Adoption, Bloodwork, and Ultrasounds!!

Before I had found out I was pregnant, Phil and I had decided to move in the direction of adoption. Upon returning from Disney World, I called a local attorney and set up our first meeting for February 15th. We had researched adotion agencies and weighed the options of using an agency or attorney, and we were learning towards a local attorney. I was so excited when I made that phone call in early January. I went on with filling out the paperwork, already dreaming about one day adopting a child. I had no idea there was a little peanut growing inside me. The fatigue, loss of appetite, and soreness should have been a clue...but it wasn't.

I ran into my doctor at school the morning I got my positive HPT and of course I about ran and jumped in her lap screaming the great news. She got my paperwork ready to get my bloodwork done on Thursday and Saturday. My HCG level (the hormone that confirms a pregnancy through urine or blood)came back back at 1742 on Thursday and my progesterone at 10.1 (not great). The important thing is that the HCG number doubles every 48 hours. On Saturday, it had risen to 3389-close enough to consider this pregnancy viable. The progesterone came back at 14.9. The progesterone was an easy fix with supplemental medicine that I will stay on through the first trimester (I knew it would be an issue since it was what caused me to lose my first pregnancy).

If anyone tells me that God doesn't have a sense of humor, I have a story to prove otherwise. After my doctor received my bloodwork levels back from the lab, she called to schedule my first ultrasound for FEBRUARY 15TH!! This was the same day we had our appointment with the adoption attorney. Obviously, we canceled that appointment and went on with our first ultrasound.

I could not eat or sleep on Valentine's Day. We went to a fancy steakhouse dinner and I ate bread and macaroni and cheese while sipping on Ginger Ale. That night, sleeping was near impossible. I tossed. I turned. Phil told me 100 times that everything was going to be ok. He prayed. I prayed. And I conintued to toss and turn all night long just hoping to hear good news the next day at our appointment.

Finally, the moment arrived. "Ann Heppding." Phil and I leaped out of our seats. We followed the nurse. She took my weight and blood pressure (amazingly it hadn't sky rocketed). I could feel my heart pulsating through my clothes. She took me in the ultrasound room and told me to get ready. I knew the routine. I have had so many ultrasounds from my previous doctor that I needed no directions. After what felt like forever, the u/s technician came back in. And up popped a sac on the ultrasound screen. The baby wasn't visible but the two necessary sacs were there. I met with my doctor and she told us, "I think this is it." "Keep your fingers crossed for a heartbeat in 10 days at your next ultrasound. 10 days? That's my BIRTHDAY!!

Yes, on February 25th 2010, Phil and I saw and heard the most precious thing ever. I received the best birthday gift ever. I saw my baby for the first time with a racing heart beat of 186. That's fast...real fast. The heart was just beating away. We could even see the flicker on the screen. Now, at this point, it looked like a blob, maybe a peanut. But it was our peanut. Our growing peanut. I cried so much I was shaking. I cried so much that the technician told me I needed to calm down so she could get all the measurements. I was beyond thrilled and I eventually quit shaking enough to finally enjoy the news that we were indeed pregnant.

We left that appointment estatic. We called both of our parents before we were out of the parking lot. I called both Heather and Ally with the great news of the heart beat. It was time to celebrate my birthday and being pregnant. Phil had made reservations at another nice restaurant, but there was no way I could stomach a big meal. Yes, it is true. On my 34th birthday I begged for McDonald's. I celebrated with a Happy Meal and it was probably the yummiest meal to date. (Jenn Purdy, if you are reading this close your eyes or substitute it with a healthier meal).

During the first week of March, I had yet another ultrasound. I was assigned to a new doctor (who is an angel in disguise and I'm so excited she is my new doctor) and she decided to do another ultrasound because my files had not been transferred correctly and she wanted records and accurate information for my chart. In a little over a week that peanut had grown so much. The heartbeat was still in the 180's and everything looked perfect for 9w3d. It is amazing what God does in such a short amount of time. We got a new picture of our child. I held it like it was gold. We looked at it all the time. It has sat on my nightstand in a growing collection of ultrasound pictures. Our child looks like a peanut, but already has budding arms and legs. See for yourself-but you might need a magnifying glass and you will need to scroll back up to the top of this page.

