Meeting our new doctor

How awesome was Peyton's homecoming in Indianapolis?!  I'm so stoked we were there!!  It rocked and was totally worth being exhausted and hoarse the next day.

Thursday morning we headed north to meet Dr. Morris, our new fertility doctor that donated the cycle of IVF for the Cade Foundation raffle. Change is not easy so there was a touch of anxiety as our appointment was growing closer.  When we won the raffle this summer, it was an answer to the question of what do we do next.  After our first cycle and miscarriage, I had no clue about what our next steps would be.  The thought of going through everything again to lose it was a lot to think about, but my heart wasn't totally ready to give up on fertility treatments.  It can be a bit overwhelming to think about how to manage another IVF, bed rest, and possible miscarriage again...it was just physically and emotionally draining.  However, I've got a lot of faith that we won this raffle for a reason and there is a positive outcome waiting for us.  It's that whole everything happens for a reason thing.

It took about four and a half hours to get to Naperville Fertility Center which will be where all appointments, monitoring, and procedures will occur.  (I'm no city mouse, so this country mouse will need lots of prayers when I'm making this trip on my own!)  We were an hour early because someone didn't mention that our appointment was Illinois time.  Joe is a smart cookie so he suggested we go ahead and check in.  We had to fill out our questionnaire prior to the appointment so there wasn't a lot of paperwork.  The nurse wanted to check my blood pressure and weight.  My blood pressure was normal which is unusual for these type of appointments.  I'm down eight pounds from my first IVF beginning weight.  While that was a year ago, shots, bed rest, and hormones are not kind to the waist line.  I'm going to keep working on it thanks to our Biggest Loser contest at school!  

We were able to get into meet Dr. Morris an hour before our scheduled appointment time.  Dr. Morris has everything electronically, so he gave us back our 123 page history from Dr. Bopp.  We jumped right in and he shared with us about different optional testing that could be done before the embryos were transferred.  (After the appointment, we both decided that we would opt against the preimplantation genetic testing)  Dr. Morris is on top of current research and best practices.  He had a power point with visuals on all his talking points! Prior to our cycle, I will have some ovarian reserve testing to provide information that will help in adjusting dosage for medicine.  He also wants a saline ultrasound or hysteroscopy to make sure the uterus is in good shape.  TSH is also included in this day 3 testing, which is good because mine fluctuates so much.  Dr. Morris wants my TSH between zero and 2.5, so when I visit Dr. Orrell I'll pass along our new range.  Joe has to get his testing updated, too.  It's only fair with all the poking and prodding I will receive!

When it comes to medication, we will use Follistim and Ganirelex again.  Dr. Morris uses a low dose HCG protocol.  The trigger shot will include HCG and Follistim.  This is new for the trigger.  I've done HCG (it's the one Joe gets to give me), but he uses the Follistim to trigger the FSH surge in addition to LH.  (FSH and LH are hormones key to the process.)

Egg retrieval and embryo transfer are the same as our first cycle, so that won't be a new experience.  I really feel confident that we are in great hands!  One of the downfalls to our consultation was the harsh reality....Dr. Morris says NO CAFFEINE for either of us.  Please pray for us as we transition to caffeine free life.  My caffeine free diet coke is allowed though! We met with one of the ladies from Billing to get prices on the testing that we would need before our cycle.  She also suggested contacting my local OB for the tests to help save us a trip.  Everyone at the clinic was very positive and encouraging!  I left feeling a lot better about things!

So, now we just have to get our testing done and figure out the costs we will have for medicine.  Pray that all the tests are clear and that we will get the medication cost figured out.  It's really amazing and a blessing when we think that the only costs we have is our medication.  A typical IVF cycle can cost between $12,000-15,000.  Thanks to the Cade Foundation for being an answer to prayers!!  

As we plan for our next IVF cycle, I'm going in with a lot more faith!  Thanks to all our friends and family for always giving us love, support, and prayers.  It takes a village to overcome infertility and we are so blessed!

Have a wonderful fall week and stay warm!

Love,

Sarah and Joe

Sarah's Ramblings

Oh my goodness, the last time I wrote was August 6.  Hold onto your hats, I'm about to get chatty!  October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day so I figured now is a good time to write.

