Sick With What?

Yesterday I started with pelvic pain again.  I was thinking it was endometriosis.

By 1700 hrs I was almost screaming in pain.

After my hot bath I almost puked and felt like I was going to pass out.

0512 hrs today I checked my temp.   100.4 F.

Headache

Pain in lower right quadrant

Nausea when cramping starts.

I just want this to go away.

Calendar Has Arrived

I've been in touch with PNW.

1. We got our first choice donor.
2. They freeze only top grade blastocysts.  No I don't know the grading system they use.  Probably AA is my guess
3. We'll get a picture of the  blastocysts when we transfer them.

Right now I'm trying to get a paper notarized so that I can get the blastocysts thawed and transferred.  Since we are signing this document outside of their clinic we have to go to JAG here to get it witnessed.  No big deal unless you are dealing with a spouse with a really busy schedule.

Yay! Back from JAG.  Hard to believe we were able to get it done today.  Fingers crossed the rest of the cycle goes this smoothly.

So here is where J and I stand with the schedule.  I'll have to remember to bring with me to the marriage retreat, which is the 5th-7th of April, a sharps container and a couple of  cold packs for the lupron.  I'll have to draw it up into the syringe before we leave so that I have to bring on the one needle and not worry about not being able to refrigerate the whole bottle.  Maybe I'll bring a small cooler lunch bag to put it all in so that it stays cool longer since I'll be away for a few days.  Hoping that they have a fridge in the room.

TWO

Just got an update from Stephanie at PNW.  J and I have two blastocysts that are now frozen.  YAY!

We were hoping for more but God will give me what I can handle I guess.  I'm going to transfer both.

In the next couple of days, if not today itself, PNW will be contacting me again with my calendar and med list.

Of course I cried.  I called my mom to tell her what I could.  She doesn't know this is a donor egg cycle.  I'll tell her more later this summer when I see her in person.

Hoping and praying for the blastocysts to thaw and survive and again survive in me when the times comes.

So excited!!!!

I'll be sure to post photos if and when I get any.

Bookcase Project

Yesterday I got a bit carried away.  I told myself that I was going to do the back of the bookcase and only the back.  An hour later I was finished with the project.  Not sure where I found the energy to complete is but I'm glad my part is done.  J promised that he was start sealing the bookcase this weekend.  I won't hold my breath on that promise.

If you'll please look behind the couch you'll see the bookcase before I attacked it with stain yesterday.
It needed the stain as I've had that bookcase unfinished since 2000.  Yup, about time it gets done!

Same bookcase now almost finished.  I used a Red Oak stain by Minwax.  The majority of my wood furnishings are either real cherry or oak that has a red oak finish.  The bookcase is pine, a much softer material and of course it picks up the stain differently.

Yes, the bar that is behind the bookcase is knotty pine.  It was my grandmother's and made from the leftover materials when her kitchen was built in the 40's.  I'm not going to re-stain the bar!

Top of the bookcase up close with a glare from the over head light fixture.  I think it came out pretty good.  We'll see after J applies the sealer.

Yes, I did this project in my living room.  I had the windows open and the fans blowing so that I wouldn't make the air polluted to the point I couldn't breath.  Its been too cold to work outside and J just hasn't cleaned up the garage floor so I wasn't going into the garage with this project.  I was very neat and made no spills.  I did get stain on my old clothes but they were full of holes so I didn't really care.

I've thought about buying this product for my kitchen table but I've never used it before.  Have any of you?

Monday is Wash Day

Yesterday I managed during the fatigue that I still have today to sew together the sweater pieces and crochet on the trim to both bonnet and sweater.  I guess I did accomplish something besides going to church.

Over the past week I lost the pound I gained back from using the lovage root tea.  This morning I got on the scale and found that I lost another 0.2 pounds.  Hey it is something.  Better than gaining weight.

Of course I have a load of laundry in the dryer right now.  It just wouldn't be a Monday if I wasn't doing laundry.

