Pumpkin Patch 2011

Since the transfer and being PUPO, I have been an emotional wreck.  Mostly I can't hold still or I am wiped out with sleepiness.  I've been trying to keep myself from thinking about the what-if's, but it's really, really hard.

The Brown's were kind enough to include us in their annual family pumpkin patch day and it really helped me stay distracted....other than all the adorable children running around.  Oh, well!  It worked a little to distract me.

I was overjoyed when Rob said he'd come with.  Usually, I am doing the family stuff on my own, but this year he came along.  Even after staying up till 4am playing video games and getting up at 8 to get to the Brown's by 9.

We had a blast playing with all the children and eating yummy food!  Thank you Brown-Wiesner-Jordahl Family for the great distraction!

Two more days till the 1st Beta...Wednesday can't come sooner and it's so hard not to pee-on-a-stick!!!

3dp5dt (Three Days Past 5 Day Transfer)

Transfer day has come and gone!  It was a really good experience overall, even if the procedure itself was uncomfortable.  They want you to have a full bladder - Then they push and poke you LOTS!!!  I joked with my mom and Rob that, "down there", It's cloudy with a chance of showers. It was great that they were there to keep me company and helped to keep my mind off the stressful stuff a little.   After some deep conversations of pro's and con's about how many embryo's to implant, we decided on one.  The Dr. was reassuring me that because of my age and health that my odds of success with one is high.  Putting two in, would probably result in twins and everyone is a little scared of that since this would be my first pregnancy. They gave me a relaxant, wheeled me in to the operating room.  As they were doing the transfer, I got to see my embryo on the monitor and it really chocked me up.  Pretty AWESOME!!!  I went home and had to be on bed rest for two days....It sounds like a lot of fun, but really it isn't!!!  I wanted to get up and do things, but I know that the best thing for that baby was to hold still.   Here's the first picture of our 5 day miracle embryo!  The embryo is hatching and half the cells are making the placenta and the other side is making the Fetus.  SO COOL!!! Here is what's going to happen in the next week! ..........Embryo is growing and developing 0dpt...Embryo is now a blastocyst 1dpt...Blastocyst hatches out of shell on this day 2dpt.. Blastocyst attaches to a site on the uterine lining 3dpt.. Implantation begins, as the blastocyst begins to bury in the lining 4dpt.. Implantation process continues and morula buries deeper in the lining 5dpt.. Morula is completely inmplanted in the lining and has placenta cells & fetal cells 6dpt...Placenta cells begin to secret HCG in the blood 7dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops 8dpt...More HCG is produced as fetus develops 9dpt...HCG levels are now high enough to be immediately detected on HPT Now it's time to wait!  I hate waiting!

Retrieval and Fertilization

After 3 long weeks of daily shots it all came to an end yesterday at the retrieval.  I am so proud of myself and my family and friends for supporting me in this long journey.  Although, the journey isn't over yet, I am still amazed at how far we've come.

The retrieval day started with us getting up really early and taking Morgan to Alaena's before school.  Then we had to race through traffic to be to the office by 7:45 which isn't easy in foggy, wet traffic.  We made it in time!  We went to the office and were ushered into the back where we'd never been before.  It looked just like a hospital, but it is part of the office.  Pretty cool, that everything is in house.  The nurse was really nice, although Rob didn't think so.  Mainly because she was trying to protect me and she didn't understand his humor....  I thought she was great, even though she had to start my iv 3 times!!!  I was a trooper!  They're my battle wounds and with all of this, I truly believe no pain no gain!  After she put the iv in, I got to meet the great Anesthesiologist.  She's awesome!!!  So sweet and had a great sense of humor!  The doctor came in and said Hi and told Rob that someone would come for him soon....and even before I had any drugs, I thought that was hilarious!!!  I was laughing out loud and more puns were flowing....The nurses were wondering what I was laughing at....it was bad when I had to explain my laughing....What can I say, laughter eases the nerves.  After a stop in the restroom, I walked in to the operating room and laid down on this weird bed that parts removed and had really high stirrups.  The Anesthesiologist gave me some oxygen which I hate, it tickles my nose and then she said she was giving me some happy juice and I was out!  I woke up saying that Rob is normal....?!?!  I am guessing it has to do with his spermies.  I also asking how many eggs I got, and the magic number is 18!!!  I had more follicles than that, but I am thrilled with the number.

