brian and I found a great little house in chattanooga to rent while we are there for IVF. The lady who owns it could not be nicer and owns a beautiful spa called Lakeview at Fontana Resort & Spa in the mountains of North Carolina that I want to visit! She is letting us bring our dogs, which makes me so happy. I would miss them so much being away that long, especially not having them there to snuggle up to while on bed rest!
The house is in such a convenient and fun area and the city is just beautiful!
here are some pictures... It looks so serene and peaceful. A great place to rest and relax for IVF!
http://www.vrbo.com/138646
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
My IVF Station is a HAPPY place :)
Last IVF (and 3 IUI's) I dreaded going in to get my needles and medicine as I was completely terrified! I have decided to make my medicine station (our china cabinet is substituting as "the lab" for the next couple weeks) a much happier place where I will feel positive and excited when it's time for my doses. I put up a few quotes to remind myself of each day and pictures that inspire me like of Brian, my niece and nephew, etc. And the Christmas decorations all around make everything so cheerful- I love Christmas time!
I also did my STIM sheets (AKA- checklists) to keep up with all of our meds and made them in red and green in the spirit of making our sweet Christmas baby! I did the first 6 days so feel much more organized!
I am feeling GREAT about everything, except my throat is sore w chest congestion big time. I am praying that I am not coming down with something as this is NOT the week for this! However, I think it may be due to the weather. It was warm in the 60's and them plummeted down to where it was actually snowing outside! Welcome to Memphis with the crazy weather!
And last but not least- I had to take a pic of all the medicine sheets listing side effects, interactions, etc. Being the hypochondriac that I am, I have decided to set these to the side, just like I did last time as too much reading I will have every symptom as soon as I inject the meds!
Just 2 more days until the shots! Thanks for all of your sweet thoughts and prayers :)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Blogger awards!
Blogger Award!
Thank you Jessica from Our roller coaster through IVF and Lanie from http://unruffledlanie.blogspot.com/ who awarded me with my first blogger award! I'm kind of new to this whole community, thanks for including me!
Liebster is a German word meaning dearest, and the award is given to up-and-coming bloggers
with less than 200 followers.
Here are the rules:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Hope that the people you’ve sent the award to forward it to their five favorite bloggers and keep it going!
The five blogs I want to recognize for being nothing but awesome are:
1. http://seeabeautifulworld.blogspot.com/
2. http://lifeswhathappensyourbusymakingplans.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-could-start-at-begging-but-that-would.html to Jessica
3. http://unruffledlanie.blogspot.com/ to Lanie
4. http://myworrybird.blogspot.com/ to Mary Margaret
5. http://adayinthelifeofthedawkins.blogspot.com/ to Carrie.
Thank you Jessica from Our roller coaster through IVF and Lanie from http://unruffledlanie.blogspot.com/ who awarded me with my first blogger award! I'm kind of new to this whole community, thanks for including me!
Liebster is a German word meaning dearest, and the award is given to up-and-coming bloggers
with less than 200 followers.
Here are the rules:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top five picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Hope that the people you’ve sent the award to forward it to their five favorite bloggers and keep it going!
The five blogs I want to recognize for being nothing but awesome are:
1. http://seeabeautifulworld.blogspot.com/
2. http://lifeswhathappensyourbusymakingplans.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-could-start-at-begging-but-that-would.html to Jessica
3. http://unruffledlanie.blogspot.com/ to Lanie
4. http://myworrybird.blogspot.com/ to Mary Margaret
5. http://adayinthelifeofthedawkins.blogspot.com/ to Carrie.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
MEDS ARRIVED! COUNTDOWN IS ON! BASELINE ULTRASOUND AND E2 LEVELS!
I can't believe it's almost time! Our massive box of meds arrived Wednesday night and we start shots on the 2nd.
I have been taking the estrace (estradiol) for almost 2 weeks now and will continue for about another week. Estrace was not my friend the first few days. the side effects were awful w nausea and headaches, but they subsided after a few days- thank goodness!!!
Dr. Murray also tested my Vitamin D and mine was low. I was pretty shocked as I love to sit out in the sun! I think that test would have different results in the summer for sure :) I started on Maximum D3 which is 10,000 iu's of Vitamin D. I had to do this for 5 days and started it the same day as estrace. Both of those combined were tough on my body. I will still take one tablet of 10,000 iu's during IVF.
Today was my baseline ultrasound and bloodwork- I had 30 follies :) compared to 18 for IVF 1, and my e2 level was 334, which is high but taking the estrace was to give this a boost, which I will only be taking a few more days. On STIM day 4 previously I was only at 115 for my e2! I am definitely happy so far!
our plan is to head to Chattanooga for monitoring starting on the 9th which is the 8th day of STIMS. We are getting so excited! My parents are going to come up and visit and before we know it we will be back to Memphis surviving the 2 week wait and enjoying the Christmas season!
