IUI #1 Complete!

Well as plenty of you know, after that first follie check (see below) things moved rather quickly! I went in the next day for them to do another follie check and it was still at 22 (18 is mature) and my lining had reached 8! The RE had me trigger Thursday night at 11, meaning I gave myself an Hcg shot to induce ovulation.

Saturday morning was our isemination! We went in at 9:00 for Tim to do his part and we got great numbers! His numbers were even better than at his analysis... 157 million with 100% motility! We went and piddled around town while they prepared the swimmers for insemination and returned at 10:45! I was inseminated at 11:00 and things went great, a little painful but it was ok. The nurse told me I had not ovulated but should between 1-3 (that was the goal) and that I had no restrictions...

I took that too literal and we ventured to Ikea with some friends. At about 2 I started having horrible pain in my lower abdomen to the right side that lasted until about 5. Sure enough when I went in yesterday morning my follie had shrunk, meaning ovulation had occured! The nurse said that was what cause the pain!

So now we wait. My beta blood pregnancy test will be on the 15th! I will probably take a home pregnancy test prior to that but I am going to try my best not to! I hope you all will keep us in your prayers and pray that I make it through these 10 days without going insane!

I love you all and hope to have some good news for you soon :)

I have a nice big...

MATURE FOLLIE!!!!!! Here is the rundown on my cycle to date!

Yesterday was my first follie check since stopping the clomid! I was nervous because I know a lot of women don't respond to just 50mg! So I went in to see mr. thumbs up on the screen and thought to myself, "Ok Shauna just relax, no matter the outcome it will be useful for future treatment." Well in came the nurse! She began the sono and guess what... of course... the machine died lol so we had to change rooms and I had to go through the awkward feeling of sitting there half naked waiting on her to return! However, it was worth it! Apparently I responded pretty well to the clomid! I have one nice big mature follie on my right ovary at 22mm! (18 is mature). However, I have not surged (LH surge shows that you will ovulate SOON) on my own. With my follie so mature, my lining at 8 (perfect) and the fact that I am on CD11/12, the RE doesn't want to risk missing the ovulation! I will trigger (give myself a shot to make me ovulate) TONIGHT! Our IUI is scheduled for Saturday at 11! I am beside myself with excitement and apprehension! I am so nervous as to how this will play out! I ask that everyone keep us in your prayers, I know it is all in his hands and what we ask in his name we shall receive!! Thanks for all of the prayers so far and all to come!

Easter Sunday is right around the corner! I am so excited to praise the good Lord for dying on the cross for my sins and his resurrection! I hope you all enjoy your holiday weekend!

Thumbs UP!

Today was my "baseline" sonogram. Basically they went in and looked at my uterus and ovaries prior to the start of me taking Clomid for this IUI cycle. Here is how it went...

First, I walked into the room and undressed waist down as directed by my Nurse. Meanwhile i turned around (undressed of course) to walk over and sit on the bed... to my amazement and inability to keep from busting out laughing what do i see... the ultrasound monitor apparently has a screen saver, the screen saver of the say was an old doctor in surgical wear giving a thumbs up!!! I about died laughing! However, I took it as a good omen lol!

Now to the actual important subject lol. My ovaries looked good! No actual cysts thank heavens, however, there were tons of little dots (follicles) from my PCOS but that is considered normal for me. My uterus looked ok the lining is still thick but AF has only been in full swing for two days so the nurse didn't seem concerned. All in all my reproductive organs look just fine! So the RE has prescribed me Clomid (ovulation meds) to take starting tomorrow for 5 days! Then I will go back next wednesday... day 10... for another u/s to make sure things look good! I will then wait to a surge showing that I am ovulating or about to ovulate and that is when the IUI will take place... in other words I will be turkey basted!

Now the bad news (not bad for anyone but myself lol) sometimes people on Clomid don't actually ovulate so I may (most likely) will have to take Ovidrel which forces ovulation... the bad news is, ovidrel is a SHOT!! The worse news... I will have to administer it to MYSELF! Lord please give me strength for this one! I am not a needle lover!

So all in all today was a good report! Please continue to pray for Tim and I as we embark on this Journey of Infertility! We truly appreciate it!

oh where oh where could AF be!

