Third beta and first ER visit

I definitely have pregnancy hormones coursing through my body. I seem to cry at everything- short videos on Facebook, finding out the dog on Downton Abbey has cancer, etc. Thank goodness CP has been out of town the past few nights for work...I don't have to try to explain why I am crying to anyone (other than Buster). :-)

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Today, my third beta came back at 249. In order to completely double it should have been 264 (CP gave me the wrong number on Weds- it was 132 not 135). My doctor's office doesn't seem worried so I won't be as well. My progesterone was up to 24 so that's good news as I am no longer at the minimum. My first ultrasound will be next Friday. My doctor wants to check out the placement of the embryo. 

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Two nights ago I made my first trip to the ER. Izzy's lips had turned blue and her cheeks purple twice in one night so after calling the doctor's office and being advised by the nurse to go to the ER, I packed Izzy up and drove on snowy, slick roads to the ER. Izzy spiked a fever while we were there and I learned that ER rooms are not for curious toddlers that want to play/touch with everything in the room. She was somewhat interested in the free movie that I found on the tv- The Nut Job- an animated movie with squirrels and a dog- and refused to sleep. 

Curious Izzy

We ultimately spent almost four hours there without figuring out what happened or what was wrong. We finally got home and in our beds around 11:30. I realized that I didn't eat dinner so I ate a granola bar before going to sleep. In my follow up appointment the next day with Izzy's pediatrician she said that if it happens again, check her tongue. If her tongue is pink, she is fine. If it is discolored, take her to the ER.

Hoping that it will be a while before another ER visit!

Second beta results

I won't keep you in suspense- my beta level was 135 this morning- a bit higher than the 110 it needed to be. What a relief! Also, my progesterone number is up to 15 which was the minimum that my RE wanted to see. Perhaps it will rise a bit on Friday (my RE wants me to go back for bloodwork again) once I have taken Prometrium for a few more days?

One hurdle down...so many more to go....

Welcome ICLW readers!

I haven't done ICLW in a very long time but decided to sign up this month on a whim. 

For those that are new to this space, I am Non Sequitur Chica (NSC for short). The rest of the crew is made up of my husband, CP, my 15 month old daughter, Izzy, and our Bernese Mountain Dog, Buster. After three years of TTC- which included surgery for fibroids/endo, 3 IUIs, and then IVF- our daughter was born. My husband and I are a bit older so we decided to try for #2 sooner rather than later so we did a frozen transfer of the one frozen embryo on February 12th and I found out that I was pregnant on Sunday!

My beta yesterday came back at 55 which made me a bit nervous, but I decided to take another pregnancy test this morning to see if the line was getting darker.

Sunday test

Tues test

It's hard to tell if the line is much darker in the second test, but I took the pictures in two different bathrooms so the lighting might be off?

The two tests together

Clearly in this picture the Tuesday test is darker but this picture was taken more than 10 minutes after I took the test so I don't know if the line is valid or not.

I was hoping that taking this test would make me feel a little better, but there is nothing that I can do so I am going to try not to worry about it. With my HCG at 55 we are just hoping for at least 110 tomorrow morning...and that is not a lot so the line would likely not look too different. I just keep remembering the dark lines from when I was pregnant with Izzy (when my HCG was over 200 on my first beta) and can't expect that with this smaller beta number.

Today, I am pregnant. Tomorrow, I hope for good news.

Microblog Mondays

Today I feel like I am walking around with a delicious secret that no one knows about except me, CP, and my parents (and soon, my RE). It's a great feeling and I hope that my positive thoughts continue as the first trimester can be so tough. My first hurdle of course? The results of my beta test this morning, which I should get sometime this afternoon. I'm crossing my fingers that I get a good number so that I can breathe my second sigh of relief! I decided not to test today to see if the line was getting darker but now I am sort of kicking myself as I sit here at work....



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*******************************************UPDATED********************************************

Wow that was fast. I already got a call from my RE with the bloodwork results. My beta number was 55. Over 25 is pregnant, but they like to see over 100. The nurse did say that frozen transfers can implant later and if it implanted even a day after predicted that that would be a totally normal number. So I am trying not to freak out about this (my beta with Izzy was over 200). The other problem is my progesterone level is really low, so I will be starting another medicine, Prometrium, tonight to try to boost my levels. The nurse warned me that I could feel dizzy up to 12 hours after taking Prometrium so I should go to bed soon after taking the medicine. Not quite an ideal situation when CP leaves later this week for a work trip and I'm the only one home with Izzy.

I'm now trying to stay positive...a feeling I just had not 10 minutes ago....but now I'm worried.

