Okay...so, I know that many of you know that Joe and I have been trying to get pregnant for what seems like eternity now. Needless to say, we've gone through many tearful nights and frustrations that only those of you who have also struggled with infertility can truly understand. After numerous monthly disappointments, my OBGYN decided that maybe I should try the lowest dose of Clomid, the fertility drug. (If you remember, I have a bad case of endometriosis, a tumor on my ovary, severely scarred fallopian tubes, etc. and have had multiple procedures and surgery...) I just wasn't producing an egg each month, so we researched it and decided to try Clomid, 50mg (5 teenie tiny little pills)--it has worked for tons of other women in my situation.
Whelp...be careful what you pray for.
Approximately 6-7 weeks ago, Joe and I found out that we were finally pregnant! After our first and only test run of the Clomid (no IUI, nothing else)! Yaaay!!!
1-29-07
Which brings me to my first ultrasound which was yesterday (2-28-07)...a day I will NEVER forget. Joe and I took off work and excitedly awaited our appointment. I crawled onto the table and the technician began to perform the sonogram. Her first words were: "...Oh....this is interesting..."
As I looked over at the monitor, I could tell that there were two sacks on the screen. "Am I having twins???!!!" I said as I looked at Joe and got all excited. We have always dreamed of having twins! (Joe was a twin, My mom is an identical twin)
The tech: "Whelp...you have THREE sacks here"...
Me: "WHAT!?!?! I'm having triplets???!!!??!?!?!?"...I look over at Joe, whose face is white as a ghost and ask him if he needs to sit down. I think to myself, wow! Triplets?! So, I know there are many health concerns regarding TRIPLETS, but for the most part, they turn out OK. And I continue to laugh my "nervous, uncontrolable laugh" that I seem to do in so many inappropriate situations!
The tech begins to take it one sack at a time. She goes to the first sack: one baby about an inch long, heartbeat 160 or so, good, strong.....She goes to the second sack: another baby about an inch long, heartbeat 160 or so, good strong...
She goes to the THIRD sack........SILENCE.....followed by, "Oh" (as if she had just seen something horrible). "WHAT?!" I said, "WHAT was that for....what do you see...Oh Gosh, please don't tell me there are two in there! NO....NO.....Please don't tell me there are two babies in the last sack!"
She slowly raises her head and says softly, "There are two babies in the last sack."
-----------------So follows Suz's emotional, nervous breakdown----------
"I'm having QUADRUPLETS??!?!?!" Okay...this is not fun anymore...Tears are streaming down my face...I lay in silence as the tech continues to examine the other two babies who are all the same size with strong heartbeats..."oh, the health implications..." I think to myself. Sometimes IT REALLY SUCKS BEING A NURSE AND KNOWING ALL THE THINGS YOU KNOW. My head is racing with thoughts of delivering 3 pound babies the size of my hands who live in the NICU for the next year of their lives with multiple physical and mental learning disabilities and handicaps. FREAKING OUT!
So, there you have it...that was yesterday in a nut-shell. It seems like a bad dream. But yes, we are having quads. Here are the pictures:
The top picture is of our two fraternal twins...(no, there are only TWO in this pic..it kinda looks like three)
The bottom picture is of our two identical twins...in the same sack (that, btw, was not a result of Clomid...I would have had twins regardless!)
Joe and I are doing much better today. BTW, today is our 4 year anniversary. Tomorrow is Joe's 28th birthday. We are just completely overwhelmed and terrified of the medical risks involved with this high-risk pregnancy and of the health of these 4 teeny-tiny pods in my belly. I am currently 8 weeks and two days along...but my tummy is already pooching out a little! (I wonder why!?) We know that there are positives throughout all of this, so please don't think we are negative and dreading this. What a blessing! We know! We are just extremely concerned parents. We know that God will only give us what we can handle, and he either has a sick sense of humor, or he thinks Joe and I are some pretty, incredibly, strong people! But we know that we have the absolute BEST support system that anyone could ever dream of. Last night, my parents (after hearing me bawling and having a nervous breakdown all day) picked up their good friend, Mrs. Ellis, and drove all the way to Grand Prairie (1.5 hours) after work to come love on me and Joe and bring us dinner. How incredible is that?! Then they left around 9pm and headed back to Waco...I cry everytime I think about it. So, YES, we KNOW we are going to get through this and that God is holding little old me and Joe in his mighty hands right now.
P.S. Yes, I have found a specialist who deals with multiple births and high-risk pregnancies all the time (thanks to all the wonderful people I am currently working with who God undoubtedly put in my life at this very moment) and they have been INCREDIBLE! They had me come in TODAY for blood work and paperwork and an extensive medical history. TOMORROW they want to perform another ultrasound and start planning for the arrival of my four little wonders. I will post more and more later...sorry the post was SO long...there was obviously SOOOO much to say!
All six of us need your constant prayers!!!