Well I never thought I would long for AF to show up so badly! I took my last provera on Thursday so today is day 3! Last time I took it AF took 4 days and I am hoping and wishing and praying that she will come tomorrow! The sooner she comes the sooner I can feel better and the sooner we can get our IUI underway!

On the life front...
Things are going well. Tim and I feel like all we do is work. eat. sleep. and do it all over again! We are excited to say that tax season is nearing an end so my workload will be a little less! I am working about 10 hours extra/week which isn't much but thursday's are overwhelming... work early to late! I miss my hubby lately and we are so excited to say that April will bring fun times! We will be going to Houston for my step dad's 50th bday and then my best friend and her husband and little one are coming to visit! May will also be great we will have Tim's mom and dad down for a week and I am hoping for time off!!

I hope all of you ladies are doing well and I will update as soon as I get into the RE and let you know how my baseline sono goes! God Bless!

Let the hormones begin!!!

RE appointment on 3/08/2010 and the Lord has definitely blessed!

First for a round of applause ;), that's right ladies I lost 23lbs from February 7 to March 8!! I am definitely pleased and very proud of myself considering all I did was take my metformin and watch those carbs! I exercised but not a whole lot so I was shocked at this number!

Now on to the good IF news! Although I lost 23 lbs I was still assuming I would not get to start cycling with Clomid until I lost that last 8lbs! Well, Dr. Nackley had news for me! She came in and told me she was starting me on Provera (you know that medicine that made me a roaring pain in the behind) to bring on Aunt Flo! To be immediately followed by Clomid for ovulation! I started crying, of course tears of joy! Of course I assumed this would mean that we would just do Clomid with TI (timed intercourse), not the case...

Dr. Nackley has recommended to us that we do Clomid + IUI (intrauterine insemination). I was skeptical at first but after finding out that not only is there a much better success rate, our insurance does not cover any of it, not the Clomid, not the sonograms, and not the IUI. So considering it is only 260 dollar difference and we have better chances we have decided to go with Dr. Nackley's recommendations.

So here is the rundown... I am currently on Provera for 10 days (last dose will be 3/19). Then it should take about 3-4 days for Aunt Flo to arrive (assuming things go like last time). Once AF comes I will go in on CD2 (cycle day 2) and have a baseline sonogram to check my lining etc. I will then start my Clomid for CDs 3-7. I will go back to the RE on CD10 for another sonogram to check my lining and to see if I have any growing follies (maturing eggs). After that I will start doing the OPK (ovulation predictor kit) testing everyday until i get the line saying that I am surging! That day we will go in for the IUI process, Tim will do his thing in the cup, and about an hour and a half later they will actually do the insemination! I am so EXCITED!

Please keep us in your prayers that IUI #1 will take and we will meet our bundle of joy soon!! I am praying that our finances work out as well!! We are hoping not to have to forfeit any savings on all of this! But we will if need be... cause i want a wittle one lol!! I will keep you guys posted! Love you all!

pessimistic day...

Today has been weird... ever since Tim and I got good news we have been living in this fantasy world, thinking oh this will be a piece of cake once we get my 20lbs lost and get the clomid going. We went to babies r us and looked around, we are in the market for a new car and went yesterday to look and picked out an SUV and talked about how perfect it would be for baby, today a friend of mine talked me into going to motherhood maternity with her and then had me put on the fake belly, DH and I keep saying well when we get pregnant this or that... why am I doing this to myself? I suddenly have an overwhelming feeling that this isn't going to be a walk in the park and feel as though I am giving myself false hope :( idk why I suddenly feel so pessimistic but it really sucks! I am trying to keep telling myself to leave it all in God's hands but that is easier said than done... for now I am going to just believe his will shall be done and in time we will be blessed with a beautiful miracle!

OUCH... but worth it!

Tim and I had our testing this morning, he had a SA and I had an Hsg. The HSG hurt worse than almost anything I have ever felt! However, great news, no blockage and the uterus looks perfect! Also, apparently, hubby is a SUPER STUD! The normal count is about 20mil he has 76 with 87% motility... needless to say the smile on his face... priceless, i could see his head getting bigger as she talked! The only semi-bad news, which I have actually turned in to positive news lol, I have insulin resistance. However, this could explain my weight issue! So I was put on metformin starting with 500mg/day for one week, next week I go to 1000 then the following 1500. I am not excited that I have Insulin Resistance because it puts me at risk for type II diabetes, however, the metformin should help with my weight loss! All in all, good day with good news! Next appointment March 1 for weigh in and metabolic panel! On our way to baby #1 hopefully! Once I lose 22 more pounds I will get my clomid woohoo! God is great!

