Vacation

Well we finally made it home Saturday after a 11 hour drive/ride from DeKalb, Il .. we had tons of fun and got lots of Sun.
Sarah and Chris' wedding was beautiful and I totally loved the "Alternative" Wedding March ... the Theme from Indiana Jones ... can't beat that huh??? Sarah is so creative. She had a beautiful gown with red accents and a super duper yummy cake from Truffles... I have to confess I had a piece of both the chocolate and the white... and I don't regret it one bit!!! Chris looked quite handsome in his suit/tux (not sure if it was a full blown tux or not)... but he did look nice and he even cut the long goat off of his chin... Awww the things love makes you do!!! So Joshua was very happy as the best man's son Blane and daughter Morgan was super fun to hang out with even if they were 5-7 years older than him.. he hung with them very well and was almost as tall as Blane who is 9 years old (WOW). Ok well I had to actually keep a close eye on Joshua as he thought since he was hanging with a 9yr old he could do things a 9yr old can do... well "Mommy don't play dat"... I had to rope him in a few times but other than that.. he did very well. We went to the beach (Lake Michigan/Mt Baldy) for a fun day in the sun and a cook out. Joshua and I got some much needed sun and I climed Mt Baldy.. now I did get beat by a 9yr old but hey I freakin made it all the way and was only out of breath for about 15 minutes afterwards LOL Steve of course was the winner.. bragger... but he did good and then video'd the rest of us coming up... Jeremy (best man) came in 2nd and then RAN down and at the very end... face planted and tumbled down... I laughed really hard even though I was out of breath... and yes Steve got it on video... that'll be a CLASSIC hehehe. So after we sunned for a bit, we ate chicken, brats and dogs and played on the playground equipment... fun times... then back to the beach for a bit more SUN. Wednesday I finally got to go shopping at the Outlet mall and got Joshua some clothes for big kid school... which starts in less than 25 days (insert nail biting smiley)... and I also got a few smelly goods for our house at Bath and Body Works.. mmmmm yummy... We also went to Gary, In and no we didn't visit Michael Jackson's childhood home but we did get to see a "RAILCATS" baseball game.. whoo hoo Go Railcats...
So then it was off to DeKalb, IL to visit Laura, John, Jackson and Owen... Owen was less than 2 weeks old so that was especially fun times ... he is such a cutie... slept, ate and pooped most the time but hey... what can you expect from a small fry like him at such an early age... Jackson was totally great.. he is out of his shell and gave us hugs and played very well with Joshua.. He is getting so big, I can't believe he is 3yrs old already... where does the time go??? So while in DeKalb, we took the boys fishing (Joshua's first time), he caught a few fish and just loved it.. he looked like The Beav out there fishing with Steve... so now we are calling him Leave it to Beaver... we also took Joshua and Jackson out to the Golf Course... again Joshua's first time and we only played 9holes thank goodness.. both boys were almost at meltdown mode by hole 8 but we did make it and again.. I got some sun on my nose and arms... whoo hoo. We got a lot of visiting in and it was so nice to see the Pfaff's again... miss those guys already... so we are driving away from Laura and John's house Saturday for our long trip home and I look at Joshua and he says "I miss Jackson" and two little tears roll down his little chubby cheek... it was the most heartbreaking thing I have ever seen. Poor little guy... and the "We made it home" call to Jackson was great.. Joshua says "I miss you Jackson, I had fun playing with you and I love you" How freakin cute is that.. he melts my heart (well most the time at least).
So we are now back home in Tulsa and back at work. Steve is now in my organization at work and learning a new job... I know he can do it.. he is such a smart guy.
So all in all we had a wonderful week away from home and can't wait until mid September when we head back to DeKalb for a few more days of visiting and the "Pod Party".. Owen should be a little older so we can see some of the newborn changes YAHHH... and we promised Joshua that we would stop in St Louis, MO and go in the Arch. I am pushing for some Chicago time too (Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, Sears Tower, Pizza) so we will see.

