CD 8 ultrasound

So after 5 injections they took a peek at my ovaries to see how everything is coming along... Everything looked exactly the same. The doctor was fine with the progression, and Brian claims that this is a good thing because it means I am not over stimulating... On the other hand, I am a *little* impatient ;) and would have liked to see a tad more progression. Given though I am only on CD 8 and usually don't have a mature follicle until between cd 15-17. I guess we will just see how everything goes in time.
They drew some blood to see if my Estrodial was rising, which would indicate follicular development, and wouldn't you know... it actually went DOWN... The nurse said it's very common, blah blah blah and to continue one dose until tuesday where I will have a 2nd ultrasound to check for progression. If everything is the same again they will increase my dose. That will be cd 11... So, let's pray for some progression!!! Come on follicles, GROW!!!!
The good news is that my uterine lining is already at 8 and will most likely only get thicker further into my cycle, making a nice cushy pillow for baby to implant in.

WOW sore stomach....

So today was my 4th injection, but my fifth stabbing... you see on injection number 3 i didn't get all the medicine out, and most people would say "eh, that's ok, i got most of it" but not me... I stabbed myself again to make sure I got all the medicine in... my stomach is really sore, and these injectibles sure do give some wicked head aches....
I totally thought this would be really weird to do, but it honestly doesn't bother me at all. I somewhat enjoy the process, does this make me a masochist? No, it must be because I know it is going to help bring me to my goal.. having a child!!!

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. "
Psalms 5:3

I read that verse this morning and spent some time in prayer. Praising God for the amazing things he has blessed me with, medicine that could help me become pregnant, a husband I couldn't live without, and family that loves me. I also brought before the Lord my request for a child. An end to this trial... I cannot wait for the Lord to answer our prayers!!

I hope that when I DO become pregnant and the Lord answers our prayers that I will always remember that GOD gets all the glory. He is the one who provided the medicine, gave the knowledge to the doctors, and knitted together my child's body... It is HIM who will get the glory, not some medication. And I hope it will be a testimant to others as well.

First injection

Well, this morning I had a baseline ultrasound where they checked to make sure I didn't have any developing cysts and I was good to go to start my injection. Everything looked great, I had a ton of tiny little follicles represent my PCOS, but that was all. The doctor said that he thinks I will respond very well to this treatment, and was impressed with the knowledge that I have when it comes to all things fertility... I like to do my homework. They also did a blood draw to check my Estadiol, which came back normal. The nurse killed my right arm... she couldn't get to the vain and I finally had to ask her to stop, it was too painful, so she moved on to the left arm and killed it as well. Oh well. I went home and gave myself my FIRST INJECTION!!!!! WOO HOO! I am going to attempt to post it on here so you all can see what it is I have to do... very interesting. I have my next appointment on cycle day 8, January 31st, which will be after 5 shots to see how I am responding to the medicine. So there ya have it!!! My injectable journey begins today! I pray that it will bring good results.

Preparing for rain...

Well, all the pregnancy tests have been negative thus far, which leaves me waiting for my wonderful friend... "Aunt flo" Actually she's not my friend. To be quite honest I would really like her to leave me alone for awhile... 9 months to be exact.
She should be arriving tomarow, which puts me at starting my new injectable medication for monday! I'm really excited to see how this will work with my body, and praying for good results :)

We once watched a movie called "Facing the Giants" (i highly recommend this movie) and In the movie there is a man telling a parable about two farmers who both pray for rain. One waits for the rain hopefully. The other waits for it while preparing his fields. He then asks, "Which one do you think trusted God most to bring the rain? The farmer who just sat and waited? Or the farmer who prepaired his feilds for the Lord KNOWING the rain would come?" The answer ofcourse is the latter.
And that is what Brian and I have resolved to do. For the last year and a half, even before we lost our little Adriel, we resolved to prepare for the rain. My wonderful and loving husband has done MANY things to "prepare for rain" in our lives, but these are two of my favorites....



Brian bought these little items for our child to come. I hope to take a picture of our long awaited baby in these precious outfits someday.
But for now, we will continue to "prepare for rain"...

