30 Jan 2008

So I had another blood draw and scan today. Yesterday's blood draw showed my Estrodial level at about 1,800. (2,000 is egg retrieval ready!) I had blood drawn today and havent gotten a phone call about that so everything is on track. My scan went wonderful. We saw a very healthy usterus awaiting some babies with a lining of 10 mm thick. PERFECTO! We saw so many huge follicles, ranging between 20 and 18 mm. ( 22-18mm is egg retrieval ready) We are expecting about 10 eggs, hopefully the majority of them survive the process.

The nurse called me about 45 minutes ago and Trigger shot is TONIGHT (!!!!?!! already!!) at 10:30 p.m. It is VERY critical that this be done at that exact time for my surgery at 10:30 am on Friday morning. Only 2 more sleeps until then! I am so scared of being knocked out still...ugh. I just want it all overwith. And then on Monday morning will be my transfer day. So we are doing a 3 day transfer which is A-OK with me! Then Monday afternoon we can finally go home.

I miss my cats and my bed and my home so much. Sad part is, we will only be home for 2 days before we move into yet again, another hotel room. This is the worst part about moving around the world. Several hotels are considered home and you feel homeless for a month. Good news is that the base housing waiting list in Guam is not long at all. When we got to Aviano Italy it took us exactly 1 year to get a house on base. The waiting list was thousands of people long, they just didnt have enough housing for everyone. In Guam, there is NO wait! So it just takes a couple of days. Thank God. I cant wait to be in my next home.

29 Jan 2008

This is my 270th post! Wow! Shall I say, Get a life? Oh wait...blogging is my life. LOL!

Anyways, I love getting on the computer here at the library after 2 days or so of not being able to check it and seeing so many emails of loving support in my inbox. As you can imagine, going through this whole process, as well as dealing with all the other aspects of moving across the world is a lot to deal with. It makes all this just that bit more eaiser knowing we have a support team out there. It makes a big difference. So keep the emails coming!! It makes me heart smile.

So, not a whole lot of updating. I will save the best part for last. So yesterday Nick and I took the Metro (Chell-Yes, the Metro is awsome!) to downtown. We strolled through the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Wow, that place was huge. Took us almost 2 hours to get through it all. Then we hiked our way to the Washington Monument. Neither of us have ever been in it. Both times we have seen it before it was closed down from Sept 11th and then again for maintence. The veiw was amazing. Today we wanted to venture to the Halocaust Museum but as we walked out of my scan this morning it was raining. It rained on my parade, and I really wanted to do that today. Oh well, tomorrow is another day!

I had a scan on Sunday and today. Sunday was great, today was even better. My Estrodial level is right on track and my endo. lining was 10 mm, and I have about 17 follies that were measured with many more that the doctor didnt even bother with. They were too small to even make it to maturity. Of the 17, we have about 8-10 real good ones. One follie was at 22 mm. We will obviously loose that 1 because it's way ahead in maturity then the group of good follies. The group of good follies measured at about 17-12 mm. We are expecting a good 8-10 of those. In order to be ready for Egg Retrieval, my Estrodial level, to my understanding should be close to 2,000. 2 days ago I was at 955. And the follies should measure about 20-22 mm prior to ER. So we are so close! The doctor said I should be ready for my trigger shot tomorrow and the ER on Friday. I am so scared!! The anesthetic part just scares the crud out of me. I cant wait to get it over with. The transfer should be on Feb 4th.

In other news, I miss my cats. Not hard to figure out if you know me well. I cant wait to get home, even though it will only be for 2 days. We should be home on the 4th right after my embryo transfer, then the very next 2 days our things get shipped and we move into the hotel. Today we had our unaccompanied baggage shipped. That is a small amount of the important things, like pots and pans and dishes, clothes...Nick's boss was there to ship it for us. Its getting so darn close I can taste it. I can taste the salty water, smell the ocean, feel the sand and hot sun....ahh. I cant wait to be bare pregnant belly on the beaches. Fingers crossed it works out that way. I cant even think of if it doesnt work out that way. Scary.

I'll be back in 2 days or so to update.

26 Jan 2008

Sorry it's been a few days. I dont have much time to be on the computer lately. Im so behind...Im going to try to catch up on blogs today. Thank you everyone for all the comments full of support. I had 60 emails today!! This whole deal is so much better knowing I have so many people thinking of us.

