Final bloodwork numbers are in...

1321!!!

So far so good! My first ultrasound is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13th at 9:30 am. Courtney will be able to go and I am crossing everything that a beautiful heartbeat will be at least visible if not audible. I am bringing my camera (which has video, too) with me and am really hoping they will let me use it.

In the meantime I am getting bloodwork done next week for my endocrinologist regarding my thyroid and then I have an appointment with her on October 19th which was already scheduled but happened to work out perfectly because she told me she wants to know the second I find out I was pregnant, which I did...well maybe not the second I found out but soon after. She wanted to ensure my blood sugar was doing ok. I mentioned that I've been having some big spikes after eating and she had me change some settings on my pump, which has helped. At that point I had already cut out heavy carbs from my diet and tried to eat more meat (chicken and turkey...I don't eat red meat or pork) and veggies so that helped, too.

I also have two more pregnancy tests at home to help keep my sanity over the next two weeks.

Repeat bloodwork

I got my results back from today's repeat bloodwork and my number was 383. So far so good! I go back on Monday for another round of bloodwork (last one I think) and then she said we would do a sonogram when I was 6.5 weeks along which would be the second week of October. I don't know if we'll be able to hear a heartbeat at that point but we should hopefully be able to see it flickering. Something we didn't get to see last time.

Oh, and I'm 4 weeks today!

And the news is.....

Good!

I was told that they look for hcg levels to be around 100 and mine was 178. I am beyond happy right now. I go back for more bloodwork on Friday and am to continue on the progesterone supplements. I am having a hard time putting sentences together right now so I'll leave it here. :)

Pins and needles

The blood has been drawn and now I wait. And wait. And wait.

I can't find enough things to do to keep me distracted. This day will go down in history as the longest day ever.

Hope is the reason

I haven't tested yet. I haven't even been tempted to.

How am I able to resist? Why would I want to?

Because of hope.

Right now I have hope. Not a lot. But a little. I can still dream about what the future will bring if this works. If I were to test and have it be negative then all hope would be gone. I like that I still have two more days of hope pulling me forward. It gives me something to look forward to. I'm not ready to give it up.

I go in on Wednesday morning to have blood drawn and hopefully they will call me sooner rather than later with the results. It's going to be a long day. A very long day.

That's it?

Ten minutes.

That's all it took. Ten minutes.

All that anxiety and worry and nervousness over something that was over in ten minutes. Oh well.

Aside from that, everything went well. We dropped off the "sample" at 9 and went out to breakfast. At 11 we went back for the procedure. Both of us were worried that there would be nothing left of the sample after the wash but at least some survived since we went ahead with the IUI.

It was basically a pap smear but instead of them taking a sample, they injected one. I was so surprised at how quick it went. The doctor (not my usual doctor there) noticed the port I have for my insulin pump and started asking a bunch of questions about it. He didn't know much about insulin pumps and I basically gave him a brief tutorial. Courtney joked that we should bill him. I said that we should just call it even. He laughed. We still paid. It was worth a try, right?

Afterwards we came home and took a much needed nap. I was exhausted. The rest of the day and evening I've just been relaxing. The wait begins to test. I go back on the 22nd to have blood drawn and see if this was all worth it. Until then I have to take Prometrium twice a day up the who-ha. Can't wait.

The Night Before the IUI

Twas the night before the IUI, when all through my house
Every creature was anxious, even the mouse.
The shots have been given, in the tummy, with care.
In the hopes that an embryo would implant in there.

The dogs were nestled, all snug in their beds,
While visions of frisbee danced in their heads.
And Courtney in his boxers and I in my gown
He's fast asleep but I can't settle down.

The Office is on, causing such a clatter,
Courtney sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
"Please come to bed and get some needed rest,"
"Soon, " I said even though I knew it was best.

I could go to bed and lie there hour after hour,
And not fall asleep, it's just not in my power.
I'm too excited and nervous and worried and eager,
The sleep I'll get tonight will be little and meager.

