About Us

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After an 8 year battle with infertility and countless struggles, our family is finally complete. This blog chronicles the journey it took for us to start and build the family we always wanted. Background on the blog (started in 2012, just days before I found out the embryo transfer for our son worked).... I decided to start a blog after realizing I have only been able to make it through my TWW's (two week waits) with the help of Google and with the openness of other women suffering from infertility sharing their own stories and giving others hope. I have time and time again found my exact symptoms on other women's blogs and felt an overwhelming sense of calmness they provided me. I thought it was time to pay it forward and hopefully provide this same thing to other women on their own journeys.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

FET #2 underway

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Because of the holidays, I skip my baseline and self medicate by taking my estrogen pills.


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Semen analysis

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike's analysis shows:
  • 11.6% motile (normal 50-100%)
  • 18.3% normal form (normal 30-100%)
  • NO white blood cells found

Monday, November 21, 2011

11dp5dt beta (4 days early)

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Beta comes back at only 6.  I am told to cease and desist all medication.  This cycle is a bust.  I take it better than my first failed cycle.  Guess it gets easier each time.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

10dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Sadly the next morning my test line was still very faint.


Saturday, November 19, 2011

9dp5dt +HPT!

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

So I really wasn't planning on POASing (peeing on a stick) this cycle but I woke up in the morning from a dream induced orgasm.  I thought it was for sure a sign!

Turns out it was (very faint positive):


Friday, November 18, 2011

8dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: final light brown spot in the AM.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

7dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: still lightly brown spotting.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

6dp5dt

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Symptoms: started spotting (brown and light).  Hoping it was implantation bleeding.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Embryo transfer

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Embryo transfer went well.  1 of 3 blasts are thawed and assisted hatching is performed.









Friday, November 4, 2011

Progesterone shots

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Start progesterone shots today.  With my IVF I used suppositories so this whole shot in the butt thing is new to me.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Baseline check

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Baseline went well.  FET #1 is a go!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

FET #1 about to start

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

I again prayed for my period to start so I could start my first FET.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Our video on Redbook.com

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Redbook is doing a piece about infertility.  http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/dealing-with-infertility

My husband and I submitted some videos about our woes to Redbook and they were selected to be on their website:  http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/infertility-video-series?click=pp#v1212312908001


Friday, August 19, 2011

Semen analysis

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike's analysis shows:
  • 33.2% motile (normal 50-100%)
  • 27.2% normal form (normal 30-100%)
  • white blood cells found

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Started acupuncture

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

I've read acupuncture really helps IVF success so I've started seeing Maki at the Hamor Health Connection.  (Though the photo below was from a different woman who I only went once to but scared the crap out of me.)



Thursday, August 11, 2011

Turned 30 two days after negative beta

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Turning 30 two days after my negative beta was a really rough experience for me.  Had a little melt down with hubby in the middle of the driveway, but luckily my dog Digbee consoled me:




Tuesday, August 9, 2011

14dp3dt - beta test

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Get my blood drawn at 7:30 am.  Never got the call so hubby had to call the clinic around 4:00 pm.  It's a negative result.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

12dp3dt - home pregnancy test

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

I've decided to POAS (pee on a stick).  I got a BFN (big fat negative).  Not holding out much hope for beta.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Embryo transfer

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Our first embryo transfer was a very emotional experience.  We ended up having 5 good embryos on day 3.  2 of which were transferred (1 of the 2 has a picture below) and 3 were frozen (on day 5).









Sunday, July 24, 2011

Fertilization report

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

17 retrieved
12 mature
7 fertilized

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Egg retrieval

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

The egg retrieval procedure was interesting.  It took me a while to come to off the drugs.  They retrieved 17 eggs.









Thursday, July 21, 2011

HCG injection

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

The HCG shot was a huge production.  My mom, a retired nurse, came over and administered it right on time.








Friday, July 15, 2011

Internal ultrasounds and bloodwork

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Ultrasound checks and bloodwork checks on 7/15, 7/18, 7/20, and 7/21.

Here's a bruise from one of the blood draws:


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Follistim starts

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Start 100 on the Follistim pen.



Monday, July 11, 2011

Baseline check

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Baseline check and bloodwork go smoothly.  I'm a go to start taking Follistim starting the next day.

Friday, July 8, 2011

First time I ever WANTED my period to start

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

I actually WANTED my period to start so I could get my baseline ultrasound and get the show on the road.

Monday, June 27, 2011

IVF #1 underway - lupron shots begin!

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

First lupron shot administered!






Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Pre-IVF testing (find a blocked tube!)

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Lauree:

  • Blood: AB+
  • TSH 1.96 (normal 0.40-5.50)
  • Hysterosalpingogram shows normal uterus but the left fallopian tube is completely blocked
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone 3.7ng/mL (normal 0.0-6.9)
  • No STDs
  • No hepatitis
  • Negative for cystic fibrosis gene

Mike:
  • Blood: A+
  • No STDs
  • No hepatitis
  • Negative for cystic fibrosis gene
  • Semen analysis: 33% motile (normal 50-100%)

Meeting with RE from Cleveland Clinic

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Met with Dr. Cynthia Austin of the Cleveland Clinic.  Wonderful woman.  Put out minds at ease about IVF.  Discussed how IVF works and said she wishes all her candidates could be as perfect as me.   Decide to being IVF protocol if all the tests come back normal (which they do).

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

What next appointment with OBGYN

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.) 

After speaking with Dr. Weibel, we decide to look into in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Monday, May 23, 2011

IUI #3

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Sperm parameters pre-wash:
  • volume: 3 milliliter
  • count: 28 million
  • % motility: 20%
Sperm parameters post-wash:
  • volume: 0.35 milliliter
  • count: 1 million
  • % motility: 60%

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Mike's bloodwork is normal

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike had bloodwork to determine if there may have been anything else going on and it came back normal.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Semen analysis

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike's analysis shows:
  • 7.9% motile (normal 50-100%)
  • 17.3% normal form (normal 30-100%)
  • 47% live (normal 50-100%)

Saturday, April 23, 2011

IUI #2

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Sperm parameters pre-wash:
  • volume: 4.5 milliliter
  • count: 142 million
  • % motility: 40%
Sperm parameters post-wash:
  • volume: 0.34 milliliter
  • count: 4 million
  • % motility: 90%

Monday, March 21, 2011

IUI #1

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

IUI went ok.   I just remember being super duper excited that we were finally going to achieve pregnancy.

Sperm parameters pre-wash:
  • volume: 2.5 milliliter
  • count: 5.2 million
  • % motility: 50%
Sperm parameters post-wash:
  • volume: 0.35 milliliter
  • count: 1.96 million
  • % motility: 80%

Monday, February 21, 2011

Talking about IUIs

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

We met with Dr. Weibel and decided with the small improvement in Mike's sperm we should go ahead and try intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Semen analysis

(My blog started on 1/25/2012, but I have gone back and added our entire journey up until that point.)

Mike's analysis shows:
  • 14.2% motile (normal 50-100%)
  • 19.1% normal form (normal 30-100%)
  • 25% live (normal 50-100%)