It has been since my grandma's funeral last September that I've seen my mom! I'm so excited that she is flying out here for an extended weekend trip. She is coming out to be with us for the pregnancy test results. We are hoping she is here for a big celebration, but if it doesn't go like we want it to, then she will be here to comfort us. She arrives this Friday and leaves on the 5th. It will be a short trip, but definitely worth it. I'm very excited!!!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
IVF Update
I'm finally off bed rest so I thought I would post an update. We've received lots of calls from people thinking about us and we do appreciate it! Without the love and support of our friends and family we could not do it.
The Embryologist at the facility that we go to for IVF gives us a picture of our embryos so I thought I would post that picture so you all can see what a 6 or 7 day old embryo looks like. We only ended up with 2 embryos to transfer because over the course of the day on Monday our 3rd embryo died. In the picture, the embryo on the top is not as high quality as the embryo on the bottom. They give embryos grades based on how well they are dividing and on what time frame. The embryo on the bottom is a grade A which is the best grade they give. Makes sense, huh?
I'm trying to take things as easy as possible over the course of the next week. We want these two little guys to be able to make a home in my uterus for sure! I am scheduled to go in on Sunday, February 3rd for my blood draw to see if I'm pregnant. We should know sometime that afternoon of the results. I will keep everyone posted!
We continue to be cautiously hopeful and put our faith in God.
We love you all and do appreciate your thoughts and prayers!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Asking for prayers
After exhausting all other medical options, a little over a year ago we decided to try in vitro fertilization (IFV) to begin a family. We were given high expectations by our physician and felt this was our answer for our infertility problems. We applied for a grant to help fund the cause and even were awarded that. But...our attempts were unsuccessful. During the process we ended up with a total of 5 living embryos, but only used 2 of them in our first attempt. We decided to freeze the remaining 3 embryos to use at a later date.
When our first attempt was unsuccessful we really went through a grieving phase. We were so positive that it would work and so devastated when it didn't. Even our doctor was a little amazed that it didn't work. He encouraged us to think about using the 3 remaining embryos, but it was too soon for us to even consider.
Just in the last few months we started thinking about what we should do with those remaining embryos. We even looked into adoption and attended an adoption orientation class. We strongly desire the opportunity to have children! During our adoption orientation class we both got strong feelings that that was not what we were supposed to be doing at that time. We then started thinking about using our embryos at another trial of IVF.
We began the cycle of IVF at the end of November and are scheduled to have our embryo transfer tomorrow!!!! After lots of oral medications and injections, I'm ready! There was a possibility that our embryos would not survive the thawing process, but we received word at 8 a.m. this morning that all 3 of them survived! I was really shocked and had prepared myself for either not having any embryos to transfer or only having 1 to transfer.
Our transfer is scheduled for 8 a.m. tomorrow. They will put all 3 of the embryos inside my uterus using a small catheter. I then am on bed rest for the rest of the day and all day Wednesday. About 12 days later I will go in for a blood test to see if I'm pregnant. We are hoping that at least 1 embryo implants itself, but would be excited if we got twins or triplets. Triplets scare me just a little bit, but the thought of twins makes me very excited. We shall see!
I will definitely keep everyone posted and continue to hope for only good news this time around. Keep us in your prayers, please!
When our first attempt was unsuccessful we really went through a grieving phase. We were so positive that it would work and so devastated when it didn't. Even our doctor was a little amazed that it didn't work. He encouraged us to think about using the 3 remaining embryos, but it was too soon for us to even consider.
Just in the last few months we started thinking about what we should do with those remaining embryos. We even looked into adoption and attended an adoption orientation class. We strongly desire the opportunity to have children! During our adoption orientation class we both got strong feelings that that was not what we were supposed to be doing at that time. We then started thinking about using our embryos at another trial of IVF.
We began the cycle of IVF at the end of November and are scheduled to have our embryo transfer tomorrow!!!! After lots of oral medications and injections, I'm ready! There was a possibility that our embryos would not survive the thawing process, but we received word at 8 a.m. this morning that all 3 of them survived! I was really shocked and had prepared myself for either not having any embryos to transfer or only having 1 to transfer.
Our transfer is scheduled for 8 a.m. tomorrow. They will put all 3 of the embryos inside my uterus using a small catheter. I then am on bed rest for the rest of the day and all day Wednesday. About 12 days later I will go in for a blood test to see if I'm pregnant. We are hoping that at least 1 embryo implants itself, but would be excited if we got twins or triplets. Triplets scare me just a little bit, but the thought of twins makes me very excited. We shall see!
I will definitely keep everyone posted and continue to hope for only good news this time around. Keep us in your prayers, please!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Crazy plants
We have some crazy plants growing in our house! Our Christmas Cactus bloomed at Halloween and now our Hibiscus is blooming in January! We were told to bring in our Hibiscus for the winter because they don't do well in cold, cloudy conditions. They like lots of sun and warm weather. We figured it would struggle this winter, but were hopeful that we could at least keep it alive somewhat until we could take it back outside this spring. Much to our surprise it is thriving and doing very well inside...almost too well. It has grown a foot or more since we brought it in and we are worried we may not be able to get it back outside!!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
2007 Year In Review
Instead of enclosing a Christmas letter in our Christmas cards this year, we decided to put our letter on here instead. Here is a recap of 2007 for the Kents!
