It's a beautiful day here in middle GA; we're back at the homestead and taking care of the normal things that stack up when you are away for the better part of a month. We've been on the road for some amount of time every month since last Aug...wierd feeling finally putting the luggage away for a bit.
We're in that "2-week wait" period...which is both an exciting and tough time. It's the closest we have ever been to the miracle we so long for; the very test results that we so long to see show that one or both of the miracle tinyTUTTs are still alive inside us also hold the potential to present a momentary permanence of "not this time"....and that is a heavy reality that looms and keeps everything in somewhat of a humanly check. We know God has everything under control and rest in His love, grace, and blessings.
Each day since our return, we have done a bible study in the "nursery"...our front room that has been vacant for so long and is so ready to hear the joyously-shrill cry of an angel of his. God had a great message for us in our study this past Sunday...asking us to have hope like Jeremiah (Jeremiah 32:6-29). And the accompanying story on hope has some awesome thoughts that really spoke to us...so much so that it would be remiss not to share them here. So here's the short story of "Living in Hope":
Buying that field in Anathoth was a deliberate act of hope. All acts of hope expose themselves to ridicule because they seem impractical, failing to conform to visible reality. But in fact they are the reality that is being constructed but is not yet visible. Hope commits us to actions that connect with God's promise.
What we call hoping is often only wishing. We want things we think are impossible, but we have better sense than to spend any money or commit our lives to them. Biblical hope, though, is an act--like buying a field in Anathoth. Hope acts on the conviction that God will complete the work that he has begun even when the appearances, especially when the appearances, oppose it.
The great looming fact is this: in the flurry and panic of that day in Jerusalem, not at all unlike any randomly selected day in anyone's week, with the populace divided between a dull acquiescence to the inevitable and wild schemes for escape, the single practical act that stands out from the historical record is that Jeremiah bought the field in Anathoth for seventeen shekels. That act made the word of God visible, made a foothold of it for anyone who wanted to make a way out of chaotic despair into the ordered wholeness of salvation. Many made their way out.
We have to get practical. Really practical. The most practical thing we can do is hear what God says and act in appropriate response to it...Hope-determined actions participate in the future that God is bringing into being. These acts are rarely spectacular. Usually they take place outside sacred settings. Almost never are they percieved to be significant by bystanders. It is not easy to act in hope because most of the immediate evidence is against it. As a result, we live in one of the most impractical societies the world has ever seen. If we are to live practically, we must frequently defy the practicalities of our peers. It takes courage to act in hope. But it is the only practical action, for it is the only action that survives the decay of the moment and escapes the scrapheap of yesterday's fashion.
In everything God has a purpose; and we hold onto hope like Jeremiah that even when the immediate evidence has been against us over the last two years, His plan for us it to be parents and He is going to complete the work He has started. To prepare our fields we have done our best, we humbly let God handle the rest.
Hoping for a "positive"
Chad, Gena, Nash, Teebo, Blasty-1 and Blasty-2
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Day 21: Our Final Night
With our precious cargo of 2 already loaded yesterday, we begin loading the luggage in preparation for our departure tomorrow morning. It's our last night in DC for this trip,
and it's a little sad to say goodbye. We've done and experienced so much during our three weeks here...both medically and tourist-lly. We met awesome friends in Sparky and Gena and also got to spend a couple of nights-out with the Ogawas.
Ahead of our sadness to leave is the hope that we take home with us and the comfort of our own home that lies just 11 hours away. We depart tomorrow with a real chance at seeing the miracle we so long for come true....just two weeks time will tell....and the "closeness" to that miracle which we feel is an awesome emotion! Our two embies should be continuing to divide, and will reach the "blastocyst" stage tomorrow. We'll be praying that they both successfully implant
between Mon and Wed (the normal timeframe for that to happen).
Our time here was fabulous, and no doubt under a veil of prayer that we felt from so many who were lifting us up.
While it means an end to this IVF cycle, we hope and pray that it is the beginning to a new part of our journey...pregnancy. We'll continue to update the blog with new news...next big update will be on 4 Feb, when we get the results of the pregnancy blood test.
Until the next post, we just want to say again how much we treasure your love, support, and prayers.
Blessings be yours
Chad, Gena, Nash, Teebo, Embie-1 and Embie-2
and it's a little sad to say goodbye. We've done and experienced so much during our three weeks here...both medically and tourist-lly. We met awesome friends in Sparky and Gena and also got to spend a couple of nights-out with the Ogawas.
