Today is the start of our new lives

It's been awhile since I've written anything in here. I was a little worried about going into this cycle at first. I was told that there was a slim chance it could get canceled. I was only on bcps for 5 days and then when I started the stims I wasn't responding right away. Eventually things picked up a bit and I was responding MUCH better than I did last cycle. Last cycle I only had 2 good sized follies, ended up ovulating too early and it was turned into an IUI. I really can't even remember how many days I stimmed for either, I think it was only 5 days. This cycle I stimmed for 12 days and Wednesday the 14th I got my call that I would be going in for my ER Friday April 16th. What I didn't realize is how early we would have to be there, the nurse told me to be there at 5 am this morning. I went to bed fairly early last night, I believe it was about 9:30 - 9:45 pm unfortunately I woke up at 2:45 and just couldn't go back to sleep so I went downstairs and went online for a bit. I knew I would have to be up by 4 anyways so I just stayed up and eventually got ready.

When I got there they some how had lost all of my consent forms that I had signed before so we had to fill all of them out again. I met with the anesthesiologist and she told me whatever she had to tell me. The last thing I remember was them sticking the needle for the anesthesia, that's it. Apparently after the procedure when I woke up, which I don't remember I got myself up and into the wheel chair and then they wheeled me back into the recovery room which I don't remember. I just remember when I was finally somewhat with it asking Dave how I got there. Then he told me that they wheeled me in here and when they were getting me situated I guess I had asked if I could take a snooze, but Dave said the way I said it was pretty funny.

Now onto the good news, they were able to get 9 eggs. I have to wait till tomorrow to get my fertilization report. I hope they call me early so I'm not waiting all day but they did say to give it till 6pm. That will definitely make for a long day! I wanted to update how things were going. All in all it was a great day!!

A bit bummed

This morning I woke up at 4:30 I was so excited to get to the IVF office to have my egg retrieval done today. I tried to go back to sleep, unfortunately it really didn't work. I knew I had to be up at 6 am so I could shower and get ready for work. We got to the IVF office with a few minutes to spare, I check in and they call me right away. I was asked if I've ever had one of these done before and I said no, so they explained what I had to do and what they were going to do and they went over a bunch of things with me.

Eventually I was taken into the procedure room where they were going to do the retrieval. The anesthesiologist was getting me hooked up to the IV and talking to me a bit. I remember him asking me to say my full name and date of birth. Then he said, "alright, let's give you some happy medicine!" Then while he was getting it all ready for me he asked me where I was coming from and I said Gurnee and he was saying that's not too far. Then he asked me if I grew up in that area and I told him no I grew up in Mt Prospect. He was familiar with that area so he asked me if I went to Prospect High School and I said yes I did. Then that was it, that was all I remembered. I don't know how long I was out but I do remember waking up and the Dr coming back into my room telling me that they couldn't do the retrieval due to the fact that I had already ovulated. I was a bit bummed and still really out of it from the anesthetics. They brought me back into the room where I was before and Dave was sitting in there. He already knew that it was cancelled. Anyways they said that they were going to do an IUI with me, I remembered when I went to the IVF consultation that on one of the papers I had signed I had wanted to do an IUI if the IVF had to be cancelled for whatever reason.

As bummed as I am that I couldn't continue with the IVF, I am hoping and praying really hard that the IUI will take this time. Maybe with all of those meds and extra follicles I produced this cycle maybe just maybe one will take. Now the dreaded two week wait begins. Thanks for all of the support, thoughts and prayers that were sent. I really appreciate it!

HOLY SCHNIKIES IT'S TIME!!!

I can't believe it's here already!!! I can't explain how my feelings are excited, nervous, happy!!! AHHH So yesterday I had an early appointment with my RE for an ultrasound and bloodwork. I knew I wouldn't get results until later on in the afternoon, so I was pretty nervous. I honestly didn't ask how many follicles I had because I don't want to sit there and analyze it, I'm just going with the flow. I worked at a different office the last couple days, a very small 3 person credit union just merged with us and I was out there for moral support since this was their first week going live with us. I knew I'd be getting a call from the IVF nurse and I got absolutely NO reception in the building, so until I heard my phone beep at me that I had a message I kept looking at it.

Finally at about 2:20pm Anna the nurse had called me and went over my medication instructions, she was said, "Good news, you will be coming in for your egg retrieval on Sunday!" Holy schnikies!!! I can't believe how fast that came up... I quickly hung up my phone and my mouth was wide open. I dialed to listen again to the voicemail and this time I listened to the whole message. She said, that I no longer have to do the follistim or menapur, at 7 to do 2 ovidrel shots and then at my regular time to do another ganirelix shot. Then she proceeded to tell me on saturday with dinner to take 2 azithromycin tablets and then after midnight not to eat or drink anything.

IT'S HERE!!! Sunday I go in a 7:15 and I know when we went in for our IVF consultation meeting in January we were told to plan on being there awhile, but I really don't remember how long she had said. I honestly really don't care I am so ready for this and excited!

Moving on with our Journey

Friday morning was a very nerve wrecking day for me. I made a very early morning appointment at the RE's so I could make sure my results would get in that day. I got to the RE's at 6:50 am and went inside signed in and waited for them to call me in. I first met with Natalie the ultrasound tech. She asked me if I was alright and I said yes just hoping that my cyst is long gone. She looked at the screen where she could see inside and then looked at the other screen where my chart was. She said, "Yep, it's gone, let me check the other side to see if anything is there!" I was freaking out again... She went to the other side and proceeded to say, "You are as clean as a whistle!" I was so happy I told her she made my day!!!! After the ultrasound appointment, I went back to have some bloodwork done. I knew that I wouldn't get my results back as quickly as I did with the ultrasound. I don't know why but the lady that always does my blood has a horrible time at finding my veins. She refuses to stick me more than once so se won't unless she knows it's there. She always asks me if I drank water, and my answer is always yes... Am I seriously supposed to drink a gallon before I go there. my veins just don't wake up in the morning. She ended up poking me on top of my hand that is the only place my veins really stick out.

