Happy 4th of July!

What a cute little guy! No -I did not get another dog, I just found a picture of him online but I thought it was fitting. Rest assured, my dogs will be dressed up also, obviously.

We are headed to the lake today for a good ol' American day of water sports, food, and fireworks, and most important.. FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

I hope to take some good pics to share BUT.. I cannot find my charger anywhere for my camera, which charges my camera, and also assist in getting the images onto my computer. Boooo.

Yesterday we went out to Katy Mills and watched "Eclipse". It was so good! I think the characters really fall into place in their characters in this one. Not that they didn't before, but now, officially for me, they can never play any other roles, as they will always be Jacob, Edward, Bella, etc. It just wouldnt be the same to see them play a different role. I liked the new Victoria too, she did a good job. I was pretty much anti that whole situation for a while but I think she was great. I can't wait for the next one. Matt asked me before it started (as he also did for New Moon), "Is this the one where he changes her?" LOL.

Also, I got a visit on Friday night from AF. Only 20 days since the last visit. Girls on synthroid, is this normal? I am thinking maybe my dosage might be too high. I called my 24/7 Nurseline through Blue Cross Blue Shield and they did not seem to be too worried about it. She was a registered nurse and she tells me to call my doctor. Thanks. If it wasn't a Friday night on a holiday weekend, I would not have called her.
Anyways, I hope everyone has a very safe and Happy 4th of July!!

Bubble bath, a book, and Wine.. Oh my!

I thought about these three things pretty much half the day. The other half I spent bawling my eyes out because I started my cycle this morning, which means I am not pregnant, and the only insurance paid round of clomid did not work. Booo. I will put this the least depressing way I can, because the last thing I want is for anyone to feel sorry for me, or to bring anyone down, but I am pretty dissapointed. I have been testing everyday since Sunday and on Monday and Tuesday nights I got a very faint positive. It was there- Matt and I both saw it. It was light, but we looked at it a million times and we both saw it. Then last night, I decided to try a different brand, and it was negative. I cried then, and then had somewhat a bit of hope that there might be something there because I was still very nauseous. And then I started at work this morning, bright and early-and right on time might I add- and all I remember was someone set me off with an indirect comment- and I know nothing was meant by it- and the next thing I know I am having a melt down in my boss's office and my eyes are still swollen and puffy. Thank goodness she is wonderful and understanding, because I felt like a idiot, but really, she was so great about it. I am the most upset because of all the dang symptoms that are so misleading. I knew it could have been the medicine the whole time, I just didnt see how it could still be the medicine this week when I had heart burn, gagging while brushing my teeth, sick ever morning until 11am, STARVING. I figured that shot would have been way out of my system by then. Maybe not, who knows.
So now we move on. We are talking about different options because going ahead with the same route is pretty much out of the question, unless we save for a while and then try again, but like I said in my previous blogs, the same treatment I did this month will be $900 a month going forward and that does not include medication. Do I start saving for this, or do I take a step back and go to the new obgyn and let her take a look at my history? I am sure she could do the same things he does, and at a friendlier rate. Or do I try this "natural doctor" at work that other girls have seen? He regulates hormones and tells my coworkers to make sure they are taking birth control because if not they will be pregnant within a few months. Not sure which road to take. I am sad that I am not pregnant, but I know that the clomid/trigger shot got us closer than we have ever been, and that is comforting. I know God has a plan for us, and this month just wasnt it. I am ready for "our month".

