A quick update

Yup, my dear husband is still kindly giving me a nightly shot of progesterone!

Alright folks, my ADD brain really intended to update the blog over Fall Break about our ultrasound visit...I had lunch with Misty and took a lot of naps over break!  That's about the extent of my productivity!
The anticipation and anxiety leading up to the first ultrasound is pretty high to say the least.  In the IVF binder, you're encouraged to be cautiously optimistic until that first ultrasound.  Thankfully, Joe drove us down so I could just play Candy Crush and not stress out.  Faith over fear is really something I am working on!!  While we waited for Dr. Bopp, Joe provided me with some much needed comic relief and I sang some preschool songs.  I let out a huge sigh when we heard the heartbeat.  Have I mentioned how much we love Midwest Fertility, especially Dr. Bopp and Allison!  
Any ultrasound pictures will be posted on the blog, not straight to Facebook so you have to come here if you want to see.
So, here it is...our little diamond ring (that's what Bopp said)  We were right at six weeks last Wednesday, and he was glad to hear such a strong heartbeat.  We go back again on November 9th.

Please keep the prayers coming that our little one continues to grow!  Prayers for Joe as he handles a hormonal wife who is exhausted all the time.  I'm so thankful for my preschool peeps who are so helpful and keep me in check.  One thing I'm really working on is not being afraid and freaked out all the time, just having faith!
Love, 
Sarah and Joe

Fear and Faith

"Cautious optimism" is what they say for the time between your positive pregnancy test and the first ultrasound.  Guess what, tomorrow is our first ultrasound!  It's not until 3:00, so pray for us to stay calm and not stress during the day.  I'm going in for Hay Days with the morning class, so that will occupy my brain!  Tomorrow is the day that we pray will show us a good strong heartbeat.  

We started progesterone shots on the 15th to boost those levels up, so every night around 7:30 it's shot time.  I think this picture from night #1 explains shot time better than any words would!  (It could be payback for being such a handful for Joe all the time, LOL!)  

Let's keep it real and back up a little bit.  I think overall that I've been generally calm, taking it one day at a time, and not freaking out about being pregnant.  Well, until last Thursday when I had some cramping and spotting after school.  I think I gave new meaning to the ugly cry, but thankful Joe is always able to remain calm, talk me down, and Dr. Bopp has an answering service!  As soon as I made myself breathe and lay down, everything was better.  Bopp called about 7:30 to see how I was going and said to take it easy and come down in the morning for labs if it would make me feel better. (Shout out to my preschool peeps for helping reassure me they would hold down the fort and to take Friday off!!)  Friday morning, we headed out early to get fit into the schedule to make sure my HCG levels were fine.  

Have I mentioned how much I love the Midwest Fertility staff?!  Everyone is so caring and reassuring.  Nurse Allison hadn't gotten my message, so I gave her the update and Minnie did my labs.  We were home by around 9:30, but then we had to wait...waiting is life with IVF!  Allison called and said my levels had gone up beautifully, just to take it easy.  This was a huge sigh of relief.  By this stage in my first pregnancy, I had already been spotting and cramping and placed under couch arrest.  To say I was scared would be an under statement.  Praise the Lord, everything was fine and has been fine since.  I've been a good girl at school and taking it easy, just taking it one day at a time drinking lots of water and no caffeine.  (Try keeping up with preschoolers on no caffeine...thankfully Joe handles dinner!)

I'm so thankful for the love and support that we continue to receive!  I can't imagine going through all this without family and friends to pray us through.  Granted, at times it's scary to be honest and open but receiving all the prayers and love remind me of why we keep it out there.  I always go back to the Cade Foundation Banquet the year we were blessed with our grant for IVF #1.  The other grantees at our table hadn't told their families where they were going let alone the fact they had been facing infertility.  It's hard, but we are so blessed to have so much love and support!

Love,

Sarah and Joe

Results are in...

It would be wrong to bury the lead, today's results...POSITIVE!  Dr. Bopp called to let us know, I'm pregnant.  Prayers were answered for sure, I was praying for a 50 just to get that first positive down.  My HCG was 132!!  Back on Friday morning for another test, Nurse Allison says we need it to increase by 2/3 at the least or even double.  By my math, we are praying for 220 at the least on Friday morning.  She's also going to check my thyroid levels to make sure they are cooperating!  We are to exercise cautious optimism until the first ultrasound, so just praising God for this positive news and going to take it easy and one day at a time!  (Yes, I will be going back to preschool tomorrow and taking it super easy!  I need my people!  It will be awhile before the kiddos know though)

When I was looking at my quotes on Pinterest, this verse stood out.  I think it safely summarizes life for Joe and I.  I'm so thankful that he endures this hot mess that is me through every circumstance!  Please keep the prayers coming friends!
Sarah & Joe

