Thanksgiving!

That's about when we'll go in for an IUI again - as fate would have it.

Whoa... what a process - I tell ya.

Okay - so even I had to look back at my own blog and see where I left off - it's been that long. Oops! Anyway, I did go in for sonagram on August 23rd. It turned out that I had a possibly suspicious mass on one ovary (really wish I could remember which one - but I don't); however, the doctor said that these results were inconclusive because it could either be a cyst or just a "dominant follicle" (which I translated to mean - 'a big egg about to be released for ovulation'). Not much more was said about that.

My progesterone level at day 21 was FABULOUS though (which is necessary for reaching and maintaining early pregnancy); apparently mine was at 18 (anything over 5 is considered OK, and often when women are pregnant - their level is 20-25 in the beginning).

Now, I'm not sure how well everyone knows Kelly - but let's just say - she's not the most shy person I know. She often says things out loud that I might think... quietly... and keep to myself. Those of you who do know Kelly well, probably love her for this very reason (just as I do). :) At any rate, the doctor mentioned that the next step (after we try one more month) would be to get an HSG to just make sure the fallopian tubes aren't blocked. So Kelly promptly asked, "Why wait? Can't we do it now?" When the doctor said we could and that it might increase our chances of getting pregnant - Kelly basically scheduled the appointment. I mean, I was there (in the office) - but I had no say in this. ;)

So I went into to have this little HSG procedure on Friday, 9/24/10 (yeah, few weeks ago now). This is where they take dye and run it through your uterus to see if it comes out your fallopian tubes. Apparently, if it does - you're good to go - and your eggs are likely at least having the chance to meet up with the sperm (and you know what might happen from there).

First of all - let's just say, this is not the most comfortable procedure. An un-named friend of mine (who had prior experience), brilliantly provided me with some "strong" ibuprofin before I went in. Good idea! During the actual procedure, the technician ran into a glitch when she couldn't get the catheter into my uterus. Maybe this is too much information - but really... isn't that interesting?! I mean, who knew that could be a complication one might experience?! Even more interesting was the actual X-ray of my uterus!! I wish I could post that pic - but don't worry - I don't have it. At any rate, I knew I had a "retroverted uterus" (generally meaning - it tilts slightly toward the back - rather than the more common position of upright or forward). That makes sense, right?! In fact, I googled it and have an image of what a retroverted uterus is supposed to look like:



Now, let me just tell you - mine didn't quite look like that. Imagine that instead of just tilting a little toward the back - the uterus went ahead and did a back-bend! The top of my uterus is really upside down. Very odd, eh?! This is where I have to say, "Was it really my choice that I'm not 'straight'?" Just saying... Basically, the catheter would have had to do a u-turn (which I guess isn't as easy to finagle with a catheter as it is in a car). Let's the give the lady a hand here, as she was able to get the catheter in just enough (and hold it there) - to shoot the dye into the uterus anyway (*applause*)! Seriously, she earned her pay that day. Then, the dye came right out the left fallopian tube, BUT would not come out of the right side. The technician tried the usual tricks (i.e. turn your body this way, now that way, shooting more dye, etc.) - but nothing worked. She did mention that - if it was just an air bubble - it would usually work its way out or get dislodged (with the above-mentioned tricks).

After that, the X-rays had to be officially read by the Radiologist and then sent to my doctor for another official analysis. By the time this was all done (a week later) - I was going to ovulate the next day. The doctor recommended (at that time) that we do a sonagram before doing the next IUI - just to ensure that an egg could even make it through the fallopian tube. But - with only 2 hours of notice - I couldn't get out of work and into the doctor's office to have the sonogram that day. *Booooo* Hence, we couldn't do an IUI in September.

The next step is to go in for a sonogram (between day 12-14 of my cycle) and then possibly do an IUI after that (usually around the 16th day of my cycle). However, it just so happens, that Kelly and I will be on a cruise to Jamaica in October (from about day 12 to day 19 of my cycle). That means, I will not be here to do a sonogram or the IUI this month. What are we going to do, right?! The cruise ship calls...

So... I should be ovulating in November, right around the 25th - Bring on Thanksgiving!!!! :)

P.S. For those of you out there - who may one day need to get a HSG - I highly recommend taking "strong" (almost exactly like prescription strength) ibuprofen about 30 minutes before doing it. It was still uncomfortable - but bearable for me. I have to say though - the next day - I felt like I had done at least 1,283 sit-ups or I'd obviously been kicked in the ribs and stomack about 18 times over night by someone bigger than Kelly. In any case, a strong pain killer was helpful then too. Beyond that, I was just a little sore for a few days - as I think it gets a little swollen or something up in there (at least, that's what I decided anyway). Now you know... ;)

Here come the...

brides! :) Well, very soon anyway! As for the baby... not yet. You can't really blame the baby for wanting to be "legit" and all (ya know, until we're "un"officially married).

