I've become a symptom obsesser again :)

Starting from the very second I ovulated 2.5 years ago, I became obsessed over TWW symptoms. Every little twinge was enthusiastically recorded in Fertility Friend, which was then consulted over and over and over again to compare feelings from the previous months. I even started a blog so I could detail even the most minute symptoms. Obviously, those symptoms meant jack squat.

So, when I started my first IVF, I decided to chill on the symptom obsession. That worked fine last time - mainly because I didn't have much time to react (I got my period 3 days after my transfer). This time, however, I have had a lot longer to think about it, pray about it, and ultimately obsess about it. And so, even though I have had all of these symptoms in past months, I feel the urge to write them all down here:

I'm still cramping. It's those kind of hot cramps that I get before my period, but I've been getting them since 4 dp3dt. They are on and off throughout the day. Last night and the night before, I woke up with terrible heartburn. If I eat anything spicy, my tummy freaks out. And my boobs are a bit fuller and sore. The end.

Fortunately, my obsession has a completion date. I go in for my HCG on Monday. It's hard not to be hopeful. I just keep reminding myself in my faith in God. I know He will provide for us.

Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

9dp3dt - A Quickie Update

Well, I've had intermittent light cramps throughout the day ever since 5dp3dt - hopefully that's a good sign! Has anyone else gone through the same thing?

I don't know if it's nerves or something better, but even though I'm very hungry, I can't eat much. I'll have 5 or 6 bites and then feel full. Very strange for me - I can normally pack it in.

A bunch of happy prayers for all of you! Have a wonderful day!

Happy (one day past) Thanksgiving!

I'm 5dp3dt (Do you start counting from the day of your transfer?), and yesterday I started getting mild, warm cramps. When I woke up this morning, they were stronger, and I still have them. Hopefully, this is a good sign! I have faith that God will provide for us this cycle!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Embryos Transferred!

Well, after much waiting, we had our 3-day transfer this morning! The nurse confided to me that she was worried about how long it was taking (we were the only ones who transferred today - all of their other patients finished up last week), but it all worked out in the end, because we were able to transfer 2 and freeze 10! WHOO HOO!!!

We transferred two 6-cell embryos, one grade A, one grade A-. As opposed to last time, I came home and took a nap, which was lovely and relaxing.

I'm feeling great. Thanks for all the advice on how to take the progesterone shots. We used it all - I ice the spot before the shot, my husband runs the vial under warm water to warm it up before drawing it up the needle, and then I sit on a heating pad (which is fabulous, even without the shot) for a half-hour. I haven't had any lumps, and I have very minimal soreness the next day which goes away by mid-day. My doctor said that if I start to develop lumps I have to go off the shots, but I think all will be well.

I got a little worried about the cell grade this morning, but then I reminded myself that it isn't in my hands anymore. If God wants us to have a baby this cycle, then that's what will happen. I have faith that He will provide for us.

Have a very happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving!

Retrieval scheduled

Our donor took a bit longer to stimulate, so we're retrieving a little over a week late - but we're retrieving! Friday! YAY!

It's strange having no control over what goes on with this process. When our donor wasn't stimulating on schedule, my husband asked, "What do you want to do?" And I said, "What are we going to do?" It's not like I'm taking her meds or going to her ultrasounds; and even if I was, it's not like you can will yourself to stimulate. It's totally up to God...and the fertility clinic, of course. :) And I stimulated last cycle right on time, and that certainly didn't work out. It's a good lesson in patience.

Have a fabulous day, and I'll post on Friday!

My lining ultrasound - check!

I had an ultrasound to check my lining this morning (still love the fact that they won't use KY Jelly because it "impedes sperm"). My nurse called, and she said that the lining looked great, and was at 6.6mm. YAY! I, of course, did an insane Google search about uterine lining thicknesses, and all of the articles I could find said that they want it to be between 10-12mm and it grows 1-2 mm a day. I might try drinking a little raspberry leaf tea tonight, just to help it along (apparently that works? who knows).

My donor has an ultrasound tomorrow, and we should know then. Thanks for all the prayers and wishes - I'm praying for all of you, too! How wonderfully wonderful would it be if we all got pregnant on our current (or upcoming for those waiting to start meds) cycle?!?

Have a fabulous day!

Estrogen = Sleepiness

As I'm sure most women TTC have done, every time I got into my 2ww, I analyzed every single symptom. The most common "Oh, I must be pregnant!" symptom I felt was tiredness. And, of course, I was never actually pregnant. Here's why: normal, day-to-day tiredness is nothing estrogen tiredness which, I have to assume, is like pregnancy tiredness. I could literally lay my head down at any given moment of the day and go to sleep. By 8:30pm, the only thing keeping me awake is the knowledge that I'm in the homestretch for actual bedtime. And don't get me started on the dizziness.

I'm only on Estradiol (estrogen) and Lupron right now, so I really shouldn't complain. It's infinitely easier than all of the Menopur and Gonal-F shots. But if I can't complain here, where can I complain - right? :)

I go in for my final ultrasound on Wednesday. I keep getting updates about my donor, and she's apparently going along just swimmingly. She has her next ultrasound on Thursday, so I'll know more about our retrieval/transfer dates then.

Have a wonderfully happy (and hopefully more awake than me) day!!!