2008 up until May move from easyjournal!

4 Jan 2008
Yet another first!
Well.... we made it through the holidays.. almost... We ended up going to my parents for the Ruppel Christmas on Dec 29-30th. planning to head home on New Years Day... that was until Annabelle woke Sunday morning with a fever of 102.6... we watched her and she seemed ok for the most part but gradually slowed down and started acting like she didn't feel all that well... so not wanting to make Craven sick (he was sick over Christmas in Texas) we decided to head home after dinner Sunday night.. She normally just hangs out in the car and falls asleep after a few minutes but not this time.. or I should say she would doze off only to wake and cry... a very sad cry like she really didn't feel well... I felt her head and decided we should head to the ER on post instead of head home (our plan was to wait until Monday and see how she was doing.. good thing we didn't). Neither of us had visited the ER (for any reason other than to see someone that was there) so I was thankful he was home when we got to enjoy our first visit! on a Sunday night between two holidays none the less... we walked in and it didn't seem too bad.. maybe 20 or so people in the room waiting, mainly children.. so we settled in and watched the Titans on TV (GO TITANS!!) John thought it would be a good idea to see where her temp was so we checked in and it was now 103.3.. (103 was the magic number for a trip to the ER so we just saved ourselves a trip home) .. we continued to wait and realized it had been 6 hours since she had any Motrin so I asked if we could give her any, they said to wait until we saw the nurse.. well.. the lady sitting next to me said no way.. to give it to her anyway.. especially since we checked her temp again and it was 103.9.. so I gave her some Tylenol.. two hours later and we are seen.. not too bad considering there was a life flight issue and they stopped seeing anyone... (I really feel fortunate) so... we are seen by the nurse and she is now running a fever of 104.3!!! and her face is purple.. she was acting fine, kind of sluggish but not fussy or crying.. the others in the room waiting kept commenting on how bad she looked and that she sure looked sick.. looking back, she did look the worst in the room.. (next to the poor kid that apparently broke is toe or ankle) So the diagnosis was she still has the same ear infection.. and is now on a stronger antibiotic (which she hates) ... I am not so sure it is working either because we are on day 5 and she is still snotty nosed and has a cough.. (Keep her in your prayers please) but hasn't had any fever and acts happy most all the time.. who knows.. I will post more if it isn't gone in 5 more days.. So... I have more to say but will save it for another day.. Here is a photo just as we were going home.. fever down to 101.5 and feeling much better! By jandcevans Love to you all! Keep those prayers for the soldiers and their families!! (and my hubby here in about 6 days) Carolyn
Posted on 4 Jan 2008 at 8:25 PM

