Our first follicle check for this cycle went great! The nurse counted around 18 follicles (aka black blobs) and they are all measuring right on track for where they should be. (at this point in cycle 1 I had about 22 and then we had 25 eggs retrieved...so there definitely could be more than 18 lingering around in there) I got my bloodwork results back this afternoon and all of my hormone levels are all in the normal range. It's always such a huge sigh of relief to get these calls. Just because the ultrasound shows one things doesn't always necessarily mean the bloodwork will match up. So you play the waiting game each day to get those confirming phone calls. The plan now is for us to go back on Sunday morning for the next follicle check. (for those of you new to reading the blog since last cycle...they do see patients 7 days a week...they are at the mercy of our bodies!) Depending on how the follicles measure on Sunday will determine when egg retrieval will be. They might want me to come back on Monday morning to check again...or they might go ahead and schedule the retrieval for a couple days later. It's just a "wait and see" type of situation. So for now, I just continue on with the daily shots and then Sunday Jason and I both start a round of antibiotics. Just another preventative to make sure we are in tip top shape.
I SO appreciate all the kind words you all are sending to me...text messages...facebook messages....emails...I welcome them all and they make me feel so loved and lifted up. This process is a tough one emotionally, and physically and it just helps so much to know what a support system we have...through the great times...and the crappy times. But let's just focus on the great times!!!!!!!!!! I've had such a great feeling about this lately and I just pray it's God preparing my heart for the blessings to come in the following weeks.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Moving forward!
Yesterday was my suppression check (bloodwork and ultrasound). The ultrasound looked fine...there was a small cyst still on my left ovary but it wasn't big enough to alarm the nurse. But basically everything looked just as it should. Just found out that all the bloodwork came back perfect...all of my levels were in the normal range! :) So, that means that on Sunday I will decrease the amount of Lupron I am injecting by half (praise God) and add in another shot. This is the stimulation medication (aka - STIMS) if you look back at my old post from cycle 1 http://theoliversjourney.blogspot.com/2009/08/makings-of-stim-shot.html you will see what goes into this medication. Because my dose of Lupron is going down, hopefully that means that these dreaded headaches will decrease. They did end up calling me in Lortab so I have been taking those to help...but I'd rather not have to take them as they make me feel loopy and then sleepy. (two feelings I'd rather not be feeling while I'm at work! But it's better than the pain I was experiencing)
I go in for my first follicle check on Thursday morning. From there I will probably have to go in every morning for the next week so we can monitor the follicles. They have to reach a certain size before egg retrieval can be scheduled (tentatively March 31st, or April 1st).
So...everything is moving along just as it should be! I'm actually starting to feel moments of being excited, versus moments of tears and sadness. Could this be the time that results in a precious miracle for Jason and I?!!? Gosh, I hope so. So many of you have told me you feel good about this cycle...that this is our time. I pray you all are correct! I just ask that you pray for God to scoop up Jason and I during this and carry us...we certainly can't do it alone. I like to think these moments of excitement are God telling me to keep believing in His handywork. I feel like I need to bust out in a karaoke rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin"...and I don't even sing karaoke...lol!! I think I'll just put in my Glee soundtrack instead... :)
Love, Kara
I go in for my first follicle check on Thursday morning. From there I will probably have to go in every morning for the next week so we can monitor the follicles. They have to reach a certain size before egg retrieval can be scheduled (tentatively March 31st, or April 1st).
So...everything is moving along just as it should be! I'm actually starting to feel moments of being excited, versus moments of tears and sadness. Could this be the time that results in a precious miracle for Jason and I?!!? Gosh, I hope so. So many of you have told me you feel good about this cycle...that this is our time. I pray you all are correct! I just ask that you pray for God to scoop up Jason and I during this and carry us...we certainly can't do it alone. I like to think these moments of excitement are God telling me to keep believing in His handywork. I feel like I need to bust out in a karaoke rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin"...and I don't even sing karaoke...lol!! I think I'll just put in my Glee soundtrack instead... :)
Love, Kara
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Only God knows our future...
I get these daily email devotionals and they have really been speaking to me lately. I wanted to share this one with you all because we all struggle with things in our lives and need to hear the word of God. I have quite a few close friends right now that are going through hard times...even though our situations aren't the same...the daily emotional struggles we feel ARE the same. It's amazing to me how two totally different situations can result in the same emotional turmoil. It's not that I'm glad others close to me are hurting....but it is comforting to know that I'm not alone when I feel the things I do.
Today is my supression check at the doctor to make sure the Lupron is doing it's job. As long as everything checks out there, I will start the stimulation medicine this weekend. Thank you all so much for your continued interest and prayers for our journey.
Like I said, this devotional spoke to me, and maybe it will speak to you as well.