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers so much! We are SO READY!
I have been taking the estrace (estradiol) for almost 2 weeks now and will continue for about another week. Estrace was not my friend the first few days. the side effects were awful w nausea and headaches, but they subsided after a few days- thank goodness!!!
Dr. Murray also tested my Vitamin D and mine was low. I was pretty shocked as I love to sit out in the sun! I think that test would have different results in the summer for sure :) I started on Maximum D3 which is 10,000 iu's of Vitamin D. I had to do this for 5 days and started it the same day as estrace. Both of those combined were tough on my body. I will still take one tablet of 10,000 iu's during IVF.
Today was my baseline ultrasound and bloodwork- I had 30 follies :) compared to 18 for IVF 1, and my e2 level was 334, which is high but taking the estrace was to give this a boost, which I will only be taking a few more days. On STIM day 4 previously I was only at 115 for my e2! I am definitely happy so far!
our plan is to head to Chattanooga for monitoring starting on the 9th which is the 8th day of STIMS. We are getting so excited! My parents are going to come up and visit and before we know it we will be back to Memphis surviving the 2 week wait and enjoying the Christmas season!
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers so much! We are SO READY!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving Friends!
Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am so thankful to have the support and ability from amazing family and friends to get through all of this. Thank You!
I am counting my blessings and hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving!
~My cup runneth over!
The more we express our gratitude to God for our blessings, the more he will bring to our mind other blessings. The more we are aware of to be grateful for, the happier we become.-- - Ezra Taft Benson
Love-
lauren
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
of course I have to complain about how much worse these lovely bruises look today!
And I am still not 100% after my biopsy. Yikes. I was reading last night and so many women said it was worse than childbirth! The majority said it was the most pain they have ever endured in their LIFE and I completely agree!!!!
On a happier note, we went to the Bama game at Mississippi State Saturday with my youngest sister and her boyfriend. We had a fun day and glad to see the Tide win after the heartbreaking loss against LSU last weekend.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Dear Sophie Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vkVHijdQk
I think this is about the sweetest commercial ever. I still can't make it through without tears streaming down my face. What a sweet daddy documenting memories for his little girl!
I think this is about the sweetest commercial ever. I still can't make it through without tears streaming down my face. What a sweet daddy documenting memories for his little girl!
NEVER have I EVER experienced pain like this!
I just had my endometrial biopsy and I am going to put up a major fight if I have to do this again. Or have pain killers, valium, xanax, alcohol, etc. (probably all of the above) in my system before hand. Advil does NOT cut it!
With all of the tests, procedures, etc. this was the most painful by far. Horrific! So painful it made me cry. Just thinking about it makes me cringe at the pain. I am so glad Brian was with me, and that he has both of his hands- I had to squeeze both of them as tight as I could!
I am so glad that procedure can be marked off the list.
Rewinding to this morning........
I had to get my progesterone blood draw and should have known the day would only get worse after! Iove the lab tech (I am getting blood drawn still in memphis where I did IVF#1 and they are faxing results to dr in chattanooga) and she is usually spot on at finding the perfect vein. Today I must have been a hard case :( She stuck me once and couldn't get the blood to draw, so she had to stick me again. I got really woozy bc the pain was awful and the whole situation made me feel like fainting! I became the recipient of 2 massive bruises on my arm!
I did get the clearance to start my Estrace (Estrogen) tonight! So the 1st med for IVF begins tonight!
Is it really only Monday?
With all of the tests, procedures, etc. this was the most painful by far. Horrific! So painful it made me cry. Just thinking about it makes me cringe at the pain. I am so glad Brian was with me, and that he has both of his hands- I had to squeeze both of them as tight as I could!
I am so glad that procedure can be marked off the list.
Rewinding to this morning........
I had to get my progesterone blood draw and should have known the day would only get worse after! Iove the lab tech (I am getting blood drawn still in memphis where I did IVF#1 and they are faxing results to dr in chattanooga) and she is usually spot on at finding the perfect vein. Today I must have been a hard case :( She stuck me once and couldn't get the blood to draw, so she had to stick me again. I got really woozy bc the pain was awful and the whole situation made me feel like fainting! I became the recipient of 2 massive bruises on my arm!
I did get the clearance to start my Estrace (Estrogen) tonight! So the 1st med for IVF begins tonight!
Is it really only Monday?
