Gender Reveal,Updated with two 3D u/s pics

Yup, I broke down and did it!!!
I think it finally feels real to me now!
Husband was in shock and awe, I'm in love!!!!!
3D ultrasounds at this stage of pregnancy can look a little alien, but they were darling to me!!
I hope to post the 3D pics later...But here they are!!!!!

Baby A is a girl!!!

Baby B is a Boy!!

The Week 15 Report

Well, I went to my monthly Ob appointment yesterday.
Husband took off the day to go with me.
We were excited because we assumed that we would be having an ultrasound and based on many women on the blogs, we thought we would be finding out the genders.

First I have to let you know that Husband hates hates hates waiting to long in the waiting room for doctor appointments.
We waited almost 40 minutes to be seen by the doctor.
Once in the examination room, the nurse told us that we would not be having an ultrasound.
Husband became the biggest azzhole brat I had ever seen.
Between checking work emails he threw a tantrum!
"You told me that we would see the genders today! didn't you call before to verify? what am I going to tell the people at work? why are we here? why are we waiting again for the Doctor? If he's not in here in 20 minutes, we are leaving!"
Man, I swore that my blood pressure was shooting through the roof!

Turns out that my insurance will only allow/pay for ultrasounds if there is a medical need at that point.
Also, the equipment at the OB's office was not powerful enough to determine gender.
Anatomy scans and gender scan are done across the street at the hospital.
The doctor gave us a referral to have the anatomy scan 3 weeks from now at the diagnostic center.
I was so bummed out!!!
but...I did get to hear the heartbeats!
I'm such a nervous wreck that I questioned whether or not I was hearing the same baby's heartbeat.
Still not satisfied that I heard both.
I really want a Doppler of my own.

Took husband to our family doctor for a checkup.
After talking with the doctor, I decided that she would be our pediatrician once the twins are here.
She's a pretty sharp lady and I really dig her.
She was the only doctors that found my vitamin deficiency while I was TTC.
The supplements she suggested really helped my lining for the FET.

After I got home, I search the Internet for an "ultrasound boutique" or elective ultrasound facility.
Found one!
The price seems right!
I could get one today if I wanted to.
They have late evening and weekend hours too.
Now I'm stuck!
I really want to do it but, should I?

For $59, I can get the 15 week gender peek.
If the babies aren't cooperating I can come back until we get a determination.
http://www.peekabelly3d.com/Ultrasound_Services_Lockport_IL.html

I really want to do this but my mother in law is afraid of what ultrasounds do to the babies and my mother says,"just wait"

But here's the thing
We may not get a gender determination at the next ultrasound 3 weeks from now.
I think it may help me come to terms that this pregnancy is real.


What would you do?

Step Away From the Pee Sticks!

Well ladies, so sorry I haven't been posting too much lately.
I've been a bit lazy about blogging and getting into trouble.
My anxiety has kicked back in with a vengeance and that gets me into trouble.
I think this may have been the longest I have gone without seeing the babies on an ultrasound and all the old fears and worries come rushing back.

I am aware that during the second trimester, some of the symptoms of early pregnancy can ease up.
That didn't matter when I suddenly felt quite good this week.
I went a little crazy, but we all go a little crazy sometimes don't we? lol!
I measured my belly
Kept poking my boobies to see if they were still sore

And
...I found the hidden stash of my old Internet cheapie pregnancy test strips.

Now I know that hcg levels begin to level off at this stage of pregnancy because the placenta takes over.
I know that for sanity's sake you should not be messing around with those pee sticks once you get this far.
I know about the "hook effect"

The hook effect occurs when silly women like me pee on a stick when we are weeks and weeks into our pregnancies.

A brief explanation, once you get 8+ weeks in, the hcg is so high that it causes hpts to go a little wonky.
The test line of the test will start to progressively get lighter as the hcg gets so darn high the test is fighting to maintain it's hold on the situation.
There are very technical explanations on the web, but professional pee-on-a stick addicts like me describe it as "the reason to put down the pee sticks once you've had the blood test"

There's a simple way to find out if your test results are effected by the "hook effect" when you are well into your first trimester weeks.