14 Jan 2008
The countdown is on!!
Well, here we are.. 11 days from the beginnings of our next journey... it really seems surreal especially with John gone but come January 24th I know it will hit me.. this is the day Amber gets here!! So our plan is January 25th we do our second transfer and we hope to make dear Annabelle a big sister!! If all goes well and as planned then John will be getting some really exciting news for his birthday! There is a sad note and that is John will be away for Annabelle's big day.. BUT she and I will be traveling to Kansas to be with Amber (what better place to be for her big day than with her surromom in the place she was born?) and family to celebrate!! Once JOhn gets home we will have a party here but we both are really looking forward to being with Amber for that special day... lets hope they dont have the same weather they had this time last year! I huge snow storm... Keep your fingers crossed that all goes welll over the next few weeks and I will be sure to keep you all up to date! On a side note, Annabelle has been sick (but is well now) with all kinds of issues.. Starting with a chest/nose issue.. I guess that would be considered an upper respratory infetion which lead into an ear infection, which as you read send us to the ER on the 30th of December with a high fever.. she was on ammoxicilin first (over the Christmas holiday) which didnt do any good, next she was on augmentin which after a few days really didnt help either... Thus our second trip to the ER with fevers of 103.7 and so fourth.. this time they suggested ruling out any other infection and dear Annabelle got to be cathed (yes, that is how they take a urine sample from a baby) and a chest x-ray... Loads of fun was had by all... well... bad mommy didnt get the chest x-ray due to my impatience and refusal to wait more than 1.5 hours to get it.. so that afternoon, back to the ER we go... more fever and this time they sent us directy to the radiologist for that x-ray (shame on me) and the results were looking like pneumonia but the ER doc said he wasnt a radiologist and we wouldnt know for sure until it was read. They now offered roseffin (pardon the spelling of these meds) which is an antibiotic shot that you get in three doses over three days .. we went home with a zpack for me and for her (didnt kwow they had such a think) and thought all was well... well, she spiked a fever again.. and it was all I could do to NOT go back to the ER.. so I called and spoke to the nurse... and she calmed my fears.. treat the fever and give it a day or two for the roseffin to kick in... I did and by the next day she was fever free! Day two of her shots I saw the PA at the clinic and she said she didnt hear anything in her lungs and that she might have MONO!!! ahhhh... and that the ER doc tends to over diagnose.. (this really bothered me that a PA would talk bad about a doc, arent they on the same team??) anywho... so day three (john's turn to take her) she got her shot and he talked to the PA (the same one from the day before) and she said it WAS pneumonia but the roseffin would knock it out.. by day two of the shots, she was back to normal and today you would never know she was even sick.. Right now we are at my parents for a few days killing time until Amber gets here and then John gets home.. It is nice to not be totally alone in a house for more than a few days at a time.. I tend to go stirr crazy... Lucky for me, Annabelle and I both love to window shop so we do lots of window (and sometimes not window) shopping while he is away.. Oh, I wanted to share the cutest thing... I showed Annabelle a photo (8x10) of John and I from our wedding and she took the photo and started kissing each of us... it ws so cute.. back and fourth kissing me then John... she did this for about 5 minutes.. I wish John could have seen her.. now our photo is covered in baby kisses.. Ok.. I need to get showered and geared for my day!! love to you all and please continue to pray for all the men and women in harms way ... in addition those families that are left behind to carry on... I do believe it is tougher to be the one back home.. God bless Carolyn (and Annabelle)
Posted on 14 Jan 2008 at 8:05 AM
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Untitled
notdoneyet Posted on 17 Jan 2008 at 6:48 PM
Good luck! I hope you and Amber have another amazing (and successful) journey!

16 Jan 2008
Annabelle photo
I just had to share this... she did this Monday night and did it again tuesday (this time I got photos of it) She kept kissing John and then Me back and fourth for about 5 minutes.. it was sooo cute...
Posted on 16 Jan 2008 at 8:44 AM

21 Jan 2008
Early bedtimes and hot bubble baths... ahhhh
The title says it all... there is nothing quite as relaxing as a sleeping child and a tub full of bubbles... Life was good last night... the house was quiet and I got to relax. Funny thing, though... I know some of you will understand... When John is gone I get really tired of being a full time mommy. All day with no break (other than the hour nap if she decides to take one). So once bed time comes I am thrilled... rushing to get her fed and off to bed... In fact when John is gone we go to bed at 7:00 opposed to 8:30-9:00 when he is home... So why is it that once she is asleep and I am in bed watching TV, I want to go get her and put her in the bed with me?? or last night I actually considered sleeping on the floor in her room?? What on earth is wrong with me? Maybe it is because I am lonely and miss John? Maybe she is just becoming such a part of me that I really, deep down inside, don't EVER want to be apart from her... I don't know.. it isn't like me though.. Y'all know I really dislike sleeping in the same room as her because she keeps me up with moving and making noise.. It all is quite the odd in a good way sensation... On a side note, Amber had her last appointment before the transfer on Friday, and maybe the last as a non-pregnant woman!! Everything was perfect and we are scheduled for our transfer Friday, Jan 25th at 11:00!! Amber gets here Thursday evening and we will be off making our little bee a big sister!!! Technically, if we get pregnant... as of today we will already be 15 days pregnant and at the transfer will be 19 days pregnant!! WOW... After all the waiting and waiting we had to do last time, it seems as if this transfer snuck up on all of us.. I know John is still not believing that when he gets home we will be (we hope) over a month pregnant!! Ahhhh.. let the fun begin.. As all of you know, Annabelle's birthday is the 31st and John will not be here so she and I will be heading to Kansas to be with Amber and family for the official big day but when we get home and John gets home we plan to have the "official" party!! I found the most adorable cake pan, shaped like a bee hive, at Williams Sonoma and am baking it right now (I need to know how hard it will be to decorate before the big day) .. I also got some adorable sugar bees to put on the hive.. I am soooo excited... We hope that Amber will be here as well as her Gran and O'daddy... Grammy, Papa, Uncle Randy, Sharelle and Craven will be here for sure and I think Uncle Kurt and kids will be in town too.. What fun!! I cant wait to see her eat the cake.. I don't do well with messes (yet) so I may have to work up to letting her make a mess at Ambers!! hahaha Kidding... Ok.. Cake is done!! I need to go decorate!! Love to you all ... please, as always, keep our soldiers and their families in your prayers.. as well my dear friend Christy on the 30th and Elizabeth (y'all remember she was pregnant with Connor last time we were pregnant) with her second pregnancy!! Carolyn & Annabelle
Posted on 21 Jan 2008 at 12:35 PM