It's Over...

Well my Hellish cycle has come to a surprising end!!! No not what you think.. we aren't preggers.. but funny thing (if you can see the humor in all of this) I go in yesterday morning to take the blood pg test. So I get stuck, bandaged, and charged $90 to find out if I am pg and low and behold as I am waiting for the elevator at work to start my busy work day... I get a nice visit from my greatest Aunt of all Times... Aunt Flo... yep.. she arrives right on time 14DPO... How crazy is that... such a waste of $90. The nurse did call to confirm it was a negative later that day ... "Oh Really" LOL
Now the weird thing is that the past two times I have been on 200mg of progesterone, I didn't get AF until 3 days after I took the last dose.. so since I took my last dose Tuesday night at bed time.. I was really surprised that she came to visit so early.. But being my greatest Aunt and all I am sure she did it due to my upcoming vacation. she didn't want me to have to go through my entire vacay with her hanging out.. so now I should only have her tagging along for about 3 days of it instead of 5-7... JOY..
So onto the next cycle.. this cycle is the big #24.. yep.. the 2 year mark. I thought I would be super upset about this whole thing but I have come to realize that getting upset about it really doesn't help much.. but mostly hurts more... it just isn't Katie to be so upset over this type of thing.. I am Katie I can do this.. I am Katie, Hear me Roar!!!! So we are going "Natural" this cycle, 1 due to our vacation timing and 2 because I need an "ART" break. I think my body needs a break from all of the meds and poking and proding... I mean come on.. a body can only take so much you know. So we shall see if it works...

today...

well today I am doing ok... still sleepy as all get out... can't seem to catch up on my rest these days... I have been doing better at work at keeping my orders updated... I think since I got 28 new ones all in one day it kinda skeered me into getting my crap in order... Well I have been doing a lot of thinking about all of the baby making crap... I am not sure if we got it this time or not but decided that I am not gonna worry about it... if it happens whoo hooo, if it doesn't so be it. It just wasn't meant to be.
I got my P4 (progesterone) levels back yesterday it was at 10.8 which is higher than the previous 2 cycles but not as good as they wanted it so I am now back on the suppliments... OH JOY... nothing like shooting a little white bullet up your YahHoo every night. the joys of TTC with assistance. So anyway... my next and last test for a while will be the blood pg test on 07/15/09. I am kinda happy it is that day because 2 days later and we are off for vacay.. whoo hoo. I am super excited about Chris and Sarah's wedding and seeing the family.. and finally getting to meet our new little nephew Owen. He isn't here yet but will be very soon.
So that's about it for now... I'll chat back later when I know more stuff or just feel like typing..

...Continued saga

well the nurse called me back on Tuesday finally and advised that I did do the shot correctly in my belly... she was sorry that I had used the long needle and had the pain. "Thanks you are so kind" so anyway I advised about the negative OPK and postive HPT and asked if the shot would still do what it was intended to do (Make me ovulate the 20mm follie on the left) and she said that it would. The reason the OPK came out negative is because they strongly believe that the use to be 34mm cyst really was a huge follie and it ovulated sometime between the u/s on 06/26 and the one on 06/29. She said that they wanted to give me the trigger on Monday to make the remaining 20mm follie on the left ovulate, so I would essentially be ovulating twice this cycle which is not very common. It does occur per Google search but both ovulations occur within a 12-24hr period and in my case it would be a 3-4 days between each ovulation. So anywho, I totally freaked myself out with the whole Trigger Shot shinanagans so I decided that I have to stop doing this to myself, I have to relax and let things happen if they are gonna and if they don't just try to resarch on other methods, medications and ways that will result in a pregnancy that will stick. So needless to say the past few days I have been fairly relaxed and truely excited about our upcoming trips to Arkansas, Indiana and Illinois. My next P4 test is scheduled for 07/08 and my blood pg test is scheduled for 07/15 but I am super sure that I will crumble under the pressure and take an HPT before then. Just praying for a better result this cycle.
Until next time

CYCLE FROM HELL!!!