Ahead of our sadness to leave is the hope that we take home with us and the comfort of our own home that lies just 11 hours away. We depart tomorrow with a real chance at seeing the miracle we so long for come true....just two weeks time will tell....and the "closeness" to that miracle which we feel is an awesome emotion! Our two embies should be continuing to divide, and will reach the "blastocyst" stage tomorrow. We'll be praying that they both successfully implant
between Mon and Wed (the normal timeframe for that to happen).
Our time here was fabulous, and no doubt under a veil of prayer that we felt from so many who were lifting us up.
While it means an end to this IVF cycle, we hope and pray that it is the beginning to a new part of our journey...pregnancy. We'll continue to update the blog with new news...next big update will be on 4 Feb, when we get the results of the pregnancy blood test.
Until the next post, we just want to say again how much we treasure your love, support, and prayers.
Blessings be yours
Chad, Gena, Nash, Teebo, Embie-1 and Embie-2
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The TinyTUTTS
Well, here they are....our two embies, just prior to being transfered to their new (and hopefully 9-month) home. While we are not sure who's who, they sure do look like brothers/sisters. :-)It's truly amazing...life in it's earliest form...half-Gena and half-Chad. Few ever get to see their children this early in the game...a beautiful thing for us, and a faithfully humble reminder of the road we have journied thus far in our desires to be parents. So there they are....hanging out for a few days before implantation. We did our job...hopefully they'll do theirs and burrow well :-) We're sure God will take care of that!
Day 20: 2 TinyTUTTS Transfered :-)
After sharing a wonderful time with Sparky and Gina at a great Italian Restaurant in Old Town Alexandria last night and with much joy, optimism and anticipation, we awoke this morning and headed out to Walter Reed for our 1030 transfer appointment (our last appt for this IVF cycle.) To say there were butterflies in our stomachs would be accurate but also an understatement....never had we been this "close"...and faith is such a grounding blessing because we could truly feel God's comforting touch as he held us in his arms. The first great news came at 10:22, when one of the REs (Reproductive Endocrinologists) came in and gave us the status of our kids (to see if they had been good in "daycare"). Seven of our eight embryos had survived to Day 3 (today), and on their grading scale (1-5, with 1 being the best), we had: 1 grade 2; 4 grade 3s (the average "score"/quality); 2 grade 4s; 1 grade 5 (had arrested growth yesterday and was not viable.)
We were ecstatic and gave praise and thanks...that gave us the ability to have the grade 2 embryo (only approx 12% of all embies get this score) and the best of the 4 grade threes transfered today...and that is what we did. We will have a chance for our three remaining grade 3 embies to grow for two more days....if they continue to be viable and make it to Sat, they will be cryopreserved so that we can attempt another cycle with them. We'll find out their status when we call back to the clinic next week.
It was a short procedure being only 10 minutes start to finish. We entered the room, and on one side of the table we watched the sonogram monitor and on the other we had a view of the lab.
One of the team members entered from the lab and handed us a picture of our two little gems... there they were, side by side....only 3 days along, but so cute already! They looked oh so small in the transfer dish...and then they "vacuumed the two of them up and in came the nurse with the catheter containing them. Our focus turned back to the sonogram machine, where we saw the cath and then the embies released into their new (and hopefully 9-month-long) home. They showed up as a bright shining star on the sonogram; the embryologist called the transfer "a beautiful one" and they snapped a shot for us to have. You talk about a way cool experience... truly amazing for us to see and so blessed to have successfully finished the program.
After 20 minutes of lying down, Gena was able to move about and we went to wait on our friends Spark and Gina to see what their news was. They also ended up transfering 1 grade 2 and 1 grade 3; that was a true blessing and we thank you for your prayers for them. We all shared a picture and a hug, and then it was off to McDonald's to get our french fries!
So surreal a feeling surrounds us right now....for all intense purposes, we are officially "pregnant" though the validation will come via the blood test two weeks from now. To explain the amazement in words is too hard...but cloud 77 would be in the ballpark!
Gena will be resting the rest of the day and we'll take it very easy tomorrow (Friday) before we hit the road to return to GA on Saturday. In a different way, it is hard to leave here... we met some great people who are now dear friends and have a close tie to Walter Reed and all the doctors and nurses who work in the IVF program. This will always be a special place to us, and we hope that we can one day bring a child (or two) back here to show and explain how much of a miracle they are.
We are overjoyed and a bit ovewhelmed by it all....blessed beyond belief and humbly thankful for His grace, love, and awesome power. So we pray dearly for our two, that they implant successfully over the next few days....and for our growing three, that they make it and stay safe on their journey to Antarctica!
