The Birth...

MY GOODNESS!

This post is shamefully (SHAMEFULLY) overdue!!!!!!!!

So.................a lot happened since my last blog post...

A lot.

We had some amazing baby showers thrown for us, I experienced my first "almost" Mother's day (it's not official until I have the baby right?) and then there was the early arrival of our baby.

LOL!

Official due date was May 31st....but this little one decided May 15th worked better.

It's now 3 MONTHS later and I'm just now getting the chance to sit down and document the experience.

DISCLAIMER:  I'm not leaving anything out...so if you think a birthing story is going to freak you out...stop reading now.  ; )

May 12th:  We have an amazing Baby Olympics themed baby shower at our house.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  Our friends are seriously the best in the world.

May 13th:  We go to my sister-in-law's house for a family Mother's day brunch.  It was fantastic!  As we left...some of the family mentioned that I might have a baby the next time they see me.  I laugh, thinking this is not very likely as most "first" pregnancies tend to go past the due date.

May 14th:  I go to work and feel some Braxton Hicks contractions.  I'm uncomfortable but not overwhelmingly so.  I don't think anything of it...finish up my 8 hours and go home.  That evening Jody and I talk about what labor might be like and whether or not we're ready.  We both mention that we've both been told going into labor is nothing like in the movies.  "It's never quick" they all tell us.  We start naming off our friends that had to be induced because their water did not break naturally, etc.  We watch an episode of Game of Thrones and go to bed at around 10 p.m.

May 15th:

2 a.m.:  I wake up feeling a sudden warmth "down there" and immediately jump out of bed thinking I'm actually wetting the bed at the age of 32.  I want to run to the bathroom but I don't want to leave a trail of yuck on the carpet so I just stand still, shouting to Jody at the same time "Jody, something is happening!"  He jumps out of bed and turns the light on and I tell him I've either peed myself or my water just broke.  He rushes to me to examine the liquid and we see that it has a pink tint.  Jody quickly brings a towel to me and starts cleaning up the puddle I've left on the carpet while I dash to the bathroom.  I start to feel something similar to menstrual cramps and decide to get in the shower to rinse off and alleviate the cramping.  

2:10 a.m.:  Jody asks how I'm doing and I tell him that the cramping (I realize at that time that I'm having contractions) is getting a little more intense and that we should probably start keeping track of the contractions.  He immediately pulls out his contraction chart from his Daddy Boot Camp book and starts recording length and intensity.  After a few contractions he shouts to me in the shower that they seem to be 2 minutes apart and he calls the hospital.  I don't hear the conversation he has with the on-call nurse because I'm distracted with managing my breathing during the contractions.  Jody comes back into the bathroom and says we're going to the hospital.  We joke about how we were LITERALLY just talking about labor the night before and how most of our friends had to be induced, etc.  We laugh....a lot.

2:20 a.m.:  We pack into the car and start heading to the hospital...unsure if we're actually having this baby or if I'm experiencing some kind of crazy false labor.   I realize at the moment that I still have morning breath so I pop a piece of gum into my mouth and offer one to Jody.  I text my Mom that we're on our way to the E.R. because my water has broken and she texts back "Ok, don't panic" which coming from my Mom was HILARIOUS because she worries so much (LOVE YOU MOM!).  ; )  I call her so she can hear my voice and know everything is fine and then I send an email from the iPhone to my supervisor that my water has broken and I probably wouldn't be in to work that day.

2:40 a.m.:  We arrive at the E.R. (after some confusion about which building we were supposed to enter) and my contractions are getting a little more uncomfortable.  We walk in and the receptionist asks if I need a wheelchair to get to the delivery ward...."no, I'm fine" I say and we continue walking.  We get to the elevator and suddenly my contractions are quite intense.  As we get to the delivery ward I'm now doubling over in pain when a contraction hits.  It would start like a normal menstrual cramp, tight and painful...and then intensify into a wave of jagged hot lava rocks being twisted around in my body.  It hurt.  It hurt so much that I ask for an epidural on the spot.  Jody looks surprised.  We'd had the conversation a few times around whether or not I'd like to try a natural birth.  "I guess it will just depend on my threshold for pain" is how I would always end the conversation.  I look at him as I breathe through another contraction and he understands I really do need it.