Still tired.  Thinking it is a fibromyalgia flare up.  I'm achey too.  My hands are swelling and hurt.  While in church I was massaging my hands to get the fluid back up out of my fingers.  Even my watch was digging in .

Today I have to find another project to do to keep myself busy.  There is always the staining of my bookcase that needs to be done.  Though with my asthma it isn't advised for me to be doing it.  I have asked J about a million times to do it but well he just doesn't get to it.  He'll sand it down but he is so afraid he'll leave the stain on too long and ruin the bookcase.  I can understand that.  I am a bit picky.  I'd like it to not end up as dark as the open shelving unit he did for all my cook books.  He never wiped the stain off when he did that project.  So dark...UGLY dark.

I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet on this one and flip the darn thing over and stain it myself.  Good thing I'm wearing sweat pants and an old t-shirt today.  I really won't care if I ruin those.

Palm Sunday

J and I attended church together today.  I felt well enough to go.  I have to admit that I haven't gone in two weeks. 

I'm keeping this post really short because I'm tired.

We called both sets of parents today.  After which I hung up the palms and started in on household chores with J's help.

If I feel up to it later I'll work on one of my projects.  Maybe today I'll sew together the sweater.  Yesterday I decided to make the bonnet that goes with the sweater too.

Yawning.  More hopefully tomorrow.

Sweater Pieces

I'm working on putting together a sweater for the same gal I made the baby afghan for last week.  I removed from my shop a hat and bootie set to also gift to her soon-to-be baby girl.

Two days ago I started this sweater project.  I've never made a sweater before but I can honestly say I'm glad for the experience.  Remind me of that when I'm struggling to sew together the pieces, okay?

I'm holding off on purchasing the buttons because there is a sale coming up next week at a fabric store nearby on their buttons.  Buttons are expensive.  The ones I have in mind are really expensive too.  I was thinking of novelty ones like animals or maybe a faux pearl.

Meanwhile I will finish up the second sleeve today and start sewing together the garment.  So glad I learned different needle crafts at my mom's knees.  I first started sewing when I was just four years old.  I won't brag so I won't list all the different things I've learned to do but I can survive thanks to mom, home-ec, girl scouts and,  home bureau.

Here are a few pictures of what I'm making:

 

CD 1 and Some Other Stuff

Right now I'm on the phone with Stephanie at PNW trying to figure out what we are going to do and when.

I have four packs of birth control on hand that don't expire until this summer.  Two in June and two in August.

Just finished my phone conversation.  Today I start the birth control pills. 

Next week Sarah will give me a call with an update and a possible prescription change if needed along with a calender if things are fully ready.  Hopefully we'll know more about the embryo situation by then.

Wow.  I mean just wow!  One step closer to my DE IVF.

Today is an amazing day.  Not just because I start on the journey that could give me a baby but that ten years ago today I met my husband. 

We were at a friends wedding.  I knew the bride, I worked with her, and I was also friends with the groom.  J went to college with both the bride and groom.  Funny how J and I never met on campus since we were both attending the same college. 
It was my job to drive the groom the five hours to the wedding ceremony the day before the wedding.  Though that couple has long ago started the divorce proceedings J and I are still together.  Ours is a love that should, given all we've been through already, last till death.

Oh the sun is shining here today too.  Hoping it stays a nice day.

I'm currently working on making my first ever baby sweater.  The gal I gave the baby afghan to the other day is now going to have a baby shower for her third baby.  I'm giving her a hat and bootie set from my shop too.  Hopefully I'll have the sweater put together before her shower.  I've never done a sweater and feel a bit daunted.  It is a challenge I'm going to accept because if I do this one right I know I can make them for my baby/ies too.

Yesterday J came home at lunch with my appreciation certificate.  Well okay it wasn't a certificate this time.  I was expecting the same old computer printed thank you for your volunteering certificate that I would put in my folder.  Last year I attended the volunteer luncheon but they forgot to send out our certificates of appreciation.  This year nothing about the luncheon has gone out and usually it is in mid April.  No big deal.  But what J brought home did surprise me.  I got a plaque.