I was in some pain but it's nothing compared to having my tubes removed.  I found my big comfy chair, watched crappy TV and rested.  It was great!  Travis brought me a pumpkin pie from Costco and that was just wonderful!!!  I also made a huge crock-pot of soup!  I mean huge!  I'll be freezing it, bringing it to work and eating it for weeks!

The day after the retrieval-

I got the greatest call from the embryologist this morning and out of 18 eggs, 14 were mature and 12 fertilized!  OMG!!!  That's great news!  Now we wait till Monday for the transfer and see what grade they are before deciding on putting 1 or 2 in!

Trigger Shot D-Day. . . YES!!!

I got the great news today that I am finally ready for the retrieval!!!!  :-)  You cannot imagine how happy I was to hear those words, but now my stomach is in knots…I am terrified there wont be any eggs!

Today was my last morning with Wanda!  He, He!  Dr. Hesla said that my uterine lining looked "perfect" in terms of the thickness it should be at this stage of my cycle, and I think I have between 18 and 20 follicles.  That’s just an estimate since he couldn’t see how many eggs I had in my right ovary again…even after he and his nurse took turns pushing on my sore abdomen trying to get a better look.  He said that he could at least count 6, but that some were hiding.  I can't tell you how proud I am of my body for working so well and producing so many follicles (with eggs!!!) 

Tonight at precisely 9:30pm, we will do the HCG injection and none ever again, fingers crossed!  Tomorrow, I get an injection-free day (woohoo!), which you can be sure I will enjoy immensely.  IV on Wednesday, but after that it should only be blood draws.  Easy as pie!

Rob, my mom and I will check-in at 7:45am on Wednesday and our retrieval will begin at 8:30am (36 hours after the HCG injection). 

Rob will give his donation (Fresh is best) I don’t think anyone can be with me until after the retrieval since I’ll be under anesthesia.  Depending on how uncomfortable Rob is after his donation, my mom will be there to take me home.  I can’t wait to see how many Grade A eggs they retrieve! 

I am amazed that we have made it this far honestly, since there are so many variables that have to be lined up just right in order to reach this point--just as with a natural pregnancy.  I am excited and thinking of my future babies and talking to them.  Rob is excited too and so glad we are on to the next step of this adventure. 

Thank you all so much for your good thoughts while we take this crazy roller coaster ride together --I know they have helped!

Another visit from Wanda

Today I got the pleasure of another vaginal ultrasound and blood draw.  Because really, it wouldn't be a real week unless at least one person looked at my ovaries with a condom-covered camera, right?  Today's was the third in a week in a half!  The ultrasound while not pleasant isn't as bad as the blood draw.  My veins usually cooperate, but Tuesday she couldn't find a vein so she stuck me in the same spot as Thursday!  OUCH!  Then today, what does she do, she pokes me in the same spot.  Now I have a purple bruise that matches my purple bruised belly.  :-)

Dr. Helsa counted 8 follicles on the left and had a harder time counting on the right.  My right ovary likes to hide!  But he did count at least 8 on the right as well!  That's at least 16 follicles!  They range from 10 to 14 mm!  They like to take them out when they get to about 17-18 mm, so I am doing so good that they reduced one of my stimulant drugs.  To bad it isn't the one that burns, but it's still great news.  Yay!  It sounds like everything is going just how they want, and that I will probably have my retrieval earlier than thought - maybe Wednesday!  I have another US/BW at 7:45 on Saturday morning to get a better idea....Rob said I was going by myself, but I know he'll go with me.  He has no choice with the hormonal lady!  :-)

I'll write more soon!

I am suppressed!

Yay! I am suppressed! I have 8 follicles on the right side and 11 on the Left! It just means I didn't ovulate and they're getting ready to make lots of eggs! I could have the trigger shot as soon as 10/10 and the retrieval could be 10/13 which is awesome! I'd then have the transfer 5 days later!  Things are moving forward and I am freaking out!  Now that we've invested in all of this, what if it doesn't work?  Ahhh! I try my best not to think about it, but it's very hard.


Danielle was awesome last night.  She gave me a "drive by shooting"!  We had plans for dinner and she was kind enough to give me my shot in the car before hand.  Again, she did wonderful!  No pain!  It was good practice for her since I am going to start to have 3 shots a day on starting Saturday!  Yuck!  And she's kind enough to help Rob out on the weekends.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Giggles and shots!

