Cat. Bag, We're out of it!

That’s right. The Fellows are growing by two feet!!

And now for the Q&A portion of the event.

Due date? November 12^th 2012. I’m just shy of the coveted second trimester, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer. No literally, this tummy…it’s a poppin’ all over the place.

Did it happen naturally this time? Pfft. Yeah right. We transferred two of our nine frozen embryos in February. Our frozen cycle was such a cake walk compared to the last go round. We started a few injections on our Florida trip and then I just took pills, had a couple appointments and it was time to go!  We officially found out we were pregnant on Matt and Alicia’s wedding day (though I had cheated and took some home pregnancy tests a few days prior.)

Was it a secret? It was! Because our first round of IVF was as public as it could be, we thought a little secret would be fun. I ended up having to tell Alicia, because someone decided to up and set a wedding date that would’ve been over my post transfer bedrest. And luckily, the date ended up being switched to the next week…I’d like to say she did that for me…but I’m not quite that cool. And then, I ended up telling my mom and one special friend while I was on bedrest…because well, I’m really bad at keeping my own secrets.

Twins? No! Just one little Fellow in there! Though we were preparing ourselves for twins in the beginning. Emmie’s numbers were super high, but this kiddo…even higher! We spent a good two nights preparing ourselves and the savings account for twins.

Guillain Barre and the First Trimester?! And I hate it when people say this, but: I KNOW, RIGHT?! I was a very tired and scared little pup for a while there. I’m not sure if I ever mentioned it, but when we were in the ER, I made Andy shake that he wouldn’t die. So I knew he wouldn’t die, because obviously, he keeps his word, but I was just very emotional and uncertain about the future and the pregnancy hormones were kicking my ass along with everything else. The thing is…this baby...was probably the thing that kept me sane. That kept me eating, that kept me getting rest…so baby, mama thanks you! And, having a hospital bed to take lunch naps in, well, better than the car I guess.

How have I been feeling? Just tired. Very tired. And queasy. The beginning of my pregnancy was a little rough, there were a few scary days and I was placed on bed rest…not so conveniently at the exact same time Andy was laid up with what we thought was a back problem…so no one could lift Emmie. I know! So Grandma Vicki to the rescue as always. She picked Emmie up from school, put her to bed etc. she pretty much saved our lives.

The shots?! Oh yeah, remember those progesterone shots…and then having a husband in the hospital who couldn’t necessarily give me an ass shot every night? Cue Dad. Yep, every night I would go to their house or he would come to mine, before or after my nightly visit to the hospital and dad would Dr. up and give me my shot. He was actually really good at it too!

So there you have it. The cat is officially out of the bag! And we are so so thrilled!

follow up

Andy had follow up appointments with his neurologist and physical medicine doctor last week. Long story short, they are more than impressed with his recovery thus far. Andy will continue with PT this week and head back to work next week...the real world is knocking at our door.

I know, kinda boring post. But boring feels pretty great when it means I'm not posting about newly diagnosed diseases, the ICU, visiting Andy at the hospital etc.

Her hair is long enough for a clippy!

Now if she'd only keep it in for longer than 30 seconds.

(Trying to figure out the finger nail clipper)

And she'll show you her belly button as fast as she can.

And here is Tucker getting a barrette of his own. Poor guy.

And sorry to Olivia...I wrote this post before I read about your pony tragedy.  (Yeah that's right. I pre write some posts because I'm sneaky like that. I don't always have time to blog, so when I do, I do it up right.) But anyways...Olivia, I know you and Em will be giving eachother haircuts and your mothers heart attacks before we know it.

Reality check

Life is getting a little closer to normal every day. And never did I think normal would be so exciting.

But Andy had a bit of a reality check this weekend.

On the most gorgeous of days we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. The loop we usually do is about a mile. We passed a few houses and I asked Andy how far he wanted to go. And he actually had to think for a minute why I was asking the question. And he replied, oh yeah, I can't really walk that far, I forgot. Now I realize he has a bad memory...but really?!

Anyways, we decided to cut the walk in half and it was a good thing we did because Andy said towards the end of the walk it felt like he was walking up a hill.

So we have a ways to go...but I know we'll get there.

hippity hop

Yep, that's all you're gettin'.  Bunny ears plus 16 month old, not happening.

We traveled a short little distance across the river to celebrate Easter. It was a small family get together and in my family, those words don't usually go together.

Emmie was the Easter ham for the day. This kid just really likes people...and attention...and for some reason her sunglasses for that day and that day alone.

And finally, cousin Olivia came...and then they found a box. I mean, these really are the photos that will haunt them through high school huh?

Enough pictures please.

YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!

He's home.



Oh yeah, Andy's home too.  But I'm pretty sure Tucker's stay away was much more wonderful than Andy's. He came home all slim and trim from so many walks and had new organic Trader Joe's treats in his bag. Yeah, he totally wants to go back.

Andy got home on Wednesday. A quick pit stop by the hair place, a bite to eat and a shower in his own shower and he was feeling like a new man.

He is still progressing everyday and he's been using his cane to practice his golf swing, so obviously his sights are set high.

Andy had his first out patient physical therapy session on Friday. This gal is going to kick his ass. The hospital PT was pretty low key and didn't push too hard, but this gal means business...and I think Andy is definitely ready for it.



Other than that, there isn't much to report. Andy's new PT said he should be working out three times a day, taking walks outside or on the treadmill and meeting her three times a week for physical therapy.  So he'll be pretty busy and tired...bedtime comes early for everyone these days.

He's a hard worker...

Or a really smooth talker.

Last week when Andy talked to the doctor, she had given him a tentative Friday date of departure...and now, he's coming home TOMORROW!

He started to convince the OTs. He was making all sorts of progress and got them on board to mention an early release date. Then he moved on to the PTs. He proved he could walk with a cane, then without the cane. He proved he could go up and down the stairs without assistance and then added some weights to his leg exercises. And so his PT jumped on board.

And then it was decided this afternoon that it was time to let this guy go home!

(And I think he called the gal that cuts his hair before he called me. No lie.)

He hasn't talked to the doctor about what is next, but we know it will involve some outpatient physical therapy. And he still won't be able to go back to work for a while. But he will be able to sleep in his own bed, eat all the non-hospital food he can, and oh yeah...be with Emmie and me!

Andy's Day Out

I tried to blog last night, but my computer and/or internet were all jacked up. And my IT guy is on some kind of hiatus, so I just went to bed. Then I tried again tonight...still not working. So I summoned my inner IT guy, unplugged some shit and low and behold, we're up and running.

Anyways...

Andy's weekend out started in the most fantastic of ways.

We got to my parents on Saturday morning and as Andy was making his way into the house, the door opened and my mom was holding Emmie. Emmie took one look at him and shrieked PAPA with the biggest grin on her face. Oh my god. My heart melted from sweetness overload.

(Oh you're wondering about the Papa thing? Yeah, I don't know why papa stuck and daddy didn't. I know I refer to Andy as daddy, but call him papa from time to time. And apparently papa is the one that stuck.)

The day was pretty uneventful. Just watched Emmie play, took a nap and relaxed. And then we did it all over again Sunday. The weather was great and there was a tupperware container full of water, which was obviously the greatest toy ever invented.