Reese Georgia Kimball…newborn extraordinaire...

We have waited patiently for this sweet little lady. She is perfect in every way. My friend Leanna of Urban Country Photography did an amazing job on Reese's newborn pics. She was a little angel. 

Reesey piecey...

So...this baby at least has a first name. We decided that we like the name Reese.  We haven't decided on a middle name yet, but I am glad to have at least gotten the first name figured out! A friend of mine got this idea from Pinterest to do nurses gifts- and I thought I could apply it to us as well! So when our sweet little girl gets here, we will have a cute little treat to share with our beloved nurses! They always do so much and aren't nearly given enough props!!! 9 more days and counting!!

Side note- my last appt I was 2.5 cm dialated and 60% effaced. I WILL NOT let him strip my membrane this time!! Ugh! That was worse than actual labor! 

I'm alive...despite what might (or might not) appear on my blog.

And by that I mean...I'm alive- and haven't documented this pregnancy well at all!! I think I've just been trying to keep up with Jovie (who's turned 5 years old this past month), and survive the hottest summer on record in AZ since 1997. Those two things alone have been enough to kill me off.

But let's be honest, that is not the only fun I have...

•  I get heart burn EVERY day (no matter what I eat or when I eat it)- so I combat that with a Zantac at least once every day! Thank goodness I had couponed those about a year ago and only paid $1 a box instead of a normal $8-$10/box!! 
• Then recently this sweet little baby girl has been kicking me as if she is trying out for a marshall arts movie!! She does a 1-2 punch on my ribs and then drop kicks me in the nether regions (at which time it's almost inevitable to wet myself if I haven't gone to the bathroom in the past 30 minutes). Geez.
• Plus- she's a night owl...so I have a feeling I will be up a lot during the night with this one. Jovie was so calm and easy- I guess this is pretty typical for the 2nd child to be totally unlike kid #1!
•  I also get the crazy pain in my sciatic nerve down my back- so I walk all crazy if I've been sitting for more than 30 minutes, or get up to pee in the night (which happens EVERY night)
• And for the past month I've been getting Braxton Hicks contractions in my belly- which is totally unfamiliar since I never had them with Jovie- and then labored in my back and not my stomach. 
• Oh, and don't forget the swollen feet. Elevate...elevate...elevate. Drink water (but really want Diet Dr. Pepper instead)...and more water. ugh. 
• And I love waking up in the middle of the night, panicked that we don't (even slightly) have a name picked out for this baby. 

The joys of pregnancy. Through it all, I know I've been prepped to have this baby. I know that what I go through is common, or even typical. But it still feels special to me. I couldn't have asked for a bigger miracle. And I'm grateful beyond measure for the blessing of carrying this healthy baby and adding this angel to my family. I'm keenly aware of the struggle that others (especially those near and dear to me) go through to have children and I am very aware of how I act during pregnancy. I just want them to know that when they hurt, I hurt. Even if they don't know I know. I've cried those same tears of frustration, anger and despair. But I also know that the Lord's plan for us is on His timetable- and not ours. I can vouch for being impatient. I always thought I'd have 4 kids- two years apart and be totally sane in the process. But this trial has taught me much more about myself...my faith...and the need to rely on those who love and care about you. 

Well, 7 more weeks in pregnancy left...and I realized I have VERY few pictures of this belly. My sweet neighbor Shannon Beckstead snapped a pic of me upon leaving a baptism the other day and said I needed it for my posterity. At the time, I was just trying to be nice and allow her to take it- but I'm glad I did. Jovie did a pretty good job at covering me up- but you get the idea. Baby bump.

It's official...we're pregnant!!

I honestly couldn't be happier. These weeks of exhaustion and nausea will all be worth it!! Baby Kimball is due 11/12/13!! I'm gonna make that date happen if there is any way at all possible!! I actually had a dream about this date last year in November right before I was due for surgery to remove another polyp in my uterus. Little did I know that I'd need to go through invitro to get pregnant, and not find out anything until March 6!! With all of the shots, medications and crazy time tables I wasn't even sure how to calculate my due date! But when Dr. Zoneraich called and congratulated (literally yelled it into the phone) us that I was pregnant he told me the due date and I just cried!! And since this was the 6th time being pregnant, I just had a calm feeling that THIS one was going to make it. Never in my life could I have prepared myself for the heartache of 3 miscarriages and 1 ectopic pregnancy. But through all of this I have remained faithful and optimistic. More than anything, having children is a righteous desire. That is natural. I just couldn't be happier.

This ultrasound is my third one. My first was at 6 weeks- and even then I could see AND HEAR my baby's heartbeat. I had another at 7 weeks and everything is going great. When I got home from my appt with this ultrasound image I showed Jovie and she said "Awe, this baby is so cuuuuuuuute, Mom". You are so right, Jov. She is gonna be the best big sister.

Butt shots- Day 2 and good news!

Man, now my butt is equally sore, on both sides!! Thank goodness for ice packs, numbing cream, and heating pads all night. I'm sure when I wake up tomorrow it will feel like I've done lunges across the country. Except, I haven't done anything except for light walking...Dr's orders. I have a hard time being told NOT to work out especially since I've done more exercise in the last 9 months than the last 9 years!!! And I'm gaining back a few lbs that I worked SO HARD to lose. Oh well- pregnancy is worth it!!