2:45 a.m.:  The nurses try getting an IV started for me and are unsuccessful 4 times.  My contractions are getting even stronger.  I have a death-grip on Jody's hand and he continues to tell me I'm doing awesome.  I don't feel awesome at this point.  A nurse checks my progress and says I'm already 5 centimeters dilated.  The group of nurses seem a little concerned at this point because they still haven't gotten an IV started. 

3:00 a.m.:  Contractions continue.  I lose track of time.  We can hear another woman in the next room pushing with everything she's got.  It sounds like there is a team of nurses with her, encouraging her to keep pushing, shouting at her that she can do it.  My whole body aches for her and I will her to be OK.  She screams and screams and suddenly I'm frightened.  I'm going to reach that point in the near future.....holy crap.

3:30 a.m.:  My contractions seem like they're one on top of the other and I'm trying to understand why I haven't gotten an epidural yet.  The pain has gotten bad enough that I want to cry.  Finally a nurse gives me the bad news....

It's too late for an epidural.

I close my eyes and zone out.  If I'm going to do this naturally, I need to be in a good place.

A nurse named Theresa introduces herself to me and says she's been called in to assist with my labor and delivery. My eyes are still shut so I have no idea what Theresa looks like, but she has a kind voice. She tells us it's a very busy night. She asks me a lot of questions that I'd already answered with the previous nurses. 

I continue trying to zone out.  I think about home.  I think about how long and hard we've worked for this baby and how amazing it will be to meet him or her.

I continue concentrating on my breathing with Theresa offering me words of support directly into my ear (she could see my eyes were going to be shut until this baby was born).

I was so, so grateful to know Jody was by my side the entire time, but at this point he couldn't help me and so Theresa was the only voice that existed.

"You are amazing....you've got wonderful control of your breathing, here comes another contraction so lets breathe-breathe-breathe-breathe and relax....."

4:00 a.m.:  I'm in so much pain I just want it to be over.  I want this baby out.  But almost every mother I know had long, hard labors and I feel slightly defeated thinking about how much longer I'd need to endure this pain.

I start to feel faint.  I say that aloud.

"I need you to listen to me Amanda, you're doing great, but you're hyperventilating and that's why you feel like you're going to pass out.  Breathe with me....."

Thank GOD for this nurse.

I suddenly feel like I have to pass the biggest bowel movement in the history of bowel movements...

"Something is coming out, something is definitely there..." I say.

Theresa checks my progress...

"OK, you're at 9 centimeters, you're going to have to push now.  Someone get Dr. Gordon."

It was the most uncomfortable and frightening feeling....knowing you'd have to push a baby out of your vagina.

I mean, obviously I knew that's how this was going to happen....but once I felt the baby at the gate.....ready to push through....I was terrified.

Theresa could see/sense that I was terrified...

"Listen to me.  You are doing a phenomenal job, you have no idea.  I am so, so impressed.  Honestly.  Now you're going to have the urge to push soon, but don't push unless we tell you too.  I promise you, pushing is going to feel better."

My legs were lifted into the dreaded stirrups....let me tell you....EXTREMELY uncomfortable.  My body just didn't feel like it could adapt to that position at that time.

"Ok PUSH-PUSH-PUSH-PUSH and relax..."

Seriously people?  Relax?  

"PUSH-PUSH-PUSH-PUSH and relax..."


We'd reached a vicious cycle of pain, push, pain, push.

Theresa lied to me.

It did NOT feel better to push.

Birthing a baby was once described to me as like pushing out a ginormous poop.

I don't know if it's taboo to talk about or if perhaps other women did NOT feel this statement accurately described child birth, but yes....that's EXACTLY what the pushing portion of child birth felt like!

