Lots of Levels

Brian & I went in to the doctor's office again this morning for pregnancy blood draw #2. They will run these tests a total of 3 times. This is done in order to monitor the levels and make sure they are where they need to be for a healthy pregnancy. This week a friend told us that the outcome of these tests can indicate the possibility of being pregnant with multiples, I guess by how much the levels increase. We asked about that today and they said that it can indicate multiples, but it is not always 100% - they will usually wait until they see multiples in an ultrasound before coming to a conclusion.

While we were there they gave us another tidbit of info about our donors - they told us that they did IVF and had actually had triplets! No wonder they donated the rest of their embryos! :)

After the discussion of multiples, Sue gave me a prescription for folate. She said that they usually prescribe an extra dose of folate (it is already in my prenatal pills) if there is a chance of multiples. She also said that she's not sure if I'll need the prescription, but that they'll give it to me just in case. It won't do any harm if there is one baby, but if there is more than one, we want to make sure there is an extra boost. She said not to fill it until they call and tell me to.

Victoria just called to give us the low down on our blood results. She said that everything looks WONDERFUL! My beta HCG level (pregnancy hormone) went from 308 to 812! Due to this jump in level they have told me to fill the folate prescription - they aren't totally sure, but there is a good chance there is more than one in there! AHHHH!!! My progesterone went from 34.6 to 48.4, which is good too, they just want to see it above 20.

I will go in again on Tuesday for blood draw #3 and then from there we will have our first ultrasound on either Friday the 28th or Monday the 31st!

In the past 2 1/2 years, you don't want to know how many of these tests I took! So, Tuesday afternoon I came home and took one more. They weren't lying - I'M PREGNANT! If you'd like to see this in person, feel free to stop by,
it's on our counter - I just can't bear to throw it away!

We are SOOOO excited!

Stephanie Bea stopped by with a small gift for our little one's room! How cute!
She said that we can always add an 'S' to Witko if we have more than one!

Katie & Steve brought us a congratulatory bouquet of balloons -
Trip just couldn't get enough!
Do you think she had a premonition about the sex of the baby?
She popped the pink one immediately and loved playing with the blue one...

...in time she popped the blue one too...she was so sad!
(there was also a yellow one that she could care less about - weird!)

Brad & Megan got us this very special onesie. For those of you who don't know - our volleyball team is "Team 6"! Seriously, how thoughtful is that!?

We received this delicious fruit and cheese basket from Aunt Kim, Uncle Mike, Marissa, Sammy, and Sal...healthy pregnancy here I come!

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We're off to Indianapolis this weekend to visit our friends Jeff, Erica, & Hayden Mandsager. It's the last hurrah before school starts on Monday - ugh! Have a great weekend everyone!

Oh BABY!

Brian & I went in this morning for the pregnancy test blood work at about 7:45am. Afterwards we went to my school to begin working on my classroom. At 9:15am, Victoria called to let us know that...

we

are

PREGNANT!!!!!

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I still can't believe it! Brian & I are completely beside ourselves, we are so so excited! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all of your positive thoughts and prayers. We are so lucky to have all of you in our lives.

So, what next???

They called back later in the afternoon to let me know that my levels looked really good. We need to continue with the same meds and injections, the only one I need to stop taking is the Bromocriptine (which was a small pill each night to help my prolactin level). They will be monitoring me VERY closely, so I have an appointment for Thursday at 9:30am, and then they'll see me again next Tuesday. After that we'll set up the ultrasound appointment! AHHH!!

By the way - I am a complete dork - after a celebratory lunch (with my momma, Mackie, Kris, Brian, Katie & Steve) Brian & I made a quick stop to pick up the book I have been waiting to purchase..."What to Expect When You're Expecting"...I just can't believe I can finally read it!!!!

I received this four leaf clover from my cousin Kim and her family - they found it at their daughter's t-ball game and thought that it could bring us luck...I brought it with me this morning to my blood draw...was she ever right?! WOW!

THE blood draw!
I had to document it, just in case, thank goodness we did!
That's Marilu - remember her? She is the nurse that came
to my house to give me my shot when Brian was out of town!
(she's pregnant right now too!)

Brian & I in my classroom calling, calling, calling to
let everyone know the exciting news!

Day One!
Actually I'm already 4 weeks...that was a fast month, huh?
Umm...no...Mackenzie and I agree that no, the month did NOT go fast! :)

My mom was right...every little piece of the past 2 1/2 years has definitely been worth it with the way I feel right now. Thanks again everyone! LOVE YOU!!!

ColumBUS

We had a great time in Ohio this weekend. We've always been so close with our cousins, so it was a lot of fun to catch up and hang out with one another. My cousin, Rick is in the National Guard and his unit gets deployed in September. Good Luck Rick - we love you! Here are some pictures from the party!

In the car on the way to Ohio...Mom & I were the lucky ones who got to sit in the way back...Tripsy did an awesome job in the car -
she slept for most of the ride!

Trip & my cousin's Beagle, Copper

Copper pinning Trip

Momma & Daddy-O

me & Aunt Malo, my Godmother

me & my cousin, Megan

Megan's daughter, Hailey Rachel & I
Hailey is named after me!

the little girls, Maddy and Hailey
Maddy is my cousin, Kim's daughter

me & Bri

my sister, Kristen & Uncle Ba (her Godfather)

The hosts! Jen & Rick

cousins!
Lizzie, Meg, Kris, Jen, me & Kim

whew! it was a long day!

on the car ride home...Trippy was whipped!

she made sure to get some time watching the world go by
...that is Lizzie sleeping!... ;)

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T-1 day...

