Thursday, November 6, 2014

Home Sweet Home

We've been home for a couple weeks now. I'm so thankful that my husband was able to take off work for the first week. I was pretty much bedridden. The pain was quite rough. The second week my sister flew in with my nephew. Thankfully I was feeling more normal and able to move around better. She was a huge help and made us dinner every night and helped clean the house. With all the help with daily house work and such I had enough energy to do some fun stuff with her and my nephew. We did a short trip to the zoo, Ikea, Kaleidoscope, and even got a date with my husband, and some one on one time shopping with my sister.

This week has been my first week by myself getting back to a normal schedule. It has been interesting. With the excitement and adrenaline wearing off I have had a world of emotions. Having to work through the emotions of things not having gone expected and in a sense mourning the fact that I didn't get to labor and give birth to him. I know I may be a bit crazy, but I love that experience and it gives me a sense of accomplishment and a form of bonding. The fact that he was suddenly ripped out of my body is effecting more than I expected. I am still so thankful that everything went well and everyone was and is safe, and I feel that it was the Lord's timing, but I just have to work through my missed expectations. Of course this is all made harder by all the hormones trying to stabilize, my inability to function normally due to still healing from surgery, and the exhaustion that comes from simply having a newborn, let alone 5 other kids. One being a toddler having a hard time adjusting. I've started getting Joshua David on a schedule and that is helping me get a little more sleep.

I would love any prayers for dealing with the trauma, healing well, and the adjustment for the kids.

If you like to see some pictures click here to see Joshua David and my sister and nephew.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Hospital Stay

My time in the hospital felt like and eternity and a blur all at the same time. I will do my best to recall those few days!

After the c-section I had to go to recovery for 2 hours before I could go see my precious little man! It was a LONG wait! Finally my time was up and got wheeled in my bed up to the nicu. It was quite a bumpy ride and I was filled with so many emotions! I was so relieved when I got see him and learn that he didn't need ANY MEDICAL HELP AT ALL!!! He only had a few wires hooked up to him to monitor his oxygen, and heart rate. Everyone was amazed at how well he was doing for being so early! I was so happy to be able to hold and nurse him! He nursed like a champ! The nurses kept saying things like; "Don't be too excited, they often do really well at first and then fade." Or, "It could just be the honey moon phase." But I didn't accept any of that! I knew how strong my little man was and how awesome my God IS! I knew he wasn't going to need supplementing and had to fight for that a little.

The days were long. having to go back and forth between the nicu and my room a floor away. I got NO sleep for the first 36-48 hrs and then got a little the next night. Trying to time sleep, meds, eating, and getting to the nicu to nurse was hard and exhausting, not to mention emotional leaving my baby!

Even though the c-section itself was pretty cool, recovering from one has been horrendous. My body does natural labor and vaginal delivery like a pro, but I was not designed for c-sections! Trying to find medications that helped was hard, and even still am in a lot of pain. But, I will be okay and baby is perfect so that's all that really matters!

It was hard having to go back and forth when I knew he didn't have any problems. It was like torture! They had my hopes up to him coming to my room on Thursday, but the pediatrician wanted to watch him one more day to make sure he didn't have any breathing problems. It was killer to hear that, but I know they just want to make sure and better be safe than sorry. I could not wait till Friday to see the Pedi again and show her how amazing he is, and that he didn't have any problems. Thankfully she agreed and he got to come down to my room with me Friday night! I was thrilled! To be together constantly and not have to go back and forth was amazing!

Another blessing was that nursing has gone so well!! He has latched great and my milk came in super fast! I feel that is one way God helped me to not have to supplement with him! The nurses were even shocked at how much I was able to pump after feeding him!