I continued to push...

I reached my breaking point when the Doctor and nurses wanted me to continue pushing after I'd already given that particular push everything I had...

I could feel the baby's head pushing through.....but it hurt so much...

I pushed so hard my head felt as if it would explode, I didn't have an ounce of oxygen left in me and my entire body shook uncontrollably....and they shouted to keep going....

I don't know if I started to cry, but I wanted to.

I didn't have anything left.

"ONE MORE PUSH!!!!"


I pushed once more as if my life depended on it.

I felt the baby break through and heard Jody shout, "OH MY GOD" and thought....please let that be a good "oh my god".

A second passed.  I didn't hear anything.  I still hadn't opened my eyes.

"It's a boy!"

Pain, relief, fear, exhaustion, happiness....every emotion came crashing down on me as I finally opened my eyes and saw our little baby and heard his strong, adorable cry.

He had a full head of black hair.

His eyes were the most amazing shape and depth.

His nose...was my nose.

He looked so....Asian!  LOL!

Jody cut the umbilical cord and the nurses gave baby a quick rub down before putting him to my skin.

"Holy crap" was all I could think to say.

I was amazed........absolutely amazed we'd done it.

We made a baby...

he was finally here.

And then he peed on me.

; )

Fat and Happy

As promised in an earlier post....here are a few photos from our amazing sister-in-law-in-law Stephanie Yonce.

Such an amazing gift!!!

Infertility is a bitch. Let's tell the world.

It's National Infertility Awareness Week!

What is that you ask?

It's simply a week to raise awareness of an invisible disease that affects so, so many people...like me.

Before my husband and I started the process of seeking medical help for our journey....everything was hard.

Seeing friends become pregnant was hard.

Going to a baby shower was hard.

Hearing the wonderful news of a birth was hard.

Watching a nature show was hard.

Going shopping was hard.

Holidays were hard.

Nephews birthday parties were hard.

Going to work was hard.

Truly enjoying ourselves was hard.

We waited much too long before getting help.  But there were reasons for that.

Infertility (no matter who is at fault, the man, the woman or both) is a cold disease.  It can wear you down quickly, build you back up with one good appointment and then rip your heart out with a negative test result.
It not only strains your body, it strains your marriage, your finances, your other relationships...and your soul.

Treatment was not a conclusion we could have jumped to lightly.

We knew it would test us.  Test our patience, test our commitment, test our trust, test our hope.

This is why it took 5 years for us to get through the door of our infertility clinic for our first appointment.

At 35 weeks pregnant thanks to an IVF treatment with ICSI, it's surreal to sit here and think about where we were 5 years ago....where we were even a year ago.

As part of Infertility Awareness Week, NPR hosted a panel on the Trials and Tribulations of Assisted Reproduction  (http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-04-23/trials-and-tribulations-assisted-reproduction) and it both broke my heart and lifted my spirits.

If you listen to the replay, at 29:40 one of the panelists says "you're experiencing infertility in a largely fertile world"...it made me remember how truly alone I felt in a massive, massive world...because everything around me seemed to be reproducing....except me.  My family members, the birds in our yard, the ridiculously gross-looking spiders on the Discovery channel........everything.

I remember feeling so alone (even though my family, friends and husband loved me incredibly well) that I wanted to just run away and disappear.

I know people that are at that stage now......they've admitted it to themselves that they are infertile....and they're not quite sure how to proceed....but they are sure of this....they feel incredibly alone.

I want so badly to be a resource for those that have questions about this disease...but I also know you can't force this information onto someone that isn't ready to receive it, or isn't willing to accept it.

We have many wonderful friends that helped pave the road for us by being open about their infertility experiences.  I can never thank them enough for that.

I only hope I can return the favor by being open about our story and possibly helping to pave the road for someone else.

I've said it before and I'll say it again....

Infertility is a bitch. 

Let's tell the world.

Operation Jellyman Kelly: The results are in...

