Beta in AM

My first beta with Stella was 208.  At the time I was pregnant with twins.  I'm saying a prayer that I will have a high beta tomorrow morning too.  Stella and I will be at the hospital in Savannah at 6:30 AM tomorrow.  I'll post the results soon after I receive them!

BFP at 6dp5dt

Yes, I made a mistake.  It should be 6dp5dt.

BFP at 5dp5dt

Of course I am still taking tests.  Here's 5dt5dt:



I haven't taken a picture of 6dp5dt yet.  It looks similar to the one above which kinda worried me because I wanted it to be darker.  Darker means my HCG levels are increasing which means a healthy pregnancy!  I haven't tested today (7dp5dt) because I'm out of tests.  I'm going to take one tonight when I get home.  We are in NC celebrating the fourth with our family.  I've got two First Responses waiting for me at home!

My Mom, who has spoiled me all week, made my favorite cake of all: Hummingbird Cake!  It's amazing and even better with coffee (decaf, please!).  I'll post the recipe on here at some point.  You must try it.  You won't be disappointed.

My betas will be on Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 AM in Savannah.  I'll share the numbers so stay tuned!

HAPPY FOURTH!!!

BFP on 4dp5dt

Can you feel the joy?

Here's our BFP from this morning at 4dp5dt...
just like with Stella, 2 years ago...

SEFC is amazing!!!

The Wait

The wait after the FET was really difficult.  I'm writing this after the wait because I've already tested.  That post is coming next!  But I wanted to share that the wait is the hardest part (other than getting a BFN).  You don't want to get your hopes up because what if it doesn't work?  We were given a 40% of success.  You don't want to think negative either.  It's just extremely difficult.  On top of all those feelings, it has already been a long wait...like months.  And to know that you are finally so close, it's just overwhelming!

Back to the wait...

I had a few mild cramps on and off for the first couple days.  I didn't notice them as much the third day.  That kinda worried me.  I tested on the third day and it was negative.  I really tried hard to see a positive in every light, but I couldn't.  It wasn't there!  Other than mild cramps I didn't have any other symptoms. 

Okay, sensitive nipples on the second night.  That's why I tested on the third morning.  Sorry if that was TMI but I would want to know that if I was going through a FET.

I tested again on the fourth day...

Our FET Story

Our first, and let's hope only FET is complete!  The transfer took place on Monday at noon.  We had a normal morning and drive to Charleston.  I made a mistake and took both of the Doxycycline pills at breakfast.  I was supposed to take one with breakfast and one with dinner.  I took the Valium one hour before the transfer.  I had just finished my 32 ounces of water before we arrived.  The nurse took some blood work and then we met with our RE.  He told us that our two frozen embryos survived the unfreezing process perfectly.  He said they both looked great.  He even showed us their "placenta parts".  We couldn't really see what he was talking about but whatever, we were still excited!

Josh and I got dressed in our space suits (as Josh calls them) and we headed to the transfer room.  The nurse got us all set up.  She checked my bladder to make sure it was full.  Apparently they can see your uterus on an ultrasound better if you have a full bladder.  The nurse told us that she had a beautiful picture of my uterus because my bladder was very full.  So we waited for the doctor to come in and oh my goodness, he never came in.  Now remember I had to drink 32 ounces right before we arrived.  I could no longer hold it.  And how are you supposed to hold it with your legs in stirrups?!?!  I told Josh that he had to go find the nurse.  The nurse gave me a cup and told me to fill up the whole cup.  Of course I only filled half the cup because I didn't want to risk anything.  That provided some relief!  So we got all set up again and we waited.  Well of course he didn't come in so I told Josh that he had to go find the nurse again or I was going to run to the bathroom without a cup.  She came back and told me to do the same thing.  I just filled half a cup!  So back to the room again, and our RE finally arrives.  He apologized but I could careless what anyone was saying at that point because I was dying to go to the bathroom.  I tried to relax.  I don't remember having to go so badly last time.  It was pretty painful and definitely not something I ever want to go through again.  I felt like everyone was working so slow.  When our RE told the embryologist he was ready for the embryos I thought he was never going to come in with them.  I almost said "HURRY UP!"  Our RE told me that I was 3 to 5 minutes away from a bed pan when he called for the embryologist.  Finally (after months and months of waiting) our two perfect embryos were placed inside of me.  We watched with excitement (and for me, with pain too). 

Josh in his space suit!

Please excuse this picture -- no make up and awful glasses (that's another post)!

The white spots in the center are the fluids that contain the embryos!

I was finally able to relax!  We said a prayer and then we talked about how amazing it is that there are two embryos inside of me.  Everything about those little ones has already been determined.  It's just amazing and we can't wait to see what our future holds.

Josh made me another bed in the back of Murano like two years ago.  He calls it the "Murambulance".  He's too good for me!  He keeps me laughing during stressful times.  I love him to pieces.  I can't imagine going through this experience without him.

 Chilling in the back of the Murambulance!

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!!!