Caught a cold

Yep- feeling pretty yucky right now.  I thought I was going to dodge it, but it came on full force last night when I was trying to fall asleep.  I guess this is not a terrible time to get one and hopefully it will make me immune to them for the next couple months while we go through FET.
I keep almost forgetting to take my Lupron at night.  It really feels like I am forgetting to do something with this laidback protocol.  My only complaint is that it is too damn long! I've read through other blogger's experiences with FET and the main complaint was that time just drags by. 
I have out of town trips the next 2 weekends and then a breather weekend and then we fly out to Colorado, so I think it is going to go by faster than I expect.  The weather is getting cooler which is lovely.  I played tennis yesterday and am super sore.  On top of my stupid head cold.  Hope that this thing doesn't linger.

Day 1 of FET protocol!

My progesterone level checked out ok, so I was given the green light to start lupron injections tonight.

I am happy I don't have to change my calendar or flights.  It seems kind of surreal that we are actually doing this.  But it's about time dammit!

I had a good day of shopping in Memphis today after my early morning lab draw.   Now I am pooped and ready for a nap.  

I hope everyone has a good weekend and the hurricane doesn't affect anyone. 

Anger

I have anger management issues.  Big time.  I am not going into the details but it had to do with money and a certain somebody (not my husband but he bore the brunt of my rage). I thought my head was going to explode last night.  I literally went beserk. I wanted to throw things and hit stuff.  I am glad I was not pregnant last night or I think I would have caused miscarriage.  I ended up going for a run at 10:30 pm to work the energy out of me.  The situation had nothing to do with infertility (except maybe the money part indirectly), but I don't think I would have reacted the way I did if we were not going through infertility.  I guess I am on a hair trigger.

I would say I am fairly conservative with spending money.  I will splurge from time to time on a nice dress or outfit, but I try to keep myself in check.   I am keeping an xcel spreadsheet on how much we have spent so far on infertility treatments in the last year.  I won't quote the total, but it blows my mind.  On the bright side we will probably pay no taxes this year.  I feel like if I input the costs into my spreadsheet, that somehow I have more control over the situation.  There are so many hurdles with infertlity and I have to say this has been a hard one for me.

I had to take Benadryl in order to sleep last night, because I got so worked up.  Could it be all those hormone fluctuations still messing with me?  Feel groggy today, but alot more mellow.

I went to see The Help this past weekend and enjoyed it.  Hard to believe it wasn't that long ago that people acted like that.  I talked to a couple of people in the ticket line who were students at Ole Miss when James Meredith integrated in 1962.   Oxford has changed alot since those days, thank god!
On an infertility sidenote, one of the characters in the movie is dealing with recurrent miscarriages.   And this actress that played this character leads a "cruelty -free" life, so the drumstick that she is eating in one of the scenes is made out of tofurkey.   (I am acquainted with the chef who cooked for the movie).

Going to get my progesterone test taken on Friday to see if I ovulated this month.  I think I did and that machine didn't pick it up for some reason.
Take care everybody!

No detectable LH surge

Hmmm - I don't know if the clear blue easy fertility monitor missed it or if I did not ovulate this month.  I am Day 15 and typically I ovulate early.  My cervix feels hard and there is no CM today.  The nurse still wants me to have my progesterone levels checked next Friday.  If I didn't ovulate this will most likely push my calendar back.  Oh well.  May have to spend $300 on changing flights.
This is not a big deal in the scheme of things, but I am getting bored of my life right now.  I live in a small town where there is not that much to do.  When I moved here 3 years ago, I would never have thought we would still be trying to have children.  I need a new focus!  I am tired of thinking and worrying about getting pregnant - can I please just get to the next phase of my life?  Part of my funk may be related to limiting my exercise.  I wish I could start training for a marathon (a new focus), but I read studies about IVF not working as well for women who exercise too hard.  I needs some new inspiration!
Anyhoo - I hope everyone has a great weekend!

6 weeks pre-FET

We have about 6 weeks until we go back to Colorado to meet our embryos!  As my mother in law said "I hope they are not too cold" without me.  I think about them all the time.  I bought our plane tickets yesterday.

I think my hormones are wackadoodle from last month's rollercoaster.  I have been using my clear blue easy ovulation predictor and and I am on Day 12 and no signs of ovulation yet.   I bled for a much longer time this month.  I hope I ovulate, so my progesterone is the right level for me to start lupon on Day 21 of this cycle.  Did anyone have issues with the first cycle after IVF?

It's kind of sad that we can't try this month, but then again it takes the stress down a level. We had to buy condoms, because our the ones we had expired a long time ago!

Well, I survived my sister in law's wedding weekend!  It was fun, but slightly exhausting.  I kept thinking that I am so glad I'm not pregnant right now.

One of the bridesmaids had 8 month old twins from IUI, so I talked to her alot about what twins are like. She seems to be coping pretty well.
I just found out one of my sister's friends is cycling at CCRM this month, so I am excited for her.
Infertility is everywhere I look nowadays.

I am so happy for Sooz over at http://thebirdsandthebs.blogspot.com/.

FET scheduled!

Woohoo! I am on the calendar for Tues, Sept 27th.  No BCP in my protocol, so this will move it up a couple of weeks!  I will start lupron on day 21 of this cycle and then start estrogen patches on Day 3 of my next cycle. I can't believe that it's only 2 blood draws and 1 u/s.  Will be so much less stressful.  I hope my uterine lining cooperates.
So this month, we have to not get pregnant because I am starting the lupron early.  In a way, I was looking forward to one last ditch effort, but now I don't have to worry about that.  I think I am going to do my clear blue fertility ovulation predictor tests, just so I can know when I ovulated.
Gotta buy another set of plane tickets.  It's gonna be here before I know it!

Back to Normal

Well, I feel like I am finally getting back to my old routine.  My plants are watered, the laundry is done, the refrigerator's restocked, bills are paid, the dog's been walked.  35th birthday came and went.
We've been harvesting okra out of our community garden plot.  Our tomatoes haven't done squat this year.
I think all these hormone fluctuations took a toll on my body.  I have been detoxing.  I have had some mini-hotflashes (doesn't help that it's 100 degrees outside).   I have been sleeping solid for 8-9 hours and having crazy dreams again.  I feel like I did not dream at all in Denver.  
I went on my usual 3 mile walk yesterday and felt fine.  It feels like I own my body again and I am not at the mercy of all these hormones.
I did have a spell of sadness yesterday morning just thinking about how we're not done yet.    I just have to tell myself that this is going to work and try not to worry so much.
So, FET Ladies, I have a question.  How long does the FET last?  Do you have to take BCP?  or can you start Lupon on Day 21 of your cycle.  I wish I could do the unmedicated cycle, but since we are traveling to Denver, I can't take the chance that we would have to turn around and go home due to ovulation.  Why do they not want you to ovulate?  Is it because they can control the hormones better?
And have any of you heard of "endometrial scratching"?  It's supposed to increase implantation of the embryo.  My mom's friend was saying her daughter had it done after she didn't get pregnant with the first transfer and then did the scratching thing, and she got pregnant twice.

Day 5 embryo report!

I thought I was going to go crazy waiting for the phone call.  I have been tethered to my cell phone all day long.  The embryologist called me at 4:04 pm.  Drumroll. . . We have 9 frozen blasts! Mostly all great quality!  I am so proud.  And grateful.  We are halfway there.
Now, I can take a break from the babymaking project and focus on my sister-in-law who is getting married in 12 days.  It is a relief to know that this month I do not have a 2 week wait!