Babies R..not yet... us

Hello everyone!! I hope you are all doing wonderful! We have some testing coming up so I wanted to fill everyone in!

Tomorrow morning at 11:45 we have two imparitive tests going on. I am having my HSG (basically they use sonography and dye to look at my reproductive system and make sure there is no blockage) and Tim is having his analysis. We will have the results while we are there and while I am nervous, both about the results and about the procedure, I am hopeful for a great outcome! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers tonight!

Now to show you how ridiculous we are lol. Today Tim and I took a little trip with some friends to Babies R Us... I had a blast lol! Tim was so cute looking at everything saying what he liked and didn't like! I think we may possibly have all of baby #1's things picked out and we aren't even pregnant lol!! While I was standing there it hit me... what if this doesn't happen as quickly as we hope? What if we get bad news tomorrow? Then I remembered... today church was all about mountains, how we all face them and how God can move them out of our way or help us climb them. I remembered at church this morning when Pastor Keith said anyone who is facing a mountain in your life pray and leave it in God's hands... I prayers a simple prayer to leave all of this up to him! So, for now I am breathing in and out and taking this one day, one step and one prayer at a time!

Thank you all for your support... we couldn't get through all of this emotion and struggle alone!

Sorry for the delay...

Well between ATT and its craziness and now my laptop pooping on me... the internet has not been around in my house! So my hubby and I decided to buy a desktop! I am sick of my laptop having issues while I am in school and I need something reliable! I am so happy to have my internet back!

So now for some updates!!

My husband has volunteered to go to Haiti. We aren't sure if or when he will be going! At first I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but then I realized that this is something he feels called to do and it is very noble and honorable of him. So I have decided that as his wife all I can do is support him!

I have decided that I will continue my path in school for a degree in education... there is no sense in me just going for nursing or rad tech for the money and/or quickness of the degree, it is not truly where my heart is and I think in the end I would be miserable. I spoke to a counselor at UTA and I already have all but 3 of my core credits complete and those three can be completed during the education program, so I plan on begining in the fall! I will obtain a degree in early childhood through 4th grade education!

I have lost 7lbs as of last Saturday! I am proud... however with coming off of the Provera and having a cycle... it has made me eat things I shouldn't lol! But I think I will at least lose a couple this week! Only about 20 to go before they start the Clomid :)! Monday morning Tim and I have some more testing. I am having an HSG to check my tubes and makes sure we don't have any blockage there... I am very nervous so prayers are welcome! I am hoping that we both get positive news after the testing and luckily we will find out same day right there in the office, no waiting required :)!

Tim and I started attending a Wednesday night Bible Study class and I am loving it! It is a class specifically for young marrieds and Tim and I have been able to relate so much to some of the things they are teaching! Matt and Rachel are the teachers and they do such a great job! Our first visit, last week, something weighed heavy on my heart to ask for the groups prayers with our IF issues... I cried like a baby lol... I felt so ridiculous but Rachel did such a fabulous job with giving me support, guidance and confidence that it was going to be OK and God has a plan for us and this will happen in time! I am so thankful for Whitney talking me into joining this church it has done so much for me already! I look forward to continuing attending!

Well everyone that is about it for updates! I will post again soon! love you all and God bless :)

13 again...

So I am on day 8 of Provera.... and it sucks! The emotional aspect only lasted about 3 days and then I was a normal human being again, but now, I have a pizza face. Yes, I look 13 and it's ridiculous! I really hate this... i normally wear no make up to work and now I am forced to cake it on so I don't scare the small children!!

On a lighter note... all of my blood work minus the Insulin Resistance test came back... I am disease free, my thyroid is within normal range, I am O negative, immune to rubella, and I am not a cystic fibrosis carrier lol yay me! I am hoping to get the Insulin results back this afternoon so that I will know if I need to start taking metformin.

