The IVF Journey Continues

Continued from : My Journey began in Jan/Feb 2010. Quite some time ago considering it's 2012 now but...

so... 

In December 2011, we met with the doctor again. We discussed doing a whole new cycle again...from SCRATCH (Lord help me!) but using a different hormone protocol. A 1 month cycle to like "flash" stimulate so the quality of eggs may not weaken so much by the hormones - considering that was the 'problem' last time, plus, we'd do a day 5 tfr vs a day 3 - listen I'm not a doctor and the doctors speak so fast it's hard to retain everything!

The action plan consisted of getting in and starting shots/treatment of lupron on day two, coupling this with Orgalutron (spelling) and Ovadril when the times were right.

As an aside... my Boss was aware of what I was doing, this time and the december thawing curfuffle... My boss, also new I was very faithful in the sense that I followed Christ, believed in Him, stood for Him, etc, etc...

He was a more of a rock than I'd ever thought. Before the drugs started, we spoke, he quoted an African Proverb:

"If you want something you've never had before, you must do something you've never done before"

He then asked, what are you going to do differently. I sat there really not know what the heck he wanted me to tell him!! He said "by prayer and fasting..." and I'm sitting waiting for the end of that sentence... And he was like, "you've been praying, right?" I said 'yes' ... "so what about fasting?" - Now fasting is not something we were accustomed to doing at our church. We always kinda held the position that Christ was the eternal sacrifice... 

So I spoke with my Pastor, and asked whether it was 'wrong'. He said the disciples had done it. It was more of an act of faith and discipline. The idea was to do without something extremely significant to show your faith and devotion to God. For example, fasting from food, and gathering your nourishment from His Word... 

So I went and spoke to MarcAnto about it. Asked what he thought. He thought it was an idea... and so the question was WHAT do we give up??? Well.. the one thing that I said I'm NOT giving up was coffee... thus, therein lay the answer. Sheesh!!!!

Us on Our WeddingDay LOL! It was COLD and we were doing
outside shots and my bff brought everyone Coffee LOL

So, Anto and I gave up coffee...in hopes that this offering was good and pleasing to God. And hoped that it further solidifed our commitment to this cause.

During this month, it was hard. Daily bloodwork and ultrasounds - the normal drill I suppose. And the follicles grew with good consistency. Little by little. No big jumps like last time. I was feeling good :-).

I had 13 on my right side and 6 GOOD ones on my left. A whole soccer team and then some!

The Monday/Tuesday came and they were convinced these Nemo's were coming out Friday/Saturday. I was feeling GOOD, CONFIDENT... GOOD... Thursday came, they said 'not tmrw', come back again... My confidence swayed. Friday came, they said 'not tomorrow'. Anto said, DO NOT LOSE Hope... we didn't wanna take em out prematurely cuz of me, right?!?!  

They finally came out, and they fertilized 12 eggs! And on day 5, they were tfr'd back into me. Only ONE of the fertilized Nemo's reached the size they'd wanted. The second was strong but smaller than wanted and the third... small. They placed all 3 in me. I was worried (a touch). Why only ONE??? I've been awesome at making these eggs... what the heck is the problem with the growth?!?! 

Anyway, Marc kept saying, "Wait. Don't Stress, God's got this! We could have triplets!" And so began the wait. No movements, bed rest, no lifting GREATER than 2 pounds (what the heck!) and, the wait... till march 21.

I had two really great friends that were there and available to assist with this BORING/ANXIOUS time. Unfortunately, no one else knew - friends, family etc... But that's okay. My girlfriends Anne and Deb were a great support... They came over, spent time with me... tried to refrain me from really exerting myself... they were great.

All that being said... my mental anxiety was still in the background :-S As much as I tried... there just wasn't enough to keep me mentally stimulated.

Come Monday, Mar. 20, I started to spot. I got scared, and sad, and called Anto at work. He told me this was normal. He also said, 'you know, there was 3... what happens if one or two of the two didn't work? They'd have to come out somehow! don't worry...pray!" ... Man I tell you... If he wasn't such I rock, I'd just die! - Not literally but...

Tuesday came, I was bleeding fully and I was... losing my hope. I went in, and all the girls were excited. "Today's the day!" ... yeah, meanwhile... but... whatever... keep hoping!!!

Two hours later, they called. I (as usual) let it go to voicemail. Emerald called and said, unfortunately the results were inconclusive. We need you to come back on Thursday (not WEDNESDAY!) to retest.

So Anto and I figured... it's not a "no" ... that's not "bad"!

All the while, I bled... and bled... badly... 

On Thursday... they tested and less than 2 hours later, they called and told me the results were negative.

What to do? Right?