Black and Blue and Happy About It

Things on both fronts are moving along at a rapid pace...

On the adoption, we had our last homestudy on Sunday. Most of the day Saturday, we spent cleaning up piles of junk we've neglected for six months or more. We went under the assumption she would be looking in every drawer, cabinet, etc. We even locked all the fertility meds in the trunk of my car. Thankfully, I even remembered to take down my calendar from the bathroom mirror.Whew - that was almost a close one!

The homestudy itself ended up being much less than we anticipated. She walked through the house and basically took a 30-second cursory look at each room - that was it! She didn't even ask to see if we had adequate fire extinguishers, a first aid kit, etc. I even tied up the cords on the blinds - all for nothing.

She did forget to send us some forms we need to mail into the Colorado Bureau of Investigations - so that's going to set us back another month. Had I not asked when she expected our fingerprint cards back, she would have never know about it. The more I work with this woman, the more disorganized she seems. On the other hand, I still believe their organization will get the job done. I anticipate we'll be fully approved in about 30-45 days - so perfect timing to know if the IVF worked.

On the IVF front, I took my last dose of lupron on Saturday and am now on the following:

• 2 pre-natal vitamins
• 2 fabb tablets (extra folic acid, B6 and B12)
• 1 iron supplement
• 1 baby aspirin
• 1 medrol @ bedtime  (until Thursday)
• 4 tetracycline (until Thursday)
• 1 lovenox injection (blood thinner)
• 3 endrometrin suppositories (progesterone)
• 1 progesterone-in-oil injection (every other day for extra progesterone)
• 2 vivelle patches (estrogen - change every other day)

 I feel like a mobile drugstore. It's hard to keep it all straight.

So far, the Lovenox shots were not as bad as I read (especially compared to the PIO). They are no worse than the lupron shots going in, but they sting a little after the medication is injected. They also leave black-and-blue marks on my abdomen (about 3/4" round) - that don't hurt, but look awful.

Went for a lining check today and I'm at 11mm with a perfect triple-stripe. Still waiting for my E2 / P4 results, but I think this is more a technicality at this point so that they can regulate my drugs.

So, as of now, all systems are a go for Friday. Hip, hip, hooray!

Single Digits

Didn't think I would ever get here (yes, I knew it would happen eventually, but it seemed to be taking forever). SEVEN days until I am FINALLY pregnant!

Lisa - Thanks for lighting a candle...hope it does the trick like it did for LN10.

Here is my current calendar - the one thing that might be confusing is that I am still on 2 Vivelle patches every other day - so I will be changing them on 3/12.

It's so much fun to finally be on the home stretch to the FET.

What a Difference One Day Makes...

First, let me begin by saying you girls are amazing! Thank you for all the comments you've left over the last several hours. It means so much to me to know that you understand. You made a difference...thank you again.

Today I went in for an e2, lining check and doppler check. E2 was over 100, lining was 9 mm, and blood-flow doppler was excellent - so I asked if they'd move my transfer up by a week (this would also mean that my regular Dr. will perform the transfer since he wasn't going to be in on 3/25).

Guess what? I hit the jackpot! I now have a new date - 3/18!!!! (Dee - I will still be cheering you on)

Something tells me I will have lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

BRING IT ON BABY!!!! FLYGIRL IS BACK!!!

Can You Spare a Hug? I Sure Could Use One Now...

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about how I tried to keep a positive attitude through all this. So far, it really hasn't been that hard and I honestly have been happy for everyone who has come out on the other side of this bitter journey.

About an hour ago, I received a call from my sister and she casually announced she is 13 weeks along with her second child (another boy). She's due in September.

They just started trying in September - but she didn't start monitoring until October. Two months  - and they're pregnant.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Why do I have to go through HELL???

As Time Goes By...

Stood at my bathroom mirror this morning, lined up my drugs:

2 Folbee Tablets (extra B6 and B12)
2 Pre-Natal Vitamins
1 Baby Aspirin
1 Iron Tablet
1 Lupron Shot
1 Vivelle Patch

and then glanced at my calendar again. Suddenly relized I come off Lupron in 12 days. 12 DAYS...12 DAYS...less than two weeks - that's no time at all!

Isn't it funny how us IVF'ers count our days in drugs?

Met my friend last night who is adopting too to talk more one-on-one. It felt so good to have a friend to confide in. We are both in a book club, so we decided to keep our secret between us.

Our third house study is this Sunday afternoon - so the weekend is going to be spent straightening up and getting ready. Glad there's only one home study and this is our last one.

3 More Weeks!

In exactly 3 weeks (and a few hours), I'll presumably be PUPO! I keep having the tune "One Last Kiss" from Bye, Bye Birdie runing through my mind...only I'm humming "Three more weeks, oh baby just three more weeks..."

I took one more step forward today and started estrogen patches. I also have a preliminary lining check this afternoon (to avoid a repeat of January - waiting too long until it was too late).

As usual, I went to bed around 11 pm, was up again at 2 am and fell back to sleep at 4 am. When I did sleep, the strange dreams came back...

Last night, we had a friend staying overnight with us who has an intervew in Ft. Collins today.  I had a dream that he snuck a bunch of women into our house and every time I opened a bedroom door, I would find all these strange women and talking and sleeping. Nothing sexual, mind you - just women and girls talking and sleeping, on the beds, on the floor, in chairs. I politely asked them to leave...and they did.

Who needs LSD when you've got Lupron? If you're like me, you're either wired or tripping in your sleep...

I Admit It...I Caved...Sort Of...

Ever since we started TTC, I have been adamant about not buying baby stuff for a baby that didn't exist yet.

Yes, it was often hard to walk through a store and pass the adorable, ruffled, frilly dresses with patent mary janes and matching headband, or the cute embroidered overalls with matching t-shirt and tiny booties. If you listen close enough, you can actually hear certain items almost call our names.

This past spring, my Mom had planned to visit. Our time together happened to have fallen shortly after I got a BFP from my second IVF and my progesterone started falling - so it was a time of cautious excitement and hopeful optimism.

It was a beautiful day and we took a ride to Boulder to walk around Pearl Street - an outdoor mall with funky and fun shops. Since my sister had a 6-month old, we decided to stop into a "boutique" baby store and browse. I mustered some of my willpower and walked out empty-handed, but I also remembered loving the store because the items they carried were unique and I liked that they were owned locally.

This past week, Living Social ran a 50% off promotion for this store that doesn't have to be redeemed until early September (and even longer considering you can use it to buy gift cards). Now that I know our baby is coming soon - either through this "hail mary" IVF or via adoption, I gave in and purchased the deal - big time.

A part of me feels like I sold-out, but I am also looking forward to going on a shopping spree. I guess either I will purchase something that I most likely wouldn't have normally - like an upscale crib, or some of my friends are going to get very nice shower gifts.

Maybe "acting as if" will make our destiny come true?