I got my meds!!!!!!

WOO HOO!!! I picked up my injectable medication at the post office on Saturday! 20 vials! I have no idea how many I will actually need for one cycle considering this will be my first, and sort of an experimental cycle. But I am really excited to be moving on to something a little more powerful.
Today is cycle day 29, 11 days past ovulation/ IUI. I should start my period by friday, and that would put me starting my injectable meds on sunday ( cd 3) !!!! That is less than a week away!!! I forgot to schedule a pregnancy test at the office for 12 DPO, but I hate doing that... They always sound so sad when they say "sorry, I have some bad news..." So I will take an at home test tomarow morning. That way I can skip the unpleasentries and see the negative myself.... However, if there is even a slightest faint hint of a line, you can bet your butt I would be in the office in a heart beat getting blood drawn to make sure my numbers were ok.
That's all for now!

IUI #4

Well today was IUI #4. RE was able to put in 55 million sperm all the highest quality possible! So now it is in God's hands. I really don't know how to feel about this cycle. I'm slightly more optimistic after the HSG, but still not expecting a pregnancy on clomid. The doctor offered to bump me up to 150mg of clomid to see if i would make more follicles, but i'm honestly done with clomid and ready for the big guns!!! I'm going to be very excited when my meds are delivered!!! The whole mixing of medication leaves me a little nervous, afraid i will make a mistake like the one time i bent my needle before administering my trigger shot.... THAT was a nightmare.
So now I have done all i can this cycle, and I am now in the two week wait... where i just.... wait.

Mid cycle ultrasound

Well today I had an ultrasound to see if I have any follicles to ovulate. They found one on my right ovary measuring 19 mm, which is mature and ready to pop. She told me to take my shot which helps me to ovulate tomarow night, then 36 hours later I will have my IUI, which will be thursday morning. I kinda feel like there is one on my left ovary that she missed, i can usually tell, and she couldn't get a good look at it. ( it was the nurse who did my ultrasound because my doctor is still on vacation) Anyways, everything looked good and I guess we will just see what happens. I also had a "teaching" on how to use the injectible medications. How to order, mix, administer and other things. She held a glass vial up, tapped it saying, "all you need to do is break open this vial with your thumb, it's really easy" As she did so, the WHOLE thing shattered leaving her thumbs all bloody... needless to say i was freaked out and didn't want to go anywhere near it. Brian tried it, and it worked fine, so i guess he will be breaking all the glass vials in the future. I practiced mixing the meds, and injecting them into a fake piece of flabby skin... ew. We then filled out the order form for next cycle so it will make it to us in time, and faxed it off!!! WOO HOO!!!
I'm all set! I'm excited to start the new meds, and in the back of my mind, still hoping for a pregnancy this cycle, but I'm not holding my breath....

HSG- done!

Yesterday I rang in the new year with an HSG. It wasn't too bad. The most painful part was after it was over because of all the cramping.
The technition was very kind and funny, so was the nurse which made it a little easier. I didn't even feel the cathedar go in, and then they filled my uterus with the dye. It was hard to see because of how the equipment was arranged in the room, but Brian had a good view. He had me turn from side to side as the x ray machine took pictures. When it was over i asked how it looked and he said that it moved through very well, and that both tubes were open!!!! HORRAY!!
So now I know that my tubes and uterus are open and healthy, I know that my FSH, TSH, Estradiol, and my insulin are all normal levels, Brian's has super sperm, the only thing is my LH level which is related to my PCOS. But that is why i take the medication to stimulate my ovaries, allowing me to ovulate. Something my body doesn't do well on it's own.
I'm so thankful for the results, now i know it is just a matter of time, and I can be more excited about moving onto the injectibles!!!!
Other than the HSG, Brian and I had a good time in Washington visiting with his family, playing games, watching movies. It was a lot of fun, but it is always good to come home :) On monday, the 5th, I have my mid cycle ultrasound which will show me if I have any maturing follicles ready to be triggered for ovulation. I'm not holding my breath this cycle, but I would be thankful to finally see a positive pregnancy test :) And to God be all the glory.