Calendar Round 1

This is a way for us to let you know exactly what we are doing when we do it. The IVf procedure has many, many layers to it and we wanted everyone to be able to go through this journey with us as much as possible. It is around a 55 day process...

July 27, 2012- Bloodwork prerequisites
-these tests let the doctors know if we had any communicable diseases as well as if anything that we hadn't seen yet might affect the IVF process

August 8, 2012- IVF Class
-this class is an informative requirement prior to our IVF procedure. We will learn specifics about our procedure and get a timetable for what to expect

August 20, 2012- And so it begins...
-today is the first official day of our IVF plan. Emily spoke with our nurse and she has given us a calendar with much more specific dates. We will try to start posting ahead of time.

August 22-29 2012- Begin Medications
-we were both placed on an antibiotic to rid our bodies of any possible infection that we may be carrying as we move forward. Emily was also placed on birth control (odd, we know) to decrease cysts that may form on her ovaries and also to regulate her cycle so that the clinic can more accurately predict when we are ready for certain steps

(Emily will have all of these medications ingested or injected by the 2nd week of October!)

September 2nd- Begin Lupron Injections
-Emily started Lupron injections which work to supress stimulation of her ovaries so that she isn't over stimulated when that time comes. I give her a shot each morning for a few weeks...

September 12th- Supression check, pelvic ultrasound, trial embryo transfer, more bloodwork...
-this is our first visit to the clinic since we have started the process. Emily will have a pelvic ultrasound to see how things look, have bloodwork to check her estrogen levels, and have a trial embryo transfer which allows the doctors to determine the best way to implant the embryos when that time comes. They use this technique to "map" the path that will ultimately be most successful for the actual embryo transfer...

September 15th- Hormone shots and restrictions...
-I (Emily) began taking the FSH hormone Bravelle twice a week along with the lupron shot for a total of 3 shots a day.The Bravelle stimulates multiple ovarian follicles. This is the lovely hormone that will increase my ovary size to a grapefruit. I cannot lift over 10 pds and can only do light walking. I'm also taking an oral medication called Dexamethasone. This improves the ovarian response to hyperstimulation.It's a type of steroid.

September 21-Stimulation check, bloodwork and bad news...
-I went in for a stimulation check to see how many follicles I had that could produce eggs for next weeks egg retrieval. I only had 4 follicles the size that they wanted and they recommend having 5 or more to move forward with the IVF cycle. We were advised to cancel this current cycle and start medications over again when my cycle begins. More shots, more time, but also more stories. God is faithful.