Double Trouble!!!

It hasn't even truly set in for us yet, but we better get in gear soon...we are having TWINS!! Most of you know, but for those that don't, we did conceive with in-vitro fertilization. The crazy part of it is though, that we only had ONE embryo to transfer! Multiples are very common with fertility treatments, but usually because of having multiple eggs and multiple embryos. Because we only had the one embryo....we know that we are having identical twins!! It is just so crazy!! Twins weren't even on our radar as a possibility since we only had the one embryo. We are still in shock!!

We first found out at our 6 week sonogram. It wasn't exactly an exciting announcement at that point though. Here is how the conversation went:

Missy: We actually call the baby Nemo since it was our only embryo left to transfer.

Dr. Kevin: That's so funny, what a perfect name!

Missy: Yeah, it's so crazy that this happened the exact same way with our daughter.

I guess we are just meant to have one baby at a time.

Dr. Kevin: I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Missy and Matt: What are you talking about? You're joking, right?

Dr. Kevin: No, I definitely see a second sac, but it is much smaller.

I can see a heartbeat too, but it is very faint.

Baby B's gestational sac measured much smaller than Baby A, and the heartbeat was not even detectable when they went to measure it even though we could see the little flutter on the screen. Baby A measured just fine, and the heartbeat was 113 bpm. We were told that it would most likely be a case of a "vanishing twin". He told us that thankfully they are in separate sacs and each have their own placenta, which is very rare with identical twins. Usually identical twins share a sac and placenta, which is very high risk to both babies. He assured us that if we were to lose one as a "vanishing twin", it would not be detrimental to the other. They planned for me to check back in a couple weeks for another sonogram. So, while we thought we would leave that appointment so relieved to have seen ONE strong heartbeat, we left worried about this possible "vanishing twin". It was the strangest feeling that we weren't prepared for at all. The doctor was pretty confident that this twin would not be "viable".

This was my prayer:

God, we are still in awe of this miracle of twins that you have given us. And while we trust in your perfect plan for us and these babies, whatever that may be, I will continue to pray for the desire on my heart that you protect both of these precious little ones. I know that our perfect single embryo was in your hands, and it was clearly meant to be that two babies came out of it. We have SEEN their little heartbeats fluttering away just as you have protected them and given them life to this point. We praise you that they are protected in their two separate sacs, and we are so so thankful for this! We just ask that you continue to protect both of them and strengthen their little hearts and allow their bodies to grow. I know that the doctors rely on statistics to guess this outcome, but I'm not going to let that doubt creep into my head because I know that YOU are the ultimate healer and miracle worker. I know that if it is your will for these two babies to come into this world, you will have them thrive and grow. I also pray that you continue to give me peace of mind and peace in my heart over the next couple weeks leading up to this next sonogram, because I know it is not of you that I worry and I know that it won't do any good for either baby for me to worry myself over this. I thank you for the blessings that each of them already are to us, and we just praise you for such a miracle! Amen.

So, we went in on Thursday for another sonogram. Since Dr. Kevin is out of town this week, we saw a different doctor. She said, "I understand that you had a viable and non-viable twin at your 6 week sono, so we will take a look today and hopefully see that your viable baby is still viable." She was so certain that we really had a vanishing twin. MUCH to our surprise...and the doctor's too...there were very clearly two babies and two strong heartbeats right away! While Baby B is still measuring smaller than Baby A, she said that is very common with identical twins. Their heartbeats were 156 (Baby B) and 167 (Baby A) bpm! God truly is the ultimate miracle worker!!

Here you can see the babies stages...

Here is our embryo picture. The 3 half circles around the edges of the picture are the other 3 embryos that we had that were not able to be transferred since the cells had stalled out and were not splitting or they had vaculations (don't ask me what that means!). You can see that our embryo had actually started "hatching" before we transferred it - see the tail-like piece coming out of the bottom. In hindsight, I think it was already starting to split, and we just didn't know it at the time!

Here is a picture of the two sacs at 6 weeks - the babies are so small in these pictures that they just look like white dots inside the black sacs. Baby B is on the left and Baby A is on the right.

Here is a picture of the two babies at 8 weeks!! We hope to get better pictures with both of them together when we go back on the 31st! In the first picture, you can see Baby B on the right, and Baby A on the left even though the picture cuts off part of the sac. In the second picture, it is a split-screen. On the left is Baby A. On the right you can see both sacs, Baby A on the left and Baby B on the right.

Here is Baby A at 8 weeks

Here are two pictures of Baby B at 8 weeks

Campbell really doesn't know what is coming!! I doubt she really understands that one baby, let alone two babies, will actually be invading her house later this year, but we do talk about the babies in Mommy's tummy to her a lot. We say there are TWO babies in Mommy's tummy, and she always responds, "there's only one baby, and that's all!" It is the funniest thing, because no one told her to say that. Oh the poor little girl!! She seriously doesn't know what is coming! Although, I don't know that Mommy and Daddy realize what is coming yet either!!

We are 8 weeks and 2 days today! It's still very early, but this last sonogram was very reassuring that both babies are doing well. We have our last sonogram with our fertility doctor on March 31st at 2:30, and then we see my regular OB the following week on April 8th. It's so nice having sonograms so frequently for reassurance! It is also helping pass this time during the first trimester!! We appreciate your continued prayers for both babies!! We will keep you all posted!