What’s My Age Again?

We had a nice visit with our boo boo this morning! Georgie really got a treat because when the tech was doing all the photographs the screen was turned away from me, so I couldn’t see the baby’s gymnastics, but G could. It was enough, though, to watch his face as he watched our baby on the screen. Being that he’s the youngest in his family (his next sibling is 7 yrs older than him), he hasn’t had much experience with babies. It’s really been such a treat to see him react with all of this. Much more than I ever thought it would be. When the doctor came in to go over stuff with us, I got to see the baby. S/he did us proud by completely flipping over while we watched! Already stealing the show!

So today we had our Integrated Screen test, which is a first trimester screening for genetic anomalies like Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18. (You can read more about the testing here.) The doctor said everything looked great and the baby is measuring right on. We won’t get the full results of the test for a little bit – there’s a blood test involved as well – but I’m not really that worried.

This whole testing thing is kind of funny for us. I am what they term “advanced maternal age.” I am 37 and, if all goes as planned, will be 38 when the baby is born. BUT (and it’s a HUGE but) I was 34 when the baby was actually conceived. AH HA! How’s that for magic? I will explain.

Three years ago next month, we did our first (and so far only) fresh IVF cycle. This means that I gave myself lots of fun shots to make lots of eggs grow and then they harvested those eggs and fertilized the good ones. After all was said and done we had nine growing embryos. Very nice! We went into the clinic five days after retrieval to have two of them transferred back and promptly panicked. In what I now know was the absolute RIGHT thing for us, we opted NOT to transfer any embryos and they were able to freeze five. It took me two very long TORTURED years to get over that and here I am just about three years later.

This summer, we went back to the clinic, thawed two of those five embryos, and transferred them. One stuck and now we have BOO BOO! YAY!

* ETA: What we did is called a Frozen Embryo Transfer and it’s actually a TON easier than a fresh IVF cycle. I only had to take estrogen (orally) for the first couple of weeks – no shots – and then only had to go in for blood checks twice before the transfer. Then I had to do progesterone in oil shots for 11 weeks, but that’s a whole other story. This is in comparison to the fresh IVF, where you do lots and lots of shots and go into the clinic almost everyday for blood work and monitoring. There is a risk, though, that the embryos might not survive the thaw. And, usually, the best embryos are transferred on a fresh cycle, so the ones that are frozen might not be the best quality. But my doctor told me that they are making so many advances in thawing embryos that he will only put back two frozen – instead of maybe three or four in the “old” days (read – a couple of years ago). They started getting incredible results with FET cycles where ALL stuck and the goal of a fertility clinic is NOT multiple births. It’s one healthy baby and mother.

Back to how old I am. All of the warnings and alarms start to go off in the fertility world when you turn 35. Amnio, CVS, genetic testing – it doesn’t have to do with my body’s physical age, it has to do with the age of my eggs. And I have YOUNG eggs! So even though I’m an old bag already (not true, not true – I’ve actually never felt younger. It’s amazing what having a baby can do for you!) my baby up there is from young stock. Does this mean I have to do all those scary tests? We’re taking a wait and see attitude. If this first trimester screening comes back within all the “normal” ranges and our next blood test at 16 weeks also comes back normal, I think we may just skip that amnio. And honestly, I’d only want to have the test to be prepared for what’s to come. Sure, I don’t care to find out the sex or worry about decorating a nursery (basically because I’m going to hire Julie Fricknits to do it!) or all that planning, but when it comes to the health and welfare of my child and my family I think you can’t have TOO much information.

Anyway, it just tickles me so that I’ve been able to travel back in time a bit. The best part too is that if we try for another one, we’ve still got three totsicles. I may be pushing (gasp!) 40 – but my eggs will STILL be 34! HOORAY FOR SCIENCE!!!!