Then came the battle to get home! When you have a preemie, they have to pass a car seat test. They have to be able to sit in a car seat for an hour with out their heart rate dropping. They did the first test in the middle of the night Friday. They came back and said he failed. They said he made it most of the way so it might have been a fluke, so they were going to test again in a little while. I told my friends to pray and one of my friends had a similar experience 2 months ago and brought me the car seat she had to bring her preemie home in. I was so thankful! They tested him again, and again he failed! I was devastated! Worrying what they were going to want to do if he couldn't pass and go home with me! Amazingly, some one saw my post on a moms group forum I'm on. She doesn't even know me, but offered for me to borrow their special flat bed like car seat for preemies. I was blown away by her generosity! I was still so nervous! This was our last hope! They took him back to test and came back with good news this time! WE GET TO GO HOME TOGETHER!!! I was so happy!!

It was interesting how being in a hospital full of nurses and doctors none of them had heard about embryo adoption. They were all so curious of our story and were amazed at it all! I should have had it recorded to just push play when each new nurse or doctor asked! So many of them couldn't wait to tell someone they knew about it! I love how the Lord is using us to spread a way to give life to those who can't speak for themselves!

One of the biggest blessings though is all the help we got from good friends! We could not have made it through with out them! Being that we have 5 kids at home we constantly needed someone to be with them as I was not in shape to be alone at the hospital. Physically or emotionally. I'm blown away by their generosity. From watching kids, to bringing me car seats, and spending time with me, and all those that prayed for us through it all! It is a miracle and a birth story we will never forget!

We joke that he wanted to come into the world the way he went into my womb. Surgically!
Here is a picture of us right before the transfer and then right before and after the c-section. If you look close you can even see Paul is wearing the same clothes!!!

Before the embryo's where put in my womb. 02/28/2014

Joshua David's BIRTHday! 10/15/2014


Every LIFE is important no matter how small!! An embryo is not just a cluster of cells, but a human!
HE IS PROOF!




This whole journey has been AMAZiNG!! To be able to give life to the unwanted from the very beginning is so hard to put into words how magical it is! There is nothing like it! Truly miraculous! If you would like to give to help us with our amazing journey of embryo adoption there are several ways!!

1. Simply donate using the link on the right. We still have quite a bit to pay off from the whole process.

2. You can sign up to bring us a meal or gift card to help with meals as we adjust to a new baby (#6) and recovering from a c-section.  Click Here for meal registry. 

3. We have a baby registry at Target of a few things we still need. Click Here for baby registry.

Will update how we are doing since we've been home soon!

Thursday, October 16, 2014

He is Here!!! WARNING graphic part one of our journey of Joshua David's birth.

*There are probably tons of typos and might not make total sense since I haven't slept in almost 48 hrs, but here is a rough draft of his birth.....

Joshua David decided to make an entrance into our arms a little earlier than planned! Wednesday October 15th at around noon I started having a pain in my back on the left side middle. It was a pain I have never felt before and made me kind of nauseous. I kept going about my day for 30 minutes and the pain got worse. I texted my husband and he told me to call my doctor and that he was going to come right home. You see, my husband knows me so well and if I was concerned enough to mention it to him, than something was definitely not right. The pain increased fast and by the time I called the nurse I was hyperventilating. At first she told me to come into the office to be assessed, then a few minutes later after talking to the doctor called back and said to go straight to labor and delivery. Thankfully we have wonderful friends were willing to stop what they are doing and come help quickly. My friend go to me before my husband was able to, so I jumped in her car and another friend stayed at the house with Izzy. Paul got the kids out of school and dropped them off at the house and headed to the hospital to meet us there. When I got there I was still in a good deal of pain and not breathing well. They had me slow my breathing and pee and put monitors on me to watch baby and contractions. Shortly after the pain actually subsided. They were thinking a kidney stone or something alone those lines, which was what my initial thought was too since the pain was specifically located. They continued to monitor me and took some labs and checked my cervix. At that point I was only at 1cm which was no big deal. They said they were going to monitor me a bit longer and see what happens. After being checked the contractions picked up big time. I went to the restroom and laid back down and a few minutes later felt a trickle. I thought that it might be just the gel from being checked because it was a small amount, then a few minutes later felt a big gush. They check and it was blood! At that point I got nervous, but baby still looks fantastic so they checked me and I was at a 3. They kept watching me and I kept having blood leak. They checked me again about an hour or so later was still 3. Since my bleeding wasn't slowing down and I wasn't in active labor, they decided it would be best to get him out via c-section. At that point I had all sorts of feelings! knowing I was going to get to see my son, but not sure is state, and getting a c-section for the first time, all scary! They explained everything to us and wheeled me away. I got into the OR and they gave me a spinal, then Paul was able to join me and got me all set up. Once they started and I didn't feel any pain I relaxed and actually got gitty! This was cool! I was awake and yet knew I was cut wide open! I was so intrigued and told Paul to take pictures and told the doctors to talk loud enough so I could hear. All the docs and nurses were women and I think they really got a hoot out of my energy. When it came time to pull him out they lowered the drape for me to see and Paul recorded it and is linked below :) He came out crying and they said he was looking great! I got to see him for a minute and then Paul went up with him to the NICU while I went to recovery. My time is quite limited so I will post more tomorrow if I can to fill you in more on how we are doing.