5 Day Summary..

Lots going on and lots of new information. I hope I remember everything. I almost started making notes so I could keep track , but thought I would be able to remember it all so here goes..
Tuesday 08/25- wrote my last blog- had no cycle, made Dr. Appt with a new OBGYN for my yearly in October, requested all my records from current RE to see if she could help with the clomid.
Wednesday 08/26- STARTED FINALLY! This was day 50 for me. Called the dr. to make appt for my day 3, which was Friday 08/28. Not sure if it was the provera that finally kicked in or if I truly would have started on my own. Anyways, was glad to see it I guess. I also followed up on some emails I had sent to my insurance carrier rep to find out why my visits would be so much, and why wasn't anything covered for me?
Thursday 08/27- got response on my emails, and was referred to this awesome lady named Tina who works for Aetna. She wasnt necessarily in the infertility department, but this lady knew her stuff! She listened to my "rundown" and thought that from what I was saying that my visits should be covered. She urged me to continue to question the office staff at the doctor's office, and I then sent emails back and forth with the office manager. She again told me that my visits would not be covered, and I would have to pay $300 starting that next day. I was prepared for that, but again wrote her back that Aetna just told me that they would be covered, and I never heard back from her.
Friday 08/28- got a phone call from the benefits counselor at the doctors office and she told me that I had to call Aetna's infertility department, register with them, get an authorization number, and bring it to my appointment, because there was going to be ONE MONTH OF CLOMID that Aetna was going to pay for!!!!! Thank goodness I was persistent with my emails!!! They were about to charge me for $900 for the "cycle" and this whole time it was covered???? Makes you wonder what goes on. So I guess if I would not have questioned it they would have ripped me off and been completely ok with it. CRAZY.
I did all the above, got my authorization number, and went to my appt at 11am. They took my blood and I went in "Room #2" and waited for the nurse to start my ultra sound. She came in with my Clomid prescription and a Clomid protocol which was basically a plan for each day of the month, and I was to begin clomid today, Sunday, which was day 5 of my cycle. I had to order an HCG shot that was going to be shipped to me, and I also had that prescription. Then she tells me I cannot start this if my ultrasound shows I have a cyst. Great, you already know where this is going.
She does my ultra sound and I did indeed have a cyst once again on my right ovary. Huge, 33 mm cyst. I was prepared for that at least. She put me on Birth control for one month, to help diminish the cyst, Loestrin24fe, which I started on Friday, prenatal vitamins, and I am supposed to go back next month when I start my cycle again. Which means I will have to go through allllllllll that again with Aetna to get another authorization number and the doctors office again so that they don't charge me $900 instead of running it through my insurance.
We did talk more about the Clomid, and she is starting me at 100mg!!! That really surprised me, because normally you start off at 50 mg and if you don't ovulate with that, they increase it to 100 mg. I guess I just haven't heard of starting off with that much, but it kind of makes me excited! I talked to her about my low carb diet, and told her that it was making me retain alot of water, told her how bloated I had been, and she suggested switching to a low-glycemic diet where you eat "heatltier carbs" which I guess are like whole grains and leafy vegetables. On that note, I am going to do Jenny Craig for a little while because after researching there is no way I can plan my meals on that diet. I would go off track so easily. I have never done Jenny Craig before but Aetna also has discounts for that so that is good news. I start my "meal plans" tomorrow, and got all my groceries today.
Yesterday my dad, Debbie, and Monique came to help us finish our wood floors and helped with the quarter round trim. It looks AMAZING! I will post pictures of it as soon as I finish getting my pillows for my couches. I might even do curtains! I am so proud of Matt, he did a great job, and we couldnt have done it without my folks helping out. My dad has every tool and saw you can think of- he brought two different types of saws with him that were both attached to tables. My garage looked like a "man-cave" and still does with all the saw dust. Before and after pictures coming soon, so stay tuned for that.
We are waiting for Jason's Deli to deliver our dinner, and we are going to cuddle up and watch "the Last House on the Left".

Happy Sunday to ya!

Blah, Blah, Blah

Yuck. No cycle. No Clomid. No fun.
I never started my cycle from the Provera that was prescribed to me on 08/07. I am currently on day 50 of my cycle. Most people only go 28 days, but not this girl. I am miserable, crampy, bloated, hungry as heck and just really feeling yucky! I am almost certain that I have another cyst.
Anyways, I emailed the nurse today to ask her what she thought, and if she had any suggestions or thought maybe we could up the dosage of my provera, and she came back with "Call the office to make an appt for bloodwork". Of course!!! Why didn't I think of that? Geez. I KNEW that was coming!! Again, another $300.
I decided to make an appt with a regular OBGYN. It was time for my well woman exam anyways, and she is actually the doctor that my sister in law Brannon saw when she was pregnant, and she delivered Brannon's baby. Also, she can do the same things that the RE can do, at a much more reasonable cost. The only bad thing, is that that appointment is not until 10/01. They are supposed to call if something comes up sooner. I requested all my records from the RE so hopefully she will be able to be a little bit more aggressive with the cards we are dealt. I am not even opposed to a few months of birth control at this point to get me going on a regular cycle. As long as it is a few months, and we can start trying again immediately when things are normal. Any advice, thoughts, suggestions, feedback? Not really sure where to turn at this point.

Leave it to me..

To produce a HUGE follicle that is way to big to do anything with!!

