IVF consultation?

So, today was the long awaited day-- my first visit with my IVF doctor. I was really expecting this huge process, at least 2 hours worth of test and questions. This didn't happen. So, I'm not even sure what I just did was really considered a consultation. Basically, he reviewed mine and "R's" medical history. Then, he gave us a run-down on a time frame and asked if we'd like to do the IVF in September. This actually worked out perfect for me because the soonest I'd even be able to be considered a day off from work would be Aug.30.  Anyway, he went ahead and put me on B.C. and scheduled me for another appointment the end of next moth--bright and early in the morning so I wouldn't miss work. The doctor is over an hour away so, it'll be an early morning. In the meantime, he said he is ordering my medication from a pharmacy, and gave me some background info on that... Apparently I'll be contacted by that pharmacy with an estimate for the cost of it all. At the next appointment, in August, I have to bring in what is shipped to me so he can show me how to do injections and give me a calendar telling me how and when to take which which medications. I'll have to get back to you on the price we end up paying for the medications-- luckily, my insurance will cover some of it. Today, he gave us the price of ICSI--assuming we need to do this ($1,500). The storage fees of my leftover embryos that cannot be implanted will also be $1,500...then a few hundred a year after that. SO worth paying the storage fees since I do plan on using the extras.... and I will NOT be destroying them...I know people have their own opinions on this and judge those who do IVF... Personally, I am pro-life and the embryos--frozen, implanted, or any other version are my babies... not something I plan to destroy. ANYWAY,I will also need to pay for my own anesthesia for when they do the egg retrieval. This isn't required-- as some people have a terrible, sometimes life threatening reaction to it. I've never had to be put to sleep and although it scares me, it is something I WILL be paying for and using... I hear it's quite the painful experience without it.

Random daily occurrence: The birth of the royal baby BOY was announced while I was waiting to be seen by the doctor. Talk about strange timing, right?

I wish I could share more about what happened, but seriously, it seems like this blog took longer to type than the time I was actually seen by the doctor. Apparently there's not much to really do until the medicine comes in. This is probably because me and "R" have already done so many test and are both currently seen by a doctor who sent over our information... the doctor didn't really need to test us to find out what was wrong since we already knew. However, he did mention we'd both be tested again next visit. Maybe that one will be longer than this one. I guess that is all I really needed to update today-- my next post will be the end of next month, unless something exciting happens before then. :-)

Baby Psychics

I have always been extremely impatient. In one of the online TTC baby groups I am in, they were talking about getting a fertility reading. A fertility psychic usually predicts the month you will conceive/give birth/find out you're expecting. Now, as a Christian, I have very strong opinions about what I involve myself with. Until this point, I don't play any games or do anything that could be considered witch craft. And of course, some people will have ugly comments to say if they heard that I spoke to a fertility psychic, and that's ok. BUT, I should point out that the only reason I did it is because I was curious...it was done strictly for entertainment purposes only. Also, the lady is not a devil worshiper or anything like that. It's just something for fun, nothing like evil or anything like that. To get to the point, I'll just copy and paste exactly what she says. Keep in mind, this is what SHE typed, so there are some spelling and grammatical errors. 

"Thanks for being patient with me while I got back to your reading. They are showing me a GIRL and JULY so this is either birth month, conceive month or the month you find out in

They are showing a girl who looks alot like you as a baby. They are showing the same lips and eyes, her hair being darker, and just head covering. I am given  the impression that shes going to be in the 8lb range at birth and just seems like shes always content to do "whatever". They are showing her sitting up, appears to be around the age of 8 months, is playing with her toys and I am seeing a kids show on the tv (more about background noise, but she does watchbits/pieces of it). They are showing her quite comfortable if you leave the room for a minute to go and put the laundry away.. shes okay if you go and make dinner.. other times will come crawling after you not because she demands to be picked up, but because she is curious as to what your doing

Shes always happy. IT just seems like shes always smiling and never seems to fuss. You will find that its  more about interaction with her and does not mind whatever you guys are doing. She has these beautiful eyes that clearly display the emotion shes feeling. Although as she gets older shes more about holding it in a bit more and not wanting kids to see how she feels if she is feeling hurt. You will find that she has a tough outer shell and yet is sensitive on the inside (which you seem to be able to see/sense more than anyone).

Shes going to enjoy playing with friends but prefers more even balanced relationships. Avoids people who are too demanding and never seem to want to give anything in return.

When ti comes to career paths, they are showing her working in an administrative type position. This seems to be more of the front runner to the company as well.