Friday, September 5, 2014

30 Weeks



I feel kind of like a walking oxymoron! I have pretty much every miserable pregnancy symptom in the book. Including, but not limited to: nausea (came back for my 3rd trimester), restless legs, insomnia, acid re-flux(and I mean acid literally coming up my throat), carpal tunnel, irritable bowels, and hemorrhoids. Yet....I'm so happy to be pregnant, and I mean I feel like my heart could burst with joy! It's so weird to feel so physically rough and yet be so happy at the same time!

I never imagined this journey would be as amazing as it has! Yes, there have been hard and sorrowful times, but feeling this life (that never stops moving by the way) growing in side of me is just outstanding! To think I am pregnant with an adopted child is crazy! But I am, and it's adoption on a whole other level! He is going to be amazing and I can't wait to see what this sweet boy looks like! He was destined to be our son and I only hope I can be the mother that he needs! I love that I get to take care of him from the tiniest of beginnings!

Here's a little flipogram of our journey so far!



Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Busy Doc Appt!

Yesterday I had an ob appointment that included the oh so fun glucose test, sonogram to check my placenta, dTap shot, and regular ob check up! I'm just glad I could do it all in one appt! I took Emma Grace along with me this time to see the baby. She enjoyed it, but sadly I didn't get the sonographer I wanted so no fun 3D pictures :( My placenta did move up so that is great, but also means no more ultrasounds for me unless something pops up that they need to check. 

He is also already head down, which I figured! The other day I noticed that my belly looked like it dropped already and then Paul even said something about it later that day! I also have had two scares of preterm labor. Thankfully I was able to get the contractions to calm down both times with prayer, water, bathes, and such. This boy needs to cook for at least 10 more weeks! Please pray that he does! My ob isn't too concerned since I've had 4 others with no preterm births, but because he is not "my" genetic material things could go different. So now I'm on a 2 week schedule to see the doctor!



 The oh so fun glucose test! The drink it's self doesn't taste too bad, but I sure do get dizzy! I was very thankful I brought a spoonful of peanut butter to eat after they drew my blood! It definitely helped!


















 I also got my admission packet for the hospital! Getting Real!!




Thursday, July 24, 2014

22.5 Weeks Update

Last week I had a doctor appointment with an ultrasound to see his sweet face and finish getting all the info they needed that he stopped them from seeing last time due to having his hands by his face the whole time. Also, to check if my placenta moved. It was low, but not a previa. Joshua David looks great! He cooperated well, and everything looks great. My placenta has not moved yet, so I get another sonogram next month! Love getting to see him so much!

 Here is a pic of how much my belly has grown! Almost 24 weeks!



 Several people have asked if I have a registry started and I just started one the other day at Target! Just click this LINK and type in my name Rebekah Hoover!

Also, we still need about 3k to cover the actual embryo transfer! We had to put it on credit to be able to make this life happen! We wouldn't do it any different, but sure would appreciate any support! Adopting in any form is not cheap, but so worth it! Life is precious and the Lord has called us to love with orphans! There are two easy links on the side of the blog where you can give! Thank for all your support and prayers!


