[Shellyhume]

I'm baaaack! Okay, the whole procedure was all of five minutes. Badda bing, baddah boom. After the ultrasound tech left, Dr. Clark asked me how I was doing, I said fine, and he asked me if I was emotionally ready for the next step... I hesitated, and I said, mostly. He then proceeded to spend the next HOUR answering every minute little question I had, sharing anectdotes, offering advise on how to deal with miscarriage (as he and his wife have dealt with it... 30 weeks along and the baby girl had an upper respiratory infection which stopped her heart. ) and how to approach "telling the family" when we do get pregnant, etc. He literally set aside all other things to make sure that I was okay. Oh, I just wanted to hug him. THIS is the kind of doctor that all doctors should be. Plain and simple.

Alright - for the update... hysterosonogram was fine. He mentioned an "arch" in the top of the uterus but that it was not anything to be concerned about... they found that when they did the HSG two years ago. He said there is nothing visable in there that will prevent or end a pregnancy. Yay. He also warned me, however, that doctors are not good at predicting good stuff... they're only good at predicting bad stuff. Though there is nothing, that he can see, wrong with the uterus or ovaries, it doesn't mean that there never will be or that everything will always be perfect. Other than that, I'm to continue with this first IVF cycle. Yay.

Heidi - how's the incubation going? My DH always tells my cats they're not allowed to jump on Mumma, either... but they don't listen. Ew, 2 in the AM, ONE of my cats (I never can tell which one) uses my uterus like a trampoline. When there is concern I may be pregnant, the kitties are banished from the bedroom. Anyways, with the pills? DH makes fun of me for my three pills (bcp and pn)... I guess it could be worse. Yikes. 13??? I can't imagine that's a whole lot of fun. I get rashes when I eat mango, but not pineapple. Boy, do I love mango... and pineapple... mmm... kiwis... *mouth just filled with saliva. *

Susan - sweetie... you're just having some bum luck lately, aren't you? Ew. I had a basketball hoop land on my head and they had to shave where they stitched... that looked REAL cool when it started to grow back. Maybe you need some bedrest, too... keep you away from, well, everything.

Shawna - I never thought anything of it when people talked about how healthcare in Canada sucks... I guess you are proving that more and more everyday. What exactly is keeping you in that country? Move down here... our president is kind of a joke, but at least our doctors have standards to live up to. Sorry you're going through hell and back up there. Wish I could get my ninja suit on and kick some butt... and then slip away into the night, never to be seen or heard from again... until I get online and start bragging about this doctor's a s s I just kicked... think anyone would be suspicious? Oh, great... now everyone knows... now you can all be considered accomplices... eek. Well, also, now if anything ever happens to your doctor, here is substantiating evidence to seriously question me... I'm screwed.

Ugh... resume review in 40 minutes... I need some sustinance.

[Angelwithhope]

Shelly- Being Canadian keeps me in Canada (no offense anyone) and the fact that I don't have to pay for a lick of health care really. I suppose I should have used my brain some when it came to the whole issue and just gone to my OB GYN. You see this is the problem with specialists, surgeons...they get into that particular field because they dont' have any bed side manner in my opinion. They're good at what they do and they know that if I leave, they simply fill my spot. I'm mad and I'm not...it's hard to explain, I mean I would think that the doctor prescribing the pills would want to do the follow up but I should have just thought to myself, I'm eight plus hours away, what are they going to do for me. This however, really has me thinking that we might just be switching clinics. I'll be asking my OB GYN about that.

Anyways, while the health care sucks....and is about the same as the health care you all recieve...it's still free to a degree. And I just can't see myself living any where else. Some people might argue that if our health care is so good then why did that Alberta mom give birth to her triplets in Montana...well sure we're all full up and we're sending our patients south, but the government pays for it. We pay nothing.

For now I feel like this is just a minor hiccup. I am also thinking of doing either injectables or letrozole (if I can!) with my OB GYN (he specializes in Infertility...has some creditionals but didn't fully go for it I guess?! He's a d a m n good doctor whom I trust a lot! Probably more then my RE.) for a few months and if doesn't work, moving to IVF with my old clinic or switching clinics.

For now I just want to get through today, find out how we're stopping this and finding out if I can travel with my DH. He needs my support right now as he's testing for the police where we're going. Fingers crossed!

Anywho, I must run...1:10 is going to sneak up on me. Actually I want to be there for 1:00 that way I'm early and maybe theycan fit me in just ten minutes earlier?? I dunno, it's worth a shot!

