Wedesday 9/19

     Wednesday morning went well. My husband met me there from work. He is a trooper because he was so tired from working all night. I did not have to get another sonogram so I do not know how much more it had developed. Once we had our sample in the centrifuge, my husband went on home to get some sleep since he had to work that night. It made the wait so long. I was so bored and was texting a few folks to help pass the time. It made me realize how much more bearable all the waiting is when I have my husband by my side. I did survive the wait and was called back to have the procedure. I was a little nervous that they may do something different in some way and I would be alone but it went as usual and seemed to go better than normal. There was one little glitch afterwards though....

    After they do the procedure, you are laying on a chair/table that is then placed at a slope where your feet are higher than your head so your tilted to help them swim. Well, I was busy posting grades on my phone when they came in to do it so I laid my phone on my chest. I was so ready to get back to my gradebook and not lose what all I had entered that I didn't realize that they did not give me the remote to the chair. I have to lay that way for 15 minutes and did not realize until about 13 minutes into it. I did not know what I was going to do to get out of the chair. I didn't know where the remote was hung on the chair and couldn't see or feel it from the way I was laying. So, every scenario I could think of came with a mental image of what could happen if it went wrong. It did make me laugh though. Rolling off the chair upside down with only that paper tablecloth looking "drape" to cover you made me laugh. I sure didn't want to knock anything over to make someone run in to check on me...I sure wasn't going to yell help either! I finally felt that there was buttons on a box below the chair and just started pressing stuff and THANKFULLY got out of the chair. I know this is not coming across as funny as it was to me. I wish you could have heard my thoughts and seen the mental pictures I had flying through my head during that moment of slight panic. I guess if that's the only thing that went differently without my husband there, then I say it went pretty well!

     I also thought that it was weird that this is now the 3rd time I have had an insemination on someones birthday. I had one on my birthday(May2), my mom's (July 23), and now my dad's (Sept. 19). I just thought that was kind of neat.

Today's appt

     Todays appointment was short and sweet. It is day 15 of my cycle. We were unable to get an insemination procedure done today. He saw a couple follicles but the largest one only measured 17mm. He thought that it would be better to do it on Wednesday to give the follicles more time to mature. So we will head back early Wednesday and will get the procedure done. A sweet coworker of my husband swapped nights with him so he could be of today since he would be missing a few hours of sleep so we were thankful for that. He will have to meet me at the doctor from work Wednesday. I think I am going to talk him into leaving before the procedure is done so he can get home and get in the bed. After doing it so many months in a row, I think I will be fine. I just hope the dreaded needle they always have out is not used for the first time Wednesday. For those who do not know, I am scared to death of needles!!! You should see how long it is....just think about it...it has to be long enough to reach your cervix. So, it looks worse than I am sure it is. Anyhow, I will just keep telling myself that they get it ready every time and never use it, so they won't this time.
     Well, I don't have a lot of information to update on my husband. His blood test came back with everything in the normal ranges, so no more clearer answers so far. He was unable to get an analysis last week because I talked him into going with me to a conference for several days. He is going to try and do it this week possibly but we have to get the insemination done first then he will have to stay celibate for at least three days to do an analysis. As soon as he does, I will update.  
     Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Please keep the prayers going!

another month...

     Labor day weekend was a nice break. We celebrated by grandmother's 76 birthday(as well as my nieces 3rd birthday with a whole family facetime birthday song!), we bought us a new family car in preparation for kiddos in our future, and a good cookout with friends and their children. We had a good weekend despite the slight disappointment we had. By Monday, I had started my cycle in full force. I think it hurt my husband worse than it hurts me now. I think I have kept my feelings at bay lately just so when it is another failed attempt, I do not have to feel the full extent of my disappointment. I just shift my focus to another two weeks and getting my meds filled and taking them to get ready for my next insemination. So, my next office visit will be on Sept. 17. My most fertile days keep falling on the weekend so it leaves us with the risk of already ovulating before Monday, but I still have high hopes that I will be able to have the procedure.

     I do hope to take some new results to my doctor for my husband. He had his appointment with his Urologist this morning. They drew some blood to test his testosterone levels again and he will have another semen analysis possibly next week. My husband talked to him about the supplements he has been taking and the doctor said they would probably help and we might see the change in his analysis. I am hoping that they have had a positive impact! If we get some better results this time, it will give us a burst of something positive to keep us motivated. I will update you all once I know the results. 

     On the money saving end, we have started a budget, oh my! Its not that we are crazy spenders, we are just too used to going and doing whatever we want. We are really trying though since we have a goal (even if its not completely defined yet). My coworker raised $188 for me through Pampered Chef and I had have had offers to host more, so I am excited. I am ready to see us make progress in this area so we can make a firm decision on adoption or IVF. 

     Thanks for praying for us and supporting us. It means a lot!