January
*We spent time recovering from the holidays. We traveled to Kansas for Christmas and New Years last year and had the pleasure (haha!) of driving through the huge snow storm that pounded Colorado and the Midwest.
February
*Holly took a trip to St. George, Utah for her friend's baby shower. Erin has 3 boys and finally got a little girl!
*Holly interviewed with LifeTouch and became the JCPenney Portrait Studio Manager in Provo, Utah.
March
*We went skiing with Holly's Uncle George. It was Dave's first time skiing and Holly's second time. We both decided to take a class so we could learn how to ski the right way! We both had a GREAT time and plan to go again in March!
*Holly traveled to California (Sacramento) for the first time in her life for a week long training with LifeTouch to become a new Studio Manager.
*Dave received his acceptance letter from Brigham Young University! He is getting his Masters in Science Education.
*Dave received his acceptance letter from Brigham Young University! He is getting his Masters in Science Education.
April
*We took a trip to St. George for Spring Break to meet Erin's new little girl who was about a week old. While we were so close we decided to drive down to Las Vegas with some friends; Jarrod, Mindy and their boys. Neither of us had ever been to the "strip." Dave's spring break fell on Easter weekend so we also got to be involved in all of Erin's family's Easter plans.
May
*We celebrated our 7th anniversary!!
*Dave finished his second year of teaching at Independence High School and had 2 1/2 months off (although he wasn't really off!).
*We hosted a Memorial Day BBQ to break in our new patio furniture and show off Dave's carpenter skills. He built a planter box for our backyard. Dave finally got his dream grill as an anniversary gift from Holly.
*Dave finished his second year of teaching at Independence High School and had 2 1/2 months off (although he wasn't really off!).
*We hosted a Memorial Day BBQ to break in our new patio furniture and show off Dave's carpenter skills. He built a planter box for our backyard. Dave finally got his dream grill as an anniversary gift from Holly.
June
July
*Dave traveled to Southern Utah with other masters students at BYU for two weeks to do research for his Masters degree and learn how to be a better science teacher.
*Holly volunteered as the Accounting Chair for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Orem/Provo. We started planning the event in February and finally saw all of our planning come to fruition in June. It was a HUGE success. We raised over $30,000 for cancer research, education, advocacy and services!
*We made it to the one year mark of living in our townhouse. We have enjoyed being homeowners and adding our personal touches.
*We made it to the one year mark of living in our townhouse. We have enjoyed being homeowners and adding our personal touches.
July
*Dave spent the month taking a summer course in statistics at BYU. He also spent time at IHS helping with the Homestudy Program.
*We traveled to Kansas for Holly's ten year high school reunion. It was a quick trip because of Dave's class schedule, but well worth it.
*Dave turned 29!
*We traveled to Kansas for Holly's ten year high school reunion. It was a quick trip because of Dave's class schedule, but well worth it.
*Dave turned 29!
August
*Holly turned 28!
*Holly decided to part ways with LifeTouch realizing that being the Studio Manager was not a good fit. She is still interested in photography and decided to begin working part-time for Our365 taking pictures of newborn babies at the local hospital while continuing to work for Quality Transcription doing Medical Transcription from home.
*Dave began his 3rd year of teaching at IHS!
*Holly decided to part ways with LifeTouch realizing that being the Studio Manager was not a good fit. She is still interested in photography and decided to begin working part-time for Our365 taking pictures of newborn babies at the local hospital while continuing to work for Quality Transcription doing Medical Transcription from home.
*Dave began his 3rd year of teaching at IHS!
September
*Dave began fall classes at BYU.
*Holly's Grandma Thomas passed away at age 90. Holly decided to fly to Kansas for the funeral and spent ten days visiting with friends and family. Below is one of Holly's favorite pictures of her Grandma with her Mom and Aunt Cathy. It was taken last summer.
*We began tearing up our carpet and replacing it with laminate floor in our living and dining rooms. See older posts for pictures and details.
*Holly's Grandma Thomas passed away at age 90. Holly decided to fly to Kansas for the funeral and spent ten days visiting with friends and family. Below is one of Holly's favorite pictures of her Grandma with her Mom and Aunt Cathy. It was taken last summer.
*We began tearing up our carpet and replacing it with laminate floor in our living and dining rooms. See older posts for pictures and details.
October
*On Dave's fall break we began a tiling project for the kitchen. See older posts for pictures and details.
*Holly joins the blogging world!
*Holly joins the blogging world!
November
*Spent Thanksgiving with some of the Kents in Logan, Utah. See older posts for pictures and details.
*Cut down our Christmas tree in Southern Idaho.
*Cut down our Christmas tree in Southern Idaho.
December
*Dave was busy with finals and Holly was busy getting ready for Christmas!
*We spent Christmas with some of the Kents in Layton, Utah.
*Dave enjoyed 13 1/2 days off for the Christmas Break.
*We spent Christmas with some of the Kents in Layton, Utah.
*Dave enjoyed 13 1/2 days off for the Christmas Break.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
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