Eggs come in dozens, right?

After getting up at 4:45 (yes, you read that right) for our egg retrieval we arrived in Houston bright and early... too early for our liking! I'm pretty sure that we were the first people there other than the security guard, but at least he was friendly. This was our first time at this actual clinic since all of our other retrievals have been at the Tom.ball Hospital. We were definitely the first patients there and there wasn't even anyone in the front to check us in so we just sat and waited. About 10 minutes later the nurse peeked out and called us back. We got checked in, signed all the papers, did the usual checks, changed into the gown and lovely footies, and got ready for the IVF. The nurse was very sweet and got the IV on the first try... unfortunately it blew almost immediately. Good news is the 2nd try stuck. Since the practice we use has gotten so big there are 3 REs we have never met, one of those would perform the ER today. Turns out this RE is super nice (just as our regular RE is), but is like 25... ok, really in his early 30s, but boy is he young!

I won't go into all the details of the ER, but I've said it before and it is my least favorite part of IVF. This time wasn't so bad (although I would like this to work and not have to go through it again!) and just so happens to be the best outcome so far. When Dr. Young (a.k.a. real name not used here) came out to talk to Jeff we were at a count of 12 with one vial still to go, so that number could have gone up. They are supposed to call tomorrow with a fertilization report and then I'll have my transfer on the 14th or the 16th.

So far, so good, thanks for the prayers! Now we just need our eggs to fertilize and grow, but I have faith all will be fine... trust in the Lord!

***I am grateful for:
1) a smooth ER
2) a good clinic
3) my husband who is always by my side
4) peace
5) faith

Absolutely miserable.

I have never felt this way in any of my previous 3 IVFs. I feel miserable, absolutely miserable. I'm also fighting off some kind of URI and have been running a fever, so I'm sure that is not helping. At my ultrasound yesterday my ovaries were practically laying right on top of eachother and are huge. I woke up every hour last night to pee and look 4 months pregnant. It's awful. I hope I haven't overstimmed. When my nurse called to give me my trigger time I told her how miserable I was and she said that having as many eggs as I do, that was normal. Ugh. I go in for my egg retrieval at 7:30 on Friday (they'll call to confirm the time tomorrow). Thank God my friend Stacy was here today to help out with Chase because I don't think I could have done it on my own. I will say Chase has been a doll and is so concerned about me. He just cuddles right up and asks me if I'm feeling better. He is so sweet. I just keep telling myself it will be so worth it when we get that BFP!

I am grateful for:
1) Stacy, what would I do w/o her!
2) That in 48 hours I will be done with my ER!
3) My sweet Chase
4) watermelon, seems to be the only thing that sounds good right now!
5) the quiet evening

It's that time. **Updated**

My appointment this morning went great and I am ready to go. We will trigger tonight and have our egg retrieval on Thursday. If we do a 3d transfer like we have with our 3 previous IVFs then we'll transfer on Sunday, my birthday. I'll take that!

**Update** We just got a phone call saying that we will stim for one more day. Looks like they are really pushing me in order to get more follies. I always get so nervous I will ovulate before the retrieval, but I trust them so I'm sure it'll be ok. Our new retrieval date will be Friday and that means transfer will be on Monday or Wednesday (depending on if it's a 3d or 5d).

I am grateful for:
1) making it to our egg retrieval
2) great sunsets
3) crickets chirping at night
4) Chase loving his swim class
5) another great IVF appointment!

Happy Fouth of July (just a little late)

I hope everyone had a fantastic Fourth of July, we spent ours at the beach doing absolutely nothing! It was awesome! We took Chase down to the beach and he loved it. We must have picked up a zillion sea shells and even though they all looked so much alike, Chase loved each one we picked up even more than the last. He is so full of wonder, he makes me feel so lucky. Jeff and his Dad took Chase into the ocean and let him jump the waves. I think he would have done that all day. Even swallowing a mouth full of saltwater and promptly puking it back up didn't deter him! We flew his kite, we splashed in the water, and we dug in the sand. We watched the waves roll in and out and the seagulls fly over us. We saw lots of fireworks, which Chase was thrilled about. But even better than the fireworks was the sunset on the Fourth, Chase pointed out how beautiful it was and I agreed. Yesterday before we headed home we went fishing. I got the best picture of Chase with his very own fish, you can see the joy on his face. I'll have to get it uploaded and posted, so check back soon!

On our way home we stopped so that MeMaw and PawPaw could let Chase pick out a hermit crab. He chose on that has a shell painted like Nemo and decided that in there was only one name that would fit.... Nemo. So Nemo came home with us. We had read that they were not aggressive and did not pinch. Turns out they if your hand smells like popcorn (which apparently they like) and your palm is not tight, they will pinch. We found that out the hard way. Chase was holding Nemo and told us, "I'm so happy!" Then about 30 seconds later he started screaming. Nemo had him and he had him good. I liked to have never got his claw open. Poor Chase was devastated that Nemo "bit" him, but did not want to get rid of him. I on the other hand wanted to throw him on the ground and stomp the crap out of him! We decided that maybe Nemo was stressed out, thought Chase's had was popcorn, and needed a friend. So Duchess went with us to Pet.Smart and let Chase pick out a friend for Nemo and a wonderful habitat. Chase is very excited and has named the new hermit crab, "My Little Crab... or MLC for short." Hopefully we won't have anymore pinching, anytime soon!