DISCLAIMER: Any blog posts titled "Operation Jellyman Kelly" will no doubt gross you out. These posts will describe our current treatments for infertility...so if you have a weak stomach or don't know how you'd have a conversation with me in person after reading this....stop reading now. ; )

This two week wait was so entirely different than with any of the IUI’s.
 
With IUI’s you’re putting the sperm in the same vicinity as the egg(s) and hoping for a party.

With IVF…you’re starting the party and hoping it lasts.
 
For two weeks I lived life as if I had a growing miracle in my belly.
 
I ate healthier.  I rested more.  I thought positive thoughts.
 
But there was an underlying strain of fear and disappointment that kept creeping in….kept making me think I was just “pretending” all of this.  That this hadn’t worked.
 
The morning of my first blood test finally arrived and I was thrilled and terrified.
 
I’d never made it to a test date with any of the IUI’s….so this was an accomplishment.
 
But I was terrified of the results.
 
I had to go to work that day and the nurse told me to expect a phone call by noon at the office.
 
I tried my hardest to stay focused on work.
 
At 11:45 some of my co-workers invited me to go to lunch with them.  I didn’t want to get this call while I was out with others in the event of bad news and my breaking down.  But I really didn’t want to stay in the office and freak out until the call came either.  
 
I called the Dr.’s office to see if perhaps they had my results early.
 
To my absolute dismay, the office had already closed for lunch.  I’d have to call back at 2 p.m.
 
TORTURE!!!!!!!
 
I went to lunch with my co-workers and we talked about my anxiety.
 
So many things were going through my head.
 
Were they waiting to call me later in the afternoon because it was bad news?
 
Did they decide not to call me at work because it was bad news?
 
We got back to the office and I tried calling again.
 
Still closed for lunch.
 
My husband called me minutes later to find out the results.
 
“I don’t know, they haven’t called.”
“Really?  It’s almost 2 o’clock.”
“Really.”
 
Just then, call waiting.
 
It was the Dr.’s office.
 
“I gotta go!”
 
I hung up on my husband, answered the call and bolted for the nearest open conference room.
 
“Hi, it’s Kim.”
 
She didn’t sound happy.
 
My heart sank.
 
“Are you at work?”
 
My heart sank further.
 
“Yes.”
 
“Ok, well we got the results…”
 
Not breathing………….
 
“It’s good news.”
 
Silence.
 
“Test results were positive.”
 
“No way!” I shout, breathing again.
 
“Yes!  Congratulations!  So you’ll need to take another test in a few days…”
 
I didn’t hear the rest.
 
I felt a wave of emotions crashing over my head and I just held my breath, hoping I didn’t drown.
 
I hung up and immediately called my husband.
 
“Hello?”
 
“I’m sorry I hung up on you, it was the Dr.’s office calling on the other line.”
 
“I figured.”
 
“It was positive.”
 
“Are you serious?”
 
“Yes.”
 
We spoke for a few more minutes, I hung up and stayed in that empty conference room and let myself cry for about a minute.  Then I got myself together and went back to work.
 
When I got home that evening, I took a home pregnancy test….
 
I wanted to see that word I’d been longing to see for so, so long………

Our test results a few days later also came back positive.

Then we had to wait another two weeks before our very first ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy was viable....

and guess what.....

One of our embryos held on and implanted in the right place.


And there was a heartbeat....


We're officially a GO for PREGO!!!!!!!!!!!

Operation Jellyman Kelly: And then there were 3…

DISCLAIMER: Any blog posts titled "Operation Jellyman Kelly" will no doubt gross you out. These posts will describe our current treatments for infertility...so if you have a weak stomach or don't know how you'd have a conversation with me in person after reading this....stop reading now. ; )

We got a wonderful call from Nurse Valerie a few days after transfer saying our 3 remaining embryos reached blastocyst stage and looked fantastic!!!

She said she always tells her patients it's all about quality, not quantity.

Our embryos will be frozen and kept for future use.

So if this cycle doesn’t work, we can try again without having to go through the entire process of injections, hormones, etc.

