Update & Day 1 Of Stims!

Oh my, I have been slacking in updating lately, but things were pretty uneventful as we waited for June 2nd to roll around!

I have been keeping occupied by reading other bloggers' journeys and have joined a couple of IVF support groups. I have been wanting to completely prepare myself for everything that could come. . . The good, the bad, and the worst possible scenarios. There have been the most amazing stories and the saddest of stories. It's part of reality & I would hate to only think that there are positive outcomes and be one of the unsuccessful stories.
Speaking of bloggers, GUYS! You have got to go read one of my FAVORITE Bloggers ever! I discovered Kate and her husband Gannon right after they found out they were pregnant from this last round of IVF. They are so flipping cute and just like us, have had challenges while trying to have a baby. They have also had great loss in their journey and I love and respect that she was willing to share it. I have read through her entire blog and I just want to share it. They just found out that they are having twin boys! I highly recommend checking them out HERE. You will NOT be sorry. They are so cute!

So to my fluid ultrasound...

I was still bleeding from the birth control, which according to my specialist, is completely normal. Annoying, yet normal. Surely this will go away right? They use the speculum in so they can see the cervix to place the catheter. The catheter wasn't something I could feel until he started to fill my uterus with the saline. That part was uncomfortable, but nothing that wasn't manageable. It feels like period cramps and I could feel it in my back as well. That was the most uncomfortable part. It reminded me of when I first began back labor with Penelope. Thankfully my uterus looked just how my doctor wanted it to. They were especially worried about possible weak spots in my uterus along where my c-section incision was. It looked great!

We were given the green light to continue the birth control until April 29th and even received medication training.  Can we talk about overwhelming?!?! My nurse gave me a 5 minute run down on how to split my Ganirelix, how to use the Follistim pen, and how to mix the Menopur. Seriously. In 5 minutes.
What. The. Hell. She handed me a packet with all the information and instructions that I would need and sent me on my way. I still had no idea what the hell was going on. The directions for my medications were highlighted and I read through them multiple times. I still had no idea what was going on. Oh well, I ended up just emailing my nurse and letting her know that I still had questions and she advised me that I could just bring them myself on my June 2nd appt.

Between my saline ultrasound and my follicle count on June 2nd not a lot happened. I stayed nose deep in the blogs and articles about IVF. I watched YouTube videos on how to make the injections not hurt as much, stayed in contact with a new found friend who is on the same cycle as me, and close down my LulaRoe business. That's a story for another time, but I would like to say that I'm starting a new business venture, so no worries there. I will be announcing what company I am going with once I onboard.

June 2nd came and I am so glad it did. I was driving myself crazy with everything that I was having anxiety over. I was having dreams that I wouldn't inject myself and that I ended up being declined treatment by my doctor. My best friend that passed away in January even appeared in one of my dreams and brought me much peace. I am so thankful that my husband was actually in attendance for this particular appointment. The birth control did exactly what it needed to do. Instead of having over 30 follicles on my right side I had 16. Less than half! My left didn't have any changes, but they my doctor wasn't looking for a change with the left. Just the right. He gave us the go ahead to start stims on the 4th. I couldn't be more excited, worried, anxious, etc all at once. Did I mention I received a new nurse that I ABSOLUTELY love?? Yes, Sherice, YAAAAASSSS

Today, June 4th I woke up at 9:45 and headed downstairs. I didn't even think about it. I just wiped a spot on my belly with the alcohol shot and stuck that Ganirelix in! It didn't hurt one bit and I headed back up the stairs and back to bed immediately afterwards. I was so proud of myself. However, I woke up to red splotches on my arms and my legs that I was not expecting. Upon talking to my IVF buddy, she has the same issues and sent me a photo of her legs. She let me know that it's a sensitivity to the Ganirelix and to let my specialist know, but more than likely they'll just tell me to keep an eye on it. I plan on e-mailing them Sherice in the AM. I went on about my day and had lunch with my mini me and husband and then dinner later on with my best friend that was in town. At 5:30 I did the scary injection that has a bunch of little pieces to put together. If you have ever had to inject Follistim with the pen, then you know what I'm talking about! My IVF friend told me to ice my belly for 10-15 minutes, inject, wipe the area so there isn't leftover Follistim (the serum "burns" on the skin), and ice again. She warned me that it did burn, but that it shouldn't last long if I followed her directions. Well, as most of you know, I am not one for directions and I paid the price. I iced the area for about 5 mins, wipes with alcohol, injected, wiped my skin, and went about my evening. All was well until about 3-5 mins after injection. THAT. SUCKER. BURNED. Needless to say, I will be taking her advice tomorrow night! So far I am a little sore on my lower abdomen and have only had a slight headache with aura effect. Normally that's my first clue that shit is about to get real with one hell of a migraine, but so far so good. Knock on wood. Unfortunately for my IVF buddy, poor thing, she is having horrible nausea. Luckily, she knew what to expect due to this being their second IVF journey.

As I wind this down and get ready to get into bed, I must say that I am so very thankful for each and every one of you. Whether you have been with me since the beginning or you have stumbled upon this for the first time. Thank you. My family and I greatly thank you. I've needed this outlet & have been wanting to figure out how to use this blog to reach other people that are going through the same thing all the while keeping my sane while I am going through this. So many e-mails, texts, and facebook messages have been sent & I couldn't be any more grateful for so many of you that take the time out of your busy lives to read this.

XOXO