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Redbooks "The Truth About trying"
I love these little blurbs from people who have infertility. So many of these stories give me such great hope :)
http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/infertility-video-series#v1212312906001
http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/infertility-video-series#v1212312906001
Friday, November 11, 2011
First visit to chattanooga!
brian and I went to Chattanooga for our first visit to TRM! We nailed it with timing on the prettiest week of the year with the leaves in just about every color imaginable! It was unbelievable how beautiful and vibrant the trees were! I hope they will stick around for a few more weeks until we arrive in december. I had a major fail with the lack of picture taking this go round! I will do much better next time!!!
We stayed at The Chattanoogan Hotel and loved it. We had a great dinner at St. John's meeting place, along with a pumpkin spice martini which was to die for!!!!! we also enjoyed walking around downtown. Chattanooga is the cleanest city I have ever seen and the electric bus which is free transportation around downtown was a nice perk- I love that they do so many "green' things here!
The next morning we headed to the office and my first official meeting with dr. Murray was my trial transfer-What a way to meet-haha! All went well with that, no hiccups so we are all set for transfer. Then we had a great meeting with dr. Murray and he went over protocol step by step, meds, side effects, etc. EXTREMELY thorough! He spent 3 hours total with us! :)
After a quick lunch we headed back for a little bloodwork. I am back to being a pin cushion! And the last stop of the day was injection training. Many of the meds we were familiar with what do do so it was super simple! I will be taking a few new meds and the best news of all is no more PIO shots! I will be using the Crinone instead :) I am super pumped bc those shots are the devil!
So...my next steps are:
Nov. 14th- endometrial biopsy and progesterone draw
wait for that lovely time of month so I can start taking my estrace which is estrogen. Mine was sub-par last cycle so I need all the help I can get! This should be around the 21st
November 28th- baseline ultrasound and bloodwork
December 1- Start Lupron, letrazole for 5 days, Dexamethasone. continue estrace
December 2- add Follistim, Menopur to the mix
December 4- Last day of estrogen
December 7- I will add Saizen growth hormone. 1st follicle ultrasound and estradiol
December 8- Leave for Chattanooga
December 9- BW and US at TRM
Continue scans and bloodwork until it's time for retrieval!
We will stay in Chattanooga and the plan is to do a 5 day transfer and stay one more day after transfer!
I am so excited and know we are in the best hands ever with this doctor. I can't wait for everything to get here!
We stayed at The Chattanoogan Hotel and loved it. We had a great dinner at St. John's meeting place, along with a pumpkin spice martini which was to die for!!!!! we also enjoyed walking around downtown. Chattanooga is the cleanest city I have ever seen and the electric bus which is free transportation around downtown was a nice perk- I love that they do so many "green' things here!
The next morning we headed to the office and my first official meeting with dr. Murray was my trial transfer-What a way to meet-haha! All went well with that, no hiccups so we are all set for transfer. Then we had a great meeting with dr. Murray and he went over protocol step by step, meds, side effects, etc. EXTREMELY thorough! He spent 3 hours total with us! :)
After a quick lunch we headed back for a little bloodwork. I am back to being a pin cushion! And the last stop of the day was injection training. Many of the meds we were familiar with what do do so it was super simple! I will be taking a few new meds and the best news of all is no more PIO shots! I will be using the Crinone instead :) I am super pumped bc those shots are the devil!
So...my next steps are:
Nov. 14th- endometrial biopsy and progesterone draw
wait for that lovely time of month so I can start taking my estrace which is estrogen. Mine was sub-par last cycle so I need all the help I can get! This should be around the 21st
November 28th- baseline ultrasound and bloodwork
December 1- Start Lupron, letrazole for 5 days, Dexamethasone. continue estrace
December 2- add Follistim, Menopur to the mix
December 4- Last day of estrogen
December 7- I will add Saizen growth hormone. 1st follicle ultrasound and estradiol
December 8- Leave for Chattanooga
December 9- BW and US at TRM
Continue scans and bloodwork until it's time for retrieval!
We will stay in Chattanooga and the plan is to do a 5 day transfer and stay one more day after transfer!
I am so excited and know we are in the best hands ever with this doctor. I can't wait for everything to get here!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Halloween
Since we don't have kids we dress our dogs up for Halloween- I say "we" but Brian really has no part of this. They definitely are not fans but they look too funny not to take advantage of this yearly opportunity. Sadie was a bee, Buddy a frog and Princess Flower was a unicorn.
We had a blast last night with family and friends. It was wild over here with kids everywhere!
We had a big crowd of trick-or-treaters and gave out a ton of candy, ate too much pizza, ro-tel and enjoyed the bar that we set up- Such a fun night!!!
We had a blast last night with family and friends. It was wild over here with kids everywhere!
We had a big crowd of trick-or-treaters and gave out a ton of candy, ate too much pizza, ro-tel and enjoyed the bar that we set up- Such a fun night!!!
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