First Photo

March 3, 2009 - WEEK 9 - First Doctor Appointment
Well the day started off rather gross....
After Bobby had a bad Monday at work, we decided Chuy's was just what we needed. We shared the nightly special:
wild burrito...A flour tortilla stuffed with slow-roasted beef, charro beans, Monterey Jack cheese and green chiles, smothered with Hatch Green Chile and Queso Sauces with green chile rice.

About bedtime I realized that the spicy dinner had not totally agreed with me...it just felt like a rock sitting above my stomach. I didn't sleep well at all that night, and woke up often with horrible burps and a terrible feeling in my stomach.

The next morning I as was brushing my teeth...one touch of the toothbrush on my tongue was like a trigger reaction in my stomach. I didn't even have time to react and move to the toilet just a few feet away. Everything came up and went into the sink. (So glad Bobby had recently replaced the slow drains with new ones!)
I finally made it to the toilet where I emptied what was left in my stomach. After that I felt much better. I finished getting ready for work and headed that way.

I didn't really feel like eating much that morning, but I forced some Sprite and crackers down while sitting at my desk. At about 9:30a I felt the "gurgle" and darted for the bathroom. I didn't make it quite to the toilet and spewed my Sprite, Crackers, and more Chuy's (somehow)....all over the toilet, the wall, the floor, and my pants. Yuck. Someone was a few stalls down and got an earful. Gross.
I collected myself enough to clean up my mess and wipe down my pants. I went back to my desk to grab my purse, shut down my computer, and was heading home by 10am. I threw my stinky clothes in the washer, changed clothes, and had time for a short nap before my doctor appointment at noon.

Bobby met me at the doctor's office for our first appointment. Up until this point we weren't feeling convinced that there was really a baby in my belly. Even with all the symptoms I was having, we needed proof. And proof is exactly what we got.

After a few minutes talking to the nurse and the doctor about my symptoms and our medical history, we did the sonogram. SO SURREAL!!! To my surprise, I immediately had tears streaming down the sides of my face.
Immediately we could see our lil punkin'....big head and all. Punkin' was moving all around like a tiny dancer. We could easily see the heartbeat and the doctor told us it was beating at 165bpm. He told us that everything looked really good with the baby and confirmed that I was at 8 weeks + 6 days.
The doctor made me feel better when I mentioned I had gained about 5 pounds...he said that by this stage (2 months) they wanted to see a gain of about 5-7lbs. When I mentioned my already expanding belly he told me that it was completely normal in that my uterus is about 3x its normal size at this point.
After the sonogram I went to the lab for some blood work, and then Bobby & I headed our separate ways. Bobby back to work, and me straight home to bed.

I called my boss on my way home and told her that I was finished at my doctor appointment, but that I was not feeling well and was going home. She asked me what was wrong and I told her I had an upset stomach. Then she asked, "Was that you I heard in the bathroom this morning?" I answered..."Uh, yeah...sorry about that." She told me to go home and get better....

The next morning I went to her office and before I could even close the door she asked, "Are you pregnant?" So I let her in on the secret.

I found a Poem online today....so cute!

I do not have a face to see,
or put inside a frame.

I do not have soft cheeks to kiss;
I don't yet have a name.

You can't hold my tiny hands,
nor whisper in my ear.
It's still too soon to sing a song,
or cuddle me so near.

But all will change come mid-October,
when they say I'm due.
I'm your new son or daughter;
I can't wait till I meet you.

All I ask between now and then
is your patience while I grow.
I promise I'll be worth the wait,
because of all the love we'll know.