Ok so from my previous blogs you know I was doing the Follistim injections this time well you may not have noticed the excitement and trust that I had in this medication... I was super excited because I just knew it was gonna work and we would get at least 3 or 4 good sized follies and I trusted that it would do what it was supposed to and put such high expectation in it... well as from my Friday 06/26 u/s and doc appt I am sure you read that it didn't work as it should or at least my body didn't work with it as it should... I had a nice 34mm cyst and 13mm follie on the right side and a 12mm follie on the left side. Well I was told to keep using the Follistim for 3 more days and come back on Monday 06/29 for a second u/s ... welllllll that was yesterday and I get the u/s and the 34mm cyst has shrunk down to 24mm YAHH.. but the 13mm follie that was there also shrunk down to 12mm and looked squished by the cyst.. but on a good note the 12mm follie on the left side soared and grew to an astonishing 20mm YAHHHH again... but bad news the IUI was cancelled because she wanted at least 2 good sized follies. So they say wait to hear the PRN line to find out what to do next. I wait and wait and wait... finally at 4:10pm I get the message that for sure IUI is cancelled, we are to trigger that day and do the deed for the next few nights. Also, she said that my P4 (progesterone) was 10.5 which is better than it has been in a very long time so she said that she didn't think it was a Residual Cyst???? and thought that it would ovulate along with the big 20mm follie... so I am confused beyound believe here... is it a cyst or is it NOT a cyst??? and did she mean the 12mm follie and the 20mm follies may both ovulate?? or that the 20mm and the 24mm cyst not really a cyst will ovulate... so you can see this is bigger than the normal Katie Confusion.. this is some seriously thick confusion crap we are dealing with???? So my plan was to call today 06/30 to get clarification on that ... well that is not the end friends... sit back and relax because this ride is about to get super bumppy baby...
So I go yesterday to take my trigger shot and I being a creature of habit, mix it, spin it, suck it out and inject it in my chubby belly area like I have for the past 2 times I have taken this crap.. well I knew something was a bit different since they needles were the size of an ink pen cartridge but hey.. they are the pharmacy they know what they are doing... so I stick this bigass 1inch needle in my chub, thank God I have enough to pinch an inch.. never thought I would say that but indeed I am happy about that today.... so yeah 1inch needle stuck in my body and I inject the meds... ok.. well the next day (TODAY) I have a super sore belly but expected that since I just used a Rare African "GO GO" Tribe Spear from North Tanzania in it!!! But then I am thinking ok I'll take an OPK just to see a positive.. when you have been trying to get pregnant this long any positive is a glimmer of hope even though you know it isn't real... so anyway.. I take it and uhhh nothing... negative... nada... I freak out and look at the paper that the drug company sent to me and guess what it says to be given intramuscularly (in the muscle), not subcutaneously (in the skin)... so the freak out has quadrupled and I try to hide it but Steve and his super sluth self knew something was up... I told him and he was on my side.. "Why would they give you something totally different after 2 other times?" IDK... I take an HPT just to see if it is in my system.. POSITIVE.. now you would normally think getting a Positive pregnancy test would excite you right?? well I just kinda had a sigh of relief but still confused.
So I stop by walgreens and talk to the pharacist, he says that he believes the meds are in my system and will do what they were intended to do (induce ovulation) but would follow up with my doctor to advise what happened.. SO then while waiting for my doc's office to open I call the drug company that provided the meds.. welllll listen to this crap... the guy (Pharmacists) apologizes and says... "Our distribution center gave you the incorrect needles, the meds should have been administered subcutaneously like the others you have taken" WTF, seriously, I mean SERIOUSLY!!!!! So again he apologizes and says that he believes that the medication should still do what it was intended for but I may experience a little more soreness in the injection site?? HMMMM ya think??? FREAKIN DUHHHHHH it already hurts and I am sure it will bruse (sp) to match the lovely markings I have on the other side of my belly button from the Follistim shot (the 4th one at that)... so now I am in limbo again... patiently (kinda) waiting for the nurse or doctor to return my call on what the HELLO to do about this stupid situation that I have gotten myself into???
Can you see how this is turning out to be the CYCLE FROM HELL!!!!
to be continued.....