My morning started with this

This morning I woke up to this:

OMG. My frozen transfer worked! I'm a little worried that the line is too faint for 10 days past a 5 day frozen transfer, but I will know more from my beta tomorrow.

CP and I are definitely still in shock that I have gotten pregnant after both transfers. I haven't been feeling any different- maybe a little cramping but I attributed that to the Crinone. Even my boobs feel normal (albeit fuller).

Stick with me little embryo!

Feeling antsy

I'm feeling antsy ladies. This morning over breakfast I was googling if I could take a pregnancy test today. The itch to test is strong- I am 7 days past a 5 day transfer and according to the Interwebs, I could start today. It's probably a good thing that I am in San Diego at a conference hotel with no Walgreens or CVS anywhere in sight.

I don't remember feeling like I wanted to pee on everything last time. But as I am currently having no symptoms of being pregnant, I am freaking out that the transfer didn't work. This is DESPITE the fact that last time I ALSO didn't have any symptoms. So my logical brain KNOWS that this is EXACTLY LIKE LAST TIME- you know, when I did get pregnant but yet I am still freaking out. *sigh*

I just need to hold out until Sunday morning....

Microblog Mondays

It is crazy to be back waiting for a beta test again. On one hand, I just want to hurry up time to Sunday morning so that I can just test already.....but on the other hand tomorrow early morning I leave Chicago for California for work and I'm quite looking forward to the 70 degree weather! I'm a little sad that my clinic doesn't allow for exercise during the TWW as I would have loved to have gone running while I was there....but I will just have to settle for some walking in the sunshine until I leave on Friday night.

With an almost 15 month old running around the house there isn't much time to sit around and obsess about what the result will be from this transfer. There also isn't really the opportunity to relax and take it easy either! I assume this is normal for most people who are trying for their second child and hoping that not being able to take it easy won't effect the results.

So far I chalking up everything I am feeling to progesterone- the large boobs, the slight twinges in my uterus, the feeling that I need to clean. It's way too early for anything really to be happening anyway.

(Posting from my iPad so I can't do the logo and link as easily)

Officially PUPO!! (again)

Yesterday we transferred our one frozen embryo. Our clinic does all of the fresh transfers first so we didn't have to be at the clinic until 11am. We slept in until 7, played with Izzy a little bit before taking her to daycare, and then I took a long walk with Buster while CP worked a bit from home.

I once again had some nervous energy on the drive to the clinic and it ramped up a bit when we got into our room. I think that although he didn't admit it, CP was a bit nervous as well because he was making silly jokes.

Here is the embryo that has about a 50/50 shot of implanting in my body:

 I was a little worried because it looks different from the previous embryo (aka Izzy), but the doctor said that it is because it was previously frozen.

And after the transfer, here is where it ended up (see the arrow in the middle?) in my uterus:

I'm ordering you stay put!!

The Valium didn't seem to work until after the transfer which was sort of annoying. CP and I decided to go out to lunch before heading home so we got some decadent burgers before stopping into Carter's to get Izzy some new clothes in the next size up (they were having a sale and the store was right next to where we parked). Right before we paid I started to get a little woozy so we hightailed it back to the car where I passed out for the ride home. Once we got back I headed upstairs and passed out again for another two hours.

And now I try to stay busy until the 23rd (beta got moved up a day). Technically I could have gotten my beta on the 22nd but it's a Sunday so we have to wait until Monday. I am working on CP to let me test on Sunday.....

Twas the night before transfer

Thoughts the night before my frozen transfer:

-Try to eat all of the uncooked fish that you can! I made CP make mango ceviche that we have been eating for dinner the past two days.

-Drink your last coke today. I maybe took a few sips of soda during my last pregnancy and I would love to kick the infrequent habit forever.

-It's okay that I endulged in two glasses of wine on Friday when out with friends. I know you aren't supposed to drink while cycling but I'm not doing a fresh transfer/retrieval so I figure it wouldn't kill my uterus.

-On the one hand, I'm excited to hopefully get pregnant again.

-On the other hand, I'm terrified because if it doesn't work we already know what a huge loss it will be. I mean, Izzy is so amazing and we are potentially making a little person like her. In the same breath, knowing that if it does fail we still have our amazing daughter. We just want another one (son or daughter) to finish our family! Basically I am all over the place.

-Beta is the 24th. I'm not sure I can hold out from peeing on a pregnancy test this time! CP leaves for New Orleans for work on Monday the 23rd so maybe I could test that morning when he will be around?

-I'm amazed that the transfer day is finally here. Maybe it is because I have been so incredibly busy at work but I feel like the day snuck up on me and voila! Here it is!

Transfer is at 11:40am tomorrow. I've got my sock monkey knee highs ready to go, along with the valium. I expect to be just as nervous as last time so I am going to need that little pill. I haven't heard otherwise so I assume that the embryo is thawing correctly.

