Spring Break '07

Well, this is our first cycle that we will actually be trying to make a baby. Today is CD5 (Cycle Day). We have the sperm, we have lots of doctors, we have the loving support of our families, we have the money, we have each other, and now we are waiting on two things: 1. the egg 2. the timing. That's it.

Egg should be here about CD 16+. Hopefully, it will get here on a weekday which just makes everything easier....weekend inseminations are a little tricker with our clinic. Other than that we are ready. We have talked about everything and we continue to talk about everything we can think about.

The excellent news is that it is finally spring break! Woohoo! We are both educators so this is like Christmas all over again for us. A full week off with no students and no lunch duty! Very exciting for people like us. It takes a few days to actually start relaxing. I told M last night I have one request for this break...I want to drink a lot ...since I might not be able to drink for a long time (which I am totally okay with....).

So, we are off on a great spring break adventure.

E-

just doing the normal stuff

• laundry
• grocery shopping
• lunch with friends
• yard work
• cleaning the house
• making dinner
• walking the dog

all the while thinking...next month we could be pregnant...next year we could have a baby.

waiting, waiting, waiting....

m

let the countdown begin

It felt for quite a while like we were in a holding pattern. We had done almost everything on our list of things to do to get ready to start trying. Then, E had the looooong cycle and we were afraid she had a lazy ovary and we'd have to try every other month or something. Now, the lazy ovary has perked up and the loooong cycle has made it possible for us to start trying next month. Initially, we were trying to get pregnant "at the best possible time." Since we don't know how long it will take, we decided to start ASAP. I am not getting any younger. So, it looks like next month is a go.

The doctor's appointment this morning was excellent. They have just finished reconstruction on the clinic we go to, so everything was fresh and new. (Unlike the other clinic in town, where we met the doctor in the basement.) The staff is excellent...very friendly and informative. As E said, we didn't know she was going to have the ultrasound. I always feel protective of E, but especially today when she was naked and a little uncomfortable. Physically, this will all be on her. She will watch and feel her body change. I will eat sympathy ice cream. I wonder how protective I'll feel when she's carrying and having our baby...

m

P.S. While waiting in the doctor's office this morning, I saw a mini-fridge that said "no food or drink." The snow has melted, so NM, I assume the stuff is in the fridge.

Healthy

Wow. What a day. We both took off the morning and I greeted the day by walking the dog and enjoying not having to be up and at work by 7:15 a.m. I came back from my walk and enjoyed a lovely morning with M. We then were off to the doctor's office.

I thought this visit was going to be quick and boring. I anticipated a basic physical exam which would allow me to keep all of my clothes on. The nurse said they just wanted my vitals. There was some basic paperwork and insurance forms to be completed again because we hadn't been there since December. I now have double insurance, so I was happy to give them more information on who should pay for this...:)

So, we go in with the perky nurse Kathy who was great. The vitals were completed and the instructions were that there would be a pelvic exam...which means...lose the clothes. So, I did. Then Kathy brings in Shelly who must be something more than a nurse. Shelly explains that they are concerned that they don't have an ultrasound. It isn't required, but since we pay a crap load of money for each try, it is worth the investment in the procedure. I am all for it. I want to make sure it is all working before we start throwing money in there...

So, the normal pelvic and then the wand ultrasound. A little unpleasant feeling, but not at all painful. What is so cool is she explains what we are seeing on the ultrasound...

Uterus: good size, thick lining, healthy
Right ovary looks perfect, round, has follicles on it, good size, healthy
Left ovary: humm..well, "what day are you on your cycle?" I answer, "Day 26, but I just ovulated a few days ago..." Shelly, "Oh...that is what I thought...do you see that clump...that is the [insert medical term]..where your ovary pushed out the egg....you just ovulated with this ovary..."

It was awesome. To see and hear that your parts of there and working is a relief. It doesn't guarantee anything, but at least we know that we are starting out with a great shot. I am very grateful. When I return to work and saw my best friend she goes, "So, are you still a girl?" what friends I keep...heheeh

So, overall it was great. We are all ready to start. It is all about timing from this point on....any advice?

E-

Better late than never

I think I ovulated. If I would have programmed my damn ClearBlue Easy monitor right I would know for sure. I hit the "M" button way too late in the day on the first day of my cycle. This means I have been holding my pee until 6:35 a.m. every flipping day for 12 days. But, with daylight savings time moving up (what is up with that -- makes me nuts) I knew there was no way I could hold it until 7:35 a.m. And, no you can't re-program it once you enter it until the next cycle.

So, maybe Mother was right. The lunar eclipse threw off my cycle.

We see the fertility doctor on Wednesday for a brief meeting. We might start trying next month. We shall see.

E-

Speed Bump

So, any woman who is interested in having a child begins to understand how fertility works. Since we know the sperm works, the burden falls on me to make sure my body does its part.

My part is quite simple. I must ovulate. I must convince one of my ovaries to let go of one of those little daring eggs that I have been carrying around since my own prenatal state. Now, I know that for the last 20 years I haven't needed any eggs, but currently: I do.

Our journey to discover when I ovulate started in August of '06 as a joke. We went to the drugstore to buy cheap test strips to make sure my equipment was working. Apparently, it wasn't. I peed in cups for 10 days and nothing. So, we bit the bullet and bought a Clear Blue Easy Fertility monitor on ebay and some test strips.

In September we tried it and I peed on a stick every morning for 20 mornings. On day 16 I ovulated. Woohoo! October I ovulated on day 19. Then we ran out of strips and the holidays were coming and we weren't going to worry anymore because I was ovulating.

January came around and I began my morning ritual of peeing on a stick and I ovulated on Day 16 AND that evening I felt a pain in left side that I assumed was the ovulation sensation. The fertility monitor measures LH which is a hormone that surges about 24 hours prior to ovulation so I was very excited that it worked so well.

February rocked as well. I think I ovulated around day 17, but I felt the same sensation that evening only on my right side. When I went to my new doctor (the one I love) and she asked about my cycle I said, "I am like clockwork."

Famous last words.

March: Today is day 19 and nothing. zip. zero. low. nothing. What the hell? I have always in very in tune with my own body. I get that from my mother who taught me to listen to my body and be in tune with it. She thinks I am ovulating late due to the lunar eclipse. That could be true, but I would be surprised. I think I have to test for one more day...

So, what does all this mean? I have no idea except that if we are here in April when I ovulate we might start trying. We are both ready. We are just waiting on the egg at this point....

E-