* ETA again: I wanted to add that I see NOTHING wrong with having babies after 35. QUITE the contrary. My sister was born when my mom was 38. I’m pretty sure my mother in law was over 35 when she had my husband. We didn’t plan to wait three years after our IVF and we didn’t plan to use frozen embryos. Not at all. It’s just the way it worked out for us, and I think that it’s kind of incredible that the technology exists for things like this. Also, the truth is that while millions and millions of women go on to have healthy babies after the age of 35, the genetic risks do increase. Trust me – I know just how fortunate I am to be carrying a baby at all, regardless of my age.

PS – I’m still puking everyday, but my doctor and I agreed that it’s not enough to hurt me or the baby. So we’re waiting it out. The cold can’t be helping either. I’ve gained at least a pound, which my OB says is plenty and the baby is doing great. Sure, I’m still a bit miserable, but I’m tough. I can handle it. Besides, I’ve kind of got it down to a science. I wake up. Have my breakfast. Throw it up and get on with my day. That’s not TOO bad, right? Apparently I’ve still got about five more days of the dreaded first trimester, so hopefully this will all be over by SPIN OUT! Cross your fingers for me!

Comments

  1. Oh my gosh! I had NO IDEA you could do that! I mean, I knew about IVF, but I thought you had to have the eggs implanted right away! I didn’t know you could freeze fertilized eggs and then hatch a baby from them later! That is AWESOME!

  2. What a great profile! So are you saying you’ve found the fountain of youth and frozen it?
    The sickness will go away soon. When I was sick with B, one of our dogs began to smell so foul that I couldn’t be in the same room with her. I always thought it was strange that one dog had no effect on me and the other smelled like rotting vomit. It made it so hard to do routine tasks like take the dogs out. 🙂

  3. Cara, I was 37 when I conceived and 38 when I had my daughter and my eggs were the same age as I was! I had no problems, my daughter was and still is healthy and happy (and now 15! GULP!) I have a dear friend who gave birth at 44, and although he was a preemie (because she got sick), he has just tested as gifted! So see? I’m sure you both will be just FINE. Once you can stop puking, enjoy your pregnancy! It is a marvelous time in your life!

  4. I had a baby at 37. I decided against Amnio to the dismay of my Drs.-mostly because the chance of miscarriage from amnio was nearly as great as the chance something might be wrong. Everything was fine and I have a great 9 yr old girl.

  5. I had a baby at 37. I decided against Amnio to the dismay of my Drs.-mostly because the chance of miscarriage from amnio was nearly as great as the chance something might be wrong. Everything was fine and I have a great 9 yr old girl.

  6. Wow! I’m so excited for you, me and my husband are waiting a few years to have kids, so thanks for letting me live vicariously through you Although, I’m not sure whether it’s getting rid of my cluckiness or making it worse(dude, I’ve wanted kids since i was in the womb myself)…..

  7. That’s fantastic (the fertility story, not the puking). I had a colleague who lost 12 (!!) pounds from puking, and she had a big, healthy baby. Sounds like everything is going great. Be well.

  8. how cool! i didn’t know anything about IVF or frozen embryos until now 🙂 technology is grand, no?

  9. I had my babies at 35, 37 and 43, standard method each time, and the last one was the easiest pregnancy of the lot. But yes, I had the amnio for the second and third ones. It’s not the body that’s the problem, it’s the shelf life of the eggs.
    Sounds like it’s all going well though. *smile*

  10. There are amazing fertility advances everyday. My sweetie works for one of the two big cryobanks which is a part of a really big IVF company. They work really hard everyday to help people have babies.
    Hooray for cryobanks and IVF institutes!

  11. As long as you and G are happy thats all that matters. Screw everybody else. I can’t wait for Spin out!. Even though I will be 5 months pregnant I will still try and lug my little spinning wheel to Central Park. I missed the 1st spin out and I refuse to miss this one.

