Wednesday, July 9, 2014

One chapter closes...

May means school has come to an end. This has been a crazy year, having one in elementary, one graduating high school, one preparing for preschool next year, and one in the incubator.
 
We were sad that Anna was no longer able to be part of the Spanish Immersion program with us moving out of state, but her school offered some fun programs. For 6 weeks during winter she participated in the Winter Sports Program. She received weekly ski lessons in a small group and really excelled at kicking my butt down Targhee. She loved skiing and we're happy we'll be able to continue the sport with her.
 
Anna, first day 2nd grade
 
Field day at Victor Elementary
 
Last day of 2nd grade

 
My niece Autumn chose to come live with us for her senior year of high school. It was stressful at times, but mostly we really enjoyed having her with us. She's so damn funny! She made me laugh all the time and helped out when I asked. The girls really loved having her with us.
 
Autumn's first day of her senior year

 Graduation ceremony 
 
 Last day of high school. I'm so proud of Autumn for how hard she worked her senior year. She completed a bunch of college courses this year and I wish her the best in the future!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Oh, haven't you heard?


We got a little planned surprise in March. Last September we decided that if we were going to try for #3, now was the time. We are both getting "older" (seriously, when did 38 become OLD?), and the thought of starting all over again with midnight feedings, diapers and sleepless nights was loosing its appeal. So we took the plunge and I had my IUD removed.

If you know me you know I have PCOS, which means I've battled infertility in the past. It took us 2 years of trying, multiple attempts at A.I. (artificial insemination) and a few rounds of clomid with NO positive outcomes. We ended up getting pregnant with Anna about a month after I had my tubes flushed (which was no day at the park), but had with no extra help. With Abby it took us a year of trying. We were actually at the doctors office getting ready to discuss the next steps when we found out we were pregnant with her.

The one consistent thing that happened prior to getting pregnant each time...loosing weight. I lost about 10lbs all three times before getting pregnant. Having PCOS makes it quite hard to lose the weight and carrying around extra weight means more side effects of the condition...one being infertility.

Because PCOS messes with your "schedule", there was really no way for me to calculate ovulation. We just guessed, had fun and waited. And waited. And waited. I took a few tests throughout the winter and nothing. Come March I had only had 3 periods since September so being extremely late was not unusual. I felt crampy, was moody (extremely moody) and my boobs hurt. All totally typical PMS symptoms that I've dealt with when not on some type of birth control.

So one day back in March the girls and I headed to Idaho Falls to get out of the snowy town of Victor. We first went to lunch where I got a little woozy and then went to see a movie. On the way home I stopped off at the store and decided to pick up a pregnant test. As sad as it is to think now, I had told myself #3 wasn't going to happen and had planned to call the GYN in the morning to get back on birth control until summer, when Perk would get the big V. I bought a test thinking "the doctor will ask since I'm so late, so I might as well take one". This was a common drill when dealing with infertility doctors, they always had me test before starting the "next step".

I took a test that night. That test turned POSITIVE quicker than anything! I was shocked! What?? Pregnant? When did that happen?? I called Chris in "um, I have something I need to show you". He came in, I handed him the test, he smiled and I started BAWLING! All these crazy emotions just came flooding over me. Finally this explained WHY I had been an emotional crying-on-the-bathroom-floor-mess just two weeks before. Finally this explained why I couldn't not (and I mean COULD NOT!!) stop eating Cadbury mini-eggs. And I mean CRAVED them like a smoker craves a cigarette type craving!! It was bad. I brought down inventory at the local grocery store!

I had prematurely told myself #3 wasn't going to happen, so I was totally okay with just having the two girls. I was okay with not having the chance to have a boy. Abby was finally old enough that I thought this fall we could go to Disneyland. The girls were finally old enough that we can start traveling with them and they can have fun with us.

So when the test show we were pregnant and I started crying, it's not that I didn't want #3, I was just so relieved it finally made sense why I was a mess the past few weeks and I was mad at myself for giving up so soon on the thought of expanding. It's hard to explain, I was shocked, a little scared and very relieved.

We told the girls a few days later, swore them to secrecy until our first appointment and that sealed the deal. Seeing the girls SO EXCITED to have another baby is well worth the sleepless nights to come. They rub my belly and talk to her (yes, another girl! Bust out the pink tutus!!), they ask questions about being pregnant all the time (some I am so NOT answering truthfully at this point!), Anna talks about how she'll help out and the best part is that they are in love with the thought of a baby in the house. It took me a few weeks to really start feeling "pregnant".

Now at 20 weeks I am finally showing that there is a baby in there and not just a few extra burger and fry meals. I rub my belly every night and I'm feeling her swim around.

I've learned that sometimes my plan doesn't always match up with the plan God has for me. But in the end, his plan is always the one that leads us to our next miracle, our next blessing, and now our next little girl come this November!

The Test
 
Our fun announcement my good friend created for us.
 

At our 18 week appointment. The girls dressed in blue...but in the end it's all PINK!
 
 
The 20 week belly