Tanning Bed and Grandparents

I've went to the tanning bed for the past 2 days.  Please, don't lecture me about the harmful effects.  Everything causes cancer!  The fertility drugs aren't going to help with that either, but I digress.

It's been nice to enjoy something that I love so much.  Tan fat is sexier than pale fat!!! =)

We're going out to dinner with my grandparents tonight.  I haven't blogged much about their current situation.  My Granny is in need of a hip replacement.  She has pulmonary fibrosis, which makes any surgery difficult for her.  Also, my Pop has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  He's having surgery next week to implant the radioactive seeds in his belly.  Since I'm not pregnant, I'll be able to be around him next week.  He will be radioactive for 9 months.  My Granny doesn't want me around him at all after the surgery.  It's all been very emotional.  I lost my Grandad to prostate cancer 6 years ago. 

No response to Menopur

I did not respond to the Menopur.  Dr. Bates called and said that we should abandon the cycle.  At our ultrasound this morning, my follicles had barely grown.  My lining was still at 7mm (the same as Friday).  I had small follicles growing on both ovaries, but nothing even close to maturing and releasing an egg.

His plan is for me to wait 3 weeks and if AF hasn't arrived to start Provera.

On my way to work this morning I made an appointment at ART with Dr. Allemand.  Our appointment is next Tuesday at 9am.  =)  I must stay positive and find the good in this cycle.....

Still...

At our ultrasound yesterday morning they saw that I'm "slow to grow."  They did bloodwork which confirmed that my follicles were growing, just not as fast as we would hope.  They've increased my dosage of Menopur.  Brandon gave me 150iu last night and will again today.  They I will do 75iu on Sunday and Monday evening.  My next ultrasound is on Tuesday morning.  From there we hope to have good news.

This cycle has been crazy and I haven't even ovulated yet. 

Still not growing

At our ultrasound yesterday morning, they still saw little follicle growth.  I am on 5 more days of 75iu of Menopur.  My belly is literally a pin cushion now.  I'm trying to stay strong and positive, but work is getting crazier and I haven't had an off day this week so it's tough! 

Brandon had to give me my injection at work last night.  Rachel laid beside me and held my hand and then prayed over me with Brandon.  =)  It was nice because Brandon can't hold my hand and do the shot at the same time. 

Last night my belly felt hard to touch.  Maybe I was just full from dinner or something.  Today it's just tender from all of the injection sites.  Please keep me in your prayers this week. We have yet another ultrasound tomorrow morning!

3000 views

I hit 3000 blog views last night!  When I started this blog over a year ago I had NO idea where it would go.  Thank you to everyone who reads my posts!

Also, I would like to take time to thank everyone for the prayer.  I have definitely felt it over the past 2 days.  God is working in mine and Brandon's lives for the better! =)

Great Monday

I just had my 2nd Menopur shot. It burned even more than the first one, but it only lasted about a minute.  It helps that I keep my eyes closed and Brandon talks me through the entire process.  I don't like needles, and it usually doesn't hurt if I'm not watching.  The actual stick doesn't hurt as much as him pushing the medicine in. 

I had a GREAT day at work today.  This particular medicine has awesome side effects, or maybe it's just all the prayer! =)  My energy level was definitely up today.  I sold a LOT of pretty jewelry! 

My ultrasound in at 7:30am on Wednesday, and they said that I can come in at 7am on Friday for my IUI since I need to get back to work.  I'll have to make sure and send a sweet card after the holidays for all that they've done for me this cycle!  =)

Ultrasound and More Medicine in God's Hands

We had another ultrasound this morning after church.  My lining was only 5mm and my largest follicle was only 11mm.  My body was not responding well to the Femara this month.  Dr. Bates was there (along with Dr. McLain) and gave us some options:

• A:  give up and wait for the next cycle
• B:  try using Clomid (for 5 days)
• C:  try using Menopur (for 3 days)

We chose to use Menopur.  Brandon gave me my first injection at 7:30PM.  It BURNED!! This option was the most aggressive approach and Dr. Bates felt that it would give us our best chance scenario for a successful IUI.  With the injectable medicine, I may respond with more mature follicles rather than just one. 

Brandon prayed over the shot as we will the next two.  We prayed for God's will.  We prayed to Him and are leaving it in His hands.

