This year I feel like my favorite holiday flew by. One day I was cleaning my house and making pumpkin rolls and the next day, I was fast asleep on the couch, nursing a migraine bc all the hustle and bustle was over for that day. I LOVE hosting dinner parties at our house, so it brings me joy to see my favorite faces walk through our front door to give thanks. We feasted on all sorts of Thanksgiving treats, enjoyed some football, and even sorted through the sales papers planning our attack route for Black Friday!!
Black Friday is a tradition with my sister and mom. Every year we do this and every year, we get out earlier and earlier. This year, we hit up Kohls at 4, Lowes, and Cracker Barrel. Then we made a pit-stop by the REACH Clinic on our way through Charlotte to Northlake Mall. My side of the family is completed, but now we just have to work on Charlie's side.
Charlie and I had our pictures made yesterday afternoon at Glencairn Gardens in Rock Hill. We took the dogs (which didn't last long) with their fresh hair cuts and coordinated outfits, and off we went. Charlie was NOT a fan, and informed me that I owed him a Chinese Buffet outing (VOMIT at the thought of all the bacteria) bc he was taking these pictures.
So, YES, I did mention the REACH Clinic above. With the IUI just over a week away, I find myself excited, nervous, hopeful, all at the same time I am trying to keep my emotions in check and not get my hopes up. I started taking Clomid again this month and well I am one CrAzY woman. Let's just put it this way, I slept with the window open in our bedroom for the last 2 nights. I am comfortable and Charlie freezes. My prescriptions are filled and my ultrasound appointment is this coming Sunday morning at 7:30 am. I am excited that we are taking this new route, and even more excited to hear for myself how this is all going to go down. AHHH, the anticipation of it all.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
We Now Have a Plan
Happy Friday. I hope everyone enjoyed their Veteran's Day holiday. We spent our Veteran's Day morning at the REACH Clinic where we spoke with our doctor about our plan of action. He informed us that my bloodwork came back normal, I just seem to have hyperactive ovaries, a luteal phase defect, and NO PCOS!!
He recommended that if we wanted to take the most basic route toward achieving a pregnancy, we could do ovulation induction aka Clomid or similar drugs. Or, we could take the fast track toward pregnancy, we could do IVF (70-75% of pregnancy for a female like me). My eyes were immediately overtaken by tears bc we strongly feel that we are spinning our wheels on Clomid. We informed the doctor that the Clomid route was not enough, and we were taking Clomid before we came to the clinic. He then suggested IVF, which has great chances of achieving a pregnancy, but it also comes with a price tag, for us, of $11k. OUCH!
Charlie asked about IUI. The doctor told him, in most of his cases, he uses IUI only when the male has a bolder line "swimmer" analysis. Charlie does not seem to have any problems in this area, therefore, it would only increase our normal chance of pregnancy from 20% to 25%. He stated that he would do IUI for us, but he wanted us to take time to decide. Apparently this doctor does not know who he is talking to...bc we have wanted to pursue this route for quite some time. I explained to the doctor that I would LOVE to have all the stress of conceiving taken away from us and that I would give almost anything to be able to spend time with Charlie without the constant thought of baby baby baby. This would allow us to get back to being just US....the way it should be.
Sooo, with that said, we are going to pursue IUI in December, and we could not be more excited. We are going to go through 4 cycles and see what happens; if not, IVF here come The Cagle's. On day 1 of my next cycle, I am supposed to call the clinic and set up a day 3 appointment for bloodwork and an ultrasound. Please continue to pray for us on our journey, and I will keep you updated.
He recommended that if we wanted to take the most basic route toward achieving a pregnancy, we could do ovulation induction aka Clomid or similar drugs. Or, we could take the fast track toward pregnancy, we could do IVF (70-75% of pregnancy for a female like me). My eyes were immediately overtaken by tears bc we strongly feel that we are spinning our wheels on Clomid. We informed the doctor that the Clomid route was not enough, and we were taking Clomid before we came to the clinic. He then suggested IVF, which has great chances of achieving a pregnancy, but it also comes with a price tag, for us, of $11k. OUCH!
