Yellow Brick Road

I know I said I would try and post on Monday once I was off of couch-rest but I had such a good time relaxing with my husband that I couldn't make time to get away to the computer.  Saturday Handsome had identified a leak under our pavestone patio.  When we had the patio put in we had asked the installers to place our drip lines in a PVC pipe under the patio to both protect the lines and so that we would be able to pull out and replace and broken lines.  They did this but the PVC pipe wasn't long enough to actually stick out of both sides of the patio (didn't find that out until this weekend).  First he dug along the side of the patio and found the water was coming from underneath, then he identified the wettest part of the patio and pulled up some of the blocks - only the edges are cemented in.  Then he dug until he found the edge of the PVC pipe - VICTORY!!!  Look how wet it is - he had to use the shop vac to suck it out so he could work.

Using a straight line we traced where the PVC emerged on the other side of the patio and dug along the edge, luckily this side of the pipe was outside the patio. 

We have two drip system lines - line 1 and line 2.  Before removing anything we traced the water lines back a bit further and found that line one was split and running to both raised gardens, doing 90% of the work, and line two was only watering a few plants; this is why some of our plants don't get watered well - no pressure at the far end of line 1.  At this point we had to call it a day as we were meeting friends at Ruth's Chris for dinner but at least we had the issues identified and Handsome knew how he planned to fix it. The next day we had our transfer in the morning (more about this after the repair story) and then after getting me situated on the couch Handsome went back out to finish the repair.  Handsome capped where line 1 split off to go under the patio for the second raised garden (we call it the stage- see below) and hooked it to line 2 instead.  The only other plants line two went to were some established trees and bushes so we are not worried about those not getting water. 

My wonderfully talented husband then extended the PVC pipe so that in the future we can get to both ends without pulling up the patio.  He pulled out the old lines which still had old emitters attached which were leaking, and then reran the new line through the PVC.  He refilled the holes, put in some sand for leveling and then replaced all the bricks.  You can't even tell where the repair was made except that it no longer is growing mold, moss and other wet stuff :)

Now on to the transfer!  When I got up in the morning I had to take my Estradiol and a Prometrium vaginally an hour before the procedure.  Then I had to make sure to drink water so my bladder would be full.  They want a full bladder because they use ultrasound to direct the transfer needle and they get a better image through liquid - hence the full bladder.  I also took a Valium with me which I was to take 30 minutes before the procedure.  Unfortunately they were running late at ARMS and I was full to bursting.  The nurse asked if I could pee half way and then stop... Now maybe some of you guys have excellent bladder control but for me its all or nothing.  She said that if it got too bad I could pee and then start drinking again.  I waited as long as I could then just HAD to go.  I started drinking more water and about 30 minutes later had to go again.  I kept waiting thinking "as soon as I pee they're going to be ready".  Well I couldn't take it any longer and went; and sure enough as I'm in the bathroom the nurse comes in because they are almost ready and asks Handsome if I had to go again!  So the doctor came in and let me know how things were going to go and give me some time to drink more water.  She had the lab tech come in and the lab tech told us that we had one blastocyst ready for transfer and 5 that had been cryopreserved individually so we can use them one at a time in the future.  Six!  Six blastocysts!  I was really happy with that number and it definitely means we can try for a younger sibling for the one I am growing now :)

I went into the procedure room (kind sleepy and relaxed since I had taken the Valium).  When the doctor got the ultrasound in place pressing on my full bladder she said I was REALLY full and she mentioned going halfway - I told her it was a no go and to just go ahead with the transfer.  She got everything ready and then yelled to the lab tech when she was ready - it was funny because she yelled "wet noodle" and I looked at my husband and said, "did she just say wet noodle?!" he said yes and she repeated it one more time as the tech came in with the blastocyst.  She got it placed and everything looks great - we even got a picture.

See the circled white spot?  That is the blastocyst - well actually the blastocyst is too small to see but that is the fluid around it!  Then they transferred me to a bed and wheeled me to lay on my back for the next 60 minutes. 

