Infertility and Me » IVF

The Beginning

Kenny — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:28:20 +0000

1 year ago today was the beginning of long road to where we are to today. A small part of myself met up with a small part of Jess in Somerset, NJ (Which by the way took some pretty slick coordinating by the medical professionals ). The result was nothing short of a miracle! Every appointment, shot, surgery, and heartache, was well worth it. For all who have been through the journey, or are just starting, don’t ever give up!! I would not be the person I am today if I had. This process made me a better man, a better father. Without this I would never have met the most precious little miracle that fills my life with joy and pride. My Baby Girl!

My Baby Landyn at 14 weeks 5 days old

Happy Holidays!

Kenny — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 22:40:05 +0000

I guess I kind of fell of the map there for a little bit!! All I can say is where does the time go!! It seems as if it was only yesterday that we were getting ready to head to the hospital. The days have melted into each other, and we are 1 day away from being 5 weeks in. The best, most tiring, rewarding 5 weeks of my life. I find a little more time each day to get things done, and this blog is nearing the top of my list. I’m working on Landyn’s birth story, and some milestone updates. Everyone is healthy and happy, and Jess is slowly on the mend. Landyn is experiencing her first “blizzard” today, which is not a promising start to the winter for us. Anyway, I really wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season, and hope that 2011 rings in a new super fertile year!!!! I am definitely going to continue writing, I just need to figure out where I want to go with this blog.

Landyn really wanted to share her holiday picture with everyone, so here it is!

Thank you all for your support over the past couple of years, it has and will always mean the world to us!!

Without Further Ado!

Kenny — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 05:01:17 +0000

I would like to introduce our little IVF miracle. Please welcome into the world our baby daughter Landyn Genevieve, Born 11/22/10, at 10:26am, 7lbs 0oz, 19 3/4in. Perfect in every way, and truly a precious miracle!

1 Day More (39 Weeks)

Kenny — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:28:48 +0000

1 more evening. 1 more dinner. 1 more sleep. 1 more night till the beginning of the rest of our lives. I don’t have many words, pictures, or witty sayings for this week. All I have is 1 day more until everything we’ve prayed, dreamed, hoped, and cried for arrives. Tomorrow we welcome our little miracle into the world!

38 Weeks

Kenny — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:19:00 +0000

The big arrival is almost here. Only 5 sleeps left!!!!!! I can’t believe we are so close. It seems like just yesterday we were both on the couch nursing the wounds from our procedures, praying, and dreaming of what, if anything is to come. This is it. The final hill of the bumpy road that has been our path. Through all the ups, downs, ins and outs, comes the end of the journey. And let me tell you, this has been one hell of a journey!! One that I would not change for anything in the world!

Jess had her last OB appointment this past Monday. It was surreal. I’m pretty sure the doc has had enough of us anyway! Everything is looking great and barring an early arrival, we are set to go for Monday.

On to Chooch!!

Unfortunately, I ran out of fruits and vegetables for comparison, and hell, they were getting boring anyway! Luckily for you all, I get to show off my awesome/terrible editing skills for my own version of this weeks picture!!

How far along? 38 Weeks 5 Days

How big is Choochie this week? Choochie is now weighing close to seven pounds and measuring over 20 inches long. Fetal development is nearly complete as Choochie tends to a few last-minute details like shedding the skin-protecting vernix and lanugo. She’s also producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in her lungs from sticking to one another once she starts to breathe. Most of the changes this week are small but important: she’s continuing to add fat, and fine-tuning her brain and nervous system!

Sleep? Only 5 sleeps left (If you can call it sleep!!)

Movement? Choochie wants out!!

Food cravings? Rotisserie Chicken, Banana Cream Pie, Mac N Cheese, Federici’s Pizza, Apples, Apple Jacks, Water!!!!

Gender

Milestones? Jess had her last OB appointment!!!

Emotions: EXHAUSTED, EXCITED, SCARED, READY!!!!!

37 Weeks

Kenny — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:16:51 +0000

How far along? 37 Weeks

How big is Choochie this week? Choochie is still packing on about a half pound a week. She is now over 6lbs, and more than 20in long!! Right now, Choochie is busy rehearsing for her big debut, inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid (to get the lungs ready for that first breath), sucking her thumb (to prepare for that first suckle of milk), blinking, and turning from side to side.

Sleep? Only a couple more left (If you can call it sleep!!)

Movement? Alien in the belly, no other way to explain it!!

Food cravings? Mac N Cheese, Federici’s Pizza, Apples, Apple Jacks, Water!!!!

Gender

Milestones? We are officially full term!!!

Emotions: EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!!!

