Gender Reveal & Pregnancy Update!

We could have gone either way in the "waiting to find out the gender" dept, and now that I've seen it both ways, I ABSOLUTELY recommend waiting on the first child. Not that it wasn't super fun to share the reveal with close friends and family because that part was awesome, but right after you find out the gender, you sort of feel like, "Okay, so where's the baby?!" HA! We had so much fun planning this gathering and deciding a fun way to reveal. Now that I know the gender, every little kick and movement is so much more exciting (an upside to knowing if it's a boy or girl) because I think to myself, "Well hello there sweet girl", and picture a miniature version of Adlee inside. We are SO THRILLED to announce that, IT'S A GIRL!!

 

 

 

 

While we would have been happy having either, I am honestly relieved that it's another girl. Being the youngest of two girls myself it's what I know best. Also, being born the same month as Adlee, I was saddened to think that all of her clothes would go to waste since this is our last bambino! Good news is, all the cute stuff gets to be re worn and relived through this babe. Plus, I know nothing about boys. It was certainly meant to be for this Mama!!

 

So far, at nearly 19 weeks, I've gained 10 lbs which is half of what I gained with Adlee (thank God!!) and I'm feeling pretty good! Once the 13 weeks of sickness passed, I've been in the honeymoon phase as they say. Some days I forget that I'm even pregnant, and this pregnancy I have craved much healthier foods. My 22w scan is the end of DEC at which point, once I see the placenta isn't high risk (like the first pregnancy), I'll probably try to up my activity and do some workouts. Honestly though, I'm happy with just walking the neighborhood and lugging around a 35 lb toddler for fitness. With utilizing 5 embryo, and 2 making it to fruition, I just want this pregnancy to end smoothly as well and then I can worry about a bangin' body. Not on the radar at the moment-- just trying to embrace this last pregnancy and continue to be a good Mama to my little AJ.

 

Everyday I realize how blessed I am. Every single day I thank God for these 2 miracles, and for blessing our journey to go exactly as I would have wished for. I'm so excited to raise these 2 little feisty chica's, who no doubt will remain fierce little ladies, considering they were the only 2 strong enough to hang in and make it to their Mama.

 

XOX,

Andi



How I spilled the news.....

Sort of a fun/interesting story to spill the beans on how I told Blair and family that I was expecting Baby #2. So a few days before my beta bloodwork I was on the line with my gf Allie who has also been trying to get pregnant for several years with her first. She and her husband had similar issues, with his low morphology being the concern. Her husband however, is/was not a fan of seeking out any fertility assistance and felt that in due time it would "just happen". Somewhere along the lines I think he beat Allie down because she sort of threw her hands up for awhile and gave up on the RE journey as well. But deep down, she was still doing everything she could do try and conceive that baby. Sooooo... on this particular day it was the Solar Eclipse. I was on the line with her around the time it was happening and she knew I was in the TWW, so she didn't mention the fact that she was two weeks LATE until then. We were talking about if I would wait until the beta or if I would pee stick at home again, and she happened to mention how terrified she was to pee herself because of how late she was. Insert me FREAKING out because she didn't tell me she was late, and also convincing her that it would be SO COOL to find out on such a monumental day such as a Solar Eclipse. Sooooo.... I told her to get her butt to the market and get an HPT. We then hung up.

 

I sat there thinking to myself, "it WOULD be really cool to find out that you're pregnant today. I'm entirely too early so when it's negative, there will be no need to freak out, as I still have plenty of time before the embryo should even be excreting HCG into my system".....I broke open an HPT and within seconds saw a faint line. I stood there, well actually I began jumping up and down in sheer SHOCK, yelling, "no....no way. NO WAY!! WHAAAT??" I then got my friend Shelley on Marco Polo to show her the test and record it all while continuing to jump up and down in shock. I did NOT expect a faint positive at all. Ironically enough, about an hour later, Allie sends me a picture of her + HPT and we got to share this happy day together. Pretty cool, eh?

 

 

SOOOO... when Blair got home we began talking about the Eclipse and I told him I stepped outside and got a really cool pic of it. He's totally not expecting a thing because again, I wasn't supposed to even cheat and find out for another few days. I pulled out my cell and showed him this..... 

then proceeded to text it to family members as well and surprise them. It was fabulous. Such a fun story and way to share with our loved ones!! 

12 Weeks!

Woohoo! We made it little nug. 12 week mark is here, and although it feels much longer than that with how sick I've felt since week 5, I'm so thankful we're here!! I'll probably announce it to all soon, especially because Adlee is already taking the liberty to. Yesterday at church she was shaking everyone's hands saying, "Hello! Good Morning, how are you? Mommy has a baby in her belly!!" HA! I mean..... what a little sweetpea. She doesn't miss a beat. I told her teachers this morning she was going to be a big sister in April, and one replied, "So that's why last week she asked Jacob if he wanted  a little sister, or a little brother?" That girl is one of a kind, and will make THE BEST Big Sissy! I'm excited to see their love for eachother unfold throughout the years.

 

I try to remind myself I'm pregnant most days. Not because I don't feel it, but because this pregnancy is just so much different than the first when it comes to having time to rest, think and bond. I started a new job 3 months ago with LifeVest and it's been a whirlwind of training and getting to know my accounts which has helped to distract, but made it extra challenging some days. Now that I'm entering second trimester, I'm hoping the fatigue and other first trimester aversions begin to subside a little bit. Last week was my last week of PIO shots and Estrace, so knowing those additional hormones aren't entering my body is a relief and has also helped quell some of the symptoms.

