tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3817487494603298812024-03-12T18:19:57.410-07:00Holding Onto Hope...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-50933939367720656352014-07-08T06:05:00.003-07:002014-07-08T06:05:28.487-07:00Ding..Ding..Ding... ROUND TWO! 7/8/14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/c2/0c/d8/c20cd84fe497c47781cea8ccc117963a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hope Over Fear - Anchor Stretched Canvas" border="0" height="200" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/c2/0c/d8/c20cd84fe497c47781cea8ccc117963a.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A woman in front of me at Target glowing with happiness at all her new items she has chosen for her first unborn child, a gathering of friends where you are the only couple without a child or a child on the way, or yet another Facebook pregnancy announcement popping up is a constant reminder of our infertility. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I start to be upset that we still aren't pregnant, after 20+ months of trying to conceive, I remind myself of several things:</span></div>
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<img alt="One day in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as most beautiful." height="276" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/c1/5c/03/c15c03142115bc9a46cd23172a4a491b.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. We are SO <b>very</b> blessed. We have our health, families, each other...And Smokey! That's more than enough and a baby would just be icing on the cake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. So many couples have experienced far more extensive treatments, (daily shots, IVF, etc) terrible heartbreak in the loss of a late pregnancy, still born, or sudden infant death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. We aren't into too expensive of treatment...<b>YET</b>. IVF is easily $10,000 a cycle, where our IUI's are a tenth of that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4. It took one of my friends 3 IUI's to get pregnant with her first baby girl two years ago and now she has added a set of twin boys after just 1 IUI. She gives me hope :)</span></div>
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<img alt="Oh! Nadia, has captured my heart today with her post!!! I, too, struggle with impatience but HIS timing is always perfect! I took time to carefully place each item in the pouch, all the while thinking of the delight that’s to come on their little faces. Oh, how my heart is for them, and for their good. I wasn’t withholding good things, but preparing them for the perfect moment - and in that moment, I was reminded of His heart for me. For you. For us…" height="305" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ec/c4/23/ecc42306ccb758d9038be6cda59228b6.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, here we are, gearing up for round #2. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today at 3pm we go in to check and see if we have any mature follicles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">((Fingers crossed for 2!))</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> If we do, I will most likely receive a trigger shot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(to force my body to ovulate the mature follicle or follicles). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My IUI will then be scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, July 9th. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then, the dreaded TWW (two week wait) where you tell yourself to stay busy, but end up analyzing every smell, waves of nausea, and exhaustion and drive your husband crazy :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Estimated test day: Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014</span></div>
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<img alt="IUI & the 2 week wait.... Longest 2 weeks of an "assisted conception" couple ever!" height="200" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f5/64/f1/f564f1b184b2d2212a7f6017c1cd49f3.jpg" width="181" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for all the amazing support from our friends and family! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We couldn't do this without you all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">XOXO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sarah</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-42540082117104639722014-06-26T08:35:00.002-07:002014-06-26T08:35:31.907-07:00"Everything is temporary, this too shall pass."- IUI #1 June 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The burning in my eyes is a constant reminder and all my feelings of anger, guilt, and frustration come rushing right back in an instant. Yesterday morning didn't start off exactly the way I had planned. In fact, it was one of the worst mornings I've had in awhile. I was hoping to sleep in til about 8am or so. I would then have breakfast with my hubby, shower, and head to work for the day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/_20wQ1iOQ-x4nABPUXVpXRx1q0S04c3p7ns8O7MZkF-Q3HJOOlfWSJXBFokLyP_-AoAAxLYta4fNcu44m5cq7xG8irewvHSgFq8oNuyVr7oii0I7kbwKWBBBTIjT2hpTg998mjCqu4c" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Never undertimate me or my smile because deep inside there's a woman crying with hope and dreams of becoming a mother once again and giving my child that sibling she's been asking for, but am not losing hope because everything happens for a reason and everything falls into place in due time ....." border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/80/d7/3d/80d73d96eeccf05af15a60a673b7a628.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Instead, I woke up and couldn't resist the urge to take yet another pregnancy test. I had secretly been taking them all week and was convinced that Mondays was positive. I was on cloud 9 all day and started dreaming about how I would tell Barry, when I would start showing, and ways to share the news with family and friends. But on Tuesday morning, instead of the faint line getting darker, there was no line. Hmm.. That's weird, I thought to myself, but didn't let it ruin my day. This was 13 days past our IUI. If I was pregnant, something should show up- even a faint line would do. But again, nothing...</span></div>