Friday, June 13, 2014

Gender Reveal

Today I got to have my 18 week Sonogram. Everything looked great! My placenta is a tiny bit low, but not of concern. However, because of it I get to have another sono next month!! Woohoo! Here are a few pictures of our sweet Filipino baby!!



Gender Reveal!


Definitely wasn't afraid to show his stuff!

Joshua David




Thursday, May 15, 2014

13 Week OB Appt

This week I had my OB appointment. I was pretty nervous because I had had some bleeding and of course had to fight fear of the worst! However my fears were quickly relieved when my OB not only found the heart beat, but kept having to move the Doppler because the baby was so active moving all around! It is finally feeling real and like I can start to get more excited! I also got to make my sonogram appt which will be June 13th!!! Can't wait to find out who this little one is!!! And....praise The Lord.... I am starting to feel better!! After weeks of extreme nausea I wondered if I would ever feel better, I still have my rough times and days, but at least I'm having more and more good days!!

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Easter Sunday

Today is a great day! A day we celebrate and remember the amazing sacrifice and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!!

Also, today I'm 10 weeks!!! I'm starting to feel better and NO MORE SHOTS!! I'm a little nervous, but super excited to not have to stick giant needles in my back side every night any more! Woo Hoo!!!

I'll have to take a picture soon, because I have quite the belly going on already! I guess after 4 previous pregnancies, my body know just what shape to go into, that and my abs never went back together after my first baby...

8 weeks till I get another ultrasound and get to find out if we're having a boy or girl! It feels so far away, but I know it will go fast! Most of the kids want a girl to make it even so we'd have 3 boys and 3 girls.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Sono #2


Today I am 8 weeks 3 days and baby grew great and is one day ahead of schedule! It's heart beat was all the way up to 175!! Way to grow baby!!!! It's amazing how much they grow and change in such a short amount of time!! In about 10 more weeks and we will get to find out if it's a he or she!! So far, yet so close!


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Ultrasound #1



I haven't fully digested the information. I am completely happy that they found one perfect little bean! It measured 6w0d when I'm 6w4d, but the doctor said that's totally fine! He had a strong heart beat and everything looked perfect. I am honestly sad that one didn't make it, but I'm handing it over to God trusting that he knows best and rejoicing for the precious life growing inside me! Over all we made heaven a little fuller with 5 precious Filipino babies and I know they are happy and we will enjoy the one he is blessing us with on earth! We still have a long journey ahead of us with this little one so please don't stop praying!!! I will have another ultrasound in 2 weeks. Also, we still have funds that we need to pay for from all this life saving and would appreciate any donation! Thank you all for going along this journey with us! It helps more than you know!!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Beta #2

Today I went to get my blood drawn to check my hcg levels again to make sure they've doubled. Monday my number was 71 so it needed to be at least 142. The nurse called, and I asked if she had good news for me and she said "Yes! Your number is 206!!!" Praise the Lord my numbers almost tripled! I can safely say I'm pregnant!! It feels surreal to say that and almost scary! I go for an ultrasound in 2 weeks!! March 26th!! Can't wait!! Hoping to see more than one little bean with strong heart beats! Now to stay busy getting our house ready to put on the market to help the time pass! Thank you all for you prayers! Keep them coming! There is still a long road ahead of us!

Monday, March 10, 2014

1st Beta

Today I had my first beta test (HCG levels) and they were 71. I was hoping for a higher number, but the nurse said this was a solid number! I'm still having to fight a lot of fear and anxiety so I would appreciate prayers to help fight it! I'm trying to focus on Jesus and nothing else, but it's really hard. Wednesday I go back to check my levels again. They NEED to DOUBLE! Please pray they do!!! If they do then I have to order another chunk of meds. $$ Ouch, but what ever it takes to keep these babies safe! I won't know how many are in my womb until the end of the month when I have an ultra sound. Feels so far away!!!

