Baby Davis the Sequel's First Beginnings

Katie arrived in Knoxville Sunday night after a few flight delays (never fails). We left at 8:00 am Monday morning, July 8, for the transfer of Graham's sibling in Nashville! We dropped him off at his Gran's house in Crossville and got to Nashville around 11:00 and got all scrubbed up.

The embryologist came in and showed me my tiny baby's very first picture. I was a bit concerned because it didn't look like Graham's embryo picture. It reminded me more of the embryo that Brad and I transferred years ago that failed so I felt panic start to well up inside me. I asked her to be honest with me. Was this an embryo that had a great chance to implant or are we looking at a slim chance? She assured me that it looked great and that it had already begun to hatch from the outer shell. It was a 5BB (6AA is the best grading you can have there) so it still has a great shot. I felt a sense of peace come over me then and now all that was left to do was transfer this little sweetie!

We rolled Katie into the surgery room and the embryologist wheeled the embryo in for me to take a look through the microscope. There it was! So tiny but very much alive and ready to become my baby. Tears started to flow and continued throughout the transfer. The embryologist noticed my emotions and said, "No matter how many times we do this, it's always very special." And she's right. This is our 8th transfer and although I only have one live baby to show for it, every minute I have spent with them has been a very intimate time with all of my babies. So no matter what happens I will always have this moment. And I will always be your mommy.

Katie is already 75 shots in at this point because of our cancelled cycle so this baby is already giving her a tough time! She has been feeling lots of pressure and cramping in these days past the transfer so the baby is trying its best to dig in. She already feels symptoms but it's tricky when you are on progesterone which mimics symptoms so only time will tell. No positive home tests just yet but we've still got plenty of time for that second line to show up. Graham and I already have something planned just in case we get to make a big announcement this week. Beta is July 19 but we will know either way before then.

I could not be more thankful for this girl. She endures so much for us and never complains about what I already know is a tough road to making babies. There is no greater sacrifice in the world than being a surrogate. And she loves my little boy so much. I hope she gets the chance to love on his sibling for 9 months too. Come on little baby. You can do this!!!!

The tiny baby is in!!!!

Love, Science and Pineapples: Sweet Sibling

Why are we wearing and eating pineapples you ask? Well there is a theory in the infertility world that eating pineapple core can help with implantation of the embryo and since Katie had her last lining check/ estradiol draw this morning we thought we'd get in the baby making spirit a bit early! Well not sure if it was the food, shirt or the socks but look at this!!!!

We were so afraid her lining would be too thick since it was thicker than they would like at her baseline appointment but it was a gorgeous tri-layer 13.3, a perfect home for our next little embryo to snuggle in for 9 months. The estrogen level was over 900 so again everything is completely ready this time around for baby Davis the sequel. We are praising Jesus over here and so thankful that we waited until the conditions were just right. The rest is up to God of course but we also know prayer changes things so we are asking for your's for JULY 8th at 11:00 eastern. This baby is already so precious to us and we want nothing more than to make Graham a big brother. He said he's ready!

Baseline check

 Katie had her baseline appointment yesterday.  Estrogen was nice and low just like they wanted but her lining looked as if it was already ready for the embryo! 🥰 Our nurse said it was still OK and she can begin the estrogen shots this week. Next appointment is July 1 to recheck everything again. Will keep you updated.

Delayed for a Bit

Unfortunately the lower estrogen level was a sign of things to come. Katie has to restart meds with a different type of estrogen to see if that will do the trick. She will stay on Lupron for now and do a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork in two weeks. While it is disappointing of course, we want the best possible place for baby to grow so waiting a little longer to make that happen is totally fine. Nothing is predictable in the infertility world and this is just a small bump in the road to a sibling. We will find our way to you just as we did to your big brother!

Lining Check #2 for #2

Katie had her second and final lining check today and it was a triple layer 8.5 which our nurse said was fine. Her estradiol was a bit low in the 100s and they like to see 300s so she is going to take a supplement and get her level rechecked on Thursday. The nurse said the added estrogen typically takes care of everything so her guess is we will still be on track for the transfer next Thursday. I will keep y'all updated!

Lining Check for Baby Davis the Sequel

Katie had her first lining check yesterday and it was 5.7 and her estrogen level was also in range. Next check is on June 3 and our nurse said we will hopefully be right on track for a June 13 transfer. This transfer is coming at just the right time because Graham's birthday is this Saturday and my little baby is quickly disappearing into a toddler. Mama's ready for him to be a big brother!

Graham's One Year Pictures

Graham doesn't turn one year old until May 25 but I wanted to do these a bit early so we would have them ready for his birthday party. He didn't smile as much as usual because he was so interested in all the new items to explore. He did great though and we still can't believe he's been our's for almost a year. Time slow down please! I'm going to go cry now because my baby boy is disappearing. 

He kept trying to escape!

The antenna is crooked where he grabbed it!

This rocking chair has had four generations of babies sitting in it on Brad's side of the family

So happy our boy loves books!

He's come a long way since his day as a 5 day hatching embryo 

We tried a smash cake but he doesn't put anything in his mouth. Oh well!

The O ended up in the cake!

Typical Graham expression :)

Twins!