It was at this point I got to experience the wonders of a bed pan.  As I mentioned earlier my bladder was VERY full and I wasn't allowed to get up to go to the bathroom for an hour but the nurse said I could ask for a bed pan.  So I did, it was a weird experience but the relief was immeasurable.  It was difficult to relax enough because it felt like wetting the bed or something - my body was like "HEY this isn't the toilet what are we doing here?!".  I had to ask my husband to leave the room so I could relax enough to do it and then it was hard to tell when I was done because you don't hear the tinkling and I had needed to go so bad that my sensitivity was down.  Finally when I was sure I was done the nurse took the pan and I cleaned up.  Handsome and I had downloaded some comedy shows to my Kindle Fire because I had heard that in a study that women undergoing IVF had greater pregnancy rates when they laughed during recovery (they had a clown - I had Daniel Tosh and Kevin Hart).  I did have to use the bad pan one more time before my hour was up and then it was home to be on the couch.  Now it is the waiting game until I take the serum pregnancy test next Tuesday.  Keep your fingers crossed for me! ttyl



Follow The Yellow Brick Road
"Follow the Yellow Brick Road. Follow the Yellow Brick Road.
Follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow the Yellow Brick Road.
Follow the Yellow Brick, Follow the Yellow Brick,
Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

We're off to see the Wizard, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
You'll find he is a whiz of a Wiz! If ever a Wiz! there was.
If ever oh ever a Wiz! there was The Wizard of Oz is one because,
Because, because, because, because, because.
Because of the wonderful things he does.
We're off to see the Wizard. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"

Wishing on Stars

Today was relaxing and fun, perfect for the day before the transfer.  We went out for breakfast at IHOP (why can't they understand when I say, "I would like my bacon burned" I REALLY mean BURNED!! not semi floppy!) and then went out shooting.  Well, Handsome did the shooting I just pushed the buttons and kept score.  He did several more difficult levels at the stations today which lowered his overall score but still pretty good (he is too hard on himself).  Then we came home and he worked in the yard.  I'll try and post pictures... probably Monday since I am couch-bound tomorrow.  We had a leak that was unfortunately under the patio.  So he pulled up some of the pavestones, found the leak and then had to find the other side of the PVC so he can pull the old lines out.  He will also splice two lines together to improve the watering system in our back yard.  He got all the digging, identification and prep done today and he will finish up with the repair tomorrow.  We are going out to eat at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse with friends tonight for AZ Restaurant Week, a twice yearly event that allows you to try top notch restaurants for a reduced prix fixe price.  Last weekend we went to The House at Secret Garden and last night went to Seasons 52 with other friends.  So excited we get to visit so many nice restaurants without breaking the bank!  Last time I checked ARMS said that the last time they checked I still had 14 embryos but tomorrow we will find out how many made it to blastocyst.  Keep you fingers crossed for us!!  ttyl

"Star Light, Star Bright"
Star light, star bright,
First star i see tonight,
I wish I may,
I wish I might,
Have this wish, I wish tonight!"

Circle Circle

This is short because I am exhausted.  I couldn't post yesterday because I was on bed (couch) rest but the high lights are I had 22 eggs, came through the procedure with flying colors very little pain and almost no spotting.  The thing that hurts the worst is the bottom side of my tongue from the oral airway.  I started the intramuscular injections last night (not as bad as I would have though just a slight pinch) and to make sure we get it in the right place they drew two circles one on each buttock in the upper outer quadrant.  No I will NOT be showing pictures of them but they are very humorous  I am on enough other stuff to start up my own pharmacy.  I will post more about all this tomorrow but I did want to update you that we had 22 eggs retrieved and 14 of those fertilized normally and are on their way!  I will update this post tomorrow.

**UPDATE**
Here's the promised update and additional details.  Tuesday we had to get up very early so we could go ARMS for our retrieval appointment which was at 7am.  We had to leave the house by 6:40am which meant that we had to get up early than if we were going to work!  At the office I was ushered into the door on the left.  This is the door that Handsome usually goes through when doing a collection and I have never seen this half of the facility.  I was brought into a room that looked like a hospital room with three beds there would be 2 other women also going through retrieval at later times.  I changed into my gown which kept opening in the back every time I moved so I ended up holding it closed with one hand.  The nurse, Gail, was very nice and started going over everything with me.  She told me that she feels that every retrieval is special and unique and that she was so excited for me.  She gave me an IV in my hand - I have to remember to tell my brother that he is right the hand does hurt more (but my arm was pretty much used up and she didn't want to do my wrist). The anesthesiologist came in asked me the same health questions and then told me he likes to try and give as little of the drugs as possible unless I seem to be in discomfort.  She started to go over some of the drugs with Handsome since he would be giving me the shots - intramuscular ulp!  He left to go do his collection and she reminded him to kiss me before he left since I would be out before he got back.  Then I took one last bathroom break, they want to reduce the chance they'll have to catheterize you, it was hard to pee since I wasn't allowed to drink or eat anything after midnight before the procedure. 