[goob07]

Wow Ladies - So Much Going On! I just got caught up over my lunch at my desk here at work...

Shelly - So glad your hysterosonogram went well. Sounds like you have an outstanding doctor! That kind of attention is so hard to find and I'm glad you got it. You totally deserve it!! And big kudos to you and your mom on the weight loss! We'll all take lessons from you with our babies on our hips one day.

Susan - What a bummer! Stitches on your scalp? Ugh. Head wounds bleed a ton, too, don't they? You must be a sight!

Shawna - Glad to hear you're going to get treated (even if it did take forever). Keep us posted and keep on taking care of yourself!! Sounds like you've been successful with weight loss as well. I'm so impressed with you ladies!

Heidi - Bedrest is a drag, huh? I finally got up at around 5:30 yesterday after about 28 hours of bedrest and showered and made dinner. Finally felt human again. I'm back at work today and feel just fine. How long are you planning to stay down? Last night while I was lounging on the sofa after dinner my 18 pound cat decided it was appropriate to step sqaurely on my left ovary. Ouch! Can't be mad at him though. Love him way too much!!

Rachael - Any offers from your realtor luncheon? I bet it wore you out. I'm not the most social person in the world and I'm really bad at "small talk" with strangers and acquaintances. I have a small handful of truly good friends that I would do anything for. Beyond that, it's just too much work. I'm such a brat.

Jen - I think you're getting plenty of exercise BDing with DH. Don't worry about any other aerobics right now besides that. Feel free to exercise your right to say "No" to that bridezilla though. There's got to be a line drawn somewhere and she seems to have lost her chalk!!

[Shellyhume]

Okay... yep... bcps are starting to take over... my DH is insufferable... either that or I am. I need some space for a while so I'm headed to the library... till after 8 when he's already gone to bed.

[goob07]

Go get some peace and quite Shelly! DH issues are the worst and they always show up at the most inopportune time.

[sunny72]

Ronni, I have had a couple of lazy days but will be up and about tomorrow more. We have to travel to MIL's, have a turkey dinner with the aunt and drive them to the airport on Friday and then on to work. I made it till about 2 this afternoon and just had to take a shower and was brave enough to do poopy (more TMI). I know it sounds weird, but I was too nervous to since the transfer. I sneezed earlier also and I cringed to think it could of jossled the little ones loose.

[goob07]

Heidi it's funny you mentioned the poopy. I made myself do whatever I could before I left for ET! And, on my ET discharge paperwork, they specifically point out that there's really nothing you can do to make the embryos fall out (poop, sneezing, coughing, laughing, etc.).

[designdiva32]

My days are so long and boring but coming home to all you bedridden girls and your hilarious conversations never fails to cheer me right up!

Firstly Susan, this bubble business is not a bad idea. Only I always have visions of a young, scary John Travolta when I think of bubble people, plus the idea of living in all that plastic is kinda depressing. I personally just think you are in your unlucky streak. Me too!! But after a seriously unlucky patch comes the super sized uber LUCKY streak that you and I are both due for. So get yourself ready for a sticky bfp very very soon.

Heidi, Ronni, you definately can't sneeze the embies out. lol. Otherwise why on earth would any of us ever need D&C's or abortions?? All you would need is a snort of pepper and voila!! No more embies!! In fact, you should google the lastest on embryonic stem cell research. A junior scientist acidentally left some embryonic stem cells on a machine that shakes stuff about (Jen you probably know what the heck this is) and when he finally took them off they were growing better than any of their other samples. The movement made them grow perfectly. They now realize that they seem to thrive in movement as thats what they got through in the womb. So stop worrying and go take a poop if you need to. Your embabies like it! (the link to the article is below)
ScienceDaily: Embryonic Stem Cells Thrive When Shaken

Shelly, I think you look fantastic too. I don't need to see you in person to know you are one hot babe! Hey, why else would that hunk of a hubby marry you in the first place?? You will definately have some gorgeous babies, thankfully nothing like the dreadful 'crack' babies that website creates. lol

Shawna, I agree its great we get free health care here in Canada. (although when you see the taxes on your pay slip you realize its not really that free!) My only issue really had been the annoying wait times. When I was diagnosed with high grade pre-cancer of the cervix I had to wait SIX months to get the doctor to remove them. Long enough for it to become cancer. Thankfully they didn't. But the doctor did say it was a pretty close call. I just wish they could shorten the wait times and then it would be a pretty good health system. Other than that though, I am so glad hun that you are finally seeing someone. Post as soon as you are back okay?

