The Real World is NOT What They Said
12 years ago
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Let's Get It On!
My RE's office called today. The OB/GYN Dr. M. talked to has agreed to work with him on our case! We're on for proceeding this cycle! Never thought I'd take a team approach of greater than two people to try getting pregnant!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Jeep Ja.mboree
Gil's and my vacation this year was Jeep related, not Harley. A local 4x4 group in the city we recently moved from hosted a first annual Jam in a mountain range close by. We had hoped to be trail guides for the weekend but with moving, we weren't able to make any of the pre-Jam trips to learn the trails. Oh well. We were so gosh-darned excited to go as regular participants, anyway! What Stur.gis is to bikers, Jeep Jam's are to Jeepers. It was so cool to be with so many various types of people sharing a common interest.
It feels funny to classify my Jeep with a feminine pronoun, but here she is in all her glory!
One of the lakes we skirted. A month ago, we'd have been driving right through it. We heard that stock rigs would be susceptible to floating and possibly going down the waterfall. Due to the lateness of the season, the water level had gone down too much.
Following the leader.
The picture doesn't do the obstacle justice... it was actually one of the tougher ones we had to traverse and you can see a little bit of her awesome articulation. The stock rigs had difficulty going through the deep ruts and boulders.
After all the mud of the day, we had to wash the Jeep. If you don't want to get wet, I suggest putting your top on first. We didn't and we got drenched. Then we turned around and did it again so I could have someone take a picture. It was awesome!
It feels funny to classify my Jeep with a feminine pronoun, but here she is in all her glory!
One of the lakes we skirted. A month ago, we'd have been driving right through it. We heard that stock rigs would be susceptible to floating and possibly going down the waterfall. Due to the lateness of the season, the water level had gone down too much.
Following the leader.
The picture doesn't do the obstacle justice... it was actually one of the tougher ones we had to traverse and you can see a little bit of her awesome articulation. The stock rigs had difficulty going through the deep ruts and boulders.
After all the mud of the day, we had to wash the Jeep. If you don't want to get wet, I suggest putting your top on first. We didn't and we got drenched. Then we turned around and did it again so I could have someone take a picture. It was awesome!Thursday, August 20, 2009
Infertility Update
Two posts ago, I mentioned that I saw a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist last week. We had a long, great visit and discussed the nature of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), as well as the other issues that can arise from amenorrhea and anovulation. That is why we proceeded with the endometrial biopsy, which showed only proliferative endometrium. The endometrium proliferates under the influence of estrogen, which my body abnormally regulates and erroneously believes it makes too much of. So, this is an expected condition due to the nature of PCOS.
Dr. M was a bit confused and possibly upset that my OB/GYN discontinued my use of metformin two years ago. Her reasoning: it wasn't working because I wasn't ovulating. His reason for staying on it is because the metformin works against the insulin issues related to PCOS (no, I'm not diabetic nor have "abnormal" insulin levels) and is crucial for my cardiac and vascular health. So, I'm back on it, despite the GI upset.
Due to my normal state of amenorrhea (lack of menstruation), Dr. M. wants me to start taking progesterone again, to induce a withdrawal bleed. Then, our plan is, I will resume clomid to aid in follicle (egg) growth. Two weeks into my cycle, I will have an ultrasound to determine growth rate of those follicles and based on that rate, they can determine when they'd be at the optimal size for ovulation. Then, I will have an HCG trigger shot to induce ovulation... yes, they can "make" me ovulate! It'll probably be the first time ever in my life! Wahoo! Then it's insemination time.
We received Gil's latest test results yesterday, which confirm the need for proceeding with IUI. His results aren't drastic enough to warrant IVF, which we wouldn't do anyway. We don't believe in making babies in petri dishes. IUI allows fertilization to take place as it normally would internally and naturally (with a bit of help in separating the good, strong swimmers from the non-motiles).
Dr. M. is going to talk with an OB/GYN closer to where I live and see if they can't work together on my case. I should know about more about that by next week. But as it is, we're proceeding with IUI this cycle, THIS cycle! Which means we could potentially be pregnant by mid-September! Dr. M. actually told me that there should be no physical reason why we can't get pregnant. I thought I'd lost all hope of conceiving until he said that... but I'm feeling hopeful again. I know it's in God's hands and the outcome has already been determined, but we both feel this is the way we're being led.