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<img alt="Given up" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/be/63/2c/be632c1a07eb02c8ed920bbdab2d068c.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I broke the news to Barry while making us french toast. I could see the disappointment on his face and I broke down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A flood of questions came rushing into my head:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"Why is this happening to us?"</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"Haven't we been through enough?'</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"How much more can we take?"</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"What if we never have children?</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strike>We</strike> I cried for the next hour while my husband just held me. All he could do is just look away, staring off into the distance, like he couldn't believe what was happening. I kept asking him what he was thinking, but he had no words. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This only made me feel worse. I started to feel guilty. </span><br />
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<img alt="#infertility" height="200" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b6/07/66/b607660c8025cefdd5b364c005ceab81.jpg" width="166" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"Why can't I get pregnant?"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"What's wrong with ME?"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"His numbers were above amazing... it's got to be ME"</b></span><br />
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<img alt="Accept what is, let go what was, believe in what will be" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/3e/20/54/3e20549472845107eabfb5a3be23f31a.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With bright red eyes, I looked over at the clock and realized I needed to get in the shower because I was going to be late for work; the last place I wanted to be. I tried to cover my puffy eyes with some makeup, put a fake smile on my face, and headed to work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday was hard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is a little easier.</span><br />
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<img alt="Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us." height="320" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9b/20/9a/9b209ae052e8dc4338bbf763030008ac.jpg" width="213" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Time always heals all wounds, but with infertility you don't have much time to pick up the pieces. I start more medication tomorrow and we have already scheduled our next months ultrasound for IUI #2. We are praying for a better result next month, but trying to take everything day by day :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for all the love and support from our family and friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We couldn't get through this without all of you! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">XOXO</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sarah </span></div>
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<img alt="infertility quotes | Serendipity / Quotes on Infertility « One little pink line short of ..." src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/df/c5/cf/dfc5cf0e573f873cc5b6dda630b7d749.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The waiting game.</b></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That's basically all you do when trying to conceive. First, you start and wait for your monthly visitor to leave. Then, you wait to ovulate. Finally, after a long two weeks of waiting, you can take a pregnancy test to see if you are pregnant. <strike>If </strike>When it's negative, you wait to start and start the crazy cycle all over again... month after month. I have been on the crazy cycle for 19 months and counting. I'm tired of waiting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><img alt="Waiting for You. This would be perfect for adoptions or having a baby" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a4/66/cc/a466cc2b2a2d9ac6bdbd166e75e38386.jpg" height="200" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px;" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Friday, also know as CD 14, (calendar day 14 of my cycle) I took an ovulation test in the AM. I wasn't expecting a positive test until the following week so when a <i>nearly</i> positive test came back I was thrilled! I assumed the femara was causing an early ovulation and was hopeful that the test would be positive that afternoon or evening and our IUI would be Sunday morning! I tested <u><b>FOUR</b></u> times that day to make sure I didn't miss it... all tests were negative. I tested <u><b>three</b></u> times Saturday and another time on Sunday and this Monday morning- all negative. I'm trying to remain hopeful, but can't shake the thought that we may have missed it somehow and won't have our IUI this month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I will know if we missed our chance (or not!) by the end of the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Prayers, fingers & toes crossed!