When ti comes to marriage I am seeing her closer to 26. They will have two girls and one boy of their own"

Not to brag or anything (lies) but, doesn't my kid sound awesome? It's strange, but I sort of miss the idea of her and wish she were here even more. So, now I'm even more impatient (if that's possible). Let me be clear, though. I really don't care about gender or what month she/he will get here. I don't pray asking for a little girl who never fusses. I just pray for a healthy baby, when God says it's the right time.

FUN FACT: Two other psychics have predicted in the past that I will conceive early fall. I go for IVF next month and will probably start the process early fall. All of this lines up with a July birthday baby. How exciting is that? If anything, it will keep me positive through the whole process. I'll post again after my IVF consultation at the end of July--if not before then. :-)

A "bump" in the road...

So, there's we've come across a slight bump in the process... unfortunately it's not the type of bump normally associated with babies. These past couple of weeks I have been losing sleep over how excited I am for my appointment scheduled for tomorrow. I have watched every single IVF vlog on youtube, read every site with information, and filled out countless stacks of medical history papers. I am all prepped and ready to go. "R" took the weekend off, we even skipped our beach trip we planned this weekend and is missing a wedding because of the appointment.

Long story short, I receive a phone call from the doctor's office. I am so happy to answer, thinking it's a simple reminder about my appointment. So, she informs me they have to reschedule my appointment for the last week in July. She acted like there was absolutely no big deal about this switch up. Well, this is a huge disappointment to me. By July, I was expecting to be expecting... now I have to go threw the entire process again. "R" will have to take off work...AGAIN. It has just been a huge bump in our whole plans. Anyway, I was expecting my next update to be tomorrow about my appointment. However, I guess it will be until July before I update this blog.

However, God will see us through, like always. Who knows, I could get a call tomorrow saying they can fit me in...stranger things have happened. You know, like the free round of IVF...:-O


Sorry for the sad update, however...things happen for a reason. I trust God is doing what is best for us, no worries. :-)

Our journey to you...

As I first sat down to write this blog, I wanted to entitle it "Our Journey To You" of course, like all good names, that one was taken. I also had to think about what type of journey this would be...would this be an adoption blog? A pregnancy blog? What would this blog be? Perhaps I should start from the beginning of my story. This isn't just an ordinary story, though. This is a GOD story. What is a God story? You know, sometimes you just hear things that are just so incredible, something God has done for you and it's something you HAVE to share with the world. In my case, I chose to do so in the form of a blog. Here's my VERY PERSONAL story:

The summer after my first year of college I was married to an incredible person--let's call him "R." R and I knew each other pretty well and both decided to start a family right away. We both love children and couldn't think of anything that would make us happier than starting a family. Fast forward to now--three years later and still no children.

I'm not the type of person who gets really personal with my life...however, something I just felt like I should share. Now, you must understand that under normal circumstances I would not be sharing my personal life. However, God is doing something incredible and I have to share what he's done for me.

So, to skip all of the really intimate details of the process, R and I both had went to several doctors, took several medications, and had just about every test done in the book.

One day I was checking into fertility doctors and came across an incredible doctor who was on a TV show offering a free round of IVF. To be honest, I never realistically considered IVF an option because of the fear of anesthesia...I know, I know....but I am scared to death of being put to sleep. I watch way too much TV. However, I did consider other options...and was in the process of setting up an appointment to see what was the right option for myself and R. Well, I entered the contest anyway because...what's the chances of winning? Well, no surprise, I didn't get the round of IVF. A month went by, and I decided God would work things out--no worries. At church yesterday the preacher spoke of having faith...the devil doesn't like when we don't get upset over things not going our way. So, I decided not to be upset anymore...not to worry because I was already so blessed.

Now, here's where the big story starts. Today, I received a message stating that the women who won the free round of IVF was pregnant. What's incredible about this is, that woman was also having fertility problems. What are the odds of that happening naturally right as soon as she's going in for IVF?! Anyway, this is where it gets interesting... they decided to look for a replacement winner. Any guesses who won? Yeah, I was pretty shocked to receive that bit of news and I cannot get over how thankful I am...God is incredible. Of course I am nervous about the entire process but, it will be so worth it.

I know, anything can happen. It's possible it wont happen. IVF is NOT what this blog is about. I've decided that no matter how, I will become a mother someday. Whether that is 9 months from now or 9 years from now--adoption, natural, or some other way. God answers prayers. So, that's how we started this journey. I'm sure it will be a very emotional and exhausting journey. But, there's a reason the blog is entitled Our FAITHFUL journey.  

We see the awesome doctor in a couple of weeks and I will pick up the story from there. This is the start of an incredible journey. Our FAITHFUL journey, to you.