I don't think I'll be able to put this plaque in my folder I told him. I had a slight smile.  I've never been given a plaque for my volunteering.  I volunteer because it is fun to help out with the Army.  I make blankets when possible for the wounded warrior program, cookies for the soldiers at the COF and I'm a point of contact for the FRG.  A plaque is just too much.  I haven't even hung up my diplomas from college.  With 10-17 weeks left here I have my doubts I'll be hanging any on the walls at this point.  Most likely I'll start taking things off the walls soon.

Sorry long post.  Rambled on again.

ICLW March

Hello to everyone out there.

A little about me:

43 infertile with high blood pressure and other physical ailments
2 failed  IVFs
Countless failed IUIs

Moving on to donor eggs.  Paid for donor eggs and just waiting for the embryos to be made.
Feel free to become a follower on my journey.  I'm at 98 followers now.

Now for those of you that are interested here is a bit more on what I've been doing.

Yay!  Started spotting last night.  Maybe a new cycle is soon to be here?

I'm learning more about taking back my marriage.  Really I hate to admit it but sex is the backbone of a strong marriage.  Most infertiles have found this out the hard way.

When men are stressed they need sex more because it is a way for them to dump all their stress and start to think more clearly.

Women want men to meet their emotional needs before sex.  But a guy can't do this with a stressed out foggy brain.

Women need to learn to barter with their husband.  Yes this can mean sex too, especially sex when dealing with men.  If we want something done around the house or for him to fulfill one of our needs we can always promise to give him sex.  You'd be surprised at how fast you get what you want from your husband when you make a promise to give him sex.  That might sound like I'm manipulating my spouse but I'm not because he is getting what he wants too.  He is getting his needs met.

When J and I were undergoing fertility treatments our marriage suffered.  I was on so many restrictions that I was miserable and he was miserable.  Last year I spent a total of 6 months on full pelvic rest to include bed rest with limited movements.  NO SEX!

Now that J and I are going through another planned fertility treatment, this time donor eggs we are taking this little break to find our marriage and find what we need to do to meet each others emotional and physical wants and needs.

J and I both realize that I might end up on bed rest during the upcoming pregnancy.  God, please let there be a pregnancy.  With my high blood pressure and other physical health issues I won't be meeting his needs all that often if at all.  That is the reason we are trying to re-connect now.  We know what we will be facing and we want to meet it head on together.

Okay enough rambling. 

Ttc Ivf Fertility Luck T-Shirt (Google Affiliate Ad)   Cute t-shirt with embryos on it  and the saying:  "think positive"

Sex

Just thought I'd write a bit about sex and the infertile from my own experience.

For the past five years sex has slowly lost its fun and its joy.  Until last cycle I actually stopped looking forward to sex.  Not like I was getting it all that often considering all the restrictions I was put on by the doctors.  After most appointments I was told, well you know what you need to do by now.  Yeah, have sex, do the IUI, then give it up until the beta is negative.

I'm now learning that it didn't have to be that negative of an experience.  I could have at least stopped dreading having sex.  I couldn't relax enough to enjoy sex.  Orgasms were there almost every time before we started trying to make a baby.  While trying to conceive orgasms became few and far between.

It wasn't that I lost my desire, but it was that I had greater desire for my spouse when I wasn't trying to conceive and he was off-limits.  I think we all can understand how the forbidden fruit is often the sweetest.

I have found a way to bring a bit of fun back to that part of my relationship even without sex being the end goal.  I have found a way to appreciate my spouse more and he appreciates me more too.

I'm not going to get all spiritual here but the book of Solomon is about sex between a husband and wife.  It is about appreciating each other and enjoying one another fully.

If I flatter my spouse and stroke his ego he is more willing to  court me and make love to me all day long.  Not just the sex act but love making.  Love making is the creating of the environment and the needs being met that which is more than just the joining of two bodies.  It is the joining of two minds.

