Wednesday, March 31, 2010

9w4d Ultrasound

Well thank God all seems to be good.

The babies are measuring at 10 weeks plus or minus a day Dr. K said. Heartbeats are good, strong. Cervix looks good.

Dr. K did both vaginal and abdominal scans today. He also did a 4D scan too, hard to see them now as they are so tiny, but we saw Super Top Baby (baby in top, position wise in my uterus) waiving her hands at us and looked like she was boxing, LOL! I say "she" and "her" just as a guess.... Super Bottom Baby didn't give us any kind of show, maybe he's a boy?

Next appointment will be April 26th, I'll be 13w2d God Willing. Dr. K. will do a genetic scan, a nuchal scan I think it is referred to.

I will continue Clexane 40mg daily until next scan, finish what I have of Prednisolone then stop, stop Progesterone suppositories, continue with low dose aspirin, prenatal vitamin and folic acid.

For now we are happy campers man.

The shots below are snapshots I took from DVD we got today, not too good, but you get the idea, just wanted you to see our beautiful little Super Babies!!!


Our two Superbabies!

Super Bottom Baby.

Super Top Baby. Not a very good angle...

Super Bottom Baby.

Super Top Baby in 4D. Head is towards top of snapshot...



Monday, March 29, 2010

We have three babies




No, not me and Super S, we still have our two, God Willing, but Naranja our little kitty had her kittens last night.

We watched her deliver them at around midnight and she gave birth to four, but this morning we saw the fourth one, it was still, it didn't make it.

She had them on the outside couch, but now they are gone. She moved them I am sure but we don't know where. We try to watch where she goes, she goes into the yard next door, the house is empty and we think maybe she moved them there.

We wanted to bury the fourth one but since she moved them....

What will happen to the dead one? Will she get rid of it? I assume she moved it with her other babies as its gone too.

Congratulations Naranjita we love you!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Be careful where you scratch

Yesterday someone tells me "If you have a craving for anything, or smell something you want to eat, be sure to tell Super S to get it for you. Because if you don't eat it and then you scratch yourself, the mark will come out in the same place you scratched but on your baby...."

WTF?

Oh yes its true people. They told me of three people this happen to. All three had babies with marks in the same places their mothers scratched and did not eat what they craved! Ok then...

Today is 9 weeks, just 4 days until ultrasound.


Friday, March 26, 2010

8w6d- I will be a wonderful mother

I was reading my girl Venting Vagina's blog and she posted a beautiful tribute she read on someone elses blog and to me its more than beautiful.

For many of us who have been at this for some time, this is perfectly put into words how we may be feeling as we hopefully approach motherhood. 

It also reminds me of all of you, who have made this journey so much more meaningful with all of your heartfelt comments and concerns. My father says when his faith in humanity weakens, he visits my blog and reads all of your comments and his faith in good people  is restored. He is amazed, as am I, at how awesome all of you are. Thank you. Thank you for being so awesome.

* Ultrasound on Wednesday, March 31st, will be 9w4d. It can't get here soon enough man let me tell you!


Thoughts on Becoming a Mother

There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss, and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better. I will be better not because of genetics, or money, or that I have read more books, but because I have struggled and toiled for this child. I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed. I have endured and planned over and over again. Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child. I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life. I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see. Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love. I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain. I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body. I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed.
I have succeeded.
I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs. I listen. And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard. I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes. I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes I WILL be a wonderful mother.


- Author Unknown


Monday, March 22, 2010

8w2d- New header, thanks and not tired!

Well what do you think? Of my sweet new header? I LOVE it, don't you? I need to send out mad thanks to Kristin and Circus Princess for hooking me up and really going the extra mile for me, you guys rock!

Today is 8 weeks, 2 days being pregnant. I have to say the extreme fatigue seems to be gone. Strange, I don't know. But on Friday it just seemed like I was not as tired as I usually am. I hope its ok. I get some twinges and some weird little cramps sometimes, they come and go and hopefully that is just my uterus stretching and making room for our babies.

I don't really feel any different other than the full feeling of my belly, my face is a bit pudgy and the tightness of some pants now. I know its early but I want to feel something, LOL. Could I be one of the lucky ones, who has a wonderful pregnancy, no sickness, nothing strange and everything just goes along perfect, wouldn't that be a trip and so deserving after all it took to get here.

For now I wait patiently until the 31st for my 9w4d ultrasound and pray that the babies are doing well. Its just so amazing to think that we may have two babies sometime in October or so, so amazing man.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Happy Mother's Day... in Egypt




Today, March 21st is Mother's Day, Eid al Um in Egypt. Mother's Day  is also celebrated today in Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Sudan and Saudi Arabia.

So I will celebrate two Mother's Days, this one today and the traditional one in May like we have in the USA.

This morning Super S says "Happy Mothers Day baby, I want to buy you something very nice..." I said "Ok, just get me some Clexane..." we laughed so hard! He is such a sweet guy but I told him, next year baby, buy me something next year.

What's really nice about Mother's Day here in Cairo is that gifts are not just given to Mothers. Older women in families, aunts and even teachers are celebrated by the children, its really cool. Its a huge deal here, songs are played on the radio about mothers, commericals on TV reflect Mothers, TV shows will host Mothers and their lives, it really is a huge celebration. And is should be right? I think its wonderful.