  12. I wish I had frozen some of my eggs…I’m 41 and trying for a second child…but my eggs are plum tired!

  13. I love that baby picture! Hang in there! I hope the puking will stop soon.

  14. Hey Cara!
    Great photo! He/she is going to be gorgeous!
    I give you and any other family who has gone to the lengths that you have to conceive an enormous amount of credit. I would like to think I would have done the same as I can’t imagine not having the boys. Although I consider myself a pretty strong person, I don’t know if I could have done it.
    As for the age thing, I was 33 when Jackson was born and 35 with Jonathan, my mother was 40 when she had me “back in the day”. With Jackson, I had a false/positive test and did an amnio and was on an airplane for business 48 hours later. It was a bit scary, but I too was all for any info regarding his health. Not because it would have changed anything, other than to be prepared. We also found out the sex both times, fortunately they both cooperated. We are only slight control freaks 🙂
    Hang in there, my fingers are crossed for a glowing, high-energy second trimester. You will be knitting us all in circles.
    K

  15. “totsicles” – *snerk* too funny.
    So glad things are going well for you!

  16. Congrats on the wellness of Boo Boo. I puked for basically my entire pregnancy (with some weeks off for good behavior in the 2nd trimester), down to labor day and all. You will gain the weight when you need to, don’t worry. Boo Boo is getting everything s/he needs.

  17. Totsicle is SUCH a funny word.

  18. so if “40” is the new “30”, you’re really only 27~ how’s that for cool! I’m right there with you about age not being as relevant as the ob’s might think – but information is good.
    I think you are amazingly brave given all you’ve been through to bring boo boo to the world. That’s one fortunate baby!!
    And if you think G is all gaa-gaa now, just wait.. he’ll be a much-ball when he holds little boo boo, just wait and see~ it’s such fun.

  19. I didn’t know anything about IVF, it is amazing what they can do now with science. I hope you stop puking and start feeling better soon!

  20. Fascinating story and techniques. Thanks for sharing with us. And of course, the end of the first trimester does not mean the vomiting stops immediately! Hopefully, it will get better – I mean some good days, some bad days, and then more and more good days. But you knew that already! And you have no idea who I am or what I know! But it’s so much fun!

  21. My dad was born when my grandma was 40, and my fiance’s mom was 42 when he was born. Both are fine. You know this, but they just have to check due to statistics and whatnot. I hope the puking stops soon for your sake. Also, thanks for posting your experience on all of this. You could choose not to say/share anything, and I’m thankful that you’re willing to talk about your experience with being pregnant.

  22. Amazing times we live in! I had my 2nd at 35 and she’s just fine. I’m not, cause she’s about to become a teen, but she’s fine 😉 If you get sick at Spin Out, it can just be renamed in your honor. Spin Out and Throw Up-Making natural things a reality! You’ll have plenty of loving support and assistance. Thanks for a peek into the wonderful world of science! They’re heros!

  23. Woo hoo! Hooray for science. And yay for mothers hanging tough. Your post actually sounds incredibly upbeat, which, if I am remembering correctly, is very difficult. Although the ultrasound mood boost tends to last a few days, so enjoy!

  24. hee hee hee … “totsicles” … too funny 😉
    What a journey … it’ll be all the sweeter when you have little Boo Boo in your arms 😉 Glad to hear all is going well for you all – ultrasounds are just magic, aren’t they?

  25. My mother-in-law gave birth to full sized twin boys when she was 47–my husband and his twin brother. Hubby was just over 8lbs, brother-in-law was 6 lbs. (They didn’t have ultrasound back then. Mom said she kept telling the doc she thought she had twins, he kept saying no she didn’t. Boy, was HE surprised!)
    You should do fine.
    Congratulations on boo-boo!

  26. Ditto what everyone else said about the advances in fertility treatments. But I also just have to comment on the clarity of BooBoo’s picture. My son is only 5 and the advances just in ultrasound/sonogram imaging in the past 5 years is amazing. I don’t have any picture of him pre-birth that looks to good!