If this sounds like I went off on a tangent so be it.  My spouse came home and interrupted my blog posting and thus my train of thought.  But I put him before the finishing of this post because he is a priority in my life.  He is the love that I cherish in my life.

Bit of Confusion

So yeah I just found out I won't be doing a FET in late April/early May.  I made my last payment on the eggs yesterday and I got an email back from the nursing staff.  The email says that in 3-4 week they'll have my embryos made.

I called today to state that my new cycle has yet to start.  No I am not pregnant.

I found out again from talking to Sarah at PNW that it will take them 3-4 weeks to make the embryos.  Wait what?

Why does it take 3-4 weeks to make embryos?  We aren't doing a fresh cycle.  As far as I know it might take about a week to make the embryo and maybe another week to get it to blast stage.  3-4 weeks sounds mighty long.

So they aren't worried that my period hasn't started.  I won't worry either.  It will get here when it gets here.  If it hasn't started by CD 40 I'll call my local clinic to get provera.  Today is only CD 27.

Hmm...so maybe end of May/early June for the FET?  Oh who knows!  So my spouse and I were either mislead or confused when they told us 4-6 weeks from the time my period starts to the day of transfer at the three hour appointment.  Most likely we just got confused.

On a different note, I'm thinking about getting back into doing my watercolors.  Here are two that I did years ago.  The first one was when I still married to the first guy.  It is rather moody and so was I. 

 

Mind you this is my very first free-hand, my own drawing, and without an art course watercolor.  I think I did this one back in 2001.

The next watercolor I did and will put up here is one that I painted when I was dating J, my wonderful husband.  As you can see the colors are lighter.  Again I have had no formal art training or drawing.  So I'm warning you I'm not very good.

I was drawing, then painting this while sitting on J's grandmother's front porch in Lake Luzerne New York.  Looking out onto her garden and paved walkway.  J loves to remind me that my perspective is off, and yes it is.  After that I shut down painting thinking I would never be good enough to even make him happy.  Well painting makes me happy so that is what matters and I bought a small ruler to keep in my paint box to try to keep things more level.

I signed my last name on one of the logs in the pile in the painting.  I'm sure you can see it.

Maybe to keep myself relaxed while I wait for this cycle to start I'll do some painting?  I can't promise myself I will as life's little household tasks always seem to intrude upon my personal time.

I prefer to use Winsor and Newton but that is just me.

Almost 100

I have 98 followers.  I'm almost to 100.

But now I wonder if I'll get to that with the captcha code I had to re-install on my blog.  I had to do it followers because I was getting way too much spam to filter through and some of it was just vulgar in content.  Honestly I would prefer to have no little extras enforced on my readers when they try to comment.  Hopefully if I remove it in say a month or two the trolls will stay away for a while.

PMS update...oh my am I raging.

Hoping the new cycle will start soon.

Second hpt was negative this morning so I should, with any luck, be starting in the next couple of days since today is CD 26.

Oh and I made my final payment on the donor eggs this morning!  YAY!  I can't wait to get pregnant.  The excitement is probably the reason why my cycle is delayed.

Nighmares Yay

I thought I'd never cheer for nightmares.  The nightmares have started.  This morning I woke up from one where my brother, we don't have good relationship and never talk now, was causing me problems.

I usually get nightmares before my period starts.

Today I'll be taking another tea of Lovage root.  It really helped with the stomach issues last night but one side effect I could do without was the retention of sodium in the body.  So I gained a pound back.  Well I'll just have to drink nearly double the water I normally do today to make sure I don't gain more from it.

Fingers crossed I see red in a few days.

First Round Neg

It is cycle day CD 24 and what is unusual about it is that I've had no spotting.  Usually I start spotting by now. 

I took a hpt and it was negative.  I was hoping it would be negative.  I guess that is a first for me.  I really want to do the donor eggs and I don't want another miscarriage mucking things up.

I know it has to be nerves.  I'm excited.  I want to get things going so of course this is when my period will not arrive on time.  I'm due by Wednesday.  If I don't get it by Wednesday morning I'll call to get a beta done and beg them for  provera if need be.  I could always use the herbs I have here on hand.  They should kick in within three days and get my cycle going.  I might just do that anyways.   Plus I didn't have sex during my fertile period to procreate if you know what I mean.  I know I'm not pregnant.