So as you're waiting patiently,
please pray lots of prayers for me.
I cannot wait to be a part
of this family!

~~~

Morning Sickness

February 11, 2009 - WEEK 6 - Morning Sickness
Well the Morning Sickness thing is now in full swing in my world. Honestly, it is the only thing I think about anymore. Just like my friend who is currently prego with twins...it started Day 1 of Week 6. Week 6 is the average week it starts, and on average it lasts through week 12 (end of 1st trimester).
Every morning this week has been the same. About 3am I wake up with a queasy stomach, but not enough to warrant throwing up. Just enough to be uncomfortable and mess up my next few hours of sleep. I force myself out of bed around 6:30am and head for the shower. I deal with the queasy feeling all morning while I'm getting ready, driving to work, sitting at my desk.... A couple of mornings I've tried to Google remedies for morning sickness, but reading about it and thinking about it just makes my stomach turn worse.
Up until today the queasiness subsides by about noon. However, today it went away when I had some soup for lunch, but it returned about 3:30pm. Ugggg. So now I am back to Sprite and crackers.
Seriously....6 more weeks of this!?!?!?!?!?


February 12, 2009 - WEEK 6 - Morning Sickness...continued
I woke this morning feeling that same queasy feeling I have had every other morning this week, except just a little worse. I tried the trick of eating crackers before I even got out of bed...but the crackers did nothing. Water seems to make the queasiness worse. All I can stand these days is sprite. I managed to get myself showered, dressed, and in the car. I took a barf bag with me...just in case.
I got to work at 8am and between 8:00 and 10:00 I rushed to the bathroom 3 times and puked every time. This is very very tricky when you are trying to keep your secret from coworkers.

By 10am I gave up...I sent my boss an email that said I was sick and going home. On my way home I called the my doctors office and left a message about my morning sickness. The nurse called me back about an hour later and told me they could certainly call me in a prescription for medication. Thank goodness, but I didn't have the energy or stomach to leave the house and go to the pharmacy. So I spent the day going between the bed and the toilet. Bobby picked up the medication on his way home from work, which I took before I even said Hello to him.
Thankfully the meds started working within about 30 minutes. At the same time I realized I was not queasy anymore, I realized how hungry I was. So I sent my sweet husband to Chipotle. :)

Late that night I found out that one of my girlfriends had a Baby Boy. That excitement gave me hope and a flicker of light at the end of this nauseating tunnel.


February 14, 2009 - WEEK 6 Valentines Day
I went to my 3x weekly boot camp workout this morning then rushed home to get ready for our day trip to Wimberley.
Bobby woke up with a worsening toothache that had started the evening prior. By the time I got home from my workout his pain was so bad he was nearly in tears. He called his Dentist's emergency line and finally got to talk to the dentist. The dentist called in 3 prescriptions that we picked up on our way out of town. Bobby took the Vicoden for his pain before we pulled out of the parking lot. His pain never really went away that day. But I guess the meds lessened it enough that he could tolerate the pain of the tooth and the pain of window shopping with me in downtown Wimberley for the afternoon.

When we were heading back into town we got on the topic of a "Push Present". I told him about my friend E who just received her Push Present at 5 months pregnant with twins. We discussed what he knew I already wanted and decided to look at a few jewelry shops at the mall so we could get an estimated price to fit into our budget. After a few jewelry stores, we took a break for dinner at CPK.
As we headed home we decided to make one last stop at Jared. While we were there we got his wedding ring cleaned and dipped, so it looked like he was the one that got a new ring for V-day. :)


February 15, 2009 - WEEK 6 - Sister's Marathon
Yes MY SISTER ran a FULL MARATHON!!! I am so extremely proud of her!!! She has been training for this day for months and months.
Honestly, I am almost as glad as she is that it is done. The training has been so hard on her body but especially her knees and feet. Regardless, She did it and I could not be more proud of her accomplishment!!!
What an AWESOME AUNT she will be!!!


February 24, 2009 - WEEK 8 - 3:30pm
I am still dealing with Morning Sickness on a daily basis, but it is much more manageable with my meds: Ondansetron (generic Zofran).
I started out taking these meds as often as allowed: every 8 hours. But currently I am down to only taking 1 a day. It usually hits me between 3-5am and I have to wake up to take a pill. I am guessing that keeping food on my stomach throughout the day is how I am managing to avoid the nausea throughout the rest of the day. But my stomach is empty in the early morning hours, and that is when it hits.

Last night my girls group met for a Happy Hour to plan our 2009 Girls Trip. We were very productive and made decisions about where and when....enough specifics that we are going to be booking it very soon. We will be going Sept 11-13...when I am about 9 months prego, so that should be interesting. Don't Care....Won't Miss It.

