Wow.  Back in April I was going to try to blog more- and I got that one entry in.

So many times I think about stuff that I should blog about.  Maybe just to get off my chest- but maybe to see if anyone wants to chime in on whats going through my head.  I have to admit that I like an outside perspective sometimes- I have a habit of being a  little narrow-minded or maybe melodramatic sometimes and I need a little reality check, a little grounding.

So I am hoping to blog more.  And unfortunately – for now- it might be a bit whiney.  Feel free to tell me to get over it, or not.

Okay- so it’s been a while since I last posted, much has happened but mostly stuff I got moody about and I’m sure moody pregnant lady posts would get real boring and obnoxious after a while; I have gotten very good at whining- at least to myself!

Most recently we painted the Nursery- a pretty “pastel sage” color (okay it could pass for lime sherbet but we’ll just play along).  An old high school friend came up to visit and helped Hubby paint; actually he primed and painted- hubby just did a bit of touch up.  My old high school friend also brought up a number of things for us.  We now have an antique rocking chair- the seat of which I will recover.  Also there is a beautiful antique highchair- that is lacking only that little seat belt type strap.  Then there are also the two strollers, the manly diaper bag for hubby, the pile of clothes his friends pressed upon him to bring and a tiny porcelain trinket box with Katie’s first piece of jewelry- a dainty little signet ring.  Oh- and a few noisy toys (thanks!)

While my friend was here we discovered a great children’s consignment shop in Conway- in addition to the Yours Truly stores that are here- its called A kids Dream.  We got 7-8 outfits for $25.00, including some of THE cutest Tommy and Ralph Lauren dresses- things I would not be able to afford at their “new” prices.

We also got our first registry gifts delivered via UPS- the diaper bag I wanted- and the bouncy seat- both awesome and bound to be used frequently.

Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y

I also heard late last week that my wonderful friend from college- who has experienced her own battle with infertility, finally got their “referral”- meaning that they have finally been assigned, for lack of a better word, a child to adopt from China; a beautiful baby girl, who is at this time 7 months old.  The baby was abandoned on the doorstep of a nursing home and taken to a local orphanage. Her name is Yue Mei Xue- I think that’s how it’ spelled- Yue (“last name”)is the name of Yugan (city she was found), Mei is beautiful, Xue is snow, on the day when she was admitted into the orphanage, it was snowing.  They plan on calling her Samantha and keeping Mei Xue as her middle name. Congrats to them- they have been waiting three years for this darling little girl. (see the blog “yearning for a child” in my blog roll for more about my friend)

Amnio on tuesday….

Healthy….baby…..GIRL!

I am always tired.   Usually I wake up and lay in bed the last 15 minutes beforemy alarm clock goes off.  This morning my alarm clock woke me up.  I know I am supposed to be tired but, man- I’m really tired.  I also think I’m kind of a wuss.  I mean- sure Iwent through the whole IVF process, needles and all- but the morning sickness – not that I’ve even had a lot- and the tired all the time- I was not made for this.  I have a gut of steel (well mild steel maybe) and it has always been a point of pride that I can get by on 5 hours of sleep, in fact I do better with only 5, maybe 6, hours of sleep- but these things have been challenged, seriously.  Oh, and don’t get me started on concentration, and memory issues- a Friend of mine talked about “pregnant head” to explain some of her ditziness during her pregnancy.  I am now a believer.

On another note; I have not gotten around to looking for a pregnancy diary/organizer.  No idea if I prefer the more delineated “organizer” type or if I prefer the jornaling type. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to go peruse the isles of Barnes and Noble at some point.  Until then…

I promised a gambeson to Hubby- yet another gambeson.  The one I made most recently had a serious flaw- the outer shell fabric was completely the wrong fabric.  I have no idea how that happened.  I had thought it was a more “fine” fabric, but I just wanted to get the thing done and thought it was Hubby’s attempt at spiffing up his kit- but you just look at the thing sideways and the fabric tears.  SO-  Duvant Defender ( I may very well have butchered that) is Father’s day weekend, and I have- I think he said it was 11 days to get a new one made.  boy, I shot myself in the foot.

We broached the subject of prenatal testing this week.  Sometime in the next few weeks (June 10th) we will be having the Nucal Translucency scan with the accompanying blood work- where they measure, via ultrasound, the thickness of the back of peanut’s neck – at least that’s how I understand it (actually have found out that it measures the fluid in that area).  This measurement can help identify possible Downs Syndrome (or other chromosomal abnormalities)- the results are much more accurate if the blood work is done at the same time, although I haven’t really read up on it enough to know exactly what they are testing/looking for. 