God knows what gets you stressed
Thursday March 18 2010
Posted by Rick Warren
Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG)
"God not only knows about the future, He's there in the future. "
We're all interested in the future. It's interesting to me the things people will try to figure out what's going to happen next: astrology, horoscopes, reading tea leaves, consulting with people, bio-rhythms. But they're going to the wrong source because the only one who knows what's going to happen next is God. The Bible says, even before you were born, God knew all of your future. This means God sees your tomorrow, today. He already sees the things you'll face. The fact is, God is not limited by time. He's able to be in the past, the present, and the future all at the same time. That should give us great confidence in God. He not only knows about the future, He's there in the future. He not only walks with us day-by-day, He can also walk in our future. If I know that God knows all my tomorrows, today, then I should ask for advice. He knows what's going to happen: "Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own." (Jeremiah 33:3, MSG) The things you don't know, God can tell you about. He's not going to lay out your whole life all at once, telling you everything that will happen in your life. If He did, you'd likely get very discouraged or prideful or both. Instead, He gives it to you a little bit at a time. Here's what I'd suggest, when you get up in the morning, go over your schedule with the Lord. Pray, "Father, You've already seen this day that I'm about to experience. Tell me the things that are important today and then help me to focus on them."
Today is my supression check at the doctor to make sure the Lupron is doing it's job. As long as everything checks out there, I will start the stimulation medicine this weekend. Thank you all so much for your continued interest and prayers for our journey.
Like I said, this devotional spoke to me, and maybe it will speak to you as well.
God knows what gets you stressed
Thursday March 18 2010
Posted by Rick Warren
Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG)
"God not only knows about the future, He's there in the future. "
We're all interested in the future. It's interesting to me the things people will try to figure out what's going to happen next: astrology, horoscopes, reading tea leaves, consulting with people, bio-rhythms. But they're going to the wrong source because the only one who knows what's going to happen next is God. The Bible says, even before you were born, God knew all of your future. This means God sees your tomorrow, today. He already sees the things you'll face. The fact is, God is not limited by time. He's able to be in the past, the present, and the future all at the same time. That should give us great confidence in God. He not only knows about the future, He's there in the future. He not only walks with us day-by-day, He can also walk in our future. If I know that God knows all my tomorrows, today, then I should ask for advice. He knows what's going to happen: "Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own." (Jeremiah 33:3, MSG) The things you don't know, God can tell you about. He's not going to lay out your whole life all at once, telling you everything that will happen in your life. If He did, you'd likely get very discouraged or prideful or both. Instead, He gives it to you a little bit at a time. Here's what I'd suggest, when you get up in the morning, go over your schedule with the Lord. Pray, "Father, You've already seen this day that I'm about to experience. Tell me the things that are important today and then help me to focus on them."
Sunday, March 14, 2010
It's a love/hate relationship...
I love that I'm on Lupron because that means that our IVF cycle is underway...but I hate it because of the way it's making me feel. I really consiously try to not complain about any part of this process because I'm thankful to have the opportunity to go through this. This is really the only way for us to have a biological child so, I pray the good out weights the bad and we'll end up with a miracle baby. But my dear Lord...these headaches are really getting me down. I've basically had a headache since my Lupron shots started last Tuesday. I long for my one caffiene drink a day in hopes it will help...count down every 4 hour time period so I can take more Tylenol...and covet bed time because at least it doesn't hurt when I sleep. I don't remember the headaches being this bad the last time. I've done a lot of research online and there's basically no help. The only thing I can find as a suggestion is water, water, water....which I'm already drinking lots of. I have about one more full week of Lupron shots before I get to decrease my dose and add in the STIMS medicine...which should ease the headaches. I go this Thursday for my first suppression check...and for a physical. Dr. H. requires to have one current each year, and this month marks one year at the ART Program. Gosh, has it really been a year already!?!?! I'm going to ask if there is anything else I can take besides Tylenol...but I'm sure there isn't. It's just part of it. :(
As of right now the rest of our IVF schedule looks to be like this.... Egg retrieval should be somewhere around March 31st, April 1st or April 2nd. Embryo transfer about 4 days after that...and then my blood pregnancy test about 2 weeks after that. So, we should know the big news somewhere around April 20th. I pray this is our time....gosh do I pray. I'm doing all the right things....the rest is in God's hands. Keep lifting us up....
As of right now the rest of our IVF schedule looks to be like this.... Egg retrieval should be somewhere around March 31st, April 1st or April 2nd. Embryo transfer about 4 days after that...and then my blood pregnancy test about 2 weeks after that. So, we should know the big news somewhere around April 20th. I pray this is our time....gosh do I pray. I'm doing all the right things....the rest is in God's hands. Keep lifting us up....
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
This looks familiar...
I've read that women can respond totally different from IVF cycle to IVF cycle...so I'm anxious to see how I'll respond this time. On the last cycle the Lupron gave me daily headaches. Maybe I'll get lucky and not experience those dreaded things again.
Tomorrow Jason and I go in for some routine bloodwork...then my next appointment will be the 17th for my first suppression check. This ensures the Lupron is doing it's job.
