Getting excited!

I am so excited and just can't wait. It will be on Thursday along with my IVIg.

BETA #2

Second BETA (12dp5dt) = 1032. I have my ultrasound scheduled for next wednesday or thursday and IVIg again next thursday.

It seems my numbers are doubling every 34.46 hours. Could it be more than one?

OMG! Moment of Truth: 1 or 2. I am sooooo hungry. I eat, and I still feel hungry! I wake up in the middle of the night and I'm hungry! I wake up in the morning and I'm hungry!

On pins and needles

Tomorrow I'm off to my 2nd beta. If all goes well tomorrow then I will schedule my second round of IVIg for 2/7. I continue to pray that everything works out for the best. Right now I've just been trying to beat out this tiredness. I can't sleep at night and continue to toss and turn and wake up a lot and then I get so hungry, but of course I don't eat. This causes me to be so tired at work so I come home a take a nap, after I eat, of course, because I can't believe how hungry I feel.

BETA #1

I went in this morning for my beta. The nurses automatically asked me if I had already tested. I told them no because it was too much torture for me. I will see what the results are!


OMG! I got a positive beta !!!! Is this really true? After 6 1/2 years of trying! hcG is 400. Not POAS'ing was so worth the wait.I go back for another blood test on wednesday and hope to see doubling numbers.

9dp5dt

Well, I decided no more Brazil nuts for me. It seems I have developed an allergy to them altogether. I ate some again yesterday (by themselves) and my throat started swelling up again, although not as bad as it did when I drank the green tea.

So here I am; still no POAS, although I want to now, with one day left for BETA. I'm getting so nervous. My BETA is tomorrow at 8:00 am. I've been trying not to think about it too much, but my bb's are still really, really sore and I have been so hungry. I wake up hungry, eat and am still hungry. I'm hoping those are good signs. I feel as if I'm on pins and needles right now. I continue to pray that this will be it for us, but I'm still nervous.

7dp5dt

The weirdest thing happened to me a while ago. I have been eating Brazil nuts for the past 10 days. I have also been drinking Lipton Green Tea for the past couple of weeks to try to avoid caffeine and sugar from sodas. Well, today I decided to do both of them together and all of a sudden my throat started to swell up and I felt little blister all down my throat. It was so scary! The more I tried to wash it down with the Green Tea, the more swollen it became. Finally, DH brought me some water and slowly it began to go away. I was really scared. I will definitely not be mixing both of them together!

I had so much trouble sleeping last night. I continously wake up at night and toss and turn. Bottom still hurts from PIO shots and bb's hurt when I flip the other way. I get hot; I get cold. I get up, then I can't fall back asleep! I went to sleep early last night because I was feeling kind of tired. It must have been around 9:00 pm. Also, I woke up starving at 6:00 am. That was weird because I'll usually grab something fast before work and eat my breakfast/lunch at 10:30 am when my students have lunch. Other than that, I've been having some mild cramping and beginning lower back pain. Still keeping up the positive vibes going and still have no intentions to POAS. Come on Monday!

6dp5dt

I'm still here waiting, waiting, waiting............It seems like Monday will never be here for my beta. I'm pretty relaxed, but I still think about it. I keep saying to myself that I AM PREGNANT and trying to keep myself positive, but I will just hate to have another disappointment. Last night bb's were so sore. I know it's probably because of progesterone, so I've been sleeping with sports bra. Although, last night, I was lying on my back and I could feel my bb's hurt, even with the sports bra, and especially when I would roll to the side. I've also been having stabbing pains in them. The other day it was on the right and today it was on the left. I've had some minor cramping, like AF, but hoping it's not. I come home tired and ready to go to bed, but I wonder if that's just because I rested so much this weekend that my body wants more, or it could be this nasty weather we are having here in Dallas. I had an episode of spotting yesterday, just brown, but a little worrisome. Possibly from progesterone? Anyway, it's gone.

4dp5dt

I've been giving my PIO shots in the upper right quadrant of the gluteus, icing beforehand to not feel the needle or the medication going in. I still feel the medication going in sometimes, but not too bad. I warm the shot a litte in a warm rag and then DH gives it. Is he giving it maybe too fast? Afterwards, he massages the area and I have been using a warm compress. I am having so much trouble sleeping at night because I have these lumps that just won't go away, and they are on both sides, so I have a difficult time turning either way. I massage and massage and even the warm compresses don't seem to help.

I got lots of suggestions,

3dp5dt

Well, other than some twinges here and there on Saturday and Sunday, and feeling very emotional yesterday, I have had no signs/symptoms. I am feeling really relaxed and calm and trying not to think about every little thing I feel, but I'm sure it will get harder as next monday gets closer. My meditation has helped so much. Now I am on "post transfer meditation" part. It's amazing how well it works in keeping me relaxed.I have to say, I am beggining to get so sick of pineapple and brazil nuts! I'm sure after the 2ww I will not even want to look at them, but if they will help, then I will eat them!

