Table Rock Lake

Jared, me, Jen and Chris just got back earlier today from a nice little vacation at Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO. We stayed 3 nights at a really nice condo resort right on the lake. The resort was great and it even had a marina for the boys' seadoos to be docked overnight. We had a great time and took a few pics. Check them out on our picture web site in the September folder. (Just a tip: it goes faster if you click on the slideshow option)

Here are a few of my faves:

haha

I took my last birth control pill yesterday morning. I am expecting AF tomorrow, but hopefully it won't come much later, if it doesn't come tomorrow. Once AF comes, I will go in for an u/s to make sure the cyst is gone and things look good. If all is a "go", I will start taking the shots! EEK!

6 year Anniversary

Mine and Jared's 6 year wedding anniversary is tomorrow! YIKES! It has been a wonderful 6 years and I look forward to many more together. I love you, Jared!

Look how young we look :)

Jackson County Triathlon

Jared competed in another triathlon this morning. This triathlon was much much shorter than the ironman. Jared finished 11th overall and was done in 1 hour and 7 minutes. He's such a stud muffin, if I may say so myself ;)

Our good friend, Peter, also competed this morning and this was Pete's first triathlon ever! It was a beautiful morning and my sister was able to join me to help cheer them on!!

I was fiddling with my camera's settings when Jared came in from the bike. Good thing I had Jen there with me or I would have missed him completely. I just barely got this shot of him and I cut off most of his body, so I had to crop out the rest of the picture. haha.
After finishing, waiting for Peter. I look like a pale ghost next to Jared.

Go Pete!

Well, I have about a week left on the pill. I had to go pick up another pack because of Labor Day next week. My last pill would have been this Thursday, and AF would have started probably Friday or Saturday, which would not have given me enough time to get in for my day 3 u/s. So, I will take a few extra pills until next Sunday and that will allow AF to come Monday or Tuesday and I can get in to the Dr. right in time.

I had a little episode of breakthrough bleeding this past week and it is finally coming to a stop. The nurses warned me about it and told me that it happens to just about everyone. I remember bleeding almost a whole month the first time I went on the pill before Jared and I were married. So annoying.

I have basically bled/spotted for the past week and now I will start AF next week. Just lovely.

Well, hope everyone had a good weekend. Back to work tomorrow!

My weekend

Here are a few pictures from the weekend..

Lisa, Jen and Me after our 18 mile ride..

Lisa and Jen..

Ted and Will..

Jen and Athens..

Will is limping and I am trying to figure out what is wrong with his hoof. Poor Will :(

Back to School

I am taking a photography class starting in September! Woohoo! I am very excited.

I will have lots of shooting assignments, so get ready to see some of my stuff :)

Break

Darn.. should have taken last month off I guess. I have a cyst now this cycle, which is caused by the fertility medication and it's very common. In order to get rid of the cyst, I have to go on the birth control pill for a whole cycle.

The nurse told me that when you respond to the fertility medication, it can cause cyst. She said in a way, it is good to know that my body is responding to the meds.

So, no TTC this cycle :( The nurse said that I will be pregnant, just not this month.

Oh, another abbreviation is TTC= Trying to Conceive.

Knock Knock..

Who's there?

It's AF!!!!

Uggh.

I have my first u/s on Friday (CD 3). As long as everything looks good, I will start Follistim injections Friday night for 5 nights. After my 5th dose, I will return to the Dr. the next morning for a repeat u/s to check my follicles. If all looks great, I will take the HCG shot that night and then return 2 days later for the IUI. I could potentially O as early as day 10. CRAZY!

My SIL's mom will be giving me the HCG injection. She was a nurse and is very experienced with intramuscular shots.

Well, I know my mom (Stephanie) and SIL (Lisa) have checked out my blog but I don't know about MIL yet. Judy, if you're reading, leave a comment :)

So, for my new readers, I have decided to make a list of the abbreviations I use on here.

AF= Aunt Flo (Period)
BFN= Big Fat Negative (a negative pregnancy test)
BFP= Big Fat Positive (a positive pregnancy test)
CM= Cervical Mucous (see the warning disclaimer about too much information)
u/s= Ultrasound
IUI= Intrauterine Insemination
BD= Baby Dance (sex, haha)
SIL= Sister in law
MIL= Mother in law
pg= Pregnant
O= Ovulate

Let's see.. am I leaving anything out???

And I introduce you to:

My Mom and future Grandma, Stephanie

SIL and future Aunt, Lisa

MIL and future Grandma, Judy

Sorry, these aren't the best pics of them, but they are the only ones I could find on my computer at the moment.

BFN and new readers

I tested this morning and got a BFN. Looks like I will be giving injections by the weekend. I expect AF tomorrow or Thursday.

