24 AUGUST 2007

5 Years ago today we got married. Crazy. I woke up a card and Im sure more later when Nick gets home. We always exchange gifts and then go out to dinner. Not sure where we are going. I wanted him to wake up to a card also but last night I totally forgot. When Nick said its bed time, I was just so happy to get to bed, and it didnt even cross my mind. A few days ago I had thought about putting a card on his car so he would see it before he went to work, but dang it, I forgot. Isnt it usually the guy who forgets things like that? Oh well...he will just have 2 cards to open later today. I will share a slide show with you all. I posted it on my myspace but most of you here on my blog dont have a myspace, so I will share here too. Sorry for those who already saw it.

Other news, I purchased our spermmies yesterday. I was so sure our favorite donor wasnt going to be avilable. Several days ago someone had told me there were only 2 IUI vials so I was so sure they would have been sold. Nope, so I bought 1 for our next and possibly last try. I sure hope it works. I really do.

And Deena reminded me...Nope, Jones Instititue has not contacted me. I emailed the lady and she told me that my paperwork has been recieved and its being reviewed and she would call me when they were finished. That was 2 weeks ago yesterday. She wouldnt tell me how long it would take, so if I dont hear anything by next week, I will call instead of email and maybe I will get more info from her. If this IUI doesnt work next month I would like to have a head start on egg donation to get some cash for IVF.

Click here for slide show or copy and paste into your browser.
http://www.slide.com/r/zGu9AWzX2j9PX4y28DBIgb_-I7eS1meE?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

13 Aug 2007

Its Monday. Im giving Jones Institute until Friday to call me back about my paperwork. Thats a little over a week. I do not want to skip next cycle at all with TTC. I want to do my next IUI and probably final IUI before my egg donation starts. I am kind of kickin myself for skipping this month. But I do know we both needed this break for a cycle. It was for the good.

Nothing new around here. Our anniversary is in 10 days. I cant believe its been almost 5 years of marriage and we still dont have a baby. Stinks...But its been the greatest 5 years of my life. And each year gets better and better.

8 Aug 2007

WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY.... ( thanks for that Michell )

And there is a will and a way now. 2 days ago, not so much. I feel so much better today. Maybe the rose I came home to last night after work helped, maybe my shopping today helped, maybe it was all the wonderful comments I got from all of my blogger girls, or the comments from my family and friends. Or maybe it was all of the above.

Pam, Jenny ( my favorite sister in law) RaJen, Tammy ( and your letter from TwiceJess ), Kelly, Amy&Sharon, Lyndsey, Deena, Jody, Meg, Mom ( the best mother in law ) and Michell, anyone else I forgot to mention- all your comments made the world of a difference to me. Each one of them made me smile and knowing I have all your support makes me so happy. All your confidence in me is just amazing. Thank you all so much for putting up with me and my attitude through all this and supporting me. I feel the love and hugs through the computer!

I have a plan I am leaning toward. Tonight when Nick gets home we will have the discussion. My plan, donate my eggs 2 times then do IVF 1 time, or 2 if need be. And if I have left over embryos from the first IVF, I will freeze them and do a frozen cycle for baby #2 soon after.

I got the paperwork in the mail today for me to fill out to become an egg donor. I am all for it. Not only will we gain the funds( $2,000 for the first donation, and $2,500 for any donations after the first ) to make our dream come true, I could be helping another couple achieve their dreams. Because we are on the receiving end of donor sperm, I am fully aware and understand how much their donations mean to us. Without men donating sperm, our chance of pregnancy would be ZERO. Because of them, I can and will become pregnant. To think of me helping with something this big, makes me feel...so courageous? I dont know the word Im looking for.

But anyways, according to the paperwork I got, it goes something like this:
Phase One:
Step One: Questionnaire. A physician will review my health history. Then I will get a call advising me of the next step. ( This is the paperwork I have completed today )

Step Two: If I am eligible to donate eggs, ( I see no reason whatsoever that I would not be eligible as I am very very healthy ) I I will have to make an appointment with a psychologist to make sure I am mentally able to handle to donation process.

Step Three: Hormone level testing. I know for a fact that I will pass everything. A year ago, before we almost did IVF before the IUI's, I had all these tests completed and all tests came back normal. After the testing, I will be contacted in a few days with the results.

Step Four: Consulation appointment with physician and nurse coordinator. This appointment takes 2 hours. We will review the donor egg process in greater detail and go over the requierments. I will meet with the physician, who will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. ( Again, I know I will pass the physcial exam as I am very healthy ) More blood work will be drawn during this appointment.

Phase Two: Egg Donation
The goal is to safely retrieve multiple eggs from my ovaries with the least possible distruption to my schedule. Inevitably, there will be some degree of inconvenience, and for this reason I will be reimbursed.

I will be given medications over a period of 7-10 days to stimulate multiple eggs to grow. Because every woman is different, they will need to monitor my response by periodic checks and ultrasounds within approximatly 5 office visits.

After the eggs have been stimulated, they will remove them from my ovaries.

Then when my next period starts, I go in for a follow-up to make sure everything has returned to normal.

Again, I have to dicuss this all with Nick when he gets home today, but my plan is to donate twice, then on the IVF train I go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!