Symptoms of pending period within a week are:

• lower back pain
• mild cramping in the uterus
• oily face
• acne
• cravings for salty and sweet

So all the normal things I'd get just no spotting.

I'll be making my Lovage Root  in a tea later today.  Should work on my stomach issues and migraines too which is a bonus.  If pregnant, PLEASE don't use just telling you now. 

Baby Afghan Finished

Some of the photos are blurry because I tried to take them from above which meant being on my knees on an uneven surface.

Finished blocks before joining.

Sewn together using a crochet hook and not a needle.

Finished with the ruffled border.

Design edge closeup.

I've never finished a baby blanket this fast.  I guess all the long hours that J worked this week really helped since I was able to work undisturbed in the afternoons.

I started this on the 11th mind you and today is the 15th.

Almost Finished

Last night I started crocheting the edge onto the baby blanket.  I should be finished by tonight with it. 

I have been taking photos during the process but I'll share when I've finished with the blanket.

J has given his approval and likes it.  Since he is very particular that does say something.

I did tell J that I hope our child isn't as PICKY particular as he or else things are going to get interesting.  He groaned and said, "most likely our child will be worse".  I don't even want to think about that possibility.

As the work week draws to a close I can say that as of today I weigh exactly 4.8 pounds less than I did last week Friday.  Maybe working on the baby blanket and cutting back my calories to fit with the little to no exercising has helped?

I did set a goal of losing ten pounds before the FET.  Hopefully I will be able to keep off what I've now lost and take off another 5.2 pounds before the end of April/first week of May.  Giving up chocolate might be good for my GERD and waist line but it is killing me.

Cats and Dogs

Just more shower thoughts.  I always think odd and sometimes my best thoughts while in the shower.

I've been reading a book by Mark Gungor about marriage.  Well my mind wandered to needs today while in the shower.  Has anyone else noticed that pets fulfill our needs?  Of course you have.  No, pets are not in the book, the book is about marriage.

I've noticed that cats respond to the givers.  Cats take, much like a man does in a relationship.  Very few men will give back willingly unless they are guaranteed something in return, much like a cat.  I fancy cats as pets much more than dogs though I do love dogs equally as much.  Cats are independent, you can leave them alone for awhile and they will still, for the most part, take care of themselves.  But they do ask for a lot in exchange for the want of their freedoms.  Cats will wake you up in the middle of the night, much like my husband does with his snoring.  Cats will demand their food at certain times of the day and not walk away without promising with one look to get even.  Cats sulk.

My husband is like a cat.  My husband wants his food at certain times of the day.  He wants what he wants when he wants it.  I love him for it but he can get annoying when he doesn't give back.

Dogs keep giving.  Dogs are my husband's favorite pet when he has to choose.  Dogs will fetch for you, greet you at the door, and will be loyal.  Oh we all know about dogs so I'll stop rambling.

I'm like a dog.  I give, and give and give and only ask occasionally for what I need.  I need to learn to ask more often.  I need to stop being like a dog and learn to be more like a cat.  I need to take what I need and then some.  I have to be a strong woman who gets her needs and wants met. 

I'm not saying that I want to bully my husband and bark at him like a dog that is going rabid.  I'm saying that I need to stick up for myself and say NO.  Men can't read our minds.  Men are often far away in their "nothing box" when they are supposed to be sitting down next to us listening.

I'm learning from this book by Mark Gungor which is a follow up to the marriage retreat J and I went to.  I've been reading aloud to him sections from the book.  He doesn't like hearing how selfish and immature the modern man has become.  I don't like hearing how the modern woman just gives way too much of herself and devalues herself either.  We will find that balance to continue to make the marriage grow in the right direction.

Okay so I rambled on.  Darn shower thoughts.