This morning before worship I talked briefly with our pastor.  During the service, Brandon asked God to speak to him.  During the last prayer, Terry (our pastor) spoke our names and asked us to come to the front of the room.  He told everyone about situation and asked them to come and pray for us.  I know that the Holy Spirit was with us.  I felt God's presence with me for the duration of the day.  Brandon and I have promised to stay more positive about our situation and be happier with each other.  It's been easy to become discouraged with one another.  God is using this current situation to bring us closer to one another and for our love to grow even greater.

I am so thankful that I have had such great people in my life throughout this journey.  I feel much more positive about this cycle that God will cover and protect me.  He ultimately knows when we will have our child and I will trust in Him.

CD 10 U/S

I'm exhausted!  Went in at 7:15 this morning for my ultrasound.  We saw lots of follicles growing on both ovaries.  Nothing large enough to measure just yet.  I've felt some cramping/twinging today so I hope they're growing in there.  =)  My next ultrasound is Sunday morning at 7:30.  From there they're hoping to trigger me either Sunday or Monday night! 

Confused Appointments

Yesterday I started getting extremely nervous about my ultrasound appointment.  I just had a weird feeling about all of it, so I decided to call LeeAnn.  She called me back around 5pm and said that she had scheduled me to come in yesterday morning on CD9!  That's extremely early, but I guess it explains why I had a weird feeling.  I'm going to go in today for an ultrasound for my follicle count and measurements.  After work yesterday, I came home and soaked my feet and then took a hot bath.  I felt super relaxed afterwards, but still had a hard time going to sleep. 

I'm hoping for some pretty follies today!  Also, tonight is Ladies Night at work so it's going to be a LONG day!!

Finished Femara Yesterday

Femara was nicer to me this cycle.  I had NO headaches, but did have some struggles with mood swings and minor hot flashes.  =)

I don't know what else to write at the moment.  I'm just blah today.  

Day 2 Femara

The femara is already toying with my emotions.  Yesterday was just a weird day for me.  I cried for an hour during my lunch break.  Everything made me sad.  I'm exhausted.  I typically wake up before my alarm goes off.  Today, I actually laid in bed for 5 minutes longer and almost fell back asleep. 

I'm starting to think that maybe we should have waited until after Christmas to start another cycle. 

Blog Award

 

Thanks for the nomination, Mommy-in-Waiting!

You may visit her blog at Waiting on Our Miracle

Now, the rules of the award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award!

2. List 7 things people may not know about you.

3. Pass the award to 15 other bloggers and notify them as well.

Things about ME:  

1. I love Auburn.  =)  Yes, I may wear crimson and houndstooth and have season tickets to Alabama, but my heart belongs to the Tigers.  I bleed orange and blue.  I only go to Bama games because I love my husband and SIL that much!
2. I love children.  Yes, this may look obvious because I want to be a mother, but I cherish kids!  At work, when the kids come in, I get all excited.  I almost ignore their parents just to talk to them.  In hindsight, I should have followed a career path where I could have been around small children on a daily basis.
3. I'm obsessed with jewelry.  Yes, I do work in a store selling PANDORA and diamond jewelry, but I'm crazy about all of it.  Diamonds truly are a girl's best friend!  I never thought that I'd end up selling jewelry, but it makes me happy.  If I'm having a bad day, I can just put on more bling and make it brighter!!
4. I cannot keep up with my phone.  It doesn't matter where I am, I've most likely lost it at least twice.  At work, the girls make fun of me because I look for it at least five times throughout the course of the day.  I'm super organized, but have issues keeping up with my cell.
5. I love Christmas music.  I know most every word to every song and you'll hear me singing them constantly during the holiday season.  At least I was trained to sing. =)
6. I desperately want to be a mother.  It doesn't matter how it all happens.  At least I'm a mother to my Rottie, Daisy now.  She makes this horrible process much better.  I know that God will bless us with a child when He's ready.

Blogs I Nominate:

1. http://theinfertilityroad.blogspot.com/
2. http://christasbabyquest.blogspot.com/
3. http://www.notafertilemyrtle.com/
4. http://struggleswithinfertility.blogspot.com
5. http://hopinandwishin.blogspot.com/
6. http://tinyglimmers.wordpress.com/
7. http://coreygross.blogspot.com/
8. http://franciespeaks.blogspot.com/
9. http://myfertilityblog.blogspot.com/

These are the blogs that I follow on a regular basis!

Thanks again, Mommy-in-Waiting for the Blog Award! =)