We had our due date of October 2nd. And I was given a list of dates for all of my appointments through September. We left the doctor's office much happier than I thought possible. At 9 1/2 weeks I wasn't sporting a baby bump yet, but my waist was most certainly thickening. I'm very proud and excited that my pants won't button. It means my body is working right. I have no shame-so much in fact I will even post a picture. Thank you Lord for this miracle!!

January 27, 2010 - We're Pregnant, Our Miracle Day

Upon returning home from Disney World, I had set out to train for the Seaside half marathon. Phil gave me the bug. I had a new goal. Something to distract me from getting pregnant. Something to keep me busy. Something to keep me in the gym. I was determined. I was excited. I felt like I had returned to my days of triathlon training. I felt rejuvinated. I felt alive.....

And then I felt dead...very dead...So dead that I was coming home from work and falling asleep on the couch by 5:30. So dead that I couldn't muster the energy to cook, let alone eat. So dead that I was going to bed by 8:30. So dead that I snuck a few naps in at work while the kids were at lunch. I kept going to the gym. I kept with my normal work and tutoring routine. But I felt off and I couldn't put my finger on it.

I remember very distinctly the 5.5 mile run I did at the gym on January 25th. Phil was running next to me at his 6.5 mph pace like it was nothing. I was on the treadmill, running a FULL MPH slower than my normal pace. I was panting. I was aching. I was holding my chest in agony because it hurt so bad. I labored through that entire run. I almost stopped to walk about 100 times, but I forced myself through it, despite the pain.

When we went home that evening I chalked it up to getting sick. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I was pregnant. How could I be? I hadn't been on a medicated cycle for months. I just figured my body was up to some mean old tricks.

Then the morning of January 27, 2010 I woke up already in a bad mood. It was the day I was about to start my new round of a medicated cycle in hopes to get pregnant. I should seem happy about this. But I wasn't. I wasn't looking forward to all the mood swings and I wasn't looking forward to yet another failed cycle. However, I ALWAYS take a precautionary HPT before I start any new cycle.

I went into the bathroom, POAS, threw it on the counter and went on with getting ready for work. I mean, I knew I was going to see a blank, and I mean blank test staring right back at me. But God had different plans. He had already created our little miracle and I was just about 2 1/2 weeks late on finding out what HE already did!! Instead of the blank test, I saw this:


One would think I was jumping for joy and planning a romantic reveal to Phil. Quite the opposite. Panic and fear set in. Am I really seeing what I think I am? What if I found out too late and my progesterone is already dropping? What if this is a false positive? Call me negative, but these are common thoughts for most women.

Most people dream of ways to reveal the greatest news of their lives to their spouse. They go buy a onesie or a "best daddy in the world bib" and wrap it up to give to their spouse. They put something revealing the news on their cat or dog. They put an "I'm going to be a big brother/sister" shirt on the child they already have. They prepare a romantic dinner to share to life changing news. Well, NOT ME. There was nothing romantic about how I told Phil. He was in the shower, and I screamed "HOLY Bleep" about 5 times at the top of my lungs. He stuck his head out of the shower and asked if everything was ok, to which I replied, "there are two lines and they are pinker than pink. This might actually be happening. And it really was. God had created a little miracle and it was finally our time to start the journey to parenthood.

The Most Magical Place on Earth!!

Phil and I joined Freddie, Heather and their 2 boys, Will and Jackson in Disney World for the Disney half and full marathons. Both brothers had decided to run it in January 2010. Usually Orlando is warm and sunny-even in January. This year proved to be quite different. It was raining, sleeting, and cold the entire time. Even during both of their start times. Both left around 3:00 a.m. from the hotel to get hauled off to the start line. Freddie ran the half marathon, IN SLEET, on Saturday and Phil ran the full marathon, IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES, on Sunday. Heather and I were at both finish lines cheering our men on. We were so excited for both of them, and both bumbed we weren't running ourselves. Heather didn't reveal until 2 months later that the reason she was running was because she was 6 weeks pregnant with her 3rd child during that trip. I don't know how she kept it a secret while we were together, but somehow she did! Phil ran his marathon right at 5 hours!! I was so proud of him.


