Belly Pics...

I admit that I am not excited about showing off my growing self.  Us "pleasently plump" girls rarely enjoy gaining weight!  Although I have not gained any weight.  I am down about 10lbs from my heaviest during the fertility treatments.  Enjoy!

12 weeks and craving...

About 9 months ago I wrote a post on the latest Facebook meme that had FB users posting # weeks and craving in their status trying to raise awareness on breast cancer.  As someone who was dealing with infertility those posts were the cause of a couple bouts of tears before I realized they weren't real. 

So ironically, 9 months later, this post is titled 12 weeks and craving.  After thousands of miles on our car, tens of thousands of dollars, hundreds of injections, and more doctor appointments than I can count, Jim and I are excited to announce that God has given us our own little miracles.  We are expecting twins at the end of the year! 

When we first got the diagnosis of infertility it hit me pretty hard- and for a while it threw both of us for a loop.  But  Jim was the best husband ever and didn't blink an eye when we were told that IVF would be the only way we could have our own biological child.  He truly has been my rock during this battle. 

Thanks to so many of our family and close friends that covered us in prayer while we were going through the treatments, my brother Adam for letting us "move in" to his home in Gainesville when we underwent the treatments and our awesome work families that didn't once question the amount of time we had to be away. 

The hardest part of this process was not being able to openly talk about it-  not that we were ashamed of what we were going through- but trying to save us future heartache if things didn't go the way we had hoped.  The never ending questions and the attempts of friends to make us feel better when, especially me, we were so sensitive and so easily hurt.  Many days ended in tears for me and it was easier to not bring too many into that world.  Since I was unable to shout to the world my sadness, my fears, and my frustrations I started a blog that I kept to myself for many months.  This blog allowed me to express my every emotion without fear.  It still is a brutally personal blog- but I feel sharing it may help someone else who is quietly dealing with the same thing. 

Baby Spratts A & B

Our official due date is January 3, 2012-  but with twins we expect them to be born earlier (around 12/12/12).  We have had three ultrasounds and so far both babies have strong heartbeats and are developing right on time.  As is common with most IVF pregnancies I keep waiting for something bad to happen-  but I know God is with us for this journey and all I can do keep praying. 

So, this week I am 12 weeks and craving absolutely nothing-  because God has given us more than I could have possibly imagined.  And because anything besides Saltines make me throw up.  :-)