Appointment

My appointment didn't go as well as expected.  My uterine lining was only 0.58cm and they like it to be closer to 0.80cm for transfer.  Dr. Allemand is in surgery each Friday morning, so he will review my chart and plan accordingly.  I should hear back from ART sometime this afternoon.  There's still time to change my medicine/protocol and continue to move forward... It's the "not knowing" that is difficult.  Thankfully there's been a lot to do at work to keep me busy until they call.

Thankfully I did not have an "unglued" moment.  I did cry and get upset, but this isn't the end.  My calendar is just going to change.  God still has this.  I still trust Him.  And His timing is always better than mine.

Moving forward...?

Our appointment is at 9am.

We are hopeful that we will continue to move forward.  Brandon is such a positive example for me.  Honestly, I am always nervous when we're headed to the doctor.  Brandon is the one trying to cheer me on.  There's always that thought in the back of my head preparing to cancel.  We've had to do it so many other times before.  I mean, we've had three cancelled IUI cycles, cancelled when we initially began BCP for IVF, one cancelled surgery due to insurance, and our cancelled embryo transfer when I developed OHSS.
Pretty much a long history of cancellations and waiting.

My UTI symptoms are under control so we only have to worry about my lining today.  I'm praying that it's thick and ready to receive our embryos.  I am 99.99% positive that everything will look good today and we'll be allowed to start the PIO injections tomorrow and prepare for transfer on Thursday.

We also get to pay today.  I know that I've mentioned the cost here before, but wow-Infertility treatment is expensive.  With the amount we've spent, we could have went on quite a few vacations and paid off much of our school loans.  I've said it before and will say it again; God provides.  Brandon not only made his sales goals for the second quarter, but he exceeded his plan and was eligible for bonus.

That bonus check came today... right when it was time to pay for the FET cycle.  If that's not a God thing, I don't know what is.  I'm trusting You, God.  You've got this.  If You want this cycle to work, it will.  Your timing is perfect and I will trust and follow You (but I sure hope I'm pregnant this time next week!)

Happy Friday, everyone.  I will post again later after my appointment.

Really?!?...

Yesterday was fabulous.  I had a great day off at home.

Today is another story... I started having UTI symptoms.  Why now?  I left a message at ART and Janet called back.  Dr. Allemand went ahead and prescribed Macrobid.  They will do urinalysis on Friday if my symptoms are still hanging around.  I took Tylenol earlier for a headache.  Unfortunately, there's nothing else I can take for the pain.  I only drink one 12 ounce Dr.Pepper each day.  I have coffee maybe once a month now.  My caffeine intake has never been more under control!

Oh well.  Wednesday night services start back at church this evening.  At least I have something fun to look forward to this evening.

And I apologize if you're visiting from ICLW... I'm currently in the middle of my first FET cycle after IVF#1 with OHSS.

Grateful

God is Good.  =)  I think that sums it all up.

Holding a Miracle

Nesia & Addie

Quality Time with Uncle B

Prayer in the Park

Teaching her to pray

IVF Miracle 

Silly Faces

Luke- He saves me a seat each Sunday morning

Near Sunset

Uncle B & Bryson

Calendar

Here It Is:

It was great to come home and see my protocol.  So for now, the plan is to transfer TWO of our frozen embryos on August 30.

Thank you for all of the support. Brandon and I are beyond excited with this cycle so far and have high hopes!  We could not do this without all of the love and prayers we've received from everyone.  Now, more than ever, I'm glad that we chose to share our journey.  There's no way that we could go through this without our friends and faith family.

FET

FET Calendar Arrival

Brandon texted me earlier letting me know that my FET calendar arrived in the mail.  Our Embryo Transfer is scheduled for August 30.  They did not have my beta date listed, but all of you chart stalker-experts will be able to figure that out quickly.

Only 13 more days and I'll be pregnant until proven otherwise."