We enjoyed adjoining rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort Hotel. Both famililes enjoyed Universal Studios together. While the VA Heppdings went to Magic Kingdom, Phil and I went to Epcot. In the evenings, we enjoyed dinner together and hanging out at the hotel.

Like I said, the temperatures were unseasonably cold and dreary. Worked out perfect for us because we couldn't endure the theme parks in the freezing temperatures. So we drank hot chocolate and cozied up at the hotel. And little did we know what was really happening that cold and dreary few days in Disney World.

2 Years of Trying-The Cliffnotes Version

Writing this post after the fact will have a much more positive spin on the infertility battle Phil and I had to trudge through for the past 2 years!! If I had written this in the midst of the battle, I would have been one hot mess. Now I can re-cap the past 2 1/2 years without all the day by day details in order to start the next few posts about the new baby growing in me.

We started trying to start a family in January 2008. I knew I was going to have infertility issues as I have always had inconsistent female problems since I was a teenager. From January-June 2007 my OB/GYN put me on various medicines to help force a period and ovulation. The medicines didn't work, so we thought.

In June 2008, I started seeing a Reproductive Endocrinologist. He immediately took me off the medicine (metformin) and started his own plan. The same systematic plan he uses for all his patients. I was pregnant in July (thanks to my OB, not my RE), but had an early miscarriage due to low progesterone-a hormone that maintains the viability of a pregnancy until the placenta takes over. I wasn't even aware I was pregnant because Phil and I were out of town for 3 weeks and only after returning home, did we find out I was pregnant, but it was too late.

From July 2008-July 2009 I continued to see the Infertility doctor. About 10-12 times a month I had to drive out to Panama City to see the doctor. I remember the 3 1/2 hour round trips like it was yesterday. I cried and I cried while driving down the highway. I would call my SIL and she would listen to me and my struggles and let me know she was praying for me. She probably had no idea what to say, but she was always a huge comfort. I would call my mom crying. And sometimes, I would have glimpses of hope that I would eventually be pregnant. As tears rolled down my face, I dreamed of what having a family would look like on those long painful journeys down the highway.

I had 4 failed IUI's with my Infertility doctor. Each time I had glimmer of hope. That this might "be the one." Unfortunately, it wasn't. By the time summer rolled around, I was just so exhausted. I remember telling Phil that I just wanted to enjoy my summer. I didn't want to be driving to Panama City every other day. I didn't want the emotional drainage I knew it would bring. I didn't want to cry everyday of summer vacation. I didn't want to miss out on the fun of all of our summer company. I just wanted to live life again. I just wanted to feel the joy that I once knew. I just wanted to be with Phil. I just wanted to forget about my struggles.

Summer of 2009 proved to be so wonderful. It proved to be a turning point. It was so needed. So needed that we decided NOT to go back to my Infertility doctor. Instead, I went back to my OB/GYN and asked her to put me back on "that medicine that made me get pregnant last time." AKA, metformin. The medicine of choice the Lord used to get me pregnant...TWICE.

From July of 2009 to January 2010 I took my metformin (a diabetic medicine often given to infertile women to help produce a stronger ovulation) with little faith it would work. I was just taking it until we determined what our next step would be. But I enjoyed not going to my Infertility doctor so much that we never came up with a next step. God certainly had a different plan. A much better plan. And it was in His timming. An issue I am constantly battling and learning more about everyday.

In January 2010, God created his Heppding miracle. When I had no hope, when I had no faith, when I had no joy-God gave it all back to me. We conceived our child in the last way I ever thought possible-by ourselves. You may be laughing, but those of you reading this who have struggled with getting pregnant know exactly what I mean. God did what I thought was the impossible.

Christmas 2007 in 4 States

Phil and I enjoyed the first few weeks of the Christmas holidays in t-shirts, shorts, and warm enough days to walk along the beach. After moving into our new house on December 1st, we quickly decorated the tree and started Christmas festivities, including an annual tradition we are starting with making a homemade gingerbread house. After school got out, we enjoyed visiting friends and family in Atlanta, North Carolina, and Virginia. Silly me didn't take any pictures in North Carolina or Virginia, but we did see Phil's side of the family. The highlight of Christmas was giving the Purdy family, well the boys, their Wii. Jack had written a letter to the tooth ferry in the Fall of '07, asking for the tooth fairy to leave him a Wii and to just put it "outside his bedroom door." Well the tooth fairy came-in the form of Santa, a few months later. This picture of the boys is not posed, just perfectly captured.