This weekend Rob and I spent at home relaxing for the first time in a very long time. Since we didn't really want to drive to Shannon's to give me the shot, and Danielle was at the OSU game, the only other option I had was to have Rob give me the shot. I asked and he said YES! I don't think either of us believed that he said yes! I got the shot ready and said I'd lay down on the couch (I usually stand while Shannon does it) I figured it would be easier for Rob. He pinched my stomach and I can't remember who or why, but we started giggling! It was awful! He poked me and because we were giggling he pulled it out. It was like he bumped into me.....so now he had to do it again for real. Anyways, he did awesome after we stopped giggling! He did so well that he can do it on the weekends now! Needles freak him out but he's being a great husband! I love him lots!

And so I begin the journey to becoming a pincushion.

I have a knack for making something so tiny, be so big, in the hopes that when it actually doesn’t get huge, I feel relieved.   Today I had that feeling.  I was in the frame mind that the needle was going to be so painful that it was making me nauseous.  Even though I know it’s not going to be that bad.  Shannon was so great!  It wasn’t painful at all.  The procedure itself wasn’t at least.  After, if was just a little uncomfortable, but very, very tolerable!  Again, I felt so relieved!!! :-)

Rob was even getting into the class, which for him is big!  He hates needles, but he came to support and check things out.  Even though he does not have to go through all the pain like I am, he’s still by my side.  Ahhh...

I can’t thank Shannon enough for taking the time in her busy schedule to tag along with us.  She did great and I didn’t really feel anything!  I guess I did jump a little, but I think it also had to do with her arm jabbing my stomach! 

Overall, I wouldn’t say it was enjoyable, but it was most definitely tolerable!!  I am saying that as I am electing to put my body through menopause and the symptoms are soooooo wonderful, not!  I’ve already had my first hot flash, and I only took the shot at 7.  Oh well!  Baby here we come!

Here's all the medicine I'll be taking!  :-)  WOW!!!

I am going to miss...

Your love, snuggles and great personality.  You were my first fur baby and life with out you won't be the same.  I love you lots and I will remember you always.

IVF Shoot “Em Up!

I am so apprehensive about the shot part of the protocol, that I don’t know what I am more worried about, the shots or not getting the ultimate gift of life.  How sad, pathetic and depressing is that?  How could I be so worried about becoming a pincushion when the needles are tiny-tiny?  It’s because they are my Kryptonite! 

After spending a whopping, $2,300 on Monday, I got my two bags full of supplies from the pharmacy!  It’s all becoming so real!  Please tell me how medicine that seems to be used more and more for infertility issues, still costs so much? 

The pharmacist was very nice and went through each medication with me, but I am still grateful that we have an injection class to go back over things.   Listening to him talk was like listening to Charlie Brown’s Parents…Mauh, Muah, Muah!   I have my first shot on the 19^th., and I get nauseous just thinking about it.  What happenstance, that my class and first injection fall on the same day! 

Also, why are prenatal pills so big?  I have such a hard time taking little pills that I am always afraid I am going to choke and shoot the pill out my nose!  Wouldn’t that be a pretty sight, no, not really!

Wish me lots of luck!!!

Birth Control...really?

This may seem backwards, but today I start my first day on Birth Control!

It seems silly because -- I am trying to get pregnant!  After talking with my doctor and doing some research, it seems that birth control pills before the IVF treatment cycle has been shown to decrease your risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation or ovarian cysts and may even improve the odds of success.  Another possible reason is to let your doctor detect ovulation easier.

This is great news because Colleen had really, really, really bad Hyperstimulation!  I believe she said the doctor stopped counting eggs retrieved at 45!  That is a crazy amount and hyper stimulation is very painful!!!  What they consider a normal amount of eggs 15-20, and even then only 8-10 usually fertilize.

This week I start BC and Thursday we have our 1st of 2 IVF Classes.  Excitement, Nervousness, Emotional, Anxious are great words to describe what I am feeling!  Mostly it's about the shots, but I've been told they're not to bad, Ugh. I might be able to even give them to myself, but that's not likely and Rob can't even look at a needle without panicking!  Anyways, back to the good stuff!  I've started my first medication - so I get to check that off my list on the path to baby!

On a side note!  This past weekend myself, my mom and Maddy went back to school shopping.  We found some great outfits for Maddy and also had a blast cornering mom into getting a new outfit for her spelt body!  I am also looking forward to this weekend with the family!  We are going to Sun River to celebrate NeeNee's life.