Charlie asked about IUI. The doctor told him, in most of his cases, he uses IUI only when the male has a bolder line "swimmer" analysis. Charlie does not seem to have any problems in this area, therefore, it would only increase our normal chance of pregnancy from 20% to 25%. He stated that he would do IUI for us, but he wanted us to take time to decide. Apparently this doctor does not know who he is talking to...bc we have wanted to pursue this route for quite some time. I explained to the doctor that I would LOVE to have all the stress of conceiving taken away from us and that I would give almost anything to be able to spend time with Charlie without the constant thought of baby baby baby. This would allow us to get back to being just US....the way it should be.
Sooo, with that said, we are going to pursue IUI in December, and we could not be more excited. We are going to go through 4 cycles and see what happens; if not, IVF here come The Cagle's. On day 1 of my next cycle, I am supposed to call the clinic and set up a day 3 appointment for bloodwork and an ultrasound. Please continue to pray for us on our journey, and I will keep you updated.
Friday, October 29, 2010
SOOO Excited!
Good morning. I have been up bright and early this morning with no signs of stopping until about 9-10 tonight. Soooo, I took the plunge and called the REACH Clinic (Reproductive Endocrinology Associates of Charlotte). I just felt like we were spinning our wheels at the OB's office, and while I have a ton of respect for my doctor (he is who discovered my niece's heart and chromosomal defects), I realized I would not be his first patient to seek additional help without his referral. After explaining to his nurse my complete respect for him, but I just FEEL I need more help than what an OB's office can provide; she informed me that he would gladly have me back after I was pregnant (God willing). I felt like I was breaking up with my OB.
So before I called his office and spoke to his nurse, I called REACH to find out if I needed a referral, if they accept my insurance, and how far out they are booking appointments. No, I don't need a referral, yes they accept my insurance, and they have appointments in November. So the receptionist put me through to the New Patient Appointment scheduler, and didn't hear back from her on Wednesday. So, I called first thing yesterday morning; finally got her on the phone and told her:
WE ARE SO READY!
She said "How ready?"
I said "What do you have available?"
She said "Tomorrow morning at 10:30, we had a cancellation."
I said "Schedule it."
So yes, I am on my way to the REACH Clinic this morning. It all fell into line so perfectly. I cannot wait to have a "plan" of my own and to get answers. Oh, how nice answers will be. Please pray for us on this new part of our journey.
So before I called his office and spoke to his nurse, I called REACH to find out if I needed a referral, if they accept my insurance, and how far out they are booking appointments. No, I don't need a referral, yes they accept my insurance, and they have appointments in November. So the receptionist put me through to the New Patient Appointment scheduler, and didn't hear back from her on Wednesday. So, I called first thing yesterday morning; finally got her on the phone and told her:
WE ARE SO READY!
She said "How ready?"
I said "What do you have available?"
She said "Tomorrow morning at 10:30, we had a cancellation."
I said "Schedule it."
So yes, I am on my way to the REACH Clinic this morning. It all fell into line so perfectly. I cannot wait to have a "plan" of my own and to get answers. Oh, how nice answers will be. Please pray for us on this new part of our journey.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Can't Think of a Title for this One
On my drive to work this morning I did a lot of thinking, which led to tears, which then led to happiness. You see, I have started this habit over the last 3 weeks of listening to Selah while driving to work. Yes, I have my favorites which are on "repeat," but I find this is some of the most soul-calming, praise-hands worthy, drop-you-to-your-knees-in-praise music I have ever heard. I have some of the best moments of my day during my drive to work.
