One Viable Mini !!!

We just got back from our first u/s, and we are THRILLED to announce that everything looks perfect so far. This is the best first u/s that we have ever had. The gestational sac was in the uterus, just as it should be. The CRL (crown to rump length) was 2.92, which is great. We even got a HEARTBEAT!! I am currently 5 weeks and 6 days along, so to get the heartbeat was a bonus and a very good sign. The RE is pleased with all of my numbers and with this first u/s scan. He sees no reason to be concerned, which makes me very happy. We will be back to see the RE on January 8th at 8:45am for a second u/s to make sure that the fetal growth is progressing normally. Keep all of the prayers and good vibes coming...they have definitely worked thus far!

We will add the picture of our first u/s as soon as we are able to get it scanned in...so, stay tuned!

No More Betas!

Sorry for the delay in providing updates, but our clinic was closed on Wednesday afternoon, and Matt and I spent Friday trying desperately to travel from IL to PA...on ice. We finally made it to Matt's sister's house after 11 hours on the road. The trip should have only taken 7 hours. Fun!

Well, the results from our 4th beta draw were delievered to us yesterday. Our beta on Monday was 1748, and it climbed to 4322 on Wednesday. It more than doubled over a two day period, so the nurse was very happy. Given how high my numbers are now, they are not going to bring me in for any more beta or progesterone tests. My nurse scheduled me for our first ultrasound on Tuesday at 3:45pm. This is a very early u/s (one day shy of 6 weeks gestation), so we were told not to expect much. The RE would just like to make sure that the pregnancy is in the right place (uterus versus tubes) and that my ovaries and all look ok. It would be a BONUS at this point to see a heartbeat, but it is a bonus we would love to get. If nothing else, we would just like to know that the pregnancy is measuring as it should for that date.

One more little victory...and yet another important step coming up. Tuesday will be a big day for us, one way or another...so keep those prayers and happy thoughts coming our way! We hope you all had a great Christmas and that Santa was good to you!

Beta - Bing!

Today was our third official beta HCG test. Once again, the RE would ideally like to see our numbers double over a 2 to 3 day period. Our last results were 501, and today's results came back at 1748. Obviously, the levels are still rising at an appropriate rate, which is great news. Another little victory to be celebrated. One more big breath of air that we can sigh. Hopefully there are many more little victories to come!

I was given the option of going back on Wednesday or Friday for a repeat draw, and since the lab is closed on Friday, I opted to go back on Christmas Eve. I will not have those results until Friday, though...and we will be on the road for a good part of that day, so I will update when I get the first opportunity. Keep all of the happy thoughts and prayers coming our way.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!!

Officially Official Part Deux

Today was our second beta HCG test. As previously mentioned, follow up b/w is done to make sure that my HCG levels are rising appropriately. The RE would ideally like to see the levels double over a 2 to 3 day period. Well, we more than doubled in a two day period. Our second beta came back at 501. My IVF nurse coordinator is very pleased with the numbers thus far. I return to the local Quest lab here in IL on Monday for continued follow up. Yet another hurdle that has been jumped...still many more to come...

Officially Official

We got the call from the nurse around 11am, and it was a positive beta. The HCG levels were 185. According to one chart, my levels at 14 days past egg retrieval should be between 95 and 223 (for a singleton pregnancy). So, they were right in line. In the past we have had either very low levels (10) or very high levels (400+ and 2500+) to start, so this was much more in the "normal" range. We feel good about that. Cautiously optmistic we move along. My next beta test will be Friday, so we will keep you in the loop. Hopefully the levels will increase properly, and we can continue to move on to the next hurdles.

Sneak Preview

So, tomorrow is our big day. I will have my b/w done first thing in the morning, and the nurse will call me with the official results by 4pm. We will be hitting the road in the morning starting our way to Chicago for the holidays. Tomorrow we will make it as far as Matt's sister's house in the Pittsburgh area. The following day we will drive the rest of the way to my parent's house. We are driving so that Batman can spend the holidays with his mommy and daddy, as it should be!

Given that we will be on the road tomorrow, and I am not sure exactly when I will be able to update the blog (hopefully in the early evening), I won't keep you all in complete suspense. Apparently (as you can see from our photo above) it would seem that we are pregnant again. Now...don't go getting too excited for us just yet...as you all know this is only the first of many steps necessary to yield a successful outcome. Cautiously optimistic would be a good way to sum up our state of mind and our situation for now.

The first important step for us is having a good beta HCG level tomorrow. From there I will have to have follow up b/w while in IL to make sure that my HCG levels are rising appropriately. After that will come the all important first ultrasound at approximately "six weeks" gestation where the RE will look for the number of pregnancy sacs, the proper "parts", and a fetal heartbeat. So, still a long way to go even in just a short period of time...

Continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward with this next phase of our journey.

Just checking in with our loyal followers....

See, isn't the wait impossible?? Doesn't it seem like it takes forever?? Sigh... Well, the wait will finally be over this Wednesday, December 17th. That is when we have our official beta HCG test that will give the quantitative results from the blood draw. Right now we are sitting back and hoping for our Christmas miracle...a BFP (big fat positive). We do know that a BFP is only a first step on a long road for us, but we cannot give up hope. Keep the happy thoughts and prayers coming our way. We welcome them all!

Progesterone Check - 3dp4dt

Today is 3 days past my four day embryo transfer, and I had to go in to the clinic for my progesterone test. It is done by a simple blood draw. The test is done just to see that you are producing an ample amount of progesterone to support a pregnancy IF you are indeed pregnant. They want the levels to be at least 10, but really look for them to be 20 or higher. The nurse told me that my levels were "awesome". She said that they came back at 100 (or higher, since their test maxes out at 100). She also mentioned that the gel that I am using to supplement progesterone production is only showing up in trace amounts, which means my body is producing all of that progesterone on its own. Good news! Then again, we usually get "good news" and are still yet to have a baby...but I suppose we will just keep on accepting it. Maybe this will be our lucky time??? That is all we can hope!

Cryopreservation Report

Got good news this morning...we found out that TWO of our embryos made it to the blastocyst stage and were of good quality, so they were both cryopreserved. If we need to do another cycle we will be able to do a FET (frozen embryo transfer) instead of another fresh IVF cycle. The FETs are far less invasive...much fewer shots, much less monitoring, much less stress on the body in general. It is very nice to have that option in our back pocket. Let's just hope we DON'T need that option in the near future!

