Now just waiting...

My IUI yesterday went well. My mom had the girls so I spent the rest of the day on the couch. Hopefully taking it easy will help get us positive results! I still have to wait a few weeks before we know anything. I start progesterone shots tonight - James has to give them to me and he is really excited:) Now starts the waiting which is never my favorite part...

Raleigh's Birthday Party!

Raleigh had a great time for her 5th Birthday! We went to Sandy Pines on Sunday and celebrated Grandpa K's birthday too and on Monday Raleigh took her cousins to Build-A-Bear and then we had a LB party at our house. Raleigh loves being 5!

We're scheduled for Wednesday

I had more bloodwork and another ultrasound this morning. I have 4 follicles that will be mature by Wednesday so the IUI is scheduled for Wednesday morning. The nurse made sure I knew the risks with having 4 follicles. They normally aim for 2-3 for an IUI. There is a 2% chance of all 4 working and a 20% chance of multiples. I have had four in the past and I have never gotten pregnant with more than 1 at a time so James and I are not too worried. I am actually glad there is 4 because that gives us more of a chance of this working.

Doctor Appointment Update

I had a doctor appointment this morning. I have one follicle at 12 and a couple at 10. That means that they need a few more days to grow. They grow 1-2 (mm??) a day. They need to be around 16 to 22 for the eggs to be mature. So, the IUI will most likely be on Tuesday. I may have to go in on Monday for another ultrasound and bloodwork and then have the last shot that releases the eggs at the appointment or I may just have to take the shot on Sunday night, skip the ultrasound and go in on Tuesday for the IUI. I will know more this afternoon what the plan is. I also have a prescription for antibiotics for before the procedure in attempt to stop any initial infection.

Sydney's Sad Face

A few weeks ago, we all went out to James' and Hudson's spot to see their new headstone. We had to replace James' because they only allow 2 headstones per spot and we would have had too many with Grace, James, and Hudson. Sydney put on her "sad" face even though she wasn't really acting sad - I think it is just what she thinks she should do. My mom and I and to go pick up James' headstone because I could not lift it myself. We had to bring a towel and roll in onto the towel so we could lift it into the car. That thing is HEAVY! We are not sure what we are going to do with it yet - maybe have it polished down and made into a very heavy stepping stone for the garden... We have a picture of our family on baby James' first birthday at his "spot" - Sydney was a newborn - I really hope that can happen for us on Hudson's birthday:)

Ready to Go Again

I had a doctors appointment this morning - I am cleared to begin medicine for the upcoming IUI. I start the meds on Saturday and go back a week from Friday for more bloodwork and another ultrasound. The procedure will most likely be towards the beginning of the week of the 28th. I am hopeful that this cycle will work. We got pregnant on the first cycle with this procedure and these meds for the first 3 kids (I don't know why it did not work for Hudson). So, we are praying for:
1) 3 to 4 follicles that are the right size
2) wisdom for my doctor
3) no infections for me.

Little James

I was walking around the house last week holding Sydney trying to get her to fall asleep. I needed her to have at least part of a nap because we had to go somewhere that evening and she was just playing in her bed. Anyway, as I was walking with her I looked down and her blanket was covering 2/3 of her mouth and I was amazed at what I saw...the remaining 1/3 of her lips looked just like baby James' mouth. The part that I was seeing was just the edge of her lips, not the fullest part. I kept looking at her over and over because it was another reminder of what baby James would have looked like. I have seen him in her before - more so when she was younger. It makes me wonder what baby James and Hudson would have looked like when they were older. I really did not see many similarities between Hudson and the other kids but I think that was because he was a few weeks younger. I am always glad for moments like those - I wish they would come more often!

First Blog Post

This is the first post for the Kuipers Family Blog. I am not sure what exactly will go into it but it will probably be a good place to keep updates on our family. James and I are back in the all-too-familiar place of dealing with infertility issues (something we thought we were done with) and hopefully the upcoming issues related to another pregnancy. Although baby Hudson was born only about 10 weeks ago, we are looking forward to having more children and we pray that God will bless us again soon, just as He has done before.

I will probably mention updates on my doctor's appointments (that should begin soon) so instead of having to make a hundred calls to update people, I will only have to make a few. I am looking forward to starting the process of dealing with infertility issues again because hopefully it will be a step closer to us adding more children to our family. James and I are so greatful for our 2 girls and we are also blessed that God gave us our 2 boys - even though we could only know them for a short time. We look forward to learning what God has planned for us because he is FAITHFUL!