Friday, March 7, 2014

TWW

The time between having sex when you ovulate, or after an embryo transfer (ET) is often referred to as TWW (Two Week Wait) It is brutal!! Why?? Because it consumes your brain!!! It's all you can think about!! Am I pregnant?...What if I'm not!....Is that a possible pregnancy symptom?!?  Then on top of that when you do an ET you are pumping yourself full of hormones! So, you get symptoms from that and you go on a roller coaster of emotions. This time period is particularly hard on someone like me! (impatient, lol). I bought a bunch of pregnancy tests before we even went to CA so I could test every day! Gotta love the Dollar Tree and their $1 tests! Of course realistically this just makes things worse because of my impatience I test way to early telling my self that I know it's early so it won't bother me, but deep down every time I saw a negative it was painful! Which just made me go up and down worse. Fighting my emotions for faith!!

On Wednesday I had a blood work to check my estrogen and progesterone levels. The nurse called and said my numbers looked FANTASTIC! This was nice to hear, but I still had to battle with worry.

So after a few days of negative tests I decided to stop for a day or two. I was strong the next morning and did not test! I was so proud of myself, but still found my self starting to go down the spiral of fear and sorrow. Thankfully I was able to stop myself from going too deep and turned on the worship music and turned my focus away from the circumstances to Jesus and simply worshiped him (while ironing). It's amazing what that can do for your heart! I'm so thankful I have God to help me when things are hard!

However....that afternoon I tossed and turned as I tried to nap which has been a regular need since returning from CA...So I got up and decided to take a test...I figured I have enough of them I might as well use them. Besides, it's the afternoon so my pee is diluted so there is a high probability that it will be negative so it won't affect me (Haha, more lying to myself). I did and when I looked at it right after, it was negative...I switched the laundry and looked at it again just a few minutes later and I saw a faint line!!!! I was over the moon!!! I text my hubby a picture of it and he didn't look close and thought if it was positive it would show a + not that he should be looking for // (two lines). So he just thought I was fessing up that I gave in and took a test and that it was negative! The next morning I took another test and sure enough two lines. It's still not super dark, but definitely there!!

I've been pretty tired, and peeing ALL the time!! I've also started being fairly nauseous and smells are getting to me, but I thank GOD for pregnancy symptoms!! Funny how after having 4 babies even though it was 5+ years ago, my belly remembers the shape to go into! So at 4 weeks prego, I'm basically pulling out the few maternity clothes I've gathered since starting this process and looking for more!

There's still a long way to go so I speak life to my babies and break death and any assignment of the enemy several times a day. Pretty much anytime fear tries to come in. I would appreciate you all praying that with me! Monday I get blood work to check my HCG levels and then again on Wednesday to make sure they are doubling. Then around the last week of March I will go in for an ultrasound to check on my precious beans!!

We would also appreciate prayers and gifts for our financial need. We appreciate all levels of support!!

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Mountains and Valleys

This cycle over all has been much bumpier than the first one and it continued being bumpy on the trip to LA. The flight was uneventful other than having a pretty bad headache. The weather on the other hand, not so great. It rained the whole time we were there. Funny how CA is known for its sunny warm days, but whenever I go it's rainy and cold (well cold for CA) We got our rental car, and even though it was rush hour and had to drive through quite a bit of traffic, we got to dinner and our hotel with out incident.

 Our hotel was very nice which is always a relief! However, we forgot to pray and "clean" our room before we went to bed so we both ended up not sleeping well and praying over it at some point through the night. 

