Beta #2

Wow, well it's been such a surreal past few days!!

We did our second beta on Friday and it needed to be over 209 to indicate that this is a viable pregnancy, and it was 276! :) :) :) We are still in so much shock, but we are feeling so happy, blessed, and oh so grateful!

So what now?  I will go in for some blood tests on Thursday to check my Progesterone, and Estrogen levels, then next Friday, July 5, will be our first ultrasound.

Again, I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who has supported us, prayed for us, and lent a loving hand, you mean the world to us!!!!!  For now we are still taking it one step at a time, and trying to enjoy this feeling as much as we can!

XOXO

Beta #1

Today was our first Beta, which is basically the blood pregnancy test that measures HCG (it's released only when you're pregnant.) We have been a nervous wreck to say the least, but I am now so happy to be able to pass on some great news.

Beta #1 at 9dp5dt is 126!!!

We got the call first from our nurse, and then a few minutes later Dr. Surrey called to personally congratulate us. I have to say...I just adore him, he is such a kind and caring person, a real class-act! We still have a long road ahead, but so far things are going very well. They wanted to see the beta over 50 today. We will go back in on Friday morning for another beta test, and by Friday they want to see that HCG value increase by 66%. If my math is correct (which it seldom is lol) it should be over 209 at that time.

Right now we're still trying to believe that this is real. It's a lot to take in, and we want to stay cautiously optimistic right now since it's still so early. We are so excited, and we are really hoping that this is just the start of something beautiful!!! <3

Thank you all SO much for the thoughts and prayers! I'm a firm believer in the power of positivity and prayers, and I cannot say enough "thank you's" for all of the love and support we've been receiving. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

XOXO

PUPO!!

I'm PUPO!! (Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise!)

Well today I am 6dp5dt (6 days past 5 day transfer.) I'd like to say the time has flown by, but that'd be a lie. Things have been awful around here, which is one reason for my lack of posts, things have been NUTS!

First off, I'll cover the transfer, because that actually went very well. Once again, CCRM impressed me with their efficiency, care, and professionalism. I was slightly worried about the full bladder thing, I worried for days prior to the transfer that I'd pee on the Dr. as he was doing the transfer, it was actually stressing me out a little. I was conservative with how much water I drank, especially because I knew I had the acupuncture before the transfer. It worked out really well with the way I did it, and there was an ultrasound tech checking my bladder regularly via ultrasound which quickly eased my mind. No one got peed on, what a relief! :) The Valium helped the day to go by very fast, I give the experience an A+!

Everything was great, the acupuncture before and after was a nice addition to the transfer, and overall I left CCRM feeling very comfortable, and hopeful!

Embryologist prepping Frostie

One perfect little love

By now, HCG should be in my bloodstream, but we have not taken any home pregnancy tests. To be honest, I don't know if we will or not, there's a lot of fear of what we might see when the results pop up. Sometimes I want to test, other times I really don't. I go in and out of thinking that this worked, and that uncertainty is killing me. I've been having some early pregnancy symptoms, but it's hard for me to know if they are just side effects from the Progesterone, or if it's from our little Frostie. I was on the Progesterone for 5 days before the transfer, but I only was having cramping as a side effect until around 3dp5dt. At 4dp5dt I stated getting random headaches, waves a nausea, soreness on my outer breasts, and low random cramps different from those initial cramps I was getting. I am trying SOOOOO hard not to read into every little thing going on in body right now, because really, they all could be from the Progesterone. Today I have had no symptoms at all, I am feeling fine, which is making me a little sad and worried. It's amazing how hard it is to not read into every little sensation, or even lack of sensation during these days of waiting. I would say that I am prepared for whatever our test result is, I just need to know.  I have so many sensations that I have been feeling, and sometimes I feel so pregnant, but other times I don't. I'd like to think that I am not going crazy here, but I very well might be lol. I will know for sure on Wednesday. 

Now onto the not so pleasant happenings...

So a very aggressive wildfire started just a few miles from my house the day after my transfer. How's that for timing, right? We had a massive fire (Waldo Canyon Fire) last summer in my town that made it into a residential area. At the time, the Waldo Canyon Fire became the most destructive fire in Colorado's history. Unfortunately, this fire that's going on now (Black Forest Fire) has even surpassed the Waldo Canyon Fire. So far, 484 homes have been destroyed, and there have been 2 confirmed deaths. The first started on the day after the transfer, and it started so strong, it was going crazy, it was very hot, it was very windy, and the fire was calling all of the shots. I became very worried early-on that we would need to evacuate. Luckily, we were just south of the evac line, but it didn't change the fear and sadness I continued to feel. The evac lines kept expanding, and nothing but pure destruction was going on. As selfish as it is, I was so sad, and mad that this had to happen right after my transfer, while I was still on bed rest even. With all of this happening, I actually thought for sure that my transfer was doomed, I was just so upset for too long. I have gotten more optimistic since then, I think that our little Frostie is resilient and strong enough to handle it all, but it still just makes me realize how cruel and unfair life can be at times. I'm still just so sick over all of this, I cannot believe that my hometown where I have lived for 28 years has seen such devastating fires two summers in a row. The fire is now 55% contained, which is good, but it doesn't change the horrendous damage that this thing has caused. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this fire, especially those who have lost their homes, and for the family and friends of those who lost their lives.