30 Jan 2008
Testing Testing Testing
Well... Annabelle and I are here in Kansas with Amber, Mitch and the girls.. Annabelle is really enjoying playing with the girls.. they sure keep her entertained and thankfully she sleeps very well because of this. (mommy is very happy about this!!) She doesn't really play with them but she watches and learns.. (good for Annabelle, bad for mommy, haha) and giggles watching them play.. it is very cute.. Today is Bailey's big day (the big 5 birthday) and tomorrow is Annabelle's 1st! we have a few days of happy girls.. I will get to the point so y'all don't yell at your computers, haha... As you know, we transferred last Friday (the 25th) and as of last night we weren't getting positive tests.. at least we don't think they are positives.. (after looking at them for hours and the number we have looked at it is hard to tell if we are seeing anything correctly) but it was only 4 days past transfer... just for comparison, we got positives around 4 days past transfer with Annabelle but then we did have twins.. and every pregnancy produces different amounts of HCG.. I do think Amber is a little more stressed about about not having positives yet. I have given it to God and we either are pregnant or we aren't.. bottom line and nothing I can do will change that... but we will of course keep you all posted as soon as we know anything for sure.. worst case, we will know Monday as that is our beta day! Side note... Annabelle isn't very happy right now that I wont let her type so forgive me if this misses point on occasion.. screaming child syndrome.. Annabelle and I are heading home tomorrow afternoon.. a change of plans in order to not have a three hour drive (plus a rental car) on top of a flight. So we opted for the shorter flight (4 hours) but more $$.. but really, my sanity is worth about any amount of money.. haha One thing I have noticed while visiting KS is that they have wacky weather too.. Monday it was 60 degrees and we went to the zoo.. it was very windy but 60 degrees... yesterday, it was 18 and white our snow conditions!! I think the wind chill was probaby 0 or less... no wonder 1/2 the country is sick.. ok, back to point.. John is doing well, he called last night and will call again tomorrow to talk to Annabelle on her big day... He is doing well for those that are wondering, really enjoying this deployment (AKA action) but really missing his little girl.. Mom and I just talked about how every day she looks different so it will be interesting for him to see the changes.. He will be home before we know it!! I need to run... all three are down here with me and well.. I can't think when I have little girl voices asking me 1000 questions.. Please keep all our soldiers and their families in your prayers.. Keep Christy and Elizabeth (and baby) as well and Craven who has the sniffles in your prayers too... and I suppose I can ask for prayers too for this pregnancy.. We love you all and I will try to update tomorrow!! Carolyn and Annabelle
Posted on 30 Jan 2008 at 7:58 AM

4 Feb 2008
Beta day...
Well today was our beta test and it came back negative... for non IVF'ers, we are not pregnant... I know God has a plan and regardless we know His plan is what is best... Sometimes things don't go the way you hope but we really had no control over all of this anyway! We truly believe we have been blessed beyond words to have Annabelle and that a second child would just be icing on the cake.. not to say we won't try again but if we don't, we are far better off just having Annabelle... Looking back just a few years ago I would never have thought I would be here with our darling little girl.. and here we are with her just turning one!! Life really can't be better.. John returns this week and for that I am so thankful... not only so I don't have to worry about him but also so I can stop being a single parent! Why on EARTH would anyone elect to be a single parent?? they must be crazy... I need to run and enjoy my hour or so of peace... Love to you all and pray for all our soldiers and families! Carolyn
Posted on 4 Feb 2008 at 1:44 PM

