Update 8/9/2017 Twins are 4 years 8 month

Hey everyone,

I didn't realize it has been so long since putting up a post.

The twins, Sebastian and Mila, are now nearing 5 years old and it has been quite the ride. We have a few frozen embryos still and I'm having a hard time trying to decide what to do with them. We can't have more children because it has been a struggle surviving this long! Hands are so full with them, working from home.

Mila is starting pre-k soon, I hope, and Sebastian just isn't ready. I am going to have assessments done on both of them and see what happens.

I hope all is well. Feel free to ask questions anytime.

twinmomrita78@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/ritalucero

Twins- Nearing 9 Months Old

We have relocated our family to Texas. The twins are almost 9 months old, Sebby has 4 teeth and Mila has 2. Seb also learned to clap and wave this week. Mila is scooting all over the place.  They are such happy babies and yes, a handful.



With my mommy makeover, I have slacked compared to what I am capable of, however, I am down 26 pounds. Primarily with eating right, staying active and drinking Shakeology.

More updates coming!

I am seeing a surgeon tomorrow for my cs scar complication. It has been an issue since March and I currently have a couple holes open. It's gross and needs resolved so I can move on already. I am told there is something in there... So, update to come.

Love. Peace. Prosperity.

Rita

RLS is Ridiculous!

I've had bouts of RLS (restless leg syndrome) off and on for the last ten years but nothing like I experience while pregnant.  OMG! Shoot me!  I went to my OB.  I went to my Perinatal doctor.  I went to an Urgent Care clinic and quickly each time the door to the conversation of my needing help for RLS was slammed shut.  I started posting on facebook and researching like mad on google and various medical pages.  The best response I found was that I could be lacking iron and/or I'm anemic.  I had already tried heatpad, socks, pants, calf lifts, stretches, massages from my husband, warm baths for my legs only,  a herbal supplement, magnesium (500mg/day), expensive compression hose.  Nothing was giving me relief and I was feeling like the RLS was so severe that I was going to lose my mind.

So, I had my Perinatal doctor check my iron level but in the meantime I started iron supplements.  It drastically reduced by about 90-95%.  That is huge!  I started with 2 iron pills (65mg each) plus then at night taking my RX prenatal vitamin that gave me about another 30 mg of iron.  My levels came back low but increasing, slight case of anemia.  Sure, I had been anemic before but why am I having to find the cause and treat myself when I have all these doctors.  Especially since I had the Duodenal Switch (DS) weight loss surgery three years ago?  That surgery was all about creating a absorption.  Ahhh! I wanted to just scream at my OB the most. 

Now, I am not anemic and I take 3 iron pills per day with calcium and at night my RX prenatal vitamin that I have been taking since my DS weight loss surgery.  I still have bouts of the RLS but in no way is it nearly as severe as it was a few months ago.  So, those of you seeking help for your insane RLS- check your iron and possibly increase it!  I would shout it from the rooftops if I could.  All I wanted was some help and it seemed impossible for it.  I would take Tylenol PM sometimes to get super tired but I still would have trouble sleeping because my legs would kick and jolt in my sleep.  Sometimes my leg muscles were so sore and exhausted the next day.  That's how bad it was.  Restless Leg Syndrome can get worse with pregnancy and I had no idea.  None.  Ahh. So glad to have my sanity back! Lack of sleep and uncontrollable leg movements are a terrible combo!

How To Prepare & Inject Menopur

When I was about to start my shots, my brother searched his cell phone for youtube videos on how to do specific injections.  I happened to watch one while I did my first injection.  It helped a ton.  Today could be my last day of Menopur injections since I have blood work and an ultrasound in the morning so I thought I had better get recording. 

Insurance: Covered or... Not

It's How Much for IVF?! O_o

When it comes to IVF (in vitro fertilization), there doesn't appear to be any cheap routes whatsoever.  Some find themselves against a brick wall much like we felt when wanting to use an agency to adopt.  Some $20,000 price tag attached and that was one of the smaller fees.  I don't know how I managed but two years ago I was able to get our health insurance to cover my $50,000 Duodenal Switch weight loss surgery and we thought I would get pregnant after getting that weight off.  It didn't happen and now we know whatever I do it won't get me pregnant, as I was not the one with the complications.

So, here we are with Aetna health insurance through Nate's employer, Kraft Foods Global.  We have always had great insurance with them.  I have been calling into Aetna a lot, asking around and asking my fertility clinic about the financial burden that IVF can be.  We were provided with good news in two instances:

• Aetna covers $30,000 lifetime maximum medical coverage for fertility with the plan we have
• Ironically, effective January 1 2012, if the fertility drugs are billed through a pharmacy instead of with an office visit (medical claim) then the fertility drugs will be covered up to a lifetime maximum of $15,000 (if billed with an office visit they count towards the $30,000 medical)

Now, let me tell you how amazing this is.  My fertility drugs they are putting me on for the February procedure are going to be $5,000 and I thought for sure they were going to be out of pocket.  God just blessed us again.  We are so blessed that they are covered.  We were smart though to make sure to take flexible spending money on both our employers to cover any medical costs outside the realm of insurance like the sounding I am doing in February which is $350 out of pocket.  That, my friend, is so being paid with my Flexible Spending Account card. And this is just the beginning.  I am about ready!

Our shot education class is January 10th and I go on my first trip the 11th.  The IVF will be in mid-February and we are so excited.  This is a rare instance where an insurance company is truly doing what they should- cover fertility treatments.