I'm just going to get to the details. I dont want to run out of time, and I want to check on a few bloggers pals.

So, remember our room that smelled like dirty diapers and vomit? Well, Nick mentioned it to the front desk. He wasnt rude, he didnt complain, he just mentioned it. And right away the girl guessed which building we were in. I guess we arent the first to say something about it. She right away gave us a new room. And wow. We are staying in more like an apartment then a hotel room. I think it's temporary lodging for officers. We have a NICE full kitchen, a living room, 2 TV's, 2 bedrooms, 3 beds, a nice bathroom without a moldy shower curtain, a washer and drier...its just wonderful. Only things missing are my cats. I miss them so much.

So, the day of my last post I got a call from the IVF nurse and I was told to double up my Menopur at night. I started that on Wednesday. Thursday I had my pre-op clearance and I am all good to go. Usually during this appointment you have blood drawn, height, weight...a complete physical and you meet with the Anesthtesiologist (sp?). I was in such good health, that the only thing I did was fill out paperwork and was on my way! So I am all cleared for egg retrieval day. I am scared to heck though. I been dreading this day for MONTHS. Now it's just a few days away. During my paperwork appointment the nurse was telling me, no nail polish, no piercings, wear lose clothing, no make-up, dont do your hair, shower in the morning, nothing to eat or drink after midnight and yada yada....scared that crap out of me. Im not looking forward to it. Ugh.

Friday I had my bloodwork done and a sonogram. The doubling of the Menopur showed it had paid off. I went from the 14 follies on my baseline appointment last week, to 17 follies yesterday! I had 10 follies on my left and 7 on the right. This is looking good!! 17!!!!!!?!

Tomorrow(Sunday) I have more bloodwork and another sonogram as well as Monday. Then if all is well I do my trigger shot this Tuesday and Egg Retrieval should be Thursday morning! Yikes.

Yesterday Nick and I took the Metro to downtown D.C. We visited the Smithsonian Natural History Museum which was a lot of fun. I wanted to do more but wore the wrong shoes and the wind chill was 28 degrees! Monday we want to go to the Holocaust Museum.

Thats really all the news I have. I must be forgetting something...I should be back on Monday to update again. Keep all the thoughts and prayers coming this way!

23 Jan 2008

So, We got to D.C. last night. We are staying at Bolling AFB, and our room smells like dirty diapers and vomit. It's an old building though, but we are trying to get a different room. Other than that, thing are great now. We are staying in temporary lodging, so we have a full kitchen which is great. We dont have internet in our room. But the main lobby has wireless internet so I can try to update here as much as I can. I might not type much because I hate the key board on this thing.

I miss my cats already. I think I miss them already because I know I wont seem them for 10 days. Last night right before bed I just had to have a good cry and I didnt know why. Maybe the hormones my body is pumped up on? Maybe all the changes in life right now? I dont know.

Im still on my stims of course, and as of yesterday I started feeling my ovaries. So I am confident that the meds are working. Im not crampy, but I can definatly feel them. My next scan is on Friday. Today was just blood draw.

We, well Nick, has spent over an hour this morning trying to my PIO injections. The IVF clinic doesnt have it so they gave us a prescription and pretty much said go find it. Nick called every CVS in the D.C. area including a Target and a few Rite Aids. Noone carries it. I start these injections on the night of my egg retrieval. We finally got a hold it from a mail order pharmacy.
So everything is ok.

Since we have the rest of the day to ourselves I think we are either a) going to take a stroll in downtown D.C. since today its going to be 44 degrees. We could save the indoor activities for a cold day. Or b) Go to the Smithsonian Museum and spend the cold days outside.

Tomorrow I have an 8:30 appointment for pre-operative clearance then the rest of the day is dedicated to the Washington D.C. Auto Show. Nick has to have something to do as well I guess.

I HATE this laptop, I cant stand to type anymore. Sorry this blog was bland and boring and the point. I'll shall return.

THank you everyone for thinking of me and taking the time to send me such wonderful comments!

22 Jan 2008

So, Nick didnt take the computer down last night. I needed something to keep me busy since we had no tv. Today is my last day of work. I will miss that place. Yes, I only been working there since July, 6 months. But I will miss it. I like working there. But, life goes on to bigger and better things.

