Friday, July 10, 2009

Maybe Baby: Loaded

I got the box I've been waiting for.
Wanna see what's inside?

Drugs.

Lots of drugs.

The cast of characters:
Birth Control Pills
Estrace (not pictured. She's really shy. And I ordered her from Costco so I forgot and left her in my medicine cabinet during the drug photo shoot.)

Leuprolide (I call him Leupron for short and Louie when we're having a really tender moment)
Progesterone Oil
A safe box for all my used needles. I'm a little offended it says "BIOHAZARD" on it. I'm clean. I swear.

And mountains of various size needles.

See this needle?
It's roughly the size of a garden hose. Thankfully it's used only to suck-up the thick Progesterone Oil and then the needle is changed to this sized needle (roughly the size of a pencil.) for insertion.
Unless of course your *ahem* husband forgets to do the swap and stabs you with the garden hose instead. Twice. (It happened almost four years ago and we are still not talking.)

Before I begin with the details of this cycle I wanted to remind all my fertile friends out there that these drugs are for a Frozen Embryo Transfer. Meaning these are drugs that just get my body ready to accept the Embryo's. If I were blogging about the first time that I did an IVF cycle where we first had to have my ovaries super ovulate and they went from the normal size of kiwis to the size of grapefruit..... well the post listing all the drugs from that cycle would surly cause global shut down of the web.

I talked with the IVF nurse and got my protocol and dates all set for this cycle and I am going to share them all with you so you can write them in your calendar and call and remind me each day on what and how much dosage I should be taking. Kay?

I started the birth control pills on June 28th and then I'll start adding one shot of 20 units of Leupron on July 13. This combination of drugs basically tells the brain to stop communicating with the reproduction organs because our goal is to create a "perfect" cycle using medication. Leupron is a subcutaneous medication that is injected. The needle is tiny and really isn't a big deal.
Unless you think you are alone in the office that you work at. (The church) and you remember that you need to give your self an injection and slide your pants to your ankles and with a needle in your hand ....... the heater repareman walks into your office. Most embarrassing moment to date.

July 20th last Birth Control Pill, continue Leupron.

July 28th OHSU appointment: Blood Draw and Ultrasound. This is to make sure my body is in full blown menopause. Oh and our full payment is due. And because I am keeping it real here. It's about $3,000. Goodbye savings. It was fun while it lasted. PS incase you are curious, a fresh IVF cycle is at the very least $12,000. I'm not going to lie that bill stung a bit. Not like a bee sting more like a shot gun round to the neck. But how can you put a price on creating a family? Ended up that Matt's grandmother passed away when we I was just a few months pregnant with Tobin. Our inherence just covered our debt. I can't think of a better way to have passed down her legacy then with her first great-grandchild. God provided.

July 29th: Continue Leupron and add one pill of Estrace daily. Estrace is now going to start building the lining of the uterus.

August 4th: Continue Leupron and add another Estrace pill daily.

August 9th: Continue Leupron and start three Estrace pills daily.

August 13: Ultra Sound (just to check the lining making sure the Estrace is working.)

August 14: Stop Leupron. Decrease Estrace pills to two daily. Start Progesterone Oil. This is when Matt comes on board. I can't reach the area it needs to be injected into. After about a week of these, I also can't sit.

August 18: The big (Projected) day of Embryo Transfer. This requires a whole post in itself. Looking forward to it?

Welcome to my druggie world for the next few months. Forgive me if I forget your birthday or your name.



13 comments:

Stephanie said...

WOWZERS!! (both about the news and about that VERY LARGE needle)

I'm so excited for you guys. Can't wait to read the updates.

crystalkupper said...

Yay! I know it's a lot and I really admire you but I'm so excited!

Christi said...

Becca, nobody shares stories better than you. i don't often read blogs outloud to Jeff, but yours I do. I love how the inheritance paid your bill...that is beautiful.

Gabriel and Lyndsay said...

Can you call your Progesterone Oil "Dr. Watson," as a nod to my paper baby? ;-p I mean, there it is right on the bottle.

You rock, girl. Have at those suckers.

Stacey said...

i love that you're sharing your journey with us. it can't hurt to have us all pulling for you, right? love you to pieces!

Stefanie said...

August 18th it is! Big red circle on my imaginary calendar in my mind (i'm not good at the real ones) But I won't forget that date!!

Let me know if I can watch the kids:)

For many reasons I felt jipped a bit on our Mccall trip - thank goodness we're going to the beach soon!

KLB said...

Wow! I can't believe all of the stuff you go through. Your kids better take good care of you on Mothers day he he he. I am excited for the 18th! I'll pray for lots of babies in there :)
Love ya

Dawn said...

I love those plain brown boxes and the surprise contents (I know you knew what was in it, but hey, the UPS didn't know!).

Although... I have heard it said that you shouldn't have more children than there are adult hands to hold little hands (meaning 4 kids)... but as always God provides.

BTW, Seth is 16 & driving us around town. He's having a "procedure" tomorrow to help with a complication of his bicycle accident in April. Then on Wednesday to a new orthopedist to see how his wrist/arm bones are healing... and possible surgery on that too. Yippee!! My advice is to get all your ER visits done early. It sucks to have a healthy, accident-free kid suddenly turn into a ER veteran at the age of 11 and keep going & going & going.

I've been ignoring my blog for awhile... you've inspired me and I'll update with all Seth's accident stuff. :)

momaof4 said...

Thank you for sharing Becca. I seriously had NO IDEA!! And I love that you are willing to share all the ups and downs, and the good and the ugly!

Molly said...

My favorite thing about you has always been your willing, open heart. God uses that for His glory, no doubt. May He increase your blessings and joy as you share your journey with not only us but others as well.

You are a beautiful sister in Christ. So glad that I know you!

Shauna said...

I'm thinking of you, praying for you and definitely empathizing with you. Oh how I remember those needles and the endless supply of drugs! Hang in there Becca! Love you!

Lion Heart said...

Oh my goodness! Neat: A box of hope yet a box of scary (the needles that is, I'm so not a fan of needles in fact I still nearly cry when they come near me). I'm so excited for you!

Hosmerita said...

I am pretty much NOT OK with the fact that my lovely friend is going to be poked DAILY for awhile. And I am DEFINITELY not ok with the fact that her dear husband stabbed her with a monster needle...
But I am very ok with the fact that you two (and the white coated peeps) and our lovely God make some darn stinkin cute kiddos!
And I am loving how you are planning on telling the kiddos their conception stories... a nice spin on the whole sex talk!