Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Feels like we're making progress!

This is the first time in my life I have ever been excited to start my period! This was the one time my cycle was late and I needed it to be on time, but my lil friend finally visited me. Now that I started, I get to have more procedures done. Yesterday I went to the doctors to have a sonogram done. Sounds harmless, I’m thinking they will rub something over my belly to check out my lady parts. Not so much, I’ll just say that by the end of this process I will no longer be a modest woman. Everything did check out ok though. Next appointment is Monday for the sonosalpingogram and test transfer run and this Thursday Tim meets with the urologist to schedule when his procedure will be (pray that they can fit him in as soon as possible!) Another big step I made yesterday was paying for a majority of the in vitro, no turning back now!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Orientation

Last Thursday Tim and I had our orientation at Emory. Up untill this point every doctors visit has consisted of blood work and testing, but not to in depth of what the process involved. This doctors visit was a lot different because we had to get into all the "what if's" of the invitro process so our doctor could check off and have us sign that he's explained everything that could possibly happen. Not going to lie it freaked me out a little. Then we had to make a lot of on the spot decisions that we had never thought about or discussed as a couple, for example what would I do with the eggs/sperm if Tim were to die before the procedure. We just looked at each other like "do we get to talk about this for minute", but we had to answer all these types of crazy scenario questions right then and there.
After that part of the orientation was over (and my brain was spinning) we meet with the nurse who taught me how to give myself the shots. I looked like such a buffoon fumbling with the needle and dropping it a couple times. Then my attempt to get out the air bubbles almost made me cry cause my light flicks on the shot were not doing anything to make the bubble float to the top. Some shots we will have to mix with a powder and others I am given a special "pen" that I put together to give to myself. Then two of the shots, which need to be absorbed slower and they have to be inserted into my muscle (which means a very long needle in my butt) are giving to me by Tim. Glad I trust my husband so much! We watched video and got to practice on a fake skin pad. I feel reassured to know that everyday people do invitro all the time and are able to give them selves shots, so I can too. Even though after leaving the doctor I felt like I needed a nursing degree to do this process!!
Next up are a couple of out patient procedures for Tim and I and then I will be starting the medication in a couple weeks. Crazy to think we are in the process of making a baby! Thanks to all for their love and prayers, really means a lot to us! A specific prayer request for me is to be able to give God any fears I have and to give me the discernment to weed out satans lies.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

New Doctor

Tim and I had our first consultation with Emory Reproductive Center today. We really liked the doctor we met with and he was much more informative than our doctor at RBA. The doctor mentioned many things that we were'nt told at our appointments with other reproductive doctors, so we are going to go forward with in vitro at Emory. We feel really comfortable with the doctor and they seem to spend a lot more time and attention to us explaining every detail thoroughly.

The first step was blood work, ten viles of blood taken from me this morning and two from Tim. Im suppose to hear back from the doctor today or tomorrow with the lab results. Next step, I have to wait for my period to start so I can have diagnostic lab work and a diagnostic ultra sound done. Then a couple days after my period is over I'll have a sonohysterogram. The doctors will blow up my uterus with saline to check for polyps and they will insert the tube that they will use to perform in vitro to make sure I dont have anything blocking the path of the tube. I've already had a hysterosalpingogram so I dont have to do that procedure done again.

Then Tim will need to go in to have a procedure to extract his sperm. Poor Timbo, they have to cut a peice of tissue from his testicle to get the sperm out and then they will freeze it. I will be put on medication (shots I have to give myself daily) to get my eggs nice and big. During that time I will go in to have blood work done regularly to make sure my follicles are healthy and there's enough of them. Then I will have surgery to remove my eggs. The doctors will fertilize my egss with Tim's sperm and put them back in me about five days later and then we wait to see if we made a baby!

So far we have enough money to cover my part of in vitro and my medication, but Tim's surgery is an extra expense that we are praying our insurance will cover. Thanks again to everyone for lifting us up in prayer!! We are so grateful for your support! Much love and blessings to you!! I can't believe the day if finally here that we can take our first steps towards in vitro!! God is soooooo good!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Hope everyone had a great Easter! We had a great church service followed by Sunday school then off to the parents for lunch. We decorated our lamb cake and colored our eggs. It was a beautiful day, the weather couldn't have been better!