holy, cheese!

TTC update: Briefly, this cycle was Femara, cd3-7 and Repronex 150mg cd 8-10. I had the longest AF cycle ever after arriving 2 days late post Beta due to Prometrium. Even on cd8 I was still spotting. But the Femara hadn't been making my ovaries twinge and cramp like it had my first 2 cycles. And even with the Repronex, I hadn't felt hardly any cramping at all; I didn't think it was working. I had my cd10 scan today (cd 11 fell on Saturday so it was one day early) and I have 5 (F-I-V-E) follies! To date, I've only had puney follies and at the most, 2 (last month was maybe 3). I am SO happy. So, So, So - happy! (Thank you, Lord!) I will take injections tonight and tomorrow and trigger on Sunday. My IUI is scheduled for Tuesday morning. I feel really good about this cycle. My doctor was very happy.

Weight Watchers: I have had a perfect week back on WW. I am down already but will officially weigh-in on Sunday. I'm very proud of me and happy I've finally found the motivation to do this!

I want my toes in the water.....

Lovely Weekend: Jay and I had a lovely, lovely weekend. Let's start with Friday. His birthday is June 3 and we found a super, awesome last-minute vacation deal for Myrtle Beach. (we were hoping for a gulf-coast destination, but we'll take this!). We leave on the 2nd and return the 6th. There will be no plans other than my butt. in a chair. on the beach. for 5 days. Awesome news...my Beta will be the 7th; what an awesome birthday present this would be! Saturday, J treated me to a Seafood place in Pigeon Forge and we ended up in North Carolina. It was a rainy day but even the rain doesn't take away from the beauty of the mountains. It was a perfect day. Yesterday, we went to church, had lunch, went grocery shopping, went to the movies, cleaned 2 rooms, went to the book store and still had time to take a nap! It was the longest day ever but was wonderful! I picked up the book Crazy Love. I had heard so much about it; I can't wait to read more tonight.

TTC update: AF showed up last week on Wednesday, so I didn't have to wait too long after my (-) Beta. I ordered my injectables on Tuesday and they weren't supposed to arrive until this week, Wednesday at the latest. Although we wanted to go with an injectable only cycle, with the shots not guaranteed to arrive by cd3 and my RE office not having enough to get me through to this Wednesday (when shots were supposed to arrive) we decided we would go with a mixed cycle this month and if I didn't have at least 3 plump follies, we would skip the IUI this month and go for an injectable only cycle next month. So, I started Femara cd 3-7 and will do 2 Repronex injectables daily in the hip, cd 8-10. My scan is this Friday, 5/21 (I can't believe it's here so soon) and my IUI should be this weekend. Here's the funny thing, my injectables actually got here Friday day, but the Post Office didn't send an email with the Attempted Delivery Notification until like 8:30 Friday evening. I had my RE paged and she said it was too late to start the injectable cycle. Next, I ordered our donor fishies today (my donor was available) and I got 1/2 shipping....that made for a happy surprise, especially after last months ordeal. Femara hasn't made me all twingy and crampy like the first 2 cycles did; so I am kind of nervous about that. Is it working? Do I still have eggs down there? Is this month going to be a flop? Not totally stressing over it but it's there in the back of my mind...I hope it's doing what it's supposed to be doing.

Beach Bound: If going to the beach in 15 days doesn't kick my arse into gear, I don't know what would. Not only am I so motivated to loose whatever is (healthy) humanly possibly to loose in 15 days I am equally as disappointed that I let my weight get this high. I'm discusted. Those 2lbs here and 1lbs there, have added up and I am not happy at all. In addition to the C25K program I am (attempting) to do (it kicks major butt if your are the C part of that equation) I rejoined WW; actually the online program this time. I'm not expecting a huge loss between now and when we set sail to the ocean, but any loss is better than gaining and it will make me feel better knowing I am on the right path. I lost 40ish the first time around on WW (2005), kept it off for over 3 years and since, nothing has worked. I just have to remain motivated...that's where I fail everytime. Not this time.....

