Colds, naps, and a 12 week appointment

Friday was our first appointment and ultrasound with Dr. Darroca.  Evidently, we were supposed to take a jump drive so he could just download the ultrasound pictures...not so much did we know that part!  Baby Jones is growing and everything looked great.  The heart rate was 156 and we were measuring a little bigger.  Dr. Bopp told us it was a big baby last time.  My blood pressure is always high on appointment days, and honestly I don't think that will change any time soon.  Every appointment and test is another milestone for us, but there's always a little fear and anxiety.  I'm convinced I'm going to be tired and slightly more anxious than usual for the rest of time!  We go back again on January 5 for another appointment and I will take a jump drive so we can have pictures.
The past couple weeks, I've been fighting allergy/cold problems.  Germs are just a part of life when you teach preschool and the allergies will be a struggle since I can't take all the medicine I was to manage them.  Last weekend, I was wheezing really bad and kinda freaked so went over to the doc in the box to make sure everything was okay.  I didn't start the medicine he gave me until after I talked to Darroca's office on Monday, let's keep it real...I'm gonna be a freak!  I'm able to breathe much better and am finishing up my antibiotic, so it's all good.  Life these days consists of getting up early to work before preschool, teaching, and heading home for a nap promptly at the end of the school day.  I wake up in time for Joe to get home from work with dinner, take a bath, and go back to bed.  It's a wild life at the Jones' house these days!
Please continue to pray for Baby Jones to keep growing and developing, pray for us to keep the faith since four weeks will be the longest we've gone between appointments so far, pray for my allergies/sinuses to cooperate, and for a restful Christmas Break!  We are so blessed and thankful for all the love and prayers!
Joe and I started dating in 1998, so we've been together awhile it's safe to say.  However, when I think about the fact we've married 15 years coming up on the 15th...that sounds like such a long time!  It's safe to say when we were just young and in love, we had no clue what adventures were in store for us.  When I think about it, it's crazy to say but I'm thankful for our infertility journey because it's really brought us closer together and helped us to grow as a couple.

Have a fabulous weeks!
Love,
Joe and Sarah

Graduation Day

I was flipping through pictures, quotes, and verses to try and decide what to use to start today's blog.  I Corinthians 13 was one of the scriptures read at our wedding and it really caught my attention today, so let's start there since it really sums up life with Joe Jones.  I require a lot of patience and protection.  Together, we sure have gotten good at always trusting, hoping, and persevering.  I'm a lucky girl that caught such an awesome guy!  (I guess if love keeps no record of wrongs, I may need to be nicer to him about all the shots in the booty)
Last Wednesday, we met with Laura, the PA who is in with Dr. Darroca, to get an updated physical and all that fun stuff done here.  It's exciting and kinda scary to just go to the regular OB like a typical pregnant person.  She did make me chuckle when she asked if I worked out because I was in leggings and a hoody...not so much do I work out as I love stretchy clothes that fit me!  We left with orders for lab work for me and a follow up and ultrasound with Dr. Darroca on December 9.  (I didn't realize that the lab work would involve taking five things of blood!)
Today was graduation day with Dr. Bopp and I was having some major separation anxiety issues.  Our Facebook memory today reminded me that our very first embryo transfer with Bopp was exactly four years ago.  Goodness, what a lot has happened in four years.  Leaving Dr. Bopp and Nurse Alison is a huge milestone, they got us pregnant and kept us pregnant.  One of things I love most about Midwest Fertility is the fact it's not just about getting pregnant, everyone you come into contact with sincerely cares about you and encourages you.  Dr. Bopp and Alison have shared ups and downs with us and provide that sense of security and familiarity in such an emotional time.  We are just so thankful for Dr. Bopp, Nurse Alison, and everyone that's taken care of us, it's just bittersweet but I still have Alison's email and can pop into visit when I go for acupuncture!

Enough of my ramblings, here are a couple of Baby Jones' pictures from today.  It's really crazy to look back at each ultrasound and how much change you see in two weeks!  There was a moment during the ultrasound when I couldn't see it, but thankfully she moved just enough it didn't last too long.  Heartbeat is still going strong at 166.
There aren't enough words to express how grateful and blessed we are to have so many people praying for us and providing encouragement.  I'm so thankful that everyone is along for the journey with us.
Please continue to pray that Baby will keep growing strong!
Love to all!
Sarah and Joe

Results everyone agrees on ;)

I'm sitting here trying to think of what I need to share for a blog update, listening to some music, and a song came on that switched my gears.  So, I'm going to share it first.  (bear with me and my hormones)

"You Should Be Here"

Of course I wish my grandma, my Moe, and Uncle Andy were here to celebrate the milestone of our 8 week ultrasound.  It really is hard not to be able to share this day with J2 (Joe's dad Joe).  He was always our biggest, yet quietest cheerleader and the gentle voice of reason when I needed it.  Ugh, hormones are not helping this meltdown but this blog is about sharing what's on my mind in this journey...so you get to read it all!  