Have a great short week!

Q&A with Morgan

Q:        If you could tell me never to serve two vegetables again, which two would you choose?

A:        Pickles and Squash

Q:        If you had to have one of these, which would pick – and why? Really long nose hairs, hair in your ears, hair above your lip, massively hairy armpits!

A:        Ha, Ha!  That’s called Daddy!  But my answer is in the ears!  Because no one would notice.

Q:        Which of the following choices do you think would be best, and why?

     a.  Dinner with everyone at the table and the TV on with your favorite program

     b.  Dinner in which everybody took what they wanted from the fridge and no one had the same thing

     c.  Dinner with the whole family together and no TV on

Q:        If you had to have a disability, which one of these would you pick, and why?

            Blindness, deafness of an inability to walk?

A:        It’s a tie:  Deafness, so I can say, what did you say sonny?  Being pushed in a wheelchair would be fun too!

Q:        What was your favorite toy when you were little?

A:        Blueberry Frog

Q:        What sport (that you haven't tried) do you think you would be good at? Why?

A:        Basketball, because I like to dribble.

Q:        If you were going to have a weird, unusual pet, what would it be? Why would you want that pet?

A:        Pixie Frog, because they’re Really Big! 

Q:        What do your parents do?

A:        Daddy makes carpets and video games.  Mommy works at Intel.  Kati babysits grandma and Sam.  Scott, He massages people.

Q:        What’s your favorite food?

A:        Kati’s world famous chicken ranch enchiladas!

Q:        What is the grossest thing you can think of?

A:        Initially it was boogers, then poo poo.

Q:        What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

A:        Sneak up behind people and scare and play tricks on them.

Q:        What is the most amazing thing about you?

A:        I am double jointed.

Q:        What is your favorite TV show?

A:        Ren and Stimpy

Q:        What’s your favorite Pokémon?

A:        Zekerom

Q:        What’s your favorite color?

A:        Purple

Q:        What’s your favorite school subject?

A:        Art, because I like to draw.

Q:        Who’s been your favorite teacher?

A:        Mrs. Jeannine

Q:        What’s your favorite movie?

A:        Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy

Rob's first visit to the "Room"...

His Facebook post for July 20th:

Sperm test and blood sample today.
Fact: My body hates needles.
Dilemma: To go through the anxiety of getting stuck with a needle and then "relax". Or "relax" first and then get stuck.

He was successful in both tasks, and given great news about his sperm mobility!  :-)  Wonderful news!  Although, this is the conversation that Rob and I had...  Rob, the nurse called and said that I'll have to come back and give another sample.  Me Why?  Rob, They're all dead...  Me What, they're all dead?  Rob, yeah something with the cup getting contaminated or something.  Me, They're all dead?  Rob, that's what they said, they're all dead.  Me, trying to hold back tears, said, really they're all dead?  Rob, No they're perfect and we don't have to do any more testing on the sperm.  Me, I am going to hurt you!

Rob's Facebook post later in the day:

Note to self...don't joke about results of sperm test...

Ugh...

Finished with all the pre-testing!

Happy Monday everyone! 

Rob and I met with our new IVF doctor this morning and my lovely sister was kind enough to join us.  Dr. Hesla made us feel so much more at ease than our first doctor, which is key, since we’re paying out the nose.  We wanted someone who has a good bedside manner and is also an extraordinary doctor…not a tall order, but we think Dr. Hesla is both.  Also, having my sister there was beyond helpful, as this is all very overwhelming and she’s a champ at this.   He was able to help my sister out 8 years ago with just one suggestion!  Awesome!

After the consultation with the doctor, Rob had to go back to work, but Colleen stayed with me for moral support.  It was great having her there as she’s singing, "Back in the Saddle Again"…funny lady. 