  27. Such a cute picture of the baby!
    I really don’t think that age has so much to do with things as your body. I’m 26 and had scary run ins with the NT scan, so I’ve gotten to do all sorts of fun things. I had an amnio and honestly it wasn’t too bad- I just had to get over the needle. Next week I get to do a fetal echo. Everything is looking great so I’m not freaking out anymore. It’s so amazing what they can do fertility-wise now.
    I would call the baby the “totsicle” all the time! 🙂

  28. My mom started calling my son Boo Boo just after he was born. It caught on, and we still call him Boo Boo affectionately at the grand old age of 16. He will always be my little Boo Boo.
    My fingers are crossed for you to be puke free by Spin Out.

  29. I had our wonderful little girl at 36–so no worries. Congratulations!

  30. I had one in my 20s, one in my 30s and one in my 40s…Yeah, I know–bad planning…and I can say that other than being a bit more tired with the youngest, they were all grand.
    And confidentially, the tired thing probably had less to do with my age and more to do with the fact that he wasn’t the best sleeper.
    Your baby is beautiful. Look at that!!!

  31. Congrats….
    My daughter was called baby boo in utero…so I am enjoying reading about boo boo..(My baby boo is now 24 years old)…This child will keep you young…Becky

  32. Oh, the good old genetic testing. My son was conceived when I was 29, not “advanced maternal age”, and he has Down syndrome (and he’s the most gorgeous, beautiful, talented baby ever). I don’t give the age thing much thought.
    By the way, I didn’t stop puking until I was several weeks into the 2nd trimester. Hang in there!

  33. I didn’t stop puking, or gain any weight, until around the time I had amnio…”normal” for that stuff is a pretty big range!

  34. Look at that little baby, how precious. My mom was 35 with me and 36 with my brother. She tried everything it just took so long. My grandmother had my dad at 40 and that was in the 40’s.

  35. Yay for you and your “young Eggs”. I think you are on the right track as far as testing goes. I had the same theory.
    Isn’t pregnancy wonderful? I never felt more in tuned with my body than when I was pregnant

  36. Kara — a few years ago, (at age 42) we did 2 ‘fresh’ IVF’s and one FET — unfortunately, none were ‘stickers’ — but I know that Huey/Dewey and Louie await us in heaven.
    God Bless you, your sweet G and that little boo-boo you are growing inside you.
    I am praying that you will begin to feel better soon and be more able to enjoy the next few months to the fullest.
    Kath

  37. eek! it’s a real baby! how cool is that!
    hope the puking stops really soon. blech. when do we get belly shots?

  38. Wow — truly amazing story about your young eggs!

  39. Congratulations! Nothing wrong with having a baby at 35. A friend of mine just found out she’s pregnant (after 15 years of trying) and she’s 39. Another friend of mine gave birth to her first at 37 and her 2nd at 39.
    Yay for a baby!! 🙂

  40. Fingers, toes and needles crossed! I was 35 and 37, and both babies were healthy as could be. (We waited 12 years to have kids. Talk about cold feet.)

  41. Oh yeah. YAY! {hugs}

  42. Cara, glad to hear the puking isn’t enough to worry the doctors. I had not too much in the way of puking with my little one, but a lot of dry heaving and no eating for at least the first 5 hours of my day – so I ended up losing 15 pounds the first trimester! The doctors were never worried that I didn’t gain in the beginning, and my little Hurricane was a full-term (came on her due date!) healthy little girl!
    I’m amazed at the steps you’ve taken to have a baby, and I’m so happy for you both!

  43. Congratulations again!! Thanks for sharing your story. It took us 9 years to decide to start TTC. I too battled infertility (repeated unexplained loss) and I too had my first child at 38. Had a second at 41. Sometimes I’m a very tired older mommy, but the perks far outweigh that. So glad you got to see your little one rolling around in there. Just wait until G can see the rolls moving under your stomach. My husband swore there was an alien in there 😉

  44. I had 2 children at the ripe old ages of 41 and 43! You’re just a babe!

  45. Hey girl! Here’s hoping you are feeling better this morning. I think about you all of the time. This was a great and informative post! Thanks.