Tomorrow begins the next leg of our journey,
Thanks to the powers that be it won't require an attorney.
The shots have been taken and the pills have been popped,
Rain, sleet, snow or hail: I cannot be stopped!

We've been patiently waiting so long for our turn,
In only a few weeks we will finally learn.
On a stick or in a cup I will have to pee,
I just hope Aunt Flo doesn't ruin it for me.

To bed I should go, as it's getting late,
In the morning I have a very important date.
So I'll say one more thing before I log out tonight,
"BABY DUST TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"

Green light

I had my first monitoring appointment this morning to check my follicles. I thought the tech said she saw four. Not positive. We tentatively set up our appointment time for the IUI on Wednesday for 11 AM with a 9 AM drop off time for the "sample." I would take the Ovidrel trigger shot tonight (took the Bravelle shot on Saturday...no different than an insulin shot) as well as have "intercourse" and then tomorrow would be a free day. We just had to wait for the confirmation call from the doctor saying we were cleared to go ahead with the IUI.

We got the call!

She mentioned me having three mature follicles, measuring 18 mm (I think it's mm...), 21 mm and 24 mm. Maybe I have four but the fourth one wasn't "mature?" Who knows. So, as planned, we will "clear the pipes" tonight and rest tomorrow and be ready to go on Wednesday. I'm feeling good about this. Really good. All the signs seem to say this is right and it will work. I forgot to ask when I would be able to test but it should fall around the due date I had for my first pregnancy. I'm going to take that as a good sign.

This is happening. This is finally happening.

The post where I rant

Alternatively titled: Mood swings have set in

My husband has to do all of ONE thing for this IUI. ONE. You would think that he could do that without a complaint. But nooooooooooooooooo.

I am taking hormones and shots and popping pills up my bajingo and having blood drawn and getting internal sonograms (fun!). He has to whack it into a cup.

He calls me today to ask what day we are supposed to do the IUI. He's asked this several times before and I've answered him several times before. I DON'T KNOW!!!!! I am not a psychic! He said that Tuesday would not be a good day for him because it will be a "critical day" for him at work. I'll pass that message along to my ovaries. Thanks.

I've told him what the procedure was. I told him that my doctor appointment on Monday was to look at my follicles to see if they were mature. I told him that the IUI would take place anywhere between Tuesday and Friday and that he should let his boss know (like I did) that he will need some time off (not an entire day, just enough to take me to the appointment and back home) on the day of the IUI and that we don't know the exact day yet.

I got a little snippy (ok, and mean) when he mentioned that Tuesday was a "critical day" for him at work. I said that our other option was to get a sperm donor so that he didn't have to be involved at all and he wouldn't have to miss work. I know. I know. Not cool. But I was pissed. Where are his priorities? I told him that if he plans on putting work before family we have a problem. Next week isn't a good time at work for me either because all the kids are coming back to school and I'm really needed in the office but this takes priority and I explained that to my boss.

Ugh. Today was the last day for Clomid so we'll see how I feel tomorrow. To top it off, tomorrow is our fifth anniversary. Should be interesting.

I've got mail!

I got my medications today! The delivery guy called while I was at work so before my dentist appointment I came home to get them off my porch. I'm glad I did because they are supposed to be refrigerated. There were a couple of ice packs in the styrofoam cooler but it was pretty hot out today. I take the Bravelle shot on Saturday so now I am ready! Tomorrow is my last day of Clomid (still not side effects to speak of) and I have Friday off (from medications anyway).

My dentist appointment went well. Surprisingly, I had no cavities! Go me! What I thought was a temporary crown from my root canal was actually a filling and the dentist said if it's not bothering me I don't need a crown to replace it. My wallet thanked him. My teeth feel nice and smooth and I go back in 6 months. I let them know about the drugs I am/will be taking which led to me telling them about the IUI and the lady who cleaned my teeth said she will see me in six months and hopefully I will be pregnant then. I hope so, too.