[lilac]

Ona, I was just ecstatic that the needle didn't break right off!

Well, at least you know the prometrium is in your system! I've been pretty fortunate never to get those particular symptoms with prometrium, I think.

Just think, this may be your last trip to Fairfax Cryo!

Excellent news that you'll be super busy next week. That really is the way to go on the 2nd half of the 2ww. Too busy to stress has worked well for me!

[MzVee]

Ladies,

Any of you working in a corporate environment? I am in the senior management of my organization and I was wondering how being a single parent will impact my career growth? Anyone with experience, thoughts or concerns on this topic?

I am not concerned enough to delay parenting, but just wondering how other singles felt about this topic.

[silverbrumby]

Hey all...

Well, the tank is back home at the cryobank and traffic wasnt too hideous during the trip...

Looks like this weekend is gearing up to be a blustery one with Hannah on her way... I start my adoption classes this Saturday too, so should be interesting driving weather. My friend is going to puppy sit for me, so at least I don't have to worry about my dogs.

MzVee, that is a great topic of discussion. I worry about being a single parent and the sole provider, not because I want to get ahead in Corp America, but because it's a scary responsibility. I already worry about making enough to take care of my pets. hehe. I am lucky right now in that I work from home, but that could change down the road... I think that the effects of being a parent on your career depend on what you do and where you work, but if you work for a company that is going to penalize you for being a single parent then I say, send those resumes out now. There are some places out there that offer family friendly work conditions and care about supporting parents.

[Teri01042008]

Ladies,I just gort back from my ultrasound and I am having TWINS!!!!! Both babies are measuring perfectly and I heard baby A's heartbeat,it was 106 bpm and baby B had a heartbeat but we couldn't hear it.I am soooo excited!!!!!!

[lilac]

MzVee, interesting question...

I'm in senior management but I wouldn't describe my position as a corporate environment per se - my company is fairly small. Getting ahead at this company is not really an issue (nowhere to go but down - so to advance, I'd switch companies). I worry about a child affecting my career, but my worries are more directed at being able to retain my position (and the salary that goes with it!) while raising a child. My company is not family-unfriendly, but they aren't exactly family-friendly either, and there are expectations... I know I could get a better position at another company but I do worry about the increase in stress and time that would be required for a step like that. When it comes right down to it, for me, the career doesn't really matter. It's not like I LOVE my job or anything, and I could easily see myself doing something else. My planning in this area all revolves around a career that allows me the income necessary to raise a child and does not take over so much of my time that I never see that child. I'm prepared to make sacrifices...

[lilac]

OMG Teri! Wow, congratulations! You said at the beginning you wanted twins, didn't you? Was that a natural cycle?

[silverbrumby]

WOW TERI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations! I would be thrilled but terrified at the same time...

I think we need to nickname you fertile mertyl.

[MzVee]

Originally Posted by Teri01042008

Ladies,I just gort back from my ultrasound and I am having TWINS!!!!! Both babies are measuring perfectly and I heard baby A's heartbeat,it was 106 bpm and baby B had a heartbeat but we couldn't hear it.I am soooo excited!!!!!!

THAT IS WONDERFUL! CONGRATS! You inspire me, that is so great!

[Becca10]

WOW Teri....CONGRATS all around! Boys or girls, it matters not......how exciting! Keep us posted!

I went to UVA last Friday for my appt with the RE. He was great, and told me that my probs definitely stem from a hydrosalpinx on my left side and the endo. He doesn't want to go the IVF route initially; he said that we would do this thing called the ORY cycle....anyone hear of it?

It's just a cycle of Clomid plus Gonal-F. I would take the Clomid days 3-7 and inject the GF on day 9. Then HCG shot, ultrasound, and then IUI.

Is Gonal-F and Clomid effective? What do you guys know about it? The dr thinks I need a bit more than Clomid but less than IVF. Which is good bec its still financially less to try it this way.

I can start in October. He wants to do u/s later this month to see if a cyst that popped up went down, or hopefully away.

Hope everyone is having a good wk!

[silverbrumby]

Ok, I'm still doing a serious happy dance for Teri over here... !

On a totally different subject, since many of you ladies were really supportive and patient listening to me when I had my drama at my hospital job, I thought I'd share some news.... the evil yenta manager who was the reason I left the job, was fired!!! I found out when I noticed they were advertising for a director via one of the job sites I frequent..then I asked a friend/former coworker and he said that she had been canned. There is justice in this world!

[charltac]

Teri - congratulations! That is so great. I would love to have twins. I'm jealous.

That is a great question about the career and single momdum. I do work for corporate america and I'm an engineer so i am in even more of a man's world, but I have to say that it's not a concern for me as long as I can financially provide for my family. This is actually such a change for me, when it became so hard for me to get pregnant. I guess my perspective changed when i realized it was a possiblity it might not happen.

I have 4 more days until my first beta and I am terrified. Speaking of work, I have a ton going on and with this process being so hard I can't tell if I'm emotional from the stress of IVF or the stress of work. it's crazy. I'm trying so hard to stay positive.

[silverbrumby]

Becca! Good to see you on here! I'm glad your appt went well. Your RE sounds like he knows what he is doing. I've not heard of ORY but I have heard of folks taking clomid and gonal-f together. So when do you start your cycle???!!!

[Becca10]

Hey SilverB, I am still so excited for Teri ...it is really inspiring to keep all of us going. My dr says that I can potentially start in October. Not sure of the date yet. I got AF late on 9/1, as expected. Dr seems to think, from what i have been charting, that I OV on day 13, occasionally day 14. So the cool thing is I'm pretty regular despite all my other issues

I guess it depends on when AF comes, and I have a pretty good idea when it's supposed to, and if the cyst goes away.

I need to research more on the Gonal-F.

How have u been?

[silverbrumby]

Hey...I'm doin alright Becca...just enduring this TWW!

Gonal-f is actually safer than Clomid but it still has a lot of the risks as other fertility meds such as hyperstimulation syndrome, multiples, etc...

[kblythe]

I'm fixing to go to bed, so this will be super short.

Teri!!!!! Yay! I think that says it all.

MzVee, I'm an attorney, but I work for the State now, so I don't have to worry too much about job progression. Although law firms pay lip service to being family friendly, it would be very difficult to be a single parent and move ahead in a law firm environment.

Becca, before turning to IVF, I did two IUI cycles with follistim, which is a lot like Gonal-F. Same general principle. It increased the number of follicles, thereby increasing your chance of success. As mentioned by Ona, however, it also increases the chance of multiples. I think that is how Jon & Kate (of Jon & Kate plus 8) ended up with sextuplets.

Ona, I am so pleased the wench was fired. It's nice to see what goes around come back around!

Off to bed.

Kathryn