Joining Blocks

I am but 14 blocks away from finishing off the white trim.  By the end of today I should start joining together the blocks for the afghan.

J has been working some really long shifts the past few days and will continue to do so for the rest of the week.  Thursday he has to play bus driver again for a dinner.  Believe it or not he is the only one in the company with a license to drive the bus.

For those in the know is there a security clearance above top secret?

If there is what is it called Ninja security?

All Is Well

Not much to say today.  Everything is going good.  Maybe I should have turned this into a long post about how well things are going?

I made the second payment in a week's time for the donor eggs.  Little over 6k to still pay out.
$18,799.65 for the donor eggs, physician services and embryology services.  $155 for sperm cryopreservation.   $365.00 for the office consult.    $19,319.65 before any other fees like embryo cryopreservation.  We are guaranteed two blastocysts.  We are hoping for more of course but don't know if we'll get them.  It could be a one shot deal since I'll be transferring two.

I've lost 3.6 pounds since the appointment last week.  I'm wondering if it is because I went off the prilosec.  I know that particular drug can cause weight gain.  Might be one of the reasons why I was able to gain so much weight when I went on it last year in March.  Maybe now that I'm off it the weight will come back off?  I can hope.

Yesterday I took a six hour block of time to work on the baby afghan for a friend.  M and I are more friendly since meeting her at the marriage retreat.  Her husband and mine work together.  Forty-nine blocks are basically done and just need to be trimmed in white then joined together.  The afghan will be a forty-two inch square when complete.    Yes, I'll post photos when I'm finished with it.  Not sure if I'll get it done soon or not but that is okay since her baby isn't due until June.  Bonus part, less yarn to pack up when we move.  I'm using some of the yarn I had put aside for the first IVF when I had hopes of making a genetic baby.  J was okay with me using the yarn up.  He knows I can get more.  He isn't sentimental like I am.  Good omen to me to give rather than just let it sit there and rot.

My stomach didn't hurt as bad yesterday.  Must be the pepcid and ginger pills are doing the trick.  I can only hope that today is much like yesterday and I won't be puking up.  I can deal with acid reflux but not the puking.  My throat is a bit raw still.

Back To Hooking

My right ring finger seems to be healed enough now that I can once again pick up a crochet hook.  Sure my hand goes numb after about an hour of hooking but that is easy enough to remedy by hanging it downward.

One of J's co-worker's wives is pregnant for their third baby.  This one was as she calls it, "an accident".  Yeah right.  No one has sex by accident.  But she was on the pill.  So they weren't planning a baby.

Currently I'm crocheting granny squares to make a afghan.  Maybe I'll make an afghan to give to her.  Third baby doesn't mean a baby shower nor should it.  But since it will be her first girl I might make something just because of that.  I say might because we all know that I can only do just so much in a day and finding time to make something not for my shop costs me dearly.  No not in funds, but just time.

Maybe making a blanket for someone else will feel good.  I haven't made a crocheted baby afghan in about 14 years.  Karen's baby is now a teenager.  Scary to think about.

S's baby girl isn't due until June so I still have time to finish up the project with no promises as it will be a surprise if I get it done.  Now I just need to plan out how many squares and the background color for yarn.  I'll have to purchase the yarn of course for the remaining squares and background.  Oh what did I get myself into.  I have tons of yarn here already and none of it the right colors.  Obsessing much?

Whatevers~

Raising Cubby

Recently I finished reading Raising Cubby by John E. Robison.  This particular book is one I would highly suggest to my friends.  Not only is the book humorous in its depiction of a man diagnosed with Asperger's trying to raise his son it is also true.

While reading this book I decided to go online and take the test to see if I have Asperger's since so many of the traits described in the book seemed to fit my personality.   I scored a 31.  A 32 is needed to be considered on the Asperger's Autism spectrum.  I'm considered to be borderline.  There are days I can really relate to the people in this book.  To have a more accurate diagnosis I would  have to go see a medical professional that knows more about Asperger's Syndrome, however I doubt I'll be doing that as I don't have Asperger's; only a few of the traits.