~~~

Spreading the News

January 31, 2009 - WEEK 4 - 1st people to know
The first person I told was my trainer Saturday morning before our boot camp class. The nurse had told me that I could continue working out as I had been doing but just to make sure not to let my heart rate get above 150, so I needed to pass on that information to my trainer.
One of my friends does the boot camp with me and I was not ready for her to know yet, so I went extra early so I could tell the trainer in private. She was elated...mostly because she realized she was the first to know when I told her my girlfriend in the class did not know yet.
(I was formulating a plan so that I could tell all my best girlfriends at the same time.)

I spent some time with both my Mom and Sister that weekend. I gave them both a wrapped baby frame with a little saying inside:

Coming soon to this space in early October
a new love in your life
to hug and kiss forever
~ Baby B ~

February 3, 2009 - WEEK 5 - All Good!
I spoke with the Nurse on Tuesday and she gave me the results of my Blood Test.
She said that everything looks really good, and normal.
5 weeks Pregnant.
hCG: 843
Progesterone: 38.6 (Normal: Conception to 12 weeks: 9 to 47 ng/ml)
The nurse told me that they like to see Progesterone at least 15.8
She asked me if I was taking Progesterone supplements. She was surprised when I told her no. (The only thing I had been taking was prenatal vitamins.)
She confirmed that I had scheduled my first OB appointment.


February 3, 2009 - WEEK 5
Right now it all just feels very exciting and overwhelming. I have this huge secret that I want to yell out and tell everyone...I fell like I'm going to burst! Bobby & I decided that at this point we will only tell our secret to the people who we would not mind telling the bad news if something happened to the baby. The risk of miscarriage is greatest during the first trimester, that is why most people wait until after the 1st trimester to tell anyone. I've already told my Mom & Sister, and my trainer. Bobby has only told his friend Bill, with whom he recently spent a crazy weekend in New Orleans. We will probably tell Bobby's Mom in the next few days. He is trying to arrange a "test" video call without getting her too suspicious.
I can't wait to tell my girlfriends. They have been on this journey with me from the start. They were the first to know when we started "trying"...because I stopped drinking. Every couple of weeks they ask me for updates; sometimes it was a bit annoying/frustrating to have to tell them that I had no news. But mostly I am glad they knew....they gave me support even when they didn't realize it.
We are having a Girls Valentines Party this Friday. I plan to tell them all at the same time at the party. I still haven't figured out exactly how I will break the news....but I cannot wait to see their faces & reactions when I do! I think they will feel a bit of accomplishment and relief since they have all endured this journey right along with me.


February 8, 2009 - All my Chicks now know!
We had our 2nd annual Girls Valentines Party on Friday night. I had known my positive pregnancy results for a week by then and had lied to about 1/2 the group that week when they asked me if I was prego. So by the time the party came around, I was about to burst. When everyone had arrived I told them I had a confession: "I've lied to several of you this week...I'm pregnant!" Immediately the tears started flowing and the hugs kept coming. It was all very exciting and emotional to share this awesome news with the most important friends in my life.
Only one of my best friends was missing from the festivities that Friday night, so Bobby & I had dinner with her and her husband on Friday night. I let Bobby tell the big news since I'd had more opportunities to say the words. They were of course very excited for us. It was fun to celebrate the news with friends as a couple.


February 8, 2009 - WEEK 6 - We told Bobby's Mom & Sister!
We had been holding out telling Bobby's Mom & Sister until we could get them on a webcam so that we could see their faces when we told them the news. Bobby's sister was not cooperating as quickly as we wanted. We finally gave up on his sister and concentrated just on getting his Ma's webcam working.
So last night Bobby got his Mom in IL on a video conference and broke the big news to her. She screamed and could not hide her excitement. She kept telling us that we had made her happier than we'll ever know. :-)
Afterwards we called Bobby's sister in GA to tell her the big news. She was also completely thrilled and excited for us. She told us that we'll have to start working on names, to which I told her that she better get busy on that as well. After all, she managed to come up with 4 beautiful names for their twin girls.