2dp5dt

I've been eating my pineapple and my Brazil nuts. As for symptoms, I haven't felt much of anything but I've been trying not to think about little things. I've been pretty calm about it. The only thing I remember is some mild twinges last night and earlier today, but nothing more. My beta is on January 28. I've been lying around doing absolutely nothing. That should have given at least one of them a chance to find a cozy spot in there for the next 9 months! I am really upset right now. DH would not go to church with me and said he had a lot of work to do. So I went alone and when I came back he had barbequed and EATEN without me! I was so upset that I just started bawling! I don't know why that bothered me so much.

FET

Hi everyone. ET went well. We transferred 3 expanded blasts level 2.

RE said it was more like trasnferring 2 & 1/2! I guess the third one is not all that. Plus, some snow fell this morning, although very, very light. I was imagining that in there were my 3 snowflakes coming down to find their home! I think that was a very good sign! . I've just been resting a lot so hopefully everything will go just fine. Feeling pretty relaxed and not worrying or even thinking about any symptoms I may be experiencing or feeling or even thinking I'm feeling. My beta is on 1/28 so I am almost in my 1 week wait (about 8 days). I'm a bit worried because I started my E2V/Progesterone suppository last night. Well, today I looked at my calendar and it says I should have started it tonight. I sure hope I didn't mess anything up! I also started my Heparin shots today. I hate those. It gives me bruises.

About the PIO, I have been having such a hard time with it. My butt is sooooooo tender and I have some hard lumps. At night I can't sleep because every time I turn over, it hurts. Lila told me it is normal and that I can have DH massage the area afterwards to help the medication spread out since it is so thick. I don't remember experiencing this the last time!

I've been eating my pineapple and my Brazil nuts. As for symptoms, I haven't felt much of anything but I've been trying not to think about little things. I've been pretty calm about it. The only thing I remember is some mild twinges last night and earlier today, but nothing more. My beta is on January 28. I've been lying around doing absolutely nothing. That should have given at least one of them a chance to find a cozy spot in there for the next 9 months! I am really upset right now. DH would not go to church with me and said he had a lot of work to do. So I went alone and when I came back he had barbequed and EATEN without me! I was so upset that I just started bawling! I don't know why that bothered me so much.

Brazil nuts?

OK, I found this on the Brazil nuts:
"Roasted red peppers, mini crab cakes and Brazil nuts can all help to increase fertility. . . . Brazil nuts and mini crab cakes are both excellent sources of selenium and required for sperm motility. Without adequate selenium, sperm tails kink and break off. Selenium also minimises the risk of miscarriages."

I will be eating a handful or so every day.

One of the ladies from Fertility Friend sent me this and I just love it:
"Norma, very excited for you. Tomorrow you will be officially pregnant... or so my RE says it, right after a transfer.... "

I am so ready!

PIO shots

My butt hurts from the PIO and the E2V shots! When I have to do both I just have DH give both on the same side. I have so much trouble sleeping at night because it is so tender. I'm hoping I don't have to do another E2V on Friday, but not sure. I called nurse yesterday and told DH and I had decided to transfer 3. Since there are 2 per straw, I'm not sure exactly what the process is on that. She was supposed to e-mail Stephanie & Doug from the embryology lab to let them know, but I have not heard anything back from either one of them. My FET is officially set for Friday, 1/18 at 1:30 pm. I will get there about 1:00 pm because they are going to give me a Valium and they wouldn't let me bring it home!

My acupuncturist told me that the important part of eating the pineapple is the core and it should be fresh pineapple since the canned ones are full of extra sugars and has been processed. I was told to cut the core into 3 equal parts and eat 1 part each day. She never told me not to start too early. I started eating it 3 days ago. It’s just fruit, although it makes sense about the acidic pH on the vaginal and cervical mucus. Well, my FET is set for Friday at 1:30 pm. I can't wait!

CD9

Well, my lining at my CD9 on Friday was 10.4 mm (RE wants at least 9) and he said that everything looked great. I stopped Lupron and started PIO. I can't believe it's almost time! I have another E2 test tomorrow and I should know for sure when my ET date will be. It is tentatively set for Friday or Saturday and I am looking forward to it was a very, very positive attitude. I pray that this will be the cycle that will finally take me on the long awaited journey of Motherhood after 6 1/2 years. I think I will be asking the office for Valium. It wasn't offered to me the last time, but I was told that you can get it if you ask for it. The nightly meditation has done wonders in keeping me so calm and relaxed, but it doesn't hurt to have a little extra help for relaxation.

