Day 9 - Happy 4th of July!

Day 9:

Round 2 - Uterine Lining - 5.5 and triple; Left: 2@12, 2@11, 3@10, 9, 2@7

Right: 15, 3@13, 4@11, 3@10, 9

TODAY ROUND 4 -

Uterine Lining - 5.5 mm

Left -

16

14.3

14

13.5

13

12

10.5

9.3

Right -

16.75

2@13

12

11.6

11.5

plus 5 others all the same size

My estrodial was 839 today compared to 1006 on day 8 round 2.

So 2 things. 

1) I had a different nurse this morning (Bette) after having Mary all week. Each nurse measures a little differently. Which is why the numbers seem a little different.

2) My estrodial only went up 4 today from yesterday. 

So we are upping my follistim and adding in some menopur along with still doing the ganarelix. That is supposed to kick my estrogen in gear. Even though my follicles are still growing perfectly. So we will see what that does. A hot mess of shots for this gal!

So compared to last time, my follicles are bigger, but my estrogen didn't quite jump like it did last round. So hopefully tomorrow!

Here are a few pics of what our 4th of July has looked like so far. And the view we will have later tonight as well.

And he never finishes these but insists on getting them every time.

Stomach ache for sure.

So thankful for the freedom I have in this country. 

So thankful for the men and women who have helped and continue to help to keep it free.

Thank you all.

Day 8 - Shots and an Appointment. Again.

Another day. Another dollar.

What does that even mean?

At this point I am taking extra electrolytes, extra protein, and extra water.

All so that the fluid will stay where it is supposed to be and not crowd my ovaries.

Yep. They are getting big and I am starting to feel them.

Day 8:

Round 2 - Uterine Lining - over 11 mm; Left - 13.2, 5@11.5, 10.4, 10, 3 @ 9.2, 4 @ 8.4

Right - 15.5, 14, 12.7, 12.5, 10, 5 @ 9.5, 4 @ 8.6 

TODAY ROUND 4 -

Uterine Lining - 3.3 mm triple (Mary assured me it was just the way she measured)

Left -
12.7

12.6

11.8

2@11.6

2@11.5

11.4

10.7

8.1

Right -
12.6

12.5

12.4

12.3

11.5

10.9

2@10.6

2@10.3

2@10.1

10

5@9.3

My estrodial was 835 today compared to 730 on day 8 round 2.

Remember that the estrogen level doesn't go up as much the day after you take your first ganarelix shot. Normally your follicles don't grow much either, but mine did just fine.

In Other News:

Meanwhile we have been finishing our basement. So that is what we spent all day doing. We put in insulation and we finished up with doing a half of a wall of plywood. 

 Aren't we adorable?!
And this is where we started this morning.

And this is where we ended.

The walls are going up! Yay!

And can you believe this moon?!
This was early yesterday morning. So beautiful.
God sure does create some amazing things.

Day 7 - Shots and Appt

OK, so I think I decided I am going to compare it to the same day during round 2, since that is what we want to happen perfectly.

Day 7:

Round 2 - Uterine Lining - 5 mm; Left - 12.7, 11, 2 @ 10.6, 9.4, 8.8, 8.1, 7.4; 
Right: 10, 9, 9 @ 8.5 (yes 9!), 8, 7.1

TODAY ROUND 4 -

Uterine Lining - 4.4 mm (Mary assured me it was just the way she measured)

Left -
12.7
12.4
12.2
10.6
10.3
10.2
8.4
8.1
7.8
7.7
7.4
7.3
7.2

Right -
11
10.1
10
9.2
9
8.8
2@8.3
8.1

My estrodial was 773 today compared to 619 on day 7 round 2.

Just as a reminder, so far I have been taking Follistim. This shot in my belly tells my body to produce follicles.
And today since my numbers are getting up there I can start taking Ganarelix which tells my body to not release any eggs yet though.

As promise here is a different then shot picture.
This is the first Dahlia I have ever grown. I think I am going to plant a special planter and grow a TON of them! I just love them!

Day 4 & 5 - Shots and Waiting

It is such a funny time where you are all excited because you get the go ahead, but then Thomas just gives me shots and we wait for wednesday's appointment to see how my body will respond. 

So we wait.

And give shots.

And wait.

Day 6 - Appt and Shots

So up until today it has just been simple. Life is normal, we do shots every night, but life is still normal. And I am excited, but not my usual hyper freak out excited.

Well, today we get to compare numbers!

Today I am going to compare them to all the other rounds. And then tomorrow I will decide if I will compare them to all the rounds, just round 2 since it is the most similar, or just the day before. We shall see!

Day 6:

Round 1 - left and right sides 3 follicles are at 6 mm and another 4 follicles are at 5 mm.