That's the beauty that made up our Thursday morning; God truly is great! Nash and Teebo want to go walk the Potomac, so we'll close for now.
Blessings for your day and all six of us here in DC Love you and thank you with a depth you could hardly know.
Until the next post
Chad, Gena, Nash, Teebo, Embie-1, and Embie-2
We were ecstatic and gave praise and thanks...that gave us the ability to have the grade 2 embryo (only approx 12% of all embies get this score) and the best of the 4 grade threes transfered today...and that is what we did. We will have a chance for our three remaining grade 3 embies to grow for two more days....if they continue to be viable and make it to Sat, they will be cryopreserved so that we can attempt another cycle with them. We'll find out their status when we call back to the clinic next week.
It was a short procedure being only 10 minutes start to finish. We entered the room, and on one side of the table we watched the sonogram monitor and on the other we had a view of the lab.
One of the team members entered from the lab and handed us a picture of our two little gems... there they were, side by side....only 3 days along, but so cute already! They looked oh so small in the transfer dish...and then they "vacuumed the two of them up and in came the nurse with the catheter containing them. Our focus turned back to the sonogram machine, where we saw the cath and then the embies released into their new (and hopefully 9-month-long) home. They showed up as a bright shining star on the sonogram; the embryologist called the transfer "a beautiful one" and they snapped a shot for us to have. You talk about a way cool experience... truly amazing for us to see and so blessed to have successfully finished the program.
After 20 minutes of lying down, Gena was able to move about and we went to wait on our friends Spark and Gina to see what their news was. They also ended up transfering 1 grade 2 and 1 grade 3; that was a true blessing and we thank you for your prayers for them. We all shared a picture and a hug, and then it was off to McDonald's to get our french fries!
So surreal a feeling surrounds us right now....for all intense purposes, we are officially "pregnant" though the validation will come via the blood test two weeks from now. To explain the amazement in words is too hard...but cloud 77 would be in the ballpark!
Gena will be resting the rest of the day and we'll take it very easy tomorrow (Friday) before we hit the road to return to GA on Saturday. In a different way, it is hard to leave here... we met some great people who are now dear friends and have a close tie to Walter Reed and all the doctors and nurses who work in the IVF program. This will always be a special place to us, and we hope that we can one day bring a child (or two) back here to show and explain how much of a miracle they are.
We are overjoyed and a bit ovewhelmed by it all....blessed beyond belief and humbly thankful for His grace, love, and awesome power. So we pray dearly for our two, that they implant successfully over the next few days....and for our growing three, that they make it and stay safe on their journey to Antarctica!
That's the beauty that made up our Thursday morning; God truly is great! Nash and Teebo want to go walk the Potomac, so we'll close for now.
Blessings for your day and all six of us here in DC Love you and thank you with a depth you could hardly know.
Until the next post
Chad, Gena, Nash, Teebo, Embie-1, and Embie-2
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Day 19: 'Twas the Night before Transfer....
'Twas the night before transfer
When all through the billetting room
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a Shih-Tzu
The embryos were held in the incubaters with care
In hopes that their mom would soon be there
The 6-cellers and 8-cellers were nestled all snug in the lab
While visions of red-heads danced in their parents heads
And Gena in her jammies, and I in mine too
Had just settled to call it a night
When out of the night there came such a clatter
We sprung from our bed to see what was the matter
Wide awake we were in a flash
Quickly joined on the bed by Teebo and Nash
When what to our wondering eyes should appear
Our almighty God, his hands holding eight tiny Tuttle's so dear
With love on his face and in awesome array so divine
He uttered "I love all my children, and these truly are mine"
More rapid than eagles his blessings and grace came
As He gently called them by name
Now Taryn, now Noah, now Elijah, now Grace
On Elizabeth, on Ryan, on Jacob and Embie-8
"Good is to come in these lives to be"
"In honor of those who have trusted faithfully"
After laying his hands on my heart and Gena's belly, tears in our eyes
He gave us a nod and in brilliance rose up into the night sky
But we heard Him exclaim as He moved out of sight
"Blessed pregnancy to you...my son and daughter you have faithfully journeyed right"
When all through the billetting room
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a Shih-Tzu
The embryos were held in the incubaters with care
In hopes that their mom would soon be there
The 6-cellers and 8-cellers were nestled all snug in the lab
While visions of red-heads danced in their parents heads
And Gena in her jammies, and I in mine too
Had just settled to call it a night
When out of the night there came such a clatter
We sprung from our bed to see what was the matter
Wide awake we were in a flash
Quickly joined on the bed by Teebo and Nash
When what to our wondering eyes should appear