Rocco Dominic Valvano

We finally made it over to our friend's Dominic & Adrienne Valvano's house last night to meet their new son, Rocco! Rocco was born on July 24th. He is the first baby this summer we were unable to visit in the hospital - Brian & I feel terrible - but it was the "rollercoaster" weekend and we were going through a few things of our own at the time. I am pretty sure Rocco forgives us!

me & Rocco

a close up of his handsome face

Brian & Rocco

Dominic & Adrienne

The Valvano Family!

Mommy & Baby

Things always get a bit silly when we're hanging out with Dom and it wasn't anything different this time. I have a smile feature on my camera that when set makes it possible to aim your camera at a person and as soon as they smile it snaps a picture. Brian & I assume it's for parents who want to catch their babies or little kids smiling in a picture. We were telling Dom & A about it and of course we had to try it out on the boys...

Brian smiled really big!

Dom figured it out that all you really have to do is show teeth!

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We have a Rocco Domenic in the Milazzo family too! Rocco's mom is my cousin Julie. He is going to be 2 on October 20th. I thought I would share pictures of our Rocco... (isn't it too funny that they are both named Rocco Dominic?! Rocco Milazzo just spells Domenic with an e)

Mackenzie is Rocco Milazzo's Godmother

Here he is this past January dancing the night away at Grandpa's 80th

He's getting so big!

Brian & Roc at Sal's (my cousin) First Communion

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The countdown to Tuesday is ON! Keep thinking positive! Have a great weekend!

Love you!

Good To Go!

Had blood work taken this morning, so I thought that I would give you the update...

I received the call this afternoon that everything looks GREAT and that we should just keep doing what we're doing - we are not to change a thing. We are very excited that they didn't have to change any of my medication or increase any of the injections - WHEW! It's just smooth sailing until next Tuesday when we find out if I'm pregnant or not. I have such a great feeling about this! Everything seems to be falling right into place.

You may remember me referencing a party this weekend for my cousin's husband, Rick, in Ohio. My mom and dad were pretty insistent that I get clearance from Dr. Hickey before just getting in the car and driving the 6 hours. So, along with the blood work information the nurse told me that YES, Dr. Hickey said that it is fine that I go out of town this weekend, the only restriction is that we have to stop every 2 hours on the drive for me to get out and walk around and get the circulation moving. Not a problem! Obviously once we get there I really won't be able to do much but just sit around (no games, no drinking) but I am A-OK with that! It has been way too long since I've seen my cousins and I'm really looking forward to catching up and hanging out with them. Oh! ...and taking pictures of course!

I know that you guys don't appreciate it when I don't have pictures, but I don't really have any to go along with today's post. So, I'm including some pictures of our vacation down to West Palm Beach, Florida, this time last year. We visited my cousin Joe for a wonderful week full of golf, beach, sun, pool, and resort. Ahhh, I wish I was there now!

"The Square Grouper" a bar right on the inlet
the tables are right on the sand next to the water...awesome...

we are so tan!

move over Annika Sorenstam

I can't help but edit everything I read...check out the way they spelled Florida

The best host ever - my cousin Joe!

PGA National Golf Course...holes 15, 16, 17 are called "The Bear Trap"
I liked calling them the Bear Claw though...fun holes to play

these boys could golf all day every day
me...I'll stay at the pool today!

I know the pictures were random, but what can you do...can't believe it was a year ago this week already! Man, I love Florida. Why do we live in Chicago??? I wonder it all the time!

D-O-N-E, done, done, done!

Bed rest is over - I definitely won't say finally because now that I'm officially done, I'll admit I kinda miss it! :) Dr. Hickey told me to remain a sedate activity level - no working out of any sort (I know, darn!), no lifting anything over 10 pounds - for atleast the next 8 days. I am on strict orders (from my mom and Katie mostly) that sedate activity means that I really can't do much of anything. Thank goodness Brian scheduled his vacation for next week, because I was wondering how my classroom/office was going to get moved and all set up. It'll be a real fun vacay for him! :) Tripsy is sure seeming to enjoy being back to normal today, I think she likes our days together.

Today I have my transfer follow-up acupuncture appointment at 1:30 and then tomorrow I have an appointment for blood work to be taken. They'll just be checking my progesterone level, which helps to maintain my lining, and then will help to support pregnancy. A week from tomorrow - the 11th - I will go back in for another blood draw, this time for both progesterone and pregnancy. This is the date in which will we find out - I've debated back and forth on whether or not to share that information, but the more I thought about it the more silly it seemed. You have all been through hell and back with me on this blog and it just seems ridiculous to keep that information to myself - plus, you know I'll be busting through the seams! I just ask for your continued thoughts and prayers whatever the outcome.

Here are a few pictures of my last day of bed rest - Sunday -

at one point we found Trip in her cage...she NEVER just goes in her cage...
"what's wrong tripsy girl???"

YAY!! I graduated to the couch!
Brian let me migrate to the living room around 5:30pm.
The shirt is from our friends Matt & Michelle Shiles, they actually got me a pj set to make my bed rest more comfy, but it was just too hot for the pants! You can't see it, but Snoopy the BEAGLE is on the front - how thoughtful are they! Thanks Shiles Family!

me & my beagle cuddling together