Tomorrow morning I go back to the clinic for my progesterone b/w. I will know in the afternoon if all is fine on that count. I am sure it is. I have never had an issue with progesterone levels in the past.

Transfer Day - Fertilization Report Day 4

Today was the big day for us. We went into the clinic, me toting my full bladder, for the embryo transfer. We had two "great looking" embryos put back. They were at the morula stage, which is exactly where they should have been today. Above is a picture of a morula stage embryo (image kindly borrowed from the web). We still have 3 or 4 more embryos that continue to grow and divide, so there is a good chance that we will have some to cryopreserve. They will call us on Tuesday with the final cryo report.

I am now at home starting my two days of bedrest. I can sit up, but my legs must be up and stretched out on the couch. I am not allowed to do any cleaning, lifting, vacuuming, nor anything of the like, during my wait for my pregnancy test. Matt is already taking great care of me...he is out getting groceries and buying more wood for the woodburning stove.

I must go back to the clinic this week (Thursday?) for blood work to check my progesterone levels. They want to make sure they are at the appropriate levels to sustain a pregnancy in case I am pregnant. I then go back on December 17th for the official beta HCG pregnancy test. So, lots of excitment prior to the holidays. That day is the same day that we will hit the road for Chicago. If I do get a positive pregnancy test, I believe they would have me do follow-up HCG tests at a lab in the Chicago area. We will see when and if it comes to that!

Below are pictures that were requested by my friends. I went out shopping yesterday for an outfit for transfer. I knew that I wanted the "grow" t-shirt, as it is only appropriate for supporting our embryos as they come home. Well, I ended up getting the full gear for bedrest, too (socks and sweats...and the scarf to get me to and fro the clinic). So, friends..enjoy!

Thanks again for all of the support and encouragement during this cycle as it has meant so much to both of us. And, keep us in your happy thoughts and prayers over the next 10 days! For now we are thrilled to once again be at the stage that we have our minis back "home", and we can just sit back and hope for the best!

Fertilization Report - Day 3

Well, I am "stuck" at home today while everyone else is out at the Army v. Navy football game...boooo! Still, I know it was the right decision for me to stay home and rest. I am feeling better again today, but I get pain in my ovaries when I go to sit down or stand up. A little tender with walking still, but overall...I am in much better shape today!

Received the daily embryo update from the nurse, and we have SIX that continue to divide and grow. We are set for our embryo transfer TOMORROW at 10:15am. My instructions are to empty my bladder at 8:15 am and then drink 18 oz. of water at that time. We are to arrive at the clinic by 10 am. We will probably be transferring back two embryos. I am hoping that we still have some good ones left over to freeze...3 to cryopreserve would be great. Wishful thinking never hurt, right? All I know is that the minis will be "home" tomorrow. I will be on bedrest all day tomorrow and all day on Monday. After that, I can resume all normal "light" activities. Sadly for Matt, though, I will not be allowed to vacuum!

We will update everyone tomorrow after transfer and also when we get a cryo report! Send some happy thoughts our way...

Fertilization Report - Day 2

The nurse called just a minute ago, and ALL SEVEN of our embryos continue to divide and grow. That is FANTASTIC news! We know that we will NOT be doing a three day transfer, which is great! When they call tomorrow they will have a much better idea when transfer will be. We know that it will take place either Sunday or Monday for sure.

I take my last antibiotic today, and I also started with the crinone (progesterone) gel and the medrol (anti-inflammatory steroid) this morning. The crinone gel will be used every day until the pregnancy test. With a positive pregnancy test, I would need to continue the gel through the 12th week (something we have sadly never seen before). The steroid is just a five day course. I can tell you that it tastes horrible! I need to remember to take it very quickly as to not have the taste left on my tongue! The gel and steroid are both taken in addition to my daily prenatal vitamin. Estrace will be added the day after transfer.

I am feeling better today. Not great. Not my usual "normal" self. But, better! I will take that for now. I am guessing that I will be in good shape by Sunday. Sadly, I think that I will not be attending the Army / Navy game tomorrow...the game that we have been looking forward to for so long. I just don't think I will be comfortable enough standing / sitting / walking for that amount of time. Matt and I think it would probably be best for me to stay relaxed in a warm environment. (Sigh)

And, so we continue on....

Fertilization Report - Day 1

Still having a bit of a rough go this time around. My arm hurts, but I think the swelling has gone down for the most part. I am having bad aches and pains, I did not sleep well at all, and I am just trying to muscle through. Nothing that I am feeling is out of the realm of the common or ordinary, but it still doesn't mean that it is fun. Onto the good stuff, though...

My IVF nurse coordinator Kat called, and she said that of the 11 eggs that were retrieved, 7 fertilized normally. They had one that fertilized abnormally, so it is "out". There is still a chance that one or two more could fertilize late, and there is always the chance that a few could drop out of the race altogether. So, we wait again until tomorrow's report. Seven is a good start, though, so we are feeling optimistic at this point. We are hoping that the embryos continue going strong so that we will qualify for a 5 day transfer on Monday. That will mean things are looking good, and it will also give my body more time to heal prior to the transfer.

ER Day

Just stopping by for a minute before I lay back down. They were able to get 11 mature follies / eggs today. I will get the fert report in the morning to see how many fertilized. Feeling a little rough. They had a problem with my IV...anesthesiologist had a tough time finding a vein. He eventually did after about five tries. Well, when he went to "put me to sleep" I wasn't feeling anything, and my arm hurt. Turns out the IV wasn't really all the way in my vein, so a ton of fluid just went into my arm. He had to start a fresh IV in my left hand. Anyway, my right arm is all swollen with fluid now and feels sort of funny. Can't wait for that to clear up. Even though they gave me anti-nausea meds, I ended up feeling sick when we got home. Barely ate a half bowl of soup and then just slept for 2 hours. Doing a bit better now, but still in some discomfort.

Actually, starting to feel sick again...so, must go..

Monitoring Appointment #3 - Triggering Tonight!