2 Apr 2008
GUESS WHAT!!!!!!
WE DID IT, WE DID IT!! or should I say Amber did it.. I know many of you didn't realize we had transferred again but we didn't want to shout it too loudly after our last failed transfer... so here we are... We transferred two beautiful blasts last Friday (March 28th). Amber decided it was just painful for us all to see negative test over and over so she was going to wait until today to test but after hearing me tell her I was already having pregnancy symptoms (crying for no reason and the likes) she decided to test last night.. AND GOT A POSITIVE!! a very fait positive but a positive none the less!! This morning she tested again and got not so faint positives.. John can actually see the line (I will attach a photo) Today we are 5dp5dt (5 days past a 5 day transfer) which puts us 24 days pregnant.. the math is such... the day of embryo creation = two weeks after ovulation, ours are 5 day blasts (which means they grew for 5 days prior to being frozen. so that = two weeks + 5 days. today is 5 days after transfer so we are now at 2 weeks plus 10 days pregnant = 24 days pregnant! I know it does seem like rocket science. haha... I am sure Amber will continue to test until Monday, April 7th when we will get our "official" positive test via blood beta levels of HCG... If the blood work is positive she will have another the 9th and then again on the 11th. There is a % of multiplying that is supposed to happen (go back and read wayyyy back in June of 06 here in the journal and there is probably great detail there) so the clinic will monitor how well her levels grow.. if all is well with that, two weeks later, she will go in for the first ultrasound to see how many stuck around and how well it/they are doing!! Very very exciting... We do realize we are VERY early and anything can happen.. We all know though that all of this is in God's hands and we will relish in the joy for as long as that may be.. if only weeks for a full 9 months... God is good.. Thank you all for your support and cheers!!! we feel so very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family and we love that you share so much in our joy... ANNABELLE IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are the embryos from this transfer! (which by the way the embryologist said she would never have thought they were ever frozen they looked so good!
and the positive tests.. Keep in mind this is VERY VERY early and there is only a faint line.... it isnt the very dark black line but the faint one to the left ... trust me, it is a positive.. some of the surrogates can see farrrr more faint lines..
Posted on 2 Apr 2008 at 1:17 PM

2 Apr 2008
Easy read
for those of you that coudnt see the positive line... this might be easier.. this was taken today 5dp5dt.. and to keep things in perspective, we didn't get this result until 6dp5dt with Annabelle... remember, she was a twin!!! YIKES...
Posted on 2 Apr 2008 at 9:09 PM
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7 Apr 2008
We have a number!!!
Well..... John and I are in DC but that would never stop us from letting our family and friends know that we are for sure pregnant!!.... Amber and Kelly (the clinic) called and let us know the wonderful news... Our number is 322 and that could be one or it could be two... we won't know for sure until the 25 when we have the ultrasound. Amber will go back to check her beta again Wednesday and Friday... to make sure all is going and growing as it should.. we will of course let you know what we find out!!! It is still VERY early.... but go ahead and tell, we are gonna have another baby !!! love to you all... Carolyn
Posted on 7 Apr 2008 at 3:32 PM

11 Apr 2008
Quickie post
Hello everyone... so sorry I have been away and unable to really get on line to post... We are home now but Annabelle is sick (currently with John at the Doc) and I have a social event here at the house that I have to prepare for so ... not to mention I have to run to the doc to be seen so I can get a referral for my other appointment Monday!! whew.... needless to say, there isn't much time! I did want to update you all on our news.. and will probably post again this afternoon once we have our third and final beta numbers in... so far we have 10dp5dt beta = 322, our 12dp5dt = 951 (I am going by memory here so Amber feel free to correct me) haha.. and today we will have our 14dp5dt!! Our doubling rate is just over 30 hours.. they hope for 48 hour doubling rates so we are doubling very well... with Annabelle we were doubling around 35 hours keeping in mind we had two babies in there at this point.. so not to jinx us but I am going to assume we have two once again and this time maybe both are healthy unlike last time... we will have our ultrasound on the 25th and that is when we will find out for sure!! Sorry to be so to the point here but I really have more to do than there is time in the day... I will post our final number this afternoon so look for it... Please keep Annabelle in your prayers.. as well me on Monday (my oncology appt) and my dear friend Steph... Big hugs to you honey.. Love you all Carolyn
Posted on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:00 AM

