Count your blessings name them one by one......

Last Wednesday we found out that our 2nd IUI was not successful. We were already prepared that this was a possibility and we found ourselves at a peaceful place. We had already decided that we wanted to move forward with IVF if the IUI was unsuccessful but since we were both off work last week (on our staycation) we were able to spend some time to truly think and pray about this decision. We both decided we were ready to do this next step and we aren't letting the money stand in our way.

We know that we have a higher chance for this procedure to fail and even if we do get pregnant we have a higher risk for miscarriage but we are so thankful that God is in control of all of this. We have given it to him and will follow his will for our lives. Please continue to pray for Kevin and I on this new journey. We have already purchased the medications and start the injections on the 30th. For now that’s all we really know, but we will continue to use this blog as a way to update family and friends.

We have tried our best to stay positive with our infertility issues and want to remember our blessings. Thinking about our blessings can make the hard days much easier to handle. I am so thankful to have love and support from family, friends and coworkers. I have been blessed with two sweet friends who have gone through IVF. Their support, advice and prayers have truly meant so much to Kevin and I. We are also thankful for loving and supportive parents. They are there for us when we need advice or just a shoulder to lean on.

I have been beyond blessed to work at a Christian company full of believers and to have understanding and caring supervisors. They have been so supportive and understanding about all of our appointments and procedures. Not many places would be so understanding, and I am very grateful for FMS and its leaders.

Last week Kevin and I both had the week off, which was a true blessing. We stayed busy with painting the exterior of our house, swimming, installing lights at my parents, lunch at Joe T's, Omni Theater, more swimming, BBQ’ing, and just spending time together. I am always thankful for the time we have together and I was glad we decided to stay home for our vacation. We are planning a fun weekend away around our anniversary in November which gives us something to look forward to.

More to come on our adventure with IVF, thank you again for your prayers! God never gives us more than we can handle!

And now we wait.....

Today Kevin and I had our second IUI procedure, which was a lot easier than the first one. Dr. Douglas actually preformed this procedure and told us that everything looked perfect. We had two follicles (21 mm and 18 mm) on the right ovary. We had a third one that was a 13 and they didn't expect that one to release. We used more medications this round than we have ever used. We spent about $1500 at the pharmacy on our injectables but we were happy to see success from that. We are very hopeful that this IUI will work but we continue to know that God is in control. Now we play the waiting game. We won't know anything for a couple weeks if this IUI took or if we will proceed with IVF. Kevin said I need a project to keep me busy during that time to keep me occupied and I completely agree.

Over the last year and a half I have met many other couples that are going through the same issues that we are going through with infertility. There are some great online support groups that have been helpful as well. Infertility is a journey that unless you have taken it personally you can't really understand how it feels, so it has been really comforting to have others to lean on when you need it.

Since I have been on this journey I have found that some people don't know how to express their support for those going through infertility issues. Someone else I know who is going through infertility treatments passed this website along to me on Infertility Etiquette and I totally agree with it. If you know someone that is going through infertility I would urge you to read it, it could help you understand how to be supportive to those going through treatments.

http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/for-family--friends/infertility-etiquette.html

At first Kevin and I weren't sure how open we wanted to be with what we are going through, it is such a personal walk and somethings are really hard to express to others. But I have really found that talking to others about what we are going through can be therapeutic. I know God has a purpose for choosing Kevin and I to walk this journey, we really just couldn't see at first why this had to happen to us and what we could do for others from this. As time has passed on I realized that we can pass along wisdom and support from our journey to others going through the same issues.

We have been so blessed with a loving circle of friends and family and are so thankful for the love, support and prayers we have felt lately. I can't express to you how thankful we are for the calls, emails, card and visits. God truly does give us the comfort we need, when we need it the most. I am often reminded of a verse that I was taught in church as a child. Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. What a comfort it is to have Jesus on our side and provide us with the strength we need!

 

·         January - March 2010 stopped BC and no AF

·         April 2010- Diagnosed with PCOS by OB

·         June 2010- Round One of Clomid (25 mg for 7 days); No follicles/Cancelled Cycle

·         July/August 2010- Round two of Clomid (25 mg for 7 days); No follicles/Cancelled Cycle

·         September 2010- Round three of Clomid (25 mg for 7 days); No follicles/Cancelled Cycle

·         November/December 2010- Round four with Clomid (150 mg for 7 days). No follicles/cancelled cycle

·         January 2011- Round One with Femera. No follicles/cancelled cycle. Our OB suggested we meet with a specialist

·         February 2011- Consultation with Dr. Douglas (RE) in Plano

·         February/March 2011- 150 mg of Clomid and Femera for 7 days. No follicles big enough, ended in a cancelled cycle

·         March/April 2011- Clomid, Femera, Follistem, and Ovidrell. Two follicles (21 mm and 20 mm). First IUI ended in a BFN

·         May/June 2011- Clomid, Femera, Follistem, and Ovidrell. Two follicles produced and second IUI completed.

Doctors, Medications and Sonograms

Well, the last couple months have been a world wind. Kevin and I have been to the doctor at least 20 times in the last couple of months. We love our Reproductive Endocrinologist and his staff. They have truly been a blessing to work with and I have been so thankful for their support.

We tried one cycle with just a combination of oral medications to see how my body reacted. I did 150 mg of Clomid and 2 Femara's per night for a week. We did two sonograms but the follicles didn't get bigger than 4 mm so they cancelled that cycle. The second cycle my RE gave me the same oral medications with a new injection as well. I started at 100 cc's of Follistem every other night. Then I bumped it up to 150 taking a total of 1100 cc's before I produced a 18 mm and 19 mm follicle. Once we got the correct size follicle I took a Ovidrel injection to make the follicle release into an egg. After I did a post cotal test that was negative they decided an IUI would be best, so we went for it.

Then it was time to sit back and wait, two weeks was like a eternity. If you take a test too soon you will likely have a false positive due to the hormones left over in your system from the Ovidrell injection. We waited the appropriate time and I already knew that it didn't work. A couple days later I was able to start on my own with out any Provera (which was a huge accomplishment) and I had a follow up sono. The sono found that I had 1 cyst that had been left over from the cycle. A week later it had taken care of its self and was gone which is typically the case with these  types of cysts.

We started our new round of medication to go forward with a second IUI. I started taking the same oral drugs that I had taken the last two cycles and then I took an increased dosage of Follistem. I started at 150 cc every other night for the first three nights and then 150 for two nights. We went back for a follow up sono and we had one follicle that was at 14 and another was a 11 mm. They drew blood this appointment which showed my progesterone to be low. They told me to increase my dosage to 225 cc's and I will go tomorrow afternoon to see what my follicles look like. If they are close to 18mm we will proceed by taking the Ovidrel to release the egg and do a IUI.

Then it will be time to wait again. If the IUI doesn't take this time we have decided to move forward with IVF. This was a big decision for Kevin and I to make. The cost of IVF is about $14,000 and my insurance doesn't cover it. We actually have had to pay out of pocket for all of the treatments, which run about $2000 each time you try. We decided we didn't need to make our decision based on money. We prayed about it and God made a way for us to have the money. We actually were able to get such a good interest rate that we were able to pay all of debt off and get all the money we needed to pay for one cycle of IVF. God is good all the time and always provides. I will never doubt that. So very soon we will be financially debt free (other than a student loan) 

Only time will tell if we will move forward with IVF. God has a specific plan for Kevin and I and we have never lost faith in him. We pray without ceasing and know nothing is too hard for God!

See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)