I went in for my third (and final) monitoring appointment this morning. I guess the upped dose of Follistim did the trick, because I will be "triggering" tonight. I do not know exactly how many potential follicles I have, but my best guess would be a minimum of ten. There is still time for more to grow and mature, so we just never really know what we will get until the day of retrieval. When the nurse gave me all of my instructions today, though, she said that this was a "good" cycle...whatever that means!

I must set my alarm for just before midnight tonight, because the Ovidrel (triggering meds) injections must be given at an exact time. I must give the injections AT midnight because my egg retrieval is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, exactly 36 hours after the trigger. The Ovidrel will help the follicles reach maturation points and then be ready to be released (ovulation).

Starting today, I must take a five day dose of an antibiotic. I am now done with the lupron (suppresion) and Follistim (stimulation) injections. Yay! I am not allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight on Tuesday, given that the ER is done under light anesthesia. On the day of the retrieval I will take a pillow, blanket, and warm socks with me(they really are patient friendly at this clinic!). I also have to take some additional meds with that will be administered via my IV (one is an antibiotic due to my history of endometriosis and adhesions / the other is an anti-nausea med). I have to arrive at the clinic on Wednesday at 11:30am. Matt must be there for his "big show" (sperm collection) and to drive me home. We will be there for at least 3 hours. It is a big day...and it is now right around the corner!

The date of our egg transfer (ET) will be dependent upon the number of follicles that fertilize and produce embryos, and then how those embryos are progressing. If we have a decent amount of embryos that are progressing normally, then we will be able to do a 5 day transfer. If there are not a lot of embryos that survive and progress well, then a 3 day transfer will be in order. We will just have to wait and see how it all unfolds.

Monitoring Appointment #2

Early morning RE appt. the day after Thanksgiving! It is nice because Matt has the day off and was able to go with me. The best news is that I had my regular RE today, and he was able to quickly locate both ovaries. I have at least 7 medium size follicles that are looking good, and at least 9 other follicles that have the ability to catch up. Dr. Van Deerlin feels that we will have a "good harvest". He is upping my Follistim dose in hopes of getting the smaller follicles to grow, grow, grow! Of course, I do not have enough meds to get me by...and the specialty pharmacy is "closed" today...so, I am hoping that we can still work out a delivery of my refills by Monday. That would certainly be nice! I am waiting to hear back from my IVF nurse to see what the protocol is in this situation. I am sure it will be fine.

I go back to the RE on Monday morning for more monitoring. We are getting closer. I will trigger in the first half of the week (probably) and should be having ER by the end of the week. This could all change on a day to day basis, though, so stay tuned!

Monitoring Appointment #1

Today was my first monitoring appointment after starting the stims. I would like to tell you exactly how well or how poorly things are going, but I truly do not have a clue! The RE measured three follicles less than 8mm in my right ovary, although there were other smaller ones around that he didn't count / measure. He rooted around for about 5 minutes searching for my left ovary, but he was never able to find it. Fun, huh? TRUST ME when I say that it was not for a lack of looking for the damn thing. He pointed out my uterus (the lining is at about 6 right now, which is good). He pointed out the blood supply to my right ovary. He pointed out the right ovary. He "swept" the wand (as much as you really can, since it is an internal u/s) straight across from my right ovary, and he pointed out the blood supply to my left ovary. And....still, no left ovary. He pointed out my intestines. That was pretty much it for the show. This is only the second time that a RE or tech has not been able to find an ovary of mine. Apparently the large intestine can get in the way??? Who knows for sure. I know the ovary was there the other day when I had my baseline done! I am sure it will be "back" next time. So, for now, the RE is just guessing that I have at least 6 "measurable" follicles. When you can't find the follicles, guessing is all you can do!

I will know more once my blood work results are back this afternoon. The b/w measures my E2 (estrogen) levels. It will give a clearer picture of whether or not I am responding appropriately OR slowly to the stims. If I am on track, then I will just continue with 150 IU shots of Follistim every evening. If I am responding slowly, then I will probably have to up my dose of Follistim. Regardless, I am scheduled to go back on Friday morning for my next monitoring appointment. Hopefully it goes better than this one, and hopefully we have some good results!

UPDATE: No phone call from the nurse = no change in meds. I can only assume that all is on the right path at this point. I will continue at 150 IU nightly injections of Follistim and return to the clinic on Friday for monitoring.

Hoops and Hurdles - Let the Real Game Begin!

Well, we are finally here! I had my RE appointment this morning where they did b/w and u/s. The u/s showed that my uterus is fine and that both ovaries are still free of cysts. I have a minimum of 14 "follicles in waiting". These are all the reserve follicles that will be "stimmed" by the meds. I will begin my 150 IU follistim shots tonight. I will go back on Tuesday of next week for monitoring (b/w and u/s) to see how things are progressing. From that point, the monitoring will really pick up.

Above is a picture of the follistim "pen" that is used for dosing and injection. It comes with a pre-filled cartridge, and I just have to dial-up the correct dose, attach the needle, and shoot up. I am thinking that I will use my thighs for these shots, since I have already been doing all the lupron shots in my belly. This will give more surface area with which to work.

Hoops and Hurdles

Not much to report, but today I did drop down my lupron dose from 10 units to 5 units. One step closer to stims! Friday is coming....

Hoops and Hurdles

Done with BCPs! Finally! Continuing on 10 unit shots of lupron every morning for the time being. Slowly, but surely, getting closer to the "real steps" of IVF.

Added note:
I have been doing lupron shots for one week now. On the day of my u/s appt. the nurse gave me my initial lupron shot, just as a demonstration for the IVF nurse coordinator in training. I have one bruise on my stomach. That bruise??? You guessed it...from the shot the nurse gave me! You would think she would be better at giving shots than me, but it seems that I am just a pro at this point! ;)

Florida, updates, and what-not

Matt and I are back from our Subaru sponsored trip to Orlando, FL. We had a GREAT time! We were given multi-day passes to both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We took full advantage of both parks by riding several rollercoasters (Doctor Doom's Fearfall, The Hulk, Dueling Dragons), going on interactive rides (The Simpsons, Spiderman, Men in Black), taking a "river trip" with an unexpected drop (Jurassic Park), and experiencing what a real tornado might be like (Twister). The first night we had a group dinner at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. The food was great, and the entertainment was a blast. They hired caricature artists to draw pictures of anyone who wanted them...or anyone who was coaxed into having one done (which would be us). Ours turned out really well (as you can see above), and we plan to frame it and hang it in the basement. Matt's brother Scott and his wife Renata came up from Tampa on Friday afternoon to join us for lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Good food and drinks there (Twisted Mac n' Cheese. Yum!). On Friday night we had an excellent meal at The Palm restaurant with one of Matt's dealers and his wife, in addition to Matt's boss and his family. The poolside at the hotel called out to us on a few occasions, as did the beachy drinks that they offer (Purple Haze...mmmmmmmm). On our last night, we were taken to see the Blue Man Group at Universal Studios. It is an amazing and highly entertaining show. It was better than we could have even imagined. We finished the evening off with a meal that included: lobster mashed poatoes served in martini glasses, sushi, beef tenderloin, pecan encrusted grouper, salads, a lobster pasta, and a dessert bar with cheesecake and pound cake served with a variety of fondue sauces. WOW! I think I gained five pounds with that meal alone! Well worth it, though.