The first time around, this was a huge deal....giving myself a shot...daily shots. But honestly, it doesn't even phase me. These Lupron shots are taken in my stomach and needle is super tiny. In a few days it will become like second nature...like I could do it in my sleep.
So, that's really the update for now...
As always, please lift Jason and I up in your daily prayers.
Love, Kara
Sunday, March 7, 2010
In need of some encouraging words...
What do people do that don't have faith? What do people do when faced with tough situations in life that don't have God to rely on? Thankfully, I am a believer in God. I'm a believer in a predestined plan. Sometimes, yes, I question "why"...but at the end of the day, I know that God has something planned for me and everything happens according to His purpose.
With that being said, I've been having a hard time lately. Sometimes its really hard for me to reliquish control and let God "do His thing". I want to try and plan my life. I've always heard - we make plans and God laughs. That is so true. I've been struggling lately and am constantly in need of words from God. I received an email today from a friend that were the exact words I needed to hear. I wanted to share them on this blog because I know we all struggle with things, and for those believers out there, these are the perfect encouraging words:
Trusting God when I don't understand
Sunday March 07 2010 12:00 AM
Posted by Rick Warren
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
When the children of Israel were finally set free from Egypt after 400 years of slavery, they started marching out to freedom and the first thing they came to was the Red Sea. There were impassable mountain ranges on two sides of them, the sea in front of them.
Behind them, in hot pursuit, was the Egyptian army because the Pharaoh had changed his mind about letting them go. The path before the Israelites looked like a dead end.
But God knew exactly what He wanted to do. He had not made a mistake. He could see what they could not see. He opened the Red Sea and they walked through to safety. Years later, the Israelites looked back and sang, "Your road led by a pathway through the sea—a pathway no one knew was there!" (Psalm 77:19 LB).
You may be facing a dead end right now—financial, emotional, relational—but God can see a path that you don't know about. If you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don't see a way, He will make a way.
It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day" (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You'll see God's purpose behind the path He specifically chose for you.
What do I do in the meantime? You do what Proverbs 3 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." What does He mean "don't lean on your own understanding"? You don't need to try to figure it out. In truth, you're not going to understand most of the things that happen in your life until you get to heaven.
Be patient. God knows what He's doing. God knows what's best for you. He can see the end result. You can't. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays -- all the things that make you ask "why" -- one day it will all be clear in the light of God's love.
But for now, we're learning to trust God.
Tuesday we have a phone appointment with our IVF cooridnator. This is when we will get our calendar of this cycle and find out when the shots start. We are anxious to get this cycle under way. It's getting very close!
I'm selfishly going to ask for lots of prayers here.
I'll keep you all posted....
With that being said, I've been having a hard time lately. Sometimes its really hard for me to reliquish control and let God "do His thing". I want to try and plan my life. I've always heard - we make plans and God laughs. That is so true. I've been struggling lately and am constantly in need of words from God. I received an email today from a friend that were the exact words I needed to hear. I wanted to share them on this blog because I know we all struggle with things, and for those believers out there, these are the perfect encouraging words:
Trusting God when I don't understand
Sunday March 07 2010 12:00 AM
Posted by Rick Warren
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
When the children of Israel were finally set free from Egypt after 400 years of slavery, they started marching out to freedom and the first thing they came to was the Red Sea. There were impassable mountain ranges on two sides of them, the sea in front of them.
Behind them, in hot pursuit, was the Egyptian army because the Pharaoh had changed his mind about letting them go. The path before the Israelites looked like a dead end.
But God knew exactly what He wanted to do. He had not made a mistake. He could see what they could not see. He opened the Red Sea and they walked through to safety. Years later, the Israelites looked back and sang, "Your road led by a pathway through the sea—a pathway no one knew was there!" (Psalm 77:19 LB).
You may be facing a dead end right now—financial, emotional, relational—but God can see a path that you don't know about. If you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don't see a way, He will make a way.
It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day" (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You'll see God's purpose behind the path He specifically chose for you.
What do I do in the meantime? You do what Proverbs 3 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." What does He mean "don't lean on your own understanding"? You don't need to try to figure it out. In truth, you're not going to understand most of the things that happen in your life until you get to heaven.
Be patient. God knows what He's doing. God knows what's best for you. He can see the end result. You can't. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays -- all the things that make you ask "why" -- one day it will all be clear in the light of God's love.
But for now, we're learning to trust God.
Tuesday we have a phone appointment with our IVF cooridnator. This is when we will get our calendar of this cycle and find out when the shots start. We are anxious to get this cycle under way. It's getting very close!
I'm selfishly going to ask for lots of prayers here.
I'll keep you all posted....
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
thank you...
I would like to post a "thank you" out to the cyber blog world....thank you to our anonymous writer. Today in the mail we received a letter and gift from anonymous....I know they are probably reading...at least I hope they are reading, otherwise, I have no other way of thanking this person. Thank you for your generous gift......and for your letter. I know you didn't mean any harm. Thank you, whoever you are.
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