Haha, I will start from the beginning in regards to today's appt. I brought Matt with me- I thought it might be neat for him to see what all goes on and see why I get so excited/ pissed off sometimes. Anyways, I have had huge side cramps really low for the past two days. Throbbing, almost painful. I thought maybe that was the big "O" (ovulation). Well, I guessed right. According to my blood results and my ultrasound, I have not yet ovulated this month. That is good, this is day 13 so it would have been a little early. I did have two tiny follicles remaining on the left side, and one HUGE, ENORMOUS, follicle on the right side. It measured at 31mm, which is about 10 mm higher than they like it to be. They say a good egg comes from a follicle between 18 and 21 mm. As I said.. leave it to me!
My blood indicated I am a raging hormonal piece of work. Level was 41 on day 3 (normal) and it should have gone up, but it was a little over 400!!! Wayyy too high. The good news is that she told me that we at least have answers and when I meet with the dr. for my final consultation (before treatment) he will be able to pin point and get me going in the right direction. I was ok with that, huge follicle or not, at least we are moving in the RIGHT direction. That appointment is not until August 3rd, so I will be sure to post about other things until then!!!

HSG Test

Well, I had my HSG Test today. I don't know if it is good news or bad news or if it is just plain ol' news. I really haven't had time to let it process in my mind.
To start I was given an antiobiotic to prevent infection. I started taking this yesterday, per Dr's orders. Well, I threw it up on the way to work. I was super nauseous and apparently I should have taken it with lots of water. I did that last night and was fine, and again this morning. I will keep taking this through Sunday, twice a day. They also gave me 600 mg of Motrin for "pain".
I think they could have given me vicadin and it still would have hurt like hell. Very uncomfortable, lots and lots of pressure, because of the fluid in my uterus obviously, and it was like super bad menstrual cramps, you know the ones- where it feels like barbwire is twisted around your ovaries. OUCH!
So that went down, or up I guess you should say, and they watched on the screen and took pictures of it with the big xray machine thingy. When he was done, which was only seconds really, he showed me how it looked. One side was totally free and clear, and the fluid leaked through just as it should. One side was all crimped, but eventually did go through he said. He thought there might be scar tissue causing this on that one side. I have no idea where that came from.
He didn't really seem to want to get into it, but said we would talk about it after my mid-cycle ultrasound on Monday. After that, which we will see if I am indeed ovulating, we will get together for a "after" consultation and come up with a plan. I really hope this plan does not involve IVF, which is not in our budget and not paid for by insurance. Go easy on me for goodness sake!! It's bad enough and expensive enough as it is!!
So there it is- a fun day of iodine in the fallopian tubes. I am super crampy still, and won't get into details about other wonderful side effects. GROSS!
Had me some chinese food for dinner at Jade Palace, made me and my crampy tummy feel better ;0

11.. Did you say 11??

So good news from my doctor appt. on Thursday! They wisked me in, took more blood, and then I sat waiting for my ultra sound. Someone new came in and did this one- well, she was new to me, been there a while, her name was Heather- how fitting! Anyways, she is doing her thing, looking all around and she asked me what side my cyst was on. I told her it was on the right side, and she couldnt find it anywhere!! It was totally gone!! I couldn't believe it, was super happy, but I know they come and go as they please. I am not getting my hopes up, but for now- that was great news. Also she told me that I had 3-4 follicles on one ovary, and 5-7 on the ovary, and if she had to guess she was say ELEVEN TOTAL!! So you are telling me that I had ZERO last month and this month I had ELEVEN!! How awesome is that?? Here is a pic of what that looks like, these are not mine, but they all hold tiny microscopic eggs.





Matt was very excited, and of course I had to call the parents because I was just ecstatic! Sooo when I came out of my ultrasound room, there were three nurses waiting on me and we all talked for a bit about it- and how good and positive they felt this visit was. The even better part was my blood came back totally normal, so my hormones are all in check. I am thanking Provera for this. I know that is what has helped! I will have the HSG test done in the next week at Memorial Hermann in the Woodlands, and another ultra sound on the 2oth to see if/and how many of my follicles matured into eggs. I will definetely post how those two appts go.

Glad its the weekend! We are going to Whole Foods today because we freakin' love that place, and then we might stop by Half Price books. Also, my mom and step dad are in town and we might meet up with them for dinner. Can't wait to see them!!

Have a super Saturday!

Moving right along..

Pretty dern good week so far. I started walking at lunch today with a friend and co worker. We walked a mile and felt pretty great this afternoon. Matt and I are going to the gym tonight and we ate dinner by 6pm! That makes me happy!

On the baby subject- here are my blood levels for day 9 of my cycle. The doctors office posted it on my web profile thingy..

Estradiol- 23.8
LH- 8.67
Progesterone- 2.34

Kind of strange? That is what I thought to.