Thank you...

Hello all,

Not much to report in this torturous two week wait....I am just trying to keep my mind occupied with other things!! I celebrated my 28th birthday on Tuesday & had a wonderful day!! My parents took Michael & I out to my favorite resturant, Red Lobster...thanks guys, it was yummy!!! Tonight, Michael is taking me out to dinner...nothing like a 'birthday week'!!

I wanted to thank everyone for the birthday wishes & the encouraging words over the last week. Tears come to my eyes just knowing what wonderful & supportive friends & family that I have. I know that no matter what happens in the next couple of weeks, you all will be there right by our sides supporting us. Again, thank you all for the thoughts & prayers!

I thought I would share a cute picture of my puppy, Charlie. My Dad took this last weekend when they were dogsitting while Michael & I were in Tulsa...isn't he precious????

Embryos-Day 3-Transfer Day

Hello everyone,

Day 3 started off as a stressful day...I called & got the news that our embryos weren't doing as well was the day before. I learned that we had a 3, 2 1/2, & 2 1/2 (Remember scale of 1-4 with 4 being the best). I was a little discouraged, even though I knew that embryo grading process would be a roller coaster of emotions. I was told that the embryo transfer was still on for 1:30.

When we got to Tulsa, we first met with Dr. Prough to discuss everything. He told us that my body did not react to the meds the way he would have liked. He said that the 4 eggs that were immature had vascules or holes in them which he thought was from my endometriosis. We also discussed our options & changes in protocol for our next cycle if this one doesn't work. He said with the quality of our embryos that he wanted to transfer all 3 embryos that we had. He made me feel better about our chances & told us that there is still a 40% chance that this could work. I still have faith....all we can do at this point is to pray about it & stay positive...it is in God's hands!!!

The actual procedure wasn't bad at all...it was actually pretty neat. I got to watch the embryos being inserted into my uterus on the screen...amazing!!! It was a wonderful feeling! I am just praying that at least one of those little guys attach to my uterus!!!!

I wanted to thank everyone for the thoughts & prayers!! I wanted to close with a picture of our little embryos....it just amazes me everytime I look at them!!

Embryos-Day 2

Just an update on how our 3 embryos are doing. Each day they rate them on a scale of 1-4...with 4 being the best. This morning our embryos rated a 4, 3, & 2 1/2. So everything is looking good!!! Let's keep our fingers crossed!!!

I have been meaning to attach a pic of all the meds that I have been taking!! Here it is:

Egg Retrieval-January 25, 2008

Hello everyone,
Sorry for the delay in updates...Michael & I decided to stay an extra night in Tulsa just to relax after my Egg Retrieval. I am so glad the procedure is over...I get so nervous about things like that. I was very groggy from the anesthesia all day, but wasn't in any pain at all...just a little sore. They retrieved 8 eggs from my ovaries on Friday. However, this morning we found out that only 4 of them were mature. They said there was no way that an immature egg can fertilize. So, of the 4 mature ones, 3 of them fertilized naturally. All we can do now is hope & pray that those 3 keep dividing like they should!!! They have scheduled my embryo transfer on Monday, January 28, 2008 @ 1:30 pm. We will only transfer 2 embryos, but hopefully the third one will survive the freezing process for future use. Thanks for all the prayers!! They are greatly appreciated!

New Header!!!

Thanks Mika Beth for my new blog header!!! I love it!!!

Stimulation Day 12

Hello everyone!!! I just wanted to update you all on what's going on! My mother-in-law, Cyndi & I headed to Tulsa bright & early this morning. Dr. Prough said my follicles looked great & scheduled my egg retrieval for Friday, January 25th. I am to take an HCG Trigger shot tonight at 11:00pm, start antibiotics tomorrow, & report for the procedure at 8:15 am on Friday. Since more icy weather is expected on Friday, Michael & I have decided to go over on Thursday night...just to be safe!! I am so excited, yet so scared at the same time!!!! Please say a quick pray for me on Friday morning!!

Stats:
Estrogen 2182
Progesterone .86

Stimulation Day 11

Due to the icy weather, Michael & I bundled up & headed to Tulsa right after work last night to make our 8:45 appointment this morning. I was thinking this would be the last trip until our egg retrieval, but I was wrong!! Dr. Prough had told me more than likely we would have the procedure on Thursday the 24th & I think I got my hopes up too soon!! I actually saw Dr. Blackwell this morning & she said I had several follicles that were ready to go, but I also had several follicles that would be ready to go with another day of meds. The Drs. decided to continue the meds another day & postpone my egg retrieval :( I am hoping I will get the okay to trigger tomorrow evening & have ER on Friday, but we will just have to wait & see!!! I keep telling myself that it is all in God's timing, not mine!!!

Stats:
Estrogen 1582
Progesterone .76

Jan 22 - Continue with 100 IU's of Follistim inj (pm)
Jan 23 - Oral Dexamethasone, 100 IU's of Follistim inj (am) & Ganirelix inj (am)
8:30 am appt for ultrasound & bloodwork

Stimulation Day 9 Appointment

I just got back from my appt in Tulsa this morning. Since Michael had a fire fighting class in Fayetteville, my sister, Mika Beth was sweet enough to go with me so I wouldn't have to go by myself. Thanks MB for getting up so early for me...I know how you like to sleep!!! Dr. Prough said my follicles were a little smaller than he would like, but that I still had several days for my eggs to mature. He set a tenative date for ER on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008. YEAH!!!

Here are my stats from today's appt:
Jan 20 - Estrogen, 1032 & Progesterone, .41
100 IU's of Follistim inj (pm)
Jan 21 - 100 IU's of Follistim inj (am & pm) & Ganirelix inj (am)
Jan 22 - 100 IU's of Follistim inj (am) & Ganirelix inj (am)
8:45 appt for ultrasound & lab work

Where we stand...

Here is a timeline & breakdown of meds thus far:

Dec 26-Jan 8 Birth control pills

Jan 9 - 8:30 Baseline ultrasound-Estrogen 31, Progesterone .20

Jan 12-Jan 16 - Oral Dexamethasone, 100 IU's of Follistim injections (am & pm)
Jan 16 - 8:30 Estrogen 301

Jan 17-Jan 18 - Oral Dex, 100 IU's of Follistim inj (am & pm) & Ganirelix inj (am)
Jan 18 - 9:00 Estrogen 558

Jan 19-Jan 20 - Oral Dex, 100 IU's of Follistim inj (am & pm) & Ganirelix inj (am)

I have an appt tomorrow morning (Jan20) at 8:45 for ultrasound & bloodwork!! I will post again when I know more about the Egg Retrieval (ER) dates...it should be sometime next week!!!

HELLO!!!

Hello everyone...I would consider myself a 'blog lurker' & decided I would start a blog of my own. I seem to have an addiction for checking friends & familys blogs daily & hopefully can post on a regular basis on my own!!! Here is a quick overview of where I am in my life:

I am married to my best friend & jr. high sweetheart, Michael. We have been married since July 27, 2002 & they have been the best 5 1/2 years of my life!!! We both have wonderful families, great careers, a nice house & each other. What more could we ask for, right?? Well, there is one thing....we want a baby so badly!!! Since August of 2004, we have been trying to concieve a baby & have been unsuccessful :( After 3 1/2 years of numerous fertility meds & procedures, we decided it was time to move on to in vitro fertilization (IVF). We are currently in our first cycle of IVF & hopefully this blog can keep you informed on our progress!!!