First round of shots

I began my first round of Lupron which is a drug that shuts off Ovulation. I inject this very small needle into my stomach. It is a very easy process, but I do it at 9pm and I have been crashing around 9:30 and ready for about 10 hours of sleep. I will have 10 more different rounds of pills/shots that will add up to 2-5 different drugs a day until the end of March. For example I am on the Lupron once a day, but for over a week. Some of these will overlap and the needles do get bigger. Brandon and I are both very excited about the process. He leaves on Saturday for a week long Ski trip with family friend TR and I am looking forward to seeing some girlfriends who have offered to come by and sit with me while I am relaxing, taking care of myself and trying to create a healthy womb.

Two weeks ago a stopped drinking caffeine...it was hard (lots of headaches) but I no longer crave a Diet Coke a day. I have also gone off all of my previous perscriptions. It has been difficult, but again it is most important to create a happy place for our 2 eggs that will be implanted the second week of March. Then finally.....wait for it......I stopped drinking cold Turkey last Wed. I thought it would be hard, but it really has been nice. I had one last night with Adrianne and some bottles of wine. Since then it has been water, lemonade and every once in awhile non-alcoholic beer. By the way Brixx's has one that is very tasty.

My head is clear and I have to say all in all I am so excited about this IVF process. It is a very big step and I am confident that the outcome will be good. Being positive has been easy I am leaving the rest in the hands of my doctors. I couldn't do it without the love and support of my dear wonderful husband, loving family members and great friends.

2 Days until DRUGS

Well oddly enough I have been on birth control for the last 2 1/2 weeks. The reason for this is to improve egg quality for our IVF cycle. On Wednesday I start Lupron. This is a subcutaneous shot (small needle right under the skin) that I will take every evening for a week. The first shot of Lupron is like a checkered flag signifying the official start of an invitro-cycle. The daily injections which will begin seven days before my anticipated period and has the job of "turning off" natural ovulation. This allows my doctor to control the course of my egg development. I will be going into the doctors for my day 3 exams on March 25th which will tell them about how many follicles (1 egg is contained in each follicle sac) I have, and then along come more drugs. These drugs are fertilizers. From my day 3 test for about 8-12 days I will take daily shots, and with each passing day my eggs are getting more mature. The Dr. will be keeping a close eye on the development of the eggs with frequent blood test and sonograms. Two days before the retrieval of the eggs I will have one more shot that is a human chorionic gonadotrophin shot HCG. This shot is like pushing a button to activate ovulation. Then comes the doctor visit of retrieving eggs. The doctors are greedy they like to get between 12-18 eggs.

I am very excited about this whole process. Brandon and I went down to OKI this past long weekend for some rest and relaxation. Boy did we get it....due to snow we didn't have much options other than snow ball fights and picture taking of all the pretty houses, ocean and marsh. Brandon played golf on Friday and it was 40 degrees. I really didn't want to go ride with him for 18 holes, but I did and we had a great time. When we turned our cart in the Marshall said I was either crazy in love or just crazy. Brandon answered for me and said a little of both. Even though it was cold we took walks on the beach and played many rounds of Wii. I beat Brandon a lot. I guess being unemployed helps relax the mind.

Yes that is right Appliance Leasing is sold to a national competitor. I am happily unemployed and looking for work. The plan is to be off until April and hope that I can find work. For now I am taking care of number one and Brandon of course. Good thing Charlotte and Skippy can pretty much take care of themselves. I will be doing some volunteer work with organizations that I have worked with in the past. I am also very involved with the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association and am the 2010 Products and Service Council President. They have given me a 3 mo grace period to find a job in the same multi-family industry and still hold my position. It would be wonderful to stay on, but it is most important to find a good job with low stress so I can keep a healthy womb for the McGee baby or babies that we hope to deliver in December.

More to come once I get through the next 3 weeks.