Blake has proven to be quite the phlebotomist!! I'm lucky to have a tough husband, not a weak person like me who passes out getting an IV put in or who panics when people bleed or barf. I definitely married up!!

Today we got great news. Out of the 21 eggs retrieved yesterday- 10 have fertilized and 3 are partially fertilized! I am so grateful for this experience. I know that whatever happens, I know that it is what we were supposed to do. I've learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of...and mostly that I'm much stronger than what I give myself credit for.

Now, I just have to get through 12 more days of progesterone butt shots and the worst (hopefully) will be behind me!! (Get it??? ... behind...)

****Oh, and the embryologist called and said that 1 more egg did well, and is able to be frozen!!! That is fantastic news for today! The possibility of one more baby is a beautiful, humbling thought!!****

And also, a great big Happy Birthday to my brother Eli- who turns 39 today!!! We had a great day playing his favorite game (and becoming my fave too) Dominion, Jovie got to play with her beloved cousins (Indi, Isaiah, Jazlyn and Jaycee) and we celebrated with pizza, wings and caramel brownies!
Jaycee smiled and cooed at me and that was so great! What an awesome day!

Egg transfer x2!!

So this morning at my egg transfer the dr and embryologist showed us our two best eggs and that they weren't quite to the level they had hoped to be at, so instead of only transferring one egg they recommended we transfer both!! This came as a surprise and shock from the doctor, but really it's been in my head the last few weeks of this process! The other eggs they were going to continue to watch and give us details tomorrow on their progress- to see if they would be freezable or not!

Blake has been great and supportive today especially. I know the thought of having more than one baby at a time is a very real possibility here, and it may just be extremely overwhelming to Blake. Of course don't discount me, having twins (or more) sounds crazy, but I know what an amazing daddy Blake is and I have faith that Heavenly Father would point us in the right direction for support in each other and those around us! I can do this!! There is nothing in life I want more than children and I know that when the time is right that we will be blessed with those sweet spirits ready to join our family here on earth. Even though Blake and Jovie didn't get to come into the procedure room while they put in those two embryos- they were eager to see me when it was done. (And the process wasn't bad at all- kind of like a trip to the OBGYN)

Of course Jovie wanted to be near me because she was worried, as well as excited to know if I had "brudders or sisters" in my belly. Kids really do comprehend more than we know! Love those freckles and baby blues!

I had to stay stationary for a while so Jovie kept me company and it sure was nice to have my family rooting for me! 

THINKING POSITIVE THOUGHTS!!!

Splitting cells...

Well, it's always an exciting/nerve wracking/scary feeling talking to the embryologist (Sherry) on the phone. I want to remember everything she says, but I have THE WORST short term memory ever!!

She said today that out of the embryos that are progressing there are 6 today that are up to par with the option to implant/freeze- so that is good. She said the others are progressing a bit slower but they may just catch up in two days when I go in for my appointment. We are on day 3 so at this point many are at the 7-8 cell stage. This pic below helps to outline all of what's happening. Luckily for me, it's all happening in a petri dish, instead of (ironically) in my one remaining left tube. The picture is basically accurate of my body! :) 

Sunday (Day 5) is the big day. And I can't wait!

Egg Retrieval Day!!

Today is a very big day. It's been weighing on my mind for a long time. I never pictured myself having trouble getting pregnant, struggling to keep those precious babies carried inside of me. At this point I've got a healthy, happy 4 year old and 4 miscarriages that followed. I never really pictured doing in-vitro as an option to get pregnant. I figured I'd adopt since going through the process with my sister giving a baby for adoption when she was 20 years old. That is more familiar and natural. I've thought that it was slightly strange using science to "play God" and make babies. But at this point I know it is the path that feels right. Heavenly Father blesses us with children in so many ways, and this process has been one I've learned SO much about myself, and the actual strength I have to endure through anything. I've always considered myself to be weak when it comes to things of the body. I don't handle them well...blood, barf, needles, pain. Need I go on? Well, I've never barfed in my life...ever. So that is just unfamiliar and scary.

Today, it didn't surprise me that the worst part was the IV. My hands have horrible veins. IV's don't stick. So, in the process of the nurse trying to get that needle in there my hands get clammy, forehead starts to sweat, stomach gets queasy, ears start to muffle and face starts turning Santa beard white. This is familiar. And the nurse (and Blake) notices immediately. She stops the IV- tilts me back in the chair and hurries for a wet washcloth to put on my forehead. Ahhhhhh. There is no embarrassment in that. AT. ALL. Geez. (It's weird that there have been SO many instances that I remember this happening, but I don't remember this happening the day I had Jovie- and they even poked me 3 times on my right hand and finally switched to my left and it worked!)

So, egg retrieval went well. I stayed home all day- had Blake home to take care of me and life goes on. Now, we wait and see what those sweet little eggs do!

Me post-op and feeling well (that was the best anesthesia I've ever had- you wake up almost immediately and NOT groggy at all!! Bam, baby.