Take two hpts(preferably cheapies)
Collect your urine in a cup but don't fill it all the way.
Dip one in the pure urine sample
Now dilute the remaining urine with clean water
Dip the second test ( I had five test so I diluted the water even more after I dipped each test)
Sorry, told you I'm crazy
The result of the second test that was dipped in the diluted sample should be darker than the test that was dipped in pure urine if your tests are being effected by the "hook effect".

Well my crazy experiment resulted in the line of my very last pee stick(#5 the urine sample was so diluted it was almost clear) being the strongest and darkest line of the lot. Yes, I had a progression with the same urine sample based on the dilution of the urine. The lightest test line was the pure urine, the darkest the super diluted urine.
I just realized how crazy I may sound.
WOW!
I'll stop!
Look it up for yourselves ladies.
Told my therapist yesterday about my experiment...
she almost dropped her coffee mug!
Per doctors orders I have been told to keep a journal of my exploits or crazy urges that are brought on by my anxiety over this pregnancy.
I'm suppose to bring it to each session I have with my therapist from now on.
Maybe writing it down before acting on it will help me get a handle of my irrational or rational thoughts.
Maybe It will keep me away from "Dr. Google"

I can imagine my nosy sweet husband finding the journal thinking he was finding my steamy hot thoughts, reading my crazy rantings, grabbing the dog and running out the back door to get away.

Well, I have one more week before I might get to see the babies again.
If you don't mind, I'll probably be blogging a lot more.

Tax Season is Upon Us and NT scan results

Hey ladies!
My Internet is acting a bit wonky today but I am pushing through it to get a quick blog out.
First , thank you everyone for the words of encouragement and kind thoughts.
Busy week already!

My mom is doing great and the stint in her liver is still working. She is now up to 128lbs. This summer the cancer had her down to 98lbs. So things are stable for now.

My mother-in -law is doing chemotherapy and it's finally effecting her hair. Spoke to some really nice people at the American Cancer Society and they gave me some great leads to programs and boutiques that can help her during this time. She's a very private person, so it's almost like a covert operation.

Attempting to plan a babymoon before I get to far along.
Bought a maternity swimsuit after putting on my regular tankini on and having Husband laugh his azz off. That swimsuit was hanging on for dear life.

Husband and I were intimated last night for the first time since 2 days before me FET, the end of November.
This is the longest we've ever gone without lovemaking, plus we never averaged less than 4 times a week.
Crazy, I know...dirty old people we are!
I was scared sh-less! I guess I will eventually relax.

Okay, It's tax season and I've posted this before, but I want to re post so you can benefit from it.
IVF and some treatments are tax deductible. Please take advantage of it if you can.
http://www.ehow.com/print/how_6058411_deduct-cost-ivf-federal-taxes.html


Finally, I got the results of my NT scan and first trimester screening yesterday afternoon.
It was good news.
Results for both babies.
1-971 chance of Downs
1-3600 chance of Trisomy 18 & 13

Husband doesn't want an amnio test.
I kinda need a break from all the testing too.
Just gonna take it easy for a while try to enjoy the pregnancy.
Starting to slowly announce the pregnancy.
I'm not sure if how to do it.
Suffering from infertility myself, I know how it feels.Not sure or what I'm trying to say, but I don't like being boastful.
I thought I would shout it from the rooftops but now I  have reservations.
I really don't know.

NT Scan

Well, I did it.
I had the scan done yesterday.
Both babies were still there and still thriving.
Thank you God!!!
I'm 12 weeks 1 Day today.
Almost there, almost out of the first trimester.
Officially told my youngest brother yesterday.
He was overjoyed.
Holding out to tell everyone else for another week.

Had to meet with the genetic counsellor before my scan.
She asked me what I knew about the scan, told her.
She really didn't have much more to say but that I really did my research.
The blood test was just a simple finger prick.
The best part was getting to see the babies again.

Baby A and B were so active, it took a while for the tech to get measurement.
Tech said, from what she could see things looked structurally good.
They were putting their hands near their mouths and touching their faces.
It was so surreal!
Too early to tell the sexes of course.
They are definitely fraternal.
I still can't believe they are in me...wow!

I'm not too afraid of the results.
Something deep inside of me tells me that things are going to be okay.
Haven't felt like this in a long time.
Whatever the results, I think things will be okay.

Sorry, I have to run.
Gotta take my big sis to the meat packing district for shopping.
Goodness, I hope I don't get sick looking at all carcasses hanging around.
Can you tell how excited I am? LOL!