11 Apr 2008
Annabelle
well.. it seems our little one is prone to ear infections.. she has yet another and apparently it is pretty bad... so.... she is going on a ZPac and we will schedule an ENT appointment for her to see if she needs tubes... (laurie, I might need advice here!) Thanks for all your prayers! Carolyn
Posted on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:45 AM

11 Apr 2008
Beta
Hello Journal faithful... it seems Amber's Doc for the girls had his own schedule this morning and due to the time spent sitting waiting for him to see the girls, Amber was unable to make it to the clinic for the beta draw... It isn't a big deal as we know we are pregnant, but seems to be a protocol for the clinic to go in three times. She is scheduled to go in Monday for the third and final number. So instead of a 14dp5dt we will have a 17dp5dt and it will probably be a monster of a number... I will most certainly post it when we get it! Annabelle is sleeping soundly as I type and giving me precious time to get my act together for tomorrow. Thanks for all the well wishes and love to you all! Carolyn
Posted on 11 Apr 2008 at 1:59 PM

14 Apr 2008
Third and final beta
Well this has to be quick as Annabelle wants to play (and not nap).. we finally got our final beta... to recap 10dp5dt = 322 12dp5dt = 951 17dp5dt= 9689 WOW!!! We are doubling around every 24 hours (a good thing) and the clinic thinks we have two baking! We are very excited but of course we won't be comfortable until after the ultrasound on the 25th and after we get out of the 1st trimester!! Thanks for all your prayers, now I need prayers to keep me from going nuts with twin infants and a 22 month old!! My oncology appointment was today as well and I am free and clear!! (Thanks for the prayers) Love you all C
Posted on 14 Apr 2008 at 4:07 PM

21 Apr 2008
Surgery for John
Some of you know that John is having surgery tomorrow AM but some don't so I am sending out a message to all of you to let you know. He has a bone spur, possible torn rotator cuff and an impingement in his left shoulder. All of which have restricted his movement and his ability to carry around dear Annabelle... He is scheduled to be there first thing tomorrow, 630a and the plan is to be released by noon! YEAH... Please keep him in your prayers... in addition please pray, down on your knees, for a dear friend who is in need of a heart. She may have one but they are still waiting to see if it will be a match. I will update you all as soon as I can about both situations.. As always, please keep all our soldiers and their families in your thoughts and prayers... Love to you all Carolyn
Posted on 21 Apr 2008 at 1:45 PM

22 Apr 2008
Surgery info
John is home and recovering.. all went well, actually better than expected. He had no torn rotator cuff so they only had to shave off the bone spur! Wonderful news for his expected recovery time... We feel very blessed to have John and Carolyn here to help with Annabelle (and John) as well for the time mom and dad got to spend with them as well.. Thank you all for your prayers.. We'll update the end of the week regarding Amber and the ultrasound results!! we are all VERY excited to see what our future holds.. Love you all Carolyn
Posted on 22 Apr 2008 at 12:18 PM

24 Apr 2008
Today is the day!!
We finally have news... and as I expected we are pregnant with two!!! Both looked wonderful.. Baby A was measuring 6w4d and baby B measured 6w5d... (we are 6w4d pregnant) both babies had heartrates of 128!! The RE said it couldn't look better and that we are right on target!! Thank you all for your prayers but keep them coming as we know all too well just because we are pregnant with two now doesn't mean we will deliver two babies.. Give it to God! A side note, our friend Steph is doing well, her heart is beating well and her body is recovering.. She should be out of sedation today or tomorrow but will need continued prayers.. Love to you all!!! and just think.. we may be a family of 5 in 8 months!! WOW
Posted on 24 Apr 2008 at 3:01 PM
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Congrats!!
ohiosurromom Posted on 25 Apr 2008 at 9:43 AM
Carolyn, I am so very happy for you and John!! This is wonderful news. I will continue to keep you, John, AB, Amber and the twins in my thougths and prayers. I have a feeling you'll be celebrating the winter holidays with an addition of 2 bundles of joy!! Have faith. Much love, Jennifer