Rachael, Brenna, Jen, Martie, what have you girls been up to? Hows the bellydancing Jen? Are we now onto poas yet? Yay....thats my favourite part! Oh and Rachael, you have your 3D ultrasound in a week or two don't you? I can't wait to see baby Aiden up close like that. You MUST post those pictures when you get them.

As for me, I am still waiting on an appointment with the clinic, but I'm sure it won't be long to find out. However, we have since had some results that were taken two months ago arrive back, and its not the best news. My DH has some sort of chromosome or dna fragmentation that the doctor has said will most likely be responsible for the miscarriages. Argh! I have no idea what this now means, I guess we'll just have to wait and see when we have an appointment. I just hope its not donor sperm as my DH is adamant he won't do that. Keep everything for us girls that the news is not too terrible.

[mmikowski]

Alana, seems that you have found out what is going on. That is good news (hard to swallow I am sure) but there is a cause which must help a little. Maybe you can do IVF with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). That way they can pick the best "guys" for the job. Not sure if this helps but may be worth asking about. I know how you feel about your DH not wanting to use Donor Sperm. Mine does not what to adopt at all. I would not mind my mom and her twin sister are adopted and I know a few others who have been adopted. Heck our niece was adopted by her "daddy" a month ago (her real dad is a jerk and told my sister he did not want anything to do with her becuase he did not want to pay my sister child support-what an a**)

Tomorrow I should find out if all systems are go for my FET.

Hope all is going well for everyone else I start typing a message and then forget who said what and who is up to what. I need a notebook because once I start talking about one thing all else goes away. I wonder if I can blame that on the drugs too???

[designdiva32]

Martie, thanks for the positive words. I really need those right now. I do hope its just a matter of IVF with ICSI and not donor sperm. I am trying very hard not to panic about it all. Until we have the consult its all just speculation. But still, I do believe all this is definately going to lead us to IVF/ICSI. I don't think natural or IUI are options anymore.

Keep us posted on your progress with the FET also. I'm so excited all my girls are going on to get sticky bfp's. It just gives me so much hope and happiness...I'm like a proud Mama bear or something!

[sunny72]

Alana, sorry you didn't get great news today. Like Martie said, maybe it's not all of his sperm that have the problem and then they can handpick some good ones for ICSI? Actually when my ob-gyn mentioned to DH that in her "opinion" it was a male factor for us not getting pregnant, DH almost insisted we go straight to donor sperm. He suggested the same thing before we had Stella also after one SA test. He said he would much rather me be able to have a child if that was the only holdback but I told him I didn't want any child at that time, I wanted his child. He is very open to adoption also although to be honest, he would very much be happy to just enjoy the child we have and not struggle for another. It's me that is pushing for one more, but he's going along with it. Now our thinking is, if we can't get pregnant this FET cycle we may go to international adoption. I've already made some inquiries at the agency I work with and it's another huge step, soul searching and $$$$, but it would give Stelly-Belle a sibling. Or, we could count our blessings and just move on in life. IF has certainly taken the joy out of many of our married years already, mostly because of how I was so consumed by it all.

Martie, all the best for the go ahead on your FET. Before you know it, you'll be incubating too.

[JustPeachy]

Whew... just caught up on everyone! I had my bimonthly office meeting and then I always wind up getting dragged somewhere by one of the other realtors. Usually my gay boyfriend whom I love!

Alana - I know you must have some very mixed feelings over there. Yes, it's good to know more information but now it's just a question of what the next step will be. I'm definitely not the expert but I think it will be IVF w/ PGD. As far as I understand, the ICSI portion will only help the sperm get into the egg. Yes, the embryologist could pick the sperm that look right but I don't think this alone will get you beyond chromosomal disorders. But, if you did the PGD testing on the embryos, then you would know for sure which are all good. Thanks for asking about my u/s. I actually have one of the high definition ones next Wed. with the perinatologist and then my 3D u/s the following Wed. Can't wait to see all the changes!

Shelly - You have an amazing doctor. He truly loves his occupation and it makes all the difference! I'm so glad the test went well today. I've heard that same spiel... no guarantees for the future but everything looks good now. I'm so glad everything is a go! I have several friends that have done weight watchers (and my Mom too) and everyone says great things about the program once you get going with it. It definitely works well for you! I'm hoping to get my hubby walking with me one of these days too. He picked the stroller so I am hoping he's motivated to use it!! It just arrived today and I'm in love.