One day until test, two days until preschool

I started to title this post, tomorrow is our first test but that just made me think of my days in Job's Daughters and hearing the story of Job...pretty sure we have had more than one test along this lovely infertility journey!  However, we do have our first pregnancy test of this IVF cycle tomorrow which if I think too much about I want to cry or throw up so I just focus on going back to preschool and my kiddos on Thursday.  I went to my therapist, Terrie, today.  The appointment was scheduled before I knew we would be testing tomorrow, but the timing worked out perfectly.  I was thinking back to our transfer day and acupuncture David commenting on how calm I was that day.  I think this cycle has been different for me because I have to force myself to stay in the current moment, not get caught up in what happened before or what could happen.  I'm just taking it day by day, trying to take it easy, and not stress.  (You all know me, that's a big task but I'm convinced that the love, prayers, and support of our family and friends are keeping me somewhat sane)
Real talk, last night I had a total meltdown during Big Bang Theory.  I won't spoil it in case you haven't seen it,  but in the midst of laughing at the show I broke down in tears.  It's that fear that I try not to focus on, it just all came out.  God bless Joe Jones, because I'm a handful on any typical day, add some hormones and stress...I'm a super duper hot mess!  Although, after a good cry and shower...I felt better.
Tomorrow morning, my appointment is at 8:50.  Just getting up and heading down for a blood test...then we wait.  It probably will be a low social media/technology/communication day.  Sometime tomorrow afternoon, Dr. Bopp will call us with the result.  (I think I'm going to go to Target now because thinking about that phone call makes me want to throw up again)

Pray specifically for...
HCG above 50- that's considered a positive pregnancy test
Anything between 5-50 is inconclusive and will be repeated, less than 5 is negative.
Pray for us while we wait to hear the results.  It seems like time goes extra slow on test days!

Pray for me as I go back to my kiddos on Thursday morning, regardless of what tomorrow brings, I'm looking forward to going back to preschool and some sense of routine!  My girls have held down the fort and will keep me behaving when I go back, I just miss my preschool peeps and my little guys!!

The next 24 hours are big, so thanks in advance for the love and prayers!
Love,
Sarah & Joe

And now we wait....

We are so blessed to have everyone keeping us in their thoughts, prayers, and hearts!!  

   

A teacher can't just take time off, you have to get stuff ready!

Sunday morning started off bright and early with acupuncture!  I wasn't too sure about the whole acupuncture thing, but figured it couldn't hurt and it hasn't.  Starting off with points on my back, I always get super relaxed and sleepy.  When I have needles in my belly and legs, I'm more easily distracted (shocker).  I've found playing around on my phone keeps my brain somewhat busy.  We went at 8:00 so David (acupuncture guy) could still have brunch with his family.  Family first!  While I was relaxing at acupuncture, Joe enjoyed a nap in the car.  David commented on how calm I seemed to be about the transfer, that maybe fantasy football and the Colts game were good distractions.  While they are good distractions, I just really wasn't stressed or anxious about the transfer this time.  Prayers for peace and calm were sure heard on Sunday!  

Our check-in time at Midwest was 9:45, so we just hung out for a few and listened to some pre game.    Once we got called back, I had to take my transfer day pill and drink a lot of water.  While I was consuming fluids, Joe got dressed in his fancy outfit and booties (which just barely fit over his size 15's).  Dr. Colver came in with our day 5 update.  We had two embryos ready for transfer with none for freezing.  One of our embryos is looking really promising and the other one has potential.  We headed back to the transfer room where "Canon in D" was playing for our calming music, which was one of the songs we used for our bridal party!  I took that as a good sign.  Dr. Colver said my uterine lining looked great and my bladder was super full, so that helped him have a good view.  The embryologist is standing at the door to the lab, confirms that the embryos are ours, Dr. Colver releases them into the catheter, gives it back to embryologist who confirms the catheter is empty.  Dr. Colver said we had a YouTube worthy transfer video.  First stop after the transfer was the potty, please don't be alarmed no bodily functions can make the embryos fall out!  Back to our room to lay flat for about 15 minutes before heading home.  I had seen a couple articles about clinics having 'medical clowns' to entertain patients after their transfer, the laughter helps ease the stress.  Who needs a creepy clown when you have Pat McAfee Uncaged on your phone?  Yup, I just watched my favorite punter tell jokes to pass the time!  

Rocking the old school Dallas Clark jersey...that he got when Dallas was drafted!

How cute is he?

Lucky socks, IVF essentials

Looking pretty relaxed on my way home LOL

Say hello to our two embryos

Once we got home, I set up camp on the couch to see the sad ending to the Colts game and take a nap.  The nurse had said I needed to spend my lying down for the rest of the day as much as possible and then on Monday I could sit up more.  Joe stayed home with me yesterday, and after a little bit of whining and obvious boredom suggested a movie.  Bless that man, it was good just to get out of the house and still follow the orders of taking it easy!  We went to see Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and I give it the Jonesy approval, it was good!  Sarah and Troy got me a goody bag of things to keep busy while I'm home, so last night we broke out the puzzle.  Bubba is still quite happy with the bag.