36 Weeks

Kenny — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:54:43 +0000

First off I would like to apologize for the delay in posts. I had surgery a couple weeks ago and typing with one arm proved to be a pain in the a$$!!! We had a couple appointments in the meantime, and some new pics too!! The first was regular OB (now weekly) checkup and a group B strep swab, which as of yesterday, results were not in yet. The next (which was yesterday) was a followup ultrasound for Choochies big head (which is apparently not so big anymore), and the weekly regular OB checkup. The ultrasound we had was definitely the last (barring something of the wall happening). Everything came out perfect!! Her head measured 87th percentile as well as her legs. Her belly was 55th percentile. She is still measuring at about a week ahead of schedule, at EWF of 6lb 10oz. I think her body finally caught up to her ginormous head!! As with the rest of the pregnancy, Choochie is not cooperating!! She is still breech (Frank Breech), and the doc said that she will most likely stay that way. Not a big deal at all though since we are scheduled for a c-section anyway. Lets just hope she stays in there till then!! We are on the final leg of our journey, and the finish line is in sight!! As of today, we are at 19 days and counting!!

Here are the last pictures you’ll see until we welcome her into the world, and into our family!

On to the Chooch!!

How far along? 36 Weeks 5 Days

How big is Choochie this week? Choochie is about the size of a crenshaw melon, now about six pounds in weight and measures slightly more than 20 inches in length. Growth will experience a slowdown now. Almost all development is complete! Blood circulation, for instance, has been perfected and Choochies immune system has matured enough to protect her from infections outside the womb. Other systems still need a few finishing touches. For example, digestion, which actually won’t be fully mature until sometime after birth.

Sleep? Jess had a night or two really good sleeps this week!

Movement? Alien!!

Food cravings? Milk Way (thanks to Halloween),Federiccis Pizza, Apples (chocolate covered), Apple Jacks, Water!!!!

Gender

Milestones?

Emotions: EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!!!

35 Weeks

Kenny — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:34:46 +0000

We had another ultrasound this past week. The doc ordered it up a couple months ago. They wanted to get some fetal growth measurements since Chooch was conceived through IVF. Her EFW was 5lb 130z. She is measuring about a week ahead of schedule. All her measurements were in the 60 to 70th percentile except her head. Her head measured in the 110th!! The doc said he viewed pictures and he didn’t think there was anything to worry about. There wasn’t any fluid on the brain, and the ventricles looked perfect. He scheduled another ultrasound to see if anything changes. I guess we’ll have more info after that. In the meantime, check out “another” snapshot of the little bugger!!

On to Chooch!!

How far along? 35 Weeks

How big is Choochie this week? This week Choochie weighs over 5 pounds and could be up to 20 inches long. She weighs about as much as a Honeydew melon!! She is accumulating fat at a rapid pace, but has pretty much reached the in utero limit in height by now. Choochies once skinny arms and legs are now getting plump!!

Sleep? What’s that?

Movement? Crazy Movement!!

Food cravings? Federiccis Pizza, Apples, Cheese Doodles,Apple Jacks, Water!!!!

Gender

Milestones? The Room is (for the most part) done!! Clothes are being washed and put away in the furniture!!

Emotions: Ups and Downs and completely exhausted!!

34 Weeks

Kenny — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:12:36 +0000

How far along? 34 Weeks

How big is Choochie this week? This week Choochie weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and about 19.5 inches long. She weighs about as much as a Canteloupe. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she’s born — are filling her out, and making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well.

Sleep? Sleep is overrated!

Movement? Alien!!

Food cravings? Cheeburger Cheeburger, Federiccis Pizza, Apples, Apple Jacks, Product 19, Water!!!!

Gender

Milestones? Choochies fingernails now reach the end of her fingertips and may even curl over the tip!!!

Emotions: EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!!!

33 Weeks

Kenny — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:13:21 +0000

How far along? 33 Weeks

How big is Choochie this week? This week Choochie weighs about 4 1/4 pounds and is over 19 inches long. She weighs about as much as a Pineapple!! Choochie is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week), and she could grow up to another full inch this week. Jess’ amniotic-fluid level has maxed out. Antibodies are being passed from Jess to Chooch as she continues to develop her own fetal immune system.

Sleep? Sleep is overrated!

Movement? Starting to look like an alien is living in Jess’ belly!!

Food cravings? Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Cake, Apple Jacks, Product 19, Bar Pie, Gatorade (red), Water!!!!

Gender

Milestones? Chooch has begun development of her own immune system that (along with antibodies from Jess) will be able to provide protection from mild infections

Emotions: Ups and Downs and completely exhausted!!