IUI #2.1

As planned we had IUI #2.1 on Friday morning. This weekend was also my birthday so I was busy with doing a little of all of my favorite things and haven't had a chance to update on the IUI yet. This IUI felt different than the last one, in that I woke up Friday morning feeling definite pain/discomfort in my ovaries and even radiating around through my back. I'm hoping this is a sign that our timing was good this time and hoping that was the feeling of the follicles releasing the eggs. Last time on the day of IUI I felt nothing, felt like ovulation had already past. Our counts were a bit lower, only 35mil post wash this time (we had 50mil last time), I don't remember the motility, but RE said everything was good. I did have one more follicle than I did last time so sperm was lower but targets where higher - so maybe our odds are about the same?

The actual IUI went off without issue. IG was there with me this time, first time he's been to any of my RE appointments, but since it was a weekday we were able to drop Q off at school and head there after. IG thought Dr. Williams was a little odd, which he is, but if he gets us pregnant I don't care how odd he is. Dr. Williams was giving the "guys" a pep talk while injecting them. IG thought this was very weird, but hey I'd rather have a room filled with positive energy, so I didn't mind the cheering. As before, I didn't have any cramping or discomfort related to the IUI. I did continue to have pain in my ovaries and back throughout the day, I just kept thinking that was a good sign. We also were able to have sex that night, so we got another couple million guys in there. 

Dr. Williams said if this doesn't work we will talk about what we do next, IUI or not. My RE's office only does 6 rounds of clommid (I think this is pretty standard). I've only done 5, because I only did two clomid + TI cycles before asking them if I could move onto IUI. However, my RE's office isn't good with details like that and I think they think I've already done 6 rounds of clomid. I don't have any refills on my prescription and they can't remember that I didn't follow the normal path. I'm not that worried about, because while clomid hasn't been bad for me (side effects wise) if this doesn't work, I'd rather move on to a different protocol then keep spinning our wheels on something that isn't successful. 

So I'm officially in the 2WW. Doing B/W this Friday to test progesterone and then really would be able to find out on Valentine's day. All though I think I'm AF or bust so I don't think I'll test until AF is officially, officially late which would be like 2/17 or after. I don't have any tests in the house so that helps with this goal. Like I said before if the timing was ever good for us this would be it, having the IUI on my birthday weekend and being able to end the 2WW on Valentine's day, just seems to perfect to be anything but a positive outcome. 

In the meantime I'm keeping fingers, toes and everything else crossed. 

Status Report

So went in today for monitoring appointment and we are all good to trigger tonight!! I'm so glad I called and had the appointment moved from tomorrow to today, I had a +OPK yesterday and today and there were 3 good follies in there, 1 on the right (which I was surprised because I've been feeling everything on the left) and 2 on the left. The cyst that was on the right side at baseline is almost completely gone. Lining was 8mm. So we will trigger tonight, do the deed and IUI #2 is scheduled for Friday morning 9am.

Please keep all fingers and toes and anything else crossed. RE and nurse were very positive and optimistic, which makes me very positive and hopeful. And plus like I said before this weekend is my birthday and my 2WW will end on Valentine's day, so this has got to be our month right? Everything seems to be aligned.

Today I am grateful that my body is back on track and that we have 3 targets to hit for this IUI.

I am grateful for my ability to listen to my body and to have the drive to do what I think is right for my body.

I am grateful for my body's ability to re-set itself.

Status Report

This cycle is chugging along, I'm on what I consider cycle day 9.  Like my first IUI cycle, RE's office is counting this as day 8 because my period started late in the day for day 1, late being 4:30pm. I have no problem with them tracking it that way, but my cycles happen rapid fire and I feel like last IUI when I went on RE's CD 10 (my 9), it was a little too late. I had already gotten a positive OPK and my follies were really large. So I was originally scheduled to do my next ultrasound on Thursday, but called today and asked for it to be changed to tomorrow, because I'd rather be early and wait an extra day to trigger than be too late. I can't handle another month of missing out. I'm pretty sure I'm ovulating on the left side based on what I've been feeling. All though for the third month in a row my ovulation pain seems to be a lot less than what it normally is so that has me a little worried. Another reason why I'm ready to get back in there and see how things are going. 

If things keep on track then IUI should be sometime this weekend, which also happens to be when by birthday occurs. I'm taking this as a very good sign. It would be the best present ever. 

Gratitude Journal #3

Today....I am grateful for heated seats and 4 wheel drive in my vehicle.

I am grateful for the time spent playing with Q over the weekend in the snow.

I am grateful for my job. It helps to pay the bills and allows us to give Q what he needs.

I am grateful that my body seems to be back on track this cycle.

I am grateful that I get to karate tonight with Q and witness the pure joy he has for kicking and hitting things.

I am grateful that I had $3 in my wallet to buy a chia tea this morning.

I am grateful for winter and even these unbelievable cold temperatures because it make me appreciate spring more.

I am grateful for my parents who are willing to come this weekend so that IG can go with me to the IUI appointment.