  46. I just have to comment on Boo Boo’s nickname. That’s what I call my husband (Boo for short), and our little guy is Bitty Boo. Best wishes to you, G, and your Boo Boo!

  47. I am very happy for you! I’m an engineering student contemplating life on the outside (about to graduate in May) and my boyfriend and I have been discussing things like children and timelines. Being engineers, we’re both very much planners. We’d like to have worked for a few years, paid off all debts, saved up and gotten a house before having kids. Which puts me in the 35 – 40 range (at least) for kids. The fact that so many of you have been able to have first kids at those ages really gives me hope that the scary statistics (have your first before 30 or you won’t have any) are not really true and I can make sure that I’m able to devote myself completely to the little ones when they come instead of having them before completely ready due to fertility constraints. Fingers crossed.

  48. Love that profile!
    I’m sorry you’re still puking, but thank goodness everything else is progressing well!
    I had my son just before i turned 35 and my daughter a month shy of my 39th birthday. In retrospect, I wish I had started younger just because I would like to have had more kids, but that’s neither here nor there. The term “advanced maternal age” definitely threw me for a loop, but I didn’t have any issues or complications (other than the usual tiredness and pukeyness and some anemia the second time around).
    As I’ve said in the past, if there’s anything at all i can do, let me know! See you on the 29th. I can’t wait!

  49. One of the best gifts you will give your little one is your life experience–older Moms rock!–as spoken by one. Blue skies!

  50. I’m 37 and pregnant with unexpected #4 (18 weeks and 5 days.) I will deliver about a month before you.
    I did do the blood test and it came back 1 in 22 for Down’s. Now here’s the kicker, the test is calculated on the mother’s age. The results catch 90% of the babies with Down’s, yet 9 out of 10 pregnancies that tested “positive” have non-Down’s children. Just something to know when you have the test.
    I have my next U/S in 2 weeks and that is where we will measure everything and take a closer look at the features and what not. However, when I watched the U/S I had 2 weeks ago, it looked like my other 3 children’s U/S proportion-wise and the heartbeat looks and sounds right. (All of my great-grandmothers on both sides of the family had the last of their children in their early 40’s and they were fine. So I’m going on the belief that the women in my family have a long shelf life for their eggs.)
    We will not be having amnio since it is not going to make the difference in the outcome of the pregnancy. (I don’t want to risk the chance of a miscarriage.) So that’s something you and G will want to think about when deciding on the amnio if everything on the U/S looks good.
    And as for the puking, babe, you got it easy. Try it after EVERY meal for 2 months! (I lost weight and had to go on medication for a while.) I’m finally down to once in the morning and whenever I’ve let myself get too hungry in the afternoon. Still trying to figure out the snack portion-size that will keep everything running smoothly. As long as you’re gaining and having M/S, then you do not have bad M/S. It means you’re keeping down more than you’re putting out! LOL!
    Are YOU feeling movement yet? With first pregnancies, it sometimes takes longer to feel anything because you don’t know what you’re “feeling” for. Right now, I’ve been feeling movement for about 4 weeks, but the baby isn’t kicking hard enough yet for anyone else to feel it. However, my 8 year old son and 4 year old daughter are getting a kick out of feeling the “hard spot” on my abdomen when the baby is sitting in the front.

  51. Being a soon to be mamma of advanced maternal age (I’m 35 and will be 35 when the babe arrives) I understand! As far as the morning sickness, mine ended around the middle of the 14th week. It was soooo nice to be able to eat again. Wishing you a wonderful and healthy pregnancy!!