So Happy Mother's Day to me. I am 8 weeks, 1 day pregnant today and I am happy.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Any talented designers wanna donate?

So as you can see I added some text to my header, LOL i did it online and its oh so not good.

I would LOVE to add another pair of shoes (like neutral baby sneakers maybe as we do not know what we are having yet) to my header and change the "Wishing4One" and "but we may get two" fonts. It's simple enough but I do not know how to add to this or photoshop in anything else.

If you or anyone you know would like to hook me up, drop me an email. You'll get full props and consider it a good deed for a lady finally pregnant after TTC for 12 years. And if you are in Cairo I'll give you a free tour of the city, what could be better?

The Bella Band by Ingrid & Isabel

Could this just be the greatest invention ever? This wonderful thing they call the Bella Band?

I was looking at another brand of belly bands before, but read so many great reviews on this Belly Band by Ingrid & Isabel and a few of you mentioned that you love it, so I bought one last night. My dear friend will FEDEX it to me and I am so excited!

I am only 8 weeks today, but my tummy is a poppin' man. I have to unbutton my pants already and am thinking this Belly Band is going to be awesome. I love that it conceals the button and zipper, it smoothes it as they say, brilliant.

I wear larger fitting shirts as is, so most of my shirts will be able to be worn during my pregnancy. But my pants, those will need some Belly Banding.

I wish today was the 31st, I want to see my babies and know that they are ok. Super S and I are both so anxious and just want to see them again. Its so cute that he is so anxious too, he is really in tune with me, and just as nervous. Nervous like in a  good way I guess. You know  its taken so long for us to get to this point, and I think its hard for us to really let this sink in. I mean its real and we know that, but we are so needing reassurances, the ultrasounds provide that for us.

Have a great weekend and more soon.

 

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy Drinking, I mean St. Patrick's Day

So its St. Patrick's Day. I just read its history for the first time today. Super S and I always referred to it as another day to drink and party when we lived in the States. While we are not Irish, nor do we drink, we used to prepare ourselves for the road as it got crazy where we lived.

Today I am 7 weeks, 4 days. (Yes, my dear Fran, I know 8 weeks)  Still no throwing up, but a feeling of nausia comes and goes sometimes. My stomach is starting to puff out a bit towards the bottom and I'm thinkin' my friend better FEDEX me the belly band combo soon. This looks super cool and the concept seems brilliant, have any of you ever used it?

Super S invited a few friends for dinner tonight so I will be cooking most of the day. I did some preparations last night, as I usually do to make it easier today. On the menu is roast chickens, beef with mushroom sauce, sauteed green beans, rice, salad, something we call goulash here in Egypt- its filo dough brushed with butter and stuffed in the middle with a thin layer of cooked ground beef, then baked in the oven, one of my favorites.

I am so anxious and can't wait until the 31st to see our babies again. I worry as I don't feel anything most of the time, I know its early, but I feel like I want to feel something. Its still so unbelievable to me. Super S goes around saying "mommy, mommy" he's a trip man and so cute!

So here are a few questions, cause you know I have no idea...

1. Can I take a bath? Showers of course, LOL, but baths, in a tub?
2. Swimming once it gets warmer, is this safe?
3. Travel on an airplane, can it be done? If so at what stage of pregnancy is ok and not ok?
4. Hair coloring, is it safe?
5. Walking is good right?
6. A small glass of very light/weak tea once in awhile, ok or stay away?

There will be more, don't worry, thats a promise. But these are just a few off the top of my head. Have a great Wednesday guys.



Saturday, March 13, 2010

7 weeks today

Yesterday we went to one of Super S's nieces house for dinner. Two of his sisters were there and another one of his nieces; both nieces have kids too so it was a full house.

Screaming I said "I AM FINALLY PREGNANT AND ITS TWINS! These gatherings will include our kids in about 7 to 8 months or so, I will finally be able to bring MY babies here too!" This screaming was just in my head, LOL we still haven't told anyone. It was so hard, I wanted to share our excitement with them, but we are still so scared, both Super S and we keep putting "the next" ultrasound as our "marker" to share the good news.

Should we tell people at 9 weeks 4 days, the next ultrasound, if all is well? Is it too early? Who decides whats too early anyway? I think its more pyschological than anything, duh of course it is. But deep down we want just want so badly to embrace that this is really real. I mean Super S and I, we have, to a point. We are still so cautious but want so badly for the cautiousness to subside, alittle bit anyway. Truth be told, this feeling will stay with us until our babies arrive, God Willing, that I know.

The other morning Super S hit one of "my girls", by accident, I was like "oh man, ouch!" He said and I quote "I get so scared when you say your breasts are sore, I think of how they get before your period and I think its coming..." Habibi. My baby. I told him they will be sore like this, I think, while I am pregnant he was so relieved. So not only do us, the infertile women experience thoughts like this, our husbands so do too and sometimes voice their fears as well. It was such a moment for me. For us.

