Got to see the twinkies yesterday (as expected, the 3rd one did not make it) and the words that are ringing in my head are beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
The first time we saw them about three weeks ago, they were 2 mm (smaller than a grain of rice). Yesterday they grew to 2 cm (about the size of a large grape) and were measuring on-track at 8w 5d. They must be growing fast because my due date moved up by a few days from my first u/s. Right now the u/s estimated 12/2 or 12/3 (although they'll probably arrive sooner since they're twins).
We could already see their umbilical cords, spine and brains start to form (they really are going to take after their Dad and be "quants"!). One was lounging on his back and the other was "standing up" - so maybe we have a slacker and an athlete? Their heartbeats were around 185 and just over 200 bpm. The nurse said this is well within the normal range.
My hormone levels were good, so they are quickly weaning me from my drugs. Down to one Endrometrin (progesterone) suppository, 1 cc of PIO and one estrace tablet (no more patches).
I am still tired, occasionally feel nauseus - but not really too bad. It comes and goes. The cramps have mostly stopped.
I probably have 2-3 more weeks until I graduate from CCRM. I received a note yesterday that they will no longer allow me to do any more u/s there because at this point, they have proved the babies are growing normally so far. The nurse also said that my name comes up often in staff meetings because Dr. Sch thinks the extra PIO so early made a difference - so he's starting to put other women on the same protocol. It's kinda neat to be a medical trailblazer!
Until next time...
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Happiness Project - Being Flygirlish
Sorry I've been offline a few days - I've had a cold that has knocked me out. Went to the Dr. today and she put me on antibotics. Looking forward to feeling better soon.
As many of you know, I am a somewhat avid reader and regularly attend two book clubs which meet every 4-6 weeks.
Why two? Well the women in each group are very different...
In my "Gas and Energy" group, the women are highly analytical engineers and lawyers, so they offer a unique view - especially when the book touches their field of expertise. There are also two of the women's Mom's who attend occasionally and can offer insight into what life was like growing up in the 50's and 60's. While we read some fiction in this group, they've been known to pick several non-fiction titles too.
My "Boston Chicken Girls" (named because that's how the original group members knew one another) are more diverse - a couple database analysts, health care workers, accountants, a technical writer (who's currently doing a project for Disney in Orlando) and a woman who works for the US Forest Service. This group tends to stick mostly to bestselling fiction and the few non-fiction books we've read tend to be less complicated than the other group.
Even when both groups pick the same book, like when both recently read "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford, the conversation is vastly different - so I enjoy the contrasting perspectives of both groups.
For my book club meeting tonight, we read "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. The book is about a woman living in Manhattan who writes about her year-long quest to incorporate more happiness into her life.
Some of the points were very obvious and second-nature to me, such as:
Each person's happiness looks different. For example, Gretchen loves to create memories by filling up what she calls her "blank-books" (which are basically scrapbooks). To me, scrapbooking ranks next to scrubbing the toilet.
The point that resonated with me the most was her commitment to "Be Gretchen" (or, in my case, to "Be Flygirlish").
So, what does "Being Flygirlish" look like? Certainly, some of the values mentioned above are in the mix, but I think just being perceptive of this concept changes my outlook. I've already noticed that when I catch myself being crabby (like when I snapped at my DH last night because I wasn't feeling good and generally dread the PIO shots), I wasn't being very "Flygirlish."
I hope that as our children start to grow and grasp the concept of their own values, I can teach them some of the concepts I've learned from this book.
I encourage you to check out Gretchen's website: http://www.happiness-project.com/
On the pregnancy front, I have an u/s and bloodwork tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing how much the Quants have grown and hoping my levels are high enough to wean off more drugs (especially the PIO).
Enjoy!
As many of you know, I am a somewhat avid reader and regularly attend two book clubs which meet every 4-6 weeks.
Why two? Well the women in each group are very different...
In my "Gas and Energy" group, the women are highly analytical engineers and lawyers, so they offer a unique view - especially when the book touches their field of expertise. There are also two of the women's Mom's who attend occasionally and can offer insight into what life was like growing up in the 50's and 60's. While we read some fiction in this group, they've been known to pick several non-fiction titles too.
My "Boston Chicken Girls" (named because that's how the original group members knew one another) are more diverse - a couple database analysts, health care workers, accountants, a technical writer (who's currently doing a project for Disney in Orlando) and a woman who works for the US Forest Service. This group tends to stick mostly to bestselling fiction and the few non-fiction books we've read tend to be less complicated than the other group.
Even when both groups pick the same book, like when both recently read "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford, the conversation is vastly different - so I enjoy the contrasting perspectives of both groups.
For my book club meeting tonight, we read "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. The book is about a woman living in Manhattan who writes about her year-long quest to incorporate more happiness into her life.
Some of the points were very obvious and second-nature to me, such as:
- When I eliminate clutter and organize stuff in my home, it always makes me feel energized and in-control
- I do not drink alcohol because I do not like the taste, the way it makes me feel the next day, and I would much prefer to eat the calories instead
- I try my best to treat people kindly
- I love and appreciate my DH for who he is - not for what I want him to be
- I do not look to my DH for praise for a job-well done - that should come from within me instead
- I have identified how I like to spend my lieusire time and make time for those things in my life
- I do not "save" my stuff for a rainy day - I use my good china, I wear my favorite clothes, etc.
- Spend money on indulgences that will make your life easier (two words - Container Store), make you happy (e.g. - an IPad - which I am still debating on purchasing) or create memories (hands-down, for me this is travel)
- Limit or eliminate my consumption of "fake food" (i.e. - stuff that comes in crinkly wrappers, boxes, cans, etc.)
- When talking to people (including children) try to frame things positively (e.g. - "No, we can't go to the park now because it's lunchtime" vs. "Yes, we'll go to the park right after lunch")
- Remember that people are usually doing the best they can or know how
Each person's happiness looks different. For example, Gretchen loves to create memories by filling up what she calls her "blank-books" (which are basically scrapbooks). To me, scrapbooking ranks next to scrubbing the toilet.
The point that resonated with me the most was her commitment to "Be Gretchen" (or, in my case, to "Be Flygirlish").
So, what does "Being Flygirlish" look like? Certainly, some of the values mentioned above are in the mix, but I think just being perceptive of this concept changes my outlook. I've already noticed that when I catch myself being crabby (like when I snapped at my DH last night because I wasn't feeling good and generally dread the PIO shots), I wasn't being very "Flygirlish."