Dont you worry. You will still hear from me my friends. Some of you are worried you wont hear from me until we get to Guam. That will not be the case. Im sure the hotel room will have internet since its military hotel. If not, Im sure they will have computers somewhere on base so I can jump on and give updates. Not to worry, I will find a way.

Good luck all my ttc'ers! We will get there!

21 Jan 2008

Michell, a blogger pal of mine, had her egg retrieval yesterday. She got 7 potential babies!!
So Michell, this is for you....


Tonight Nick is packing up our computer. Tomorrow is my last day of work, Im working 9-3 and then we are headed for Washington D.C. We are staying a military hotel, so we should have internet in the room, hopefully. I will try to get back on here as soon as I can to update.


The time is getting closer! This time next week, we will be just DAYS away from egg retrieval!

2nd post for 20 Jan 2008

So, it's 8 pm and my 3rd injection of the day is done. All 3 of these injections will continue until egg retrieval day. Then those 3 stop and I start a new daily injection called Progesterone in Oil, AKA-PIO. But for now..let's talk about my 3rd daily injection called Menopur.
It SUCKS! I feel so bloated and feel much discomfort in my whole entire abdominal region. Fellow IVF'ers...did you feel this way? Ugh. I feel like I want to puke. But ya know how it is...anything for our bean(s) to grow...Anyhow, we did a video for this one too. You have to mix a liquid and a powder and inject it after the powder disolves. For this one, I didnt numb the area with ice first. We went straight for it. That was a mistake. This stuff burns a whole heck of a lot more than the Follistim. Ouch!
Here's the video:

20 Jan 2008

30 days until we are on the plane and 14 days until embryo transfer!!!!

So, this morning was my FIRST Follistim injection. Easy...It was with a small needle and I was afraid it was going to burn a lot from what some other girls told me. But it only stung for about 10 seconds then done. I did numb the area with ice before the injection so that might have helped, but overall..it was as easy as cake! Later tonight starts the Menopur..which is a little more complicated because of the mixing powders and liquids but, we can handle it for the outcome!
Here is a picture and a video for your enjoyment. Dont mind my chubby tummy picture. It's just luck for the eggies to grow!
I think you click on the video to play it.

IVF Medication Pictures

Here are the pictures I took of all my medications. Then Im going to go catch up on everyone else's blogs then I have to work on this house. By THIS weekend, or Monday since it's a holiday, we have to have this house ready to go as if the packers were walking in the door. I work 9-7 on Tuesday and at 2 am on Wednesday we are headed to D.C. and that is my last night in my wonderful house. :(

My bear (his name is pooh bear, we call him bear) with all my meds, "Ma, what's all this??"


"Ahh, this is to make a brother you say?!"(he thinks everyone is a boy)


The Menopur, I have 4 boxes of these.


The follistim, I have 40 boxes of this.


Needles


Everything, except trigger


HCG trigger

16 Jan 2008-IVF calendar and med pics

My IVF Calendar- I will be clear what the meds are for those who dont know ( like my mother in law hehe )

16 Jan (today)-Baseline exam= blood work and sonogram. Decrease lupron to 5 units. (lupron stops me from ovulating on my own)I continue Lupron once a day until told to stop.
20 Jan- Start FSH ( follice stimulating hormone-makes my follicles grow, follicles are what grow the eggs) injection once a day in the morning and Menopur at night, 12 hours apart.
23 Jan-Blood work. (this will start our 2 week stay in D.C. for the IVF cycle)
25 Jan-Blood work, sonogram, history and physical, Pre-operative evaluation.
26 Jan- The rest of the cycle is tentative, may change a day or 2 ahead or behind.
27 Jan-Blood work, sonogram.
28 Jan-Blood work and sonogram. Stop all injections.
29 Jan-Blood work and sonogram. Tentative HCG trigger shot at night. (This makes my ovaries ovulate the eggs)
30 Jan-Blood work, nothing to eat or drink after midnight.
31 Jan-Tentative egg retrieval day!
1 Feb-IVF clinic will call me about fertilization report. (so we know how are eggies are progressing)
3 Feb-Tentative embryo transfer day.
4 Feb- Start progesterone injections. (Projesterone is a natural hormone that is produced normally very early in pregnancy. But Because of the ovarian stimulation process, it may remove any of the cells that produce this hormone, so it has to be supplemented until the placenta takes over. These injections continue until 6 weeks of pregnancy.