Then they took me into the procedure room.  Dr. Johnson was doing the retrieval and he was very nice and all business - he must be reading my blog since I didn't hear any creepy small talk.  I went and laid on the table in the pap smear position all of us girls know and love complete with the move a little closer to the end, a little closer, there.  After that I remember nothing until waking back up.

When I woke up my husband was beside me.  I was kind of out of it for a while and apparently kept asking him the same questions - how did it go, how long were you waiting, I'm thirsty.  I got some water and noticed blood on the rim that is when I discovered that I had blood around my mouth from the oral airway. (too see more info click on the picture for the wiki link)

With which they apparently scratched and bruise the side base of my tongue, roof of my mouth and back of my throat.  I was told that they had retrieved 22 eggs which made me really happy!  I kept drinking water and when I was able to go to the bathroom they released me.  The nurse also showed Handsome how to find the area to give me the shot in my hip (they say hip, I say butt) and I asked if we couldn't just draw some circles to take the anxiety out of finding the correct area.  Gail says she has done that a lot and it helps keep down stress so she drew two red circles on my butt.  Then Handsome helped me to the car and took me home.

At home he made a quick trip to the grocery store to get me some ice cream and other staples - we had been planning on steak but Gail thought that might be a little much for my stomach so we had chicken instead which he picked up at the store as well.  Then we watched some movies and TV and I fell asleep while he played a game.  It felt like I was getting up every 20 minutes to pee which sucked.  Then we ate I took all of my medication - Estradiol, steroids, antibiotics and the intramuscular Progesterone injection.  They have to draw up the medication with one long thick needle and then change t he syringe needle to a long thin one.  I lean slightly on the counter and cock my knee to relax the muscle.  He tells me to breathe in and then out and on the out he stabs it in.  Surprisingly it doesn't hurt that much - just a quick poke.  He draws out the plunger to make sure he hasn't hit a vein (so far so good) and then injects the medication.  Two time (both on my right side) I have felt slightly light headed as he's pushing in the medication.  He says the medication starts to ooze out when he removes the needle so he leaves the needle in for a little while and today he tried stretching the skin prior to injection and there was no oozing.  We are alternating sides each night. 

Actually with the whole procedure the things that hurts the most is the intramuscular injections the next day - they don't hurt going in but are sore later and my mouth.  It was very difficult eating Tuesday and Wednesday although it is much better today.

Yesterday Shelley called me to let me know that 14 of the 22 eggs had fertilized normally.  I will call them tomorrow to see how many have made it to day 3 - embryo stage and I guess I will find out Sunday how many made it to blastocyst stage when I go in for the transfer.  Again we have decided to only have one transferred.  One of my friends today asked if they can detect and if we can choose the sex.  I think they can because they can prescreen for known hereditary conditions but they won't unless you suffer from a sex selective hereditary disease which we do not.  Also I don't know if I would want to choose, it would be a difficult decision.  So continue to keep your fingers crossed that we have plenty of blastocysts (extras will be cryopreserved until we are ready for our next child) and that we get implantation and successful pregnancy/birth with our first attempt.  Its been a long road and we're not done yet but I think it has been worth it.

Circle, Circle.
"Circle, circle.
Dot, dot.
Now you have your bootie shot"

I took artistic license to swap bootie for cootie.

Favourable Odds

This is just a quick update.  Took the Lupron shot last night at 9pm and not as bad as I had pictured.  I thought it was going to be intramuscular but it was subcutaneous like all the others.  The needle was very sharp so it went in fine.  It was 4mg so it was a pretty big shot but handsome delivered it nice and slow so it didn't hurt.  I am taking the other syringe to ARMS with me at my 9:30am pre-op appointment today for them to give me.  I will also have more blood drawn but no more ultrasounds today - yay!  It looks like tomorrow will be the retrieval day keep my in your thoughts and keep your fingers crossed for me.  I will update this post this evening along with a better title and quote.  ttyl

**Update**
I went to my appointment this morning and got my second Lupron shot.  I wanted to talk a little bit more about the Lupron shot - it didn't hurt but it did make me nauseous and dizzy both times.  In addition when Handsome took the cap of the syringe there was no needle.  I started to panic but he calmly said to look in the bag.  I looked in the bag and there was a syringe needle that screwed onto the syringe.  With the cap it looked really long and I was a little nervous but once the cap came off it was the same size as all the other needles.  I also had to take an OPK (ovulation predictor kit) so they could make sure that it was positive - I hadn't thought to bring one but luckily they had some.  It was positive so everything was going according to plan.