I hope that as our children start to grow and grasp the concept of their own values, I can teach them some of the concepts I've learned from this book.
I encourage you to check out Gretchen's website: http://www.happiness-project.com/
On the pregnancy front, I have an u/s and bloodwork tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing how much the Quants have grown and hoping my levels are high enough to wean off more drugs (especially the PIO).
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Quick Update - 7w4d
Went for my first OB visit today. Not sure if this is the right OB for me, so may continue to look for another.
Two babies were measuring perfectly on-track for 7w4d and it doesn't look like the third is going to make it - the sac is collapsed and the HB is much slower. Phew, are we relieved!
This Dr thinks that if we can make it two more weeks, we'll be out of the woods.
Had some nausea last night, but otherwise feeling good.
Two babies were measuring perfectly on-track for 7w4d and it doesn't look like the third is going to make it - the sac is collapsed and the HB is much slower. Phew, are we relieved!
This Dr thinks that if we can make it two more weeks, we'll be out of the woods.
Had some nausea last night, but otherwise feeling good.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
WARNING: SENSITIVE POST - Where My Head is Now...
Thank you for your congratulations and for being happy for us. We are pretty excited too, but I would like to begin to set the record straight and describe where my head is right now - especially now that we've been living with this for a few days.
Yes, we implanted three and realized we were "playing with fire," but after being infertile for 5 years, going through 4 medicated IUIs and 3 prior DE IVFs where we implanted 7 DE embryos (not including this cycle) from 3 different donors (plus the numerous D&C and polyp removal surgeries), and still not getting past the first u/s, the fact that all three took is a bit astonishing.
I won't deny it and say we didn't realize this was a possibility, but in our minds the risk was one my DH and I, together with the advice of our doctor, decided to take.
The last thing in the world we would want to do is to put my health of the health of our unborn children at risk in any way. As many of you know, the risks of a triplet vs twin pregnancy is substantially higher. This is even further compounded by my advanced maternal age.
We are already in our early 40's and this was it...my DH and I strongly agreed going into this cycle that:
1. If we m/c early or failed again, which in our minds was a very real possibility, we were not going to repeat this process - unless there was a definite reason, such as an ectopic.
2. Despite if it failed or succeeded - and no matter how many (if any) embryos took, we were not going to repeat this process when I am 44 and he is 47.
3. If it didn't work this time, we were going to move on to adoption. As many of you know, we started this process in January and recently became approved to be shown to perspective birth mothers.
I am waiting to see if the current situation will naturally change over the next few weeks, but if it doesn't, my DH and I expect that we are going to be facing an extremely difficult decision.
I understand some of you will be upset by this message and think that we are selfish and irresponsible, but the sad, simple truth is that IVF is expensive and takes an extreme toll on my body. We've failed several times before and together decided to take this risk when we did our transfer. It was not a decision we took lightly. In fact, if you look back at my posts in early March, you'll see me stressing and getting cold feet. If we had a crystal ball, we likely would have made a different decision, but all we had was our past experience and a process that has "no guarantees."
I also respect that some people believe that having three with heartbeats is a gift from G-D or some other universal source, but this is also a gift of modern medical science. Without a generous donor, an amazing team of medical professionals, and the wonders of modern drugs, there's no way my uterus would be hosting three beautiful, wonderful, amazing fetuses.
I also want to clarify that if we are forced to make a decision, it is in NO WAY (nor will it ever become) a gender selection issue. All my DH and I ever wanted throughout this journey is to further deepen our already very strong relationship by becoming parents and raising children together.
To those of you starting or who are already in cycle, I have been where you are before and think I understand your pain and heartbreak. I wish there was a way I could take it all away. I hope, more than anything, you all achieve your dream.
Thanks for hearing me out...and I hope you can find it in your heart to be as supportive as you've all always been throughout this process.
Yes, we implanted three and realized we were "playing with fire," but after being infertile for 5 years, going through 4 medicated IUIs and 3 prior DE IVFs where we implanted 7 DE embryos (not including this cycle) from 3 different donors (plus the numerous D&C and polyp removal surgeries), and still not getting past the first u/s, the fact that all three took is a bit astonishing.
I won't deny it and say we didn't realize this was a possibility, but in our minds the risk was one my DH and I, together with the advice of our doctor, decided to take.
The last thing in the world we would want to do is to put my health of the health of our unborn children at risk in any way. As many of you know, the risks of a triplet vs twin pregnancy is substantially higher. This is even further compounded by my advanced maternal age.
We are already in our early 40's and this was it...my DH and I strongly agreed going into this cycle that:
1. If we m/c early or failed again, which in our minds was a very real possibility, we were not going to repeat this process - unless there was a definite reason, such as an ectopic.
2. Despite if it failed or succeeded - and no matter how many (if any) embryos took, we were not going to repeat this process when I am 44 and he is 47.
3. If it didn't work this time, we were going to move on to adoption. As many of you know, we started this process in January and recently became approved to be shown to perspective birth mothers.
I am waiting to see if the current situation will naturally change over the next few weeks, but if it doesn't, my DH and I expect that we are going to be facing an extremely difficult decision.
I understand some of you will be upset by this message and think that we are selfish and irresponsible, but the sad, simple truth is that IVF is expensive and takes an extreme toll on my body. We've failed several times before and together decided to take this risk when we did our transfer. It was not a decision we took lightly. In fact, if you look back at my posts in early March, you'll see me stressing and getting cold feet. If we had a crystal ball, we likely would have made a different decision, but all we had was our past experience and a process that has "no guarantees."
I also respect that some people believe that having three with heartbeats is a gift from G-D or some other universal source, but this is also a gift of modern medical science. Without a generous donor, an amazing team of medical professionals, and the wonders of modern drugs, there's no way my uterus would be hosting three beautiful, wonderful, amazing fetuses.
I also want to clarify that if we are forced to make a decision, it is in NO WAY (nor will it ever become) a gender selection issue. All my DH and I ever wanted throughout this journey is to further deepen our already very strong relationship by becoming parents and raising children together.
To those of you starting or who are already in cycle, I have been where you are before and think I understand your pain and heartbreak. I wish there was a way I could take it all away. I hope, more than anything, you all achieve your dream.
Thanks for hearing me out...and I hope you can find it in your heart to be as supportive as you've all always been throughout this process.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Ummmm....Is this what Baal Shem Tov meant?