Our almighty God, his hands holding eight tiny Tuttle's so dear
With love on his face and in awesome array so divine
He uttered "I love all my children, and these truly are mine"
More rapid than eagles his blessings and grace came
As He gently called them by name
Now Taryn, now Noah, now Elijah, now Grace
On Elizabeth, on Ryan, on Jacob and Embie-8
"Good is to come in these lives to be"
"In honor of those who have trusted faithfully"
After laying his hands on my heart and Gena's belly, tears in our eyes
He gave us a nod and in brilliance rose up into the night sky
But we heard Him exclaim as He moved out of sight
"Blessed pregnancy to you...my son and daughter you have faithfully journeyed right"
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Day 17: Fertilization Success
A happy and blessed Tuesday it is. We started the big-needle PIO (progesterone in oil) shots last night...one a day is better than four! Gena woke up this morning feeling very well overall, so that was great news. While Chad was still sleeping, the clinic called and Gena answered; we were blessed with extremely good news from our procedure yesterday, as all 10 of the oocytes that were retrieved were mature and 8 of them were successfully fertilized (now look like the picture above left). So we are "pregnant" with octuplets right now! :-) Our transfer appointment is scheduled for 1030 on Thursday; between now and then, our little ones will continue to grow and they will take the best two and use them during the transfer on Thursday. We will freeze those that remain and that are of the quality they require to survive the cryopreservation.
Overall, we are immensely happy & optomistic with the news from today...though we know it is all in God's hands (all 8 potentials!)
We won't have any updates until after the procedure on Thursday, so we will post another update after we return from the hospital that day.
Thank you for your continued prayers for us and for our friends (Sparky & Gina).
Love from DC
Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
Overall, we are immensely happy & optomistic with the news from today...though we know it is all in God's hands (all 8 potentials!)
We won't have any updates until after the procedure on Thursday, so we will post another update after we return from the hospital that day.
Thank you for your continued prayers for us and for our friends (Sparky & Gina).
Love from DC
Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
Monday, January 21, 2008
Day 16: Retrieval
It's a cold one this 20th day of Jan. After enjoying a great evening with the Ogawa's, we checked in this morning to the clinic at 0630 for our retrieval surgery. After patiently waiting an hour and 45 minutes, things finally got rolling and Gena was first into the operating room. It was a short procedure (less than 25 minutes from the time they walked her in until the time they wheeled her out and into the recovery room. Our number of "follies" had fluctuated between a low of 12 and a high of 17 (at our last sonogram)...after the procedure, the doctor informed us that they retrieved 10 eggs; Chad's numbers came back with a count of 24M and 100% for motility and progression....all of which means the embryologists will be fertilizing them via ICSI (pictured above left) ate this morning. We will get a phone call tomorrow with the number that were successfully fertilized and what time we will show on Thursday for the transfer. 10 is a good number...though tomorrow's number of successfully fertilized eggs will be the more meaningful number...it truly is all in God's hands. Gena did very well during the procedure and will be resting today. Tonight, we'll start the one-a-day progesterone shots for two weeks (and hope for an additional 4 weeks of shots, because that will mean we are pregnant.) Thank you for your continued support and prayers for us and our friends Sparky and Gina. We'll post another update tomorrow after the clinic calls Love from DC Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Day 15: Pre-Retrieval
It's a frigid Sunday here in DC; we completed the HCG shot last night at exactly 2130 and went in this morning for one more blood draw to ensure our levels were good and that the HCG shot "took." No phone calls from the clinic means all is well.
Our retrieval appt is tomorrow morning at 0700; and Spark and Gina will be there at 0730 for theirs. Tuesday will be the next "numbers day", when they will call us to let us know how many eggs they retrieved and how many have been successfully fertilized. This will allow us to see how many of our 17 follies "made it"...for really curiosity sake only, because we have seen that numbers don't mean a whole lot...God's plan is everything.
So a light day today, and we are headed out to dinner with the Ogawa's this evening....heading to the Bonefish restaurant, which if you have never tried it, is awesome seafood!
Hope all is well for you and we'll post tomorrow just to let you know things went well.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Love from DC
Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
Our retrieval appt is tomorrow morning at 0700; and Spark and Gina will be there at 0730 for theirs. Tuesday will be the next "numbers day", when they will call us to let us know how many eggs they retrieved and how many have been successfully fertilized. This will allow us to see how many of our 17 follies "made it"...for really curiosity sake only, because we have seen that numbers don't mean a whole lot...God's plan is everything.