We are back home now and back to the real world. Today I had my appointment at the RE's office for my u/s. My ovaries are both clear of cysts, and they are showing about 17 follicles under 10mm just hanging out. My uterus looks good. All was fine and right as usual. The IVF nurse (and an IVF nurse in training) reviewed with me all of my meds for this cycle. I started with my first lupron injection this morning, and that went off without at hitch. I will proceed with these shots throughout the majority of my IVF cycle. As of today, I only have 5 more BCPs to take...yay! On November 19th I drop down my dose of lupron from 10 units to 5 units. After that, my next appointment with the RE is scheduled for November 21st. On that day I will have my baseline u/s and b/w and will then begin stims shots. It was nice to have had that little FL getaway prior to all of the chaos of IVF really starting. I think we are very relaxed and prepared...so, bring it!

VOTE...VOTE...VOTE...VOTE...VOTE...VOTE!!!

Today is THE day, so get out there and partake in your civic duty!

Meds are being shipped!

It is all starting to feel real again. Aetna called this afternoon to say that all of my authorizations have been finalized, and they are ready to ship my meds. They will all be arriving tomorrow. Now we can enjoy our trip to FL without anything hanging over our heads. Once we are back...the crazy ride begins! Well, at least another part of it.

The Official M & M IVF Season Begins!

Well, we are finally here again. Time to start up the maniacal IVF process. It all begins today. Here is a timeline / overview of how things will go:

• Monday, October 27: begin taking BCPs
  
• Monday, November 10: appt. at SJFC for u/s. begin lupron shots once a day. bring all meds to appt. for instructions and shot demonstrations. (waiting on Aetna to call this week to finalize med order and have them delivered prior to this appt. but not during our trip to FL...fun!)
  
• Saturday, November 15: last BCP taken
  
• Friday, November 21: u/s and b/w appt. first "monitoring" appt. start stims shots this evening, and continue with lupron shots.
  
• Monday, November 24: beginning this day, monitoring appts. will be every to every other day to see how follicle growth and hormone levels are progressing.
  
• Monday, December 1: ER (egg retrieval done under a light sedation / anesthesia) will be during this week. the date of ER is dependent upong monitoring and follicle progress. male partner provides "sample" at this time to be used for fertilization. crinone gel use is started for female partner the day after ER and is used to supplement progesterone production to help sustain a pregnancy IF one occurs.
  
• Monday, December 8: ET (embryo transfer after fertilization and embryo development occurs) will be done around this time. it will occur 3, 4, or 5 days after ER (dependent upon how many eggs fertilize and how the embryos are progressing). ET is followed by 2 days of bedrest to help increase chances of implantation (sorry, but it is for the female partner only!)
  
• 7 days after ER b/w is done to check progesterone levels (must be adequate to sustain a pg IF one occurs)
  
• 14 days after ER b/w is done to check beta / HCG levels (official test for pregnancy)
  

Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement during this process! We appreciate it, as always!

Hoops and Hurdles

CD one has finally arrived! I need to call the IVF Nurse Coordinator at SJFC tomorrow morning to get my BCP prescription called in. They will also inform me what day I need to start the pills. During the first half of next week I will be waiting for a call from Aetna specialty pharmacy. They will be finalizing the ordering of the rest of my meds for my IVF cycle and then shipping them out. That is where things stand for now!

On a completely random and unrelated note, but to save "post time", I am adding a link to some pictures from the early fall. We forgot to share the pics from our trip to OSU for the Buckeye football home opener!
Here you go: OSU photos

World Series 2008 - Game 3

Well, it wasn't rained out...although it came awfully close! We arrived at the park close to 7pm and waited in the car until there was a break in the torrential downpours. At our first "break" we ran for the park and headed for cover. We passed the rain time drinking Coors Light under cover with 45,000 of our "closeset friends". Finally by 10pm the rains had stopped and the festivities and game got under way. Can you say late start?!?! Oh well, it was worth the wait just to be a part of that fan crazy Philly environment. What a sports town! (I say that as both a good and bad thing, as Matt and I were actually "booed" earlier in the day at Costco just for wearing Ohio State clothing.) The rains never came back, and the full game was played. The Phillies started strong with a couple of homers early in the game. That lead did not hold, though, and the Rays came back to tie up the game 4 - 4. In the bottom of the ninth, luckily, the Phillies scored an ugly run that won them the game. Nobody ever said winning had to be pretty! So, the Phillies currently lead the series 2 - 1. Game 4 is tonight, and we will be watching that one from the comfort of our living room.

Here is a link to the rest of our photos from the game:
World Series 2008, Game 3

Another Hair Cut...

Well, one of these days I really will grow it back out again. I keep threatening that, anyway. I went in and had more cut off today, though. I am happy to report that the damage has mostly been cut out of my hair at this point. I really just needed to have it thinned out and have some shape put back into it so that I COULD actually grow it again. I think I am there...for now...maybe...

Hoops and Hurdles

Well, another hurdle has been cleared! We HAVE been approved through Aetna to do our IVF cycle at SJFC. What a relief! Now we just wait for SJFC to submit the paperwork to get authorization for the meds. Once that is done and authorized, SJFC can order the fertility meds through Aetna's own specialty pharmacy. So far, it looks like we are still on track to start the BCPs and lupron with my next cycle toward the end of the month.

