Baby J!

Hello all!  Has been quite some time since my last post!  I had my first ultrasound on Thursday 10/4/12. 

6 weeks 1 day (plus or minus 4 days) - Showing how BIG baby J is...

Showing the heart rate @ 53 beats per minute

I was pretty nervous before this appointment, which was at 2:20 pm, the latest appointment I've had thus far...!  The clinic must have been very very very busy that day as I didn't get called back to the room until a little after 3.  So... go figure I was beyond nervous and excited after waiting that long!  Amazing to see on the screen the little miracle and heart beating!  The heart beat was a little slow, and the doc was a little concerned.  My next appointment is Monday 10/15 at 11:40 - a much better time and I can take an extended lunch with Corey!  I also switched away from the 1.5" needles for my nightly progesterone shot to a different style of progesterone - Crinone.  No more shots!!  I'm not going to describe much about this type of medicine, but if you get curious - look it up yourself :-P.

Corey and I took a little trip to Canada this past week.  This vacation away from work and home was much needed for the both of us!  We averaged at least two, if not over two naps per day.  Pretty much a relaxing and stress free week.  The fishing and weather were not the best, but we still were able to enjoy our time away!

Excited for tomorrow...tomorrow's appointment... not really my return to work !

ALJ

BFP!

BFP! BFP!  BIG FAT POSITIVE!!! 

I had my initial blood draw on Tuesday.  I told the nurse that drew my blood to not have anyone contact me until after 4pm Tuesday afternoon.  I had an all day teleconference, and a meeting at the plant from 2:45 - 3:45.  I knew that either way the results were going to cause me to be an emotional wreck and I didn't want to show any emotions at work!  By 3:45 as the meeting was ending I was nervous as ever!  I was nervous all day long, but I knew that I'd get the results soon!  I left work as soon as I could hoping that I would be home before the clinic called as I didn't really want to be driving to hear the news.

I got home a little after 4 and tried to watch Ellen to keep me entertained until I got the call.  At 4:45, I couldn't take the wait any longer!  I called the clinic, of course none of the nurses answered, so I left a message for SOMEONE to call me back - btw the clinic closes at 5.  At 4:50 I called my nurse Nicole and left her a message hoping she would call be back!  Finally, at 4:55 I received a call from Dr. Young.  He told me that my hCG level was in the 200's and I was indeed pregnant.  Yessssssssssssssssssss!!!  I was seriously ready to check myself into the ER for heart palpitations.... what was the doc thinking to wait until 4:55! 

Thursday I went to the clinic for a follow up blood draw.  Again, I received a phone call from Dr. Young.  He said that my hCG level had doubled to 470ish range.  This is a normal increase and everything looks good on paper!  I was told to set up and ultrasound two weeks from Thursday.  So, I now have an ultrasound on Oct. 4th - I can't wait!

Corey & I are beyond excited with the recent news!  Obviously you've been included in our journey and exciting news if you've received my calls, texts, or have read this blog!  We are happy to share the news with some really close family members and friends, but we are not quite ready to go out and scream the news to the world!  When things get a little further along and a couple months from now we'll be ready to start telling more and more people - we just want things to continue to go well!

Next update around or after the ultrasound on the 4th!

Love much
Corey, Amber, Max & Baby J(s)

Transferred Twice!

There is a double meaning in this post!  We officially completed our 2nd embryo transfer - the frozen embryo transfer on Thursday.  We also transferred two embryos.  Everything seemed to go pretty well and we were in and out of the clinic in a little under an hour.  We still have three frozen embryos in case things don't work out.

I scheduled my blood test for the 18th - 12 days after the transfer.  I could do a home test, but similar to the first attempt, I don't believe I can bring myself to do so.  Here's to hoping that this next week at work flies, the weekend will bring a fun tailgate with friends at the ISU vs. Western Illinois football game, and then two more working days before I can find out how things went this time!  I know that work will be easier to go back to and next week will be better as one of my bosses called me the morning before the transfer tell tell me that they finally approved my much needed raise.  I am not sure when the raise will take into effect, but again this will make going to work a whole heck of a lot easier and give me motivation to keep up the good work!

I have been lounging around the last two days, per doctor's orders... so, I am looking forward to being a little more mobile tomorrow!  Hoping that I can get somewhere to watch the "big" game - GO STATE!

Lil' Piglet - aka Max - snoozing with me while I "lounged"

Here's to enjoying the next 11 days and here's to hopefully hearing some good news!

Until next time,
ALJ

Awkward Turtle!

I had my appointment today!  Pretty excited / nervous for this appointment, but all went well!  I had some blood drawn and then an ultrasound.  The ultrasound was to check the thickness of my lining.  The nurse said everything looked great and we're all set for our 1pm transfer next Thursday!  I was relieved to hear that things would be moving forward on the day that the calendar originally stated... less than a week!

