April 30th, 2009

The injection went great, day #2 without passing out! Our big day is tomorrow! In less than 1 day we might be several days pregnant(since the embryos have been alive 3 days). I already bought my pineapple for the extra selenium, and have scheduled acupuncture for a few hours after the transfer! Bedrest is going to be the hardest part for a gal who only sits for dinner in an 18 hour period usually. For those wondering why we are getting acupuncture here is a bit of research from my hubby...

"A German study done in 2002 showed that of the 80 women who underwent IVF and received acupuncture, 34 women got pregnant, a success rate of 42.5%. Of the 80 women involved in the study who received IVF without any acupuncture treatments, only 21 women (26.3%) became pregnant. More recently, an American study involving 114 women showed that 51% of the women who had acupuncture and IVF treatments became pregnant versus only 36% of the women who had IVF alone. Deeper analysis of this study revealed that, while 8% of the women in the acupuncture group miscarried, the rate of miscarriage in the IVF-only group was 20%. Furthermore, women who received acupuncture also had lower rates of ectopic pregnancies."

April 29th,2009

Good evening! Today was rough I was much more sore than I imagined. I was waddling as though I was 9 months pregnant already! The kids were so cute trying to help me do things and on their best behavior for sure! Thank God! I called the doctor with a few side effects I had not planned on and she thought I was doing fine, just a few extra negatives. Under their advice I tried to take it easy this evening again. Francine gave me the biggest shot ever again, but surprisingly I did not pass out tonight. Thankfully! I think the pass out yesterday must have been surgery related and not progesterone related, since today went fine. We are looking forward to Friday! Pray for Ty as well, he is having a real hard time being so far removed from all the action and still trying to be a good future "dad"!

April 28th, 2009

Howdy! The surgery went off with out a hitch I was told. Andrew picked me up at 7, and we drove to the doc. I explained how worried I was about getting put under. They explained to me Marta would be by my side, Dr. Gelety would do the procedure, Dr. Vu would be there for the lab portion and the nurse would be Martha. All I remember was Marta putting me under and she couldn't stop laughing because I wouldn't stop talking when I was supposed to be out. She had to come over and put her hand over my eyes to make me close them and be quiet. I never saw the other 3. I remember asking if that was all when it was over, because it seemed fast. The first actual moment i remember is the nurse saying to pick my booty up because they were putting my undies and pants back on. As if I was a baby being changed, how embarrassing! I vividly remember Marta walking me across the hall from the OR to a recovery room. She is like barely 5 feet, and I am of course a giant, so I can only imagine her trying to control me. I slept int he recovery for a while. I started to think I would rather recover at home. So I got up and found my shoes, and drug the rolling heart monitor and IV stand to the door, opened the door and told the nurse in the hallway "I think I am ready to go home". Well that threw the entire office for a loop. Dr. g came running down the hall saying why is she dragging the monitors and all the wires behind her. Marta quickly grabbed me and all my tubes and wires and put m back to bed ASAP. Funny story looking back, but I guess not if you are the doc. They gave Andrew all the check out procedures, loaded me in the car through the backdoor. they said after "incident" earlier they didn't want me to embarrass myself any worse by walking through the waiting room. Andrew drove me home after the 3 hour ordeal, I walked in and thought I was going to have a normal day. I got a bowl of cereal, and got my lesson plans out...yeah right..i was fast asleep within seconds and didn't wake up until late afternoon. Francine is coming over in a bit for my next set of drugs, progesterone injections, in a little bit. I remember being drugged and them telling Andrew about the next shots, and I was saying "Wait I thought I was done with all the backside injections after today". Wrong! The embryo transfer is Friday at 11:00. until then please pray for my health and our little test tube babies growing right NOW! What a miracle!

April 27th, 2009

Howdy! The injection at midnight was a killer and kept me up the majority of the night. However, I think it is working because my ovaries have been cramping all day. Hopefully releasing more eggs than the ultrasound showed! I played it easy at the gym tonight hoping it would encourage more eggs to slip out. The surgery is tomorrow at 8:00 and Andrew is driving me back and forth. Please keep Tyler, I and the future baby Johnson in your prayers! Amazing to imagine that my eggs will be fertilized by Ty's cryogenically frozen sperm, neither of us in the room and one on the other side of the planet. Wow the ways God works! My kids are intrigued and thrilled, asking to name the baby after them!

April 26th, 2009

Last Lupron injection today! Whoop! Today I was confused and called Marta's cell. I have one last round of HMG injections left, but my calendar she made for me, doesn't say I need one. I called and she said to not take it, set it aside for next round if needed. (Next round...have faith...there will be no next round!) Tonight at 12:00 I give myself my one and only injections of HCG into my abs to start ovulation. Hopefully all my million...i wish...follicles will release their eggs, for the docs to remove on Tuesday. Have a great Sunday, as I have. Worship was incredible this morning, and really hit my faith in IVF a home run!