Updated note: I spoke with the IVF Nurse Coordinator at SJFC. She said that I need to call them on CD1 of my next cycle, and they will call the prescription for the BCPs into a local pharmacy. It will be two weeks from that point in time to when I start the lupron, so during that two weeks they will coordinate with the Aetna specialty pharmacy to order the rest of my necessary meds and set up an estimated timeline. Aetna will then ship the lupron and all the stim meds for my IVF cycle directly to me. Simple enough, I guess. All I do now is wait for my CD1, which should be sometime around the 26th of October.

A Good Taste of the Blues - shared by Matt

I had a unique experience this week as I attended a private jam session performed by Buddy Guy, one of the greatest Blues legends of our time. Buddy was in Philly this week to record a live session for WXPN, a local radio station. I was invited by my friend Brian Cavalucci who works with Subaru's ad agency, Carmichael Lynch. There were less than 100 people invited to this event. Seats were right in front of the stage and Buddy came out and jammed for just over an hour. Of course, that description does not do it justice. Buddy doesn't just simply jam. His songs tell a story, and, between songs, he tells stories. He speaks of influencing Clapton and Hendrix and jamming with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf..all legends in their own right. Buddy is a legend, and certainly of a different time, and I am honored to have met him.

The following is an excerpt from his website. Enjoy!

“He was for me what Elvis was probably like for other people… My course was set, and he was my pilot
- Eric Clapton

Any discussion of Buddy Guy invariably involves a recitation of his colossal musical resume and hard-earned accolades. He’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a chief guitar influence to rock titans like Hendrix, Clapton, Beck and Vaughan, a pioneer of Chicago’s fabled West Side sound, and a living link to that city’s halcyon days of electric blues.

Mystic Reunion 2008

A fabulous time was had by all at the latest reunion held in Mystic, CT. Although we "talk" to each other every day, it is still so great to spend time together in person. We went out to eat, played games at the hotel, went out to eat some more, hung out at the hotel, went out for dessert....well, you get the idea.

Here are some pictures from our weekend.

(front:Leslie, Karen, Betsy, Marie, Michele, and Adrienne / back: Megan and Allie)

(PJ party)

(Catchphrase is fun!)

(back: Marie, Allie, Betsy, Karen, and Megan / front: Michele)

Hoops and Hurdles

Matt and I had our blood drawn on Monday. Results were all "normal" and good.

I had my trial transfer (uterine measurement), pelvic cutlures, and my sonohysterogram (SHG) today. I won't get results of the cultures for a week or so, but I can only assume that will be normal. If it comes back that I have a STD...Matt would have some explaining to do! The rest of the tests were normal, normal, normal. No fibroids in my uterus. No scarring of the uterine lining. Nothing abnormal in uterusland at all.

As long as all the insurance stuff gets submitted and approved, we are on track to do the BCPs and lupron with my next cycle in late October. After that, we would be doing the IVF cycle itself in late November / early December.

Reunion...Year Two

It is soon coming upon the second "reunion" that I have planned with my other fertility warriors. Those who know me well know that I have been conversing for a few years now on a support forum for people suffering with infertility issues. I have become close with two particular groups of women over that course of time. Last year, I took a leap of faith and agreed to meet up with a fairly large group of these women that stretch from all walks of life. I guess that certain struggles in life give you focus, courage, and a sense of self...at least they did for me. I felt empowered to meet these people, as if they were sisters in some sort of secret club that it took a certain degree of suffrage and challenge in which to be included. This is a special group of people.

On this second reunion we will be once again meeting in Mystic, CT. So many of us hail from the East coast (even more so now), and this seems to be a centralized location for most. We have no special plans. We have no special motives. We simply come together to be reunited in our common ground of struggle, perseverance, strength, faith...

Not all of the group is capable of making the trip, as we stretch from as far as Trinidad and Australia. Others simply do not have the time, nor the economic means to make the trip. Once again, we will all be there in spirit. Some of our group are examples of success stories, in that they have achieved the coveted end of parenthood. Others are success stories in that they have stared down the evil of infertility face to face, and they did not succumb to defeat...even though they might never be parents. Others still suffer on the road to an unknown end. In it all...through it all, we lean on each other for support.

I look forward to this adventure (as my husband so lovingly calls it, a "retreat") again this year. These women hold a special place in my heart, as only those who have walked in our shoes can truly understand the separation, anxiety, emptiness, strength, isolation, empowerment...and all the other random emotions that we feel at any given time. We welcome support and empathy in any form in which it is received...but it truly means so much coming from those who have drudged the path that we continue to travel. See you soon, friends....

Hoops and Hurdles

Hoops and Hurdles is going to be our new "update" section. Anytime you see that title...it will just be a brief update on another hoop jumped through or hurdle jumped over on our track to IVF.

Matt had his semen analysis, and we just received the results on Friday. His sperm concentration came back at 207 million. 187 million were motile (moving), which translates to 90% motility. This is read as a "normal" semen analysis...but we think it is better than normal...we think it is pretty great! Matt especially. He claims the state of NJ is going to hold a parade in his honor because his results were soooo good.

Matt and I will both be going for our required bloodwork on Monday.

Matt and I both have to start a required course of antibiotics (Z-Pak) on Wednesday. We only take the five day dose, and we are done.

I will be going into SJFC for all of my other testing on Friday: uterine measurement / trial transfer, cervical cultures, pelvic ultrasound, and sonohysterogram.

Results of all testing will be posted when as we receive them!

Calendar Coercion

It is an intricate and delicate choreograhpy of multiple items that needs to take place in order for our calendar to be appropriately coerced into suiting not only our social and work lives, but also our upcoming IVF cycle. I have been diligently working on this routine for the past week, and I have certainly made some progress. Things are decidedly falling into place, and I am amused that I have become so good at feeling out and setting up this process. Perhaps bemused is a better description. So many things need to happen at the exact "right times" in order for us to be able to: get all of the screenings done, get the appropriate approval for the IVF cycle, entertain friends coming to town, attend a class reunion, take a company trip to Orlando, AND enter the IVF cycle prior to Christmas. To those on the outside, it might not seem like this would be overly difficult to achieve...however, there is always SO much involvement, not only for the testing portion of all of this but also for the IVF cycle itself, that it can be a daunting task.