Talk about relief!!!!!!!!!

Operation Jellyman Kelly: Embryo Transfer

DISCLAIMER: Any blog posts titled "Operation Jellyman Kelly" will no doubt gross you out. These posts will describe our current treatments for infertility...so if you have a weak stomach or don't know how you'd have a conversation with me in person after reading this....stop reading now. ; )

When we left the IVF clinic after egg retrieval we were told we’d be given a report the next morning on the status of whether or not any of our eggs fertilized.

It was the most dreadful wait of them all.

There would be no guarantees here.

Sometimes eggs fertilize.  Sometimes they don’t.  Even if they’re being forced to fertilize…it doesn’t mean they’ll survive.

I tried to sleep the wait away.

But I still couldn’t help worrying that perhaps this cycle was for nothing.  Perhaps we wouldn’t even get to the transfer.

And then the phone rang.

“Hi!   it’s Valerie. “

I hold my breath.

“It’s good news.  Five of the nine eggs fertilized!”

And breathe.

“Dr. T will monitor and see how they do over the next few days and will call you on day 3 to let you know when we’ll do a transfer.”

She gave me a few more instructions and asked how I was feeling and told me to continue resting the next few days.

I don’t remember most of what she said though.

I was just thrilled that we’d made it to the next level of the process.

And then that excitement turned to dread when I realized I’d have to wait another two days to see if we’d really get to the next level.  Our five precious embryos would have to develop correctly you see…otherwise they would not qualify for a transfer.

The next two days were hell for me.

I kept thinking our embryos would die and this would all be for naught.

I again tried sleeping away the wait.

And then it was the morning of September 11^th.  Day 3.  I woke early, hoping for the best.  I showered, got myself ready….just in case.

And the phone rang.

“This is Dr. T.”

I hold my breath….again.

“I think we’ll go ahead and do the transfer today.  You have all the details that Valerie provided?”

I tell him I do.

“Ok, see you at 11.”

Dr. T is not a talker.  It was very awkward speaking to him on the phone.  Even more awkward than in person….but the man knows what he’s doing, so I don’t mind.

I tell my husband we’re a go for the transfer and he asks how many embryos survived.

OMG.

I didn’t even THINK to ask.

I was just thrilled we were moving on to the next step!

I tell my husband I didn’t ask and that we should go with the number 1 in our heads.  Let’s assume 1 embryo survived (since you need at least one for a transfer) and if we find more survived, we’ll be happy and excited.   

My husband accepts this plan.

One hour before transfer, you have to drink a ridiculous amount of water so that your bladder is as full as possible.  This apparently helps the Dr. visualize your uterus via ultrasound.

I’ve had dear friends go through this process…and both mentioned the full bladder for transfer was the most uncomfortable part of the entire IVF process.

Lie; they did not.

Dr. T came in and showed us a photo of the two healthiest looking embryos of the 5 that were STILL ALIVE and told us he’d be transferring them both.

My husband and I were ecstatic.

The embryologist wheeled our embryos in, verified they were ours (awkward!) and we were off and running.

Thankfully, the procedure was quick.

I was instructed to lie on my back for 30 minutes and the nurse told me I could try to hold it or she could get me a bedpan.

I’d never used a bedpan before.  I told her I’d try to hold it.

And 30 seconds later I sent my husband running for a bedpan.

Embarrassing?  Sure.  But soooooo worth it.

I lay there for 30 minutes, holding my husband’s hand, starring at the ultrasound monitor where we just watched our two precious embryos enter my uterus....still thrilled that we transferred two good looking embryos and still had 3 more.   Now we just needed those 3 to survive to blastocyst stage so that they’d be eligible for freezing.  If we’re able to freeze them….we have another shot if this cycle doesn’t work.

In no time we were back home and I was on 2 days of strict bed rest.

And then  the two week wait………

Operation Jellyman Kelly: a sort-of update....

I just wanted to give everyone an update (sort of) without going into details because it seems our "going dark" has concerned some of our family and friends....