 

With Adlee we waited to find out the gender and it was SO AWESOME. I absolutely loved waiting to find out. However, this time I think we'll switch it up and do a fun gender reveal and give ourselves a bit of time to prepare. Either unpack all of Adlee's clothes since this baby will be born the same month as her, or do a little prep work on the bathroom and nursery to make it a little more masculine if it's a boy. Adlee will move over to her toddler room we are in the process of putting together, and baby will have her nursery. I'm excited to find out, and think that may help a bit with the bonding since pregnancy + work + toddler Mommin' and exhaustion doesn't leave alot of room for thinking about it. I will say though this baby is WAY more active than Adlee was and I can already feel pressure in certain parts of my pelvic area where baby is. I'm so excited to feel the flutters and movement soon too.

 

So far so good on all of the scans, and we're hoping and praying no high risk previa's or need for MFM this time. A smooth sailing, healthy pregnancy would be lovely but we're prepared for the punches too. I still pinch myself when I think Adlee gets to have a sibling and we get another one to love. Although we have no embryo left, and I'm at peace with this child being my last pregnancy, there's just something about this part of life that's so magical that I continue to thank God for the chance to grow another human and to expand our hearts capacity to love another child.

 

Until next update!

 

 

XOX,

Andi 

End of an Era

"I've paid my dues

Time after time.

I've done my sentence

But committed no crime.

And bad mistakes ‒

I've made a few.

I've had my share of sand kicked in my face

But I've come through.

We are the champions, my friends,

And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end.

We are the champions.

We are the champions.

No time for losers

'Cause we are the champions of the world.

I've taken my bows

And my curtain calls.

You brought me fame and fortune, and everything that goes with it.

I thank you all.

But it's been no bed of roses,

No pleasure cruise.

I consider it a challenge before the whole human race,

And I ain't gonna lose"..... 

"We are The Champions" -QUEEN 

All the shots have been taken, and the chapter in this hellish journey today has finally closed! Bye bye PIO!! 🙌🏻👏🏻 See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya! This 6 year IVF/FET Journey is finally over, and all 5 of my embabies are with their Mama. 2/5 pregnancies is exactly what we'd hoped for, and continued prayers this baby continues to thrive and be born healthy. We are so grateful. 

God Gave us Two!!

.....it's been hard to keep it a secret, but the last time I posted the news here my cousin told my own Grandmother before I had a chance to, ha!! So this time we covered our bases before putting it out there on the interwebs. We'll still give it until the second trimester to go FB/IG official, but our last embryo transfer WORKED and I am 8.5 weeks pregnant! Yay!!

There are a few reasons I attribute this time to working. Medically, the endo scrapes certainly helped and I think the baby aspirin didn't hurt. Lots of prayers of course & our Maker gets all the cred, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. 

Our goal was to have two healthy children and so far we are on that path! I'm still shocked that Adlee gets to be a big sister, even though I feel like absolute crap & am for sure feeling very pregnant! I'm also feeling so so blessed. 

Baby will be due the end of April (same as Adlee) so although we waited to find out the gender with her, I think this time we'll try to prepare a little bit and find out at the 20 week scan. Stay tuned for all the exciting announcements to follow!! 

#TheBabyAlbright #dos is ON THE WAY!! 

Xoxo,

Andi 

Beta Day! 3 years to the date of embryo conception!

Today is such a special day. First off, it's BETA day! Eeeek!! I'll find out how much HCG is in my system today and if I'm pregnant. It's even more monumental in that it's also to the date, 3 years ago, that we conceived all of our (5) embryo! How COOL is that? Obviously I didn't plan it that way, although this time of year is the same time of year we conceived Adlee, it does seem like it's all too familiar with all the same happenings around me. The same season, same events are coming up (Alumni Game, Van Morrison Concert) it just HAS to be. I had a lot of signs with Adlee's pregnancy of a positive and to keep the faith, and this time has been the same way. Bunnies in the back yard, a bush of Queen Anne's Lace popped out of nowhere in our yard, and Blair couldn't cut a pepper without finding pregnant ones. He'd leave the "fetus" by my meds for inspiration, ha! Infertile couple humor at it's finest. So, I'm feeling really good about it this time and just trusting in the unseen.

 

For some reason the second transfer, I was SO SURE that I was pregnant. I felt it, I believed in it 100% and then I was knocked on my arse when it was negative. I couldn't believe that it didn't work! But, I trusted. I kept the faith that God had a plan for us, and He is always good. So we shall soon see.

 

2 KINGS 22:19

 

"Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord, I also have heard you, declares the Lord"

 

COME ON LUCKY NUMBER 5!!! 

 

XOXO,

Andi

 



Transfer Day!

Everything today went off without a hitch! Better yet, Nurse Patty was in with us for the transfer and she's been around for both my sister and my transfers. She was with the original gang of nurses and my old doctor that my sister and I both conceived previously with, so it felt like home. A good luck charm of sorts! Nothing to report out of the ordinary with the transfer but this beauty who we hope and pray is here to stay. Gorgeous eh? ❤️

Also gorge are these lovely flowers my sister in laws sent me. They are so supportive through this (and 2/3 are currently pregnant!) and it's very appreciated. I'm sure as fertile as they are, it's hard to know what to say, but they always support me & for that I'm so very grateful. 

My day started with another great sign from a Daily Devotional I've been reading. I turned to today's page and yesterday and today were pretty fitting to what's going on with us. God works in mysterious ways, and I sure am praying that this is a sign for patience in the waiting because he's busy working on our next little Miracle Baby. 

He is good all the time, so whatever outcome we hear, I will trust that it's what's meant to be for our family. Easier said than done, but it really helps me in this process (that is SO HARD TO NOT WANT TO CONTROL) to just give it to God. I have done every single thing I can, so now we wait, and enjoy knowing that this little baby of mine is tucked in tight. So....stick baby stick! 

XOXOX,

Andi