After my appointment I went back home to get ready for work, but I was fairly excited I knew I'd finally be able to move on. I went to work and thankfully was very busy that I didn't have to think about it too much. About 2:30pm I got a call from the IVF nurse saying that everything is great and that Sunday I can start my stimming with the shots. I was happy and relieved that I finally have gotten some good news.

Tonight I start follistim and Menopur, I've taken follistim before but have not taken menopur. I've heard that it can sting a bit, but it will all be worth it in the end. I'm so ready to get this going and move on. I can't believe how fast this is going and that the answers to my prayers are coming faster than I have ever expected.

Nephew #4 has arrived and expecting another nephew in July

It's a morning routine for me to go online and check my facebook to see what's up with everyone. My sister had her status as Hello, baby... Of course I had to comment on it, I didn't know if that meant she was in labor or she had the baby. After I commented my dad called my cell, he didn't want to wake me up but he knew I wanted to know. He left me a message that Theresa had the baby at just about 3am Seattle time, he was 8lbs 11oz and 20inches long. I was so excited that she finally had him, I wanted to finish getting ready for my work day and I called my dad on the way to work. Of course all the questions I was asking he didn't know... The big one was the name. He told me to call my mom after work and he was sure that she would have more information. So of course I was going through my whole day anxiously awaiting someone to give me some sort of news. I was glad the day flew by. Mid afternoon I did get a text from my sister-in-law Shannon saying that she found out she's having a boy, I know this baby will be so spoiled.

On my way home I called my mom to see if Theresa had picked a name yet... I was like they had 9 months to decide on a name what the heck?!?! My mom said no that they still hadn't picked out a name. They were going back and forth on a couple different names, Xavier was one but my mom said they were leaning more towards Thomas. I did get to talk to Theresa for a bit last night, I knew she was tired so I didn't get to talk long.



I called my mom today on my way home found out she was released from the hospital and STILL no name. Dave and I keep calling him Bart because in November I wrote my sister an email and put in it, "love all of you and baby DeMonte!" When she wrote back she signed hers love with all of their names and Bartholomew. I looked at Dave and said do you really think she's naming him Bartholomew, she never would tell anyone any of her childrens names until after they were born. Regardless it didn't matter if we liked the name or not as long as her and her husband agreed on it. Theresa and Matt are taking name suggestions, not saying they will go with it or not but they may. I'm hoping by the weekend he will have a name... My mom was telling me that Noah, my oldest nephew, who's autistic, is not really getting the whole hang of having a baby brother yet. Hopefully soon he'll be ok. Joseph and Peter are so excited all they want to do is just hold him. They are going to be so helpful with the new baby.


I attached some photos that Matt had sent of the baby, I'm sure Theresa wouldn't be too happy but that's ok. I'm a proud Auntie and want to show them off. The one picture has Joseph(in the black sweatshirt) and Peter (green shirt) at the hospital.

The journey for our miracle

Well for the past month it's been crazy and kind of long. Nothing too exciting with just taking Birth Control Pills daily. Today Sunday, January 24th was my last day for my Birth Control Pill. I can't explain how excited I am to be doing this and I'm really praying so hard that this will work. Going through Fertility treatments can be very emotionally and physically draining. I have a great support system with a message board that I have been apart of for a year now. WOW a year already that went really fast. Friday I go to my RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) for a baseline u/s and b/w. I'll wait for that call telling me to start stimming on Saturday. I am really nervous and excited at the same time. I received my box of shots and meds for this and it's a bit overwhelming but I know I'll be fine with doing it and knowing what to do and when to do it. If this does truly work it will be a miracle. I know I've said it a million times but I'm going to say it again. I never EVER imagined how truly hard it could be to try to conceive. I am praying for everyone who suffers with this and wish there was no such thing. I will try to keep updates going on during our journey. Although most of you won't even be reading this until after we find out we are pregnant. But atleast you can read our true desires to have a baby. This is the one thing that both Dave and I have been praying for like crazy.

The start of our IVF journey

Dave and I have decided that we are going to start IVF. It's been a really hard decision because it is so much money to do and it's not guaranteed. However it has a much higher success rate that the IUI's we have been doing. IVF has a 60% success rate, I have great insurance coverage for it so we are going for it. Today Monday, January 4th I went to my RE for a cycle day 4 check up. I had an ultrasound and bloodwork done. I got my results early afternoon and everything was fine so tomorrow I start taking the birth control pills. My dr's nurse looked over to make sure all of my tests were up to date, most everything was except I have to have a saline ultrasound done. I made my appointment as soon as I could so I will be going for that on Thursday, the 7th. One other thing I was told was to call the IVF coordinator for a consultation at the clinic. I did that as soon as I was given the go ahead for starting everything up. The appointment is for Friday the 15th, I will find out more at that appointment. This is all starting to seem so surreal before it was all talk about doing IVF, now it's so real... I'm so very excited to be moving along in my journey yet I'm also quite nervous and thoughts keep running through my head, what if this doesn't work. What if I can't get pregnant from this. I'm trying to stay positive and know that this will work but it's very hard. I'm just glad for the support and love from my friends and family. This is an exciting time in our lives yet also a very stressful one. I will try to be more up to date on this stuff it's hard but I will try especially during this exciting journey!