After leaving Georgia on Christmas Eve, we made our way up 85 and spent several days visiting Phil's parents. And shortly after that, we went to Virginia to visit Freddie's family and then Chris' family. It was exhausting. In 10 days, we traveled through 6 states, slept in 4 different beds, and were ready to get back home to Florida.

We got back home on the 30th and enjoyed our "first Christmas" together and opened Christmas presents. Phil gave me a gift card to the spa, some Nike shoes, and scrapbooking supplies. He enjoyed his new briefcase, some "spending money," a few giftcards, and some new clothes. We were able to spend this Christmas with lots of family and friends and even were able to start some traditions of our own.

Thanksgiving Cruise-2007

Thanksgiving Cruise

November 2007

*San Diego

*Cabo San Lucas

*Mazaltan

*Puerta Vallarta

Phil and I spent our "second honeymoon" on the Pacific coast of Mexico aboard the Dawn Princess cruise ship. Many fun experiences took place. Before we even boarded the ship we were upgraded from an interior cabin, to a cabin with an ocean view. We enjoyed dinner each night with new friends, Lou & Gayle and Jim & Diana. We tried everything on the menu including beef wellington, lobster, crab, duck, veal, and rack of lamb. Many of the appetizers we couldn't even pronounce, but were fun to taste anyway. The average person gains 5-7 pounds on a cruise-Phil gained 0! Me, well, I'm not sure.

We enjoyed ATVing in the desert mountains of the Baja Peninsula. We rode about 20 miles through mountains and a dry river bed that ended along the coast with a gorgeous view of the ocean. It was by far the most challenging ATVing we've done, including steep terrain of 45 degree hills and canyon trails. Some of the people in our group couldn't handle the terrain and had to ride with the guides. Phil and I made sure we got out in the front of the pack so we wouldn't be slowed down.

We also spent a day in the arm pit of Mexico, Mazaltan. We got off the boat for about an hour and half and decided that we didn't need to waste our time walking around the city and quickly got back on the boat and enjoyed a nearly empty boat while in port.

Our last vist was to Puerta Vallarta. Certainly a place to go back and visit. Phil and I went on a canopy tour about an hour from the port. After a short boat ride and an hour long ride in an open air Jeep, we made it into the canopy where we swang from tree top to tree top among the canopy. I didn't enjoy this when I went to Costa Rica, so I thought I would give it another go. I didn't like it in Mexico, either, but I promised myself I would try again. It was fun watching Phil get so much excitement out of it.

We had a blast each evening getting dressed up, going to eat dinner and watching the Broadway like shows. A little gambling, lots of bingo, trips to the gym, meeting new people, and enjoying the coast of Mexico certainly added up to a great vacation. I think Princess cruiseline will see us aboard one of their ships again in the not too distant future.

Our friends, Lou & Gayle were full of energy and excitment. They stayed up later and did more activities in a week than Phil or I could ever have dreamed of doing. They were a truly inspiring couple!

Purdy Boys Come to Destin

Wow, my nephews are so much fun. Jack, Tynan, and Townes came down for a four day visit in late September. Trips to the beach, cart-wheels and foam pits at the gymnastic center, pineapple pizza at Mellow Mushroom, and bumpy, fast, and silly rides at the amusement park are just a few of the activities that consumed our time with the boys. The boys couldn't wait for Phil to come home from work so they could play "the claw" with Uncle Phil. Townes especially loved being wrapped up in a burrito with his blanket, and flying through the air. As our house often feels like a frosty cooler, Tynan walked out of the bedroom one morning with Phil's sweatshirt saying "it's cold in here Aunt Ann, you should make the warm air come out instead of the cold...I'm wearning Uncle Phil's sweater blanket!." Phil and I often say, rut-row, rather than uh-oh. Tynan asked Phil one day, "is that how Florida people say say uh-oh?" Having the boys down to visit was a blast, and I quickly learned just how wonderful being a parent one day will be-but, hopefully won't have 3 at one time!