Sunday, February 21, 2010

Home Stretch....

So I went to the doctor today and had some CD2 lab work and ultrasound today. All I have to now is have an HSG to check my tubes and make sure nothing is inflamed or blocked. That is our last test, then we'll sit back down with the doctor and come up with a protocol to start the IVF. EEK!!!

Its hard to believe we are just about ready to start!!! I'm freaking out just a tad, but excited too. Its been 7 years in the making. This process, trying...We are to the point where we can try! Oh gracious. I'm so stoked. (I know this is nothing new but it is so surreal to me.)

So let's see, something else. I'm sick. I caught a lovely cold from all the sickies at work, it started as just laryngitis with 1/2 a voice, but now I just feel crappy and have no voice. Plus, as you can figure out, CD or cycle day 2 labs means there are other reasons I don't feel well. Work has been nuts and a vacation would be nice! HA!

Matt finished his scuba class, he goes for his first ocean dive class on Friday. I'm hoping someone will be able to take some photos so that I can post him under the water. It will be pretty cool!!!

OK my sickie brain needs to go to bed, I'm not making sense to myself! HA. I'll keep you posted as to what is next in this fun process. Thank you for your continued prayers!! Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

An update...

I apologize for not posting this sooner. But I've been processing for the last week and a half! Its quite overwhelming this process that we are heading into....

So we met Dr. K. I like her, she is spunky and honest and straight to the point. But kind and compassionate as well. Which is what I need. Looking at all our old tests and such, she agrees that IVF/ICSI is the way to go. She is happy that we are cutting right to the chase and going for it. She explained what the process entails and what we will need to do before hand to get ready. Basically, aside from surgery, we are doing most of the tests over and also doing a bunch that haven't been done.

Matt went in on Friday and his guys were, ahem, tested, and also had blood work. I too had blood work and cultures to make sure I'm not carrying any STD's or disease that would be harmful to a baby (yea I know STD studies are hilarious for me!! LOL). I had the first round of blood work done on Thursday, including Glucose and Insulin tolerance tests. 21 vials of blood. Yup you read that right, twenty one. And the majority of it fasting and then just a few more at the one hour and two hour point of the glucose test after drinking some funk stuff!! BLEH. I'm glad that part is over...It is the most blood that will be taken at one time. Then on day 2 of my cycle, I'll go in for MORE blood work and an ultrasound to check my ovaries and follicles followed by an HSG a week after that to make sure there isn't any fluid built up in my tubes that could potentially harm an embryo. Then we come together and sit down with the doc and decide the plan...

Part of what they are looking for is to make sure that I'm not going into ovarian failure or early menopause. I need eggs to do IVF, if no eggs, no IVF and our trying for a bio child would be over...So I'm a little nervous about that b/c I know something funky is going on in my system. But if all goes well, nothing needs to be corrected, then we will move forward. She will come up with a IVF protocol for me and we'll start first with suppressing my system, then amping it up and stimulating it to produce eggs. Then the process goes from there.

Its NUTS to think we are heading into this!! EEEK! I've been in a tail spin of emotions ranging from fear to excitement, to even frustration that we "have to go there". I was looking at the financials and it is just irritating to have to spend so much money for something that should be FREE and FUN... One total cycle with this clinic is $15,000. Our insurance pays half, so approx $7-8,000 will be our responsibility. That's a huge chunk of money. For a CHANCE....We don't get that back if it doesn't work...

I am ready to move forward, and I know God has a plan for us, but sometimes I wonder why this is our burden to carry. But please know I'm incredibly grateful for the chance, I'm just not liking going over the books to figure out how to do it...MEH...And I'm scared, just plain old scared. This is a HUGE step for us, full of crazies and chaos and finality. Its a mighty crazy ride we are on!

So that's it for now. Currently we wait for my period to start, then go from there. Continued prayers please!! As we start this journey, and for the finances to work out with as little stress as possible!! If you have any fundraising ideas that are easy, I'd appreciate them!! (And we'll always take donations for the Matt and Talley BABY fund! HA!!!) Have a blessed day in the Lord!