Has anyone been doing or will do any good luck rituals? Here is the list of what I have been doing: (1) I started eating pineapple (especially the core) yesterday and I'm sure that I will be sick of it by next week, but I will do anything that might work. (2) I have prayed a Nine Day Novena to Saint Gerard (3) I say the Prayer for St. Gerard for Motherhood (4) I wear the Saint Gerard necklace and medal every day (5) I have a statute of St. Gerard that was given to me (6) My mom gave me a Japanese beckoning cat (maneki neko), which is a little ceramic cat like the ones displayed in Japanese shops and restaurants, to help me sustain a healthy pregnancy. (7) Has anyone heard of feng shui? The fertility bull? The fertility vodoo doll? Any other fertility charms or amulets? What about eating pomegranate? It's supposed to be a symbol of fertility. I have a Conceive magazine with good luck charms to help conceive. Very interesting!

Time is flying by!

Yes, time just seemed to have flown by. I can not believe tomorrow is already my CD9. OMG! I should know by tomorrow the exact date of FET for next week (keep fingers crossed). If all goes as planned, my FET should be either Friday, 1/18 or Saturday, 1/19. I have already asked for Friday, 1/18 off so I am set and ready to go. My headaches seemed to have subsided. I had a little one today, but it went away pretty fast and without Tylenol. I am so excited for all of us.

Headaches Continue

I talked to the lady today about the baby and she said that the mom did sell the baby for $200. She said baby is still under CPS care in Foster home and more than likely, the daddy will be getting him at the next court hearing next week. Birth mom signed over all her rights to him and I'm just glad to know he will finally be home rather than in foster care. Poor sweetie.

I have had the worst headache since yesterday after IVIg. It will not go away for anything even with Tylenol. I think I'm going back to bed with some more Tylenol. Friday is CD9 and hopefully then I will know when FET will be. It is tentatively scheduled for next friday or saturday (1/18 or 1/19) so I hope it stays that way. I just hope it means good news for baby!

IVIG w/Intralipids

I had the IVIg today and it went well. As soon as they gave me the Benadryl, it knocked me out! The infusion time depends on my weight! Soooooo, I was there from 9:15 until 12:30 so it was not too bad. It seems the infusion runs faster with more weight! I've managed to put on plenty of weight over the holidays!

Afterwards, I have had the worst headache (one of the side effects) and even Tylenol will not make it go away. I was told to drink 4 liters of water today and tomorrow, so I have been visiting my friend the toilet a lot today. I have to go back to work tomorrow, so I don't know how I will
do it then.

As of today, I was told to stay on the same dose of 8mg (0.4mL) for the E2V. Not sure if it's because my estradiol level is either not high enough yet, or they're trying to maintain the level. I failed to ask my nurse. During my last FET in September I only used 0.2 mL, but I also did acupuncture, which I am not doing right now. I considering going the day of my ET. Anyway, my next E2 level check is Friday and if all is well, we're hoping for FET next Friday (1/18).

Staying Calm

Now I have just been having lots of drainage! Do you know if that's normal? I'm thinking it might be from the E2V! It really sucks. It's like AF/spotting all over again!

I think I have been staying pretty calm throughout. I have been meditating nightly. Also doing lots of praying that I will be blessed with motherhood this new year. Looking forward to IVIg tomorrow because it's one step closer to FET.

I have another E2 tomorrow, so we'll see where I stand as of then. Hopefully my FET will not be re-scheduled. IVIg is not painful and it doesn't tell me anything about my cycle. It is an infusion that RE recommends I have since I have a clotting disorder. When embryo attaches, my body forms a clot at site of implantation and prevents embie from receiving oxygen. This medication prevents that from happening. I get hooked up to an IV and then it does its work. They give me benadryl so that I don't experience any allergic reaction to the med, but it just knocks me out so I sleep most of the time. It takes about 4 hours to complete.

I have to share something I have been really sad about. I don't know if I had mentioned back in december that we would possibly be adopting a newborn last month. Well, supposedly the mom changed her mind and didn't want to put the baby up for adoption, but it turns out that now CPS has custody of the baby because the mom sold him for $200.00! It was a big deal here in Dallas and was all over the news. Isn't that just awful? To think that if we would have adopted him, he would have spent his first x-mas with us and not with strangers in a foster home. I just can't get over that and secretly pray that he will end up with us somehow. His name is Nicholas. Please keep him in your prayers! I will find out more details on this situation later this week.

Diet

I have to say I have not been watching my diet at all because of the holidays. I have already bought some veggies and fruits so I will begin my healthy habits again tomorrow. Fresh veggie/fruit juice for breakfast from now on! Also, does anyone know how soon before ET you should start eating the pineapple core for implantation?

We must have faith that this will be the cycle for us.