Now onto the title of this post! I had to have Corey meet me at the clinic to sign the frozen embryo consent form - legal stuff.  We had to sign the sheet in front of a notary aka the front desk lady.  Somewhat of a wasted trip for him, but I promised that I would take him out for lunch!  We went practically next door to El Rodeo a Mexican restaurant.  In less than 10 minutes after we were seated, they sat down a few staff members from the clinic at a table right behind me!  So out of the 6 people sitting at this table, 1 of them was an outcast as I know he doesn't work at the clinic but the other 3/5 have seen my goodies and the other 2 have vampired my arm for blood... as the post says... this was a little bit of an awkward turtle.  Not knowing what the proper protocol was for this situation, I didn't make eye contact and smiled as we got up to leave - didn't want to seem like a total wench...

I've been trying to find things to keep my preoccupied to not think about the upcoming events, that I went ahead and caved in... and bought the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy.  I was mildly thinking that this would give me something to do while I'm supposed to be lounging next Thursday and Friday.  I found that lounging while you're not really sick is a hard thing as so many things and ideas run through your head - what could I be doing while I'm at home and not at that thing called work... hrm...  Back to the books, so I bought them via Itunes and started reading them on Tuesday evening.  I just finished the first book tonight... I'm not sure that I'll have anything left to read by next week and I can't seem to stop reading!  I really want to know what is going to happen next and I am having a hard time putting the "book" down!  Last night I had to quit as my phone battery was drained - HAH!

Before the excitement on Thursday, I have to get through the dreaded progesterone shots.  The intramuscular shots in my "butt" region are not very much fun, contrary to popular belief!  I start the shots on Saturday evening.

Hope you enjoy your long weekend!  I'll be enjoying a long weekend, a 2 day work week, and another long weekend!  Just as I told Corey tonight... I'm High!! I'm high on life that is...

Until next time,
Love,
ALJ

Riding High

I am going to assume that no news is good news!  I had my appointment on the 9th for a blood draw to check my estradiol level, but didn't get any information back from the clinic.  The 13th brought the first day for the Vivelle skin patches.  This time around I have to wear two and change them every 4th day.  I was itching (literally) to get the patches off the morning of the 4th day.  I don't recall having an itchy feeling the first time I wore them?!  My last Lupron shot is on the 23rd and I'm definitely looking forward to that!  I forgot how sensitive my tummy gets with all those needle pokes!  Just even a brush of the hand hurts a little!  My next milestone is the 30th for an ultrasound, blood work, sign the consent form for the frozen cycle, and pay my part of the frozen transfer fees.  I misread my calendar and thought I would have to pay on the 9th, but I got a extra bonus of a couple weeks before shelling out the cash. 

The roller coaster is riding high.  I felt great today, in fact the best I've felt in quite a while and I'm not sure why, but I felt refreshed, happy, and full of energy.  I accomplished quite a bit at work this week and things have been looking up in the work department - hopefully a much deserved raise will come soon as well...(fingers crossed)! 

Don't forget next weekend is the 3rd Annual Jamison Fish Fry! Come on out and join us for food, friends, and fun!

Familiar Territory

Yesterday brought the first Lupron shot since the first part of May.  The first shot was a little tough to get right back into the groove!  I drew up the shot and danced around for the next 5 minutes trying to get myself ready.  I had to leave the kitchen and go watch the women's gymnastic team win the GOLD medal in the team event.  I told myself that if the women's team could pull together and get things done, then maybe I should just follow their example!  So, I went back to the kitchen and 1, 2, 3, and done!  Tonight was better and I only hesitated once. :)  I have a feeling that the next couple nights will be even better.  Pretty excited again to get things headed in the right direction.  The next milestone is my appointment next Thursday the 9th for some blood work to check my estradiol level as well as paying my 20% co-payment for the cost of the FET (frozen embryo transfer). 

Next update after the 9th - can't believe August has arrived already!

ALJ

Relax

I can finally relax! I tried not to get impatient, but I hate not knowing where I'm going and what is ahead! I called my nurse Nicole at the clinic Monday and inquired about how long you wait to get your cycle after taking the progesterone pills. She was out of the office, but called me Tuesday and left a message. She said that your cycle can take up to 14 days to start after taking the progesterone, and mentioned that if I was at the 14 day point to call back, otherwise keep on waiting! If I could have only waited one more day....! Day one of the 2nd round of in vitro officially started Tuesday! I called Nicole today and left her a message. I said in the message that I was just testing her knowledge about the progesterone pills... Mentioned day 1 and thanked her for calling me back and being patient (something I'm still learning hah)! She called back and said she had to laugh at my message and that the same thing happens to quite a few people. She said she'd get my handy dandy calendar ready and send 'er to me. First two weeks will probably be birth control and a baby aspirin. Third week will start the Lupron subcutaneous stomach shots. Who knows after that as we're doing a frozen cycle this time. I am looking forward to more structure and dates to check off the calendar! I am excited to go back to Bauders Pharmacy to not only get the drugs but mostly excited for the old fashioned malts!!! Yes, I'm going to indulge.