Aside from attending weddings, I have not stepped foot inside a synagogue for many, many, many years.
I did attend religious school for two years when I was about 10 or 11, but even at that age I could easily tell that the congregation was more about showing off the new piece of jewlery the wife received from her husband, or the new car they bought or what they were wearing vs. a spiritual experience. In fact, even the head rabbi was openly having an affair (and this guy was supposed to be a moral example for the community?!). Overall, I was very disillusioned and disinterested in religion.
I am generally not a religious or spiritual person. To me, my religious identity as a "New York Jew" was always more about traditions - celebrating holidays, eating Chinese food every Friday, going to grandma and grandpa's on Sundays for bagels and lox, followed by a trip to the Lower East Side to shop for designer jeans (Jordache, Sassoon, etc.) and a stop at the pickle shop.
Ater my last m/c (which I took very, very hard), my Mom asked me if I would please go speak to a local rabbi because I was asking her some deep philosophical questions which she could not answer. Mostly to appease her, but also because I was not thinking straight from all the drugs, I agreed. So she reached out to her rabbi, and provided me with the e-mail address of my local reform rabbi.
The e-mail sat in my inbox for several months and one day my Mom asked me about it. I sheepishly admitted that I had not done anything with it. She explained that her rabbi really went out of his way to get in touch with my local rabbi and asked if I would please follow up because the both really went above and beyond for me. So, I did.
To make a long story short, I have started to fall in love and quickly become passionate about the rabbi's, their message, and this entire congregation. It was NOT AT ALL what I was expecting. In fact, at our first meeting the rabbi asked me if I believed in G-D and I replied, I don't know but I don't think so. He didn't even flinch and put things into a perspective that I could understand.
One of the things I have enjoyed most is a lecture series they host each Thursday at lunch to discuss current events and maybe a passage from the Torah (five books of the bible), Haftorah (writings that Jews used when they were forbidden from studying the Torah), Talmud (jewish laws), or other writings.
Several weeks ago, we talked about the Baal Shem Tov. He was a rabbi that lived during the 18th century in what is now Poland, could perform miracles and had many followers. Many of his teachings became the basis for Chassidic Judiasm . He never wrote down his knowledge, but through the years his followers did and one item attributed to Baal Shem Tov is his "Thirty-Six Aphorisms." In particular, we talked about the following one:
"Your beginning shall be small, and your end shall flourish exceedingly" (Job 8:7) - Small and inauspicious beginnings are often crucial for the person to flourish exceedingly in the end.
This really resonated with me, but I kept thinking in terms of my struggles with infertility. How can I "flourish" when I have absolutely no control over my situation?
I subsequently talked one-on-one with the rabbi about this, and his take on it was that maybe what we thought was our path isn't really our path at all. We often have a "script" or way we expect our life to go...maybe college, then graduate school, meet the love of our life, make strides in your career, buy the house with the white picket fence, aquire the two dogs, have a couple kids...you get the idea. Very often, maybe we need to step back to reevaluate and redefine these expectations.
Maybe what we thought was meant by "flourish" has a different meaning. For example, maybe the pesant who was poorer than dirt and wished he "flourished" with money, instead ended up living a life where he was deeply loved by many in his communty and learned to live with humility.
So, why am I telling you this story?
Well, because when I went in for my u/s today, something happened that I wasn't exactly expecting...
Apparently my LO's like Lovenox and we have a fighter. The third embryo now has a heartbeat too and all three were measuring on-track and healthy. So, as I sit here today can say that I did start small and am now flourishing?
I am not worried at all - more surprised than worried. I know many things can happen in the next 3-4 weeks. Also, we have some of the top doctors in the world right here in Colorado and I know I can get excellent medical care and advice.
I made an appointment for Monday with my geneticist. I didn't realize this, but he is also a perinatalogist (and has promised to continue to work with me if I wish). Unfortunately, he does not do deliveries anymore - otherwise there would be NO question that he would be delivering our children.
He has always been on the cutting-edge of what he does, is well-connected with every practice in town and I adore him and trust him completely. To give you an example, when I stopped by his office to request an appointment (because I work only a few blocks from the office), he said "If she's really nervous, I will clear my schedule to see her later today."
I guess in some ways I was right on target with my last post...I should have just stayed in my ignorant bliss.
I did attend religious school for two years when I was about 10 or 11, but even at that age I could easily tell that the congregation was more about showing off the new piece of jewlery the wife received from her husband, or the new car they bought or what they were wearing vs. a spiritual experience. In fact, even the head rabbi was openly having an affair (and this guy was supposed to be a moral example for the community?!). Overall, I was very disillusioned and disinterested in religion.
I am generally not a religious or spiritual person. To me, my religious identity as a "New York Jew" was always more about traditions - celebrating holidays, eating Chinese food every Friday, going to grandma and grandpa's on Sundays for bagels and lox, followed by a trip to the Lower East Side to shop for designer jeans (Jordache, Sassoon, etc.) and a stop at the pickle shop.
Ater my last m/c (which I took very, very hard), my Mom asked me if I would please go speak to a local rabbi because I was asking her some deep philosophical questions which she could not answer. Mostly to appease her, but also because I was not thinking straight from all the drugs, I agreed. So she reached out to her rabbi, and provided me with the e-mail address of my local reform rabbi.
The e-mail sat in my inbox for several months and one day my Mom asked me about it. I sheepishly admitted that I had not done anything with it. She explained that her rabbi really went out of his way to get in touch with my local rabbi and asked if I would please follow up because the both really went above and beyond for me. So, I did.
To make a long story short, I have started to fall in love and quickly become passionate about the rabbi's, their message, and this entire congregation. It was NOT AT ALL what I was expecting. In fact, at our first meeting the rabbi asked me if I believed in G-D and I replied, I don't know but I don't think so. He didn't even flinch and put things into a perspective that I could understand.
One of the things I have enjoyed most is a lecture series they host each Thursday at lunch to discuss current events and maybe a passage from the Torah (five books of the bible), Haftorah (writings that Jews used when they were forbidden from studying the Torah), Talmud (jewish laws), or other writings.