So a light day today, and we are headed out to dinner with the Ogawa's this evening....heading to the Bonefish restaurant, which if you have never tried it, is awesome seafood!
Hope all is well for you and we'll post tomorrow just to let you know things went well.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Love from DC
Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Day 14: Time for HCG
It's was a cold Saturday morning (but little traffic due to the weekend) as we reported today for our blood/sono appt. Our BABY Swiss continues to age nicely, and the count is now up to 17 follies according to the sonogram. The average of the lot is 15.5mm, with the specs:
19mm (the Red-Headed one), 18, 18, 18, 18, 17, 17, 16, 16, 15, 15, 14, 14, 13, 13, 10, 10.
We recieved a phone call from the clinic earlier this morning instructing us to take our HCG shot tonight at 2130. So after that shot, Gena will have a couple of days off from shots and then be down to one shot a day. Based on our HCG shot timing, we'll go back tomorrow morning for a blood draw and then Monday morning for the retrieval; that will set up a Thursday transfer.
Overall, we are doing great...eager, hopeful, and humble as we enter this portion of the program. We had a blast spending time with Spark and Gina at their place yesterday evening and then again with them this morning during the Pentagon tour that they took us on. They got a phone call right after we did saying that they would be taking their HCG shot tonight as well...giving them the same retrieval and transfer days....good news all around.
That's all for now...next big update will be on Monday, when we know how many eggs they obtained during retrieval and how many are successfully fertilized.
Until then
Blessings be yours
Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
19mm (the Red-Headed one), 18, 18, 18, 18, 17, 17, 16, 16, 15, 15, 14, 14, 13, 13, 10, 10.
We recieved a phone call from the clinic earlier this morning instructing us to take our HCG shot tonight at 2130. So after that shot, Gena will have a couple of days off from shots and then be down to one shot a day. Based on our HCG shot timing, we'll go back tomorrow morning for a blood draw and then Monday morning for the retrieval; that will set up a Thursday transfer.
Overall, we are doing great...eager, hopeful, and humble as we enter this portion of the program. We had a blast spending time with Spark and Gina at their place yesterday evening and then again with them this morning during the Pentagon tour that they took us on. They got a phone call right after we did saying that they would be taking their HCG shot tonight as well...giving them the same retrieval and transfer days....good news all around.
That's all for now...next big update will be on Monday, when we know how many eggs they obtained during retrieval and how many are successfully fertilized.
Until then
Blessings be yours
Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
Friday, January 18, 2008
Day 13: "Lucky" BABY Swiss
Happy Friday to you. The snow has started to melt and the sun has shown its rays again today. It was another early riser for our fourth blood draw/sonogram appointment. The past few mornings, few had been there when we arrived...but at 6AM today, a group of 35 and over had shown to start their program and thus there was a line and a very full waiting room. Yet time is artificial and the wait not at all bad because it has been a long and trying journey to this point and everything that we are trying for is a miracle worth waiting for.
So after two and half games of Sadoku, we were called back. We had a new doctor from the team this AM (our third since we started)...an AF Maj who was, as all the others have been, extremely nice, considerate, and excellent. Watching the screen on the machine, we observed the source of Gena's pains that have just started....our BABY swiss, which now is 13 follies...strong and growing. Our "Bakers Dozen" is progressing very nicely, with the average size now 14.5mm (one of them, the red-headed one, has hit the magic number of 18mm...two brunettes are in second place at 17mm) :-) Gena's hormone levels are progressing "beautifully" according to the doctor. And earlier this afternoon, the clinic called and said that we need to show tomorrow for another blood/sono appt...which should be our last one. We anticipate our HCG (ovulation trigger shot) to be between 10pm Sat and 2AM Sunday morning; that will mean a Monday retrieval surgery and a Thursday (24 Jan) transfer. Overall, that would put us one day ahead of the plan they initially gave us. So just one more four-shot day left....Gena's abs applaude that!
In a few hours, we'll be headed over to Sparky and Gina's place for dinner...looking forward to spending time with them and we continue to request your prayers for them too.
We will be entering the "busier" portion of the program, so we'll keep you updated each day.
Thank you in advance for your continued love, support, and prayers.
