Logistics

We are still in the stimulation phase and ALL of my days begin with a blood test and ultrasound at UCSD in La Jolla. 

They are watching my ovaries to make sure they are not being over/under stimulated and they are measuring each of the follicles to assess when they might be big enough for retrieval.

In the evenings we are doing 2 (soon to be 4) different shots in the stomach. 

My nurse calls me each afternoon to give me the results of my bloodwork and tell me what/if any changes to make in the dosage of each of the stimulation injections. 

My cousin asked me a good question yesterday.."what do each of the different shots do?" 

Basically they are all doing much of he same thing...

Shot #1 Menopur stimulates egg follicles to grow within the ovaries

Shot #2 Follistim to help the ovaries produce more mature eggs.

Shot #3 Saizen (starting tomorrow) a growth hormone used  to increase the number and quality of eggs retrieved.

Shot #4 (starting tomorrow) Ganirelix Keeps me from ovulating so that none of the eggs will be released prior to our egg retrieval.

I am also taking Dexamethasone pills each night before bed and these are an anti-inflammatory that help my body not to reject the embryos when they are implanted and it also helps to increase egg quality.

We did it!

We made it through our first night of injections! 

They really were not too bad. Some stinging but not bad. We did this first set at my parents house because I wanted them to be a part of the process and see what it is exactly we will be doing each evening between 7 and 9 pm. 

For the first few days we will be doing 2 shots and then it goes to 3 and possibly 4 depending on the results of my blood each day.

Mixing and Measuring

Flicking out the air bubbles

Alcohol Swabbing

Pinching the belly...

Shot #1

Shot #2

DONE! (Until tomorrow) (;

Let the Chaos Begin!

Here are the prescriptions we picked up yesterday at our appointment. Yes, most of them are injectables. Yikes!

We had a great appointment yesterday. I gave blood (and will continue to give blood every day for the next 2 weeks) and everything came back great!

I also had an ultrasound and currently I have 25 follicles (14 on the left and 11 on the right).

Yay! Our doctor said these were great numbers to start. Praise the Lord!

Tonight is our first night of injections and as most of you know, I do not do well with needles. Pray for peace and God to ease my anxiety.

Right now I feel too excited to be scared or anxious but when we get to mixing and flicking needles tonight I am sure it will be a different story. (:

Last Patch

Tonight I will apply my last testosterone patch, yay!!

I have applied a new patch every 24 hours for the last 5 days and today is the last. 

I have made it through the testosterone phase without a beard or mustache. Yipee!

Haha, and if you think you see one just don't tell me as I am still taking Estrogen pills and I may cry. 

Onto the next phase!

"It's important you are not stressed"

These were the words I heard over the phone today while speaking to our IVF nurse. She was reiterating to me how important it is to stay stress free as we are finally entering the bulk of the process.


Stress free!?!

Here are the plans for the next 4 weeks...

This weekend I begin testosterone patches (1 new patch on the thigh every 24 hours for 5 days), I also continue the estrogen pills each night.
Starting Wednesday we begin 3 shots each night and I will be going to UCSD each morning for blood work.
My brother gets married August 4th (ultrasound and blood work that morning) and the Egg Retrieval surgery is scheduled for August 6th.
I go back to work on August 8th but will be missing some days due to the implantation being scheduled for August 11th...August 12th and 13th I will be on bed rest and the official first day of school is August 15th!! (By the way I am switching grades this year so I will be preparing for that in the meantime)
Pregnancy test is scheduled for August 22 and I am in my beautiful cousin Sarah's wedding on August 25th.

Aaaaahhhhhhh! So there it is, my new prayer request.

Testosterone and Estrogen

I have been putting testosterone gel on my shoulders each morning for about 2 weeks now. The testosterone is meant to strengthen the smaller follicles (eggs) so that they will respond better when we begin stimulation shots in a few weeks. It is a bit stinky but other than that an easy process each day.

I am also taking Estrogen tablets each night before bed.

I was nervous about how my hormones might be effected by taking these 2 prescriptions together but I have felt completely normal. Thankfully I have not had any crazy side effects or raging hormones, guess that comes a little later in the process. Watch out Shaun! Haha

We did get our official calendar that shows the entire IVF process from now until completion. Due to the (complete waste of time) polyp surgery, we are now looking at completing the process by mid August approximately 2 days before my kiddos come for the first day of school. Nothing like cutting it close! God is showing me once again that I am not in control of this process and that we just need to place our trust in Him. Although the timing is not what I would have planned it is still a HUGE blessing that right now we are still on track to finish everything just before school begins.