February 9, 2009 - WEEK 6
I am really excited, and scared, and overwhelmed, and feeling a little surreal about everything.
One of my friends advised me to try and ignore the pregnancy horror stories (and there are plenty of them), but I also hear about all the really easy pregnancies people have. I am guessing that mine will be somewhere in the middle, if not on the side of easy.
I had my first bought of morning sickness earlier this morning. Yuck. I am sure there is plenty more to come. It just sux that I'll have to deal with it at work...especially since I'd rather they not know yet. Oh well.
I think my pregnancy will be smooth after I get through this sickie part. Even my friend who is 5 months prego with twins seems to be doing really great at this point. I guess I am paying a lot of attention to her pregnancy since I am just 4 months behind her.
Besides the morning sickness, the only other noticeable symptom I have is this constant waking up in the middle of the night. Obviously I have to pee several times in the night. For some reason I wake up every early morning at 3am and cannot get back to sleep. I just lay there wide awake...trying to clear my mind and get back to sleep.
I promise myself that I am going to try to enjoy every minute of this amazing life experience. I always hear that even in rough pregnancies, most women loved being pregnant....so there has to be something to that.

I feel so extremely fortunate that I have such an amazing support system of girlfriends, my Mom & Sister to be there with me through this experience. And I am very lucky that Bobby is such a wonderful husband and has already been pretty amazing just through the beginning of this.


February 9, 2009 - WEEK 6 - Telling Dad...on his Birthday
After work I called Dad to tell him Happy Birthday and ask if he had a webcam on his home computer. He confirmed that he did. I lied and told him that Bobby got a new laptop and was wanting to try out the webcam on it with someone not on his network. Problem was that I was heading to a movie with my girlfriends and would not be home until about 10pm (his bedtime). So I told him I would have Bobby contact him later. I walked in the door about 10pm that night and Bobby already had Dad and his wife on the webcam. We messed with the video and audio for a bit and then I noticed I could no longer see Dad on the video. I asked his wife to turn the camera so I could see them both. I told Dad that I needed to see his face when I told him I was pregnant. :)
It took a few minutes to register in his head, but when he did he jumped back in his chair and his eyes got big. He and his wife screamed and laughed and wanted to know all the details. That was a fun Birthday gift to give my Dad.

~~~

2 Pink Lines

January 28-30, 2009 - I kept waiting for my period to start.....
I really didn't think I was pregnant because I didn't "feel" pregnant. In fact, I had enjoyed a few cocktails in celebration of my husband's birthday just the weekend before. Not drinking was something I had been very strict about all the previous months during the 2 weeks between ovulation and period. So I wasn't worried about being prego when I decided to have a few drinks this time.
I had heard so many times to just relax and not think too much about it. So that's what I finally did...6 months after trying.
I decided that if I did not have my period by Friday (Jan 30), I would take a home pregnancy test that Friday morning.


January 30, 2009 - 2 Pink Lines (WEEK 4)
I woke up that Friday morning, at the same time as every other morning, to take my temperature: 5:00am. I was fully expecting that my temperature would drop just as it always does the day you start your period. But it wasn't lower, in fact my temperature was higher than normal. This sent a surge of excitement through me. I jumped up and headed for the bathroom where I had one single pregnancy test left from previous months of over-anxiousness.

I peed on the stick and set it down on the counter for the long 3 minute wait, but I didn't have to wait long. Within a few seconds those 2 pink lines both started getting darker and darker. I sat there looking at the pink lines in complete amazement. I waited the 3 full minutes, maybe even 4 before I believed that the those 2 pink lines were for real. I could not take my eyes off of that stick.
Then 1 single question filled my head...How do I tell Bobby? Do I just go jump in bed, wake him up, and tell him now? Or do I go for a much more smooth, memorable approach and present him with a "daddy" gift later?