I received a call from Kat, the IVF nurse coordinator at SJFC, and she will be helping me to work through and choreograph this process. She had to wait until she had all of our information back from the billing department before she could call me and start the planning. Billing interfaces with the insurance company in order to find out what hoops we all need to jump through while on this course. The billing department notified Kat that in order to even get the ball rolling for the IVF approval process, Matt and I both need to have our infectious diseases bw done, Matt needs to do his SA, and I have to have cycle day (CD) 3 bw done to test my FSH levels. However, in order for Matt to do his SA, he first has to have a referreal from our primary care physician (PCP). See how this starts to get complicated? Well, that is just for starters!

My next cycle is coming up...and in order to move forward with an IVF cycle prior to the end of the year, I would need to have ALL of my RE required screenings done with this upcoming cycle. So, I asked Kat if this was feasible and possible. She said that I need to be sure that I have approval for all of the screenings, so Kat referred me to the billing department. The billing department "thought" that I would be covered for all of the testing, but they recommended that I call Aetna just to be on the safe side. So, I called Aetna...and lo and behold...I am covered for all of the screenings. Several hours and phone calls later into this mission, I now had answers! As long as SJFC can fit me into their schedule, I will be able to complete all of my tests with my upcoming cycle..and this DOES keep us on course to do ER and ET prior to Christmas. It also would allow us to keep all of our committments that we had penned on the calendar prior to reentering the world of IF and IVF.

For those of you who are well-versed in the world of IF and expect these miniscule details, or for those of you who are just simply interested, this is what is in store for this cycle:

• SA for Matt
  
• infectious disease panels for both Matt and I
  
• blood typing for Matt
  
• CD3 bw for me to test my FSH and E2 levels (ovarian reserve)
  
• pelvic evaluation for me, to include: uterine measurement (trial transfer), cervical cultures (to check for disease or infection), and a pelvic u/s to check ovaries
  
• sonohysterogram for me: they will inject saline solution into my uterus through a catheter. they will then use transvaginal u/s to check the uterus for abnormalities (fibroids, tumors, scar tissue, etc.). this will reveal whether or not there is anything in my uterus that could affect implantation or that could cause m/c

Once all of this has been accomplished, AND we have received our approval to do the IVF cycle...the treatment part will actually begin. It can be a dizzying venture, but for old pros like Matt and myself...these pieces of the venture are just simple and necessary evils.

Not our first rodeo

Altogether true. Wholly, an understatement. We have been here many times already and have thus far been quite disappointed. Each time is always full of new hopes, anxieties, and excitement, as we allow ourselves to dream just a little. Not too much that a defeat will knock us down and not allow us to get back up, but just enough to make the effort worth it. Each time is filled with a new bit of cynicism, too. We are wounded but not ultimately defeated.

So, to the rodeo we travel once again. I think going back into treatments is somewhat bittersweet. As much as we enjoy the prospect that maybe this time will be THE time, it is hard not to be a wee bit apprehensive. We have been enjoying just being a couple, doing the things that couples do when they aren't worried about black clouds hanging over their heads. Starting this process once again throws us into a whirlwind of unknown and sometimes unexpected emotions. We now have to start planning ahead, changing plans to fit into or around any upcoming cycles. Everything starts to be affected by what we will or may possibly be doing on a given day or during a given week. Everything is affected by how things will or may end up. Some people who haven't walked in similar shoes, albeit unintentionally, start to tread lightly around us because they just have no way of fully understanding. None of this is easy, but ALL of this IS outweighed by the potential reward. We cling to that. We have to.

Today was in someways a "kickoff" to all of the above. I had my initial consult with South Jersey Fertility Center (moving forward, known as SJFC). I met with my new RE, Dr. Van Deerlin to discuss our fertility history and our fertility future. Dr. Van Deerlin was extremely sincere, thorough, and likeable. He made a point to memorize our history prior to coming in to speak with me. This was impressive and the first time that an RE had really put forth such an effort. It was refreshing. The recommended treatment our RE proposes is quite simple: IVF. Getting to that point is a little bit stickier, but it will happen. Here is what things look like for us:

• Matt needs to see our PCP in order to receive a referral for a SA
  
• Once the referral is in place, the SA will be done at SJFC
  
• I need to contact the IVF Nurse Coordinator to get set up for all of my screenings. She will need to coordinate all authorizations and approvals with Aetna.
  
• We will both need to repeat testing that we had done in the past, namely the infectious disease screening (for HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, measles, etc.)
  
• Starting with my next cycle, I will have a plethora of things that need to be done: pelvic evaluation, uterine measurement, cervical cultures, a
  sonohysterography (which checks for uterine abnormalities), and day 3 FSH and E2 bw

All of this will take at least one cycle to complete, so it will be at least one to two months before we will even begin the actual IVF cycle. The cycle will be a straightforward IVF cycle. Nothing too fancy. Nothing too new. Much more on the actual IVF cycle will be noted once we get closer to that time.

So, we have unofficially blown the dust off of the cowboy boots and are ready to climb up on that bull and get back in the ring. Hold onto your hats...rodeos can be rough...

Red Tape

As usual, there is always red tape to get through in the infertility world. I finally looked into what needed to happen for me to be able to make a consultation appointment with the Reproductive Endocrinologist. I first spoke with a lovely woman on the Member Services line for Aetna. She answered some very general questions for me regarding all of our coverages, referrals, referral processes, and more. She could not offer me any detailed information regarding infertility coverages, though. Luckily, Aetna has its own dedicated Infertility Services department / line for the state of New Jersey. See, NJ is a "mandate state" for infertility benefits. Go, NJ!!!

The woman I spoke with on their dedicated IF line was VERY helpful. Imagine that...a helpful benefits representative! She walked me through the entire process. I need to get "authorization" from the HMO in order to go for the initial consult. The rep handled that over the phone through a brief, yet detailed interview. I am now approved and authorized to go for a consultation AND to have the South Jersey Fertility Center put me through a "monitoring cycle". This cycle will involve bloodwork and ultrasounds in order to show that all looks good and that I am ovulating. After this cycle, the Reproductive Endocrinologist will decide if any more testing for Matt or me is necessary AND / OR what the next treatment steps would be. When we get to this point, all authorizations will be applied for by the RE's office and approved (hopefully) by Aetna. I will personally be out of the red tape loop!