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Until next time- Sarah </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-70478380228644559172014-05-12T05:02:00.002-07:002014-05-12T05:30:35.070-07:00When Mother's Day isn't Happy...<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="all day this has been heavy on my heart.. and then BAM pinterest goes and has this in the popular section and now I'm crying." class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ed/2a/0e/ed2a0e5867ec734026e0d9c7d5f3f97f.jpg" height="320" width="227" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"The grief of infertility is not so cut and dry. Infertile people grieve the loss of the baby that they may never know. They grieve the loss of that baby who would have had mommy's nose and daddy's eyes. But, each month, there is the hope that maybe that baby will be conceived after all. No matter how hard they try to prepare themselves for bad news, they still hope that this month will be different. Then, the bad news comes again, and the grief washes over the infertile couple anew. This process happens month after month, year after year. It is like having a deep cut that keeps getting opened right when it starts to heal."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">- <a href="http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/for-family--friends/infertility-etiquette.html">Resolve.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday was hard for millions of people and I was one of them. All day I was constantly reminded that I should be celebrating my first Mother's Day with my four month old baby. I remember refusing to take a test last year on Mother's Day because the one I took the day before came back negative.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZWTliZQatE/U3Cr9CmfmwI/AAAAAAAAAgc/L6JdWlq6wMg/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZWTliZQatE/U3Cr9CmfmwI/AAAAAAAAAgc/L6JdWlq6wMg/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I told Barry I wasn't going to test that Monday morning, but couldn't resist. I was in complete shock when it was positive. I took some pictures of Smokey with the test and went to see my Mom at school on her lunch break to show her the test. Being a Mother, she said she already knew what I had to tell her :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><img alt="smokey boy" class="pinImg fullBleed loaded fade" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/b1/3b/5e/b13b5e894729260776e20a0c7bc72f20.jpg" style="height: 314px; width: 236px;" /> <img alt="1 year ago" class="pinImg fullBleed loaded fade" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/b0/48/79/b0487985fdae008bfa0af6f5f9b84881.jpg" style="height: 314px; width: 236px;" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I kept the news from Barry all day. I was working as a Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness in Speedway and had started a Boot camp class on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Being the great husband he is, Barry took my class to spend time with me. I remember seeing him come in the gym and I wanted to run up to him and scream, <strong><u>"I'm pregnant!!"</u></strong> It took everything I had to not say anything to him and act as normal as possible throughout class. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">When class was over, I somehow managed to get home before he did. I tied the positive test onto Smokey's collar and didn't say a word. Smokey ran up to Barry as he came home and he looked at him and said, "What is on your collar?" As soon as he bend down to see it, we both started to cry. We were so happy in that moment. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="smokey" class="pinImg fullBleed loaded fade" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/cb/c7/c0/cbc7c0592e0fc20ac692d2e4f596eadb.jpg" style="height: 314px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 236px;" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will never forget the excitement we shared on May 13th, 2013 or the hurt we felt on June 1st, 2013 when we lost "baby bear." </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I don't consider myself a Mother, but I hold onto hope that one day I will be. I dream about the day I will be able to rock my baby to sleep, watch my husband hold our child, and look back at our journey and know that everything we went through was worth every ounce of pain, hurt, and tears.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm more than ready for our <strong>IUI </strong>this month and continue to hold onto hope that THIS will be our month :)</span><br />