All else is well. Still no sickness. A nausious feeling sometimes comes, but then it goes and I have not got sick at all. I was very relieved to read some of your comments the other day, alot of you seem not to have had morning sickness and have delivered healthy babies, so that made me feel good.

Cairo has been unseasonably hot. I mean it was like 95 yesterday and they forcast 100 tomorrow. Its usually in the 70's in March but this is like summer. Not complaining, but its hot really early this year. We didn't have much of a winter either. Maybe a few weeks of cold and that was it in December.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend wherever you are.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

6 weeks 4 days



(These are stills from the DVD we got today. 
Not too good but good enough right...)


All went well today. We still have two little ones on board. Heard their heartbeats and saw their precious little bodies.

Next appointment is March 31st, I will be 9 weeks, 4 days then.

I finished my last IViG iv today, yeah! But I will continue Prednisolone, low dose aspirin, Clexane and my vitamins daily.

I feel good. No nausea yet, well not really. I sometimes feel like I want to throw up, but it passes. I read online that not everyone gets sick, so maybe I will be one of those who doesn't, that would be awesome. Funny cause I am so the one who murphy's law applies to most times.

I am so tired right now, (and most of the time these days) its 11:30pm here in Cairo but wanted to share our good news. Peace and love.



Saturday, March 6, 2010

6 weeks and cherry yogurt



Yogurt. Yoghurt. However you spell it, do you like it? I never have, ever.  I think yogurt is one of those foods you either really dig or you don't, at all.

My mom always ate yogurt with fruit and I just could never get into it. Super S has always loved it. I used to buy plain yogurt for him and sometimes add fresh fruits or nuts to it, but I always passed on trying any.

Then when we moved to Egypt about 5 years ago, I started trying it slowly, especially during Ramadan and now I absolutely love me some yogurt.

They have shops here in Egypt that are like milk stores. I don't know what they are called actually, but they sell fresh milk, unpasterized, you have to boil it before drinking, (I haven't braved that yet) cheeses and fresh yogurts. The yogurts are yummy though and those I have to add some sugar to eat.

But my favorite yogurt here is a store bought brand called Beyti and it has fruit at the bottom. I just finished one now with cherries, OMG! I have blackberry and some strawberry like in the pic above in the refrigerator.

When my mom was here last time she commented on how much more creamier the yogurt is here in Cairo as compared to the ones in the US. It is damn good and I am glad I like it.

I don't drink milk, never have and at least I am getting some calcium in addition to my vitamins this way. Funny thing, both my sister and I do not drink milk. We never did growing up, we were breast fed but my mom never gave us milk after. Till this day neither one of us drink milk. 

So, do you like yogurt?

Oh and its 6 weeks today. Next ultrasound Wednesday. Its still surreal to hear myself say or type I am pregnant, its like I'm dreaming man. I hope the dream continues on for awhile....

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

5 weeks, 4 days

I am going to calculate my pregnancy time as Dr. K does. I asked him today why he and I were off by 3 days. Like online it tells me I am 6 weeks today, based on my egg retrieval date. He said he counts day 3 of our embryos as 14 days into my cycle, (or something) and we transferred on day 5 so that made it 16 days, being 5 weeks, 4 days today. I have not tried honestly to figure it out, so I will go with his calculations.

So...

I got another IViG infusion today. Dr. K said when I finish to come up and he will do a quick ultrasound.

He didn't do any measurements, take any photos or make a dvd as he was on his way out, but the two sacs babies are larger, the yolk sacs look perfect, not too large which is very good he said, and the fetal poles were present. Then a few seconds later...

We saw the first heartbeat, clear as day!!!

Then he moved the wand a bit and we saw the second heartbeat, not as clear but we saw it pumping as well.

Next Wednesday another small dose round of IViG and an ultrasound.

Wow, this is amazing you guys, just amazing! I can't even describe what it felt like when I saw the heart beating, then the second one. I did feel a sigh of relief honestly, just to see that these babies are actually still here and that they are growing and their little hearts are beating, wow, just wOw!

_____________________________________________

My daily cocktail is: 

- 10mg Prednisolone
- 40mg Clexane
- Prenatal vitamin
- Anti-Oxidant vitamin
- 400mg x 2 Prontogest suppositories
- One low dose aspirin

I have also taken 50ml of IViG via an IV infusion 6 times.

As for symptoms... the constipation has gotten better. I still have that full feeling, no nausea yet, although the past two nights it seems like it wants to come but then I go to sleep and I am ok. I am peeing alot. Also the past two days I felt a bit light headed, not bad, but a different feeling than normal.

Again, wow, just OMG wow!!!



Monday, March 1, 2010

Perfect Moment Monday: Just chillin

Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between. Go share yours at Webbles Wobblog....



 
 E.T.

 The very pregnant Naranja

 Our baby the loveable, cuddly Charlie

 Now this tan and white cat is Charlie's friend.
She (he?) loves him and always
comes around to lay or play with him.

Isn't she/he adorable, just beautiful! The tail is so fury I haven't been able
to inspect and give it a proper name yet.

 Fiona the mommy of Charlie, E.T. and Naranja

 Naranja contemplating something. See the mystery
cat in the background?

Waiting for dinner...