Giddy up! It's go time!

Signing and potty training

For Izzy's first birthday our next door neighbor gave me a "baby signs" book that she meant to give me months ago. No matter- we had already started working on signs anyway so the book has been a handy reference for teaching Izzy more signs like "bath", "help", and "book." 

Once a month our neighbor also teaches a class at the local library for signing with babies. Last month was our first time going and although Izzy was one of the older kids, she was also one of the only ones that already had signs under her belt. At the class my neighbor talked about all of the good things that signing has done for her kids- including helping her to potty train all three boys before the age of 20 months.

I was shocked. Don't boys take longer? And before the age of 2? My friend that has twins is still trying to get her almost-3.5 year old very stubborn girl to potty train! After the class I went back to the book she gave me and did some research. Up until the 1960s before disposable diapers were invented, most babies were potty trained by 18 months- now the average is more like 46 months! The diaper companies are certainly happy about that, but not the environment!

While we had to stop cloth diapering around the 9 month mark because Izzy was wetting through everything, once I read that I was ready to go! The sooner we can get Izzy out of disposable diapers the better! So yesterday I went out and bought Izzy a toilet trainer. The book said to make it fun so I went with a toilet where Izzy can "flush" the toilet herself, it makes noise and lights up, then says "yay!" When the kid actually pees on the toilet, there are sensors at the bottom and the toilet will sing a fun song to the kid.

After I brought it home Izzy and I checked it out. She thinks the lights and the "yay" sound are awesome. She was willing to sit on the toilet for about a minute but I didn't push it. Now we work on the "bathroom" sign (already in process) every time we change her diaper and then the "wash" sign and slowly work on sitting on the toilet more often. I would LOVE to have her potty trained within the next few months. I need to make sure that daycare works on this as well.....

Wish us luck!

(Anyone out there have any potty training advice?)

Microblog Mondays

For Thursday's frozen transfer (!), I am torn between telling the same people as I told last time about the transfer or keeping the information secret. It's weird how I'm having an internal struggle with myself.

This past weekend we were out with friends. They knew everything about my first IVF cycle and were the first to know of our friends that it had worked. While we were at lunch the wife turned to me and asked if anything was going on with a second baby. I discreetly answered that I had just undergone some testing but left it at that. True, but I could have gone into much more detail. At that point one of the kids interrupted us and needed attention so the conversation moved on.

Instead of everyone knowing our business- dates, shots, etc. am I trying to stay vague. It's crazy that the date of the transfer has been pinned down for a little bit now- but yet the only person that knows that date other than me and CP are my parents as my mom is my backup to drive me home if CP is called away for work (not likely at this point).

Maybe I will change my mind about being so open about the transfer after it happens, but for now I am sort of digging just being vague.

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Treatment Update

Everything is looking good in my uterus for the frozen transfer. On Friday I had an ultrasound and my lining is nice and thick at a 12 (mm?). I asked about feeling very crampy and my nurse said that is normal because my lining is really thick- basically as thick as it would be right before I would shed it through a period. My only problem was that my Estrogen level was too low for my doctor's liking (65 when she wants to see a level between 100-150). So I now get to shove a little blue pill called Estradiol twice a day up my va-jay-jay. I'm looking forward to the Estradiol-Crinone Smurf-colored leakage that will start later this week.

I am almost done with my daily Lupron shots which makes me happy. Today I upped my dosage of three Minivelle patches so I'm hoping that I won't get a headache from the increased hormones. Thankfully the headache went away after two days, but I start to put on four patches every two days starting on Thursday.

Speaking of Thursday- I have my next ultrasound and bloodwork that day. Hopefully the Estradiol is doing its job and everything continues to look good. Also on Thursday the lab starts to thaw the embryo that day! Three embryologists will check it every day to make sure it is doing okay. Fingers crossed that it thaws correctly since it is our only frozen embryo!!

Microblog Mondays

Well yesterday Chicago had the 5th biggest snowstorm ever. We got about 18 inches here in my town and it has taken CP a long time this morning to snowplow everything out of our driveway (he also snowplowed yesterday as well but we got more overnight). Luckily, he didn't drink that much yesterday while we watched the Super Bowl- but he was a happy, happy man at the end of the game. I was nice enough to allow him to put Izzy in Pats gear.

We were supposed to have friends over for the Super Bowl but they live about an hour away and driving in the blizzard would not have been a good idea. I ended up making this delicious Roasted Poblano Queso Fundido dip which we gobbled up for lunch and CP made cajun-rubbed wings which we enjoyed for dinner. Not the healthiest of days but we had already bought the food. 

What did you do for the Super Bowl?


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