I did some looking around online to see if I could find a “schedule” of prenatal testing but haven’t found anything that wraps it all up nicely for me.  I will probably have to print a list and then sit down with my sister who used to be a prenatal genetic counselor- I’m sure she could tell me exactly what is what and whether we should bother.   I came across some tests that really worry me- CVS for example- Chorionic Villus Sampling- where they take a sample of “stuff” (tiny villi- villus?) from the inside of the placenta- read as INVASIVE;carries a risk of miscarriage.  This test is akin to an amniocentesis- but can be performed much earlier.  Anyway- I think you get the point- its kind of freaking me out a little- especially since we have come so far just to get here.

And if we discovered  that this lil peanut was in fact a downs baby- I don’t think much would change.  I would be devastated at first- sad that our baby was not be 100% healthy in the terms that we are used to, but I would definitely start learning about raising a kid with downs before he/she came into the world and would be a proud parent regardless.  I don’t think hubby would have an easy time coming to terms with it.  But I understand men have a harder time with stuff like that.

I have to admit: I have not started any kind of pregnancy diary.  I am not quite a quarter of the way through my pregnancy- so I still have some time but Iam stuck trying to decide if I should just keep a journal- in a blank book- or if Ishould buy a fancy pregnancy organizer/diary that will “lead” me through the process of journaling the events of my pregnancy.  On some leavel I would like to scrapbook the events- from all the fertility “crap” and the OB visits and some of the cards and e-mails I’ve gotten to all the physical manifestations, etc…  I also know that if I rely on this method of “historical documentation”- I will never have a record of my time as a pregnant woman!  Did any of you mom’s out there keep any kind of diary/record of your pregnancy?  and those of you who are expecting- do you or will your keep a diary of some kind??

came across this in a post and thought I would share

Show of your IVF baby in one of these….

This morning there were 8 eggs, 3 of which were “immature”- I have to keep reminding myself that 1 is all it takes!  I know the “sweet spot” is 10-15 eggs and I am frustrated that I am falling short- especially since my baseline day 3 U/S showed 11 eggs…

I will have to wait until this afternoon for the lab results but the Dr estimated that I would go ahead and stim for 2 more days and then get the trigger shot Monday for a Wednesday retrieval ( I think that’s how it works) which means Saturday or Monday are potential transfer dates (either 3 day or 5 day transfer).

 At this point all I am really looking for is enough quality eggs to survive the process so that we will have a good shot at this cycle and at least 1 frozen cycle if we need it.  It has been really helpful to read and be a part of an IVF support board (through iVillage), it’s nice to hear about other peoples experiences and be able to vent and ask questions knowing that these gals are going through it all too.  I do know a few folks who have shared this experience who may end up hearing from me…

 Speaking of which, to those folks who have been through it- what did you do during your two day “bed rest” following the transfer?  Hubby read somewhere that it was 2 to 3 days so I have a feeling I will be placed on hubby enforced 3 day bed rest!

Hi guys, I started the stimulation shots last night- I have had a headache all day, but can’t tell if its from the shots or becasue of …(allergies, stress, other cycle hormones)

Giving myself the shots has not been as hard as I expected and I’m so pleased/relieved about that. 

I’ll let you know whats going on thursday afternoon, after my labwork and U/S.

 Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Well, Gulf Wars is over and we had a blast.  Both Hubby and I had “stunt livers” because we were not supposed to drink and I think they had a lot of fun too….

Now that we are back- its back to the IVF business.  I had labs and an U/S Tuesday and the BCP did their job and all is on track- which means I start shots tomorrow morning.

I will be starting the Microdose Lupron protocol.  Apparently, because I am “older” now- or at least that’s how I understand it (please someone correct me if I am wrong) the microdose lupron does not shut my system down quite as much as the regular lupron protocol.  I think if they shut it “way” down it might not respond when they want it to…?  anyway- whatever the case I will be starting Microdose lupron shots in the morning.

Monday I get to add in the gonadotropins- specifically Bravelle and Menipur- which I will take only in the evenings.  The following Thursday I have labs and an U/S again so that they can check my progress.  I think at that point they check me every other day to see how my eggs are doing.  They indicate that most often the retrieval follows on Tues, Wed or Thursday (April 1-3 in my case.)  I am excited and nervous, cross your fingers for us, and please pray or light candles or do a dance- whatever you do- we would appreciate it! 

If this attempt is successful we will have a Christmas time due date!  What a gift that would be.