Off to catch-up on your blogs. Have a blessed week.

just when I thought...

this was my month to get a BFP; turns out Prometrium can increase your LP. My beta was this morning - the Dr. called around noon. Turns out, my 2nd BFN. Yes, still no AF. Apparantly, when increased from 100mg to 200mg daily, your LP can be affected....this I did not know. I was so convinced....even the slight cramps I had been having I thought was normal...at least everyone in Google land said so....I was sad but didn't cry. Maybe I knew deep down it wasn't going to be my month. But...I am ready to wipe away the sadness and move foward. My therapy this month will be aggressive. We are moving straight to injectables by passing the mix-therapy (of both Femara and Injectibles). I am very happy with this. I don't want to dilly-dally. I would rather spend the extra $ and see results vs. playing around with lesser therapies. But, until next my next ultrasound, my next lab, my next Beta....faith will lead my journey. This wasn't my month; I am completely content with that. I am in God's hands.

7dpIUI Labs

My P4 levels came back 10.8. Yes, 6 points higher than my first IUI but not as pretty as I was hoping. My Prometrium was increased to 100mg twice daily.

My dr. wants a 15; so hoping this cycle, if implanted/going to implant will be viable until my Beta this next Monday. I've read a lot of success stories with lower P4's; so I'm not totally bummed just yet.

I met two lovely cysters this morning in the waiting room who had successful pregnancies on Femara/IUI. I want my successful cycle with Femara/IUI. Next week, we will have to move forward to injectables. I pray I will get my positive! I pray this will be my month!

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expensive tastes.

I don't understand how America can harp about our nation's obesity problem when a grocery bill more than doubles when you buy only healthy food. This was my experience today. In the event I get my BFP this month or in the effort to be healthier going forward to our 3rd cycle...we bought only things fresh or healthy and nutritious. Our bill, over $250. This includes fresh fruits and vegi's, seafood, whole grain rices and cereals, yogurt, etc., and enough for about 2 weeks. After our trip today, I see the climb in obesity not only related to our unhealthy choices, but how expensive it is to make better ones. I'm happy for a kitchen full of delicious and good-for-you foods but no so much the funds forked over in the process.

We still have plans to get a small garden out this summer. I need to nudge Jay a bit harder to make it happen. Produce is the most costly!

My P4 is bright and early in the morning. I've been on Prometrium since 1dpiui; I hope my numbers will be good. The dreaded two-week wait hasn't been horrible; almost 7 down...much better than the first time around!



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swim little fishies, swim!

Hi. Sadly, I am not writing from my cozy bed; duties called and I had to come into the office post-IUI. The last time I choose to lay down for hours afterwards; hopefully it doesn't really matter.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I have a lot to catch-up on as I didn't get much online time; I can't wait to catch up on my reading and my sweet comments. Thank you all!

So, IUI went wonderful. I got there at 8:00 and after our fishies were thawed and washed, I got called back around 10:15. The count was 15 million. I was very happy - last donor was 14 million. I'm pretty sure I ovulated on time after triggering Saturday night. Note: I don't think we triggered in the right place the 1st cycle, because it didn't hurt. This cycle did. I pray this month is our BFP - because we move on to injectibles next month and a shot for 10-days straight in the rear doesn't excite me. i'm kind of a baby to pain. But gladly anything for a little baby. I am to start Progesterone suppositories tomorrow night, 100mg and my P4 test will be 5/3 @ 7:45a. My Beta will be 5/10 @ 7:45.

Please disregard the horrible hair day! Given the circumstances, these photo's of me aren't very good but are needed to document our journey.

Pre-IUI; awaiting RE

swim little fishies, swim!

this is during the procedure.

I have happily entered the 2 week wait. Fortunantly, I have learned patience; hopefully, that will pay off.

some helpful info for the fertility folks!

I ran across this Q&A section on a website; it answered quite a bit of my questions: