[Angelwithhope]

Glad to hear you had a good trip Ronni!! can't wait to hear about it huN!

[Georgia1968]

Hi Shawna! Sorry I missed you guys earlier. I have been lurking for the craziest reason....a dog bit my finger on Monday and it is right on the end of my middle finger so I haven't been able to type comfortably until now. Only my third dog bite in all my years being a vet so I really can't complain. It was a bad bite, though, and was so yucky that DD actually made me put a bandaid on it so she didn't have to look at it (which is saying something because this three-year-old regularly watches me neutering and spaying animals and loves it). Tell Mango and Kiwi to be nice to the doctor next time they go!

Ronni - glad you are back and can't wait to hear the news.

Jen....what are you now, like, 5dpo? What day will you start testing? Thanks to you and Susan discussing scallops, DH and I had to go to the seafood restaurant tonight. BTW, he can't wait to hang with Walt in Chicago so they can eat their way across town and back.

Alana - I still have my fingers crossed for you. Like Jen, I have been running the beta numbers through my mind computer (well, more of a mind abacus really) and I still think it is entirely possible that this is a good one.

Devan - are you still going to look for a kitty this weekend? Has Frasier settled down?

Rachael - hang in there. I would like to tell you that it will get better soon but I don't believe in platitudes. DD still gets me up 3 or 4 times a night on most nights. Build your support team and don't be afraid to lean on them. Grandparents rock.

Heidi - are you having flashbacks?

Martie, Brenna, Shelly, Susan and Devan - happy gestation. I can't believe how far along you guys have all gotten.

Tia - can we help you write? More appropriately, maybe we should help DH write since he seems to be moving slowly. Will you end up finishing his for him?

April - glad you are recovering. Are plans still on track for FET in April?

Amy - hooker boots, bd'ing for enjoyment, cool hairstyles....you make me feel very old and uncool. Maybe you have a suggestion for something I could do that would help me be more current? No tattoos, please.

[Shellyhume]

Danny and I went to the new family's house last night, right before his class. I barely choked out some last minute details about things they love... i.e. the last bit of yogurt in the yogurt cup, drinking out of the bathtub, being brushed... then we said our goodbyes and left. Danny went off to class (he's working on recertification for telcomm). When he got home last night, he didn't say a word, took off his boots, and climbed in next to me on the couch... and cried. He kept telling me how sorry he was for making me get rid of the cats and how badly he already missed them... in all the years we've been together, this man has cried all of three times...

...it feels worse than a death to me...

[sunny72]

Morning earlybirds.

Shelly, sorry that the cats have gone.

Jo, the finger sounds painful.

Rachael, don't feel too disheartened. The constant crying and lack of sleeping is common, but I know it's very hard none-the-less. The first six months were real hard for me as well. DH was still drinking and was passed out on the couch each night (sounds terrible I know), and my family was a million miles away. Luckily I didn't have postpartum, just extreme fatigue mixed in with horrible paranoia and panick attacks. I kept waking up in the night thinking I've fallen asleep with the baby in the bed and would search under the covers in a mad panick. I didn't have anyone to turn too and if you're like me, you feel like it's all on your shoulders. All these things, I guess are normal for new mothers, but if you start to feel too overwhelmed, depressed, anything like that, you should mention it to your ob-gyn. Also get DH and family members to pitch in. If you have them, rally them up. I wish I had some sensible advice about the constant crying, but each baby is so different. Could he be colicky? People used to ask me and I never really knew the true definition. My nephew nicknamed DD "the cryhole". Nice. We used to walk her around the house for hours, just walking walking and sometimes it would work. Have you tried the white noise thing, dishwasher, vaccum cleaner etc... it really gives them something to zone out to. Also, DD was sleeping too much during the day it turns out, and it was nearly impossible to wake her, but come nighttime, she used to get a sudden burst of energy.

Ronni, I'm happy you had a good visit yesterday. We'll await your details.

[goob07]

Rachael – YAY for the new job! Will DH’s schedule be any more “normal” or will he still be at the restaurant until the wee hours? I’m so sorry you’re having the sleep issues and that Aiden isn’t settled into a schedule. No advice here, but it sounds so normal. I agree with the others. Let grandma help and don’t see it as giving up or being weak for one single moment. (I know how you are, I’m the same way – ALWAYS in control and totally incapable of asking for help.)

Alana – I’m anxious to hear more beta updates from you. I can’t believe the saga you’re going through and really hope for a happy ending for you this time! Your strength through this is truly inspiring.

Shelly – I’m afraid I can’t comment on the cat situation. I’ll just start crying.

Jo – Did you bite the dog back? Do you charge those patients double? Was it a chocolate lab named Buster? DH is off to get the boy from his posh accommodations while we were away. When we called to check on him yesterday they said he’s playing well with others – especially the “other really hyper chocolate lab”. J And he’s addicted to his Kong – they kept it full of peanut butter and cookies for him while we’re away!

Heidi – That hair color looks very natural on you! I love it!

Amy – Friend drama is ridiculous. I have very few close friends because I just can’t handle stuff like that. In fact, I’ve always had more guy friends than girl friends because guys aren’t so sensitive. You’re a sweetheart for rolling with her emotions. I hope she doesn’t snap like that with her classroom of kiddos.

Jen – You can keep your scallops (sea or bay or whatever). I’m not a fan of them. But…send that chef/husband of yours to Dallas for a week! And – how the hell do you live in that frigid weather??? Man, it was COLD while we were there. From what I understand, it was one of the worst cold snaps this year. Lucky us. We definitely looked like displaced tourists in our sub-par clothing! Glad we didn’t decide to stay and ski for the weekend. Too cold for my tootsies!

Shawna – I can’t believe you’re POASing so early! Can’t blame you though…keep us posted – I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!

CCRM update in a following post. Working on it now…

[goob07]

Okay ladies, this is definitely a long one so get a cup of coffee (decaf for you preggo chicks)…

Our schedule for yesterday was:
- Meet with Dr. Schoolcraft and review prior cycles and current status. Get his thoughts on everything and ask any questions we might have.
- Meet with nurse and discuss communicable disease workup, genetic screening options and sign diagnosis, medication and treatment disclosures.
- Ronni to get baseline ultrasound and uterine Doppler to see blood flow to the uterus.
- Dave to get SA completed and Ronni to provide blood for antibody testing.
- Ronni and Dave get blood drawn for all tests we’ve decided to do that day.
- 30 minute lunch break
- Meet with nurse again to review IVF, sample calendar, travel logistics, injection training and junk like that.
- Meet with business office to discuss costs, insurance and junk like that.
- Meet with clinic advisor to sign retrieval, ICSI, transfer, cryo, etc. disclosures.
- Ronni to end the day with a lovely hysteroscopy with Dr. Schoolcraft before heading to the airport.

Long day but overall good.

Dr. S had reviewed our prior cycles and all the information I had sent ahead of time. He said that about ½ their patients are similar to us…out of town with prior failed cycles. He said I’m actually younger than many of his patients. (This is where I fell in love with him. Kidding.) He agreed that some things don’t line up from my previous cycles. I produced plenty of viable eggs and our fertilization rates were good so he’s not ready to say “Age & Egg Quality” are our issues. (Now I’m undressing him with my eyes. Kidding.) He did say there is one definite way to assess egg quality and that’s through CGH testing. From what I understand, it works like this…Jen, correct me if I’m wrong on my terminology or if you understand any of this better. They do the retrieval and fertilization and they grow them to day 3 or 5 and freeze them. They remove an unused portion of each embryo (the 23 chromosomes that have spun off from my eggs during the natural process of division) and they send that to Yale for testing. If those chromosomes are good and they count correctly, the odds of the rest of that egg/embryo being chromosomally correct are very, very good. If those chromosomes are whacked out or don’t total 23, they know something isn’t right with that egg/embryo. Upsides – You know which embryos are normal and transfer accordingly. If none of them are viable, you don’t transfer and you avoid a BFN or miscarriage. And, you know for sure what is wrong with your eggs. Downsides? $5000 and potentially 2-3 months between your retrieval and your transfer. Yale is the only place doing this. It’s relatively new, and they’re backed up in a big way! So…something to think about. DH and I are torn on this option.

Baseline ultrasound was great – no cysts and about 13 antral follicles. I’ve NEVER seen that many resting follicles before. I cried. Dr. S said it was stupid for my other RE to check resting follicles right after my BCP suppression. (Now I’m imagining Dr. S and I on a beautiful, tranquil lake while he serenades me and I sip champagne. Also there is my other RE who is rowing the boat and sweating like a pig. Kidding.) Duh – even DH’s light bulb went on after Dr. S said that. This baseline was done on day 5 of a natural cycle – no BCP/suppression. Got to see the blood flow to both sides of my uterus and it is text book perfect.

DH gives his sample. We don’t speak of it. Seems like it took him a while. Hope he had a good time.

DH and I declined to have the genetic screening, chromosome analysis and fragile X blood work done there. They gave me orders to have it done at a lab at home. Their lab will NOT work with any insurance so I’m doing it at home to (hopefully) save some $$$. More work and coordination on my part, but every little bit helps when we’re talking money, right? We give blood to them for communicable disease testing and some other stuff that totals $900.

We scarfed down nasty food at the nearby hospital cafeteria. Jen – Don’t deliver your baby at Sky Ridge. They’ll poison you with that slop.

We sat through the injection training. This was actually funny because DH never sat through it with me before and he never gave me my injections. He couldn’t believe how much there was to remember and do. Good – welcome to my world, huh?

We signed so many forms I think we own another home in New York or something.