I had two procedures today that included a Mock Embryo Transfer and a Doppler Ultrasound.  First off, internal ultrasounds or anything where the nether regions is involved is not fun in any way, but extremely not fun when they insist that you also need a full bladder!  Very uncomfortable!  The Mock Embryo Transfer was to see how easy it is to place the embryos once they’ve been fertilized.  He said there wouldn’t be any complications and everything looked good for the real transfer.  Yay!  Even though I had a full bladder and felt uncomfortable, that was great news and it didn’t hurt to badly either.  At least I was able to run to the restroom before the Doppler ultrasound.  Which was like having a little toga party in the hall, as I was wrapped in a sheet!  The Doppler ultrasound is really fascinating!  It’s a smaller version of what the Weather people use to forecast!  (I know there is some sort of wet comment here, but it isn't coming to mind...Ed)  He checked the blood flow of my uterus and it looked like red and blue fireworks on the monitor.  Today was full of wonderful news!  I have great ovaries of good size and a good number of follicles.  I have a great looking uterus (Yes...yes she does! Ed.) and this is all great news after all my tube issues!  

I have a calendar and now we wait till next month to start the med’s.  Now we wait. :-)


-with the calendar that I have now...Due Date Estimate would be 7-7-2012!  What if it was 9, 10, 11, 12?!!!  Baby, Rob's birthday, Our Anniversary and my birthday!  

Testing, Testing is this thing on?

Yay! Today I started the first tests of the IVF process at Oregon Reproductive Medicine!  I had my base ultrasound and blood test done to check my hormones.   Ya, Ya! I already know, you know, I know, that I am crazy!  Just got a call from the Dr. and the results are in!  I am hormonally balanced and my ovaries look great, with about 10-12 follicles on both side!

I can’t believe this process is finally starting.  It’s all been very hypothetical up to today; even when Rob and I initially met with the Dr.  It just didn’t seem real.  To start with, this has been a year in the making with many changes.  Rob and I have been trying for about 9 months (Editor's note:  practicing for about 5 years!) with no success in the baby making process.  After talking with my sister, we decided to get some tests done to see if my tubes were blocked.  My mom was gracious and took me to get the imaging done, and low and behold, both my tubes were blocked!  It was such a disappointment.  My mother was great and insisted that we’ll get through this and get that BABY!   Our next step was to find the perfect Dr. to start the IVF process with.  After meeting him, I got the shocking news that I’d have to have my tubes snipped!  We were like WHAT? WHY?  I am only 30 and want to have children…and you want me to do WHAT?  Anyways, I did it, and after the surgery I was told I had to wait a month to be fully recovered to start IVF.  *Side note- Take Rob’s phone away because he’ll take embarrassing pictures of you in the hospital.  I’d show everyone my awesome professional internal pictures and the embarrassing husband pictures, but I wouldn’t want to gross anyone out so they stop reading my extra awesome family blog, but literally my tubes were the size of sausages!!!  (Ed:  pics to come!) 

Once we get to the stage where I have to do injections, I know it will become a reality and I'm nervous! I hate shots!  Blood draws and iv’s are ok, shots where the fluid is going into muscle or just plain epidermis, not good!

So our next appointment is Aug 15^th.  After talking with Rob, he and I have decided to change Dr.’s.  Even though he was a great physician he just didn’t fit our family. (Ed:  And didn't seem to know the difference between degradation and destruction.)  Since this is elective, and comes with a pretty price, we need to feel comfortable with our Dr. and while I am sure we’ll come in contact with him again as the clinic is small, we’re glad to find a better fit.  So on Aug 15^th we’ll be meeting Dr. Hesla. (Ed:  Rhymes with Tesla...good sign!)  He comes highly recommended by my OB and he also helped Colleen.  She said that he understood her humor, so maybe he’ll get ours.  Well, at least mine.  Rob’s a lost cause!  (Ed:  Not many people have obtained that level of humor yet.) 

7.11.2010 Wedding

Back up to last year!  7.11.2010 - Fun times and lots of love!  Rob and I got married and blended our little family.  We had a blast and enjoyed spending the day with our wonderful family and friends.  Here are some pictures of our joyful event!

What's to much information?

Time for a monumental occasion!  This is my very first post on our family blog.  I've always wanted to start a blog, but didn't really think I had anything good to share.  Now that life for our family is growing and ever changing, I think it's only fitting to start!

Just a warning, I am by no means a writer.  Rob's got the gift of writing and hopefully I'll have some special posts from him.  But back to me.  ;-)  I've never been great with grammar or very clever.  Plus, I might write personal information that people might not want to ever know about...  However, that's something I'd do even if I was talking to you personally.  My edit button isn't wired correctly.  :-)  Hopefully what Rob and I get out of this process of writing about our struggles and accomplishments, will help us get through the ebb and flow of our journey to having a baby.  This should be very cathartic and all around a good way to document our story.