Friday, March 31, 2006
Monday
I was right, Monday morning it is. My retrevial is set for 10am and although I am under anesthetic, twilight, I should be home by noon. Woo-hoo!!! The transfer is most likely going to be wednesday, which just happens to be Nat's uncles 60th birthday, so hopefully that will be some good luck?! I have a long weekend of shots and drugs ahead of me so if you need me you know where to find me! :)
It's the final countdown.....
The countdown is on.......
I just returned from the doctors office and my first ultrasound for this cycle, finally. As I said in my last post they were concerned by my Estradiol numbers, a little low, so the pumped up my Follistim intake and as of today their trick worked! I haven't gotten my blood work results back yet but from the ultrasound I can safely say that my retrieval will most likely be Monday, if not Sunday.
I went in today expecting that I would have a few small follicles, still developing, and that I would be back in two days for a follow-up check and then we would see some maturing. Nope! I have twelve measurable follicles, larger than 12mm, seven on my right and five on my left. I'm an egg making machine! Out of those twelve, seven are mature, meaning larger than 18mm so if we had the retrieval tomorrow I would most likely have seven eggs. I couldn't believe it, I feel like I was in much more pain the last time I did this, maybe I'm just handling it better? Who knows. All I know is that I respond to medication really, really well!!
The next step is taking what they call a "trigger shot". At some point, either tonight or tomorrow night, I will give myself yet another injection of a drug called Ovidrel. Ovidrel is given about 36 hours before the retreival as a final push for the maturation of the eggs and to loosen them up for the retrieval. Lisa, the ultrasound lady, figures with the Ovidrel I might be able to pick-up a lagging follicle or two and maybe get 8-10 mature eggs. (fingers crossed) I had 10 mature eggs last time so anything in that range would be fantastic!
So now I just sit and wait for instructions from Sue, the drug lady at the Fertility Center. She normally calls around 1pm, so I have an hour to wait patiently, yeah right, for my final instructions.
I can't believe this is it!!!!!
I just returned from the doctors office and my first ultrasound for this cycle, finally. As I said in my last post they were concerned by my Estradiol numbers, a little low, so the pumped up my Follistim intake and as of today their trick worked! I haven't gotten my blood work results back yet but from the ultrasound I can safely say that my retrieval will most likely be Monday, if not Sunday.
I went in today expecting that I would have a few small follicles, still developing, and that I would be back in two days for a follow-up check and then we would see some maturing. Nope! I have twelve measurable follicles, larger than 12mm, seven on my right and five on my left. I'm an egg making machine! Out of those twelve, seven are mature, meaning larger than 18mm so if we had the retrieval tomorrow I would most likely have seven eggs. I couldn't believe it, I feel like I was in much more pain the last time I did this, maybe I'm just handling it better? Who knows. All I know is that I respond to medication really, really well!!
The next step is taking what they call a "trigger shot". At some point, either tonight or tomorrow night, I will give myself yet another injection of a drug called Ovidrel. Ovidrel is given about 36 hours before the retreival as a final push for the maturation of the eggs and to loosen them up for the retrieval. Lisa, the ultrasound lady, figures with the Ovidrel I might be able to pick-up a lagging follicle or two and maybe get 8-10 mature eggs. (fingers crossed) I had 10 mature eggs last time so anything in that range would be fantastic!
So now I just sit and wait for instructions from Sue, the drug lady at the Fertility Center. She normally calls around 1pm, so I have an hour to wait patiently, yeah right, for my final instructions.
I can't believe this is it!!!!!
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Not too bad.
Other than the fact that I am horrible at giving myself shots, this round of treatments is going pretty well. As you can see the bruises are even smaller than previous goose eggs, so I'm improving in my bad qualities as well!! Yesterday was my first round of bloodwork; my Estradiol levels were lower than they should have been so they boosted the level of Follistim that I'm getting every night. It's not that big of a deal except for the fact that there is now so much medicine in the syringe that I have to depress the plunger with the other hand, my finger spread isn't long enough! I am just beginning to feel the side effects of the Follistim, mainly bloating, which isn't that bad. I'm sporting sweatpants full time now and will be until the middle of next week, another thing I can easily live with. I am beginning to worry about over hyperstimulation of my ovaries again, last time we did this they ended up being 4 times their normal size for about a week and let me tell you it is noticeable and not fun! This time since they are upping my medication mid-cycle I'm feeling a bit more vulnerable, like it could get hairy again. I guess it's better if I not speculate on the pain, although I can't stop thinking about it.
Well I am going back to bed; did I mention that I am constantly tired? I have actually been sleeping pretty well, no need or even want for afternoon naps, but I still feel like I'm dragging myself around everywhere, I blame it on the hormones!! So I am going to lie in bed, watch some cartoons, get a little reading in and then at some point get up and accomplish something. Hopefully?!