Yeah Right, I felt like I was about to burst. I took the stick and set it on his nightstand for proof. I got back in bed and curled up beside him as calmly as I could. He woke a little when he felt my cold skin against his. I said, Hey Honey....I just took a pregnancy test and I'm pregnant.
His eyes opened wide and he asked, "Are you kidding?"
He, like me, was convinced it had not happen this month. I had told him a couple of days prior that I felt like I had cramps coming on. I'm guess now those cramps were something else.
I looked at him funny and asked, "Do you think I would joke about something like that? That wouldn't be very funny would it?"
He said, "Well No." Then he just smiled and grabbed me and pulled me close to him and we laid there like that for a few minutes. My head was swimming. I was wide awake and I could not stop thinking and talking. My brain was zooming a million miles a minute.

Bobby was excited but felt skeptical. He asked if I had only taken 1 test, and if I would take another one before we get ahead of ourselves...just in case. I told him I didn't have any more tests, but that I would go pick one up on my way to work. I kept chatting for a while longer and soon noticed that Bobby's answers and comments were getting less and less, and slower. I asked him if he was sleeping and his words: "What do you want me to do? I can't do anything right now, and I'm sleepy." I told him it was fine, he could go back to sleep and I would try to stay still. I was just dumbfounded how he was able to fall asleep...my mind and my heart were racing so fast I couldn't even fathom going back to sleep.

Already awake for hours, I got up extra early. I picked up a box of pregnancy tests on my way to work....digital ones this time. Bobby messaged me as soon as I logged on and asked if I had taken the 2nd test yet. I told him no, because I have not had to pee yet. He was as anxious as me, so I chugged some water. About 30 minutes later I took the digital HPT and it read "Pregnant" in just a short minute or two. Ok, now I'm positive. I messaged Bobby and I could tell he was convinced and now officially freaking out. I called my doctor's office and spoke to his nurse. I told her that I would not be needing her to call in the Clomid prescription because I took 2 pregnancy tests and both were positive. She said I should come in and get a blood test done as soon as convenient for me. She advised that if I got there early enough, she would be able to get the results back to me by the end of the day.

Bobby had taken the day off because we thought the painters would still be painting, but they finished a day early so he was home doing some work around the house. I was at work but my mind was mush. I spent the morning looking at pregnancy/baby websites, then called it a day around lunch and took the rest of the day off.
I went home, picked up Bobby and we headed for the lab at the doctor's office. They got me in and out in 5 minutes.

Bobby & I spent the afternoon looking at guest room furniture and new carpet for the upstairs. Then we went to the movies to see the third Underworld Movie. I had already turned the ringer off on my phone but checked it for messages about 5pm. There was a missed call and voicemail from my doctor's office. This was the message the nurse left:

Hi! This is Kathy with the Dr's office.
Hey - just wanted to let you know I got your test back - You're pregnant Ma'am!
Looks like all you have to do is come in and talk to us and visit about you getting pregnant. You're pregnant Ma'am!
It looks great, your pregnancy test looks real normal.
If you want some more details call us back here at the office on Monday morning.
Thanks!

After the movie we went to Barnes and Noble to pick up our first Pregnancy books. We felt so awkward standing in the row of pregnancy and parenting books. We were constantly looking over our shoulders making sure no one we knew caught us red handed. :)
We bought 4 books that night:
What To Expect When You're Expecting: 4th Edition
Eating Well When You're Expecting
The Expectant Father
The Baby Name Wizard

I am so happy that Bobby & I got to celebrate our little secret that day.

Exhausted after an eventful and emotional day I crashed out early. But I woke up at 3am and could not get back to sleep. I gave up after about an hour and a half of counting sheep and trying to clear my brain. I went downstairs, booted up my laptop, and got on Facebook. I did the survey: 25 Random Things about me. I soon got bored with Facebook, but still not sleepy, so I browsed some pregnancy websites. ;-)