  52. incredible. Unbelievable what you had to go through. It must have been hard. Your age, well, I am also 37. I have one child 15 months old, so I just made it before my 36th birthday. But if I wanted another I would have to try with my 37-year-old eggs… Hmmm… You know, I never thought of these things. You take very good care of yourself, ok? I hope you feel better soon too.

  53. Great photo of the BooBoo. Your eggs are fresh & sassy! I’m so happy for you & G.

  54. I haven’t had a chance to get over and say CONGRATULATIONS!! I had my daughter when I was 37 (conceived at 36) and did go through the amnio because I agree with you that it’s good to have information (although I did not want to know the sex (there are so few real surprises in life)) and be prepared. I was so thankful that everything was fine. My mom had me when she was 44 and I never really thought about how lucky I was to be born healthy until I went through the whole amnio thing. If you do decide to do it, I thought it was uncomfortable, but not overly so.

  55. Boo boo looks so cute! It’s fun to see the changes in each stage on the ultrasounds. I had the integrated screen too–all was normal, thankfully. I really did not want amnio and they told me I didn’t need it because the integrated screen results were good. All the testing freaked me out for a while, then I decided to not worry about it and just enjoy creating a little person. Despite the puking, I hope it is starting to be fun for you!

  56. So, I told my husband about your story and he said she’s really giving birth to a 3 year old. Funny. We are having our own struggles-I’m 34. Congrats on the baby. I’m a nurse and my nursing instructor said the best thing for puking is to keep dry saltines by your bed and before you even think of getting out of bed you eat them and lay there to settle your stomach. I wish I knew this when I was pregnant 13 years ago.

  57. fingers and toes crossed. aren’t ultrasounds and other monitoring devices something magical? it’s a priviliged time:: hoping you’ll feel that way soon. all the best!

  58. God, I love science!! Who cares how you get the baby, as long as you get it. Way to go, girl! If it’s any consolation, for my second I puked so much I gained only 8 #s my whole pregnancy, and my boy weighed a whopping 9+ #s! The baby gets it’s needs met first, you are the one to suffer any malnourishment that might accompany the hurling. Grow, baby, grow!

  59. If you can skip the amnio, do it! My OB insisted on me having an amnio for my third because I was 38 when I got pregnant. It’s painful and has the risk of miscarriage. If the other tests are good, why risk it? Sorry you’re still puking!

  60. wow. I’m so excited for you – even with the vomiting action. Glad all is well, thanks for the update!

  61. Holy shit, that is teh cool.
    Yay for time travelling babies!

  62. I am so happy for you and G, and Boo-boo. 🙂 I am also envious…. I desperately want children, am dating someone seriously who is in grad school and doesn’t want “us” to get pregnant until he is out and has a job, which I understand, but I am in my 30’s and am panicking. I guess I am venting. Sorry. It’s good to hear from other moms-in-their-30’s-and-40’s here. And it’s great to hear that the little Boo is flipping around happily like a seal! 🙂

  63. If I haven’t said so already, congrats on the pregnancy. I had Prince Eats-a-Lotta at 35 and Princess Costs-a-lotta at 37. My eggs were considered old – I prefer to think of them as perfectly ripe ;}. They both are healthy and just getting to the teen years – where they are proceeding to drive me crazy. I was sick with both until after 1/2way through my pregnancy. Then it suddenly went away and I got to really enjoy the bump.