<img alt="I was worth the wait wait wait miracle baby IVF infertility IUI by ShopCustomApparel, $11.00" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/fa/f4/f9/faf4f94867a5ad1d3b917f2f09be767c.jpg" height="320" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px;" width="320" /><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-35098064685959198092014-05-05T11:40:00.003-07:002014-05-12T05:29:51.925-07:00May is here! Month 1 of IUI :)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Welcome May'" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/76/ef/2a/76ef2a8ba1d06c1d4cf38833c0309263.jpg" height="240" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 8px 0px;" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">May has always been one of my favorite months; growing up in Speedway, IN, home of Indianapolis 500 may have something to do with this. I love the fresh cut grass, feeling the warm sun on your skin after months of snow and ice, and especially the sound of a race car speeding around the track. May 2014 will have a special memory for me this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It will be our first <a href="http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/iui.html">IUI!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As much as I'm looking forward to our first IUI, I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. I'm extremely hopeful that this will path will lead to our take home baby, but know there's still a lot that has to go right for this to work. </span></div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/f4/aa/97/f4aa97052909964c9bd833b7db8abed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="You are where you are suppose to be." border="0" class="pinImg fullBleed loaded" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/f4/aa/97/f4aa97052909964c9bd833b7db8abed2.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Right now, I'm just taking everything day by day. My plan is to stay healthy and active, keep stress low, and enjoy time with my family and friends during this exciting month of May!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><u>Here's what currently going on:</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>CD1</strong>: Started on <u>Saturday, May 3rd</u> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong>CD 3</strong>: <u>Monday</u>, <u>May 5th</u>: Started 5mg of Femara</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will take this through <strong>CD 7</strong>: Friday, May 9th</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will continue to update throughout this month! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As always, prayers are welcomed and appreciated!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">XOXO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sarah </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-64099413369040793432014-04-28T15:29:00.000-07:002014-05-12T05:29:11.244-07:00Our 1st IUI scheduled!<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="im gonna make it happen #motivationalmonday" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/be/d6/b8/bed6b8592fa56ac36e0864ac1a11fb60.jpg" height="200" width="141" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We now have a diagnosis and a plan! Barry and I met with Dr. Will on Wednesday, April 23rd at <strike>10:45am</strike> ... 11:25am to discuss all of our tests and to figure out where we go from here. Our meeting went very well and we learned a lot.. I think Barry more than me ;) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">("Wait, when you say 2 or 3 eggs, you mean we could have twins or triplets?!?"- Barry) </span><br />
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<img alt="I think this is the way it was with Kayla, Cameron, and I!! Haha:)" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/63/c0/bd/63c0bd4945f3d1cec58de468323dd15d.jpg" height="166" width="200" /><br />
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<img alt="Cute photo for babies, maybe friends that have kids around the same time or multiples." src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/fb/56/11/fb5611768672b7e885e8c189ea0505b4.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Dr. Will went over all my blood work numbers and was happy with where my thyroid levels are currently at, as well as my prolactin (17.1- goal is below 20) and AMH (8.2- doc wanted this to be at least a 2). I yelled out a BOOM when he told me how high my AMH levels where and Doc and I high-fived haha.. You have to have some fun with dealing with all this, right?!</span><br />
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<img alt="2 minions" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8b/48/39/8b4839ce6c9de6717fe79d01d2b82d5b.jpg" height="200" width="200" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">He also showed us the pictures and results of my SIS ultrasound. He said everything looked great and my uterus was perfect! (I personally think it will be prettier with a baby in there!) He said I have 20 follicles in one ovary and 18 on the other side. That is double what he said is a good amount! Yeah for overachieving! :) He also went over Barry's numbers and all is well in that department. He is overachieving as well!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(I don't want to be the only one bragging LOL)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So with all these great results, my thoughts went to, "Why can't we get pregnant?" Dr. Will explained that we have around a <u><i>10%</i></u> of conceiving every month with perfect timing. He used the term "<u><i><b>unexplained infertility</b></i></u>" in our situation, but did have a plan that he believes with work for us. (and increase our chance of conceiving to <u><i>20%</i></u>!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Here it is...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Femara+IUI= baby (hopefully!)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will start taking 5 mg of femara, also know as <a href="http://www.wisconsinfertility.com/treat_letrozole.html">letrozole</a> on my cycle days 3-7.