~~~

MISS ME?!?!? I'm back with BIG NEWS.......

I'M PREGNANT!!! Bobby and I could not be more excited, overwhelmed, anxious, and flat out scared to death.

So now I can honestly say THAT is the reason why I had to take a break from my blog for awhile. From the moment I saw the 2 pink lines on the stick, I have had pregnancy on the brain. That is all I can think about...all day long. It drives me crazy, and I admit to be even a little embarrassed about that fact. WTH did I think about BEFORE those 2 pink lines!?!? Even my friends have noticed a huge change in me. They miss the "fun" me, and so do I!!!
Now that we have finally reached the first big mile marker: End of the 1st Trimester, and we can go public with our life changing event...I am hoping that us being able to talk freely about it, will lead to getting the "fun" me back. At the very least, maybe I can think of anything else besides being pregnant....and morning sickness. :-(

So now that our news is out there, I can talk or blog about it all I want to. :-)
I have been keeping track of our complete journey up to this point. So I am going to share (parts) of our journey here for your reading enjoyment. And here goes.....

Our Journey...

It started 14 months ago...at my yearly gyno appointment in February 2008. My doctor asked me if we were planning to have a family and I said yes. Her next question was "What are you waiting on?" I answered confidently "My husband graduates in May, then we want to have a year to travel and just be together before we have kids. She told me that at my age (32) I should already be starting the process because every 6 months I wait will make it that much harder to conceive.
At that moment, I could have been knocked over with a feather. I had always heard that 35 was the age you should start worrying about it, but apparently I was a little off...35 is the age you basically fall of the cliff (there are exceptions to every rule of course).
So obviously I left the appointment somewhat freaked out. That night I told Bobby about the conversation I had with my doctor. He was not thrilled that the doctor had given it to me that way. He was probably just projecting his anger towards the doctor because that ignited the baby talk when he wasn't ready for it....and I am sure he needed to be working on some big school project that night rather than dealing with sensitive me.

Eventually Bobby & I agreed that we would move the time frame up a little...I took my last pill on or very near our 1 year anniversary April 28, and Bobby graduated about 1 week later. The doctor told me I should be off the pill for 2 months, but I was off for about 3 before we gave up the condoms. (What a great night that was!)

We had been "trying" about 1 month when we met some couple friends for dinner. This couple had been through everything in regard to trying to get pregnant. They tried for 4 years before they had a little girl through IVF. Then tried for another 4 years before having a set of twins, again through IVF (a few miscarriages later). So during our night out with them we told them that we were just starting to try. She asked me about my doctor and I told her about my last visit with her, and that she was fine although I didn't just "love" her. She told me that I had to go see her doctor....that I must absolutely LOVE the doctor that I am going to go through all that stuff with. She raved on & on about her doctor and his staff, so I agreed I would make an appointment. She also suggested that I tell the doctor we had been trying for 6 months...just to speed up the "process" since we are both a little older.
Two weeks later I was in with her doctor's nurse practitioner....telling her we had been trying for 6 months. We went through both mine & Bobby's and both our family's entire medical history. She told me that 6 months of trying is pretty average, but that at 6 months we can move onto some initial testing.

Here are the initial tests we went through:
Test #1 - 10/2/2008 Blood Test: Progesterone Level
Test #2 - 10/10/2008 Seman Analysis
Test #3, #4, #5 - 10/10/2008 Blood Test: ABO, Rubella, FSH3**
Test #6 - 10/14/2008 HSG (Hysterosalpingogram)

**FSH3: Follicle Stimulating Hormone Test - I first learned about this test when reading a book recommended to me by a friend: What Every Woman Should Know About Fertility And Her Biological Clock Then a couple of girlfriends who were both trying to get pregnant in their 30s told me I should do the FSH test.*Anyone who is thinking about having children can have this test done. It can help you monitor your own biological clock, no matter what age you are."FSH is just one of a number of hormones that is secreted by your brain. Inside your brain, located just at the base of your neck, there is a tiny region called the pituitary gland. This gland is responsible for releasing a variety of different hormones, including FSH. FSH hormone is used to help encourage the growth of eggs in women and sperm in men. Without FSH, neither males nor females would be able to procreate. Measurements of FSH can be determined through a simple blood test. Levels of this hormone directly correlate to the number of eggs "on reserve" in the ovaries. By measuring the amount of FSH, the doctor can suggest specific treatments that could help to conceive. He can also predict how well someone may respond to these treatments." -- http://www.sharedjourney.com/define/fsh.html

The morning after the HSG Nurse Kathy from my Doctor's office called to talk to me about the results. She said that with the tests I have taken we have determined that:
A. I am ovulating
B. Husband has good swimmers
C. I have plenty of eggs in reserve
D. My tubes are open and clear
All positive things. The next step is to try naturally for the next 3 months. Since my tubes are now "flushed out" that is sometimes enough for women to get pregnant. If after 3 months I am still not pregnant, they will put me on ovulation enhancing medications.