Pictures to be posted soon...

16 Jan 2008- HAPPY BIRFDAY TO ME!

Well folks, I guess you are all waiting for my update. Let me just tell you I got nothing BUT good news today.

We were on the road at 4 pm yesterday headed to Manassas VA. We hit NO traffic which was miracle number one. At that time, headed towards D.C. with NO traffic is amazing. On the way there I just happened to look at the car coming along side us in the left lane. A white pickup truck. Dont know what triggered me to look at the license plate. M487. Now, you ask why this is of signifigance? Our donor number is M847. Yes, 2 numbers were backwards but what the heck are the chances of seeing the letter M, grouped with the 3 numbers of our new donor on THIS day? Very very slim. Slim to NONE I'd day. It made me happy. From that moment on, I knew this IVF was going to work. I know it will. That was miracle number 2 and we were only half way there. The doctor then gives us our calendar of dates. (I will post it soon)

We get to the hospital the next morning (this morning) for our baseline appointment, as nervous and excited as can be. I get the wonderful dildo cam (vaginal ultrasound) while on AF's visit. Not pretty. We look at the ultrasound monitor and see a lovely empty uterus! No cysts, fibroids or what not! YEAH! Then she looks at my left ovary. 8 lovely small follicles! Yes folks, EIGHT! Then we look at my right ovary and find 6 follies. SIX more! That is a total of 13 potenial eggies that will become our twins! And this total of 13 follies is BEFORE I've even started my stimmulating injections! So, maybe we can build up even more. Wow. I am thrilled. Miracle number 4.

After this we take our 2 vials to have them stored and we get breakfast while waiting for the pharmacy to open. I get my meds and holy bejesus! Talk about meds...wow. You will see in the pictures I post soon.

Then we have our injection class which felt a tad bit overwhelming at first but I think we can manage it well.

Geez, now I all of a sudden dont know what to type...my brain went to 'pause' mode. Sorry. I will upload the pictures then post my calendar for you all to see.

By the way...THANK YOU everyone for your well wishes. Thanks Tammy for sending me card. It made me smile. I only got 2 cards this year, one from you and one from sister who I havent seen in 2 years. Thank you.

15 Jan 2008

Ding Dong the wtich is here. She arrived at 4 am. This is the last time I expect to see her for a LONG time. Tomrrow is my baseline! This is when it all begins....

14 Jan 2008

So, now Im a little worried, even though a couple girls reassured me it's ok. Today is day 10 of my Lupron injections. I was told by the IVF nurse that on day 14 of Lupron is when my AF should show up. I was also told that my baseline appointment would be around cycle day 3. My baseline appointment is THIS Wednesday. And that is only 2 days away. It just doesnt add up to me. But Im sure the nurse knows what shes doing. Im going to ask her today. I called and left a message to confirm my appointment time and where I should go for it. Hopefully she calls back soon.

I dont think I will get to post an update on here until Thursday. I work all day tomorrow, 9-3 and as soon as Nick and I get home we are off to Washington D.C. for the night. My appointment is at 0630 so we are going the night before since its a 3 hour drive. I hope everything goes ok. As far as I know, what happenes at the baseline appointment is they measure my uterine lining and my follies. I dont know how they are going to measure my follies when I dont have any right as far as I know. I havent started my stimulating meds yet. If anyone knows anything about this, please let me know. They will also be doing a lot of blood work on me too while Im there and I get a complete schedule of what is going to happen on which days. Im excited for that.

Im feeling more confident about this cycle then I was at the beginging, however I am still so scared of the results. What if this doesnt work? But, what if it does? It's really scarey.

Only 2 more sleeps until my birthday, until my baseline appointment, until Meg gets to see her twins at 10 weeks gestation (10w already!?) and until Tracey gets to see her little one, or is it ones? I cant wait.

Our house is coming along, as far as packing stuff up and separating things. By THIS weekend, we have to have everything all ready as if the packers are about to walk through the door. YIKES. We still have a lot to do but atleast we have started.

11 Jan 2008

Today is my sister in law's 25th birthday! Weird. We met when she was only 16. Happy Birthday! I love you!