I hope you are all having a great week, enjoy the weather for me! I'll update tomorrow after more blood work results are back.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
New House Picture
Sorry I wanted to add this the the following blog, but of course forgot. Please continue to the blog...
Too Much To Do
We have been extremely busy here, so once again I have to go on the defense and apologize for the length between writings. I am going to try to explain everything that is going on here but in a nutshell, how did I get in such a nut? (bonus points if you can name that movie), we are most likely moving again! I know what you are thinking, "didn't those weirdos just move two years ago?". Yes, yes, us weirdos did just move here, two years ago in May, but as fate would have it we fell for a house right down the street!
The house we have put under contract, yes we have moved that fast, is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath ranch style home with an unfinished walk-out basement. From our current bedroom you can see the back of the house, it's about 2 blocks down the road. It was built about the same time as our town home, 2004, and at 2100 sq. Feet it is actually a little smaller than our current house. Ok so now you are thinking we have lost it, and I would for the most part agree, but this house is designed with no wasted space so 2100 sq. Ft. feels larger. The house consists of the rooms mentioned above, a large dining room, a great room, and eat-in kitchen. Oh did I mention, we would finally have a garage, hallelujah!! Both Nat and I agree that the house is small, but efficient and with 2000 sq. Feet of unfinished basement the room to expand is there in spades.
Finding a new house was easy and fun, now comes the hard part, selling our house. Ugh. Surely there must be no greater evil than putting your house on the market, keeping it spotless, and then waiting for someone to buy it. Everything the cat has is now relegated to the basement, I refuse to cook anything with more than five ingredients (too messy), and keeping the bathroom hairless (my fault, I married an Italian!!) has become my obsession. So I have all of this and, oh yeah, I'm going through my last IVF cycle. Hehe!
Yep, started my shots 12 days ago and so far I think I have been doing pretty well. I have been off a little on my sleep and I am tired a lot, but compared to the first two trips down this path, Im doing A-Ok. (No hot flashes!!) Tomorrow night I begin my Follistim, which is the medication that stimulates my ovaries to produce numerous follicles. Once the Follistim begins to work I will become increasingly uncomfortable, which is also about the time they decide I should have bloodwork and ultrasounds every two days. Weird huh? As of right now I am scheduled for my retrieval between April 2nd-4th and the transfer the 5th-7th, so we are coming up on this last try rather quickly.
Yes, I am excited about this try, 3rd times a charm! Unfortunately I am also being realistic, so I am still looking into adopting. Nat and I have both come to accept our situation and not look at it as a burden, or cross to bear, rather a path to parenthood that most don't have the opportunity to appreciate. We know that eventuality of parenthood is right around the corner, which makes this final attempt so exciting and nervewracking. I am trying to stay calm and this moving thing is actually helping take my mind off of the shots and tiredness. I still can't believe that this is it though, two years of infertility treatment boil down to this one last attempt. In most ways I am ready for it to end, I just won't know to what degree until it is truly final. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Well that's it from me, I have to get moving on my day. I just wanted to give you all a quick, but lenghty, update on the situation here. Now that I am grounded for the next two weeks I should be updating a little more frequently, suggestion not promising. Enjoy the rest of the week and if you are in the area and looking for a great town house, we will be open Saturday and Sunday 1-4pm.!!
Final Note:
Happy Birthday's (belated to some)
Emma Marie Becker turned 1 whole year old on March 9th!!!
My father-in law Brooke had a birthday on March 21st!!
Last but not least my mother Connie Sylvanus has a birthday tomorrow, March 24th!!
The house we have put under contract, yes we have moved that fast, is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath ranch style home with an unfinished walk-out basement. From our current bedroom you can see the back of the house, it's about 2 blocks down the road. It was built about the same time as our town home, 2004, and at 2100 sq. Feet it is actually a little smaller than our current house. Ok so now you are thinking we have lost it, and I would for the most part agree, but this house is designed with no wasted space so 2100 sq. Ft. feels larger. The house consists of the rooms mentioned above, a large dining room, a great room, and eat-in kitchen. Oh did I mention, we would finally have a garage, hallelujah!! Both Nat and I agree that the house is small, but efficient and with 2000 sq. Feet of unfinished basement the room to expand is there in spades.
Finding a new house was easy and fun, now comes the hard part, selling our house. Ugh. Surely there must be no greater evil than putting your house on the market, keeping it spotless, and then waiting for someone to buy it. Everything the cat has is now relegated to the basement, I refuse to cook anything with more than five ingredients (too messy), and keeping the bathroom hairless (my fault, I married an Italian!!) has become my obsession. So I have all of this and, oh yeah, I'm going through my last IVF cycle. Hehe!