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will start using an ovulation predictor kit or (<a href="http://www.clearblueeasy.com/clearblue-easy-digital-ovulation-test.php">OPK's</a>) on cycle day 10.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As soon as I get a positive, I will call our doctor's office to schedule the <a href="http://www.midwestfertility.com/conventionaltreatment.html">IUI</a> for the next day! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We will wait for a <b>LOOONG</b> two weeks and then be able to take a pregnancy test to see if it worked! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We should be starting this process in early May and know early June if it worked :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Please keep us in your prayers! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">XOXO</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sarah </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This outfit is a MUST if this works! :)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-69198346046853804742014-04-22T07:53:00.001-07:002014-04-22T12:54:36.064-07:00Thyroid Update (April 2014)<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After celebrating Barry's 36th birthday last Tuesday (4/15) I went back to the doctor on Thursday to have my thyroid levels re-checked. Last month, I went to have baseline blood work performed and they noticed my thyroid levels were slightly elevated (2.89) My doctor said that for a successful conception and pregnancy to occur, they should be between 1-2. So after another fainting free blood work and about 5 hours later, I found out some good news!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My thyroid levels have dropped to 2.31! I'm so relived this is moving in the right direction, and even though the number isn't exactly where it needs to be, I'm hopeful that in the next month or two it will be :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The plan is to stay on the same dosage of my medication. Barry and I head back to Midwest Fertility tomorrow (Wednesday, April 23rd) to talk with our doctor, Dr. Will, about our game plan moving forward. We are excited and hopeful for the coming months!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As always, thanks for the support and prayers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xoxo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sarah </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-27740895863670268612014-04-14T14:01:00.000-07:002014-04-22T13:26:21.732-07:00Month 2! (April 2014) <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have moved into month 2 of testing at Midwest Fertility! Thursday, April 3rd AF (Aunt Flow) started and to say it was a bad day is an understatement. I had such high hopes last month after starting the thyroid medication, seeing a positive OPK (ovulation test), and not having any spotting like I typically do during my cycle. I allow myself one day to be sad, cry, drink a glass of wine (or two) LOL , and feel sorry for myself. But only one day. By Friday I already felt better and after a busy and fun weekend with Barry I was looking forward to this month of testing/trying :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This month <strike>we</strike>... well I had a fun saline-infused ultrasound. I was glad Barry was able to take off a little early from work to be there with me. My doctor was on vacation so the on-call doctor performed the procedure. It wasn't too bad, mostly just uncomfortable. Barry kept me entertained as he held my hand and told me funny things to distract myself from the actual procedure :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The doctor who performed the test said everything looked great and didn't see anything causing our infertility! Yay for good news!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Next text is my blood test scheduled for this Thursday, April 24th to recheck my thyroid levels. Hopefully they have lowered and are between 1-2! (Fingers crossed!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will keep you all informed on what this blood test reveals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thanks again for all the prayers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><img alt="So true!" class="pinImage" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/53/60/0a/53600a345e4bacc10a1004ab137e5576.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px;" width="320" /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-40323401145746928992014-03-20T10:45:00.004-07:002014-04-22T13:27:32.166-07:003/19/14: Finding some answers :)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img alt="I used to believe this too. I don't anymore. Some people are just vindictive and deceitful...and if you let them into your life they will rip it apart if they get half a chance." class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/d8/aa/8d/d8aa8de31e25f615896a7c485c2036bd.jpg" height="193" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px;" width="200" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday was a huge day for me. I had my first blood draw scheduled for 7:40am. For most people, this isn't a big deal. For someone with severe blood and needle phobia, this experience is literally enough to through me into a full on panic attack, pass out, and never want to return to that doctor's office again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> (Which isn't an option if I want to become pregnant LOL) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Usually, a couple days before a doctor's appointment, I'm already nervous and wanting to cancel. Everything about this appointment was different. I had a weird calm over me that I have NEVER experienced before a doctor's appointment. I had a sense that God was in control and that everything would be fine. Through this whole journey, I keep telling myself, "God wouldn't give us more than we can handle."