Several weeks ago, we talked about the Baal Shem Tov. He was a rabbi that lived during the 18th century in what is now Poland, could perform miracles and had many followers. Many of his teachings became the basis for Chassidic Judiasm . He never wrote down his knowledge, but through the years his followers did and one item attributed to Baal Shem Tov is his "Thirty-Six Aphorisms." In particular, we talked about the following one:
"Your beginning shall be small, and your end shall flourish exceedingly" (Job 8:7) - Small and inauspicious beginnings are often crucial for the person to flourish exceedingly in the end.
This really resonated with me, but I kept thinking in terms of my struggles with infertility. How can I "flourish" when I have absolutely no control over my situation?
I subsequently talked one-on-one with the rabbi about this, and his take on it was that maybe what we thought was our path isn't really our path at all. We often have a "script" or way we expect our life to go...maybe college, then graduate school, meet the love of our life, make strides in your career, buy the house with the white picket fence, aquire the two dogs, have a couple kids...you get the idea. Very often, maybe we need to step back to reevaluate and redefine these expectations.
Maybe what we thought was meant by "flourish" has a different meaning. For example, maybe the pesant who was poorer than dirt and wished he "flourished" with money, instead ended up living a life where he was deeply loved by many in his communty and learned to live with humility.
So, why am I telling you this story?
Well, because when I went in for my u/s today, something happened that I wasn't exactly expecting...
Apparently my LO's like Lovenox and we have a fighter. The third embryo now has a heartbeat too and all three were measuring on-track and healthy. So, as I sit here today can say that I did start small and am now flourishing?
I am not worried at all - more surprised than worried. I know many things can happen in the next 3-4 weeks. Also, we have some of the top doctors in the world right here in Colorado and I know I can get excellent medical care and advice.
I made an appointment for Monday with my geneticist. I didn't realize this, but he is also a perinatalogist (and has promised to continue to work with me if I wish). Unfortunately, he does not do deliveries anymore - otherwise there would be NO question that he would be delivering our children.
He has always been on the cutting-edge of what he does, is well-connected with every practice in town and I adore him and trust him completely. To give you an example, when I stopped by his office to request an appointment (because I work only a few blocks from the office), he said "If she's really nervous, I will clear my schedule to see her later today."
I guess in some ways I was right on target with my last post...I should have just stayed in my ignorant bliss.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Living in Ignorant Bliss... Can I Stay Here Please?
The past week has been one of the most amazing of my life. My DH and I have waited and dreamed so long for this day and I wasn't sure if it was ever going to happen. Sitting on this side of the fence - knowing that TWO tiny, incredible, wonderful lives are growing inside of me is a feeling I can't even begin to describe. I feel like I finally scaled my Everest!!!
Yes, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't exhausted, uncomfortable (although the rash has cleared up) and tired of being a pin-cushion / drug receptacle, but I still wake up with a smile on my face, a song in my heart and butterflies in my stomach. I haven't even seen any blood for a week (which for me is HUGE)!!!
Tomorrow I have my second u/s. Most women can't wait for u/s day, but I just want to stay right here in my own little world - enjoying every second of this ignorant bliss.
As with HCG's, the first thing I imagine most of us IVF women do is get on the beta board to see where we fall. How do we compare to the statistics? Each time we get another number - HCG, P4, E2 or a heartbeat, the logical side of me tries to gather as much info as possible and interpret the statistics. Yes, my doctor says my P4 should be X but most women's were Y and Z, are they not telling me something? What is a "good heartbeat" number and when can I start to feel comfortable that these LO's are here to stay?
I am starting to run low on some of my drugs and contacted my nurse earlier this week. She told me to re-order one prescription, but said that we are going to start weaning me off the drugs soon and I shouldn't need to refill any others.
I am scared - what if they miscalculate? What if my body doesn't start creating the hormones like it's supposed to?
Please, don't take away my security blankie...can't I just stay in this state of ignorant bliss awhile longer?
Yes, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't exhausted, uncomfortable (although the rash has cleared up) and tired of being a pin-cushion / drug receptacle, but I still wake up with a smile on my face, a song in my heart and butterflies in my stomach. I haven't even seen any blood for a week (which for me is HUGE)!!!
Tomorrow I have my second u/s. Most women can't wait for u/s day, but I just want to stay right here in my own little world - enjoying every second of this ignorant bliss.
As with HCG's, the first thing I imagine most of us IVF women do is get on the beta board to see where we fall. How do we compare to the statistics? Each time we get another number - HCG, P4, E2 or a heartbeat, the logical side of me tries to gather as much info as possible and interpret the statistics. Yes, my doctor says my P4 should be X but most women's were Y and Z, are they not telling me something? What is a "good heartbeat" number and when can I start to feel comfortable that these LO's are here to stay?
I am starting to run low on some of my drugs and contacted my nurse earlier this week. She told me to re-order one prescription, but said that we are going to start weaning me off the drugs soon and I shouldn't need to refill any others.
I am scared - what if they miscalculate? What if my body doesn't start creating the hormones like it's supposed to?
Please, don't take away my security blankie...can't I just stay in this state of ignorant bliss awhile longer?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I'm Allergic to My Kids...Already!
Lots of women ask about early pregnancy symptoms. In my case, I've had ones that are quite common.
Within the first two weeks of ET, I had cramps, sudden headaches that last for less than five seconds, peeing more frequently and I'm tired. My breasts haven't really hurt...but that was never one of my symptoms.
Over the past week, the cramps are high, quick and have gotten more severe (to the point where I occasionally pop a couple Tylenol). I've just started to feel occasional nausea (not too bad) in the last week (even though my appetite is insatiable already - I suspect due to the prednisone).
The last couple days, I developed a new symptom...I've started to break out in an itchy rash all over my stomach, breasts, back (yes, of course, the spot between my "wings" where I can't reach) - basically everything between my hips and my lower neck (except my arms). I've been using hydrocortizone, but it's not helping much.
I called the doctor and the pharmacist and they both think that it's the progesterone. The pharmacist said it is very common for women to become allergic to the progesterone their body starts to produce. Dr. Sch offered to write me a prescription for PIO in synthetic suspension vs. sesame oil, but since they'll be starting to wean me off of meds pretty soon, I may just put up with it.
I am still elated to be itchy, exhausted, experience sudden cramps and nausea! In my mind, it all means those LO's are trying to tell me they're ok.
Bring it on!!!!
Within the first two weeks of ET, I had cramps, sudden headaches that last for less than five seconds, peeing more frequently and I'm tired. My breasts haven't really hurt...but that was never one of my symptoms.