Back to keeping up with the Joneses!  The past two weeks have gone quicker than I figured they would, but that may just be due to the fact I'm exhausted all the time.  It's kinda crazy!  Other than that, some mild nausea, and a million trips to the potty each day...I've been feeling pretty good.  Keeping it real, there have been a few meltdowns!  It's a struggle to know I can't do some things or don't have the energy for things...working on resting and balance.  I'm so thankful to be surrounded by so many people (besides Joe...he's stuck with me) who support and help me adjust.

Today's ultrasound was a milestone, Dr. Bopp said things are great and that it was time to schedule an appointment with my regular OB.  If I think too much about leaving Bopp, Alison, and the rest of the Midwest staff, I'm just going to cry again.  It's really bittersweet.  I may have temporarily lost my mind because I agreed to keeping up the progesterone injections and eliminating the Prometium that has to be done twice daily.  Obviously, Joe is just fine with our nightly needle date!  I also get to stop the extra estrogen I've been taking.  I'm pretty excited about that, too!  We go back November 28th for our graduation day ultrasound.  At our first ultrasound, Nurse Alison mentioned she wouldn't see us for our 8 week but would for our 10...so we have to go back one more time.  ;)  Have I said how much I love this place?  Midwest Fertility is just an amazing group of people that truly care about their patients!  

I think today's ultrasound was really a weight lifted off me, I've been working on the whole not being anxious thing...but I was still scared.  (real talk, I'm still a little scared but feel so much better)  This afternoon I baked cookies, assembled dinner, and put a load of laundry in.  That's my productivity for a week!  I just felt relief and needed to be busy.  After a couple hours, I mustered up the nerve to call Dr. Darocca and schedule an appointment with them.  Thankfully, they are seeing me on the 23rd so I don't have to miss another day of school.  

For our specific prayers, pray that our little one keeps growing!  Everything is going great, pray it keeps going that way.  Please pray for preschool, that I give my kiddos my best every day even with extra yawns, pray for my girls, Sarah and Bethany as they help out so much.  Please pray for Bethany's family, too.  Her dad passed away this week, it was sudden and unexpected.  My preschool people are my other family, my heart hurts when they hurt!  Of course, pray for Joe Jones as he handles the extra hot mess that is me.  I am so thankful for a patient guy, who is always encouraging and level headed, and loves me even at my worst.  (Granted, he does get to stick a big needle in me nightly, I'm sure that therapeutic!)

Have a great rest of the week friends!  We are so blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who pray for us, love us, and always offer encouragement!
Love,
Sarah and Joe

This was the best quote to sum up how I felt after the ultrasound.  We got to see our blessing!

Here's our little gummy bear!

A quick update

Yup, my dear husband is still kindly giving me a nightly shot of progesterone!

Alright folks, my ADD brain really intended to update the blog over Fall Break about our ultrasound visit...I had lunch with Misty and took a lot of naps over break!  That's about the extent of my productivity!
The anticipation and anxiety leading up to the first ultrasound is pretty high to say the least.  In the IVF binder, you're encouraged to be cautiously optimistic until that first ultrasound.  Thankfully, Joe drove us down so I could just play Candy Crush and not stress out.  Faith over fear is really something I am working on!!  While we waited for Dr. Bopp, Joe provided me with some much needed comic relief and I sang some preschool songs.  I let out a huge sigh when we heard the heartbeat.  Have I mentioned how much we love Midwest Fertility, especially Dr. Bopp and Allison!  
Any ultrasound pictures will be posted on the blog, not straight to Facebook so you have to come here if you want to see.
So, here it is...our little diamond ring (that's what Bopp said)  We were right at six weeks last Wednesday, and he was glad to hear such a strong heartbeat.  We go back again on November 9th.

Please keep the prayers coming that our little one continues to grow!  Prayers for Joe as he handles a hormonal wife who is exhausted all the time.  I'm so thankful for my preschool peeps who are so helpful and keep me in check.  One thing I'm really working on is not being afraid and freaked out all the time, just having faith!
Love, 
Sarah and Joe

Fear and Faith

"Cautious optimism" is what they say for the time between your positive pregnancy test and the first ultrasound.  Guess what, tomorrow is our first ultrasound!  It's not until 3:00, so pray for us to stay calm and not stress during the day.  I'm going in for Hay Days with the morning class, so that will occupy my brain!  Tomorrow is the day that we pray will show us a good strong heartbeat.  

We started progesterone shots on the 15th to boost those levels up, so every night around 7:30 it's shot time.  I think this picture from night #1 explains shot time better than any words would!  (It could be payback for being such a handful for Joe all the time, LOL!)  

