We Are Pregnant!!

Hello All,
Here's the newest information. Lisa went on Friday to get her blood drawn for the pregnancy test. She arrived at the clinic at 6:30 am (yes, in the morning). She waited in the "waiting" room (get it) with a bunch of old men. One of the gentleman talked about his surgeries and how he had a tube inserted into his arm and that he also had a hip replaced. The guy wouldn't stop talking. Lisa was the eighth person in line to get her blood work done.

The nurse who did the draw did not do a very good job. She stuck the needle into Lisa's arm and started moving it around trying to find a vein. Lisa screamed in pain. She said that it really hurt. She finally finished and Lisa left for work. It was a very long day for both of us. We were thinking things like "What happens if it doesn't work?" or "What happens if it does work?". We tried to work as best as we could.

Lisa got the call at about 2:30pm that same day. The nurse who did our fertility class called Lisa and said that the test was positive and the she was very happy for us. Lisa was so excited that she banged her computer. I called about 2 minutes after she got the news. When I heard, I started to cry.

I have to tell you guys that I never thought that this would have been possible for me. The choices that I made in my life and the direction my life was going never pointed to having a wonderful, beautiful wife, 3 gorgeous girls and the possibility of have children of my own. God is amazing! The grace that he shows his children is unbelievable.

I really didn't think that our girls were going to be as excited as they are. They are telling all of their friends about their mom and the pregnancy. I am so happy that they are as excited as Lisa and me. Just so you know, Brittnee has dibs on Lisa's baby shower.

I think that I had told you that we used 3 of the best possible embryos for transfer but, I don't think I told you that we had a total of 6 viable embryos to choose from. The 3 that were left were left at the hospital to grow and then they would be preserved. Out of 3 embryos only one of the embryos survived and is now frozen. We have to make up our mind on what the future is for this lone embryo. We would like to donate it to a family that cannot produce any eggs.

Anyway, We are still not sure about "how many" we are going to have but, we are sure that we are having at least "one". Keep praying for us, specifically for Lisa and the baby (or babies)and everyone's health in our home. I will update you when we find out the number.

God bless,

Richard

The Babies Are In!!!

Hey all,
We were waiting patiently for the call on Friday from the doctor. She needed to tell us when the transfer date was going to occur. She called Friday afternoon and told us to plan for Sunday for the transfer but we might have to wait until Tuesday. We were told if we heard nothing on Saturday to come into the clinic on Sunday. That was one long Saturday.

We went to Tria's(my Goddaughter) school play on Saturday evening. She was a cast member in the play "The Secret Garden" She played the house maid. She was great. Anyway, back to it.

We spent the night at my Mom's house that night because it would be closer to the clinic if we were in Sunnyvale than if we were in Patterson(anywhere would be closer than Patterson). We all got up and headed down to the Fremont clinic` (we meaning Samantha, Brittnee, Lisa and me).

When we arrived at the clinic, we were a little late but fortunately so were they. They confirmed that today was the day(I am finding it hard to type because our cat, Lliema, pronounced "leema", is trying to help me type this letter so, if there are any accent marks or characters that are in odd places blame the cat). Hmm, where was I, oh yes, at the clinic.

We waited about 10 minutes in the lobby then finally they brought aLisa and me to the back room. Lisa was very uncomfortable because 3 she needed to have a full bladder before we arrived there. They took so long getting us in that by the time we went back she really needed to "go". They let her go "a little", how women do that I will never know. We were asked to follow the doctor and nurses to the tranfer room. Our doctor, Dr. Farah-Eways, has to be the nicest doctor we have ever met. She explained the whole process to us and told us that she will be tranfering 3 embryos. I think we were able to put a picture of them in this post. Aren't they adorable. I think the one on the left looks like me.

The tranfer went very smoothly and now we have to wait until the 23rd of March to do a pregnancy test. The doctor had told us that she has had 2 sets of triplets from in vitro and that was highly unusual. Then she asked us if we were okay if we were to have triplets. Lisa and I had already discussed it and decided that whatever the Lord gave us we would keep. So gang, be ready for anything. Keep us in your prayers and we will keep in touch.

Love, and God bless,
Richard

The Beginning

Welcome friends and family to what is the beginning of an incredible journey. On February 21st Lisa and I attended classes for invetro fertilization.These classes showed us what to expect in the coming weeks. On Febuary 28th I started giving Lisa daily injections in her belly and or the back of her arm. It started with 2 shots a day one in the morning and one in the evening. Then it went to 4 shots and then 5 per day. Lisa was becoming a human pin cushion.

On March 5th Lisa was scheduled to see her doctor to check the progress of follicles (eggs) and to the doctors surprise the follicles were advancing faster then scheduled. On Thursday the 9th Lisa and I will be going in for the retrieval and collection. Lisa will be put completely under when they collect the follicles and I will be sent to another room to do my thing. Then over the next few days they will play together and if all goes well the embryo transfer will take place either on Sunday 3/11 or Tuesday 3/14. I have to tell you that this whole process was supposed to be happening a week from now. I don't think that I had enough time to wrap my mind around what was going on. I do know that I am so excited about what we are attempting to do.

Their are many things to come and Lisa and I will take it one day at a time. As soon as we know more news, we will post the next step.

Love you all,

Richard