Over the past week, the cramps are high, quick and have gotten more severe (to the point where I occasionally pop a couple Tylenol). I've just started to feel occasional nausea (not too bad) in the last week (even though my appetite is insatiable already - I suspect due to the prednisone).
The last couple days, I developed a new symptom...I've started to break out in an itchy rash all over my stomach, breasts, back (yes, of course, the spot between my "wings" where I can't reach) - basically everything between my hips and my lower neck (except my arms). I've been using hydrocortizone, but it's not helping much.
I called the doctor and the pharmacist and they both think that it's the progesterone. The pharmacist said it is very common for women to become allergic to the progesterone their body starts to produce. Dr. Sch offered to write me a prescription for PIO in synthetic suspension vs. sesame oil, but since they'll be starting to wean me off of meds pretty soon, I may just put up with it.
I am still elated to be itchy, exhausted, experience sudden cramps and nausea! In my mind, it all means those LO's are trying to tell me they're ok.
Bring it on!!!!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Can You Offer Your Advice?
Could use some advice from you sagious women...
When we first started our IVF journey, we were EXTREMELY private about it. Only me and my DH knew.
As each cycle failed and I needed support, I became more open with my Mom and Dad. As some of you may recall, we didn't even tell them that we were travelling to Prague when we did our first IVF cycle - we told them it was a vacation. We had to tell them for the 2nd Prague cycle because they'd wonder why we were going back only 4 months later. My Dad, who never owned a passport and his idea of going out of the country is having a margarita at a Mexican restaurant, shocked me by saying he wanted to come to Prague with me.
My last M/C in November hit me really hard, so I sometimes called them as I was grieving.
Even though I've asked my Mom and Dad (they're divorced and live cross-country from eachother) to keep any news I tell them to themselves, it ALWAYS ends up being broadcast among family and their friends.
For example, I attended a family funeral in January and my aunt started asking me questions about our infertility journey. I am certain she didn't get the news from me. Later my Mom admitted she told her sister.
For this cycle I have tried to be extremely vague. Sending occasional e-mails like "Hi, We got some tests results back today and so far, so good."
My Dad called a couple days after I got back my first HCG and asked "How are you feeling?" I new the real question was "Am I a grandpa yet?"
My HCG was in the 150's (much lower than the 200-300 that usually indicates twins), and I was a bit discouraged because I thought only one embryo took. So, I told him that my tests came back positive, but I was being cautious about being too optimistic yet because we typically m/c in these first few weeks. Three days later I get a worried call from my Mom asking me if things had failed because she heard through my sister (who is currently pregnant with her 2nd and I am not close with) that things were not going so well. - so I had to explain that the tests came back positive and so far, the tests indicate we're pregnant.
So, I talked to my Mom today and she flat out asked when my 1st u/s is scheduled. Not thinking on my feet, I told her Friday (instead of saying "soon" or "I don't know yet"). Now that she knows, I assume she's going to ask me if it's more than one.
Do I flat-out lie and tell her it's only one, do I say we saw at least one heartbeat and that's all you need to know right now, or do I tell her the truth and then suffer through the embarassment if one or both don't make it?
What would you do?
When we first started our IVF journey, we were EXTREMELY private about it. Only me and my DH knew.
As each cycle failed and I needed support, I became more open with my Mom and Dad. As some of you may recall, we didn't even tell them that we were travelling to Prague when we did our first IVF cycle - we told them it was a vacation. We had to tell them for the 2nd Prague cycle because they'd wonder why we were going back only 4 months later. My Dad, who never owned a passport and his idea of going out of the country is having a margarita at a Mexican restaurant, shocked me by saying he wanted to come to Prague with me.
My last M/C in November hit me really hard, so I sometimes called them as I was grieving.
Even though I've asked my Mom and Dad (they're divorced and live cross-country from eachother) to keep any news I tell them to themselves, it ALWAYS ends up being broadcast among family and their friends.
For example, I attended a family funeral in January and my aunt started asking me questions about our infertility journey. I am certain she didn't get the news from me. Later my Mom admitted she told her sister.
For this cycle I have tried to be extremely vague. Sending occasional e-mails like "Hi, We got some tests results back today and so far, so good."
My Dad called a couple days after I got back my first HCG and asked "How are you feeling?" I new the real question was "Am I a grandpa yet?"
My HCG was in the 150's (much lower than the 200-300 that usually indicates twins), and I was a bit discouraged because I thought only one embryo took. So, I told him that my tests came back positive, but I was being cautious about being too optimistic yet because we typically m/c in these first few weeks. Three days later I get a worried call from my Mom asking me if things had failed because she heard through my sister (who is currently pregnant with her 2nd and I am not close with) that things were not going so well. - so I had to explain that the tests came back positive and so far, the tests indicate we're pregnant.
So, I talked to my Mom today and she flat out asked when my 1st u/s is scheduled. Not thinking on my feet, I told her Friday (instead of saying "soon" or "I don't know yet"). Now that she knows, I assume she's going to ask me if it's more than one.
Do I flat-out lie and tell her it's only one, do I say we saw at least one heartbeat and that's all you need to know right now, or do I tell her the truth and then suffer through the embarassment if one or both don't make it?
What would you do?
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Love Comes Walking In
Thank you for sharing in our excitement! Last night I kept staring at the u/s pictures the u/s tech sent us home with because I still could not believe it. This morning when I woke up, I still felt like I am living in a dream!
Each time I have gotten a BFP and gone through my "2-6 ww", various parts of songs have popped into my head to help get me through. Songs like David Soul's "Don't Give Up on
Us Baby", the Mary Tyler Moore Theme (You're Gonna Make it After All), and Bon
Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer." another one that came up again and again was the chorus to Van Halen's "Love Comes Walking In."
And then you sense a change
Nothin' feels the same
All your dreams are strange
Love comes walkin' in
Some kind of alien
Waits for the opening
Simply pulls a string
Love comes walkin' in
These lyrics would make me ponder the love walking into my life and fighting with all it's strength to develop inside of me brought about by some strange, alien force that I cannot control.
When I got in my car on Thursday to rush home from the restaurant, my radio was on and the station was in the middle of playing this song. As a single tear fell from my eye, I thought to myself "How ironic, here I am losing my pregnancy again, and now that song plays?!" Little did I know the universe was trying to tell me something!
My next u/s is Friday. This gives me a week to just live in bliss knowing everything is ok. I understand it's very common to lose a twin this early, but both my head and my heart are telling me these two twinkies are here to stay.
