Nathaniel’s Timeline…

This is how I feel is best to start the day. I know for many of you this will actually be at the end of what other posts I have written since, but it is my first post for today. Oh and no I didn’t do this from my phone, I started this post last week and here it is.

So far Nathaniel has went through a lot in his little life. So I thought I would point out how far he has come. Some of these points are also Max’s but I thought they were his too so I would share.

• September 2006 – Doctor tells us that IVF is the only option for us to have more children. The reason for this is to limit how many children we would have at once.
• January 5, 2007 – Emily dies and I know that I want to go to IVF as soon as humanly possible. My grief is too much for me though and I can’t get on my diet needed for IVF for over a month. 
• March 6, 2007 – First consult for IVF. 
• April 6, 2007 – Med delivery for IVF. 
• May 31, 2007 – False start to first IVF and was canceled. 
• June 26, 2007 – Start Lupron for IVF cycle. 
• July 13, 2007 – Start stimulating drugs for IVF cycle.
• July 25, 2007 – Trigger shot for egg retrieval. 
• July 27, 2007 – Egg retrieval day! Nathaniel and “Baby D” are conceived. 
• July 31, 2007 – The one year anniversary of giving birth to the triplets. Baby D and another embryo are transferred into me. Nathaniel, by luck of the draw isn’t chosen and grown out for another 3 days. At this point he is the same quality as one of the embryos that was transferred. 
• August 2, 2007 – We find out that “Baby E” or Nathaniel is frozen. 
• September 24, 2007 – We find out that Baby D died and we decide what our next step will be. 
• October 9, 2007 – We have a consult with our RE and determine to leave Nathaniel on ice and proceed with another fresh IVF cycle. 
• November 30, 2007 – I finally am able to post the first photo of Nathaniel. He is graded at 4AB.
• February 5, 2008 – I find out I am pregnant with Max. 
• September 26, 2008 – Max is born.
• Late September 2009 – We have our consult to get our frozen embryos. 
• October 27, 2009 – I learn that there is something “strange” in my pelvis and am told that I should get an MRI. 
• November 5, 2009 – I get said MRI and am given a disk to give an oncologist. I am also told that I have swollen lymph nodes but since I have no other symptoms, I still figure that this is just an infection. 
• November 18, 2009 – I go to a RE consult and find out I am cleared to start a frozen embryo transfer, provided I can get a note from an oncologist telling him that I don’t have cancer.
• November 25, 2009 – I have the biopsy that a hematological oncologist orders. I expect to hear the worst.  
• December 4, 2009 – I get the diagnosis I didn’t want to hear and name my cancer Larry. 
• December 21, 2009 – I get my port put in and start my chemo therapy.
• February 23, 2010 – I get news that I will likely need pelvic radiation to get rid of Larry. I don’t take it well for fear that I will never be able to carry another child to term. About this time I also start to go into menopause. 
• April 1, 2010 – I meet with the radiation oncologist who understands my desire to have more children. 
• April 6, 2010 – I have my last chemo appointment.
• May 21, 2010 – I get the scans needed to start radiation treatment. 
• June 2, 2010 – I start radiation treatment.
• June 30, 2010 – I finish radiation treatment and thankfully I feel fine… if a bit tired. 
• August 3, 2010 – I find out that I don’t have any signs of Larry in my body!
• August 11, 2010 – The 4 year anniversary of loosing my sweet little boy Alexander, I get word that I am officially in remission! I am also told that I will have to wait 2 years to get my frozen embryos. 
• April 18, 2012 – I get the news that I can go back for my frozen embryos!!
• September 25, 2012 – I find out I have only one frozen embryo left and make a plan to get Nathaniel. 
• October 30, 2012 – In the midst of Sandy, I see my RE and find out that I have a thicker lining then I have ever had since getting cancer! 
• November 5, 2012 – Find out my lining in my uterus is even thicker then on October 30!!
• November 12, 2012 – Nathaniel not only survives the thaw, but is transferred!
• November 14, 2012 – First photo post thaw posted to blog of Nathaniel. 
• November 26, 2012 – First beta test to tell us about Nathaniel!
• November 30, 2012 – First ultrasound of Nathaniel’s embryonic sack. 
• December 10, 2012 – Second ultrasound.
• December 21, 2012 – Third ultrasound
• January 2, 2013 – Forth ultrasound 
• January 3, 2013 – Find out that Perinatologist will not be delivering Nathaniel. I make appointment for the OB.
• January 11, 2013 – Fifth ultrasound, only 3D ultrasound. 
• February 1, 2013 – 6th ultrasound, we find out Nathaniel is a boy!
• February 12, 2013 – I get scared by my OB of how high risk I am. 
• February 21, 2013 – I find out I am likely still in remission from Larry after an ultrasound of area around Nathaniel. 
• March 15, 2013 – Nathaniel’s 6th (or 7th) ultrasound. 
• May 10, 2013 – Nathaniel’s 7th (8th) ultrasound.
• May 23, 2013 – Nathaniel reaches the “likely to be issued a human upon leaving the hospital” date or 30 weeks gestation!
• June 6th, 2013 – Nathaniel and I have an MRI. 
• June 7th, 2013 – Nathaniel’s 8th (9th) ultrasound. Find out I am still in remission from Larry.
• July 2, 2013 – Nathaniel’s 9th (10th) ultrasound! Last one outside the hospital!
• July 18, 2013 – Nathaniel is born…