What to do

My period came yesterday a couple days early!! So we had to make the decision ASAP cause we have to call the clinic on CD1. We went back and forth but decided to wait until next cycle. I have some job stuff up in the air and we have to go to Cuba in April for a wedding and I would be about 28wks along if it took the first time. 

I feel sad about waiting. But I think it's for the best. Did I mention that I'm sad about waiting!? Lol Can't wait for this period to be over and for my next one to show!!! 

Protocol & Coldish feet

Today I got a call from the nurse at our clinic. She met with the Dr to review our chart and said that everything looked fantastic with my investigative cycle!! She said that our Dr has indicated my treatment cycle will consist of Femera 2.5mg to be taken for 5 days, an Ovidrel shot to be taken when advised and Prometrium to be taken 2 days after Ovidrel. How does this sound? A little too aggressive for a 1st-timer??? The nurse said he likes to use some drugs to augment ovulation when using donor sperm because it can get expensive. 

So anyway looks like we have the protocol for our first IUI!! Now we just have to figure out when that will be. I'm due to start my period on Monday...so this could all start really soon. We may wait out this month and try IUI#1 next cycle, this would give us a little more time before all the real TTC madness begins.

Is is bad that I'm the one who has been dying for a baby and now that the process may start sooner rather than later I feel like I'm getting cold feet??!! LOL Did this happen to anyone else? I mean I keep thinking what if it happens the first time? What if it doesn't? What if we get preggers with twins? So many what if's! 

Anyway thanks for reading!

Done!

We are completely done our investigative cycle!!! We had a few scares cause my follicles weren't growing too much initially and the nurse told us we had one more check and if they weren't growing they would stop monitoring. Thankfully by the next appointment I had one in the lead. Turns out I'm just a late bloomer cause my cycle is 32ish days.  Just after that appointment the clinic called and gave us an appointment to meet with the Dr. to review all the test results and talk about protocol, the earliest they had was Nov 21. I was really bummed about that cause it would mean we would miss 2 ovulations :(

I also panicked a little when I had the 3D ultrasound to check the shape of my uterus on Thursday. I googled images when I left the office and tried to remember what mine looked like so I could compare. Then I started freaking myself out cause I wasn't sure if I was remembering right. The tech told me I have to wait till I meet with the Dr...so I was worried about that too! How was I supposed to wait till nearly the end of Nov to know the results!?

Butttttt then the nurse called later that day, she reviewed my charts and said that everything looked great!!! She is meeting with the dr to review patient files next week and will find out if he will give us the go ahead to start a natural cycle or advise her if he wants to augment with some drugs. I was in tears listening to the voicemail and happily forwarded it to DW. This means we may not even need to meet with the Doc!! Thankfully I have since been able to change our appointment from Nov 21st to Oct 30th just in case. Yay!! 

The Investigative Cycle has begun!

We finally started our investigative cycle!!! I went CD3, they took 9 vials of blood and did an ultrasound. My FSH on CD3 was 7.59. Don't know if that is good or bad and we won't meet with the dr till after the cycle and all testing is done. Wednesday was CD9 for me and I went in for an ultrasound and blood work. When I got back the results and they are as follows. Lining was 3.7, and I have 5 follicles on right and 11 on left and on both sides one started to grow and they are 10mm and others are small. 

We are worried because we don't know what is normal. The nurses were pleasant and said come back on CD12. I cannot really find anything on line that pertains to a natural cycle and CD9 stats. The other thing is my cycles are pretty long 30-33 days. So that could affect things too!? Right?

We're going crazy and we haven't even really begun! DW is really getting into having a baby. It's sooo cute!! 

Today is CD 12 and I'm back for more blood work, ultrasound and hsg test. Nervous!! Hoping my lining grew and my follicles too! And they won't let DW come with me cause the room is "too small" I'm really disappointed in that. She hasn't been able to take part in anything so far :( she will come with me to meet the nurse today tho after the ultrasound. I also had to pay for the test :( hope I can submit it to my insurance and get it back. We need every penny for sperm! 

Tomorrow...Tomorrow

Tomorrow is our first consult with our RE!!! Omg I'm so excited and nervous...DW is too!! Hope we can sleep tonight! We will do an investigative cycle and get all the testing done around Sept 14 when I get AF and hopefully we can squeeze in our counselling session. If all goes quick and well, we may have our first insem at the end of September! I know it may not be possible but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The Job Sitch & TTC Plan

So a couple weeks ago my colleagues and I found out, that the task force formed to look at our region’s continued role in child care delivery is recommending we phase out our child care centres. This means I will be out of a job.

The final recommendation that will be presented to our Regional Council in September, is to close all 12 of our Child Care Centres over the next 2 years. What will probably happen is we will stop enrolment in October 2012 and then they will start letting us go as the number decline. I don't anticipate that the numbers will drop drastically until summer 2013 when each centre will loose the kindergarten children. So I anticipate job security until at least then.

Because of all of this DW and I have come up with this plan, we'll probably start TTC sooner rather than later. I will hopefully get pregnant, go on mat leave and receive EI (based on my current salary) and 15 week top up, receive my severance (Not sure if I would be given this while on mat or when it ends, I have to inquire about this.) And lastly find employment prior to my mat leaving ending, hopefully within the school board. Begin working at the end of my mat leave as I will not qualify for EI after being off. Or begin work a little early if necessary and DW will take parental leave. Yup that's the plan at the moment. 

I know it sounds crazy planning to have a baby while facing lay-off but the alternative is wait to get laid off over the next two years, wait to get offered my severance, find a new job (Where I will most likely make less $ = less $ on mat leave and no top up) work my required hours and THEN work on starting a family. This could take 2-3+ years!! 

Preparations & Lifestyle Changes

So to get my body ready for the baby I long for I have been taking a vial of Royal Jelly each morning, a teaspoon of Maca punch in my OJ, and a prenatal before bed. I have also been limiting my ginger ale intake to one a week, I have beer the odd time and I have also been cutting down on my caffeine intake by having one teaspoon of decaf and 1/2 a teaspoon of hazelnut coffee in the morning. I've been trying to eat healthier, eating lots of mixed greens and 1/2 an avocado almost every day. I have also been trying to make eating more of a priority. It's often hard for me to find time to eat sometimes when I'm busy at work. I have been forcing myself to squeeze in a break and take a lunch!

Let's hope that all these little things add up to health eggs and a super healthy wee baby in the future!