Aside from being tired, I have been having sharp, high cramps (just below my ribs sometimes) for the last 48 hours. Nurse said Tylenol is ok. Also finally starting to feel small waves of nausea the last 2-3 days. Right now, I couldn't be more happy about feeling like this!
Each time I have gotten a BFP and gone through my "2-6 ww", various parts of songs have popped into my head to help get me through. Songs like David Soul's "Don't Give Up on
Us Baby", the Mary Tyler Moore Theme (You're Gonna Make it After All), and Bon
Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer." another one that came up again and again was the chorus to Van Halen's "Love Comes Walking In."
And then you sense a change
Nothin' feels the same
All your dreams are strange
Love comes walkin' in
Some kind of alien
Waits for the opening
Simply pulls a string
Love comes walkin' in
These lyrics would make me ponder the love walking into my life and fighting with all it's strength to develop inside of me brought about by some strange, alien force that I cannot control.
When I got in my car on Thursday to rush home from the restaurant, my radio was on and the station was in the middle of playing this song. As a single tear fell from my eye, I thought to myself "How ironic, here I am losing my pregnancy again, and now that song plays?!" Little did I know the universe was trying to tell me something!
My next u/s is Friday. This gives me a week to just live in bliss knowing everything is ok. I understand it's very common to lose a twin this early, but both my head and my heart are telling me these two twinkies are here to stay.
Aside from being tired, I have been having sharp, high cramps (just below my ribs sometimes) for the last 48 hours. Nurse said Tylenol is ok. Also finally starting to feel small waves of nausea the last 2-3 days. Right now, I couldn't be more happy about feeling like this!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Part II - Post Today's Appointment - Houston, We Have...
Ok Girls - you'd better be sitting down for this one. It's happening to me and I don't believe it!
The nurse agreed to allow me to come in for an u/s today, but prefaced it with something like "You're very early and probably won't see a heartbeat - so don't be disappointed." Duh, after going thorugh this four times I think I know that by now. Today, I would have settled for even one sac with a yolk. But, in fact...
Houston, we have....
TWO
AMAZING,
BEAUTIFUL,
INCREDIBLE,
WONDERFUL,
SPECTACULAR
HEARTBEATS!!!!!!
I have dreamed of this post for five, long, difficult, heartbreaking years...it's surreal to FINALLY be typing these words.
Baby A had a HB in the low 100's and Baby B had a HB in the 90's (will post exact numbers in a subsequent post - too excited right now). Both measured right on track for 5w 4d (which is right where I am) at 2.2 and 2.1 mm.
There was even a third sac that the u/s tech could see a yolk in, but she said it is very unlikely that it would catch up - that's just fine with us!!!
There was an SCH, but it is no where near either of the babies, so the u/s tech didn't sound concerned at all.
I am still in shock and utterly speechless.
The nurse agreed to allow me to come in for an u/s today, but prefaced it with something like "You're very early and probably won't see a heartbeat - so don't be disappointed." Duh, after going thorugh this four times I think I know that by now. Today, I would have settled for even one sac with a yolk. But, in fact...
Houston, we have....
TWO
AMAZING,
BEAUTIFUL,
INCREDIBLE,
WONDERFUL,
SPECTACULAR
HEARTBEATS!!!!!!
I have dreamed of this post for five, long, difficult, heartbreaking years...it's surreal to FINALLY be typing these words.
Baby A had a HB in the low 100's and Baby B had a HB in the 90's (will post exact numbers in a subsequent post - too excited right now). Both measured right on track for 5w 4d (which is right where I am) at 2.2 and 2.1 mm.
There was even a third sac that the u/s tech could see a yolk in, but she said it is very unlikely that it would catch up - that's just fine with us!!!
There was an SCH, but it is no where near either of the babies, so the u/s tech didn't sound concerned at all.
I am still in shock and utterly speechless.
Things Have Taken a Sudden Turn...Not Looking Good
Yes, you read right.
Everything was fine yesterday afternoon. Not a single sign of blood...
Was going to attend a meeting near my office, so went to dinner by myself. When I got up, could feel that I was bleeding, so called the nurse and told her I knew the drill...go home, put my feet up, drink lots of water. She called in a prescription for erythromycin and said call in the morning. As usual, there is nothing they can do...
By the time I got home, I was soaked through, passing large clots and having strong cramps. It's now 4 am and, although the cramps subsided, I am still passing blood and clots.
Based on my beta numbers and past experience, I am pretty certain it's not a passing twin. Yes, I know it can be a SCH and lots of women in my situation have gone on to have healthy pregnancies, but this is exactly the way things played out the last two times - so that is unlikely in my case.
I am scheduled to fly out to our home office on Sunday for a series of important meetings and to give a presentation(first time in three years)and hadn't even told my boss we were going through this again.
In the words of Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins "Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!"
Everything was fine yesterday afternoon. Not a single sign of blood...
Was going to attend a meeting near my office, so went to dinner by myself. When I got up, could feel that I was bleeding, so called the nurse and told her I knew the drill...go home, put my feet up, drink lots of water. She called in a prescription for erythromycin and said call in the morning. As usual, there is nothing they can do...
By the time I got home, I was soaked through, passing large clots and having strong cramps. It's now 4 am and, although the cramps subsided, I am still passing blood and clots.
Based on my beta numbers and past experience, I am pretty certain it's not a passing twin. Yes, I know it can be a SCH and lots of women in my situation have gone on to have healthy pregnancies, but this is exactly the way things played out the last two times - so that is unlikely in my case.
I am scheduled to fly out to our home office on Sunday for a series of important meetings and to give a presentation(first time in three years)and hadn't even told my boss we were going through this again.
In the words of Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins "Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!"
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Thank You Henrietta Lacks
I am a somewhat avid reader and find myself typically choosing a book over watching television most evenings. Several months ago, I heard a review on the radio for a book called "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.
The book is about an African American woman descended from slaves who moved with her children from the rural South to the Philadelphia area so her husband could make a better living working in the steel mills. Shortly after she made the move and gave birth to her youngest child, she developed quickly-growing cancerous tumors. Although the doctors treated her aggressively, she died in her early 30's - leaving her youngest children with no memory of their mother.