Cycle Update

Ok I have been giving myself injections all week and go figure... the 4th day, 4th shot I get a stupid bruise... so now I really look like a junkie... so I freaked out and thought I had a blood clot in my legs and arm... ER visit and $100 co-pay later... it was determined that I was 100% fine and didn't have any blood clots.. so... after scaring myself to death with my thinking... I tried to calm myself by telling myself that I was getting dehydrated... "drink more water and the leg and arm cramps will go away"... "I will not die in my sleep"... so I wake up (yeah I didn't die in my sleep) the next morning give myself yet another shot in the belly start drinking water from the beginning... by the end of the day.. no more leg cramps and arm cramps... I'M A FREAKIN GENIUS!!!! but a genius less $100.00 :(
So after that drama... I finally make it to CD12 Friday 06/26/09, at 8:00am.. time for my b/w and u/s. No drum roll needed, it wasn't that great of an appointment...
36mm Cyst & 13mm follie on the Right
12mm follie on the Left
Uterine Lining lousy 5.3
So I have to wait for the b/w to come back to see if this cycle is OUT or if we can still make it..
1:00pm, I call the PRN line and get the Semi-Good News... my E2 (Estradiol) levels were at 321... so the doc said we are going to ignore the cyst for now and to keep giving myself Follistim 100iu injections this weekend through Monday 06/29/09 and come in at 8:45am for yet another u/s to see if the follies have grown enough to trigger and do the IUI. Now I don't know a lot about E2 levels but from what the internets says levels should be between 200-600 per mature follical (18mm)... so I just did some Katie Math (that is super scarey) and divided 321 by 2 to get 160.5 for each follie I have, but since one is bigger I am sure they aren't the exact same but again.. doing Katie Math... so anyway.. I will take 3 more shots to the belly by Monday's u/s and I just pray to God that it works and the follies grow to at least 17/18mm each. Now I will tell you I am freaking out again so I bought an OPK (ovulation predictor kit) to track this weekend to make sure I don't naturally Ovulate on my own... I am sure I wont until at least Monday but you never know with my crazy body antics.
So I need everyone to Pray for me this weekend... I need those follies to GROW GROW GROW!!! and that stupid cyst to stay as it is or shrink... stupidhead, doodie butt, stinkface cyst.
So there is where I am with this cycle... so we are not OUT, still in the game baby... shooting for a 2pointer.. would be nice if another one popped up and we could score the 3pointer but the likelyhood of that happening is about the same as the likelyhood of me stopping snacks.. ain't gonna happen!!!! Snack-Attacker For Life!!! YEAHHHHH
Alright.. I'm out

I Shot myself!!!

HaHa, pretty dramatic Title ehh??? well I am trying to laugh about this whole thing you know... it isn't your everyday average routine to get up and take a pill at the same time each morning for 5 days and then switch over to injecting yourself every morning at the same time for 5 additional days now is it?
So it all went off without a flaw until I looked at the clock to see what time I had actually taken the injection so to record it and do it again for 4 more days... well I look a the microwave and BAMM!! it is already 6:15am... I just freakin got up at 5:00am.. put the meds out (of the fridge), jumped in the shower, got out, dried off, cam back into the kitchen and started the daunting task of the "1st Shot" .. always the worst and I am glad it is over.. well so then I go to the computer and take a look at the time... 5:27am WTFreak???? apparently our microwave thinks it is above everyone and can just jump ahead 50 freakin minutes and it be OK. NOT... it will be moved back!!!
So all in all the shot went well. I did exactly like the instructions said and everything... so I have now successfully given myself my very first FSH injection.. whoo hoo.. now let's just hope this crap works and this is all worth it in the end...
GROW FOLLIES GROW!!!!
out