April 25th, 2009

The injections with in with out a hitch. I sorted all my drugs left and looks like for now I still have 62 injections left if everything goes perfect and I get pregnant this go around. We think it is ironic that I am going through all this around Mother's Day...odd....
Love ya!

April 24th,2009

The injections both went great. I got my results from the blood work earlier in the week and it came back great. Today I had an ultrasound and blood work as well. The ultrasound seemed to go well. Marta said we had enough eggs that she thinks it would be a success. I do not know the number, because she knew that would stress me out, since it was lower than expected on Tuesday. I will get the blood work results tomorrow. I have scheduled the surgery for Tuesday for egg retrieval. Now I am on the great hunt for who can take me to and from the surgery and babysit as I get better, and a sub for that day, since we already had too many subs scheduled that day....God will provide! Only 2 more days of the 5 vial injections, and we switch to HCG and progesterone! Pray for our future Baby Johnson!

April 23rd, 2009

All shots went great today! I reduced down to 5 ml of Lupron. I started thinking is this huge needle in my abs worth the few drops of Lupron, since I decreased from 20 to 10 to 5? Marta thinks that might increase egg production. I still have not noticed any of side effects that I signed off acknowedging, thank goodness. We are hoping tomorrow's ultrasound goes great and we find more eggs than Easter Morning! Soon enough I can update everyone on harvest date and embryo transfer....next 2 weeks and we assume it will be wrapped up. Love yall!

April 22nd, 2009

Today I picked up the Menopur injections from my precious pregnant neighbor. She had signed for them yesterday. Francine gave the injection with out a hitch today. Partially due to Marta drew all over my butt and back with permanent marker yesterday, so she would know exactly where to aim for. She said it won't come off for a few days, thankful no one sees me naked, I must look like I a few bad tattoo jobs. I had cramps on my left side....hoping that was little eggs developing as we have been praying for! Keeping on our knees!

April 21st, 2009

Today I gave the injection in the morning, naturally. This afternoon was an Ultrasound, one day early because I have an IEP and meeting at DO tomorrow evening. We had good and bad news....I only had 5 total follicles, at the most. The wand had difficulty at the odd angles. They were hoping for at least double that. With all the injections I figured I would have alot because when we started everything I would have 5 totally naturally. I have another ultrasound Friday morning, in hopes that more will have developed since today. Please pray for more eggs, specifically on the left side, which has not done its part. If more eggs are not developed by then we face cancellation of the entire cycle, or a reduced chance of success. Finally, the doc gave me the 5 vial injections while I was there, since I still have not received my order.....my 3-5 day order, and it is day 12 my goodness! Thank God I have 52 kiddos who already hang on my every word and step to get me through this. We love yall!!!

April 20th, 2009

The injection in my abs was great, the other in my booty is so sore. The trainer at the gym asked if I needed him to call someone because he could tell I was in pain. However, I signed a waiver understanding that typical reactions are severe vomiting, seizures and typical minimum 15 pound weight gain, so if all I have noticed is soreness and walking funny I can't complain. However, the financial toll has hit in a small way...We officially ended our Timeshare Ownership with Wyndham today. The days of 5 star luxury vacations every 2 months are over...hopefully becoming 5 star playdates and diaper changes!!!!

April 19,2009

The injections have become incredible sore, so much so a woman at church today asked if I had injured and ankle because I was limping so bad. Despite the soreness, we have gotten professional at the mixing and injection. I mix the 5 vials at home and run about a mile to Francine's and back, assuming moving my booty around will help the meds move around too. We will see tomorrow if it pays off. Continuing 10 ml Luperon in the morning, 5 vials HMG in the evening, and prescription prenatals. Praying my meds I spent a fortune on are delivered tomorrow, because I am totally out of the vials Marta lent. Pray continuously...as Ty said Gos moves mountains!

April 18, 2009

Tonight I went to Francine's for my next injection. We mixed the vials perfect, and the shot went great. She had been practicing on an orange. What a blessing she is. Gos is great to have blessed me with a friend who gives time out of every day for 10 weeks in hopes of helping us on our journey to baby Johnson. The shot I give myself in the stomach in the mornings went fine as usual, I can almost do it in my sleep now! The injections Francine gives every day are a killer, I can hardly sit or sleep on that side. I am hoping my body adjusts and that we get even better at giving them, making it less painful afterward. We are looking at end of April for the egg harvest and first days of may for embryo transfer. Unfortunately, that might make it impossible to attend Kristen's wedding which I already have airplane flight, and fabulous dress for..bummer. Whoop for our future baby! The excitement builds!

April 17,2009

Francine and I had our appointment this afternoon to learn how to give me the injections I am unable to give myself. We mixed all 5 vials like pros. Marta helped to guide the fist injection. I have to say that Francine did a great job for the first time, and I only bled a bit. Marta is loning us some vials of Menopur while we continue to wait for our own shipment. I hope the vials arrive by Monday. Marta when on to tell her how I was their favorite patient, and the poster child for the next...Best MOM! What a blessing our clinic is! Next Ultrasound is Tuesday....