My retrieval will take place tomorrow.  I can't drink anything or eat anything after midnight tonight (although I am allowed to brush my teeth tomorrow but I can't swallow anything).  I will arrive at ARMS at 7am tomorrow in comfortable clothes (I am thinking yoga pants and a shirt).  There are lots of rules about what I am allowed to wear (no hairspray or aerosol deodorant but stick deodorant is okay) and I won't list them all here unless someone comments that they really want to know ;)  I am supposed to bring socks so I think I will bring some big poofy warm ones.  I will be sedated and have local anesthetic while they insert a special needle through my vagina to collect the eggs from the follicles.  I will be on bed rest the rest of the day.  Once I get home, once I am able to tolerate food I am supposed to take 2 Zithromax (antibiotics), 2more at dinner and 2 before the embryo transfer and 2 after to protect from infection.  I will start a steroid Methylprednisone at bedtime tomorrow and will continue to take 2 until the embryo transfer.  I will also be on Estrace vaginally and Intramuscular Progesterone in my hip for two weeks.  For transfer day I will take one tablet of Prometrium and a Valium 30 minutes prior to the procedure.

Last ultrasound I had a good number of follicles and Handsome has high counts as well so the odds should be good for many fertilized eggs and a good number of blastocysts.  I will keep you updated on the numbers as I know more in the coming days.

"May the odds be ever in OUR favor"

P.S. I know its not a nursery rhyme or quote but you have to admit it is cool.  If you haven't seen the Hunger Games go!

New Clothes

Yesterday we had a doctor's appointment where they measured 18 follicles on the right and 16 on the left.  I don't know how Dr. Moffitt keeps them straight and I think that sometimes he might miss one or count one twice which is why the number seems to change.  The appointment was uncomfortable because I think with all the follicles causing my ovaries to be oversize there just isn't as much room and I can really feel it when he is moving the probe around.  Luckily Handsome was there to hold my hand and I could squeeze when it got uncomfortable.  I was kept on the same meds as before 75u Follistim, 1 vial Menopur, and 1 syringe of Ganirelix.  I also had another appointment set for today, Sunday.

Afterwards we went for breakfast at the Morning Glory Cafe at the Farm at South Mountain where Handsome had the Cowboy breakfast (eggs and chili) and I had poached eggs over ham and braised greens (basically the eggs Benedict with no muffin and hollandaise sauce on the side).  Then we saw the Avengers movie.  I LOVED it it was full of action but lots of humor as well!  Later we came home and napped before going out for Arizona Restaurant Week at the House at Secret Garden which we will going to again next weekend.  The food was delicious.  After getting back home relatively early at 9:30 we decided to watch a movie.  We watch Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol so that I could see my new boyfriend Jeremy Renner who I had just met at the Avengers movie.

I call actors that I think are hot and wouldn't mind meeting "my boyfriend"; Handsome teases me that I have too many boyfriends and he needs to find some more girlfriends (currently his only one is Jennifer Aniston).

Today I went back to ARMS without my husband because he was going out shooting.  I also planned to go to Kohl's and Target to find some tops.  This appointment was the most painful yet as he was moving the probe around and one of my ovaries decided to try and run for it up into my abdomen so Dr. Moffitt had to push it down (by pushing down on my stomach and applying pressure as he moved his hand down my abdomen.  Then I had to apply pressure there to keep the ovary in place.  I don't remember how many follicles there were because I was trying to breathe deep and move past the pain.  Dr. Moffitt said we would probably trigger tonight and got me the Lupron shots to do so (we'll figure out payment tomorrow).  The Lupron has to be refrigerated so I had to head home before going out to the store. 

Here's what i got at Kohl's, it was all Apt. 9 except the white shorts which were Daisy Fuentes.  I also got some socks and picked up a black shirt at Target.  I got a call from Dr. Moffitt right before 1pm to tell me that I would be taking the Lupron trigger shot at 9pm tonight and no other shots.  I will bring the second Lupron shot with me to a pre-op appointment tomorrow which I should be getting a call about later.  The Lupron shot comes in what I think is a creepy red bag.

I took another nap this afternoon since I was sleepy (i don't know if it is the meds, the early morning appointments, or what but I have been really sleepy lately.  I still haven't set my sewing machine up, I have to sell the old TV, take down the shelf and put together the new table for my sewing machine.  Maybe I can work on that this week.