Things have been hopping around the Jones' house since then.  School officially started August 12, and my munchkins started on the 14th.  The start of school is always busy and tiring...it doesn't get less exhausting with time for sure.  I'm pretty sure everyone knows I love special needs preschool so finding out that I needed six hours of credit by November 4 sent me into a small panic.  I knew I had to do it because I love my munchkins and what I do.  August 27 I started two classes online through University of Phoenix, insert crazy and busy Sarah.  Classes ended on Monday and I survived with an A and an A-.  Woohoo!  I'm blessed with a very patient husband who handled more cooking and cleaning duties than usual.  I'm also very blessed to work with wonderful people that helped with papers, let me do observations, and lots of people that just kept encouraging me along the way.
In the midst of homework and teaching, meeting Dr. Morris and having our consultation wasn't as high on the priority list.  Fall Break seemed like the ideal time to try and get in.  I really don't want to use too many of my days before IVF time.  (Although I'm praying this round will be much smoother)
We were able to get our appointment for October 24.  Insert a little nervousness at the thought of starting the process all over again.  While we aren't stressing about anything until we meet with the doc, there is a lot to think about!  The actual IVF itself isn't scary, the shots, ultrasounds, bloodwork...they aren't the hard part.  The hard part is the waiting and not knowing.  While the Cade Foundation has blessed us with the ability to do a cycle again, there is still the cost of medication.  At times, it is easy to think about whether we are doing the right thing...we have spent less than most on fertility treatments thanks to the Cade Foundation but at times we have to think about whether we should have spent it on adoption.  God has told me through this journey I will know when it's time to pursue adoption, and so far I'm not there yet.  
If I'm going to be honest, I think the fertility treatments and loss have done amazing things for my faith.  I went through the angry phase for sure and let God know I wasn't happy...looking back everything has brought me to where we are today.  Without being down after the miscarriage, I'm not sure I would have stepped out of my comfort zone and joined the Bible study at church.  I'm so thankful that I did!  I look forward to Tuesdays with my girls and feel a void when I miss it.  It really helps keep me grounded and remember God has a plan for us.  I'm really excited that I will have this group to support me as we move forward.  We have been covered in prayer all along, but having a small group of support is really exciting as I look ahead.  

February 1998

Let's talk about Joe for a minute.  When we started dating in 1998, I'm sure he had no clue what he was getting into!
Each day I have to love this guy more!  Our journey through infertility has brought us closer together through the ups and downs.  I'm thankful God gave me a man that has the patience to deal with me daily, it's not an easy job.  Joe could write a book on surviving life with a preschool teacher wife.  Bless his heart for blowing up therapy balls.  I love having someone that lets me share my excitement and passion for preschoolers and who doesn't roll his eyes when I start rambling.  I was asked if I knew anything about a toddler bed that someone was getting rid of.  It just happens that my husband was able to get a frame, board, and a mattress.  Now this munchkin will have a bed that will last longer than the toddler one.  Some guys wouldn't be as understanding and compassionate for helping out a child he's never met.  Another Joe rocks story...we have a little tricycle at school that is the perfect size for my tinier friends.  The pedal fell off the other day.  Jones couldn't fix it on the spot, but said I'd take home to Joe.  My munchkin replies, "Joe needs to fix and get the pedal on the little bike."  Joe spent two hours Thursday night trying to fix the pedal and woke up at 5:30 Friday morning to tell me he hadn't fixed it.  Saturday he got a part at Menards...but it wasn't the right size.  As I type, he's taken the bike apart and is going to get the right part and spray paint it!  What may seem as little things to some are huge blessings and mean so much.
One huge praise is the Cade Foundation grantees were announced for 2014.  Five couples are going to move forward in their journey to a family thanks to the Cade Foundation blessings.  It's so exciting!  I will never forget the Sunday evening when we received the phone call we were selected to receive a grant.  Pray for these couples as they start to plan and move forward!  
As far as praying for us, just pray that we (mostly me) will remain calm and listen as we meet with Dr. Morris.  I have been with Dr. Bopp and Alison forever it feels, this is a huge change.  I'm confident that we will feel comfortable with Dr. Morris.  After all, he donated a cycle of IVF for the raffle.  Pray that we will be able to take what he shares with us and come up with a game plan.  Here's one thing I struggle with and you can pray for me on...whenever we meet and talk about our next procedure I get really excited, hopeful, and ready to roll.  Joe is the level headed one that will figure out a logical time line and keep me grounded.  It's always exciting to have a new plan, but there are lots of things that factor in when we plan a cycle.  Going to Chicago for treatment will be another point to consider...I'm praying for a mild winter!
Thanks for reading my ramblings!  I appreciate the love, prayers, and support we get.  
Love always!
Sarah and Joe