come soon enough!!! We still have a long way to go but are feeling very optimistic and starting to get excited. Yay!!!!

Beta's on the Rise!!

I had a second beta drawn today! Yeah I know I said Thursday but I had a scheduling conflict and had my orders changed. ;)

Things are looking great. The official number at 13dp5dt is 1070!!! Woohoo!! We have a very nice doubling time of 34 hrs and things continue to look strong and solid. Hoping for another nice beta number on Friday and then it's on to an u/s late next week if all continues to go well.

Beta Is In

It's 403 at little shy of 11dp5dt. Yay!!!

It's driving me crazy how it's on the fence and could go either way. It's a nice high number for one but could also possibly mean there are two in there. The chart I like to use says average is 132 for 10dp5dt and 292 for 11dp5dt ... my bloodwork was drawn at 6:45 AM which put us in the middle at 10.5dpt so ... the wait continues.

The big factor in this whole beta game is that the numbers continue to rise and at a steady pace - this is where we lost out last time - so praying all continues to go well and we see another nice increase and another solid number come Thursday when I have the bloodwork repeated.

Confessions of a POASaholic

Final HPT - Sunday AM (2/5)@ 9.5dp5dt

A whole lotta HPTs.

Beta in the morning!!!

We Have An Overachiever

Well time to share the news - we have a BFP! K and I had agreed that I'd test Tuesday morning. I was totally preparing myself for a negative since we wouldn't even be 5dpt yet - having an afternoon transfer threw everything off but - to our surprise it was POSITIVE at only 4.5dp5dt.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a positive this time after the downward spiral of last cycle. Initially I thought I'd be a little guarded but, I honestly can't help but be excited and I'm feeling very optimistic. I love how K, despite all the disappointment she's faced over the last few years, is still as excited as if this were the first time and doesn't let the past keep her down. Can I just say what an amazingly strong woman she is! For now we are happy for the good news but remain cautious too as we realize how quickly things can change.

I'll leave you with a view of yesterdays tests. The 4.5dp5dt line is light, but totally there without having to strain your eyes (enlarge for best view). I didn't even get a positive test this early with Baby G, at 4.5dpt with that pregnancy the HPT was stark white and as you may know that pregnancy started out as twins. ;) Very hopeful of what is to come.

Congratulations K&S!!! Let's pray this one sticks!!!! Beta is scheduled for Monday (2/6).


Early AM test @ 4.5dp5dt a faint line.
Digi says PREGNANT @ 4.75dp5dt

Same test as above - 4.5dp5dt @ 5:00 AM - and - official 5dp5dt @ 1:00 PM. What a difference already!