I am grateful that in a few days I will celebrate another year of life that I've gotten to spend with the ones I love.

Baseline

Had my baseline ultrasound today for IUI #2.1 and the large cyst on my left side seems to have resolved itself, but there now appears to be a cyst on my right side measuring about 20mm. However, RE feels like this is likely residual from my cycle that just ended. He also guessed that I didn't ovulate for the last two cycles and that's why my period has been so wacky.  He thinks Dr. Schmidt was wrong 2 cycles ago and that I hadn't actually ovulated yet, but since my period started so soon after surmised that I likely didn't ovulate at all, even though I had taken clomid.

We decided to up to the clomid dose this time from 50mg to 100mg, even though I've previously gotten good response on just 50mg of clomid, because of the last two cycles. I had 1 refill left of clomid and in anticipation of this appointment sent it in to be refilled, knowing that if the baseline was good that I'd be starting clomid today. With that the RE gave me a prescription today for 5 more pills at 50mg so that I could take two a day. Well stupid insurance denied the claim for the second prescription because it was 1 day after refilling the exact same medicine and dosage. Which is stupid because it's a separate prescription, but whatever I've done nothing but battle the insurance company since we starting this process so why should this be any different. So I left the pharmacy with 5 pills today and will hopefully go back tomorrow for the remaining 5 pills.

I'm scheduled next Thursday for my mid-cycle ultrasound and if all stays on track we are looking at IUI next weekend. Hopefully the increased clomid will produce at least 3 strong follicles and we can have another good IUI. Fingers crossed.

And of course had to wear some awesome socks today for the appointment.

All about Q

When I started this blog I never intended it to be fully focused on my fertility issues and journey. In fact, I started it before I knew for certain that I was facing fertility issues, I did however have a feeling that it was the path we were on, long before testing or treatment. Infertility and everything that comes along with it has certainly consumed a large portion of what my life is now, but it is by no means my entire life and the rest of all that life seems to get lost here. So this post is all about Q, because he is honestly my entire life and the light and joy that keeps me going everyday.

Where to even begin? I know all parents say things like this, but Q is the most amazing little person I've ever known. He is smart, he is funny, he is caring, he is sensitive,  he is loud, he is energetic, he is competitive, he is overly social, he is weird, he is creative and the list could go on and on. One thing he most definitely is, is a Mama's boy. It's gotten better as he's gotten a little older, but there is no doubt about it, he prefers Mama above all else. When he was younger this was very exhausting, now as I see it starting to slowly slip away it makes me sad. His comfort zone is sucking his thumb and sticking his hand in my armpit. (I did mention in the above list that he is weird, so consider that fair warning.) He's done this since he was able to consciously direct movement of his hands and arms. I nursed Q for 14 months and I think it all stems from that, because in nursing him there was always one arm/hand tucked under my arm.

At 3 (and nearly a half) years old, Q is super into puzzles and Pinocchio and playing games and Wii sports resort and swimming and writing letters and the color yellow and sleeping with Eeyore and Reese's cups and racing and bowling and working in the kitchen and making up words and face-timing with Grandma and Grandpa. He loves to play with other kids, especially kids older than him. And he loves to talk to everyone, all strangers included. He's always interested in whether I'm happy and asks me often and has recently started telling me he does certain things because he loves me. For example, I'll ask him why he likes to sleep in bed with me and he'll respond "because I love you".

He is always happy and has the best smile in the world. He loves to be funny and make others laugh. He is ridiculously athletically inclined, seriously this kids has ab muscles like you wouldn't believe.

He has changed my life for the better from the moment he was a second line on a pregnancy test. I am by no means a perfect mother, but Q makes me a better person every day. He reminds me to slow down, to get down on the floor and play a game, to let the laundry sit another day, to cherish the moments laying with him right before he falls asleep as he's snuggled right up against my body. The pure joy he experiences with every little thing we do helps me to see the joy in those little things. No matter what I will always be grateful that I was the one lucky enough to be chosen as Q's Mom.

And now for fun I leave you with a few pictures of the most amazing little boy I know.

For the second time in January....

I'm cycling again, with mixed emotions. I'm excited that my period has started and I'm ready to get back to the RE and get moving again, but this cycle was only 20 days long and last cycle was 18. Feels like something odd is going on. On top of that I've been spotting on and off since day 8 this cycle and had some bleeding after sex (which sometimes happens, sometimes not), but maybe all of it together might be giving us picture. I hope so, I really hope this will help lead us to change in protocol that will lead us to a pregnancy. My period started full force yesterday late afternoon, after spotting all day, the nurse at my RE wants to count today as day 1 since full flow didn't start till somewhere around 4:30 yesterday. Whatever, works for me. Oh and did I mention that my flow is heavy, like heavy heavy, like soaking a super tampon every hour and half heavy. I'm scheduled back at the RE on Thursday at 9:45am for a baseline ultrasound and to talk through all this junk. Two cycles in 38 days, I think my body might be trying tell me something.