3 Months
Oct: Nope
Nov: Nope
Dec: Nope

January 13, 2009 - Doctor Appointment to discuss medication options.
"Ovulation Enhancing Medication"
When my doctor first came in and looked at my chart, he got excited and said it was a lucky day since it was my cycle day 13. We did a sonogram to look at my ovaries and uterus. It was extremely interesting in that he showed us on a diagram what phase of my cycle I should be in, and then showed how I was exactly where I needed to be on the sonogram monitor. He said everything looks perfect, and suggested that we have sex that night, and for the next 2 nights....
The doctor said that I am now fully documented to be an ovulater....with unexplained infertility.
If I don't get pregnant this month, the next step the doctor suggested is to start an ovulation enhancer Femara or Clomid. ALONG WITH an IUI.
My husband immediately asked about doing both together since we had always heard of just doing the pills for a few cycles first. The Dr told us they do that when they haven't confirmed someone has been ovulating, or they have irregular cycles. But since I am well documented, they will jump to the IUI + meds. Next cycle or the next....whenever we are ready....
(Differences between Clomid & Femara: Femera has a higher rate of pregnancy, lower side effects, lower chance of multiples.)

A friend explained the Clomid thing to me as a step everyone dealing with infertility has to go through....a means to an end. Every doctor even the specialist will make you do it before they break out the "big guns".

That friend went through the infertility thing several months before me, and gave me the best piece of advice so far.........
(her words)
Ok, EVERYONE will tell you not to "stress" and just "relax" and blah blah blah. Just have the feelings as they come and don't
a) get down on yourself for having them, and
b) don't listen to other people who have no idea what they are talking about.
Relaxing doesn't make babies! And neither does having negative thoughts prevent pregnancy. People who aren't trying to have a baby without success don't understand how all-consuming it can feel! My only words of wisdom is to know that once you do get pregnant, this time will feel like a blur! The pain/frustration will melt away, I swear!

She is so right, at this point I am already hearing the "Relax" "Don't Stress" stuff. It is annoying because I don't feel that I am stressing. These emotions are different than stress, but I don't know how to best describe it all. I just feel like it will all work out and happen how its supposed to. I'm a little anxious, but definitely not stressed. I've had a few times of frustration as well. I don't feel bad about having these feelings, they must be natural. And if I wasn't having roller coaster emotions, well...that is what would seem strange to me.

After learning the prices of Clomid, Femera, and IUI treatments, Bobby & I decided we would do a round of just Meds for the 1st month (February 2009). In March we would add the IUI treatments. Our reasoning for that was because our health insurance does not cover infertility procedures, but we maxed out our Flex plan that we can use toward medical procedures such as this. The 2009 Flex plan started March 1st.

We choose to start off with Clomid because there is an increased chance of having twins. The drawbacks to Clomid are the side effects such as hot flashes, mood swings, nausea.... But we decided to chance it anyway.

FYI...
$50 - Price for 1 month supply of Clomid, 5 pills (not covered by health insurance)
Instructions for CLOMID:
Cycle Day 1: Call Nurse to let her know.
Cycle Days 5-9: Take 1 Clomid pill a day