My injections were delivered to my house today. I was so excited when they got here. I almost felt as if the box had a baby inside. hahaha

I have decided to give my blog address to my mom, MIL and SIL. I always send out emails to all of them with updates on our cycle and feel like they would love to be able to read my blog as well, since I keep them posted of everything anyways.

This means that I won't be able to share my BFP on here until I share it with my family first.

Be on the lookout for comments from them!

Pugs

The pugs (and Jared) at play

Obi

Princess

Almost time for

either AF or testing. Can you believe I haven't tested yet? Jared took my tests and is doing a good job of hiding them!! I probably won't test until Wednesday. I wanted to test this morning, but I really don't have many symptoms and I do have my usual AF symptoms like dried up CM.

We had a good weekend. We went for a bike ride then to the pool on Saturday and had dinner with Jen and Chris that night. We went to church on Sunday then I had dinner with Jen and my mom Sunday night. Other than that, nothing really too exciting happened.

I'll keep you posted when I test or if AF comes. I expect AF would start either Wednesday or Thursday.

Injection class

I had the injection class today. It was pretty overwhelming and I wish I would have had Jared there with me, but I didn't think it was necessary for him to be there. The Follistim injections seem very easy and fool-proof, but the HCG injection (to make me ovulate) is the scarier one and the nurse recommends I have someone else give it to me.

Here is the Follistim Pen which I will use to administer to Follistim injections.

Here is the wealth of information that was given to me:

We will be trying to find a nurse in our neighborhood who would be willing to give it to me, or we have a few family friends who are nurses, but they live at least 20 minutes. If worst comes to worst, we can drive the 20 minutes, but I hope we have a neighbor that can do it for us. The nurses can't do it this time because it needs to be administered exactly 36 hours before the IUI and it will need to be done around 9 or 10 at night.

The schedule with these injections is alot more intense, as far as Dr's appt's and ultrasounds/bloodwork goes. I made a word doc for myself to keep everything straight. But, it looks something like this:

CD:
1- Call Nurses 816-444-6888 x1203 to schedule u/s and lab. Tests will be on either days 1,
2, 3 or 4 and must be scheduled before 11:30.
· Lab: Estrogen less than 50, FSH less than 10
2- (u/s-lab)
3- Injection, same time every evening between 5 and midnight (u/s-lab)
4- Injection, (u/s-lab)
5- Injection
6- Injection
7- Injection
8- Return to Dr. for another u/s-lab. May be instructed to do HCG shot. If HCG shot is
administered, Intercourse is suggested.
9-
10- IUI
11- 1 DPO IUI. Progesterone
12- 2 DPO IUI. Progesterone
13- 3 DPO IUI. Progesterone
14- 4 DPO IUI. Progesterone
15- 5 DPO IUI. Progesterone
16- 6 DPO IUI. Progesterone
17- 7 DPO IUI. Progesterone
18- 8 DPO IUI. Progesterone. Blood draw
19- 9 DPO IUI. Progesterone
20- 10 DPO IUI. Progesterone
21- 11 DPO IUI. Progesterone
22- 12 DPO IUI. Progesterone
23- 13 DPO IUI. Progesterone
24- 14 DPO IUI, Progesterone

It's alot to remember, but I'm sure once I start, it won't seem so bad.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if I don't even have to start these injections?

Ironman Video

I am finally finished and finally got it uploaded.


I have been really crampy ever since my IUI which I don't remember happening last month. It could be a pg symptom, or I am just reacting differently to the IUI than I did last cycle. Anyone else remember being crampy ever since O, when they conceived??

IUI #2

The IUI went well today. We had 25 million sperm, which is good. Not spectacular, but good.

I hope my faith and prayers are strong enough and that the Lord will grant his blessings to Jared and I. Even when things look dim, the Lord can work in miraculous ways. That is my hope.

Follicle Scan and Bunny pics

We had our follicle scan and it wasn't so great. I had 1 good
follicle, but my lining was the thinnest it's ever been at 6 mm. After the
ultrasound we met with the Dr. for the consultation. He explained to Jared and I that only 45% of women put on Clomid or Femara become pregnant. Because of the little glitches that I am having in response to the medication (my thin lining), my chances are reduced.

This next medication that they want to put me on (Follistim injections) gives us an 85% chance of becoming pregnant, over the course of 3 cycles. This medication works completely different from the other medication and does not cause a thin lining. He said that the 15% of women who do not become pregnant on this medication have severe issues like endometriosis, blocked tubes, 1 tube and even male factor infertility.

Jared and I don't have anything severe like that. I will be on Follistim for up to 3 cycles. If this doesn't work, we will probably stop fertility treatments because the next step would be invitro and Jared and I really don't want to go that far.

The Dr. gave us a good outlook and I think he feels pretty confident that
the Follistim will be what it takes. While on Follistim, 75% of women will have a single baby, 25% of women will have twins and 1% could have triplets.

The odds look pretty good, so hopefully this will be what it takes!
We are still going forward with the insemination tomorrow, even though my lining is thin.