My thought process this morning: its been almost 5 months since "June;" 3 months of "trying" AGAIN; progesterone levels over the last 3 months are not ideal; an HSG test accompanied with a curved organ that needed "straightening (OUCH!);" a negative pregnancy test this morning even though I thought I recognized some of my former pregnancy symptoms; it seems like a dream that I was ever pregnant, like it never really happened to us, like a bad dream that had such a sweet, precious beginning; December is quickly approaching, which means my due date is that much closer, and lastly God, where are You?
WOW!! God, where are You? Seriously, Mary let's get some things straight. Pregnancy is not a right just bc I am a woman. I am not broken and I am not inadequate as a woman, which are feelings that I have. God blesses us in life and one of God's blessings is the blessing of children and their sweet, loud noises that fill our homes. My God is merciful and He is faithful, and He will bless us with children, one day, in His time, not MINE. So I will continue to praise God for all He has blessed me with, PRAISE Him that I had such a short, sweet time with our little one, and remember that He chose me to be with that sweet life for a short time. Thank you God, as You have never left me and have always been and will be right here holding me on this journey. So God, I am going to continue following doctor's orders, but I know its all in Your time and I trust in You.
By the way, if you have never listened to "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" by Selah, I suggest you do so. Have a fantastic day!!
My thought process this morning: its been almost 5 months since "June;" 3 months of "trying" AGAIN; progesterone levels over the last 3 months are not ideal; an HSG test accompanied with a curved organ that needed "straightening (OUCH!);" a negative pregnancy test this morning even though I thought I recognized some of my former pregnancy symptoms; it seems like a dream that I was ever pregnant, like it never really happened to us, like a bad dream that had such a sweet, precious beginning; December is quickly approaching, which means my due date is that much closer, and lastly God, where are You?
WOW!! God, where are You? Seriously, Mary let's get some things straight. Pregnancy is not a right just bc I am a woman. I am not broken and I am not inadequate as a woman, which are feelings that I have. God blesses us in life and one of God's blessings is the blessing of children and their sweet, loud noises that fill our homes. My God is merciful and He is faithful, and He will bless us with children, one day, in His time, not MINE. So I will continue to praise God for all He has blessed me with, PRAISE Him that I had such a short, sweet time with our little one, and remember that He chose me to be with that sweet life for a short time. Thank you God, as You have never left me and have always been and will be right here holding me on this journey. So God, I am going to continue following doctor's orders, but I know its all in Your time and I trust in You.
By the way, if you have never listened to "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" by Selah, I suggest you do so. Have a fantastic day!!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Updating
I have to be honest, since the below post called "Tired" that's exactly what I have been. I have deliberately stayed off of the blogs, and from updating my blog bc, quite honestly, I just needed a break. Today I had an HSG, or hysterosalpingogram, at CMC Pineville. For me, it was just another day of going through the motions on this journey. Since "Tired" I have checked out, but I think its a good thing, and healthy for me. That's all for now.
"Those Girls" Do DC
Over the weekend, a group of my sorority sisters set out on a roadtrip to DC. What's in DC, you may ask?? Only one of the best, most classy lady EVER...Lindsay! Linds had no clue we were coming to visit her. When we walked up, she was unloading groceries and just stared at us through the back of her car window. On Saturday, we did a drive-by of the monuments and enjoyed some shopping in Georgetown. Georgetown...hmmm, sounds like a trip to Georgetown Cupcakes was in store. Not quite, as I have posted a picture of the line outside the shop. Instead, we tried a cupcake shop called Baked and Wired. I like it much better than Georgetown Cupcake and will go back when I visit Linds and Jamie in the spring. You will see Linds and her fiance, Jamie, on this blog again, as they are getting married in Blowing Rock next weekend.
Chicago
Charlie went to work in Chicago from 9/2-9/12/2010, and one of the perks to his travel is that I get to visit these amazing cities on occasion. My MIL, Fran, flew up with me bc she wanted to see Chicago and since Charlie was working during the day, she would be my shopping buddy/site see'er. So I have posted some pics below from our Chicago journey. 
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