Frostbite in June

So I was determined to make my shot painless this morning.  I took one of Stella's boo boo ice packs and placed it under the waist line of my shorts.  I left it there for 20 minutes, and actually kinda forgot about it.  I took the ice pack off right before Josh gave me the shot.  We both died laughing because my skin was hard, like you could knock on it.  LOL!  He gave me the shot and for the first time ever I didn't feel a thing.  I was like, YAY, the ice pack worked.

Well, this afternoon I noticed that the injection spot was itching, like really bad.  So I felt and it felt hot and puffy.  OMG!  I have a perfect, bright red, puffy rectangle on my upper back side!!!  It looks scary because I don't have a tan this summer.  So it's really stands out.  I freaked out and started googling ice pack burns, and here's what I found...

"Burns to the skin are usually associated with heat, but severe cold can damage your skin in a similar way. If you have ever used an ice pack to treat muscle strains or sprains, avoid direct exposure of the ice pack on your skin. The freezing temperatures of a cold pack directly on your skin can produce localized areas of tissue damage called ice pack burn, or frostbite. Prevent ice pack burns by placing a towel or cloth between your skin and the ice pack

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/122286-treatments-ice-pack-burn/#ixzz1QFCexkwU

Crazy, huh?  So don't ever make the mistake I made this morning.  LOL!

PIO Shots HURT!

I've never had a problem with any of the shots I've taken for fertility treatments.  They have never really hurt.  But OMG, PIO shots hurt!  I'm reminded of them every minute of every day because I'm sooo sore...like seriously sore!  I feel it when I bend down, sit down, walk up stairs and sometimes when I just walk.  We've done the ice thing and that definately helps with the needle, but what helps with the soreness?

Not only does the soreness remind me of the PIO shots, but it also reminds me of what we have to do to get pregnant.  It's just not fair!

Transfer Date

Josh and I went to Charleston for our monitoring appointment this morning.  The ultrasound was first.  My lining was 9.3!  The ultrasound tech said that was just perfect.  When I saw and heard the good news, my fears went away and hope rushed in.  My blood work was next and then we met with our favorite nurse.  She talked to the doctor and set the date and time for our transfer: Monday, June 27th at noon!  We are so excited.  It feels SO good to actually think I could be pregnant soon. 

My Mom is coming down to take care of Stella.  We are so lucky!  Stella is lucky too.  She loves her Granna. 

So this time next week I will be 2 days past a 5 day transfer.  I got my first BFP with Stella at 4 days past a 5 day transfer.  Say a prayer!

Oh and guess what?  I started my PIO shots tonight.  Josh and I were nervous wrecks.  I'm not sure why because we've done many shots together in the past.  But it's been awhile...two years!  After about an hour of reviewing instructions, debating and watching youtube videos on PIO injections, we did it!  It didn't hurt that bad.  It's a little sore.  I'll take two shots a day until the transfer.  Then I'll take one shot in the morning and a suppository at night until I'm 9 weeks pregnant!  Crazy, huh?  I didn't have to take PIO shots with Stella.  I just did the suppositories.  Whatever!  I can handle it because it's worth it.

Please send congrats to Erin at Hoping for our own Peanut!  She just got two BFPs tonight.  I am SO excited for her.  We've been in touch lately because we are both doing FETs this month.  We conceived our first babes through IVF in 2009.  She has given me hope!

Correct Protocol

I deleted that last post because I so had my escalating Estrace protocol messed up.  Here's the correct version (if you are going through a FET and are interested):

CD 1 through 4 - Estrace 1 mg in AM and PM
CD 5 through 9 - Estrace 2 mg in AM and PM
CD 10 through 12 - Estrace 2 mg in AM, mid day and PM

I'm on CD 10 and these days are going by so slow.  I'm ready for Wednesday's monitoring appointment.  I'm also getting really nervous because omg, what if it doesn't work?

BTW I'll be 27 tomorrow!!!  Crazy!!!

Stella's First Birthday Party

I want to share a few pictures from Stella's first birthday party.  I love getting party ideas from Mommies that blog.  We did a barn yard/farm animal theme.  Josh was really excited about the idea when I first mentioned it to him.  So that's one reason we went with it.  I thought it would be fun for girls and boys. 

The party was everything we wanted for Stella.  It was fun celebrating her first year with our friends and family.  I am already looking forward to her second birthday party.

"The finish is a masterpiece!"

Yay!  I made it through three weeks of bc pills.  The weeks went by quickly which was nice.  Now we must wait for me to start a new cycle.  Hopefully a cycle that gives us another child and gives Stella a sibling!

Josh and I had all the papers signed, notarized and sent in last week.  We made the big payment this morning.  Ugh!  So let's just hope all goes as planned.  It does make me sick to my stomach to think about that amount of money going down the drain if we do not get pregnant.  But like Josh reminded me, "Yes, it sucks but this is way the have to do it.  The finish is a masterpiece!"

Josh and I celebrated our five year anniversary last Friday night.  It was special.  We went out to dinner at Carrabbas.  We ended our night with a walk on the beach.  I love Josh so very much!  I couldn't have a better husband and best friend.  We've been through a lot together and it's only made us stronger and more in love with each other.  We are blessed.

Baby in a Box, Again!

My box of meds arrived for baby number two yesterday!  When Josh walked in with the package, I thought, what's in that box?  I haven't ordered anything.  So we opened it up to find all this fun stuff:

It's amazing how different this journey has been compared to our first IVF experience.  Two years ago I would have known exactly when that package was supposed to arrive and what it supposed to look like.  It's nice having a more relaxing experience this time around.  My life with Stella keeps me so busy that I do not have time to worry, plan everything just perfectly, etc.

So in the box, I found a million of these needles:

Scary but whatever, I can handle it.  They are for the progesterone in oil shots.  I didn't have to take those with Stella.  I just took the suppositories.  But the suppositories are in there too.  So I guess I'm taking both this time?