His blessings be yours
Love from DC
Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
So after two and half games of Sadoku, we were called back. We had a new doctor from the team this AM (our third since we started)...an AF Maj who was, as all the others have been, extremely nice, considerate, and excellent. Watching the screen on the machine, we observed the source of Gena's pains that have just started....our BABY swiss, which now is 13 follies...strong and growing. Our "Bakers Dozen" is progressing very nicely, with the average size now 14.5mm (one of them, the red-headed one, has hit the magic number of 18mm...two brunettes are in second place at 17mm) :-) Gena's hormone levels are progressing "beautifully" according to the doctor. And earlier this afternoon, the clinic called and said that we need to show tomorrow for another blood/sono appt...which should be our last one. We anticipate our HCG (ovulation trigger shot) to be between 10pm Sat and 2AM Sunday morning; that will mean a Monday retrieval surgery and a Thursday (24 Jan) transfer. Overall, that would put us one day ahead of the plan they initially gave us. So just one more four-shot day left....Gena's abs applaude that!
In a few hours, we'll be headed over to Sparky and Gina's place for dinner...looking forward to spending time with them and we continue to request your prayers for them too.
We will be entering the "busier" portion of the program, so we'll keep you updated each day.
Thank you in advance for your continued love, support, and prayers.
His blessings be yours
Love from DC
Chad, Gena, Nash, and Teebo
Thursday, January 17, 2008
SNOW-ShihTzus
hey ya'lll....NasH anD TEebO hear with a snow reeport....Dad tuk us outside to expeeriense what he kalls snow...it wus are firrrst tyme in that stuf...and we luved it; raced uround and chased eech other...and this wun time, Nash had so much of it on his fase that he look'd lyke Santa-Tzu!
We like tha way r pawprintz look in it and it is grate...'cause when we are tyred frum r runnin, we can just eet the stuff and it hidrates us....Dad told us not tu kunsoom the yello stuff, so we just maid some and ran. Don't no how much we will get over thu next cupple of days, but we have tu to threee inches of it rite now. We are having a blast in DC...and hopefully, we will leev
here with wun or too future tailgrabberz in tha werks. Welll...that is all for this reeport...wee uttached a foto to pruve we braived thu snow for the first tyme. Luv you and send treets if yu kan.
Nash and Teebo
We like tha way r pawprintz look in it and it is grate...'cause when we are tyred frum r runnin, we can just eet the stuff and it hidrates us....Dad told us not tu kunsoom the yello stuff, so we just maid some and ran. Don't no how much we will get over thu next cupple of days, but we have tu to threee inches of it rite now. We are having a blast in DC...and hopefully, we will leev
here with wun or too future tailgrabberz in tha werks. Welll...that is all for this reeport...wee uttached a foto to pruve we braived thu snow for the first tyme. Luv you and send treets if yu kan.
Nash and Teebo
Day 12: Aging "BABY Swiss"
It's a cloudy Thursday morning, and snow is looming on the horizon. Another early riser (0445 to transit the DC traffic and make it to our appts on time) to have our third sonogram since our arrival on Jan 6th. Our "BABY Swiss" is aging nicely, and we seem to be on the higher end of the 1-2 mm/day growth rate. Our "shades of grey" view of potential parenthood (via the sonogram) revealed an uptrend, with our Divine Dozen follicles turning into the Faithful Fourteen. They all can, but aren't guaranteed to, have an egg, so as we go along in the "numbers game", the next "big" indicator will be when they do retrieval...then we'll know how many eggs we actually have to work with. For now, here's how our numbers stand (with 18 mm being the normal target for the size they like to trigger retrieval at.):
8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 17 (for an average of 13.5mm)
Based on our progess, we'll be going back tomorrow morning (Fri, 18 Jan) for another sonogram and blood draw. We think we'll be a day or so ahead of the program plan from here on out, but we'll know more after tomorrow.
A "please and thank you in advance" for your prayers for our new friends, Sparky and Gina...we'll be hanging out with them tomorrow night...very nice couple and it's just a blessing to have a bond (and hopefully pregnancy stories) that we can continue to share with those who are walking this tough journey with us.
God truly is so good...and hope and faith are truly the railroad tracks that our fertility train is riding along...there are times when you hear stories that boost your faith..and others where you live it first-hand...peace is the feeling and humility is the reality...to know He is in control and that He has a plan is all the solace you need...for every day we share together is a blessing...to share it with one of his angels will be a true miracle.
His blessings be yours
Blog you tomorrow
Chad, Gena, Nash and Teebo
8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 17 (for an average of 13.5mm)
Based on our progess, we'll be going back tomorrow morning (Fri, 18 Jan) for another sonogram and blood draw. We think we'll be a day or so ahead of the program plan from here on out, but we'll know more after tomorrow.