THE EMPEROR'S NEW SUIT
"Many, many years ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always well dressed. He did not care for his soldiers, and the theatre did not amuse him; the only thing, in fact, he thought anything of was to drive out and show a new suit of clothes. He had a coat for every hour of the day; and as one would say of a king "He is in his cabinet," so one could say of him, "The emperor is in his dressing-room."
Andersen, H. C. (Hans Christian) (2009-10-04). Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (Kindle Locations 2018-2022). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition.

Counting

Back to the doctor I went today and I am ashamed to say that I let another intern practice on me.  I like to think that if it had been the same girl from last time that I would have said "no, I was uncomfortable last time, I would just like Dr. Moffitt to do it" but I don't know if I would have.  It was a different person and today it was a guy!  Now, I know that technically Dr. Moffitt is a guy but he is much older than me and I don't think of him that way.  This guy was young (probably younger than me) and kind of attractive.  Unlike the girl from last time he was almost too gentle.  When he started to move the probe he wasn't pushing hard enough and it slipped out - I couldn't say anything because how embarrassing would it be to say to a guy "um, yeah its not in yet".  I mean talk about performance anxiety going forward Ha Ha

The follicles were much bigger on the screen although I still don't know how Dr. Moffitt counts all of them and keeps them straight as he's moving the probe.  I had 16 on the right ovary and 10 on the left, the smallest were 6mm and the largest were at 12mm.  Dr. Moffitt said I was doing wonderfully.  I did get a bit light headed and thought I might pass out for a while; I think it was due to the blood draw, my lack of breakfast and him moving the wand around (as the follicles get bigger it gets more sensitive).  I was light headed when I first got to work but ate some chips and chocolate and felt much better.  Today I had to get 3 shots, 75 units of the follistim, 1 vial of the menopur, and 1 shot of the ganirelix.  The ganirelix comes already prepared in a syringe that we had been warned was thick and dull.  I was kind of expecting and awl we would have to punch through the skin on my stomach.  Happily it was not too bad.  It actually hurt more coming out than going in and the actual shot hurt longer - it was sore for almost an hour after the shot.  I think I had made it so much worse in my head that in comparison it was pretty easy.

I will be on the same dosages through Friday at least and then I have another appointment on Saturday.  Most likely I will have the same shot schedule on Saturday and Sunday.  Dr. Moffitt estimated that my trigger date would be either Sunday or Monday and the retrieval date would then be either Tuesday or Wednesday.  Everyone keep your fingers and toes crossed for me!  ttyl

The Lambkin and the Little Fish
"The children ran about it, and caught each other, and played at counting out. "Eneke Beneke, let me live, And I to thee my bird will give. The little bird, it straw shall seek, The straw I'll give to the cow to eat. The pretty cow shall give me milk, The milk I'll to the baker take. The baker he shall bake a cake, The cake I'll give unto the cat. The cat shall catch some mice for that, The mice I'll hang up in the smoke, And then you'll see the snow."
Grimm, Jacob; Grimm, Wilhelm; Charles River Editors; Taylor, Edgar (2011-11-29). The Complete Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tales (Illustrated) (Kindle Locations 8784-8787). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Song of Sixpence

So sorry I didn't update you yesterday after my appointment I will try and do better.  Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment with an ultrasound and blood test.  An intern started the ultrasound which I have had before so didn't think anything of it but she was trying to angle the wand too far and it was to the point of painful but I have such a hard time speaking up that i didn't say anything.  Luckily she soon turned it over to Dr. Moffitt so he could count follicles.  27!  that's right folks yesterday I had 27 follicles 14 on one side and 13 on the other.  My dosage of the menopur stayed the same (1 vial) but my follistim decreased to 75 units yesterday and today.  I have a small bruise from Monday's shots and now a scratch from my icepack.  I ice down the injection site before hand but rather than waste ice I just grab a package of frozen corn and I scratched myself with the edge of the bag (so graceful ;P).



