Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The month that is lasting a year.

I know I haven't updated in a while. There really isn't much to update on. We've just been stuck here in a waiting period. It already seems like this month should be over, yet we still have over a week left. There is still more than 2 weeks before IVF 1.2 begins. It's been dragging. But I do have to admit, I haven't been anxious like I was before the first try. I was so excited to start, I couldn't wait. Now, I'm just here, taking it day by day. Since my last update I've been wanting to help you understand more about ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology), But I feel like I've already overloaded you with information. But, today, in this post, I'm going to give you the short line-up that I have now. And yes, Just a little bit of more information.

Well, first for the information. The office I go to stirctly does something calle ICsi (pronounced ick-c. Most offices only do this when there is Male-factor infertility. Personally, I always believed this was how it was done with IVF, but generally, it is not something that most office do.

This information is taken right from www.ivf-de.org :

What is ICsi?
ICsi, “Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection” is a technique utilized during In Vitro Fertilization that helps to proactively achieve fertilization through a microscopic manipulation of egg, sperm and embryos. In traditional IVF sperm is mixed with the egg and fertilization occurs naturally. Typically other clinics do not perform ICsi unless there is poor semen analysis for the male partner. At RAD we perform ICsi on a majority of our patients because we believe it develops a cleaner culture system, and results in better fertilization outcomes. ICsi microscopically manipulates the sperm so that fertilization can be achieved when it is not occurring naturally.

My office also trys to stick to something called eSet. Elective Single Embryo Transfer.

What is the benefit of eSET? eSET ,stands for “elective single embryo transfer.” This practice involves transferring a single embryo into the uterus during IVF as opposed to multiple embryos. The greater the number of embryos transferred, the greater the chance for risk of multiples. Multiples can cause health risks for both the mother and baby. Pregnancies that carry more than one child have an increased risk for: Hospitalization prior to full term of pregnancy C-section Pre-mature birth, low birth weight We believe that single embryo transfers result in the safest and most successful pregnancies for our patients.
(www.ivf-de.org)

So there is just a little more education for you on what will be happening in parts of our IVF cycle. As far as our schedule goes here it is:

June 7th - I go in for a Base line ultrasound and we go over the medications again, and I get my actual calendar of events.
June 8th - Stims begin (medication)
June 11th - Ultrasounds begin, I'll be going in just about every morning so they can monitor the growthe of the follicles.
Some where around June 18th I'll have the ER (Egg Retrevial) (If my calulations are correct, I'll know better June 7th)
June 23rd - Should be about the day I have the ET (Embryo Transfer) (this is done usually at 5 days after the retervial at the blastocyst stage of the embryo)
2 weeks after the transfer I go in for a beta test (the blood work) to see if I'm pregnant or not.

From this point, I'd just like to share with you that I'm not sure, whatever happens, if we will be ready to share with our readers here whether the IVF worked or not. We may need sometime to deal with whatever the outcome may be wheter positive or negative. Either outcome will be very emotional. But pleas, understand, that when we are ready to share with the world, you will know. I hope you can understand.

Please, also, if you have any questions about any of this, ask. I'm willing to answer the best I can. Thank you!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Agape


a·ga·pe

2 [ah-gah-pey, ah-guh-pey, ag-uh-] Show IPA
noun, plural a·ga·pae [-pahy, -pahy, -pee] Show IPA, a·ga·pai [-pahy, -pahy] Show IPA for 3.
1.
the love of God or Christ for humankind.
2.
the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love of God for humankind.
3.
unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications; brotherly love.
4.
love feast ( defs. 1, 2 ) .

Origin:
1600–10; < Greek agápē love
This definition was taken from dictionary.com

And this next definiton comes from www.socalchrysalis.com



What is Agape?

Agape is one of the Greek words translated into English as love. Christian writers have generally described agape as a form of love which is both unconditional and voluntary. Agape has been expounded on by many Christian writers in a specifically Christian context. C. S. Lewis, in his book The Four Loves, used agape to describe what he believed was the highest level of love known to humanity— a selfless love, a love that was passionately committed to the well-being of the other.

Now why am I giving you definitons of Agape. Well, simple becasue this Agape love has been given to my husband and me.

This afternoon I took my dog for the daily walk to the mailbox to get our mail. Much to my surprise we had recived some ACTUAL mail. (you now not junck or bills.) It was a small pacakge from our home state NJ. One of our friends there is a teacher who teaches 3rd grade. She had her class write to us, they each made their own card and expressed care for us and they wanted to help us "feel better" As I read the letter from our friend and then from these children who have never met us, I just began to cry. I felt the love, the care, the support. So simple, yet so beyond meaningful. I'm so thankful for this, this unexpected act of Agape.



Wednesday, May 02, 2012

So, What's Been Going on the Last Week?

Well, not much.

I had talked to my IVF coordinator on Monday. My new cycle had finally started over the weekend after the trigger shot I had taken just 2 weeks, (well a little less than that), before. We talked about the opitions again and DH and I had made a decision to go ahead and go in for an ultrasound and blood work to see how things were looking, with the possibility of beginning a new IVF cycle. Well, I went in yesterday for my appointment and things have already started. I've already got one follie growing and my Estrogen levels had begun to rise already. That means things were progressing on their own and for the best chances we need everything to be quiet.

After that appointment I had called DH to let him know. He had a few questions, wanting to know if we could just try on our own or try IUI. After some talking we both came to the conclusion that we should just stick to the plan orginally intended. As much as we would like for things to happen on their own, or even with something less invasive like IUI, we just decided to give it our best chance with IVF. One of the main resons, it's been 6 months since my surgery and The Endo pain is getting worse again every month. I'd really like to be pregnant before having to go in for surgery again. And IVF give us our best chance of that happening.

So, that's where we are at. I'm on birth control now for the month of May to make sure things stop and stay quiet. And I can only hope this month goes by quickly. I'm sure it won't though. I believe that the June group begins June 8th, So I'll be sure to update as things get closer. And I'm sure there be a few post in between.


Have a great Day!