Let's keep it real and back up a little bit.  I think overall that I've been generally calm, taking it one day at a time, and not freaking out about being pregnant.  Well, until last Thursday when I had some cramping and spotting after school.  I think I gave new meaning to the ugly cry, but thankful Joe is always able to remain calm, talk me down, and Dr. Bopp has an answering service!  As soon as I made myself breathe and lay down, everything was better.  Bopp called about 7:30 to see how I was going and said to take it easy and come down in the morning for labs if it would make me feel better. (Shout out to my preschool peeps for helping reassure me they would hold down the fort and to take Friday off!!)  Friday morning, we headed out early to get fit into the schedule to make sure my HCG levels were fine.  

Have I mentioned how much I love the Midwest Fertility staff?!  Everyone is so caring and reassuring.  Nurse Allison hadn't gotten my message, so I gave her the update and Minnie did my labs.  We were home by around 9:30, but then we had to wait...waiting is life with IVF!  Allison called and said my levels had gone up beautifully, just to take it easy.  This was a huge sigh of relief.  By this stage in my first pregnancy, I had already been spotting and cramping and placed under couch arrest.  To say I was scared would be an under statement.  Praise the Lord, everything was fine and has been fine since.  I've been a good girl at school and taking it easy, just taking it one day at a time drinking lots of water and no caffeine.  (Try keeping up with preschoolers on no caffeine...thankfully Joe handles dinner!)

I'm so thankful for the love and support that we continue to receive!  I can't imagine going through all this without family and friends to pray us through.  Granted, at times it's scary to be honest and open but receiving all the prayers and love remind me of why we keep it out there.  I always go back to the Cade Foundation Banquet the year we were blessed with our grant for IVF #1.  The other grantees at our table hadn't told their families where they were going let alone the fact they had been facing infertility.  It's hard, but we are so blessed to have so much love and support!

Love,

Sarah and Joe

Results are in...

It would be wrong to bury the lead, today's results...POSITIVE!  Dr. Bopp called to let us know, I'm pregnant.  Prayers were answered for sure, I was praying for a 50 just to get that first positive down.  My HCG was 132!!  Back on Friday morning for another test, Nurse Allison says we need it to increase by 2/3 at the least or even double.  By my math, we are praying for 220 at the least on Friday morning.  She's also going to check my thyroid levels to make sure they are cooperating!  We are to exercise cautious optimism until the first ultrasound, so just praising God for this positive news and going to take it easy and one day at a time!  (Yes, I will be going back to preschool tomorrow and taking it super easy!  I need my people!  It will be awhile before the kiddos know though)

When I was looking at my quotes on Pinterest, this verse stood out.  I think it safely summarizes life for Joe and I.  I'm so thankful that he endures this hot mess that is me through every circumstance!  Please keep the prayers coming friends!
Sarah & Joe

One day until test, two days until preschool

I started to title this post, tomorrow is our first test but that just made me think of my days in Job's Daughters and hearing the story of Job...pretty sure we have had more than one test along this lovely infertility journey!  However, we do have our first pregnancy test of this IVF cycle tomorrow which if I think too much about I want to cry or throw up so I just focus on going back to preschool and my kiddos on Thursday.  I went to my therapist, Terrie, today.  The appointment was scheduled before I knew we would be testing tomorrow, but the timing worked out perfectly.  I was thinking back to our transfer day and acupuncture David commenting on how calm I was that day.  I think this cycle has been different for me because I have to force myself to stay in the current moment, not get caught up in what happened before or what could happen.  I'm just taking it day by day, trying to take it easy, and not stress.  (You all know me, that's a big task but I'm convinced that the love, prayers, and support of our family and friends are keeping me somewhat sane)
Real talk, last night I had a total meltdown during Big Bang Theory.  I won't spoil it in case you haven't seen it,  but in the midst of laughing at the show I broke down in tears.  It's that fear that I try not to focus on, it just all came out.  God bless Joe Jones, because I'm a handful on any typical day, add some hormones and stress...I'm a super duper hot mess!  Although, after a good cry and shower...I felt better.
Tomorrow morning, my appointment is at 8:50.  Just getting up and heading down for a blood test...then we wait.  It probably will be a low social media/technology/communication day.  Sometime tomorrow afternoon, Dr. Bopp will call us with the result.  (I think I'm going to go to Target now because thinking about that phone call makes me want to throw up again)

Pray specifically for...
HCG above 50- that's considered a positive pregnancy test
Anything between 5-50 is inconclusive and will be repeated, less than 5 is negative.
Pray for us while we wait to hear the results.  It seems like time goes extra slow on test days!

Pray for me as I go back to my kiddos on Thursday morning, regardless of what tomorrow brings, I'm looking forward to going back to preschool and some sense of routine!  My girls have held down the fort and will keep me behaving when I go back, I just miss my preschool peeps and my little guys!!

The next 24 hours are big, so thanks in advance for the love and prayers!
Love,
Sarah & Joe