Going back a couple of weeks... we did try to get pregnant (i.e. IUI on August 1st). Here's a picture of Kelly and I attempting to woo the little swimmers by showing 'em what a comfy little room the baby-to-be would inherit at birth.



Yep, that would be the cryo-tank in a crib at our house with a blankie, bib, and pacifier. Don't worry - although we have already painted the baby's room, purchased a crib, dresser, changing table, and a glider/rocking chair - it's not what it looks like (i.e. like we're crazy or something). We're Aunties - we simply NEEDED a place in our house in case one of our nieces has to take a nap or sleepover or something. That's all. :0)

Now, with our commitment ceremony happening right about the same time that I ovulate in September - we've decided to go ahead and hold off for a month. We'll try again in October. In the meantime, I'm getting some blood tests done to ensure that my hormone levels are good. I already went once on Day 3 of my cycle and they looked at thyroid levels, FSH, and estradiol (or estrogen) levels. Apparently, my estradiol level was a little on the high end of average - so I'll be going in for a sonogram next Monday just to make sure all is well with my ovaries (i.e. to ensure I don't have a cyst on my ovaries or anything like that). Then, another blood test on Day 21 to check my progesterone levels. And, we'll go from there.

So - everyone is up to date. Maybe when I'm a properly "committed" woman, I'll blog more often?! Who knows... it could happen.

Math-my-matics

Okay, so the seed we planted for the baby didn't quite take yet. BUT - we sure can grow some cucumbers - check out the size of this thing!

I'm just saying... it takes time to grow things to perfection! Besides, the average to get pregant through IUI is about 25% (or within 4 months) -- we don't want to look like over-achievers here.

Just so you know though, patience has never really been one of my personal virtues. So, the pregnancy test makers earn their bank when people like me "might" be pregnant. Just to be clear, a pregnancy test typically shows up positive about 10-14 days after the IUI - if, in fact, you're pregnant. So, here's my typical thought process each month (after the IUI):

Day 7: Hmm... well, the box says that it can detect pregnancy at about 50% accuracy 5 days before my missed period. Now, I obviously don't know if I've missed my period yet - but it is 5 days before I "might" miss it. And... I could be in that lucky 50% that gets to know early. And... if it comes up negative, it really doesn't mean anything anyway - other than I need to test again later. Okay... [I take a pregnancy test]

Day 9: I know it just came up negative like 2 days ago, but now the pregnancy test says that it should be like 75% accurate (because it is only like 2-3 days now before I "might" miss my period). Maybe it was just too early before... but it could show up now. And, if I could know now, why wait - right?! Besides, if it comes up negative - it doesn't mean anything anyway, I'll just test later. Okay... [I take another pregnancy test]

Day 11: I really should be starting today or tomorrow. I do kind of have cramps. Yeah, but some people have cramps and they're actually pregnant. Right. Okay, so I'll test again today. Besides, the pregnancy test says it should be like 99% accurate now. I bet I just needed to wait until now. Okay... [And yet another]

Day 13: Right... so all the other pregnancy tests have been negative. Plus, the one I did like 2 days ago was supposed to be like 99% accurate. And, I am on my period right now. Yeah, but I have been watching that show on TV - "I never knew I was pregnant" - and sometimes people have their periods when they're actually pregnant. And, who can trust that 99% thing - some women just have lower hormone levels. Yeah, I should test just to make sure I'm not one of those people who didn't even know they were pregnant! [And, so on]

There you have it. That's like 4-5 tests (depending if you count the other one I took some where in there - just in case) ~ when really... 1 test after an "actual" missed period would probably suffice. I guess I'm a little bit of an overachiever. ;)

So, technically, by my genious math calculations, I think we have a better chance of getting pregnant now that we are going on the 3rd attempt. I mean, if it usually happens within 4 months, and it didn't happen the 1st or 2nd month - that only leaves us with the 3rd or 4th month - right?! Hmmm... that would be nice if it really worked that way - and like every time you lost the lotto - it just meant you were more likely to win the next time. I like my math! Let's go with that... :)

Post-vacation fog

I think, and I could be wrong, but probably you're supposed to update more frequently than we have thus far, eh?! Hey, we specified we were virgin bloggers!

Well, to update everyone, we returned from our vacation on what we decided was our own little paradise island (Kauai) on June 27th. It was an awesome vacation, and as Kelly has said - the only problem is that our future vacations may have difficulty measuring up!