Without her knowledge or consent, her doctor removed samples of her tissue and attempted to do what doctors for many previous generations had done - grow cells in a lab for research purposes. Mrs. Lacks had something exceptional in her genetic makeup and her cells not only survived, they thrived. Her doctor ended up creating an entire industry based on selling her cell samples and he and many other doctors became wealthy off the HeLa cells (at they time they took the first two initials from the patients first and last names to identify the cells). She nor her family had any idea for many, many years. They only found out due to a chance meeting with someone in the industry who made the connection between HeLa cells and the family members. When doctors wanted to obtain samples from her children and relatives, the doctors didn't quite tell the family the truth either. The family has never been acknowledged nor received a penny of compensation. In fact, many of them can't even afford insurance or medical care.
Why am I telling you this? Well, because in addition to developing drugs and cures for things like cancer, polio, HIV, STD's and a plethora of other viruses and bacteria, the life that's growing inside me now and all the other women who undergo IVF may have never occurred without the contribution of the Lacks' family.
Even today (or at least when the book was published in late 2010), my understanding is that when you have a medical procedure, in general, your "genetic waste" is generally considered property of the doctor and they can do pretty much whatever they want with it. Obviously, embryos are a different story.
Today, I just want to say thank you to Ms. Skloot for taking a complex subject and making it fascinating. I also want to thank the Lacks family. You helped create many, many miracles and make many, many dreams come true!
OTHER NEWS
In other news, I had my levels checked yesterday and things are still stable. My P4 dropped a little from last Wednesday from 34 to 30.3 and my E2 is still hanging out in the 325 - 350 range. So, they are going to keep me on all my drugs for now and test again when I go in for my first u/s next week.
Had a wee bit of spotting again last night - but I probably wouldn't have even noticed if I wasn't looking for it. By this morning it went away.
Each day we're getting closer to a heartbeat! Still counting down the hours!
The book is about an African American woman descended from slaves who moved with her children from the rural South to the Philadelphia area so her husband could make a better living working in the steel mills. Shortly after she made the move and gave birth to her youngest child, she developed quickly-growing cancerous tumors. Although the doctors treated her aggressively, she died in her early 30's - leaving her youngest children with no memory of their mother.
Without her knowledge or consent, her doctor removed samples of her tissue and attempted to do what doctors for many previous generations had done - grow cells in a lab for research purposes. Mrs. Lacks had something exceptional in her genetic makeup and her cells not only survived, they thrived. Her doctor ended up creating an entire industry based on selling her cell samples and he and many other doctors became wealthy off the HeLa cells (at they time they took the first two initials from the patients first and last names to identify the cells). She nor her family had any idea for many, many years. They only found out due to a chance meeting with someone in the industry who made the connection between HeLa cells and the family members. When doctors wanted to obtain samples from her children and relatives, the doctors didn't quite tell the family the truth either. The family has never been acknowledged nor received a penny of compensation. In fact, many of them can't even afford insurance or medical care.
Why am I telling you this? Well, because in addition to developing drugs and cures for things like cancer, polio, HIV, STD's and a plethora of other viruses and bacteria, the life that's growing inside me now and all the other women who undergo IVF may have never occurred without the contribution of the Lacks' family.
Even today (or at least when the book was published in late 2010), my understanding is that when you have a medical procedure, in general, your "genetic waste" is generally considered property of the doctor and they can do pretty much whatever they want with it. Obviously, embryos are a different story.
Today, I just want to say thank you to Ms. Skloot for taking a complex subject and making it fascinating. I also want to thank the Lacks family. You helped create many, many miracles and make many, many dreams come true!
OTHER NEWS
In other news, I had my levels checked yesterday and things are still stable. My P4 dropped a little from last Wednesday from 34 to 30.3 and my E2 is still hanging out in the 325 - 350 range. So, they are going to keep me on all my drugs for now and test again when I go in for my first u/s next week.
Had a wee bit of spotting again last night - but I probably wouldn't have even noticed if I wasn't looking for it. By this morning it went away.
Each day we're getting closer to a heartbeat! Still counting down the hours!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Day-by-Day, Hour-by-Hour
As many of you know, this is my "do or die" week. This time is far more stressful than most women's "2 ww" because this is when things have traditionally started to take a turn for the worse during all my past BFP cycles.
Each day - no, each waking hour - that I don't see blood, is a celebration to me because that's one more hour closer to "success."
Last evening I wasn't so lucky. I was doing fine around 3 pm, but while I was driving home I felt cramps and by the time I arrived around 6:30 pm, I saw some light red blood. My DH and I still took our dogs for a walk, but I was in a state of panic for most of the evening. My DH convinced me to call the on-call nurse and they said exactly what I expected - "Keep off your feet and drink plenty of water."
Today, things are looking up again. Bleeding seems to be gone.
Please, please, please...let me get through this...bit-by-bit, hour-by-hour.
How do you girls get through this agony?
Each day - no, each waking hour - that I don't see blood, is a celebration to me because that's one more hour closer to "success."
Last evening I wasn't so lucky. I was doing fine around 3 pm, but while I was driving home I felt cramps and by the time I arrived around 6:30 pm, I saw some light red blood. My DH and I still took our dogs for a walk, but I was in a state of panic for most of the evening. My DH convinced me to call the on-call nurse and they said exactly what I expected - "Keep off your feet and drink plenty of water."
Today, things are looking up again. Bleeding seems to be gone.
Please, please, please...let me get through this...bit-by-bit, hour-by-hour.
How do you girls get through this agony?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Ready to Let Go and Pay It Forward...
As I've been going through my IVF journey, I was lucky enough to have my company add a bit of IVF coverage at the beginning of 2010 to help pay for specialty drugs and some of my cycle. One month later, my company announced that my division would be sold (this was expected and was actually very good news).
We were supposed to stay on the parent company's medical policy until the end of 2010, but about five months later, right as my DH and I were gearing up to cycle again, my company announced "Surprise, in less than two weeks we are going on our own insurance policy - but it's ok. Employees are going to pay the same premiums and have the same coverage except we are eliminating infertility and gastric bypass benefits. Isn't that wonderful?!!!" Needless to say this upset my plans a bit.
Since, at this point, we were still deciding if I was going to try with my own eggs or go the donor, I asked my RE to put through an immediate order for lots of Gonal-F because I figured I might as well max out on my specialty drugs before my coverage lapsed.
Sitting here today, we have plenty of frosties and do not need to use these drugs prior to their expiration date. I guess I have been hanging onto them as a "security blanket" for that "just in case" instance. Now, I am ready to let go.