We're still doing ok throughout our Operation Jellyman Kelly process.

We have no news to share right now but please know that we're extremely thankful for all the loving prayers and thoughts you've continued sending our way.

It's a very emotional time for us and we're so grateful to have each and every one of you in our lives.

We're also very grateful that you've all respected our wishes in not asking us for any "news".

Thank you again and we'll talk soon.

Operation Jellyman Kelly: To be continued...

DISCLAIMER: Any blog posts titled "Operation Jellyman Kelly" will no doubt gross you out. These posts will describe our current treatments for infertility...so if you have a weak stomach or don't know how you'd have a conversation with me in person after reading this....stop reading now. ; )

If you keep up with this blog (or me for that matter), you know I'm extremely open about our infertility journey.

I will talk about it night and day if it helps spread awareness and makes someone more mindful of how they speak to people affected by infertility.....but alas....I'm part of a team....and the other half of this team is not as open as I am.

So....from this point out....Operation Jellyman Kelly is going radio silent until we have some good, bad or inbetween news to share.

I understand it's extremely selfish to keep you so informed and then disappear like this....but it's the only way to allow ourselves just a little bit of privacy for a typically pivate matter. 

I know you all understand...because we surround ourselves with the best of people.

Please know that when we're ready to share.....we absolutely will.

We love you all so so much and thank you in advance for your understanding.

To be continued............... 

Operation Jellyman Kelly: Egg retrieval

DISCLAIMER: Any blog posts titled "Operation Jellyman Kelly" will no doubt gross you out. These posts will describe our current treatments for infertility...so if you have a weak stomach or don't know how you'd have a conversation with me in person after reading this....stop reading now. ; )

Nine eggs.

Dr. T was able to retrieve nine eggs, which I don't mind telling you, really disappointed me.

He'd led me to believe I had between 10 and 20 follicles...but when it came down to it....9 is what we got.

I won't lie.....I was hoping for more because I felt more would give us better odds of fertilization (even though I know that's not true).  And it's not Dr. T's fault.....he thought he saw what he thought he saw.  But for some reason I'm still disappointed.  My belly was SO full and uncomfortable......I just truly felt there were...more.

Number of eggs aside, I'm happy to report the experience itself was absolutely amazing.

I didn't know what to expect when we arrived at the IVF Center, I just knew I was starving and uncomfortably full of follicles and walked in like a woman trying to shoplift a watermelon between her legs.

We were immediately greeted by the receptionist who exclaimed she felt she knew us because of all the paperwork and insurance claims she'd filed on our behalf.

We waited approximately 1 minute before a nurse opened the door and greeted us with the biggest of smiles, immediately comforting me.

Once we reached the door she introduced herself (Sandy) and grabbed my hand and started telling me how much they were looking forward to having us and if I needed anything to let her know.

As we walked back to the room we'd be based in Sandy introduced us to other nurses along the way and swung my hand up and down like she was showing off a new best friend.

She was a blessing to me at that very moment.


When we got to the room we could see they took great care in making sure both husband and wife would be comfortable.  I would spend the entire time in the comfy hospital bed and my husband would get to lounge in the lazy boy (complete with massage features).


Once we were settled in the room Sandy walked us both through the process and time-line of our visit while collecting vital signs and medical history.


And then we met Frank the anesthesiologist and he got my IV started.

Sandy and Frank have apparently been working together for 15 years or so and it showed.  Their playfullness was key to my relaxation.

Sandy warned my husband that most patients try to take Frank home with them at the end of the day because he's adorable...and he's got the goods (the drugs that is). 


In fact, Frank did tell me while he started my IV that if he starts getting better looking then he's given me too much!  LOL!

Frank gave me a little something as a "test" to see how I'd react to the drugs and the next thing I knew...they were rolling me into the operating room.


Frank said that I'd still be awake while they attached the EKG, etc. but that I would be asleep soon after that...

but I don't remember them hooking up the EKG.


I'm such a lightweight.