Anyways, so yesterday I ended up with a terrible migraine at 10 for 2 hours. I went to bed and covered my eyes with a blanket while a cat layed beside me and a cat layed on me. The migraine eventually dulled but ALL fricken day long I had that dull headache. Its gone today and I hope it doesnt come back.

Today we entered to 30's! 39 days until we are in tropical paradise! And only about 2 1/2 weeks until my eggies are retrieved and our babies are created!

10 Jan 2008

Nothing really, but man I have headache. And I have to go to work at 2 today. Hopefully not for long. Tonight is my last BCP!!!! Hip Hip Hooray! I hate having to remember to take them every night. We're getting close! Our babies should be created in less than 3 weeks now!

Crap, headache is getting worse. Thanks Lupron. You were treating me wonderfully up until this very moment. What happened??

9 Jan 2008 **UPDATED**

So, remember the problems we had with trying to get TDY Orders for Nick for us to go up to Walter Reed for our IVF cycle? And remember that we got denied the Orders because it's an elective surgery? And remember then Nick got Permissive TDY Orders which means the trip is not paid for but Nick wont have to use his leave days for the stay?

Well, this morning Nick went to go pick up the paper work for Permissive TDY because in order for us to reserve the hotel in D.C. on a military base for a discounted rate we had to have the paper work.

Upon picking up that paper work, Nick was told that they dont know who told us that the TDY Orders were denied because they were'nt. They asked him who I talked to and of course this was a month ago so I cannot remember. They told him we needed my doctor to put the referral back into the computer so they can get us the orders.

So, I called my doctor to get the refferal put back into the computer and she said that the refferal is still in the computer and she needed to know who and why said it wasnt in the computer.

So TDY orders are a mess right now. Thanks military. Good news is that someone told Nick that the TDY Orders were NOT denied.

So maybe, he can get the TDY Orders and our 2 week stay at Walter Reed can be paid for by the military. Thanks military. The have their perks and downfalls at the same time. I hope Nick gets the orders. Its a financial break on us that we need. It's not my fault that the closest military facility IVF clinic is 3 hours away. They should pay for it.

So we are waiting on news about that. Hopefully we will know something today. I hate the waiting and not knowing whats going to happen. Oh boy..the two week wait after IVF is going to be interesting.

My Lupron injections are going great. Yesterday's dose was the first time I bled a little and this morning I noticed that the injection site is bruised. I dont know what I did wrong, or if it's normal and I didnt do anything wrong. Today Im going to try to wait for Nick to get home to do the shot as long as he gets home pretty close to 4. Does anyone know if I always have to have the shot at 4:00 on the dot every single day. I would like to wait for him to get home to do it. Plus it makes him feel needed. As if it he's helping in some way in this rough process.

**UPDATE**
It was false hope. Who ever spoke to Nick this morning was not aware that the orders were denied. That is why she told us they never were denied. But they were. So because someone lacked communication, we were given false hope today. BLAH! But Nick is still able to get permissive TDY so he wont have to use his leave.

7 Jan 2008

Nothing new going on here really. Today I am trying to get some of our things together. Nick and I cleared out the spare room, now we just have to put everything in there that we dont want the packers to pack. So Im working on that today and not enjoying it. What I want to do is take pictures of the house before it gets totally ransacked and tore apart. Maybe I will do that today...but you will have to bare with me because it's already sort of a mess. We will be flying out of here in 43 days. I only have 12 more days in my home here. Very weird. I love this house. I will miss this house, but not this place.

Nick got to give my daily dose of Lupron yesterday for the first time. It was my 3rd injection and already I just whiz right through it. Nick was nervous but did just fine. I have only 3 more nights of the pills left! And then before I know it, the 16th will be here and I will be at my baseline appointment. I think that is also the day I start my stim injections too.

I am guesstimating that my embabies (that is what Im calling my embryos) will be welcomed home to my womb in 27ish days!

Ok, I must get back to work around here now. I keep putting it off and making up excuses. Today I have ran out of excuses. Sigh. I just want it to be packed and shipped already.

Tacos for dinner! Yum! I know, that was totally random. hehe.