Yep, started my shots 12 days ago and so far I think I have been doing pretty well. I have been off a little on my sleep and I am tired a lot, but compared to the first two trips down this path, Im doing A-Ok. (No hot flashes!!) Tomorrow night I begin my Follistim, which is the medication that stimulates my ovaries to produce numerous follicles. Once the Follistim begins to work I will become increasingly uncomfortable, which is also about the time they decide I should have bloodwork and ultrasounds every two days. Weird huh? As of right now I am scheduled for my retrieval between April 2nd-4th and the transfer the 5th-7th, so we are coming up on this last try rather quickly.
Yes, I am excited about this try, 3rd times a charm! Unfortunately I am also being realistic, so I am still looking into adopting. Nat and I have both come to accept our situation and not look at it as a burden, or cross to bear, rather a path to parenthood that most don't have the opportunity to appreciate. We know that eventuality of parenthood is right around the corner, which makes this final attempt so exciting and nervewracking. I am trying to stay calm and this moving thing is actually helping take my mind off of the shots and tiredness. I still can't believe that this is it though, two years of infertility treatment boil down to this one last attempt. In most ways I am ready for it to end, I just won't know to what degree until it is truly final. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Well that's it from me, I have to get moving on my day. I just wanted to give you all a quick, but lenghty, update on the situation here. Now that I am grounded for the next two weeks I should be updating a little more frequently, suggestion not promising. Enjoy the rest of the week and if you are in the area and looking for a great town house, we will be open Saturday and Sunday 1-4pm.!!
Final Note:
Happy Birthday's (belated to some)
Emma Marie Becker turned 1 whole year old on March 9th!!!
My father-in law Brooke had a birthday on March 21st!!
Last but not least my mother Connie Sylvanus has a birthday tomorrow, March 24th!!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Goodbye 20's!!
BYE-BYE 20's!!! Today is the last day I will spend as a freewheelin twenty-something and tomorrow I begin anew in my 30's, as a bonafied adult. I know half of you reading this are thinking ugh 30 and the other half are think aahh 30, either way tomorrow it's happening to yours truly and to be honest, I'm excited!!!
No, really.
Sure I’m a little sad to say farewell to my 20’s, they were pretty awesome as far as decades go. (They sure beat being in my teens!!) But would I want to relive them or repeat them, no freakin’ way! I guess if history has anything to say about my aging thus far it is that my life is only getting better; I mean let’s face it I am way ahead of where I was 5, 10, 15 years ago, would I switch places with 25 year old me, no way Jose!
I’m excited for what my 30’s will hold, children, nieces and nephews, new friends and exciting adventures. I welcome this new chapter of life. Sure I’m going to start finding wrinkles and gray hairs, who cares, I can sit down with friends I have had and kept for over half of my life and laugh about it. Now that’s something worth celebrating!
So as I turn 30 I thought it would be appropriate to leave myself some good memories about the past 10 years, so please indulge me in remembering:
The Best Things That Happened To Me In My 20's: My TOP 10!!!
No, really.
Sure I’m a little sad to say farewell to my 20’s, they were pretty awesome as far as decades go. (They sure beat being in my teens!!) But would I want to relive them or repeat them, no freakin’ way! I guess if history has anything to say about my aging thus far it is that my life is only getting better; I mean let’s face it I am way ahead of where I was 5, 10, 15 years ago, would I switch places with 25 year old me, no way Jose!
I’m excited for what my 30’s will hold, children, nieces and nephews, new friends and exciting adventures. I welcome this new chapter of life. Sure I’m going to start finding wrinkles and gray hairs, who cares, I can sit down with friends I have had and kept for over half of my life and laugh about it. Now that’s something worth celebrating!
So as I turn 30 I thought it would be appropriate to leave myself some good memories about the past 10 years, so please indulge me in remembering:
The Best Things That Happened To Me In My 20's: My TOP 10!!!
10. Retaining friends from high school, I don’t think many people can say that their best friends when they turn 30 are the exact same as they were when they were 18.
9. Becoming a Burt, from Grandma Lucia down to cousin Natalie. Those Italians love their family and love to eat, ain’t nothin’ wrong with living that way!
8. Becoming friends, not enemies, with my parents. (Wouldn’t have said that 15 years ago!!)
7. Buying my first and second homes, mostly my second because I love it so much.
6. Living in Texas, it was fun while it lasted and made me fall in love with my favorite American city, thus far, Austin!
5. Getting to see many of my best friends get married and being in two of the weddings (Amy and Karen)
4. Ben, Emma, and Makenzie, they didn’t happen to me, but my friends really have some good lookin’ kids!
(Tie). Adopted my fat cat Scout!!
(Tie). I saw both of my sister’s, Liz and Sarah, marry.
(Bonus on this one was I got to be the Matron of Honor in both weddings!!)
1. I married my favorite person in the world!
Well that's it from here!! I have to hurry up and do something crazy before I turn 30 and it's already noon. ( 12 hours left!!) Aagh!!!!
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