$500 (approx) - Price for 1 month IUI procedure (not covered by health insurance)
Instructions for Clomid + IUI:
Cycle Day 1: Call to set up a Doctor Appointment for a Follicle Study on cycle day 12 or 13.
Cycle Days 5-9: Take 1 Clomid pill a day
Cycle Day 12 or 13: Appointment for Follicle Study & Shot
Cycle Day 13 or 14: Take swimmers with me for IUI procedure.

~~~

FISH WARNING (do not read while eating)

My first guest blog and it is something a little gross but I think you need to know!!
I celebrated my 10th wedding anniversary on Friday. YEAH US!! My husband made researvations at a restaurant we both love and we enjoyed a super yummy dinner. We both ordered one of the specials. He had the lamb chops and I had the hawaiin escolar dish.
We both agreed that my dish was the best. He helped me a little but I devoured the large portion of buttery white fish with the coconut rice and mango salsa.....so yummy. We enjoyed a fun evening out and I was tucked in a happily 10 year married lady!!

Saturday is when it all turned around. I got up and went for a walk first thing to get my work out checked off for the day. I started feeling pretty poor and thought I was getting pretty dang old as I had only had 3 drinks all night and was suffering a hangover (so I thought). I called C and had her bring me good hangover food on her way out to work on our mosaic projects. She showed up with what I asked for plus some...so sweet. Food seemed to help so we got to work. She does not know the details of all that began to happen while her and her mom were there. Way to embarresed at the moment to share. I honeslty thought at 33 my body was giving out and I would never be able to drink again!! My insides were doing gymnastics and I could not be far from a bathroom. (details below found on Wikepedia will leave nothing out as I experienced all of it...yes ALL of it) After a long day of suffering my brain finally began to kick back in as I remembered that the fish I had for dinner I had also had it as sushi before so decided to google it. AAAAAaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA (that would be Angel's singing and the lights coming on)

Here is what I found on Wikepedia for the fish Escolar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escolar

[edit] Consumption
Escolar is consumed in several European and Asian countries, as well as in the USA, sometimes raw as sushi or sashimi. It may be sold as "white tuna" - a term also used for the albacore - or as "super white tuna" to distinguish it from the albacore.[1] Escolar is also sold misleadingly as "butterfish", "oilfish" and "Hawaiian butter fish"; in Hawaii and Fiji, it is known as walu. Like oilfish, a related species with similar consumption consequences, escolar is also sometimes deceptively sold under the name of an entirely different species of fish, most commonly "codfish" or "orange roughy"or "sea bass".

[edit] Effects of consumption
Like its relative the oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus), it cannot metabolize the wax esters (Gempylotoxin) naturally found in its diet, which accumulates to give an oil content in the muscle meat of 18–21%. These wax esters may rapidly cause gastrointestinal symptoms following consumption; however, these effects are usually short lived.
The gastrointestinal symptoms, called "keriorrhoea", caused by these wax esters may include oily orange diarrhea, discharge, or leakage from the rectum that may smell of mineral oil. The discharge can stain clothing and occur without warning 30 minutes to 36 hours after consuming the fish. The oil may pool in the rectum and cause frequent urges for bowel movements due to its lubricant qualities and may be accidentally discharged by the passing of gas. Symptoms may occur over a period of one or more days. Other symptoms may include stomach cramps, loose bowel movements, diarrhea, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
To minimize the risk of symptoms, strict control of portion size is recommended as well as preparation methods that remove some of the oil (e.g. grilling). Portions should be no greater than 6 ounces.

[edit] Legislation
For these reasons, escolar has been banned from consumption in Japan since 1977, as the Japanese government considers it toxic.[2][3] It has also been banned in Italy.[3] In 1999, the Swedish and Danish National Food Administrations informed fish trade associations and fish importing companies about the problems escolar and related fish could cause if not prepared properly and issued recommendations.
In early 2007 after a public outcry and receiving consumer complaints about mislabeled fish and conducting an investigation, the Hong Kong government's Centre for Food Safety recommended that escolar not be used for catering purposes, advised clear labeling and identification of fish species before sale, purchase of fish from reliable sources, and recommended that consumers become aware of the possible health effects of consumption of escolar, oilfish, and related species. The Hong Kong government has established a working group comprised of members of the academia, trade and consumer group to prepare guidelines for assisting the trade and consumers in identifying relevant species of fish.
In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, after receiving complaints about diarrhea associated with escolar consumption, issued a bulletin recommending against import of the fish in the early 1990s. However, the FDA backed away from this recommendation and withdrew the bulletin several years later after deciding the fish was nontoxic and nonlethal. Currently, the FDA informally recommends that "Escolar should not be marketed in interstate commerce."[4]
In mid-2007, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, after investigating cases of diarrhea caused by mislabeled fish, decided not to ban escolar or oilfish but instead issued a fact sheet noting the potential adverse effects of consumption and recommending that consumers speak with their retailer, verify fish species and consume the fish in small portion size using preparation methods that reduce oil content.

Outlawed in Japan!!!! Do you know what kinds of things they eat in Japan?
I am in complete shock that they would serve this fish in such a large portion or AT ALL!!

Let me say I am thrilled to know my body is not giving out on me at 33. I have emailed the restaurant this infomration and am waiting a response.

So, let this be a warning and lesson to all of my fish loving friends. No Hawaiin butter fish or Escolar!!!

NEW BREAKFAST!

Have you heard about the new breakfast promotion Denny’s is running in tribute to OctoMom?

It has:

14 Eggs, No Sausage, and the person in the next booth pays for it.

Ha! Ha! :-)
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