Our "sCARE" package arrived!

We received our box of injections, vaginal inserts, and other 'fun' misc. items on Saturday! Can you say overwhelmed??? Bringing it all to Dr. C Friday so they can go over it all with us. We don't want to mess this up!!! Here is a picture!

IV-F here we come!

So Jay and I had a great consultation with Dr. Casson today! He explained the IVF process, the benefits and of course the risks. It is so interesting to learn about this stuff and we are realizing that there are so many different routes that can be taken to achieve pregnancy/family varying from person to person and situation to situation! I expressed to Dr. C how fortunate we feel to have the support and be in the care of such exceptional nurse, doctors, people!!! So here is what is happening with us... My last birth control pill will be taken on 10/26, then I will go into the office for a baseline ultrasound on 10/29. That day I will begin taking gonadotropins (injections). Later into the cycle I will add 2 other injections, Gonal F (for follicle stimulation) and Menopur (egg stimulation). Looking like beginning of November for the actual egg retrieval procedure where they will put me to sleep and retrieve. Because I am high risk for ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-hyperstimulation-syndrome-ohss/basics/symptoms/con-20033777) which could land me in the hospital for a week Dr. C will be monitoring my ovaries closely to determine if he will do a fresh embryo transfer or frozen. Frozen means waiting for a period of time to make the transfer until my body has recovered. This is a big step for us and it doesn't come without its worries/frustrations. Again, its all part of the process but will hopefully be worth it. I had a discussion with my friend about the emotional affects of "not being able to conceive naturally" and although I got emotional during the conversation, I believe Jay and I came to terms with the fact that a typical "natural" conception isn't in our cards. Not to say it couldn't be someday but in life you play the hand you are dealt. We have managed to push onward and upward many times and this situation won't be any different. Thanks everyone for your prayers and continued hope. Its nice to not be on this rollercoaster alone!!!

The next phase has arrived...

Some of you know that we decided to take a couple months off of fertility treatments because Jay was out of town for work and also to give us an emotional 'breather.' Well, the hubby is now home and we are ready to get things going again in hopes to achieve a little miracle of our own. Friday I went in for bloodwork and originally the plan was to do at least one more round of letrozole and bravelle shots. I came across Dr. Casson in the waiting room on his way to see another patient and he said "ya know I have been thinking... you have great insurance coverage and the triggers were not very successful so why keep banging our heads against the wall.. I think we should just go right to IVF!" Without hesitation I said you are the doctor and I trust your opinion so I am willing to do whatever is needed to get the best results. So, needless to say, the plan quickly changed and I was started on a pack of birth control pills. When I picked up my prescription I was like WTH!!! So of course I googled the crap out of IVF and the process, etc. I had done a little before but my anxiety would kick in so my 'research' would always be cut short. Now that this is the reality we are faced with, that is all I have done is research. There are MANY pros... the success rate is more promising then other things we have tried so we are optimistic and hopeful. We go in 2 weeks for our consultation where we will talk to Dr. Casson sign off on all the paperwork needed and get more clarity around the process. Its also nice to have someone who recently went through IVF reach out and offer hope through their experience. Fingers crossed...