Treasures in Him

Brandon and I went to dinner with some friends last night.  He always tells me that  I talk too much, but there's nothing I can do to fix that.  =/   I'm only quiet when I'm not comfortable(or have nothing to say).  Anyways, we had a great dinner with N&N.  We got home a little after 9pm and I took one Tylenol PM and started reading the book of Job (I forgot how much that man was tested.)  By 10pm I was actually tired and able to fall asleep.  This morning I woke up feeling great!  Rested.  I am rested.  Thank you, Tylenol PM!

Yesterday upset me a little (see here), but it's over now.  I apologize for any whining in yesterday's post.  Remembering that God is in control is not as easy as it looks.  Also, reminding myself daily that everything I have is His isn't too simple either.  God has provided so much for us.  

Matthew 6:19-21

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NIV

^19-21"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. The Message

We have spent a great amount of money in our journey to become parents.  It's hard not to visualize that number and think of all the other things you could have done with it.  Yesterday, I was selfish; there's no other way to explain it.  

Thank you, God, for providing for us.  

Please help me to see all of Your blessings 

and build up my treasures in You 

and not earthly things. 

Waiting on Calendar

One of the ladies from ART called me this afternoon.  My lining check/ultrasound is scheduled for next Friday, August 24 at 9am.  The lady believed that my calendar had been prepared and sent, but I should call the office if I haven't received it by Monday afternoon.

The clinic went up on their prices.  Before, it was $2150.  Now, it has increased to $2900.  =/  We still have a $260.80 remaining balance from the ICSI portion of our IVF in June.  So, we owe $3160.80 by next week.  God always provides.  I have no doubt that this is already taken care of, but it did get me a little upset this afternoon.  I just don't like surprises.

I'll update with my calendar once we receive it.

Needing Rest

Well, I may have been wrong about side effects...  

I've struggled to go to sleep the past two nights.  For a few weeks, I had been taking Ambien to help me sleep.  I haven't taken any to help me rest since last week. (There's no way that I would risk messing up this cycle!) I could not go to sleep last night and the evening before.  Maybe I am sleeping, but I don't feel rested.  I toss and turn, burn up with hot flashes, and just feel miserable.  Also, I'm starting to notice a recurring headache.  I'm hoping that it's just stress.  My mind has trouble shutting down each night and I'm left with all of these thoughts.  I know that God is in control of our situation, but it's hard to "let it go."

Praying that I can fully trust God and His timing.  And that I can rest. 

FET 

Our Story

FET cycle has started

As of today, I am CD 4!  AF arrived Sunday morning.  Again, it is strange to be so excited about such a thing, but it just brings us steps closer to becoming parents.  I called ART Monday morning and they are currently preparing my calendar/protocol and will mail it once they are finished.

I began taking Estrace (Estradiol) 2mg twice daily on Monday.  This is to prepare my uterine lining for the embryo transfer.  Until I get my protocol, I am unsure of when everything will happen.  As of now, I am looking to Sheri (my amazing SIL) for advice, support, and calendar planning.  She did a FET cycle last August and we are using her info as a template until I get my packet in the mail.

With her cycle, she went in for a(an)

• ultrasound/lining check on CD12 ("ovulation day")
• Embryo Transfer on CD18/6dpo
• beta (pregnancy test) CD27/15dpo/9dpt

So far, this cycle is MUCH EASIER than anything related to our IVF cycle.  Taking BCP, Lupron, Follistim + Menopur, and Novarel was crazy!  Popping one tiny pill each morning and night is much simpler than any injection.  Today starts day three of taking the Estrogen, and I have yet to feel any side effects/symptoms (which is GREAT).  I will have to start  the progesterone-in-oil (PIO) injections closer to the time of transfer, but they are easy as long as someone else is administering it.

I will continue to update my FET page with all medicines, side effects, symptoms, and anything else related to the cycle (as I did with our IVF#1 attempt).

Also, I have been posting on Twitter lately (updating about fertility junk and zombies as usual).