Tonight I had to have three shots because the follistim stopped with about 20 units to go because the vial was empty.  We had to hook up the second vial so we could stick me again to deliver the full dosage.  It reminded me of a conversation with my doctor (general practitioner).  I was having a small growth on my leg removed and she was numbing with local so she could cut the bump out.  I always thought local would feel like that part of your body falling asleep but instead it burns horribly until suddenly you can't feel it anymore.  Anyways, she gave me 4 to 5 shots and each one burned and then she cut out the bump and sent it for tests (results came back - its not a tumor).  I asked her how many shots she gave me and she says "only one" and I told her "no, I know I felt it go in at least four times" and she says "yes, but its all part of the same shot, the same dose" and I told her "to the layman, a shot is every time the needle punctures your skin regardless of how much is delivered".  We both laughed.  Anyways I have another appointment scheduled for tomorrow and I'll let you know how it goes.  By the with all this talk and work on fertility I got a kick out of this egg that Handsome found the other day:

Yep!  A double yolk!  I thought it was cool even if my husband did make fun of me a little for taking a picture.  ttyl

Sing a Song of Sixpence
"Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
SEVEN and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie

When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing;
Wasn't that a dainty dish,
To set before the king?"

P.S. I know its four and twenty but I used blogger discretion to make it fit the post a little better :)

Needle and Thread

This has been an enjoyable weekend.  I started the injections yesterday and they aren't too bad.  I have two little dots on the right side of my stomach so that it looks like I got bit by a very tiny pit viper.  Today we repeated the process on the left side.  I have been icing the area down as recommended and the needles that we got for the Menopur seem a little dull.  Dan pushes and the skin just pushes in until the needle finally goes through with a *pop*.  It doesn't hurt though, what hurts is the medication going in so I have Handsome push it in very slowly for me.  After the Menopur he dials up the Follistim and injects that, that needle has been going in just fine although I have had a tiny drop of blood each time which bothers Handsome. 

Other than the injections we got the car serviced (I'll need new tires soon - yet another expense that seems to pile up on us all at once) we went to P.F. Chang's for lunch and then we stopped by Joann's.  I needed some thread to sew on a button on my husband's suit and while I was there I looked at the sewing machines.  I finally got up the nerve to buy one and will pick it up later this week - it comes with a free class on using it so that is good.  A picture of the model I got is below, it is the Singer Curvy which I think is appropriate since I am curvy :)

Isn't it great!  It has some built in decorative stitches and it can sew on button and has a one-step button-holer.  I think I like the SwiftSmart threader the best.  It seemed pretty easy to use and I will be able to work with it in the class.  When I was pulling up the picture for the Curvy I saw this one:

Gosh!  Isn't it beautiful!  But it costs over $100 more and has less features - do I really want to trade all that for just looks?  Well kinda but I'm going to stick with what i think will work best for me instead of going with just a pretty face - it is neat though and if I was made outa money I would for sure get this :)

After that we went to Dick's Sporting Goods for the husband and Total Wine and More for the wine tasting.  Afterwards we picked up the car and headed home.  We did have one scare when Handsome's truck lost airconditioning and we saw smoke under the hood but it cleared up as mysteriously as it came.  He'll keep and eye on it and if it happens again he'll take it in to the shop.  At home we downloaded Minecraft on the Xbox and started playing.  If you haven't played Minecraft I don't know if I should recommend it or not because it is TOTALLY ADDICTING!!!!  We played until 1 o'clock in the morning until I finally said I had to go to bed.  This morning Handsome got up early to go shoot and I slept in and then went to the container store to buy a desk for my new sewing machine.

I got it from the container store and while I love that place it took entirely too long to get my order but I did score $25 off next time I go PLUS an extra $15 if I go in the month of June.  Anyone want to go with me in June?  I still need to buy a chair to go with my desk.  Then I came back home and played more Minecraft with the hubby until my brain started to ooze out my ears.  Talked to Mom today and she got her Mother's Day bouquet which she said was dried and wilted looking when it was delivered - I am NOT happy and have already lodged a complaint; hopefully they will re-do the order since she only deserves the best!

"Little Snow White"
"Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing, and the frame of the window was made of black ebony. And whilst she was sewing and looking out of the window at the snow, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell upon the snow. And the red looked pretty upon the white snow, and she thought to herself, "Would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window-frame."
Grimm, Jacob; Grimm, Wilhelm; Charles River Editors; Taylor, Edgar (2011-11-29). The Complete Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tales (Illustrated) (Kindle Locations 3587-3591). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Get Ready!