Dr. M was a bit confused and possibly upset that my OB/GYN discontinued my use of metformin two years ago. Her reasoning: it wasn't working because I wasn't ovulating. His reason for staying on it is because the metformin works against the insulin issues related to PCOS (no, I'm not diabetic nor have "abnormal" insulin levels) and is crucial for my cardiac and vascular health. So, I'm back on it, despite the GI upset.
Due to my normal state of amenorrhea (lack of menstruation), Dr. M. wants me to start taking progesterone again, to induce a withdrawal bleed. Then, our plan is, I will resume clomid to aid in follicle (egg) growth. Two weeks into my cycle, I will have an ultrasound to determine growth rate of those follicles and based on that rate, they can determine when they'd be at the optimal size for ovulation. Then, I will have an HCG trigger shot to induce ovulation... yes, they can "make" me ovulate! It'll probably be the first time ever in my life! Wahoo! Then it's insemination time.
We received Gil's latest test results yesterday, which confirm the need for proceeding with IUI. His results aren't drastic enough to warrant IVF, which we wouldn't do anyway. We don't believe in making babies in petri dishes. IUI allows fertilization to take place as it normally would internally and naturally (with a bit of help in separating the good, strong swimmers from the non-motiles).
Dr. M. is going to talk with an OB/GYN closer to where I live and see if they can't work together on my case. I should know about more about that by next week. But as it is, we're proceeding with IUI this cycle, THIS cycle! Which means we could potentially be pregnant by mid-September! Dr. M. actually told me that there should be no physical reason why we can't get pregnant. I thought I'd lost all hope of conceiving until he said that... but I'm feeling hopeful again. I know it's in God's hands and the outcome has already been determined, but we both feel this is the way we're being led.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Busy Month
Once again, I find myself apologizing for my lack of blogging... this month has just been so busy. We've been spending every spare minute trying to unpack. I haven't even begun to decorate yet... no pictures on the walls and you know that drives me absolutely batty! I considered writing several posts and backdating them, one for each subject of our lives, but I'm too tired for that right now.
We're enjoying the new house, even with the hardships a new used home offers. Our irrigation pipe burst, we had to take down cupboards to get our fridge in, we had to set off bug bombs, have propane delivered on a Saturday after waking to cold showers, replacing the water heater, etc. etc. Gil's also had to go out of town for work, as have I, and now we're taking off for a Je.ep Jam.boree this weekend and he's out in the shop right now slaving away on finishing the fabrication of the custom cargo rack he's making and getting the air system and CB antenna hooked up. We have to be moved in enough to host four guests from Germany in September for three weeks.
Adoption update... we have the social worker from our new county of residence coming tomorrow to do our home inspection so our fost-adopt licence can be updated. Our old social worker has not answered her call to send our file over... from a request three weeks ago! I told her today to call his supervisor. She wanted to reschedule our meeting for tomorrow but decided to go ahead and keep it because our schedule is so wacky right now. Thank goodness; I didn't want to wait any longer.
Infertility update... I saw a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist last week. It was an event that was both refreshing and stressful. We had a great hour-long consultation and he seems to think we should not have any problem getting pregnant by IUI, which is something he wants to aim for doing in September already. Because of my amenorrhea, he performed an endometrial biopsy to make sure I don't have any abnormal cell growth in my uterus. Apparently, all I have is "proliferative endometrium" which is an expected state when you don't regularly menstruate. All my labs are normal, which isn't something I'm used to hearing.
Basic health update... I've had a numbness in the medial part of my left foot for the past three weeks or so. Because of my existing sciatic and low back issues, I assumed it was just a flare-up. I saw an orthopedist last week and he essentially confirmed the relation. Since it's just numbness and a bit of swelling and I don't have any weakness or anything, there's really nothing that can be done. I just have to take 800 mg ibuprofen three times a day. Well... due to that, in part, I think, when I turned to grab a falling baby gate from going down the stair, I tripped and ripped one of my toenails back. I have a very tiny sliver of it left but I essentially now have a naked toe. However, the numbness also masked a lot of the pain that would normally be associated with such an event so I guess I'm thankful for that.
I think that's enough for now. More to come soon.