Today, I was free to drive so guess where I went...Starbucks (for a caffeine free Vanilla Bean Frap) and Target of course.  Please don't panic, I'm allowed to resume normal activities but will be taking it easy until the test on the 12th.  Thanks to technology, I've been able to video message with my preschoolers.  I do miss my kiddos, but taking it easy and not lifting just don't go well in preschool life.  I'm so thankful for my girls holding down the fort while I'm gone.   

Here's specific prayer requests...

• Our little embryos, it just takes one to implant and grow!
• No cabin fever for this girl!  If I get bored and antsy, I might get the urge to fall down the Google rabbit hole.  I just am trusting God has a plan for us and there's nothing on Google that will show a side effect or something different.  
• Joe, he's the calm and rationale one in our house
• My allergies are not my friend!  I'm down to just taking Claritin and the occasional Benadryl and sucking it up.  I do have lemon, lavender, and peppermint going in the diffuser.  
• One of my preschoolers is supposed to have tonsils/adenoids out tomorrow, so please pray for this kiddo and the family
• My other preschool kiddos to make good choices and not worry about why Jones has been out for a long time.  I'm so thankful for my girls holding down the fort and letting the kids know, I'm fine but I just won't be at school for a bit.  I'm thankful that I love what I do and miss my kiddos and peeps.

That's all for now folks!  Sorry it's long, but my human interaction is limited and I need an outlet!

Love always,

Sarah and Joe

Transfer Tomorrow

On Tuesday morning, we headed down bright and early for our egg retrieval appointment and clearly I didn't update the blog like I meant to, I took a nice nap!  Dr. Colver was our doctor for the retrieval and our nurse let me wear just my lucky Colts socks back, so that was exciting.  It's the little things.  Fast forward to what I remember after the anesthesia, we got 26 eggs and I finally got a snack!  Goldfish and a juice box...the perfect snack for a preschooler (or a preschool teacher).  I'm very thankful that my darling husband doesn't record me coming out of anesthesia because evidently when Dr. Colver told me 26, my response was something about 23, 18, HIKE!  

Dude was kind enough to keep me company once we got home.

Wednesday morning it was back to my kiddos, with the restrictions of no lifting over 25 pounds or anything too intense.  I was anticipating our fertilization report in the afternoon, but it came around 9:00!

What was our fertilization report?!

Thanks to Scott Tolzien for helping share how many had embryos we had as of Wednesday morning!  

(If you don't know who he is, he is the backup QB for Mr. Luck.  #themoreyouknow)

Of our 26 eggs, they split them into two groups- 13 were put together to fertilize on their own and 10 eggs were fertilized using ICSI (where they put the sperm in the egg), 3 eggs were immature.  Out of those groups, 8 fertilized on their own and 8 fertilized with ICSI!  On Sunday morning, the embryologist will reevaluate them and identify the two strongest embryos to transfer.  We have only had two embryos make it to day 5 each IVF, but I've not responded this well before either.  If we do have more than two embryos, we will be able to freeze them to try again in the future.  Nurse Allison called to check in on Wednesday afternoon, but we were busy using the flashlights on our phones because there was a brief power outage.  I e-mailed her back to let her know I was fine and power had come back on, to which she reminded me to take it easy.  

Thursday was the beginning of progesterone and estrogen support, other than that it was just another normal day with my kiddos at school.  I'm so thankful for my girls at school who keep an eye on me and remind me not to pick up my little friends.  It's been a group effort getting sub plans ready for almost two full weeks, which is why I've not updated the blog.  My brain has been in preschool teacher mode because it's so hard to be out of school and away from the kiddos!  

Friday afternoon, Nurse Allison called with our transfer time...10:15 on Sunday.  Dr. Colver is the doctor who will be doing our transfer.  We have to be there at 9:45 to get ready.  Acupuncture is scheduled for 8:00 before the transfer, so we will have a little time before going over to Midwest.

Prayer request update...

• We have at least two healthy embryos to transfer tomorrow!
• I have acupuncture and medicine to calm my nerves on Transfer Day, pray that Joe has peace and calming, too.
• Safe travels back and forth tomorrow
• My allergies aren't being cooperative with the whole only taking Claritin thing!  

(in case I don't update before Monday morning)  Please pray for my preschoolers and my girls, have I mentioned how hard it is to NOT be at school?!  

Thanks for the love, prayers, and support!  We are so thankful to be surrounded with love and encouragement!

Love,

Sarah & Joe