I DiD IT!!!

Whoo-hooo!!! Today was day one of my injectables, Repronex and Follistim and I did it! I was VERY nervous about ensuring that I gave myself the proper dosage, mixed the Repronex correctly and injected it correctly. They are are both subcutaneous shots (under the skin vs in the muscle) and I injected them in my tummy. I have never had to give myself shots before so this was a very big step but definently a well worth one if it brings us our little girl....just another step of many but we are getting CLOSER "-)

Medications!

Here are my medications for my upcoming IVF cycle (most of them, some required refrigeration so are stashed away in there). Thankfully my insurance company covered most of the cost and I saved approx $2,500!!! However on the downside I had many, many issues around getting my medications to me appropriately. The first time they were shipped they sat in a box in the hot sun in front of my house for 4 hrs!!! Several of the medications needed to be room temperature and w/ our AZ heat I was so afraid that the medications were damaged. After several calls to my insurance companys retail pharmacy they offered to go ahead and send me a replacement. I was extremely relieved. After this cycle being such a financial investment I did not want to risk the medications being damaged by the heat. So I have received the replacement and am scheduled to start the injectables this Sat!! I feel so overwhelmed w/ the whole process. Here's my schedule so far:

7/9: Ultrasound

7/11: Start Follistim and Repronex (take these until end of cycle)

7/13: Bloodwork

7/15: Ultrasound

7/16: Begin Ganerelix in addition to Follistim and Repronex

Ovidrel: Trigger shot prior to retrieval

Potential Retrieval: 7/21-7/25

Potential Transfer: 7/25-7/29

Will be required to take Prednisone, Doxycycline, Progesterone in Oil post egg retrieval and transfer, Estrogen Patch and baby aspirin post transfer.

I am doing my best to educate myself about all these medications, but it is a lot and one of them requires me to mix the chemicals together first before injecting. I am so afraid of making a mistake, but I know these are all normal feelings given this being my first time experiencing this. Hopefully it will be my only time given a successful outcome!

I am continuing w/ acupuncture, hopefully it is helping...hard to believe we started this process (called the fertility clinic) back in February and we are finally getting to this point!! I am trying to stay calm (although not easy) and doing my best to remain positive....

The Blackberry Curve

My husband surprised me w/ a new phone yesterday, the new Blackberry Curve. After familiarizing myself w/ some of the features I have come to really like this phone. It has a lot of really cool features to include a camera, video, voice recording and others...it is smaller and lighter than my previous Blackberry phone. Thanks sweet hubby of mine, I think it's a keeper!!!!

Sonohysterogram

Last Monday I went in for a sonohysterogram andI had no idea what to expect. As much as I knew it was a test to ensure that I did not have any abnormalities in my uterus. The IVF coordinator make it sound like it was a very simple procedure, no side effects etc...Well, I just want to say that I was relieved that I had it after work and not before b/c by the time I got home I was cramping and bent over in pain. The procedure itself did not take all that long, maybe 10-15 min and it felt like a hard pinch from within, but w/ only a little bit of crampiness I was able to get up off the table and walk out of the office thinking the procedure was not all that difficult. Uncomfortable, but not too painful. I even stopped at the grocery store on my way home and was fine but several hrs after being home I laid on the sofa in pain so much that I went to bed at 8p w/ a heating pad on my tummy looking for some type of relief. Everytime I rolled I hurt and felt like I had a weight in my lower abdomen that kept shifting. By the next morning, the pain was much more tolerable but still hurt. It hurt to walk, bend over, it felt inflammed inside, pushing on my abdomen hurt...I was beginning to think I had developed an infection and contacted my doctor. I was offered an appt early the next morning. I did not want to miss more work and am trying to save my time so I notified the nurse I would call first thing in the morning the following day if I was still in pain. As the day went on I started to feel a little better which was a great sign that maybe this wasn't an infection and nothing but post soreness after the procedure. I had not developed a fever and although in a significant amt of pain I was not in enough pain that would require me to check into the ER so I thought I would be fine. By the next day I felt amazing! Normal! What a great feeling...I survived the procedure without an infection and the good news was that my doctor told me that the test results looked great, nothing to be concerned about so on to the next step......

This has certainly turned into quite a process, a journey that I hope has a happy ending...my friend Brenda just notified me of someone in her family that transferred three embryos (first time doing IVF) and she is pregnant. Sometimes risks do pay off and I pray this one does. For we have more love to give, open arms for a precious sweet little girl....her brothers are waiting for her as we are.....and above all regardless of how this journey ends...I am one blessed mommy to have my two beautiful sons who are already miracles to me, a blessing that will forever fill my heart w/ joy and I am thankful for that!

