Our Story So Far

I have been typing up my list of dates so that I can eventually make myself a treatment bracelet based upon all that went into this first baby. So, here are the dates:

Okay in order to preserve this for our posterity, and for future understanding of this road, in case we need to travel down this road again-- I fully believe I WILL get pregnant with a child and hope we'll go for a 2nd, and anticipate that in order to do so, we'll have to explore this option again-- here is a summary of our time at Shady Grove:
6/22 - Consult #1 with Dr. K
7/7 - 1st bloodwork & ultrasound
7/12 - Matt's semen analysis
7/14 - HSG in Rockville
7/23 - Followup with Dr. K. Decide to try IUI
8/2 - Bloodwork & ultrasound
8/10 - Bloodwork & ultrasound
*started Clomid, 50 mg/day days 3-7
8/19 - Bloodwork & Ultrasound (1 egg right, 2-3 left-- need to grow!)
8/21 - Bloodwork & Ultrasound (2 Left 19mm & 21 mm, 1 Right, small) Trigger?
-9:30 pm trigger Ovidrel (shot)
8/23 - IUI #1 @ 12:40 with Dr. Mottla
9/7 - Blood test (pregnancy) negative :(
9/13 - Day 3 bloodwork & ultrasound *start Clomid 50 mg/day
9/22 - Day 12 bloodwork & ultrasound (1 follicle on right at 19mm, 2 on L @ 13mm)
9/23 - Bloodwork/ultrasound (still only 1 follicle, others didn't grow!)
9/24 - Trigger shot ovidrel
9/26 - IUI#2 (1.5m pw)
10/14 - Dr. K suggests we move onto IVF
10/20ish - IVF consult, postpone IVF until after Africa trip
12/16/2010 - Start new cycle for IVf, decide to postpone after travel snafus
1/25/2011 - start new cycle, but have to postpone due to MSA
3/6 - start new cycle!
3/22 - Mock transfer
3/29 - Bloodwork & ultrasound
3/31 - MRI in Easton
4/2 - Dr. K calls to cancel cycle, tells me about the uterine septum & need for surgery :(
4/21 - Hysteroscopy in Rockville. Have to rest a natural cycle before starting again

6/16 - HSG to make sure everything is good & healed. it is! :)

6/25 - Pre IVF bloodwork & ultrasound -- good to start shots on Tuesday!

6/28- start stimming: 75u of Bravelle 75u of Menopur!

6/29: 2nd round of injections, same amounts!

6/30: 3rd day of injections, same amounts-- 8:30 each night :)

7/1: bloodwork and ultrasound-- 7 follicles, bloodwork all good. 4th day of injections, increased dosage to 1.5 vials of Menopur, same level of Bravelle.

7/2-5th day of injections

7/3: bloodwork & ultrasound-- 12 follicles, 6th day of injections, increased meds & started Ganirelix

7/4 - 7th day of injections

7/5 - bloodwork & ultrasound, injections

7/6 - bloodwork & ultrasound, injections

7/6 - Urgent Care for Cellulitis :(

7/7 - bloodwork & ultrasound - 9 follicles above 18mm! Ready to go!

- Trigger Shot 11:30 pm (HcG 10,000 units of pregnyl)

7/9 - Egg retrieval: 11 retrieved

7/10: 1st Fertilization Report: 9 mature, 8 fertilized!

7/15: Day 6 transfer-- transfer on perfect 5AA embryo!!! Hopeful

7/21: Positive hpt! (positive 7/21, 7/22, 7/23, 7/24, 7/25)

7/27: Beta: negative :(

8/? - Post IVF consult with Dr. K

9/14 - Pre-IVF Evaluation: bloodwork & u/s okay! (small cyst right ovary)

9/17 - Day 1 Stims: Start stimming! 75iu of Bravelle & 150iu of Menopur

9/20 - Day 4 Stims: Bloodwork/Ultrasound - 7 Right, 4 Left, E2 117 - raise Bravelle to 150 iu
9/22 - Day 6 Stims: Bloodwork/Ultrasound - 11 Right, 3 Left, E2? -raise Bravelle to 225 iu
9/24 - Day 8 Stims: Bloodwork/Ultrasound - 15 Right, 4 Left, E2 635, raise Menopur to 225iu
9/26 - Day 10 Stims: Bloodwork/Ultrasound - same follies, E2 1325, same meds
9/27 - Day 11 Stims: Bloodwork/Ultrasound - same follies, TRIGGER!          
        - Trigger: Novarel @ 10:00 pm (great job, Mattie!)
9/29 - Egg Retrieval: 11 eggs
9/30 - Day 1 Fertilization Report: 9 mature, 7 fertilized
10/ 1 - Back to Rockville for fluid aspiration (from lining)
         - Day 2 fert: 6 embryos (1 6 cell, 1 4 cell, 4 2-cells-- but 2 are multinucleated)

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand,strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO - what a ride!