June 26th, 2004: Maggie and Trey went back to Dr. Boostanfar's office for what is called "embryo transfer". It was previously discussed with Dr. B that we would be aggressive and transfer back the three healthiest embryos.
We received the PGD report which told us that three embryos were Grade 3 and genetically healthy. Two were XY (male) and one was XX (female). Grade 3 is as good as a PGD embryo can get, since they are handled more often than non-PGD embryos. A perfect grade is Grade 4. Of the remaining embryos, two were conclusively chromosomally healthy (one was XY and the other was XX) and the last embryo was inconclusive. We cryopreserved the remaining Grade 2 embryos.
We were delighted to know that we could, indeed, produce chromosomally healthy embryos after the tragedy of Quinn's Trisomy 18. And to make it even more wonderful news, the Grade 3 embryos were already beginning to hatch! An excellent sign! It couldn't have been a more opportune situation. Two boys and one girl were transferred back.
Here are pictures of the embryos transferred back. As you can see they resemble something of a figure 8 - that is proof that the are hatching. Had they not been hatching they would have been an uninterrupted circle:
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The Boys |
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The Girl |
July 6th, 2004: we were delighted to find out that we were pregnant! The HCG levels came back at 606 and the nurse suspects that all three might have taken!
July 9th, 2004: we awaited the second blood work. Our hopes were that the levels would double - that would ensure that our pregnancy was viable. Well be careful what you wish for, the levels QUADRUPLED! Now we are very suspect and VERY pleased that at least two have taken.
July 15th, 2004: The first ultrasound. We learned a math lesson.
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another sac |
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equals TWO SACS! |
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In case you are wondering what that means, our household will double come March.
Dr. Boostanfar is thrilled, and said that it was a "perfect 5 week twin pregnancy".
We are expecting twins!
July 20th, 2004: Today we went in to hopefully see the heartbeats. Well we sure as heck did see them! We have two healthy twins in there. As it turns out the third embryo did take, but did not take off - so we have a third sac that will most likely not become a baby.
Official Due Date: MARCH 14, 2005!
July 27th, 2004: Trey couldn't come today to the appointment so my parents did. Dr. Boostanfar was very sweet about allowing them to see their grandchildren. And there they were! Two beautiful embryos with two beautiful beating hearts. Their heartrate was about 140, which is right on target. The third sac is all but gone, so we are blessed with twins.
August 2nd, 2004: After a scare with some bleeding, Trey and I went in for our eight week ultrasound. This was a very important milestone because at this point, the babies' organs will have developed. So to see the heartbeat today would lower our loss rate to that of less than 5%! And guess what we saw? Two beautiful babies with beautiful heartbeats! One measured at 130 and the other measured at 150 - so Maggie is thinking we might have a boy/girl set based on the old wive's tale of the heartrates differing. We go back for our next appointment in two weeks. As for the bleeding, there is no saying why that is happening. But since we have two healthy babies we can only assume that due to the blood thinners Maggie is taking, and that we should expect it once in a while.
August 16th, 2004: Oh wonderful of wonderful days!
Our babies are growing right on target, 10weeks0days, just as they should. They were both asleep in the beginning of the scan but the baby on the right woke up and started to squirm around - both Boostanfar and I noticed at the same time that it looked like s/he was doing the Gopher dancing in Caddyshack, which had me laughing SO hard. But the other baby stayed asleep the entire time. My pizza from earlier must have knocked him/her out. Their heartbeats were 150/160 - however they read higher on the doppler at home. Boostanfar said that the at home doppler is perfectly safe to use every day, which I was VERY happy to hear.
August 26th, 2004: Today we saw Dr. Larry Platt, the Maternal Fetal Specialist who diagnosed our Quinn with his Trisomy 18. He spent almost 2 hours with us looking over the twins, who were dancing like crazy! Twin A remains to be the active boogy fool, while Twin B is a little bopper who isn't too manic... yet. They both are looking healthy and wonderful. We didn't see any markers for any potential genetic health risks to them. Are we thrilled? Thrilled doesn't even describe it.
October 12th, 2004: Today we went back to Dr. Platt for our Level II ultrasound. It was a wonderful experience! I had a dream the night before that the technician excitedly grabbed my shoulder and said, "it's a girl!" I woke up and thought, my goodness was that a premonition? I was a nervous wreck when we woke up. I didn't sleep very well, neither did Trey. I was feeling a bit of a nervous stomach so I ate some food to try and settle it. I included OJ and hot cocoa as I have heard a little sugar helps the wee ones be active enough so that the doctors can see everything they need to see.
So we got into the room and I laid on the table. Within 5 minutes we found the famous three lines - baby B is a girl! The mellow one, go figure. After they finished measuring baby A I got super sick - a combination of adrenaline release, nerves, happiness, and laying on my back. They rolled me over to the left side and put a bucket on the ground - I was so close to losing it. Trey really helped calm me down, and helped me breath. He got some water on a washcloth and dabbed my forehead and face as I was sweating very much - and the room was apparently cold, but you could have fooled me. I laid there and breathed and thought, "I have had an english muffin with peanut butter, oj and hot cocoa, that would be GROSS to throw up" and calmed myself down. Trey then took on goofy mode and was cracking jokes that had me in stitches. I kept watching my belly button pop out from laughing too. That was fun and wierd to see!
We are so elated! My gramma's comment is the funniest so far, "nothing like doing things right!"
November 30th, 2004: We had a great appointment with Dr. Platt today. The babies are 2 weeks ahead of schedule, in the 98th percentile! They are already 2 lbs (Ella) and 2 lbs 1 oz (Jack). We did find today that Jack has one umbilical artery, which based on all the normal findings and the fact that he is growing so well, isn't of huge concern. But we will be monitoring his growth to make sure that he is okay. He is on my left, head down and Ella is on my right, head up. We suspected Ella's head was right there since I get a hard round little bump there every once in a while. So all is good in the belly hood!
Click here for belly shots
Click here for all ultrasound images |