A "please and thank you in advance" for your prayers for our new friends, Sparky and Gina...we'll be hanging out with them tomorrow night...very nice couple and it's just a blessing to have a bond (and hopefully pregnancy stories) that we can continue to share with those who are walking this tough journey with us.
God truly is so good...and hope and faith are truly the railroad tracks that our fertility train is riding along...there are times when you hear stories that boost your faith..and others where you live it first-hand...peace is the feeling and humility is the reality...to know He is in control and that He has a plan is all the solace you need...for every day we share together is a blessing...to share it with one of his angels will be a true miracle.
His blessings be yours
Blog you tomorrow
Chad, Gena, Nash and Teebo
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Day 10: "BABY" Swiss
Greetings on this middle marker of Jan '08; today, we are focused on artisanal cheeses having had our second sonogram (first since we started shots); this was the first chance for the IVF team and us to see how we...well Gena, that is....is responding to all those shots Chad has been giving. And the assessment was....well, like swiss cheese----of the baby swiss, we hope. The sonogram showed a clear picture of what the doctor called swiss cheese...a dandy dozen of follicles that hold our hopes and prayers of moving closer to pregnancy. 12 "follies" is a very good number, and their sizes at this point indicate very good growth (average size of the lot
was 10 mm). They say that 18 mm is the magic number for when they will change our shot regimine to induce ovulation so they can conduct the egg retrieval. All of that this and that mathematics means we'll have tomorrow (Wed) off and then go back for another sonogram on Thursday to see how the growth is moving along. The average is 1-2 mm per day, so that puts us in the 3-4 day range for the next major step in the process.
It goes without saying, though always worth repeating for the sake of keeping humble and faithful and giving it to where it lies...with God; for while all these and any further "numbers" are and will likely be good, there have been couples with "good" numbers that have not been successful and others with "poor" numbers that have ben blessed with a successful pregnancy and birth. The baby books we looked through in the waiting rooms were a visual and textual testament to that fact. God truly is in control, and we trust in His plans.
After our appt this morning, we spent the day in Silver Springs...lunch and a movie (PS, I Love You...great movie, by the way) with some shopping amidst a light flurry of snow showers. We picked up a bottle of Hope Merlot, as a reminder and marker of such an important part of our journey...HOPE.
So for now, it's continuing with our 4-shot-a-day regimine until we are told otherwise...our Thursday appt will give a good update for our timing and the progress of our aging "baby swiss."
Also, we have a prayer request...have met a great couple here who is going through the program with us....while there are many in the program, we've have great short chats with them and will be sharing some time together this weekend. So, by name, if you will keep Sparky and Gina (with an "I" :-) ) in your prayers for a successful program, we would greatly appreciate it. You build a unique bond with some couples here given the roads we have traveled in this journey... and prayers and His orchestration is everything about what we are doing and what they outcome will be. Thanks in advance.
That's about it for now...more to follow after our appt on Thurs (snow in the forecast)...until then, thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support.
Love and blessing from DC
Chad, Gena, Nash and Teebo
was 10 mm). They say that 18 mm is the magic number for when they will change our shot regimine to induce ovulation so they can conduct the egg retrieval. All of that this and that mathematics means we'll have tomorrow (Wed) off and then go back for another sonogram on Thursday to see how the growth is moving along. The average is 1-2 mm per day, so that puts us in the 3-4 day range for the next major step in the process.
It goes without saying, though always worth repeating for the sake of keeping humble and faithful and giving it to where it lies...with God; for while all these and any further "numbers" are and will likely be good, there have been couples with "good" numbers that have not been successful and others with "poor" numbers that have ben blessed with a successful pregnancy and birth. The baby books we looked through in the waiting rooms were a visual and textual testament to that fact. God truly is in control, and we trust in His plans.
After our appt this morning, we spent the day in Silver Springs...lunch and a movie (PS, I Love You...great movie, by the way) with some shopping amidst a light flurry of snow showers. We picked up a bottle of Hope Merlot, as a reminder and marker of such an important part of our journey...HOPE.
So for now, it's continuing with our 4-shot-a-day regimine until we are told otherwise...our Thursday appt will give a good update for our timing and the progress of our aging "baby swiss."
Also, we have a prayer request...have met a great couple here who is going through the program with us....while there are many in the program, we've have great short chats with them and will be sharing some time together this weekend. So, by name, if you will keep Sparky and Gina (with an "I" :-) ) in your prayers for a successful program, we would greatly appreciate it. You build a unique bond with some couples here given the roads we have traveled in this journey... and prayers and His orchestration is everything about what we are doing and what they outcome will be. Thanks in advance.