I have my quirks.  I'll go around at night, several times before bed, making sure all the doors are locked even though my spouse has assured me they are locked.  I can't sleep at night unless the bedding is just a certain way.  Maybe it is just a simple case of OCD.

I have trouble looking in the eye those with authority though I really try.  Sometimes I succeed but then I feel more like I'm an actress that is just faking her way through a role.

I wring my hands when I'm anxious.  I never even though of it much until I read more about it.  If I'm not wringing my hands I'm doing something with my hands like folding and unfolding and refolding a clean tissue until there isn't much left of it.  To me it is just one of my quirks; a nervous habit.

I can go for days working on projects and just ignore life around me.  Which truth be known isn't really a bad thing as I'm able to get quite a bit accomplished if I'm just left alone to my own devices.  However, I can forget to take my medicine and eat.  While my husband was deployed to Iraq I was alone.  I finished a one year length college level course, non-credited, in about four months.  I wouldn't say I was bored living alone but rather dedicated to my studies.

One of the things Asperger's people seem to dislike is being taken away from their routine.  I have a routine that I like to stick to and I don't want to deviate from it if possible even when traveling.  For me that isn't weird because I have physical limitations and eating at certain times and resting becomes necessary.  I need a routine because I will forget to take medicine, sleep, eat, and go to appointments.  Forgetfulness for me is part of having Fibromyalgia.

Click here for the Asperger's test.
The official criteria for Aspergers Syndrome is an AQ score greater than 32.
According to statistical analysis, 26 – 31 Is a borderline score. 86% of people with this score can be correctly classified as having Aspergers Syndrome.

 This post was inspired by Raising Cubby: A Father and Son’s Adventures with Asperger’s, Trains, Tractors, and High Explosives by John Elder Robison. Parenting is a challenging job, but what challenges does a parent with Asperger's face? Join From Left to Write on March 12 as we discuss Raising Cubby. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

Museum of Flight

Yesterday J and I had to go back up to PNW for his portion of the donation.  While in Seattle we decided to go to the Museum of Flight.  Below you'll find a few of the pictures of the that trip.  If you decide to go make sure you plan for plenty of walking.  We spent about five hours in the museum and still we could have spent more time but I was getting tired.

J learning how to not crash a plane

Me crashing

car plane

 

 

training shuttle

J in the cockpit

another of the training shuttle

Seattle Aquarium Picture Post

 

 

J bought for me a Seahorse ornament from the Seattle Aquarium for our Christmas tree.  I didn't tell him why I wanted that particular ornament except that he had to pick the color out and which one he thought was best.  Most of us know that the male seahorse is the one that carries the babies.  Rather symbolic I thought of our new path in getting a baby.  The Seahorse for me represents that J will be carrying the genetic burden knowing that if anything goes wrong with his kid it isn't the donor's fault but something in his own genetics because our donor isn't a carrier for any of the known defects.

This is the ornament from the gift shop.

 

 

Very Hopeful

J and I spent the entire day in Seattle.

While up at PNW Infertility I laughed and I cried.  Tears of joy.

It looks as though J and I got the last batch of eggs of our first choice donor.  I looked up her profile after I got home and it is gone from the website.  Lucky us.

The donor we chose is definitely proven with three babies from the four frozen embryo transfers.  Her DNA test showed that she  is not a carrier of any disease-causing mutation.

Oh and she has brown hair and green eyes like me.  Well okay my eyes are a dark grey-green with flecks of brown but green is close enough for me.

The donor is the same blood type as J which I requested our donor to be.  You never know if your child will need an organ, stem cells or blood transfusion and with J being the genetic father and same blood type we have a higher chance of a match.

We decided to transfer two embryos and freeze the rest if there are any to freeze.  Most likely there will be at least one to freeze.

Because they now use a vitrification process to freeze the embryos the quality is as good as doing a fresh cycle the doctor told me.

Friday we are going back up to Seattle so that J can do his part.  Most likely we'll make a day of it again and this time to to the Museum of Flight or the Seattle Underground Tour.  Today we went to the Seattle Aquarium.

