Life Is Good: Hoping For More and Random Thoughts

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Hoping For More and Random Thoughts

The word infertility sounds so harsh, so cold. While it is difficult I don't find it hopeless so for the posts in which I discuss this issue I think I'll title them "Hoping for More" for that is what it is for me...hoping for more of God's blessings, children.

I never mentioned the protocol I'm following, so here is the plan so far. It is relatively basic, and as our family doctor stated it is just "getting things back to normal, or regulated". He didn't consider it "fertility treatments".

Here are the basics of Dr. G's infertility protocol (the very basic list without embarrassing details and info):

1. Take a baby aspirin (81mg) daily. Some indication that it helps with endometrial lining of uterus.

2. Take FEMARA once daily on cycle days 3-7.

3. Take ESTRADIOL 2 times a day on cycle days 10-12.

4. Keep a temperature fertility chart.

5. Take MUCINEX as directed.

6. On cycle day 18-30 take PROMETRIUM. two times a day.

7. On cycle day 30-31 take pregnancy test. Continue taking PROMETRIUM if pregnant until week 10.

I visit the doctor a few days before midway through this cycle to see if everything is working as planned. Tomorrow is the day for me. I'm excited to see! I'm trying not to get too excited, yet I'm so hopeful. What a great Christmas present it would be to discover we were expecting again.

A question for anyone who has taken estradiol. Is a side effect nausea?

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By the way, I never mentioned this but A GREAT BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO MY BIG BROTHER! He and his wife are expecting their first! Hooray! I'm so excited for them. They have been hoping and trying for some time, and God has heard and answered their prayers.

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Tomorrow evening we are going to a NICU graduate Christmas party. Santa Claus is going to be there to take pictures with the kiddos. I'm so excited. Keep an eye out for pictures in the next day or two.

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We usually write a Christmas letter each year to mail to friends and family. This year we are going to send a picture card instead. It's not quite as personal and detailed, but everyone will have a picture instead. I love getting picture Christmas cards. I'm one of those people who puts pictures on the fridge. You send me a picture...you will be on my fridge! Here is one of the pictures we are considering for the card:

2 comments:

twin power mommy ♥ said...: i absolutely LOVE that pic for the card. That one should be the ONE!

Praying that you'll have a wonderful gift on Christmas...the gift of a new life growing inside you!
Thanks for sharing that information with us.; December 8, 2008 at 9:22 PM
My2BoysNMe said...: LOVE the picture! Think I said this once before, but you need to put this one in a contest too!; December 9, 2008 at 7:02 PM

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Brandy Danielle

Brandy is our firstborn, our precious angel baby girl. Her entry into this world wasn't without excitement. At 26 weeks I started preterm labor with contractions 5 minutes apart. With 10 weeks of strict bedrest, most of which were in the hospital, she made it to 36 weeks.
Brandy was diagnosed with "possible/probable" heart defect around 28-30 weeks gestation. After her birth she was whisked away to the NICU for monitoring and after a few days her defect was formally diagnosed and labeled...atrial septal defect and a cleft mitral valve.
Brandy, upon indications of failure to thrive and pulmonary hypertension, underwent her first of 2 open-heart surgeries at 4 months of age. A week after her surgery on the day of her anticipated discharge home Brandy coded for 13 minutes...a stoke.
From that point on Brandy's life was full of doctor's visits, endless crying, pain and suffering. She underwent another heart surgery, fundoplication and g-tube surgery, treatment for infantile spasms, and a mountain of tests and procedures. Her brain damage was extensive.
Upon counseling of our wonderful, most amazing heart surgeon, Dr. Christopher Knott-Craig, and many hours of prayer, we finally called in hospice and called off all of the extensive medical interventions and surgery needs that would prolong her suffering while possibly prolonging her life. Brandy, our precious baby girl...our angel...passed out of our arms and into the arms of her Saviour, Jesus at the tender age of 17 months.

Ryan Andrew

Ryan, our micro-preemie miracle, is a ball of life. After nearly a year of trying to conceive imagine our delight when we finally knew he was on the way. My pregnancy with Ryan was uneventful at first. It seemed perfect and with all of the precautions for preterm labor being taken and monitored we entered this pregnancy with cautious anticipation covered over by a whole love of naive excitement.
At 20 weeks we discovered our "Baby Peanut" was going to be a little boy. We began to make plans and began dreaming about the day we would meet our son.
Almost 2 weeks later everything changed in our lives. It wa a whirlwind of fear and emtions as I began to bleed, was sent for monitoring in L&D and eventually had an appointment with my OB only to find out that it was serious. I had incompetent cervix with hourglassing membranes. The doctor admitted me to the hospital immediately and an emergency cerclage was placed. The statistics were grim, but the hope was to keep our son inside for at least 10 more weeks. We only made it 10 more days.
Early in the evening of February 11, 2007 our son, Ryan, came into this world in emergency fashion at only 23 weeks 5 days gestation. He weighed 1 pound 8 ounces and was 12 ½ inches long. He was so tiny. All I could think of was “oh my goodness is he really that tiny? And is there any way he could actually make it?” I tried to hold on to hope, but in all honesty I had never met anyone with a baby born that early and that small that ever made it.
Ryan did make it! It was a long, hard road, but in the end he spent 90 days in the NICU. He was on a ventilator for 2 months. Finally on one fine glorious day in May we bundled up our 4 pound 4 ounce baby boy and went home...May 11, 2007.
Ryan is now a spunky, lively, strong-willed little boy. His laughter is contagious and his spirit is compelling. He is our miracle. There are no words strong enough to share our delight and joy that God has blessed us with this little boy.

Evan Alexander