That's about it for now...more to follow after our appt on Thurs (snow in the forecast)...until then, thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support.
Love and blessing from DC
Chad, Gena, Nash and Teebo
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Day 5: SHOTS!
It's Day 5 of our stay here in DC, and all is well. Today (Thurs) was another chance for us to get out and see some of the sights...and that we did! Having already visited the Washington Monument, Union Station, Jefferson Memorial, WWII Memorial, and Vietnam Memorial on Tues, we did the museum gallavanting today...Air & Space Museum (Go Air Force) with a T-shirt to prove it, National Museum of Art (West Wing only due to sensory overload), and the Museum of Natural History. We are Metro veterans now, and can hop from Red to Blue to Orange lines as needed...what a way to travel!
Today was also the first full day of shots for Gena...4 a day from here on out (at least for a while)...so no whining about your daily pains...unless you too face four needles from a Red Head! Things are great and she's a champ with them....never thought Chad's Health Careers training or biology degree would be put to direct use.....thanks for the education, Northside Independent School District!
Our next appt is on Sat, for an initial blood workup...just a scan for progress though we are early in the game...appointments will increase in frequency starting next Tuesday.
Thank you for all of your love, support and prayers....we treasure (and need) every one!!
In case you are wondering, the boys are having an absolute blast up here....roaming the banks of The Potomac, with their bandanas flying in the breeze....so much fresh air up here and they are loving the change of scenery....they are requesting treats from anyone who will send them, so if you need the address to billeting please let us know...they would LOVE you for that!
Well, that's it for this one...until the next post, all the love and thanks....His blessing be yours
In Him
Chad, Gena, Nash and Teebo
Monday, January 7, 2008
Settled in DC
Well, yesterday concluded our 800+ mile journey from GA to DC....an easy go of it after driving
1600+ out to NM just a few weeks ago for Christmas. We're unpacked and in our Temporary Living Facility here on Bolling AFB...small quarters, but good enough for "Government work!":-)
Nash and Teebo came along, and they are doing great....went for a walk along the Patomoc River this evening and had a blast of that!
Today (Monday) was our baseline appointment...initial screening for this phase plus medications and an injections class...lots of needles and meds may equal discomfort, but Chad's Health Careers training has him quite proficient at injections and every bit of our process is way worth the chance at a positive! :-)
We have a few days off until our next appt, so we'll be doing some sight seeing...pictures will follow along the way and we'll continue to keep you posted. Thank you for all your love, thoughts, prayers, and support.....until next time.... Love from DC...Chad, Gena, Nash & Teebo
1600+ out to NM just a few weeks ago for Christmas. We're unpacked and in our Temporary Living Facility here on Bolling AFB...small quarters, but good enough for "Government work!":-)
Nash and Teebo came along, and they are doing great....went for a walk along the Patomoc River this evening and had a blast of that!
Today (Monday) was our baseline appointment...initial screening for this phase plus medications and an injections class...lots of needles and meds may equal discomfort, but Chad's Health Careers training has him quite proficient at injections and every bit of our process is way worth the chance at a positive! :-)
We have a few days off until our next appt, so we'll be doing some sight seeing...pictures will follow along the way and we'll continue to keep you posted. Thank you for all your love, thoughts, prayers, and support.....until next time.... Love from DC...Chad, Gena, Nash & Teebo
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Happy New Year
2008 has officially kicked off...of course we enter this year w/ much anticipation. I really cant put into words how I feel right now (too many mixed emotions).
Chad and I had a wonderful Christmas in the snow w/ the Tuttle clan. It was complete w/ snow, sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, snow ball fights, snow angels and snowman building and of course many cherished family memories that we will hold close forever. We had a gorgeous white Christmas w/a beautiful snowfall Christmas afternoon and into the evening, I really could not have asked for more, it was awesome!!!! I skied for the 2ND time in my life and did OK, I suppose, and Chad learned to snowboard and did very well. The adventures were capped off w/ a snowmobile ride on Christmas Eve morning and Mass in the evening. The drive was long but went by fast and we were blessed with perfect weather both directions. It is definitely a trip we want to do again.
We leave here on Saturday and will be gone most of the month. I will be sure to post as we go through the process w/ status updates....until then please pray that I keep my sanity as we progress through our journey :-)
Hugs
Gena and Chad
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