I woke to Sandy's voice asking how I was feeling.

According to Sandy and my husband, I said I was feeling fine and continuously asked if we played bumper cars with the hospital beds.  I must have asked that because the last time I was in a hospital bed (for my laparoscopy) I vividly remember the nurses bumping my bed into the wall and a shelf just before going under for my surgery.  


I remember Dr. T coming into the room and telling us they got 9 eggs.


And then according to Sandy and my husband I asked if my stomach ate some of the follicles during the retrieval because I was so hungry.


I wasn't in too much pain thanks to Frank and a wonderful heating pad and had the best nap ever tucked securely into my hospital bed.


Before I knew it, I was getting dressed and being wheeled out to the car.


I slept the rest of the day.


Today I feel much more bloated and have limited mobility...I don't know how some women are able to go to work the day after a retrieval! 


Anyhow, we're halfway there.


Thanks for all your continued well wishes and good thoughts!!!!!

Operation Jellyman Kelly: X marks the spot

DISCLAIMER: Any blog posts titled "Operation Jellyman Kelly" will no doubt gross you out. These posts will describe our current treatments for infertility...so if you have a weak stomach or don't know how you'd have a conversation with me in person after reading this....stop reading now. ; )

We're triggered!

During yesterday's appointment I had one of the nurses draw an X where I needed to get my trigger shot.

My husband did a fantastic job of hitting exactly where he needed to with as little pain for me as possible.  (I know he hit exactly where he needed to because of the one drop of blood that collected after the shot).  ; )

While the shot was relatively painless....it was still pretty scary seeing my husband go from handling a Lupron needle (shown below on left) to handling a 23 gauge (shown below on right)...

And while the trigger shot was what I was most worried about...it turned out the last Lupron shot had it in for me.....

I noticed the shot stung a bit more than usual and didn't think anything of it....

until a small bruise started forming....

and then that bruise turned black today (which apparently happens to plenty of women so it's not a concern, just a pain).

Ah IVF......thou art thou heartless bitch.  ; )

So I hope to be alert and well enough to update everyone tomorrow after egg retrieval...but lets be honest...I'll be drugged....so you may not get an update for a few days.  ; )

Until then my friends!

Operation Jellyman Kelly: All Clear

DISCLAIMER: Any blog posts titled "Operation Jellyman Kelly" will no doubt gross you out. These posts will describe our current treatments for infertility...so if you have a weak stomach or don't know how you'd have a conversation with me in person after reading this....stop reading now. ; ) 


Appointment this morning went well!

Dr. T said my follicles were plentiful and ready.

We are a GO for Thursday egg retrieval.

I do one more Lupron injection tonight as well as the dreaded trigger shot (the long needle).

And then....I'm DONE with injections for this cycle!

More to follow.............

Operation Jellyman Kelly: Shots, shots and more shots

DISCLAIMER: Any blog posts titled "Operation Jellyman Kelly" will no doubt gross you out. These posts will describe our current treatments for infertility...so if you have a weak stomach or don't know how you'd have a conversation with me in person after reading this....stop reading now. ; ) 

I'm happy to report Friday's appointment went well!

Dr. T measured 6 "good-looking" follicles and said there were more but only measured the biggest of them.

This was a huge relief as I was very concerned my body wouldn't cooperate with all of these drugs.

The night of the appointment we started our third injection (Menopur)...so we're up to three injections a night now.

Lupron, Gonal-F and Menopur.

I must admit....3 shots a night....not.......fun.

Of all the shots, the Menopur actually hurts the most.  Not sure if it's because there's so much of it that needs to be injected....but man it burns going in.

Last night we had our first mess-up with the shots and put too much sodium chloride into the Menopur powder.  It doesn't affect anything except it made MORE liquid to inject which meant twice as much burning/stinging.  =(  Not pleasant.....but we got through it.

Tomorrow I have another appointment to make sure everything looks good and I'll find out if we're a go for Thursday egg retrieval.

Wish me luck some more!  ; )