We're enjoying the new house, even with the hardships a new used home offers. Our irrigation pipe burst, we had to take down cupboards to get our fridge in, we had to set off bug bombs, have propane delivered on a Saturday after waking to cold showers, replacing the water heater, etc. etc. Gil's also had to go out of town for work, as have I, and now we're taking off for a Je.ep Jam.boree this weekend and he's out in the shop right now slaving away on finishing the fabrication of the custom cargo rack he's making and getting the air system and CB antenna hooked up. We have to be moved in enough to host four guests from Germany in September for three weeks.
Adoption update... we have the social worker from our new county of residence coming tomorrow to do our home inspection so our fost-adopt licence can be updated. Our old social worker has not answered her call to send our file over... from a request three weeks ago! I told her today to call his supervisor. She wanted to reschedule our meeting for tomorrow but decided to go ahead and keep it because our schedule is so wacky right now. Thank goodness; I didn't want to wait any longer.
Infertility update... I saw a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist last week. It was an event that was both refreshing and stressful. We had a great hour-long consultation and he seems to think we should not have any problem getting pregnant by IUI, which is something he wants to aim for doing in September already. Because of my amenorrhea, he performed an endometrial biopsy to make sure I don't have any abnormal cell growth in my uterus. Apparently, all I have is "proliferative endometrium" which is an expected state when you don't regularly menstruate. All my labs are normal, which isn't something I'm used to hearing.
Basic health update... I've had a numbness in the medial part of my left foot for the past three weeks or so. Because of my existing sciatic and low back issues, I assumed it was just a flare-up. I saw an orthopedist last week and he essentially confirmed the relation. Since it's just numbness and a bit of swelling and I don't have any weakness or anything, there's really nothing that can be done. I just have to take 800 mg ibuprofen three times a day. Well... due to that, in part, I think, when I turned to grab a falling baby gate from going down the stair, I tripped and ripped one of my toenails back. I have a very tiny sliver of it left but I essentially now have a naked toe. However, the numbness also masked a lot of the pain that would normally be associated with such an event so I guess I'm thankful for that.
I think that's enough for now. More to come soon.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tip: Paint After Unpacking
We had some great help from friends and family moving our things out of storage and into our new home and we are so deeply appreciative of that. There are just some things, though, that only we ourselves can do. Gil had to travel on business this week and is just getting home tonight; I've been trying to get things unpacked in our main living area, adjusting to working with our new internet and having to work late due to work demands, and painting. It's been a lonely but extremely busy week.
In retrospect, the painting could've waited. Gil thought it'd be easier to paint our bedroom prior to moving any furniture in rather than having to move it all out to paint later. Okay, I get that. So I spent Monday night unpacking the kitchen, but then spent Tuesday night, last night, and tonight painting. 2 coats down and I'm sitting here crying. It's streaky and you can see overlap lines, parts are way darker than others.
Gil came home tonight and told me it's the curse of dark color. He, however, neglected to get me paint with primer in it. I suspect it will take at least two-three more nights and possibly that many more coats to get it all evened out. I hope it's worth it. Right now, I'm feeling it's been a complete waste of time. I could've spent these past three nights emptying boxes instead of breaking my back and getting a kink in my neck wielding a paintbrush and roller.
In retrospect, the painting could've waited. Gil thought it'd be easier to paint our bedroom prior to moving any furniture in rather than having to move it all out to paint later. Okay, I get that. So I spent Monday night unpacking the kitchen, but then spent Tuesday night, last night, and tonight painting. 2 coats down and I'm sitting here crying. It's streaky and you can see overlap lines, parts are way darker than others.
Gil came home tonight and told me it's the curse of dark color. He, however, neglected to get me paint with primer in it. I suspect it will take at least two-three more nights and possibly that many more coats to get it all evened out. I hope it's worth it. Right now, I'm feeling it's been a complete waste of time. I could've spent these past three nights emptying boxes instead of breaking my back and getting a kink in my neck wielding a paintbrush and roller.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
It's Ours
Well... after six weeks and filling out all this paperwork...
... and signing even more paperwork...
... it's finally ours! Our new home!
Now comes the unpacking and trying to settle in amidst two months packed chock full of plans and activities. We may not have gotten much of a summer but coming home makes it all worth it.
... and signing even more paperwork...
... it's finally ours! Our new home!
Now comes the unpacking and trying to settle in amidst two months packed chock full of plans and activities. We may not have gotten much of a summer but coming home makes it all worth it.
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