4 Jan 2008

So the IVF nurse told me call her at 8 am today for instructions on how to give myself the Lupron injections. I been calling her for an hour now with no answer. I left a message. She always returns messages the same day, but it just bothers me that I can never get a hold of her or anyone else when I need to. I ALWAYS have to leave a message. I know they are working with a lot of cranky women at the same time, but geesh. Give me a break when I need one. I want to get this over with. I dont want to be sitting at home all day waiting for "the call." I had stuff I wanted to do today. Im biting my nails over here....I have to GIVE MYSELF AN INJECTION! Yikes.



I will update this after I hear from her.

So the injection went just fine. MUCH eaiser than I thought and I didnt even have to wait all day for her to call me back. She called me about an hour after I posted this morning. It was easier than I ever imagined it would be. Here is how it works:
1.Use alcohol swab to clean off top of Lupron bottle.
2.Remove wrapper from syringe and pull plunger back until the tip is at the 20 mark line on the syringe. (you can see the 20 mark line in the picture)
3.Take orange cover off the needle.
4.Place bottle of Lupron on a flat surface and push the needle through the rubber center of bottle. Push the plunger all the way in to inject air into the bottle.
5.Keep needle in the bottle. Lift the bottle and turn it straight upside down. Make sure needle tip is in liquid.
6.With the needle in the liquid, slowly pull back plunger until syringe fills to the 20 mark line with liquid. If any bubbles appear remove them by pushing plunger up slowly.
7.Clean injection site with alcohol swab. Then dry with tissue. Pinch skin. Slide needle quickly all the way through skin at 90 degree angle. (this proved to be a million times easier than I expected, and I HATE needles)
8.Push the plunger to inject medication. Withdraw needle at 90 degree angle. Wipe with tissue.
9.Dispose needle properly.
I guess they forgot to give me a used needle container when I picked up my Lupron so Im using an empty cranberry juice container.

Over all, as easy as cake. The pain on a scale of 1-10 was a 0. I didnt even feel it.

3 Jan 2008

Shout out to Tracey~YEAH TRACEY! I dont blame you for being a cheater! I would have done the same thing! Tracey had her egg retrieval on Nick's birthday. She is now pregnant and had her first ultrasound and saw 1 healthy baby, and possibly 2 babies. Either way, I am so thrilled for her. She has been waiting for her little love bug for a very long long time.

GOD please, please let me be as blessed and lucky as her after my IVF procedure.

As for me,
*Im starting to feel better I think. The only thing that makes me feel better is my head isnt as stuffed as it has been. I think Im on the road to recovery.

*Tomorrow I start my Lupron injections. A little nervous...

*Only 6 more days of BCP's.

*In just 12 days it's my birthday. I will be 24 and on my 24th birthday I will be at the IVF clinic getting all my medications, doing tons of blood work and getting scanned and having an injection class. Then I will be well on my way to making babies.

*Over the Christmas/New Year's break Nick and I only spent 1 day making our piles. We cleaned out the spare room of everything so we can pile all our stuff in there that is NOT getting packed. So far we have a pile for our 2 week IVF stay, a pile for our living out of suitcases for 2 months which so far only includes our summer clothing and shoes. We have a pile for unaccompanied baggage which only includes some summer clothing and shoes so far. We have a pile to take to Nick's parents house of stuff we wont need in Guam and maybe they can use. We have 4 bags of stuff to donate pile in the garage too.

Hey, atleast we got that far.

*We have only 47 more days here in the United States before those airplane wheels are up.

*I only have 18 more nights in our house here. I will be spending a lot of night in the hotel in D.C. for IVF which leaves me with not much time here in my comfy house and my wonderful bed.

Yikes, it's getting close.

I hope the cats will be ok. I worry about my babies. They are going to have a hard time. I hope they arent tramatized too much.

2 Jan 2008

I hope you all had a good New Years. I spent mine sick on the couch. I tried so hard to stay up to atleast see the ball drop, but as 10:15 hit my body was so drained and exhausted. I went to bed. I woke up feeling worse and today I feel maybe a tad better. My head isnt as sore and heavy, but I feel like crap. I sure hope this isnt a clue as to how my 2008 will be. That would suck.

Only 8 more night of taking my BCP's! And only 2 more mornings until I start my Lupron injections.

I wanted to shout out to RaJen's news. They did IVF a while back and just found out that their twins are a boy AND a girl! How exciting. I hope we can be just as blessed with our IVF outcome.

Sorry the blog has been so boring. It will pick up real soon. I promise.