So, our consultation is now scheduled for Wedensday, September 10th at 3pm. I will be seeing Dr. Van Deerlin. I scheduled this appointment, of course, on the only day that Matt was not available. Given that we are "old pros" at this game, we decided it didn't matter, so I will be going solo.

Here is what I learned today about our GERNEROUS coverages:
* UNLIMITED lifetime IUI cycles (artificial insemination)
* Four lifetime fresh IVF cycles (includes past covered attempts, so we have 3 left)
* UNLIMITED frozen embryo tranfers
* diagnosis, treatments, and related meds are all covered

* cyropreservation is NOT covered
* PGD is only covered on a case by case basis, and at this point I would be denied

All in all, looks really great!!! Aetna also uses a "less before more" approach, so you have to exhaust less invasive and less costly treatments before you will be authorized for more invasive and more costly treatments. Given that I have already been through 4 IUIs (not to mention IVF and FETs), the rep from Aetna thinks I will be have no trouble getting approved for IVF right off the bat. All that needs to happen is the RE's office has to fax over my past IUI cycle information / results to Aetna so that they can review them and hopefully approve them (aka:"behind the scenes" red tape). No big deal.

That is the scoop for now.

I am including in this post some general abbreviations for amateurs in the world of Infertility (IF). This will be the last post in which I write out all the big words...just takes too much time, and, after all, this is MY WORLD...you are just visiting it!!

IF = infertility
tx = treatment
dx = diagnosis
RE = reproductive endocrinologist (aka, fertility specialist)
IUI = intrauterine insemination (aka, artificial insemination)
IVF = invitro fertilization (eggs removed / fertilization with sperm in petri dish / embryos grow / placed back into uterus)
PGD = pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (testing of embryos for chromosomal abnormalities prior to being placed back in uterus)
b/w = bloodwork
u/s = ultrasound
pg = pregnant / pregnancy
BFP = big fat positive (positive pg test)
BFN = big fat negative (negative pg test)
OV = ovulation
OPK = ovulation predictor kit (at home)
endo = endometriosis
m/c = miscarriage
s/a = semen analysis
POAS = "pee on a stick" (home pg test)

If we think of any others moving forward, I will try to fill you in!

Stay tuned...

A chopping we will go....

Hair chopping, that is. I finally took the plunge and had all of my hair hacked off. I needed to get rid of all the damage from the unfortunate color mishap that took place back in CO. There were also some funky layers left from my last haircut in CO, and it all looked disconnected. So, I am starting from scratch to get my hair healthy so I can grow it back out again. Oh the joys of being a woman...

Housewarming

Matt and I had our first housewarming party. I now live closer to some of my friends that I met through the fertility support board, and they came out to spend the afternoon with us. It was nice for Matt to finally be able to put faces and names together, and it was fun having the husbands all there. A great afternoon, and we can't wait to do it again! I look forward to having more parties at the house to really "break it in". It certainly is feeling like home now for both of us. The area / location just could not be any better for us, and we look forward to sharing more of our new adventures as they take shape. I am sure there will be oodles of them knowing us.

Our New Home - Slideshow now available

Hello there! I have finally taken photos of our new home and compiled them into a slideshow. Instead of embedding the show on this site, I am providing you all with a link to our web album. This way you can see and read all the captions, too. Once you click on the link below, it will take you to the web album of our house. On that page, simply click on the "Slideshow" button...and it will do the rest! I hope you enjoy it!

Matt and Megan's new home

Thanks for stopping by!

House is SOLD...now living in South Jersey

So, for those who might not know, our house in Colorado is sold. We closed on it last week, so we are down to owning just one home. (Thank you Travis for your help with the closing!!!!) Whew! That makes life a bit better and easier to handle. Now we are in Haddon Heights putting together our new home. We are getting there! The main floor is completely put away, set up, and decorated. The upper level is a work in progress, but we are close! The guest room and master bathroom are complete. The office is Matt's project, but it is at least halfway done. The master bedroom is decorated and is not too far from being complete. At least all the boxes are gone! That is a start, and certainly not bad for one week's work!

I will take pictures of the house once it is all done, and I will post a link to our Picasa web album.

Batman LOVES his new yard and screened in porch. He thinks squirrels and chipmunks are the coolest toys ever! If only he could catch them. He has nearly ripped my arm off a couple of times while going for a jog in the morning...stupid squirrels!

Matt is back to work after his relocation period, but it is great just getting to see him every night and every weekend! Woo hoo!

Outside of that, not much to talk about. We will be enrolling in our new benefit program this week, so we will have fertility benefits again. Guess we will be exploring that sometime in the near future. We will keep you up to date as we move forward!

Aruba, Jamaica...oooooo, I want to take you to Bermuda, Bahama...

Ok, so it was only Aruba...but we will take it! We just enjoyed the most fabulous "vacation", generously provided by Subaru. It was a part of a sales contest / reward trip for the Subaru dealers, and Matt got to go as the RSM for the Mid-Atlantic region. We stayed five days / four nights at the Marriott Renaissance Marina hotel. This hotel has its own private island! This private island also just happened to be the location for Timbaland's (music industry mogul) big wedding! There were up to 300 people invited to this wedding. It is rumored that the following were actually at the wedding: Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Beyonce, Maddona, and more! Most of his guests were staying at our hotel, and the day after the wedding we just happened into conversation with Timbaland's uncle (Marcus) at the pool. This uncle is also the president of Timbaland's record company. Marcus' girlfriend, with whom we were also speaking, is a fashion / wadrobe person for network TV. She does a lot of work on Mark Burnett shows (as well as others), and she just recently spent time at fasion week in Paris. So, yup...just hob-nobbing with the rich and famous as usual!

One of the highlights of our trip was a half day snorkel trip which inlcuded three snorkel stops (lots of tropical fish, a shipwreck, and more tropical fish), lunch, and the ever-importatnt open bar. What a blast!! And, you just can't believe the color of the water in Aruba. It is surreal.

In addition, we also went on a submarine ride. We went as low as 132 feet under the water. We got to get even better views of all the underwater life, the corral reefs, and the shipwreck. We were lucky enough to sneak a peek at an eagle ray (huge underwater creature!) and another smaller ray, as well.