So sorry I didn't update yesterday but I'll catch you up today!  Yesterday I had my pre-start evaluation at 7:45 in the morning.  It was pretty quick and I was able to make in to work by 8:30 which is well within the normal distribution of when everyone shows up.  They took my blood and then directed me to the bathroom/changing room for the ultrasound.  To my dismay it was Dr. Johnson.  I think I have posted before that he is slightly creepy and chit-chatty in a not medical oriented way; and I am not alone two other women I know who have worked with him also said he came off somewhat creepy.  Now maybe he is watching my blog (I doubt it) but if he is - CONGRATULATIONS Dr. Johnson for removing the creepiness from yourself.  He did greet me by shaking my hand again (which feels RIDICULOUS when you are holding a paper sheet around your waist) but then he apologized saying that the paper gown makes it awkward (DUH) and got down to business.  There was no getting to know you chat or chat about the weather he just started describing what was on the screen and giving me some information on how they will do the retrieval.  It was pretty short and then I went to talk to Shelley about my meds.  Oh by the way there were 13 follicles that he counted at this point.

Shelley went over my meds and I told her that I didn't have some of them because they were apparently on back order and had been ordered through a mail order pharmacy.  She said that the Apothecary Shop had got some in and at my request will be transferring all my meds there.  Luckily I had already picked up the Follistim from the Apothecary shop (3 boxes = $800+) and had doses of Menopur and Ganirelix that she had given us as samples.  She said that would get me through the weekend and I could pick up the other prescriptions later.  All of my injections will be given in between 6pm and 8pm.  I am to call Medvoice after 4:30every day starting today and I am to notify her when I get my CD1.

Today I called Medvoice at 4:38pm and there was no message, I started to panic but decide to give it a little time (after all their clocks might be running slow) and called back at 4:45.  Shelly had left me a message that directs me to start my medication on Saturday May 12th (she had previously said this would most likely be the case unless my FSH number was high).  I am to take 100 units of Follistim Saturday, Sunday and Monday in addition to taking the Menopur Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  My next appointment will be on Tuesday the 15th of May at 8am.

One For the Money
"One for the money,
Two for the show
Three to get ready,
And four to GO!"

Tiptoe

So today was my last day of birthcontrol.  Normally (when I'm not trying to get pregnant) I like birth control because it helps out with my acne but this generic stuff they have me on isn't helping at all... in fact I suspect it is making it worse.  Oh well, last day was today.  Tomorrow morning I have my pre-start exam and will get a better idea of the drugs I will be taking.  I have picked up my follistim but there seems to be a back order of some of the others (I do have some samples) so I will talk to ARMS about that tomorrow.  I also got my jury duty postponed although the guy was a little bit of a dick about it - after all I didn't want out of it just postponement. 

Look at what my wonderful husband got for me the other day!

He had this Monday off for furlough so he picked these up when he went grocery shopping.  He also made a lovely Stew Soup (stew ingredients but very brothy because I LOVE the broth).  I love love love tulips and these are such a fun color too.  On his day off, in between shopping, cooking dinner and playing video games he also washed the dogs - now they smell like flowers :)

This weekend was pretty relaxing and something we both needed after so many weekends away.  Saturday we saw friends and their new baby - Ethan is SO CUTE!  He is their miracle baby and -knock on wood- soon we'll have one of our own!  After spending time catching up and cuddling Ethan we went to a late lunch and then to a Cinco de Mayo party where we watched the Mayweather v Cotto fight **YAWN**  Not really my thing but everyone else seemed to enjoy it.  Since Handsome had Monday off and was going to go to the grocery store we spent all of Sunday on the couch doing a Eureka marathon.  We are all caught up on season 4 and moved on to season 5 and can I say I HATE SEASON 5!!!!  I don't want Carter and Jo together I want Zane and Jo together ever since they killed off Stark I have had to transfer all of my affection to Zane.  This is the last season so they better figure out faux Eureka so Jo and Zane can get back together.  Also isn't it totally cool that Felicia Day has been in the last handful of episodes?  I LOVE her!  So that was our weekend and to leave you guys I am going to post two more pictures of things in my life that bring me joy and happiness to prove I'm not stressed out all the time (although when they eat important stuff or have accidents in the house that can be a little stressful.
First is my beautiful Heidel.  She's spunky, opinionated and loves to cuddle on her terms.

Second is my gentle giant, Bremen.  He's sweet, a little goofy, and smart at playing dumb.