After spending the week in Hawaii... on the beach, rafting, snorkeling, horseback riding, and zip lining... we returned to "the daily grind" here in Austin. Okay, well, sort of. Kelly did. I'm on summer vacation. However, given I had a list of "things to do" around the house that was the size of my foreseeable future - I did what any sane non-parent would do: sleep. :) Okay, but seriously, I slept for about 12 hours a night and took a nap (1-2 hours each day) for about a week. I didn't even know I had it in me. Quite impressive really. I've considered competing in "procrastination" - I think I'm rather gifted at it myself.

So, the truth is... I really just woke up - and I'm trying to catch you all up. ;) I went in for my second IUI on Friday, July 2nd (yep, a little over 10 days ago). We are currently still in "the waiting period." I'm guessing we'll know if any of those little swimmers reached the prize - hmmm... by say... Saturday, July 17th.

Stay tuned...

Practice Run

I'm sure even Superman had to put in a little time before he got off the ground and returned safely without crashing into something.  I'm just saying... at least we know that Iron Man did.  

On the other hand, it may just be divine timing taking over.  I prefer to believe that our child is already showing an "altruistic" nature by delaying "its" arrival just so that we can fully enjoy our vacation to Hawaii this week.  Now, don't get me wrong, I was completely ready for this to be my first alcohol-free "family" vacation.  I mean, shoot - I had already gone 2 weeks without drinking alcohol for a "hypothetical" pregnancy.  I'm already surpassing my own expectations here.  Who knew?! ;)  But, given this sweet guesture from the baby-to-be... I'm not gonna complain while sipping on a Mai Tai either.  

So... we'll repeat step one sometime next week upon our return to Austin.  

Til then, cheers!   :)   

Step 2: IUI

Next, I got to make the highly anticipated phone call to my OB-GYN office. "Hi, This is Tracy, and... I surged this morning." (Of course, you have to say "I surged" like it's a secret code or something). My first IUI was scheduled for the next day, or this past Friday - June 4th.

That first phone call was quickly followed by a second call to the Fairfax Cryobank to tell them we needed to pick up "1 vial" on Friday before our appointment at the doctor's office. I did say - vial - just to be clear. When we got there on Friday though - this is what we were given!



We told you it was Super Sperm!



Then, we drove the tank over to the doctor's office (only about 5 minutes away). Let's just say, I was a little nervous... I mean, that seemed like a whole lot sperm to me! But, I was thinking, "They're the experts, I guess they've done this before!?!"

When the nurse came in to our room, she promptly let us know that she was going to bring "the vial" in to warm up the "little swimmers" - for the exact right amount of time (approximately 7-8 minutes) - being very careful not to cook them. I started looking around the room trying to figure out where this "warmer" was that could hold our gigantic vial. Then, the nurse returned and placed the vial in the warmer.






Turns out, "the vial" was actually the size of my pinky finger. Apparently, it just takes a whole lot of nitrogen and an over-sized tank to freeze the little swimmers!

The Physician's Assistant, Mary Brown, came in next - armed with all the right equipment. We won't go into that. Turns out, she LOVES doing IUI's, or getting women pregant. She proudly let us know that she has 6 pregnancies out there right now! Between our Super Sperm and her enthusiasm, my egg is gonna be under intense fire.

And, that's it. I have officially already been inseminated. Two weeks from now, I'll pee on a different kind of stick to see if I'm pregnant...

Step 1: Awaiting "The Surge"

For those of you who may not already know... this is technically a surge of Lutenizing Hormone which occurs 24-36 hours prior to a woman's ovulation (this hormone actually triggers the release of the egg). A woman can use an ovulation predictor kit (a.k.a. pee on a stick) to find out when exactly "the surge" has occurred within her menstrual cycle. This turns out to be a good predictor of when to inseminate if one is trying to get pregnant - particularly through an IUI*. Which, WE ARE! Well, really - I am - but Kelly is my willing partner (and back-up, for that matter).

So, a couple of weeks ago, I began peeing on a stick each morning, awaiting the surge. You should know, my cycle has been pretty regular for basically the past 752 years (or, at least, the past several months that I've been charting). As it would be though, this month, my body decided to mix things up a bit - just for a little added suspense. Although I had to wait a few extra days, on June 3rd, I surged!



*IUI stands for Intra-Uterine Insemination – which requires a physician to place the sperm directly into the uterus at the magic post-surge time when the sperm is most likely to find the newly ovulated egg. In our case, the sperm refers to our carefully chosen "donor sperm," which we like to think is actually Super Sperm.