Now for Bunny pics...

Here is Momma rabbit

Here are the 3 babies. Can you make them all out?

Look how tiny it is!

Here is the farm owner's house (It's 100 years old)

Here's Jen and Chris going into their new house.

You can see the freshly painted green walls in the background.

Eeek!

I've fallen so behind!

I started posting a couple nights ago because I finished the Ironman video. I tried uploading it to Youtube, but Youtube hasn't been working for me lately for some reason, then I tried uploading it to Photobucket. That's when I realized that Youtube and Photobucket only allow videos for 10 minutes in length. Jared's video is 13 minutes long!! So, I will have to cut some more things out of it and then get it on here. It's always something.

Monday last week I started back in my old department at work. I am SO HAPPY to be back doing my old job. My stress level has gone way down, which is good.

Another piece of news is that we aren't moving up to the farm now afterall. Jenny and Chris are!!! They sold their house and had to be out in 2 days. They are currently living with my parents until new carpet is installed in the farm house. Jenny painted almost the entire house, so it looks great. Mine and Jared's house is still on the market with not much interest or movement, so we may be in there a while longer.

We have been house sitting at the farm since the owners have been on vacation. Yesterday morning, Jenny and I did chores and noticed that 1 of the female rabbits had bunnies. She had a total of 5 but only 3 survived. We weren't expecting bunnies, so the cage wasn't prepared at all. Luckily the mom tore out a bunch of her hair and piled it in the corner of the cage so the babies had something inbetween themselves and the wire cage floor. Jen and I hurried and got the box for the nest and put some hay and as much of the mom's hair as we could and placed the bunnies into the box/nest. They were still going strong this morning and the mom completely rearranged the nest for them. I will get some pics tonight so I have something to post.

I have fallen behind on my picture taking too.

Well, we have our follicle scan and consultation with the Dr. tomorrow. I hope I have some great looking follicles this month!

Sorry, I have no pictures to share this time.

Cycle #16

AF started late Thursday night. Friday is considered CD 1 and I start taking the Femara medication again on Sunday.

I have my consultation with the Dr. and my follicle scan and my trigger shot all on Tuesday, July 24. We will probably have the IUI on the following day.

I purchased the finish line video from the Ironman videographers. I don't know if I mentioned this but I ran across the finish line with Jared. Most everyone had family or their spouse run across with them. It was so neat! Take a look:

Good news!

My Dr. is going to let me do another Femara/IUI cycle since he can't get me into a consultation before I would have to start injectables. WooHoo! I'm so glad I don't have to take another break cycle.

Big Fat stupid Negative

Not sure what exactly our next step is, but I am going to call the nurse this morning and figure out where we go from here. At my last follicle scan, she said that I will probably be done with the Clomid/Femara and I will have to come to a consultation with the Dr. to decide where to go from there. Well, if I wait until AF comes before we do a consultation, then it will probably be too late to start anything for this next cycle and I really don't want to take another break.. so we'll see.

I imagine they will start me on Follistim, which is an injection med so I will have to learn how to give myself shots. FUN! I wonder if there is a nurse that lives in our subdivision that will do it for me???? My dad is a retired fire fighter and has given lots of shots.. he could do it???

I will figure something out, but people say that giving it yourself is really not that bad at all. uggh. I never thought I would have to ever do something like this. I just don't understand how we got pg with Abby so easily and now this.

Evap city

Well, I got a line, but it looks very evapish. If anything, it still could be the shot. All I can do is keep testing and see what happens. I have no symptoms that makes me think this cycle is any different from any other.

I've spent way too much time looking at this line this morning. It made me miss my exercise. I seriously cannot wait till I am pg so I can stop doing this to myself every month. haha. Ok, well, here are the pics. They have been enhanced and it probably looks way better on the screen than it does in real life.

When am I going to get a real line??? It feels like i will never see a real line and I'll be looking at these thin, grey, indented ghost lines the rest of my life!

This one is untouched

Tshirt

I must be really busy lately.

I haven't shared much about the Ironman, but once I finish the video, that will pretty much give you all the details. I did want to share some pictures of the Tshirt that I made for myself to wear on race day.


I have my day 21 blood draw for my progesterone check today. I have tested a couple times and the lines are getting lighter.I may test on Monday at 10 DPO, but if I get a faint line, it could be the shot still in my system.

We had a good 4th of July. Jen and I went and saw the movie "Liscence to Wed" It was pretty stupid, but it had 1 hilarious scene. Jared and Chris (Jen's DH) saw Transformers while we went to the chick flick. They said Transformers was great.

After the movies, we all headed back to my parents for a BBQ. Jared and I stayed there almost all day. We headed back home around dinner time and Jen and Chris came down and we watched another movie "Catch and Release." Again, pretty stupid. (sorry for those who are fans).

I think Jen and I are done choosing movies for a while.