On the IVF front I went in on Friday and saw my RE, which was a nice surprise. He was pleased with what he saw, which was a relief after the previous appointment. I'm always so scared that something will happen and cancel our cycle! On Friday my largest follicle was a 14, which is what my nurse had wanted to see on Wednesday. I went in the morning and my follicles must have had a growth spurt over the weekend! We measured 14 that ranged in size from 12-21, with 6 of them being a 17 or 18. That is awesome! We also measured one that was a 10 and then there were more we didn't measure. It looks like my retrieval will be either Wed or Thursday and my transfer will be on Saturday or Sunday. I've said it before, but Sunday is my birthday, so in my book, that's kinda cool. Physically I'm getting pretty bloated and miserable, but I just tell myself that when I'm pg, this will sooooo be worth it!

I am grateful for:
1) my mother
2) a wonderful beach trip
3) good friends
4) summer
5) an excellent IVF appointment!

Mr. Handsome

Today Chase got his new glasses and I must say, he looks so handsome! We didn't pick them up until this afternoon, but he has done so well since getting them. When we picked them out we decided against the kind that wrapped around his ear because they looked terribly uncomfortable and Chase absolutely hated them. Instead we went with a regular pair and then today they bent them enough that they would stay on without a big hassle. I really don't know how to tell if he sees better with them because I never knew he had a problem before. I mean it's not like he was running into walls or acted like he couldn't see. I keep telling myself that he has good vision, it's just blurry. Because really, how the heck do you tell in a 3 year old?? We also went ahead and ordered him a pair of prescription sunglasses because for now, he has to wear his glasses all the time. Since he's like me and hates the sun in his eyes, the sunglasses were a must! I think I'm going to be paying on these glasses forever!




















IVF #4 Update: When I went in for my ultrasound/blood work we counted at least 8 follicles on one side and then saw several on the other. I have one side that is pretty tough to see, so she only measured one. They all measured around 10 or 11mm and they like to see them at 14 by this point, so I was a wreck. I guess my blood work looked good though because I'm staying on the same dose and going back in on Friday morning. I am out of one of my meds, so I'll change to an equivalent that I have (remember we take whatever we can get since we are self-pay). Good news is that it'll do the same thing, bad news is I'm going from a tummy shot to a hip shot and those suckers hurt... and have the 1 1/2 inch needles... ugh! Oh well, it could be worse! I am trying so hard not to stress and focus on this, but boy is it tough! I keep telling myself, it's in God's hands, trust in him!

**I am grateful for:
1) Chase's glasses
2) the prayers we're recieving
3) the short line at the DMV today!
4) our home
5) another IVF hurdle crossed!!!!!!!!

A Big Congratulations to my Cousin, Randi, on her new job!

WTG Girl, we are sooooo happy for you!

I am grateful for:
1) Randi's new job!
2) answered prayers
3) the moon in the sky
4) sleeping toddlers
5) another good day

Sometimes I just want to reach out and slap someone.

I love our pediatrician.... love her! However, I'm not so happy with the actual company right now. Back in March at Chase's well check-up I was told I had a substantial credit and they would just apply it to my bill. Hey, I LOVE surprises like that... until you find out later that they were COMPLETELY wrong! At our next appointment for his lovely ear infection we were told they were changing their billing system over and the would cut us a check for the remainder of the credit. Sounded good to me. Of course when instead of a nice little check I received a bill for way more than the credit ever was, I was not a happy camper. After contacting them I was told the account would be audited and someone would get back with me. Turns out their way of getting back with you is threatening to send you to collections... nice. I mean seriously, how unprofessional is that???? I called and spoke with a representative and she said that they had indeed audited and it were their mistake, a credit never existed. After I expressed my unhappiness she told me that she would make a note I was upset on the account... wow, thanks!

As for our IVF update, another appointment down! I was a little worried when I went in yesterday and was told that my follies are growing, but they need to be bigger. I tend to stim for 11 days and had only 5 1/2 days worth of shots at that point, so I wasn't sure what to think. She said we might up my meds and they'd call me after the blood work. I guess it all came back OK because I stayed on the same dose and I go back on Wednesday. Phew! I was so proud of myself for not asking actual numbers because I know I would start obsessing. I'm trying really hard to not goo.gle anymore because I find myself spending every spare moment on the Internet... not good! Hopefully tomorrow's appointment will go just as well!

**I am grateful for:
1) the Disney Channel
2) happy times
3) faith
4) determination
5) the sunny day