A lot has happend since February!

There is a ton to tell you, but I am just going to start with this:

Betsy is pregnant and Birki is not impressed.

Okay, now for some details.

Earlier this summer, Betsy scheduled us for another IVF procedure to take place in October. As you can see from reading below in past posts, we had some disappointing news in February when we found out our first IVF was not going to work.

However, we were ready to try again in October. By try again, I don't mean having timed sex.

Rather, it means Betsy starts taking shots and having several instruments placed in unspeakable areas. I had already done what I needed to do...in February.

This past winter, the doctors were able to "harvest" enough eggs to save some for another date. So, in early October three embryos were shot back inside Betsy to see if they would latch on.

If there is one thing that I thought I would get better at during this whole 4-year process, that would be waiting. However, it is hard to get better at waiting.

After the IVF procedure, it was back to waiting. Eleven days to be exact. Eleven days does not seem long in the grand scheme, but it felt like 11 years. It was nice to have things to do with friends during that waiting period.

Betsy actually had a pregnancy test on day 9. However, we asked not to be informed about the results of that test. We did that because the results could be negative, but still have a chance to change to positive in two days. In February we got the negative on day 9, and it was awful waiting two days and then find out for sure it did not work.

So, it was a Thursday when the first test happened, and we had to wait until the following Monday for the second test. That was a long weekend :)

So, on Monday, October 26, Betsy took her second pregnancy test in Minot then left for a meeting in Rugby. Again, we had to wait.

We were expecting a call about 3 pm, but at noon I got a call in Bottineau.

The nurse said, "Is Betsy there?"

"No."

"Oh, this is Meritcare and we need to speak to her. Is it okay to let you know the news?"

During this time I was outside walking nervously knowing that this would be either really really good, or really bad.

I said, "It's okay to tell me."

So, there was a little commotion and then the sound of being put on speaker phone. Then, I started hearing indiscernible screaming in the phone!

"Is this good news?" I asked.

"YES! Betsy is pregnant!"

Now remember how I said Birki was not impressed? Well, I had no idea what to do except run home and talk to my dog. How sane does that seem? I fist-pumped and spoke loud and quickly to Birki.

Birki - not impressed. Somewhat bored even. She yawned and stretched while we visited.

I realized that I had left the lunch table at work and they were expecting to hear the news. I spent several minutes outside replaying the phone call in my mind so that I was sure that it was not a dream!

I finally got myself in and shared the good news and told them I needed to go buy something. I didn't know what, but I needed to buy something before Betsy came home.

Now, here was the tricky part. Betsy was in Rugby and still at least an hour before she would be home. I quickly drove to town to buy a bunch of pink and blue balloons. I had to hide from some people in the store so they wouldn't ask why I was buying 15 pink and blue balloons. I had already decided that I would tell them we were having a baby shower for someone up at the lake and I was sent to town to buy stuff.

Anyways, I came home as fast as I could and waited on the road for Betsy to come home. She rounded the corner and I stood in the road with the balloons and a sign that said, "You did it!"

Those next several hours were a bit of a blur of excitement. We had a chance to call some friends and family and just wallow in this special news.

Then, there was more waiting. Damn it. I still am not that good at waiting.

During this waiting time, Betsy continued to take medication - including shots in the ass.

One time that sticks out was on our drive to Fargo for the first ultrasound. At 8 pm, the designated shot time, we were driving on Hwy 2 and had to stop in Lakota. Not a lot of private spots in Lakota. So, isn't it obvious that we should stop at a dark parking lot along the highway? Makes tons of sense.

Because I have to give Betsy a shot in the keyster, she has to get into a position where I could give her shot...while in a car. I'm not sure when the last time you tried to take your pants off in a car (by the way, I DON'T want to know when) but it is a little tricky. (It was easier in college! Just kidding Al!! Seriously, I am just joking!)

Anyways, the decision was made that Betsy would stand next to the drivers door where I was sitting and get her shot. So, in this dark parking lot, next to the busy highway, Betsy stood by the door and dropped trou! I had to somehow stop laughing, grab some ice out of my McDonalds cup to numb her check, and give her a shot.

Well, finally got the needle in, but when we were done, we realized it was a bleeder! She immediately started bleeding, I dropped the band-aid, lost the needle, and started yelling for a sponge as if I was a doctor on MASH!

Remember when all you had to do to get pregnant was have sex?

Okay, back to the waiting. We ended up having our first ultrasound last Monday, November 2. We were anxious and excited. Betsy's "numbers" were great, but needed to see if there was something growing and if it was in the right spot.

Bob, the monotone ultrasound guy, did his business and we got to see a black splotch in the right spot! Great news!! We were so excited and the doctor told Betsy that she thought our baby was an over-achiever. Betsy loved hearing that.

Okay, now we have to wait again. Betsy has been pregnant twice before, but we have never made it to an ultrasound where we saw or heard the heartbeat.

Wait.
Wait.
Wait.

Today, Friday the 13th, was our next ultrasound. We quietly drove to town knowing this could be the greatest day ever, or a repeat of a very disappointing day. We kept encouraging each other and we also knew there were a lot of people thinking of us.

Again, monotone Bob came in and did his business. I don't think he completely understood how big of a day this was for us. We had to explain that we have twice came to an ultrasound and nothing was found. This, Bob, was a big deal for us.

So, all of a sudden up on the screen we saw the black splotch with something tiny in it. Then, a briefly, and I mean briefly, heard the heartbeat!!!! Betsy and I immediately did this kinda laugh/cry thing that made the ultrasound photo go away. Laughter apparently mucks up an ultrasound.

(Imagine this said very casually and sorta sleepy-like) "Everything looks good," says Bob.

BOB!!! This is so awesome!!!

Bob left and we hugged and smooched. This was pretty awesome. When we arrived I was looking around for a side door to leave just in case we got bad news. They probably didn't want us walking through the waiting room if we were completely devastated.

Then we went to see our doctor and she gave Betsy a hug and I gave her a high-five.

She told Betsy she almost just a regular pregnant lady.

Alright, I gotta go eat. Talk to you soon.