NEWS FLASH... for those of you I have called freaking out to, my husband has decided to get out of the Navy. His current enlistment is up February of next year, however, he is going to try to extend for one more year so that we can finish school. I am currently debating on Radiology Tech and Nursing school either way I would be done about two months after his extension would end. We haven't decided where we will live yet. Of course we both want to move to our hometowns, his being Elk River, MN and mine being Here in Texas but we are tying to weigh our options and see which will be better for our family!

I promise not to make my next post so long from now like I did before! I hope all of you have a blessed day :)

Provera is an emotional rollercoaster!

I began taking my Provera (to initiate a cycle) on Tuesday evening. My mom recommended I take it at night because a lot of patients get nauseated and that way I could sleep through it. I took my first dose at 9PM, by 11 i was a wreck!! I became infuriated over a petty comment made and blew up at someone that I should not have.... then the waterworks... I started crying and didn't really know why! Yesterday I had an extravaganza with ATT... i cried and yelled at the cable guy and to the customer service people on the phone... so now the world thinks I am insane! Thank goodness I only have to take this med for 10 days... my poor husband might run away by then!!

My GTT/Insulin Resistance test is at 7:45 on Saturday morning... I get to drink some really disgusting glucose stuff and get my blood taken every hour for 3 hours... ugh... wish me luck or rather the phlebotomist, on this Provera I am willing to go crazy on people sticking me and digging around for a vein!

Tiny dots all over!!

Today was our first appointment with the RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) and we got better news than I had anticipated! I thought sure they would tell me oh sorry no babies for you, but that wasn't the case! I was Dx (diagnosed) with PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. For those of you who don't know, basically this mean I have plenty of Folicles/eggs I just don't ovulate correctly! A normal woman's Sonogram of their ovaries should show about 3-5 black dots (eggs) mine had about 10 or more on each ovary! I return to the RE in 2 weeks to have an HSG (a fancy sonogram where there shoot saline into your uterus and tubes to make sure everything is clear), Tim has is analysis and b/w and assuming all is fine with that we have a plan! The RE wants me to lose 30lbs before initiating ovulation (must be lower than 40 BMI and I am at 42.. YIKES)! So I am on a 2-3 month diet, once I lose the weight we will begin Clomid, a drug to induce ovulation. The RE is pretty confident that once I begin ovulating it should happen within 3 cycles! I am so happy and have gotta such positive feedback that I am going to try and stay optimistic about our other testing and hopefully this PCOS will be our only obstacle! Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, our journey isn't over yet!

God is back on our team!

Not that he ever left us I'm sure! Tim and I have always disagreed on churches. He was raised Catholic and myself... Baptist, so polar opposites basically! Some friends of ours invited us to a new church today and we decided to go (to my surprise he came along)... turns out all of the singing and clapping was ok with him since the preacher was so amazing! I am so happy we found this! It is such a nice church, very contemporary and lots of people our age! I am so relieved to know that I will now be back in my happy place every Sunday and Wednesday and it will be in my heart every day in between! I can't wait to see what he has in store for 2010! Hopefully a beautiful BFP (big fat positive) and a bundle of joy!

Intro to my new venting source!

A lot of you reading this probably know me, but for those of you who don't here is our story!

I married the love of my life... ok so that was so cliche... on January 21, 2006. I have experienced more happiness since then than any person deserves! We married very young both age 20 so we were in no rush to get pregnant! My husband is a Seabee in the Navy and the addition of 6 month deployments also kept my mind off of baby making! We never tried to prevent pregnancy and at times I thought man we are lucky, boy was I mistaken! During my husbands last deployment (March-August 08) we decided to begin trying to conceive when he returned. We did just that and nothing! I have tried OPK's and charting, still nothing. I do not cycle properly so we are thinking this is definately an issue with me! We have finally decided to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist and our appointment is this Tuesday. I am sure there will be a ton of testing for the both of us ahead and I hope to somehow stay sane through it all!

As I continue blogging I will use abbreviations or initials and I am hoping to get a glossary of those on here sometime!

I hope that I can in someway enlighten your day with this blog and hopefully I will keep up with it to the best of my ability! I wish you all happiness and those TTC- happy baby making!