Quick update:

Had another u/s today. Follies are now all averaging 14mm which isn't where the RE predicted so definitely no ER Wednesday. Bummer. I will continue with the same stims and go back Wednesday AM for another u/s and go from there. He's hoping that I'll be ready to trigger then (heard that one before! haha) and will retrieve on Friday. I'm still a little concerned with my e2 levels but I'm going to just remain confident in my RE's.. they say it's okay so I have to trust.

Stim day 5 - 71
Stim day 8 - 338
Stim day 10 - 707

I'm completely exhausted, mentally and physically and had a complete meltdown today. I can't wait until this is all over and I start sleeping again. I would be happy with 6 hours, is that too much to ask! =)

What is that saying, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket?" Well, it looks like my ovaries aren't listening well! Ha! I now have 11 follies on my left and only 5 on my right. I honestly don't think it's a big deal and I feel that he wasn't able to see my right too well so he was just going by what he could see. I do, however, feel like I'm going to explode from my left side (or just topple over) b/c there is so much pressure and bloating! I don't mind though!! It means that they are actually doing something in there.

The doc said that all follies are measuring on average at 11-12mm and he wants me to come back on Monday for another ultrasound and e2 draw. I had my levels drawn today as well but won't know those results because he said that it doesn't matter. He wants me to continue on the same dose of Bravelle until Monday anyways... He said the only way he could call me is if my e2 levels were horrid and he had to cancel (or change up) the cycle. At this point, I'd rather not know my levels as it honestly just causes crazy stress on my part.

We're hoping that all follies are pretty mature by Monday and that I can trigger on Monday night. I'm not sure how possible that is - but I know it can happen. =) If I triggered Monday night, that would put ER (egg retrieval) on Wednesday! I'm really hoping it works like this because then my ET (egg transfer) would be possibly Sunday or Monday (hoping for a 4 or 5 day transfer).

It's such a gorgeous day today, I just wish I felt a little better. I have been feeling a "cold" coming on since yesterday morning but trying not to think about it. Well, I can't do anything BUT think about it now as I have a constant drip from my nose! I hate weather changes, they play havoc on my body! So now on this beautiful day where I want to be outside and walking the dog or something, I'm inside with 800 sneezes every minute, watery eyes, and a faucet running from my nose. At least it's just weather related and I don't have some nasty virus!! I can NOT get that kind of sick right now! I'm not having it!

One last thing - My grandparents went on vacation at the beginning of March (traveled the California coast and then took a cruise to Hawaii) and just got back on Thursday. My family is very close and my grandpa has done so much for everyone over the years and we always try to help him out when we can. This month while they were gone, we completely gutted and re-did his kitchen! All new floors, cabinets, walls, appliances, etc. They even put in a washer/dryer room so that they don't have to go to the basement to do laundry anymore. Well, they took a billion picture and even did some "funny" videos (mocking Extreme Home makeover) so that we could put something together for them. I'm the one that is getting stuck putting it all together. I have 4 different emails from family of 100's of pictures and then we have two long videos that I have to edit. I've known about this for 2 weeks now and they want it done by tomorrow. I haven't even started it. SHIT! Thank God we have our mac though - it has imovie and hopefully it goes smoothly. They want it all into one "video" with rotating pictures (to a background music) and videos all together. If anyone has any genius ideas, I'm open to suggestions! We're heading out to dinner in a little while - but that is what I'll be doing until probably the wee hours of the morning. I didn't help with any construction so I guess it's the least I can do, right?

Quickie update (just for you Cara!) -

Based on my u/s today I thought everything was great! The RE said I have a lot of great follies and she even said I was an egg factory! haha!! =) Anyways, I left their office feeling great and uplifted. After lunch I got my e2 levels and they were only 71 on stim day 5! That sucks! I was pretty upset but after a pep-talk from a few great friends, I've realized that it's not the end of the world! It's better to be on the low end and more controlled than overstimmed I think (I hope!). I was instructed to triple my bravelle tonight and then double up on both doses tomorrow and from here on out. I have my next u/s on Saturday @ 8AM!

These long drives to ORM are really getting to me!

"I am calm, strong & well" (I repeat that a million times over and over again - did I ever say how those guided imagery CDs have been a Godsend!)

Here's my attempt at a photo journal entry for the day! haha!

I honestly never thought this day would come. We've been waiting for this IVF cycle for so long and it's all finally HERE and we're so SCARED! Let me re-phrase that, "I am so scared!" Mike is pretty calm and collected about everything, nothing seems to work him up. Every once in a while I get frustrated because I want him to get upset/excited/invested in the whole process a little more - but at the end of the day.. it's good at least one of us is calm! =)

I didn't sleep a wink last night! At first I couldn't fall asleep, then I kept waking up. It was just a bad night. I think I slept off and on from 3-8 and haven't been able to nap since. I tried but my mind is too wired right now. I woke up like a little kid at Christmas time though. I jumped out of bed and rushed to the kitchen aka "laboratory" haha! (You should see it, I have everything set up nicely and have instructed Mike to stay away! I need to keep everything sterile! lol)

I was worried at first b/c it was the first time I have ever used bravelle. I've never "mixed" before and never used that darn Q-cap! We watched the instructional video last night but I was too busy laughing hysterically through it as the characters were pretty cheesy! Anyways, I got it figured out and did it ALL BY MYSELF! I was proud I must say... Oh and the best news of all - I got to LOWER my lupron! Thank the LORD! I don't wish that nasty drug on my worst enemy, it is horrid. Poor Mike, I think he's seen the blunt of it!

So, my schedule is as follows right now:
AM: 5units of Lupron, 1 vial of Bravelle
PM: 2 vials of Bravelle

I will continue that until Wednesday when I go in for a follie check and blood work. I'm hoping that I don't stim too fast or too slow - I need this to work! Oh and before I forget, I had my baseline on Thursday and my AFC (antral follicle count) was very good (RE said it was high) and my e2 levels came back at 21 which is nice and low and just how they like it! It's all starting off wonderfully so I'm pretty positive!

Okay, going back to work on a blog header... I'm determined to spruce this blog up a bit! :)

"Women are like teabags... we don't know our true strength until we're in hot water!"

I came across that quote and thought to myself, "isn't that the truth!" I feel like you don't know how strong you are until you are put in that particular situation (in my case, IVF).

I really need to blog more but once again - I don't feel like it! Maybe i'll catch up later in the week?

The only important things going on this week:

Baseline u/s and bloodwork on 3/20
Start stims 3/22

This is actually happening, huh?

5 Things...

Laura tagged me so I thought I'd give this a whirl!

5 Things I do for myself:

Incorporate enough computer time into my day =)
Wax my eyebrows at least once a month
Take vitamins every single day
Set time aside to have lunch with friends
Sit down each week and make sure all my shows are set to record- HAHA!!

5 Things I do for Mike:

Have dinner ready for him every night that I am home before him
Leave him alone when he's trying to prepare for class
Allow him to have his expensive hobbies =)
I attempt to cut his hair 2x a month
Laundry - he refuses to do it!

5 Things I have done for a stranger:

Rescued many lost animals and helped find their owners
Helped feed hundreds at community holiday meals
Bought and wrapped presents for under-privledged children
Helped an elderly man find his car in a very busy parking lot
Volunteered countless hours of time to offer advice and support to women going through TTC/IF

Here are the rules:

1. List five kind things you do for yourself.

2. List five kind things you do for your closest friend, partner or child.

3. List five kind things you have done for a stranger.

4. Tag 5 people!

Tagging: Mary, Natalie, Jamie, Cara & Erin