Susan - I can't beleive your rowing accident Are you feeling ok today? Your head must be throbing! This has got to be the last in the bad luck string!

Jen - I do know where you can find the overalls.... but I have to warn you it is in a maternity store. If you're not opposed, I'll send you a link. How's the coming along? Was today the last official day?

Shawna - Well, at least you got some answers today. How did it go at the gyn? I hope they had more definitive advice.

Martie - I hope you get great news about your FET tomorrow!!

Ronni - No offers at my caravan. I didn't think there would be. But, two potentially interested parties. Just wish someone would put something in writing so we could start negotiating! I'm tired of keeping two houses clean. Not my expertise - nor do I enjoy small talking with strangers. How those embies feeling today? did you take it easy at work?

My dog is going nuts right now!! It's finally cooling off around here and he seems to have that fall spirit. Doing marathon lap circles in the back yard and then running under the deck. Then he comes charging out with spider webs all over his face and goes nuts!! I hope he wears himself out in the next hour. I was outside earlier with him but got 4 mesquito bites and Georgia has had 5 cases of west nile virus already so I'm back in hiding inside. About to cook some rigatoni and lamb ragi over here... I've been on such an Italian kick lately!

[mmikowski]

I cannot wait to be incubating, although last time the 2ww was almost more than I could bare. Will keep everyone informed.

[jencat215]

Alana-it is called a 'shaker'. And I think Rachael is right about the IVF w/ PGD.

Rachael-yes, send the link. I don't care if it is maternity. In fact, I joked with DH the other day that a maternity shop is where I should go.

Martie- for an ALL GO on your FET tomorrow!!!

Shawna- you gotta find another clinic. Shame on those jerks for treating you that way!

Heidi- nothing beats a good poopy!

Ronni-glad you are feeling back to normal again. Can't wait until I do...

Shelly-my cats do the same thing-walk on my girl parts. They do get kicked out of the bedroom when we need them off me. It is so sad. They sit at the door and pout.

Okay, I had a really bad day. I was walking around on the verge of tears all day. I had 3 experiments fail, 2 which were of my own stupid fault (added the wrong antibody). I still feel like crying and have a few times. I am having hot flashes and feel headachy. I want to kill someone. I'm bloated. My boobs have gone back to a Double ****-how do I know? Well I went to Dillards for a strapless bra for the wedding. This nice saleslady was helping me find stuff. I tried on 36D-no go. 38D no go, but yes the 36DD fit. So I spent $150 on bras. She found a comfy one so I bought 2. And the strapless.

The official BD is only 2 nights (Mon and Tues). I need to do it tonight to cover my bases. But I want to kill DH and take a nap. And cry. Maybe I should go lock myself in a closet. How am I supposed to get pg if I feel like a homicidal crazy person??? I know all this is the stupid drugs, but it doesn't make it easier. And that poor bride. Bad timing on her part to have her week long wedding!!!

[GRITS]

Yeah Heidi!!! All these snow babies around here! I cannot wait for my turn!

You girls have me laughing this evening.

Love the lion picture shelly!
I am a little behind , as always it seems lately. .....

Shawna I am so glad they FINALLY called you back!!! And glad you are feeling better too.

Susan I am anxious to hear how your appt goes next week. So did you skip class?

Those crack babies are very scary!

Shelly I am so proud of you!! You have it all figured out. Good health is not rocket science, but it is amazing how people refuse to 'get it'. It is never that they cannot it is just more fun short term not too. But the consequences suck of not getting it. One of my favorite quotes from college was 'Those who do not make time for good health today will have to make time for poor health tomorrow'...well it was something along those lines. So , good for you. Aerobics were never my thing, but yes, I am in health and fitness.
Great news on your hysterosonogram

Alana, i will be praying for you and your DH's sperm! Ha, that sounds so funny! I cannot believe I will be praying for sperm! But for you I will !!!

Martie, good luck tomorrow!

Heidi, my brother just adopted a baby from guatemala (sp?) a year ago. His wife was 45 when they started trying. I do not know why she waited so long......anyway they have a beautiful boy named Mateo now.

I had another u/s today and everything is still good for the 29th.
I have to go b/c my dd just got a new webkins and is dying to get online!
I will have more time tomorrow to catch up properly.