Acupuncture

Today was my first day of acupuncture and it went well. The acupuncturist has two offices including one right out of his home. His home office was much closer so that is where I went. I honestly did not know what to expect. I filled out some paperwork on my medical history and off we went to a little room in his home set aside for this. He was very nice and it was very relaxing. I have been cramping a little in my calves and forearms...not sure if that is normal, but otherwise feel great! He said he would be targeting my ovaries and stress which is great since I do have a fairly high stress job. My overall opinion...I think I picked the wrong profession, Lol! How nice would it be to work from your home, stick a few needles in someone and walk away for a half hour and then get paid! :-) I have a large amount of respect for this profession though...I hear nothing but wonderful things about it and it can truly target so many different "problem" areas including allergies...very interesting. Anyway...I thought I would share my experience. It is reccomended that I do acupuncture 1x/wk and he reccomended it at least one month in advance before ET so I am starting just at the right time. My next session is scheduled for next Wed.....more later....

Our Little Remodel Project...

So...after three yrs of living in our current house we finally decided to remodel the boys room. I wish I had taken "before pictures" (sorry Jana!) but here is the finished room. I had picked out the colors a while ago...love them! (blue and tan although the walls look white in these pictures) So while the boys were at my grandparents hubby and I went to work...slaving day after day after getting home from work finishing the room in a week...off to Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond we went to get coordinating sheets, blankets, a cute little night table and lamp, curtains, etc...oh yes and to Home Depot for new wood blinds. The other ones were falling apart and were old...were here when we moved in. The boys picked out a superhero picture at the store of their liking and I "approved" it since it had coordinating colors...Lol! By the way, the boys bunk bed was parallel to eachother and we took out the bottom bunk, ordered a new full mattress and turned the mattress around...they have so much more space now and Codey just LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his new bed!!!! His cousin is over visiting right now and they are camping out in his new bed together. It sure beats the blow up airmatress on the side of Codey's bed during previous visits! Now...if only I could start painting PINK now....I have the perfect colors and nursery in mind...I just need to know that I will have a sweet little princess to fill the room ") Just maybe one of these days....

By the way, I decided to try acupuncture and tomorrow is my first session...never before have I tried acupuncture, but I thought w/ all the positive evidence around IVF and acupuncture it sure could not hurt! I will keep you posted on my thoughts.........

This is it...the count down!

Hubby and I had an appt at the fertility clinic today to sign consent forms and discuss our upcoming IVF schedule. Of course this is all tentative b/c things could change along the way depending on how my body reacts to the medications, etc....there are so many factors and hopefully I can avoid getting OHSS during all of this as well. So many risks...so many things to take into consideration...but like our IVF coordinator told us...we need to take things ONE DAY AT A TIME! I am trying to do this, but not always easy. Ok so here's our tentative schedule:

Continue taking BC pills until 7/6/09
Start Stim Plan (stimulation medications) on 7/11/09
Potential Egg Retrieval between 7/21-7/25/09
Potential Embryo Transfer 7/25-7/29/09

Wow....hard to believe it's right around the corner. SO....if this works then I will find out I am PG very early Aug!!!! I am contemplating acupuncture. The evidence is all very positive showing a positive correlation between acupuncture and positive IVF cycle outcomes. I have never done acupuncture before so I am not sure what to expect. I want to know at the end of this (which probably are one and only chance) that I did all that I could if things do not end up favorably. Over and over again I hear wonderful things about acupuncture and I do not want to regret having not tried if this does not work although it would be hard to even know if that was the "breaking piece" to it all. So the fertility clinic provided me a referral, reccomendation to begin now, 1-2x/wk (heard 1x/wk is usually fine) and then right before and right after the embryo transfer (ET). Think I am going to give them a call on Monday.

Again, I cannot thank hubby for all his support through all of this. It has emotionally and financially affected us both and he continues to sit by my side along this very emotional rollercoaster ride. I LOVE HIM FOR THAT!!!! Among many other things of course :) Speaking of the financial aspect of things....this is a lot of money and I realize that but if it works it will be more than worth it, but if not...well, I have to feel good about the fact that we gave it our all and at least tried. Along these same lines if we do not end up w/ extra girl embryos to freeze this will be the end of the ride (given I am not PG in the end) as I cannot do another cycle and place my family in further debt. It's not fair to the family, hubby or the boys so I am attempting to stay realistic in all of this too. BUT for the present, I still have the chance and will do all I can to give it everything I have!

Appreciate all my wonderful friends whom have provided me ongoing support, thoughts and prayers along this process. I love you all!!!!