So I Prayed for Peace...

and peace is what I got...literally... I came home today and saw an Amazon box.  I asked Austin what he ordered and he said he didn't and he was wondering what I had ordered.  I opened the box to find a Willow Tree Angel of Peace.  I have no idea who sent it, so if it's someone who reads this, THANK YOU!  Beyond blessed!!!!!

...and the results are in...

Wednesday I had the upper GI endoscopy.  It went very smoothly and we were in and out of the hospital within an hour and a half.  I've been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, so basically my stomach is pushing up into my chest cavity.  Not everyone who has a hiatal hernia has acid reflux problems, and not everyone who has acid reflux issues has a hiatal hernia.  It wasn't too bad of one so surgery isn't needed at all and for right now we just treat the symptoms with doubling the meds and continuing to sleep elevated. 

This morning I had my day 11 ultrasound.  I had 3-4 large follicles on both sides.  In fact, they were so large that the IUI is scheduled for tomorrow morning!  Ahh!!  I was jumping out of my skin all day at work!  I am so excited/nervous/scared/happy/excited/terrified/excited!!  Moving forward gives me a new sense of hope and positive feeling.  So tomorrow morning Austin will make a deposit, we'll putz around at the Costco for an hour, and then we'll go back to the clinic for the procedure.  Afterwards, we'll be able to continue on our day as usual.  I will need some extra prayers for peace these next two weeks as we wait the results of the IUI!

I really am still here...

I have to apologize for the lack of posts.  I just haven't felt real inspired to write much!  I have a big week ahead of me.  Tomorrow is my mom's birthday.  I'm pretty sure I'll have to have a caramel cashew sundae and throw the cherry out the window in memory of her! :)  Tuesday I start the three days of Follistim injections.  I heard they weren't that bad to do and the side effects were tolerable.  Below is a picture of what this cycle entails.  There you see an entire paycheck worth of meds that have been and will be put into my body this cycle.  How exciting! (I hope you note my sarcasm!) 

Wednesday I have an upper GI endoscopy scheduled at the local hospital.  I have had acid reflux issues that started about 2.5 years ago which I was then prescribed medicine.  I took that as needed and then didn't have any issues for quite awhile.  Well, the last year it has gotten progressively worse leading up to having an episode a couple of weeks ago that involved waking up at 11:30 pm and spending the rest of the entire night coughing and throwing up acid.  That was the last straw so I went to the doctor and we're doing the endoscopy.  Since then I've doubled the medication, continued my nightly consumption of Tums, and upped it to three pillows and haven't had a problem since.  I have a feeling it will just be a simple, common case of GERD and I'll be told to continue meds, stay with three pillows, and lose 500 pounds. 

Friday morning is our ultrasound.  I'll be interested to see the state of the follicles due to the added meds.  Based on that ultrasound we'll schedule the IUI and figure the timing out for that.

So to sum it up, it's a busy week ahead for this girl...but one hopefully with some answers!

The Next Steps!

Monday I had my ultrasound.  The follicles were growing the way they were supposed to be so I took ovulation tests twice a day for four days.  I didn't get any positives (I never have!) so I did the Ovidrel injection and we timed things out.  Thursday and I Austin and I both went to the doctor to talk the next steps with him.  Pending on the results of this cycle, we decided to go with the "hybrid" IUI for our next steps.  It is considered hybrid because it will involve both oral and injectable medications.  It will go as follows:
Day 3 - 5 pills of Letrozole
Day 4 - 5 pills of Letrozole (and start praying real hard I don't start going crazy crabby again)
Day 5 - 5 pills of Letrozole
Day 6 - 5 pills of Letrozole
Day 7 - 5 pills of Letrozole
Day 8 - HCG injection
Day 9 - HCG injection
Day 10 - HCG injection
Day 11 - ultrasound to check on the follicles
Ovidrel injection
IUI process - aka the turkey baster procedure
Start the two week wait!

I really am excited about these next steps and feel good about a plan being in place!