A few things I should mention.  My RE clinic here at Madigan left me without all the test results being faxed over.  They didn't send J's HIV report or my SIS report.    Nice, huh?  I'll be calling them tomorrow to make sure they got the message from PNW to send the rest of the papers like they were supposed to.

I'll be put on Pepcid instead of the Prilosec.
I'll continue with the 81 mg Asprin daily.
I'll be starting up on Synthroid.  My thyroid test results were 3.46.  Would have been nice if my clinic had told me.  I used to be on Armor thyroid a few years back and about a decade ago I was on Synthroid.  I guess my thyroid is flaring up again.

In about two weeks I'll be starting the birth control.  From there it will be about six weeks until transfer of my frozen babies.  Makes me want to weep with joy just to type that in.  I'm over the moon!

Hello from the Seattle Aquarium.

So It Begins

Right ovary said hello yesterday.

Left ovary is saying hello today.

In about an hour I leave to drive up to Seattle for my Infertility appointment.

How ironic is it that my ovaries are trying to produce more crappy eggs?

Tomorrow I'll post about the appointment.

OPSEC and Ham

I am Sam.
Sam I am.
Do you like OPSEC and ham?
I do not get it, Sam I am.
I do not get OPSEC and ham.
We must use it here and there.
We must use it everywhere.
You CAN share it in a car.
But you CANNOT in a bar.
You CANNOT share it in a text.
You CANNOT share it at the NEX.
You CAN say it in your house.
But should NOT tell a random spouse.
You CAN say it in the shower.
But do NOT go sharing at happy hour.
DON’T make the Ombudsman sweat.
DON’T post it on the internet.
You CANNOT share it in a tweet.
That would not be very sweet.
Beware of Facebook and Myspace and Tumblr too.
It’s tempting to let your feelings through.
You Cannot tell it to a friend.
NOT even at the very end.
It is a privilege to know a date.
DON’T tell ANYONE or they may be late!
Oh, I get it, Sam I am.
Now I get OPSEC and ham!
I will not tell anyone. I will keep hushed until they’re done!
I will not tell him or her. I will not tell my dog with fur.
I will not tell my child’s teacher. I will not tell any creature.
Thank you, THANK YOU, Sam I am.
Thank you for clearing up OPSEC and Ham!!

Hodge Podge

I'll start with today and work back to this weekend with a few photos included.

Today PNW called us to say that they received our faxed release forms but not the lab tests or my file.  Wonderful.  Thanks Madigan RE office for screwing that one up again.  Since J was in control of the faxing request he called IVF Nurse J  and left her a message stating over and and over what we needed.

She called me back and said that they had faxed my file and labs on Thursday.  I asked her if she was sure because J only got the confirmation page of the initial fax of the release forms.  C, the receptionist, had said he would fax the rest later.  IVF Nurse J didn't know how to reply to that and kind of stammered then said it was possible.  She said she herself just faxed out my lab results and would have C fax the rest of my file today if he can get to it. 

If?  Really?

Lab results I had to ask about since I had yet to receive information in the mail on the Pap and Mammogram.  Benign tumors in the breasts.  Pap looks normal.  I'm good to go.

I asked how the budget cuts will be affecting my clinic.  They'll now be closed on Wednesdays.   Good to know.

The budget cuts have also affected the gate guards.  The civilian gate guards are no more.  The MPs are now guarding all gates to our installation.

Now for the weekend in Seattle.  I have to say it was wonderful.  J and I were able to reconnect and have a stronger bond.  He realized he isn't all that different from other men and that I do communicate properly but he needs to listen.

We had a seminar by Mark Gungor.    The video is about the men's NOTHING BOX

Our room was on the 23rd floor of the Renaissance Hotel.  Now I'll share the photos from our room's view.

Of course one of me being silly with the camera.   I have plenty of more pictures but I don't think my blog followers would be able to tolerate all 120 photos.  I went a little nuts taking photos in the city.