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Luckily, my blood draw took less than 1 minute and the nurse was amazing. I sat there for a couple minutes after and then left. (Easy!) I didn't expect to hear anything that day or even the day after, but less than 6 hours after my appointment, I received a call from the nurse! She informed me that my prolactin number was in the normal range at 17.1. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">(yay for normal!) </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then, she told me that my TSH was in the normal range at 2.89 but considered on the higher end of normal for women trying to conceive. My doctor likes this level to be between 1-2. She then explained he recommends that I take 25mg of a thyroid replacement medication every morning on an empty stomach and have my levels checked again in 4 weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was honestly kinda excited to hear this news. I feel like it's the first bit of news we have received that is something we can change. I just can't help but think maybe this is the simply can be the fix that will bring us our baby. I pray that it is :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">- Sarah </span></div>
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<img alt="Even miracles take a little time Cinderella by itsybitsyelephant, $16.00" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/53/11/49/53114940a9df090d2544d8d13f16e06c.jpg" height="238" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px;" width="320" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-381748749460329881.post-62241368636753328662014-03-12T11:13:00.002-07:002014-04-22T13:28:39.946-07:00Taking the Next Step :)<div class="irc_mutc" style="display: none;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Barry and I had our first consultation with Dr. Will at Midwest Fertility Specialists yesterday. I hoped and prayed we would never have to get to this point, but after trying to conceive for over 17 months, we decided it was time to see a specialist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Leading up the appointment, I was very calm and even a little excited. But, the night before the appointment, everything came rushing into my mind at once and I hit my breaking point. I was filling out our paperwork for the second time, (I had originally filled out the paperwork for Advanced Fertility but had to switch to Midwest Fertility) and I just became overwhelmed. I don't know if it was the hundreds of health questions I had to answer, the embarrassing questions I had to ask Barry, or the countless insurance forms, but I had to literally walk away from the table. Sometimes there's nothing left to say and that's exactly how I felt that night. Anytime Barry would ask me anything, I would just cry. That night he held me tight and I quickly fell asleep in his arms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The day of the appointment I stayed busy and work and didn't have too much time to worry. Barry met me on the north side and we drove up the rest of the way together. We found the building easily and rode up the second floor to Suite 250. The receptionist was very friendly and after barely enough time for Barry to brew a cup of coffee in the Keurig, we were being called back to the consultation room. </span></div>
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<a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAYQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=AMYAAJDr34lOpM&tbnid=jFxsrOAHmeCYFM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhope4babybump.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F08%2Fwhere-is-fast-forward-button-for-my-life.html&ei=L50gU8zWPMn02gWmpoGADQ&bvm=bv.62788935,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNEv5-8kyqmVnw90FqV9ntEkx0RJ7w&ust=1394732703179611" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAYQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=arpbH4a5HrKorM&tbnid=SWXsz07-CwfhUM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kalynernest.com%2F2013%2F02%2Finfertility-update.html&ei=HpwgU7jNIanY2AX47oHQDg&bvm=bv.62788935,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNFE62hMtaL1OCocv1H-E2UskIWHqg&ust=1394732436945869" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">We weren't even waiting for more than five minutes before Dr. Will came in. He walked in, called us by our first names, and introduced himself. He had already looked at my paperwork and we dove right into our journey over these past 17 months. He asked some more in-depth questions about certain issues and took lots of notes. At the end of our talk, (including him asking about when we got married, how long we have known each other, and how we met.. which was a nice change from just medical questions!) he suggested I get a fasted blood test and an SIS ultrasound. My blood test is scheduled for Wed, March 19th. I believe they are checked my AMH, FSH, and thyroid hormone levels. Once we have the results from that, Dr. Will will have a better idea as to our next step! My SIS ultrasound will not be scheduled until my next cycle (hopefully I don't have a NEXT cycle!!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm glad to have the ball rolling and excited to have some answers soon! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08200497677099505542noreply@blogger.com1