My hysteroscopy was good. Uterus looks good. Dr. S says everything he’s seen so far indicates we’ll get lots of eggs and have lots of options when the time comes. There’s simply nothing wrong with me so far. (Now I’m practicing signing my new, married name…Ronni Schoolcraft…over and over and over. Kidding.)

Next steps?

I have to get DH and I over to a lab for our genetic screening, fragile x and chromosome analysis blood work and get those results up to CCRM. Dr. S wants me to have an endometrial biopsy (ouch!) so I need to arrange that with my OB/GYN. This is to test for beta 3 issues that would reject implantation. I need to complete a clomid challenge test with my next cycle and have the blood frozen and shipped to their lab for that. That will set us back another month. As the results from everything come in, Dr. S will review them and he’ll put together his protocol and recommendation. We can then cycle with him if/when we’re ready. Earliest looks like March and I’m okay with that.

I do like Dr. S and I really believe he’ll shoot straight with us. He’s VERY thorough and I think if it’s going to work anywhere it will work with him. He specializes in my age group and above (hello April and Jo!). I don’t like the thought of traveling there to do it but we gotta do what we gotta do and DH felt the same way. It feels good to have DH and me on the same page and to have yesterday behind us. Still a long way to go but if nothing else, I had a doctor tell me I’m not dried up and worthless. That alone was worth the trip!

Jen – I have visions of us meeting in March and going shopping for some baby items for you!

Sorry for all this info and for the long post. Congrats if you made it to the end of it!

[Angelwithhope]

Jo- I’m sorry to hear you were bit by a dog. *Sigh* That’s terriable, I’ve been there though. Was bit by my friend’s mom’s dog once for no reason, it hurt like a bugger. And they knew the stupid dog was apt to bite. *sigh* No worries on Mango and Kiwi though, they’re so well behaved at the vet it’s unbelievable. They’re docile and just stand still until they let them go and they trot over to me and want love. I hope that lasts. LOL.

Ronni- I was laughing during your whole story. Thank you for sharing it all. I too believe, what Dr S does, you’re not dried up hun!! J Sounds like you have found a good doctor who wants to help you, that is super fantastic!

No POAS updates from me. I’m beginning to think I was stupid and got my hopes up for nothing. I don’t think I’ll ever get pregnant again. *sigh*

[goob07]

Shawna! No more crazy talk like that. You are clearly capable of getting pregnant! Get that ovulation monitor ready in case this isn't your month. Then you don't have to guess when you ovulate!

[Angelwithhope]

Originally Posted by goob07

Shawna! No more crazy talk like that. You are clearly capable of getting pregnant! Get that ovulation monitor ready in case this isn't your month. Then you don't have to guess when you ovulate!

Thanks for the smack upside the head. I need it. Unfortunately, I still feel rather down. I just want to get PG before the blister inlaw does so again. I can't take it...every single sibling that DH and I have, has kids...there is no safe haven anymore...I just want this more then ever. You all can understand and I just dont' want to wait anymore, again y'all can understand.

[AviatrixRN]

Oh Shawna! Don't give up yet! I am still rooting for you!

Ronni...I loved your CCRM story! You are too funny! Sounds like things went super well there..Great news!

[Rob&Irina]

Originally Posted by goob07

Dr. S wants me to have an endometrial biopsy (ouch!) so I need to arrange that with my OB/GYN. This is to test for beta 3 issues that would reject implantation.

Ronni - sounds like you have a PLAN just my 2 cents on the biopsy... aks for DRUGS! anything they are willing to give you, take it... but don't be scared... yes, it hurts like hell, but only for about 20 seconds
good luck to you!

[mmikowski]

Shelly sorry you had to get rid of your kitties.


Jo, sorry you got bit by a dog. Our dog Jack is a little over protective. We try to be very careful when we have people stoping by or what not. He has scaried away many door to door type people (I do not mind that) and I really liked it when DH worked 2nd shift. But I would feel terrible if he bit someone.



Yeah ronni for a great report from you new RE. thinks sound very promising.



Hope you all are doing great. I have been trying to spend more time with DH alone since soon with our addition things will not be the same again for a while. I have been keeping up but mostly at work on my breaks and lunch so not much time to post.

I think I have felt the baby move but I am not sure, Brenna have you felt nemo yet?

[goob07]

Robin thanks for the input on the biopsy - I'll take whatever drugs I can get! And congratulations on the arrival of Alex!!!! I spied on your January thread and saw his pictures. He's beautiful - really perfect!

Martie - Take plenty of "me"/'us" time while you can! I don't blame you one bit!!

[Angelwithhope]

Ronni- What did he tell you abotu the biopsy? My doctor mentioned it once but never made it clear as to how it is and I'm not sure if he's going to do it or not.

[AviatrixRN]

Shelly..I forgot to say how sorry I am about your kitties.

Jo..I hope your finger gets better soon you poor thing..Owee!

Martie..Hello! Very cool that you felt the LO moving around!

Robin...Alex is adorable!