Round 2 - Uterine Lining - 3.7 mm; Left - 9.8, 9.5, 8.2, 2 @ 7.1, 6.6, 6.2, 5.1; Right - 11, 2 @ 8, 2@ 7, 6.8, 3 @ 6.1
Round 3 - Uterine Lining - thin; Left - 5x4, 5x3, 4x3, 4x3, 3x2, 3x2; Right - 5x4, 4x3, 3x3, 3x2

TODAY ROUND 4 -

Uterine Lining - 4.5 mm

Left -
11.3
9.8
8.1
2@7.7
7.6
7.3
6.7
6.5
6
2@5.5

Right -
10.7
2@9.75
8.1
7.4
6.7
6.5
6.4
6.3
5.7
4.7

My estrodial was 452 today compared to 369 on day 6 round 2.

And just so you all know, Round 2 is the round we want to be like. Round 2 is where we were on birth control for the 21 days just like this round (4), and 2 is the round where my body responded really well to the shots, and 2 is the round where I got pregnant with twins! So you bet we are going to emulate the heck out of that round! Hopefully :)

And since I know you are all missing those pictures of Thomas giving me shots from last round, here you go.

I promise I will give you other pictures other fun things other days, because it is beautiful here in WA right now! And yes those are all the supplements we take when trying to get pregnant. It is insane.

But right now I am relieved to know that all is going like planned. My body is responding beautifully to the meds and hopefully it will be just like round 2. I am getting excited, but again, more relieved then anything.

My favorite part is the no stress! We cleared our calendars this month and having nothing planned for the whole month of July is fantastic! 

Day 3 - Operation Quattro

Round 4

Operation Audi All Wheel Drive is a go!

Or for all of us who do not get that and do not understand why Thomas named this round that,

we will call it, Operation Quattro is a go!

Apparently the Audi All Wheel Drive is also called "Quattro". Who knew?

Here is the approximate Schedule for this next round.

Remember that Day 1 is the day I started my cycle. So today is technically Day 3

June 28th - Shots and appointment Day 3
June 29th - Shots Day 4
June 30th - Shots Day 5
July 1st - Shots and appointment Day 6
July 2nd - Shots and appointment Day 7
July 3rd - Shots and appointment Day 8
July 4th - Shots and appointment Day 9
July 5th - Shots and appointment Day 10
July 6th - Shots and appointment Day 11

From here on out depends on how my body is responding. But I will either continue on shots or being this next schedule
July 7th - Free Day!
July 8th - Extraction day for both Thomas and I
July 9th - Day 1 Embryos grow
July 10th - Day 2 Embryos grow
July 11th - Day 3 implant

The Prayer Map
But here is what I would really like for you all to do. Let me know if you are walking through this with us and praying for us. I would love to fill in these maps to see our support system journeying with us all over the world.

Because you all mean the world to us. And even if someone already said your state or country, let me know because I would love to write down the list of names and places to show our kiddos some day how incredibly loved and prayed for they are! 

And now...
Tonight I do my first shot. And I continue on with shots until wednesday. So there will be no numbers to report until then. So I may write, but maybe not.

Here we go again!
Let me know where you are rooting us on and praying for us from!

Lessons Learned IVF 1-3 and What's Next

 Lessons Learned
Someone asked Thomas and I a few months ago what we learned through each round of IVF. Thomas' immediate response was patience, while I realized that I learned very different lessons each round. So here they are.

Round 1 - Operation Tiny Toes
Entitled.
I mean we were doing IVF which means that automatically it should work for us, right? I mean we were healthy and we were overcoming the hurdle of our true issue, so everything should work and we should get pregnant easily with the help of a few Dr's right?
Wrong. I am not entitled to anything. Just because we are 2 perfectly healthy adults does not mean it is automatically going to work and we will get pregnant.
Noted.

  Round 2 - Operation Big Belly Mica
Giving God my kids.
This meaning was realized from the very second that we implanted those little buggers. The second round went so much smoother then the first with all the meds, but that little thing called fear set in and I realized that we were not invincible. And we were not entitled. So from the start I gave God my kids. Daily from the moment we implanted. And then again when I freaked out when we were actually pregnant. And then again when I started bleeding. And then again when we found out we were having twins. And then again when we lost the first twin. And then ultimately again when we lost the second.
I realized that someday when we actually get kiddos for longer then an 8 week pregnancy, that I will have to give my kiddos to God from the very first moment and every moment after because they are ultimately His. And whether I get them for 8 weeks of pregnancy and get to dream, or if I get them for 5 days after giving birth, or 5 years or forever, parenting is hard.
Ok God. I know I will take them back again and again, but my kids for however long I have them are yours.

Round 3 - Operation Third Times The Charm
Fear has to be given to God.
I am not a fearful person. I never was before and I have not been since. But in the middle of round 3 after I implanted those 2 little guys, fear hit me. At the moment, I honestly could not think I could handle the news if round 3 did not work.
But after spending some time clinging to God, He showed me how to Abide. Rest in Him. He will help me get through. And He did, clearly.
Oh the sweet rest.

What's Next
Are you all ready for this ride again?

I took my last birth control pill last night. Which means we are on target for my first appointment to be on Sunday. That is the appointment where I am cleared for the start of this next round or not. So we just sit and wait for my body to do its thing over the next 4 days.

Will chat with you on Sunday and put up a calender for you all to follow along.
Round 4! Lets do this!

I love this promise.
Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing;
You hold my future.
- Psalm 16:5