Well I will let you know how it goes at the appointment tomorrow. TTYL

Tiptoe Through the Tulips With Me!
"Tiptoe to the window,
By the window that is where I'll be;
Come tiptoe through the tulips with me!"
"

Flowers by the Dozen

Everything starts this week.  I am excited, nervous, scared, happy...  I worry about the shots, the nurse said up to 4 per day!  But I try and remember that its only for a couple of weeks and I can get through just about anything for a couple of weeks.  I forgot to tell you on my last post that Handsome and I got our results back from Counsyl which is a genetic screening for genetic variants associated with over 100 diseases.  We both tested negative for everything which is good - its not a guarantee but reduces the odds.  We are still waiting for the results on our Fragile X test which can cause developmental issues and is carried on the X chromosome (so only women are tested).  We don't have any history so I am not too worried but will feel a little better when all of our tests come back.  It will be one more thing to cross off of the "to-do" list of IVF. 

Tomorrow will be the last day I take birth control and I will have my pre-start evaluation on Wednesday before work.  I also have to remember to call the Jury people and ask them to postpone my jury duty since I am scheduled for Jury duty the same week I am scheduled for Gonadtropin injections, ultrasounds and blood work.  I will start my meds on the 12th and will start receiving messages on my Medvoice inbox on the 10th.  Its happening!  I think I also forgot to tell you about some of the funny consents we had to sign on our last teach visit.  I think my favorite was the one where I acknowledged that I am sexually intimate with my sperm donor so he doesn't need additional infectious screening tests.  Since my donor is my HUSBAND I found this humorous to tease him about.  Hmm... I don't know, are we intimate?  Are you sure you're my husband :)  The second interesting one was about what happens if one of us dies.  If he dies I get any embryos, if I die he does NOT get them to implant into his new super sexy younger wife (just kidding) but it would be creepy to ask someone else - hey do you mind if I implant you with the embryos me and my wife made?  AWKWARD!! 

Just so you guys don't think that ALL I think about is IVF or that I am constantly worried let me show you the view from my back porch.  I love looking out the back windows all the time because this is what I see:

I especially love the back corner with the raised garden.  When Heidel runs around the rosemary the whole garden is filled with that beautiful scent.

Rosemary is creeping over the walls, Snail Vine is climbing the trellis, Emu Bush brings a bright green and flowers that change from yellow to pink depending on how close they are to blooming - its called the Easter Egg Emu Bush.  Bougainvillea in the back pops up with its white and pink flowers and my favorite plants are the upright grass like plants with the white flowers.  The flowers only bloom for a day or two but it blooms all year round and they look like irises (the only plant I don't know the name of!)  This plant had 12 flowers today!

I hope everyone had a good day and a great weekend.  I'll try and get on tomorrow to let you know about our weekend, jury duty and stuff.  ttyl

The Twelve Brothers
"There was, however, a little garden belonging to the bewitched house wherein stood twelve lily flowers, which are likewise called students. She wished to give her brothers pleasure, and plucked the twelve flowers, and thought she would present each brother with one while at dinner."
Grimm, Jacob; Grimm, Wilhelm; Charles River Editors; Taylor, Edgar (2011-11-29). The Complete Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tales (Illustrated) (Kindle Locations 940-941). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Fitcher's BioHazard

Blech, still no pictures - I need to step it  up :)  Maybe it would help if I had my camera somewhere accessible.  Handsome and I went to our "teaching visit" today and I found out that it is one of three.  Let me 'splain.  No there is too much.  Let me sum up.  I will go off of the birth control on The 8th and go in early on the 9th for my pre-start evaluation - blood work and an ultrasound.  I will call in to a messaging system that afternoon to get instructions on my medications and next appointment.  I will start follistim on May 12th and continue to go in for blood tests and ultrasounds during this period.  Once they feel my eggs are ready they will set a trigger date and time and retrieval day.  I am supposed to be on bed rest on both the retrieval day and the transplant day.  I will take a blood test for pregnancy 2 weeks after my retrieval day.  Please keep your fingers crossed and your good thoughts coming my way.  I got a butt load of documents and sample medications to help save us some money.  We also wrote the check today for our IVF treatment. 

WAIT!!! I do have a picture - I think this is a hoot but maybe that's because I have a warped sense of humor.  As part of our goody bag at ARMS we got a sharps container so now I have a biohazard area in my kitchen!!!

I will keep y'all updated as we go along. ttyl

Fitcher's Bird
"She was so terribly alarmed that the egg which she held in her hand fell into the basin. She got it out and washed the blood off, but in vain, it appeared again in a moment. She washed and scrubbed, but she could not get it out."
Grimm, Jacob; Grimm, Wilhelm; Charles River Editors; Taylor, Edgar (2011-11-29). The Complete Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tales (Illustrated) (Kindle Locations 3138-3139). Unknown. Kindle Edition.