Vacation

I was off for the last 6 days which was awesome. Unfortunately, I realized as I was driving to work today that my next day off is not until Memorial Day, and thats seems VERY far away.

In very sad news, one of the women on the nest who was pregnant with twins after IVF lost both twins today at 23 weeks due to a placetntal abrution. Yesterday, she had a normal healthy pregnancy and today, well, she does not. Her blog is....http://bustedbabymaker.blogspot.com/. I am heartbroken for her and her family.

Pomp and Circumstance

I graduated!

OK so I have graduated from many things in my life, but this one is right up there. On Monday I graduated from the RE. We had an ultrasound that showed that Twin A is right on track and growing beautifully. Twin B has not grown and will reabsorb. We knew this was likely the case and while I was a little sad, I am very excited that everything seems great with A. The doctor quoted my miscarriage risk at less than one percent. He also recommended that when we are ready to try again we only try for a few months before seeking treatment. Now I have to wait 3 weeks before my first OB appointment. I don't know if I can make it.

One Year

It has been one year since Frank and I were married. We chose to get married on St. Patrick's Day because it is the best day of the whole year. It was the most perfect day. Now the day before with the Nor'easter and blizzard like conditions was another story, but the day itself couldn't have been better. We had Irish music and Guinness and green beer and bagpipers. I think that people had as much fun as we did. We felt very lucky because we were able to share the weekend with my best friend and her husband who were married a year before on the 18th.

Frank and I celebrated on Sat night with dinner at the Dillworthstown Inn. We had a wonderful dinner. Anyplace that serves lobster mashed potatoes is ok in my book. We were a little unsure at first because we had reservations for 5:30 so it was us and a lot of 80 year olds. The dining room we were in was VERY quiet. You felt bad to have a conversation at a normal speaking level. Once the dining room filled up a bit, it was better though. I had lobster and Frank had steak and the only thing I wished we had gotten was the Cesar salad they prepare table side. Next time.

There were many times when I thought I would never find anyone to spend my life with. Its true that it happens when you least expect it. I love you Frank, more and more everyday. Thank you for loving me.

Hell has frozen over

Frank and I made a decision AND reservations for our anniversary dinner this Saturday. We are going to the Dillworthtown Inn in West Chester, or maybe its in Chadds Ford. Anyway, since we usually frequent the chain restaurants this is big news. Of course, considering that I am eating anything that is not nailed down these days, we may go bankrupt from dinner. I am sure it will be worth it!

Limbo

We had an ultrasound today which showed a a well developing embryo with a heart rate of 142! I definitely breathed a large sigh of relief. The Ultrasound tech, who has done all my ultrasounds since starting with the RE and whom I LOVE, took all of her measurements of the embryo and then stated she needed to take some broader measurements of my uterus and ovaries. Well, lo and behold, there was another sac hiding behind the first one. Unfortunately, it is much smaller than the developing embryo and there is no heartbeat, although there is a yolk sac. In all probability, the sac will likely not catch up to become a viable embryo and will reabsorb. So we wait yet again to see what happens. I have another ultrasound next Monday. We feel so blessed and are grateful for one baby but I would be lying to say I am not a little sad about the possibility of what could have been.

I know one thing. If twin B catches up and grows, he or she is grounded from birth!!!!!

Shot Through the Heart.....

Frank and I went to see Bon Jovi last night. It was really good. Bon Jovi was my very first concert back when I was in 6th grade and I think he is better now. It was definitely amusing to see all the middle aged folks rocking out. One women had to have been in her 60s and was going nuts. She had also made a banner for Jon who apparently had a birthday on Sunday. Who knew he had such a wide fan base.

Hogar Amistad

Hogar Amistad in English means House of Friendship. It is an orphanage in Honduras and a place very close to my heart. When I was in high school, a family moved in down the street from my house who had adopted two young sons from Honduras. I babysat for the boys from the time they came home. The family started Hogar Amistad as shelter for the many many children in Honduras who need homes. At age fifteen, I was asked to accompany them and a group of doctors on a trip to Honduras to provide medical care, both to the children of the orphanage and in remote villages. The first group was very small, only about 12 people, one of whom was my childhood pediatrician.

I have been very lucky to travel to Honduras many times, I think about 10, with the medical brigade. It is the reason I decided to go to medical school. It is crazy to think that when I started I was a fifteen year old kid who was counting pills and carrying boxes and now I get to travel as a pediatrician. The group has grown as well. I think close to 50 people are expected to travel in a few weeks, including doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, and aides. This year, Frank was coming with us. It would have been his first trip. I was very excited to show him this part of my life that he has heard so much about. Unfortunately, we won't be traveling this year. We have a great reason to not be going, as it would too risky to the pregnancy. We tend to work outside in 100 degree weather for 8-10 hours a day without unlimited access to water. What you bring out with you for the day is what you have. Honduras is also an area at high risk for contracting malaria and prophylactic medications are category C for pregnancy.

This past Sat, Frank and I went to help pack all of the donated medications and supplies onto the cargo pod which will be shipped today via banana boat to Honduras. That way everything is there and ready to go when the team arrives. It was very bittersweet for me. I got to see many of the brigade members and everyone is very excited for us and understanding, but I wish in my heart that there was some way for us to still go. I know I will return at some point but until then there is a small piece of my heart that remains in Honduras.