Wednesday, January 6, 2010

IT'S POSITIVE!!!!

We are all elated to announce that there is ONE healthy baby in there. The parents are so excited! We are already at 6 weeks and had our first ultrasound today. Their baby is the size of a peppercorn, but not only did we see the heart beating we also got to hear it!! It was so unbelievable that something SO small truly (visibly) has life! And not only does it have a beating heart, but the brain is developing and connecting to the spinal cord, the kidneys, liver, eyes, ears, mouth and little buds for arms and legs have begun to form. It's unbelievable!! I am truly astounded every time I see an ultrasound. These precious little ones are such an amazing gift from God and I am so excited that these two people get to become parents for the first time. September 1st is the official due date.

There was a dash of disappointment all around that there was only one baby in there. Don't get me wrong one is amazing, but they did put two in there and knowing that one didn't make it is a little bit hard. There were so many signs point to twins so it really was a shock to me.

Here is a little history on that last few weeks since finding out.
I called the parents on Christmas day. I hadn't gotten a period so we pretty much knew what to expect. I dipped the stick and almost immediately it changed to positive. Both parents were of course ecstatic. Those first few weeks are so nerve wracking. We were onto yet another next step, but of course we still had more waiting to do. I tested everyday just to make sure it was STILL positive. We got the first blood test results back (which was taken at 4 weeks of pregnancy) and the levels were at 265. That's a good amount, but what we really needed to see was it going up. The next blood test was at 5 weeks of pregnancy. These hormone levels were through the roof at a whopping 3816!!! Woo! Those are wonderful numbers! That left us with the nagging question of is it one or two??? Not only were those numbers quite high for a singleton pregnancy, but I was also beginning to show already! I had to keep reminding myself that it had only been a year since I had my youngest daughter and this is also my third pregnancy. My body may respond a lot quicker this time. The questions were just killing me! The unknowns and the what ifs. It was really nerve wracking. It feels so nice to actually KNOW something. Seeing that one amniotic sac on the ultrasound screen really washed away all the stress that I had been feeling. It has been a long few months waiting and more waiting, but now we are finally here!

There is some sense of relief with having one... as exciting as two would have been. I have never carried twins and it honestly felt like it would change the whole pregnancy. There are SOOOO many unknowns with twins. Are they both going to grow properly, what if one is getting more nutrients than the other, will I need bed rest, will I need a c-section, if I deliver one vaginally will the other one come that way too, what if twin B is breach etc. etc... I know what to expect with one. I've done it before and I feel like we can relax and truly enjoy this process and I just really look forward to sharing this with the mom and dad. I really pray that everything remains healthy and normal and it's uneventful from here on in.

6 comments:

  1. I'm going to be an Auntie! I'm totally crying tears of joy over here. Congrats everyone!!

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  2. So awesome that it worked first try. You are so amazing, Brandi!

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  3. I know! Isn't it great news!!! Congrats to you Auntie Tia :D

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  4. We are super excited too. I am also going to be one of the aunties. :D What you are doing Brandi is amazing! I pray that the rest of this pregnancy will be healthy and easy!

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  5. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! It's so nice to have such a great announcement! ONE baby is SO precious, twins can be a very difficult pregnancy (trust me, after 3 perfect pregnancies of my own having the twins, and going on strict bedrest for 7 weeks was really really hard on everyone) and well it's so exhausting for the new parents they don't get to enjoy their children as much as if they have just one. I remember my IM saying she was just surviving, the lack of sleep, the only having 2 hands, the not being able to just enjoy and relish in one baby cause your busy looking after another too....it's so hard.

    ONE is what's normal, natural and whats expected and ONE is precious. That is sooooo exciting! And your IPs are going to be parents, next step...boy or girl....

    How ya feeling?

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  6. There is no doubt that this baby is going to be well loved. The proud mom and dad, all the aunts and uncles and Grandpa's and Grandma's :D

    Your right. Their first year of life will be a LOT less busy and sleep deprieved with one baby. It feels like being pregnant with twins in the surrogate world is like hiting the jackpot, but I'm happy that these two will get to be parents with one too. I have been feeling awesome. I tend to have pretty easy pregnancy's. Mild nauseau and fatigue. Really nothing to complain about so far. I am already not fitting into my clothes... I think b/c I was pregnant not that long ago and my uterus is already growing. It's not exactly looking like a baby bump yet though.

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