  64. You are in very good company, older Moms rock! I didn’t have my twins until just after I’d turned 39 — I think they called me a geriatric pregnancy!! Good Lord! Anyway — I’m almost 52, my old eggs, er, twin boys will be 13 soon — it’s all good! You’ll be a great Mom!!
    Try not to stress over tests. You can say “No” if you’re not interested — I wish I had (amnio and waiting = too much street) — we would have had our babies, no matter what the test said anyway…

  65. You are in very good company, older Moms rock! I didn’t have my twins until just after I’d turned 39 — I think they called me a geriatric pregnancy!! Good Lord! Anyway — I’m almost 52, my old eggs, er, twin boys will be 13 soon — it’s all good! You’ll be a great Mom!!
    Try not to stress over tests. You can say “No” if you’re not interested — I wish I had (amnio and waiting = too much stress) — we would have had our babies, no matter what the test said anyway…

  66. S/he is going to need her/his own blog! I’m loving your pregnancy posts – I’m just so excited for you two!

  67. I am so excited for you all – my best friend had a daughter in June (my goddaughter) and it is such a joy to see how she changes every day!
    On another note, please let me know if you need any help with the Spin Out. I’m planning on being there all day, so if there’s anything you need, give me a shout – just in case the wee one doesn’t get with the “we’re out of the first trimester, let’s stop the puking” program. 🙂

  68. Thanks for the link about the skin fold testing. I’ve never heard of that before. When Lola had Gus, they did the straight blood work test and it came back higher for Downs so she had the full amnio run to get the profile. The doctor said that the blood work comes back alarmingly inaccurate (then why do it, DUH). The scan you had seems much better at profiling genetic issues.

  69. Cara, thanks for sharing your very personal experience with us. I am 37 (also turning 38 in jan.) and haven’t had kids yet. Hearing about success stories like yours truly keeps me optimistic about the possibilities. PS: “totsicles” – rad!

  70. I had my son(now 20) at 34 and my daughter(now 18) at 36. Man, back in those days I really WAS the old bag at Mommy & Me, no kidding! We did amnio for #2, as even then 36 was considered hi-risk.
    Wow, I puked my guts out with baby #2 and STILL gained 60 lbs!
    Keep on keepin’ on, girlfriend – you’re doing just fine!

  71. One of the most awe-inspiring women I know wasn’t a mom until 42. Wait until you see all the awe you inspire!

  72. How wonderful that everything looks good!

  73. Three cheers for +35 mums. I’ll be 36 before I’m a mum at the rate we’re going with IVF. I wouldn’t have been ready when I was younger. It’s just the way things are. Sure, younger can be better for all sorts of reasons but life just isn’t like that. I really hope it all conintues to go well for you.

  74. I wish I could have been there for a friend who did all the shots and ended up adopting. The whole medical thing was so distressing for them and they could have used my nursing experience. I know it’s not a walk in the park.
    One of my younger nephews is unexpectedly having the first great grandchild with a very young girlfriend. My sister, his mom, won’t talk about it or hardly talk to him. I am quietly knitting them a pi blanket to share our love for this new soul.
    Thanks for sharing your stories for us.

  75. Cara, I am just so excited by your pregnancy! I have to check your blog everyday just to see how you are doing and read about your day. Hang in there as things will get better shortly.
    I have to share a silly story. A girlfriend of mine was pregnant with her first baby and, like you, was throwing up constantly. One morning, she fixed her breakfast (cereal with milk and bananas). Before she could eat a bite, her husband promptly picked up the bowl and dumped the entire contents in the toilet. He then brought back the empty bowl and said, “Well, that’s where it’s going to end up. I’m just saving you the trouble.” Too funny!
    Anyway, take care of you!

  76. Wow! That kid is already good-looking! How very wonderful for you and G to have such a great child already.
    There’s lots of women having kids even in their 40’s. You’re right, it’s not the age, it’s the eggs. I’d love to have another, if not for me being in my early sixties at their high school graduation. 😀 There’s a lot to be said for your child being old enough to wipe their own hiney.

  77. Congratulations!!! Hope you feel better soon.
    I wasn’t sure where to email you, but I would like to donate to the Spin Out if it is not too late.

  78. Oh my, Cara!! What have I missed??? I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to get around to read my blogs in the last few months. What do you do, you go and get pregnant! This is amazing news and I’m so excited for you and G! I hope you’re feeling better soon. I’m going to try not to miss another puke post again. 😉