Toni Braxton Visits

Ok, so the visit wasn't really from the singer-songwriter, Toni Braxton. Rather it was Braxton-Hicks, which does sound like a R&B-Country crossover.

11 Weeks Along

We are now eleven weeks along in the pregnancy. The most exciting news noticeable is we have stopped with the progesterone shots. Kristina and I both are pleased that phase is over. We despised this necessary evil.

Ten Weeks Pregnant!

So, this week our Dos Amigos have fingernails and peachfuzz hair. Also, they are no loner considered embryos, but are now classified as fetuses. They have developed enough, we will stop the progesterone shots in only a few more days! Here is the description from BabyCenter.com:

The Summary

We gave a few updates today on Facebook, but I know not everyone follows that. So, let me summarize the day:

The Clock Is Ticking

We are getting close to the end-game again. Technically, today is Day 46 and ironically, we are scheduled for retrieval on Wednesday (Day 49). Perhaps that's a good omen to be following the schedule more precisely this time.

Stimulating

Just a short note to say Kristina began "stimulating" her ovaries yesterday. Readings of her hormone levels all week.

Needles, Needles Everywhere, Nor Any Drop To Drink

Yesterday was the “suppression check” appointment for our IVF cycle. Again what this means is the doctor draws blood to measure Kristina’s estrogen level to be sure her ovaries have “gone to sleep” so that her body’s natural process doesn’t follow the normal pattern. The reason being, we want to control the timing of ovulation and stimulate as many follicles as possible.

T-Minus 24 …Matey!

This being September 19 and therefore International Talk Like A Pirate Day, I am tempted to write this entire blog post as if you’d changed your FaceBook language. However, as my wife is new to this tradition and the more serious nature of this blog, I will resist the urge…arrr!

Scheduling Zygotes

This weekend was a bit crazy – and I’m not sure why it had to be. I suppose things just don’t seem right sometimes unless there is the proper balance of chaos. However, I think some of it comes from a "pre-nesting" phase we seem to be experiencing from this whole IVF process - and truth be told, I am kinda being the girl about most of it. However, after Saturday’s ultrasound and adjustments to the amount of Menopur Kristina continues to take, we now have a 95% certainty of when we will be performing the extraction procedure.

And Queue Vomit...

Kristina did throw up last night
A twist of fate, I feared she might
Her dosage has been upped a slight
For the numbers are not quite right

Visceral...what?

Okay, I admit I actually had to google that one to get the definition.  For those of you who don't know the actual definition (which probably only includes me and my sister) that is:  

Of or relating to the viscera. Relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect: "the voters' visceral fear of change".

I only pasted that because I had it up in Google, and because it helps clarify the origin of my emotions which are, yes, visceral.

Needles Get Under My Skin

Well, last night I did it. I stabbed my wife...with a little 28-gauge needle and injected her with 10 units of Lupron. It wasn't too horrible of an experience; although I didn't look her in the eye the rest of the night and then I left the bathroom to watch a movie about Jesus.

Orange Voodoo

So, it's not really voodoo, but I have been sticking needles into a "graven image" in hopes of practicing some sympathetic magic. Of course, I'm referring not to The Golden Bough theories of magic, but rather I mean I hope to gain the trust and sympathy of my spouse - even if by some magical means. We are both a bit nervous about the upcoming need for me to deliver the progesterone shots after the oocyte retrieval.

About to Get Real

This morning I confirmed today's date for a daily couples' reading we actually only do semi-routinely. She affirmed the date and followed up with the reminder that tomorrow is her "Suppression Check." What that means is

Needlepoint

Last night, Kristina started her Lupron shots. She was rather sneaky about it, quieting disappearing after dinner to self-administer the shot. No screaming and resounding thud from fainting to the floor. Although I didn’t witness it, I’m sure she handled poking herself with a needle better than I would have.

Day Six: The Classroom

Today was an overwhelming day. On the schedule was the two-hour class on IVF from the Bennett Fertility Institute. Prior to that, Kristina had to have an ultrasound to measure the size of her uterus, and the doctor counted the number of potential eggs to be harvested. Eighteen, which is a bit above average; so we are optimistic on that count.
 

Day "Step" Two

So, today was less busy. I went to work. Kristina went to an interview for work. But we had no direct medical appointments or duties today. Tomorrow? Well, it gets busy. But before we get into that, I thought I would take advantage of this lull to give a little further explanation of the process, i.e., what all those acronyms I used yesterday really mean.