What a Long Journey It's Been....

DISCLAIMER>>>> This has been typed over several months. The verb tense may change, I apologize. Also, for some reason, no matter how hard I try to fix the paragraph spacing, the blog site won't let me save it.

Well, I thought I'd keep you in the loop of what we have been going through since January. As you know, we used infertility medicine to get our pride and joy, Luke. We don't regret any penny, tear shed or gray hair caused by the whole lengthy ordeal. He is worth everything we went through. Because Zac and I have a dream of having 3 kids, and aren't getting any younger... we decided to start trying again for baby #2 in January. I went to my normal OB/GYN and we tried two clomid cycles at home without the daily ultrasounds and blood tests that were required for Luke. Unfortunately, they did not work. Our Dr. recommended we go back to Dr. Werlin. A little dissapointed that it didn't work, but happy to see our "fertility family" again, we made an appointment.We started the process of our IUI journey around March (after all the necessary tests were completed, blood work, HSG, etc.) Well, the first 3 didn't work (with injectables). This was a very trying and emotional few months. I think that because I had been pregnant before, that this round of 3 tries (which is how they do it at our clinic), would work. Unfortunately, they didn't. We decided to give it one last try before moving onto IVF. (Sounds familiar, right? Same as last time...I think we are just on the right side of the bell curve for success rates, or at least we like to think that way.) Unfortunately, it didn't work, so onto IVF we went...In the middle of our last IUI attempt, I decided to start acupuncture in hopes that it would help improve our chances of IVF being a success.

Not knowing much about acupuncture, I asked around and decided on going to Dr. Sam Liang (on recommendation from an old friend, Jodi) in Lake Forest. I figured, even if it doesn't work, it might be a mental advantage. My first appointment was interesting to say the least. The doctor just by looking at my face said that I needed better sleep (yes, I do as a matter of fact!), by looking at my tounge said I was borderline anemic (well, I have been tired and bruising easy lately, so that's probably true...) and by feeling my pulse he said the last IUI didn't work (yea, I know, I took a home pregnancy test and it was negative).

Hummmmm....interesting how he knew those things without any information from me. After that consultation, he put magnets and acupressure sticker/bandaids on my ears and back and had me do regular acupuncture. Dr. Liang put me on a new diet to improve my iron deficiency and to make my body "stronger." Having never had the actual acupuncture needles in me before I had no idea what to do. I was told to lay on a table, was covered up with some comfy blankets and the doctor began. I had somewhere around 20-30 needles put into me and then he turned off the lights and told me to take a nap. I laid there in a dark room with soft, gentle music on and heat lamps (at least I think that's what they were) for about 45 minutes. It was very relaxing and gave me time to do nothing but relax and pray that the infertility process would be a success again.As of June 16th, I had gone to 6 acupuncture treatments and really enjoyed it. I felt as though it was helping. I went from 14 follicles one day, to 19 the next. Dr. Liang had me come in after my 14 follicle count. At the very least, acupuncture gives me an hour once a week to relax and meditate.So far, the medications for my IVF weren't bad. I was used to giving myself shots for the IUI procedures, but for IVF it definitely stepped up a notch. I gave myself 2 shots a day and am bruised which I never did before. "It will be all worth it when it works!," I kept telling myself. Let's just say, going to the pool or beach over the summer was definitely out of the question. I looked like a herion addict or someone who was abused.I was most nervous about how many good eggs will be retrieved and the progesterone in oil (PIO) shots that I would have to start taking daily once the embryo transfer was done.

July 28th was the day of my egg retrieval surgery. I was a little nervous, but mostly about how many eggs would be retrieved. The surgery was a success and I enjoyed my little nap thanks to the anesthesia. Dr. Werlin was able to retrieve 20 eggs and of those, 18 were mature/good eggs!!! Needless to say, we were all happy! Apparently, the Embryologist was very excited as well. The nurses said he was so excited to see so many healthy eggs!

July 29th, I got the call at 7am that 14 of the 18 eggs that were fertilized, were successful! That is another miracle in itself. We found out on Saturday if the transfer is that day or on Monday for a blastocyst transfer. The Embryologist was telling the staff that the embryos looked amazing and it made his day. :) That made us feel great.

July 31st, we got a call that the embryos were going to blastocyst stage! We were excited. And then, I realized that I was in for my first big needle shots! Cutting to the chase, thanks to lots of ice beforehand, I didn't feel a thing!

August 2nd, we had the blastocyst transfer. I had to drink 32oz of water beforehand so they could put the embryos in by guided ultrasound. The process was easy and painless. Thank goodness... This is what I was most nervous about to date.

August 2-6th- Bedrest and the dreaded 2 week wait. This is honestly, the most difficult part of he IVF journey for me. The other procedures seem trivial compared to this. We had so many anxious and excited feelings it really is hard to stay calm and relaxed. For me, I had to lay on strict bedrest (only getting up to go to the bathroom) for the week. Laying around on my back was boring (understatement) and hard to not get uncomfortable quickly. But, more than that... trying NOT to get anxious, stressed out, you name it. How do you NOT think about if you are going to get pregnant while you are lying around to get pregnant? Difficult to say the least.On Friday of bed rest, I got a call for an interview! That really freaked me out and I had to calm myself down and not get stressed out. Going into those interviews not knowing if I was pregnant or not was interesting. Obviously, I wasn't going to say anything. And, even if I knew, I wasn't going to say anything until my 2nd trimester.

Zac decided that regardless of the results, we weren't going to tell anyone. That was hard for me to do. A select few members of our family and close friends knew what we were doing, but not many. So, when they asked me what was going on, I just tried to avoid the question. I'm not good at lying.

Finally, the day came closer to graduation and we would be able to tell people.... Fast forward to yesterday, my second to last appointment with Dr. Werlin before I "graduated." Let's just say that everything was looking so great that, he graduate me early. I really had to fight back the tears yesterday....I love him and the staff there. We have all grown so close that it will be hard not to see them so frequently. At times, it was every day. I have now in total, gone there for over a year (with Luke included) and they are extended family. I think Dr. Werlin was even a little choked up...He gave me a hug and left quickly, which is not his style. :)

So, after our later appointment that day with Dr. May (my regular OB), Zac decided we can start telling people. So, here I am adding my last little bit to this blog that has been a work in progress for around 7 months now. I apologize for the tense changes, I tried to fix what I could, but I'm tired.... I will post pictures next week of the sonograms. The due date is April 16, 2011.

In other news, Luke is up and walking like a crazy boy...climbing on everything and teething. He has 3 molars coming in and they are giving his a really rough time. Poor guy.