We had two amazing meals. One was at The Flying Fishbone. They actually set up tables out on the beach and serve you dinner while watching the sun set. AMAZING! Another great meal was at Pincho's. This restaurant sits on stilts out in the water. You walk down the pier over the water to get to the restaurant. Everything is open-air seating directly overlooking the water.

Lots of pool time, drinking time, shopping time, casino time, etc. Exactly what a trip should be!

For the picture slideshow of the trip, feel free to visit our web album:
Matt and Megan's Aruba trip

Now (sniff, sniff) I am back in Colorado, and Matt is back in New Jersey. We are both in earnest preparation for our big move to Haddon Heights. Must get in gear to finish all the chores! I will be sure to post more after we have settled in!

Updates!

To start things off...I lied in my last blog. Not intentionally, but I did. We are moving to a gorgeous little home in Haddon Heights, NJ...but it is 78 years old, not 40. Sorry!

I finally got to see the house for myself one day prior to closing. It is an oldie but a goodie. Very charming with a plethora of unique features. Certainly not cookie-cutter! It will be interesting living in an older home since we have always lived in new homes...but I am excited about it!

I gave notice to my employer on Monday. My boss is sad, which is nice...if she were happy then I probably had not been doing my job very well! My cube mate ("officle" mate") would like to kill me, but she will get over it in time. My last official day with Great West will be July 3rd, but I have made myself available on the 7th and 8th for training purposes / emergencies. We will see how it goes. The rest of my group (and hopefully my other boss and his region that I support) will find out tomorrow.

I just whacked all of my hair off again. Super short and funky just suits me, I guess. I keep going back to it, so it must!

Matt and I will be going to Aruba with Subaru in about a week and a half. Submarine ride and other fun adventures are planned! Yay! I am looking forward to that for sure. After that...it is practically move time. It is wonderful to think about living with my husband again, and it would be even more wonderful had we already sold our house in CO. Oh well...it will happen one day.

That is the scoop for now! Thanks for checking in!

Here we go....again!

Here is a picture of our new house in Haddon Heights, NJ. Gorgeous 40 year old home with a BEAUTIFUL yard. Batman will be thrilled!

For those who don't know (which there can't be many), Matt has accepted a new position as a Regional Sales Manager for Subaru of America. He is overseeing the Mid-Atlantic region for the company, so he is based out of Westampton, NJ. He is in charge of a team of District Managers, and has responsibility for sales at 96 dealerships in the region. This is a big job, and a great challenge for Matt. So far, he is loving it.

We are still trying to sell our house in Parker, and we are hopeful that that will happen soon. I am staying back in CO until we have a contract on the house. During that time I continue to work at Great-West as a Corporate 401(k) Sales Assistant for the Southeast region. The job is fine, I have a great co-worker, and the money is a big help.

No other big news for the moment, except we will have fertility benefits again after the move. NJ is a "mandate" state, so we will actually have fertility benefits covered at 100%. Not sure how many IVF attempts that gets us, nor do I know if they cover PGD...but something is certainly better than nothing!

Wish us luck in selling the house and in yet another new adventure (this one appears to have lasting power)!!!!!

We have great neighbors!!!

We really really do. Our neighbors Ken and Ginger coordinated a 1970s themed Murder Party. There were four couples total, and we each had an assigned role. The players: Polly Esther Stuffincupp, Manny Baritone, Belle Bedham, Knight Feevah, Brady Bunsch, Angina Palpatori, Vinny V. Divichi, and Chaka Moon. Matt played Vinny,and I played Chaka Moon. Turns out that I was the murderer! Bad me! Anyway, the party was a total blast, and the theme was taken so seriously that Pabst Blue Ribbon was even being served. Nice!

A link for some photos of the evening follows, enjoy!

http://www.picasaweb.google.com/ritter911


There are now actually two albums from the party on the web page now. One is for the pics that Matt took, and the other (take two...) album is the pics our neighbor took. They are probably the best ones....OMG....way too funny!

Interview # 2 - Job Offer

Well, I received a call for a second interview. I interviewed yesterday with a Regional Vice President for the company, and it went really well. He told me that some of the answers I gave were the best that he had heard yet. He also mentioned that I had a really good personality, seemed fun, and would fit in really well. He told me that he would give me a "thumbs up" to the hiring manager. At the end of the interview he noted that they had done first interviews with 45 people already, and I was one of four people brought back for a second interview. Of the three other people, one of them was not hired.

Well, the good word was put in, and I was offered the job today. So, being in a group of three people chosen from 45 candidates is not bad at all. I will take it! The starting pay is decent, and the company seems really solid and employee / family-focused. I will start my new position (Sales Assistant for Great-West Life and Annuity, FASCore Division)on Monday, March 10th. I will be giving my two-weeks notice to the school on this coming Monday. I am allowing myself a two week break prior to starting back to work full-time. I deserve that, right?

Outside of that...not much to report. We are all doing well. Skiing has been ultra-fantastic. Dog is goofy. Husband is handsome and lovely-as-ever. Life is good!

Interview

Well, I have an interview for a fulltime/ "real" job. It is scheduled for Friday at 2pm. Should take about an hour. Not going to get into all the details, because if I don't get offered the position, or if I don't take it....what difference does it really make? I am very well prepared. I have done my homework on the parent company as well as the specific division with which I am interviewing. I have an updated resume and references prepared. I have a company / job specific cover letter ready. The company application has been printed and filled-out. I even typed up a list of questions to ask the hiring manager. If nothing else, I am a good little interviewer!

Outside of that, just going skiing this weekend and having a small SuperBowl party (think chili-cookoff). Fun!

More posts as anything interesting happens....

Not much going on....

I know we haven't posted anything for awhile. I guess there isn't a lot to post about. We are still loving life here in CO. The skiing is fantastic this year...powder, powder, powder. It has been a beautiful winter, and we always seem to have some snow on the ground. Not a bad sight to see.

I am still working at the elementary school, although I am not sure what I really want to do at this point. I may look into going full time, either at the same school, or at another school in the district. I also might try to get a corporate full time gig. Who really knows. Mostly I am looking for an opportunity to make, and therefore save, more money. More money will allow us to be able to attempt IVF with PGD. So, we will see what happens.

Batman is still the best dog in the whole wide world (completely unbiased statment, I assure you).

Looking forward to a new year with new prospects and possibilities!!! Well-wishes to all!!!!