That's about it for now, I will leave you with a few photos from the fire. Stay safe and healthy, friends!

XO

Taken from our bedroom shortly after the fire started

 

 

Acupuncture!!

OH MY GOODNESS!  What an exciting day this has been!!

So today we went up to CCRM for my lining check, and a blood draw to check my Estradiol again. I am so excited for this post, because I am just so shocked by the results, in a very good way!

I had my first baseline Doppler Ultrasound back in December, and at that time the news wasn’t so good. My left side was 5.45 and my right side was 4.76, and the blood flow was also slightly reversed. I was told that with those numbers I wouldn’t be able to get pregnant and/or sustain a pregnancy. 

To hopefully combat this problem I was advised to start Electroacupuncture twice a week starting 4 weeks prior to the transfer.  What is Electroacupuncture, you ask? I like to call it acupuncture on steroids, but there is a little more to it than that.  It's a back treatment where needles are on the lower back, legs, and ankles. After all of the needles are placed, little clips similar to jumper cables are attached to each needle. The clips cause electric pulses, so basically each needle gives a little zap every few seconds. Each session starts by working needle-by-needle, slowly increasing the electricity until each is at a comfortable level. The goal is to have it high enough to be able to feel it, but not high enough to where you can’t relax and fall asleep. There’s quite a science to finding that place where the levels are just right. It can also be hard to maintain the levels, after about 8 minutes your body gets used to it, and the sensations lessen. There have been many times that I have needed the electricity cranked up a little mid-session for that reason. It probably sounds worse than it is, it really isn’t that bad.  Sessions are 30 minutes, and the time goes pretty fast. I have done some regular treatments as well, and those have been just your average acupuncture, but 2/3 of my treatments have been the Electro.

Ok, so where am I going with this? With my lining check today they did another Doppler, and I am STILL in shock with the results. Today, the blood flow was not reversed at all, it was perfect, and the values went down significantly! The left side is now 3.2, and the right is 3.0, they want to see those values below 3. I’m not quite there, but this is amazing considering where I was just a few short months ago. I originally had one more session scheduled on Friday, (not including the 2 on transfer day) but they wanted me to add one extra session tomorrow to hopefully get them a little lower before the transfer, but even if we don’t, this should be fine. YAY!! :) 

Everything else went pretty well with the appointment. My lining is at 9.2, and they want that over 8, so that is perfect. The only concern is my E2 level…They want it over 300, and I’m only at 196. As a result, we’ve added an oral Estrogen pill that I need to start today. Hopefully that pill combined with my Estrogen patches will get me to where I need to be before the transfer. Otherwise, things are still right on track. Today I had my last Lupron injection, and I will now start Progesterone tomorrow morning, along with some pills-an antibiotic, and Medrol. Things definitely seem to coming along nicely, and I am so thankful for that!

I hope you all are having a great day!

XOXO

1 WEEK!!!

I am truly stunned that we are finally so close to our FET. By this time next week we will be up at CCRM doing our FET, and I couldn't be happier to be where we are right now.

I am fully aware that this transfer may not work, though I am trying to be optimistic because there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work either. We’ve been on the TTC sidelines for over a year now, so I am so ready to finally be back in motion. Regardless of the outcome, I’m just so happy to finally be back in the game! It’s like we finally have our chance, and I plan on enjoying every second of it.

On a side note: This doesn’t get said enough, so I feel a strong desire to mention this...I HAVE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE HUSBAND!! I cannot imagine going through this whole thing without him, and there is no one else in the world that I would rather have by my side right now. I am so thankful for him, and at the end of the day, regardless of how this transfer plays out, I will still have him and that’s more than anyone can ask for.  I’ve found the perfect song to say how I feel towards my husband right now, Mirrors by Justin Timberlake. I really just feel like it has turned into our IVF song. I listen to it all of the time, especially when I feel overwhelmed.  I tear up every time I hear it, it’s just so perfect!

So with that, I will leave you with my favorite lyrics from Mirrors…

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery”

XOXO