Happy 2nd birthday Francesca!

My baby girl is 2!  I know that all children are miracles.  I feel we were extra blessed in the miracle department with Francesca.  I found myself reflecting a lot this week on how very fortunate I am to have my four children; my two grown girls of course, and the opportunity to have increased my family by 2 at this, “ahem”, older stage of my life. 

With Ross I was 40 when he was conceived and it took all of 6 months, not bad when you realize how quickly your fertility decreases after 35.  We knew we wanted more children so we started trying shortly after Ross was born.  We tried for 6 months, until he was one.  We then used Chlomid for 6 more months, under my OB-Gynies supervision -  a roller coaster ride of hormones - oh my what a nasty drug.  And then we were referred to a reproductive endochronologist. 

Another 6 months of chlomid along with artificial insemination and again no luck.  All during this tme we were researching insurance policies that would pay for in-vitro fertilization, and fortunately work offered one that did.  I learned a lot about state based policies and those that originated in other states and for us, BCBCS HMO was the answer.

Interestingly enough, the injections and plethera of drugs were less of a hormonal imbalance than the chlomid was.  The emotional piece was hard, but the drugs affected me less.  I had accupuncture and tried some herbal remedies but our first attempy failed (you needed at least 4 eggs for retrieval and I only had 2).  The second time around I had exactly 4 eggs of retrieval size , so retrieval came and out of that 3 eggs fertilized. 

The next few days were excrutiating as we decided, based on my age, to do the PGD testing.  We learned right away that one of the embryos had triple X, which was not condusive to life, the other two were still being tested.  On the day that we went for implantation we learned that there was a problem with testing and that they had to retest and we’d need to come back the next day.

The next day we learned that both of the embryos had tested fine, but only one survived to be implanted.  Now a day 5 blastocyst, they proceeded with the implantation and a kind and wonderful nurse with ah Irish brogue placed the blastocyst in my uterus and said “your home now” at which point I burst into tears.  So much for not being hormonal.

After the wait, which was in reality not that long but felt like eternity, I went for the blood test to see if my counts were doubling and if I was pregnant.  I was at work when they called to say I was pregnant, I burst into tears on the phone.  The very next day I called the geneticist to see if I was carrying a boy or girl.  They can tell the sex of the embryo when they do the genetic testing (for 13 of the most common chromosonal disorders) but do not share the info prior to implantation so there is not improper “gender choosing”.  I didn’t care if I was having a boy or girl but just knowing that the information was available was too much to handle.  I then had to keep the information from Sam, as he didn’t want to know until the 20 week ultrasound. 

Fast forward to now, and my baby girl is 2!  How quickly the time flies.  We are so blessed to have her.  As I was going through my Christmas card list, I came across Dr. Jacob’s card as well as the cards of our in-vitro nurses.  Going through the process the nurses asked us to send them holiday pictures, which I dutifully and gratefully will.  Thank you Dr. Jacobs and staff for allowing us to grow our family and have our little Francesca.  And again, I am crying.

What’s that you say?  They’re tree nuts.  Most of us remember laying under the Christmas Tree looking up at the magical world of lights and ornaments.  But, didn’t we lie the other way, you know…on our backs looking up?

Francesca does this.  A lot.  She just lies under the tree - head down, butt up.  Ross was just along for the ride.  She just likes it there.

And we have a winner!  Good thing too, because after the first few shots Francesca had had enough and wanted her pacifier in her mouth at all times.  She also preferred her backside to the camera so she could face the tree and pickat the ornaments.  I should have photographed the fight that ensued afterward as Ross knocked over her lego tower and Francesca chased him and smacked him.  Now that would have been a more accurate  Christmas Card picture.

My brother has wonderful neighbors.  I do to, don’t get me wrong, but his neighbors are a close knit group of folks who really enjoy each others company.  Each year as they have for many many years, (if I recall correctly well over 25) they have the Na Wa Ta No-brainer Christmas Party. 

In the beginning it started with neighbors getting together and caroling with their families door to door; hot chocolate for the kids, something a little stronger for the adults.  As the kids grew up and the parents got older they moved it indoors.

Each year the party moves from one home to another, with the “host” home providing a spiral sliced ham or some other main dish and the rest of the neighbors bringing a signature dish or drink.  Potato pancakes are made by the Scandanavian neighbors, the Judge makes his famous eggnog, my brother (a bachelor) brings cut and bake chocolate chip cookies every year! 

The only pre requisite to being a host, it seems, is that you must have a piano.  Every year they break out the pre-printed Christmas Carol packet and the bells, reindeer antlers and other music makers for the kids and everyone sings Christmas carols accompanied by those accomplished, talented, piano players.

My family and I have had the pleasure to be included in these parties over the years that my brother has lived on Na Wa Ta.  It’s so nice to get together with such a wonderful group of people.  Over the years we have met new neighbors, watched children grow into adulthood , celebrated births, reminisced about loved ones lost, and enjoyed catching up with friends and neighbors.

I look forward to joining my brother again this year with my own family.  This may just be the type of community gathering that might work on my block. If I bring it up though, I’d better get a piano.