As some of you know, if you are paying out-of-pocket, each of these pens can cost $1000 or more.
So, now I have 3 900 IU Gonal-F pens that have been sitting in my fridge which will expire at the end of July 2011 that I would like to donate to my blog readers who dream of starting a family and will be beginning their own or a DE cycle very soon.
Update: I've had three women respond -all with amazing and difficult stories like my own - and will be contacting all of them to arrange shipping! So happy I can maybe help create a life (in my own little way)!
We were supposed to stay on the parent company's medical policy until the end of 2010, but about five months later, right as my DH and I were gearing up to cycle again, my company announced "Surprise, in less than two weeks we are going on our own insurance policy - but it's ok. Employees are going to pay the same premiums and have the same coverage except we are eliminating infertility and gastric bypass benefits. Isn't that wonderful?!!!" Needless to say this upset my plans a bit.
Since, at this point, we were still deciding if I was going to try with my own eggs or go the donor, I asked my RE to put through an immediate order for lots of Gonal-F because I figured I might as well max out on my specialty drugs before my coverage lapsed.
Sitting here today, we have plenty of frosties and do not need to use these drugs prior to their expiration date. I guess I have been hanging onto them as a "security blanket" for that "just in case" instance. Now, I am ready to let go.
As some of you know, if you are paying out-of-pocket, each of these pens can cost $1000 or more.
So, now I have 3 900 IU Gonal-F pens that have been sitting in my fridge which will expire at the end of July 2011 that I would like to donate to my blog readers who dream of starting a family and will be beginning their own or a DE cycle very soon.
Update: I've had three women respond -all with amazing and difficult stories like my own - and will be contacting all of them to arrange shipping! So happy I can maybe help create a life (in my own little way)!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Friday April 1 - Part II
Excellent news today....
Are you ready? (Dum, da, da, dum, dum, dum....the trumpets call)
HCG = 1554!!!!!!
E2 = 309 (Still over the 300 they want. This number fluctuates - so the nurse reassured me that it's just fine).
P4 = 34.2!!!!!!!!!! Yes...34.2!!!!! Let me say it again....34.2!!!!
Are you ready? (Dum, da, da, dum, dum, dum....the trumpets call)
HCG = 1554!!!!!!
E2 = 309 (Still over the 300 they want. This number fluctuates - so the nurse reassured me that it's just fine).
P4 = 34.2!!!!!!!!!! Yes...34.2!!!!! Let me say it again....34.2!!!!
Two Week Embryo Anniversary! An Exciting Adoption Update Too!
Happy Friday! Today is officially two weeks that my embryos have officially come home and only had the smallest smidgen of spotting when I inserted my Endrometrin one day earlier this week.
I looked back at where things took a turn during my last BFP cycles and the next nine days will be the most critical for me. If I can get to next Sunday (April 10th) without seeing any blood, I'll be further than I've ever been before. I still need to confirm, but I think that my 1st u/s can be as early as April 13 -15 - so a little less than two weeks until we can start getting excited and maybe share some good news with the immediate family (I've been very vague when talking to them).
As for symptoms, haven't had many at all. Mostly just tired (from the estrogen / progesterone) Very occasional cramps - mostly higher in my uterus, not really any headaches anymore, and now sometimes feeling some tenderness in my upper chest - which I've never felt before. Strange.
I had my blood drawn again this morning and the phlebotomist (who has drawn my blood many times, but hasn't had me as a patient since the day of my transfer) said my betas were quite strong and she felt very good about this cycle. That certainly eased my mind. She also thinks the extra progesterone is going to increase my numbers today.
Things have changed at CCRM since when I cycled in September. They no longer draw more than two HCG's. They wanted me to come back today to check my E2 and P4 and I asked about HCG. Good thing I did because it was not a test my nurse ordered. The phlebotomist was going to ask if we can add it....so. we'll see.
Adoption Update
We're now "officially approved!" To our surprise, we received a copy of our homestudy to review / correct last night - two weeks early.
So, this weekend we get to review the package and send back our suggested edits to ensure accuracy. Asside from a couple minor inaccuracies (e.g. - we have two bedrooms upstairs, not three; my name is wrong in one place), we received a glowing recommendation.
Once we send it back, we are eligible to be shown to potential birth mothers and can start marketing ourselves. I was on a roll for awhile to get things ready to begin marketing ourselves, but I haven't been able to give it my full attention lately - so I am not ready to hit the ground running like I thought I would.
It's ok though. The next two weeks will be extremely exciting and we are in a fantastic position to be holding at least one of our babies in our arms before the end of 2011!
I looked back at where things took a turn during my last BFP cycles and the next nine days will be the most critical for me. If I can get to next Sunday (April 10th) without seeing any blood, I'll be further than I've ever been before. I still need to confirm, but I think that my 1st u/s can be as early as April 13 -15 - so a little less than two weeks until we can start getting excited and maybe share some good news with the immediate family (I've been very vague when talking to them).
As for symptoms, haven't had many at all. Mostly just tired (from the estrogen / progesterone) Very occasional cramps - mostly higher in my uterus, not really any headaches anymore, and now sometimes feeling some tenderness in my upper chest - which I've never felt before. Strange.
I had my blood drawn again this morning and the phlebotomist (who has drawn my blood many times, but hasn't had me as a patient since the day of my transfer) said my betas were quite strong and she felt very good about this cycle. That certainly eased my mind. She also thinks the extra progesterone is going to increase my numbers today.
Things have changed at CCRM since when I cycled in September. They no longer draw more than two HCG's. They wanted me to come back today to check my E2 and P4 and I asked about HCG. Good thing I did because it was not a test my nurse ordered. The phlebotomist was going to ask if we can add it....so. we'll see.
Adoption Update
We're now "officially approved!" To our surprise, we received a copy of our homestudy to review / correct last night - two weeks early.
So, this weekend we get to review the package and send back our suggested edits to ensure accuracy. Asside from a couple minor inaccuracies (e.g. - we have two bedrooms upstairs, not three; my name is wrong in one place), we received a glowing recommendation.
Once we send it back, we are eligible to be shown to potential birth mothers and can start marketing ourselves. I was on a roll for awhile to get things ready to begin marketing ourselves, but I haven't been able to give it my full attention lately - so I am not ready to hit the ground running like I thought I would.
It's ok though. The next two weeks will be extremely exciting and we are in a fantastic position to be holding at least one of our babies in our arms before the end of 2011!