The next day was FET day! Since LA time is 2 hours behind KC time we were awake pretty early, but thankfully the FET wasn't till the afternoon. so we went to eat our free continental breakfast which was really good! They had two kinds of eggs, fried potatoes, sausages, oatmeal, waffles, cereal, and toast. We ate and then went back to our room to sleeps some more! That was pretty glorious! With 5 kids we don't get to just lay around in bed for hours during the day! We got up and ready to head to the clinic which was just down the road!
Because of the rain they were behind appointments from people getting in late. They decided to do my FET in the surgical room since they had someone else in their regular room so I wouldn't have to wait as long. The only thing different was that we had to wear this fun get up!
After we were all ready and excited, the embryologist came in to tell us about our embryos. That's when we found out that the first two didn't survive the thaw. That was a pretty hard shock. Then she showed us our last 2 that were going to be implanted. That was a lot of info to take in all at one time. So many emotions to process. The loss of two more of our babies, and that this would be the last time we are here, and trying to be positive and excited for the two that are in my womb right now. The doctor was pretty strong about trying not to dwell on the ones that didn't make it and concentrate on being excited and hopeful for the ones that did for right now because the mind effects our bodies. But that is easier said than done! After losing 4 and trying to have faith that these ones will make it is a challenge, but I want to give it all I got! Whatever the outcome, we followed the Lords plan for us and that is what is important. Even if it's hard! Here is a picture of the two up close and then in my womb. I have a blood test to check my hcg levels on March 10th, however, I will probably do home tests well before then because I'm not patient!

Afterwards we went back to the hotel and when Paul went out to get us some dinner there was a beautiful rainbow! It was huge and the pictures don't do it justice! I'm trying to take that as a positive sign! Also, before we even left the Lord gave us the scripture Psalms 57:2 "I cry out to God most high; to God who accomplishes all things for me." So we have been claiming that for these babies!

The next morning Paul was up before me and went for a short walk and came back with these for me!
Again, we were up early, but breakfast wasn't open for another 30 minutes because it was the weekend and they open a bit later, so we went on a walk around the hotel and found all these beautiful nooks!

 

We were about to get ready to head to the airport when we got a call saying that our flight was canceled! UGH! In a time when I'm supposed to stay relaxed and calm, cancelling a flight and having to pay for another night in a hotel by the airport and pay extreme prices for food is not helpful! I tried to not worry about the cost, but not happy about having to put things on a credit card! But hey, I got another night with out kids with my hubby! Here is a view from our window of LAX at night. They got us on a flight the next day, but we weren't sure what the weather in KC was going to do so we were pleasantly surprised when they didn't get nearly the amount of snow as expected and our flight was able to go!
We got up and around and to the airport where I got some over priced but yummy eggs Florentine.
The flight back was better than the flight out due to the fact that they put us in first class! That was my first time and I have to say it was pretty nice to have a pillow and blanket and all the snacks and drinks I wanted! Then when we got back to the airport some awesome friends picked us up and took us to dinner and got pizza to take back to the kids so we didn't have to cook, while their sweet teenage daughters were watching our kids since they had to take my in-laws to the airport to go back to NY at the same time we were getting in. That was a very pleasant surprise and a huge blessing!

Now on to trying to take it easy, rest, drink lots of water, pray, and wait....

We appreciate and covet all your prayers and if you can, any financial gift you can give would be a huge blessing. Every little bit goes a long way!!

I will keep you updated as things progress!

Friday, January 31, 2014

Getting Close!

As the time gets closer I get more excited and nervous! The FET will be on February 28th. Just 4 short weeks!!! We have been blessed with my in-laws being brave!! They are coming to visit with us for the week before the FET and staying to watch the kids so Paul can go with me this time! I'm so glad that he will get to experience this with me! We already have our plane tickets and hotel! It's still kind of surreal, but I will be starting the shots again in a week, and that will make it feel real! Here is my schedule:

2/2 - Last BCP
2/3 - Blood Work
2/7 - Delestrogen Shot
2/10 - Delestrogen Shot
2/14 - Blood Work and Delestrogen Shot
2/17 - Delestrogen Shot
2/21 - Blood Work, Sonogram, and Delestrogen Shot
2/23 - Start Progesterone Shots Daily
2/24 - Delgesterone Shot
2/28 - FET and Shots
3/5 - Blood Work
3/10 - Pregnancy Blood Test!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please pray everything goes smooth, my body responds to the drugs right, and that these sweet embryos stick and grow to healthy full term babies!

We still need $3,000 for the FET if you feel led to give it would be a huge blessing! No gift is too small!