Two Miracles to Come: Photos!

For those of you who are still hanging in there with me even with my excruciatingly long and drawn out birth story, here is a little peace offering...photos of my girls! These were taken a week or so ago and they have definitely put on weight and chubbed up a bit. Victoria weighed in at the doctor's office today at 7lbs 9oz and Caitlyn topped the scales at 8lbs 1oz. They're both doing well!

Victoria:

Caitlyn:

Two sisters hanging out together having some tummy time:

Victoria's closeup:

Caitlyn's closeup:

Enjoy!!

Our Diagnosis

Unexplained infertility and maybe some very mild en.do.metri.osi.s. They only ever found a tiny patch of it (2mm) in a laparoscopy but there is a theory out there that I may have microscopic en.dome.tri.osis that can't be seen although produces the same effects (i.e. infertility). There are no male factor issues that we are aware of. I am also referred to as a "poor responder" as I do not produce very many eggs on a high dosage of medication. Although we did immune testing that revealed that I have slightly elevated NK cells and my DH and I are a 50% DQ Alpha match, we chose not to pursue this diagnosis given its contentious nature.

Our Journey So Far...

2000-2002 - newly married and having fun; still using contraceptives - ha!
2003 - tried on our own for 1 year before seeking help
2004 - 2005 - waited months to get into see a RE and then did all sorts of diagnostic testing including laparoscopy; tried OPK, timed intercourse, monitored natural cycles, all the while being reassured that I was still young. Three years after starting to try, along came...
IUI #1 - Jan 2006 - BFN
IUI #2 - Feb 2006 - chemical
IUI #3 - Apr 2006 - BFN
Took a break from treatment and tried Chinese herbs & acupuncture
IVF #1 - Oct 2006 - Long Lupron Protocol; 6 follicles, 4 eggs retrieved & mature, 1 fertilized & transferred on day 3; BFN
Devestated. Took another break from treatment and took a mind/body fertility program.
IUI #4 - Aug 2007 - BFN
IUI #5 - Sept 2007 - BFN
IUI #6 - Oct 2007; BFN
**Change clinics**
IVF #2 - Jan 2008; Long Lupron Protocol, 7 follicles, 7 eggs retrieved, 3 mature, ICSI, 3 fertilized & transferred on day 3; BFP but m/c at 8 weeks
IVF #3 - May 2008; Antagonist Protocol, 10 follicles, 4 mature + 2 matured overnight = 6 total, ICSI, 2 fertilized & transferred on day 3, BFN
NIVF #1 - July 2008; 1 follicle but the doctor was not able to retrieve the egg so nothing to transfer
**Change to US clinic**
IVF #4 - October 2008; first suppression check failed due to cyst, restarted BCP and then did second suppression check at the end of November 2008; Canadian u/s clinic that did suppression check reported no cyst; hormones were just above acceptable levels but was okayed to start; MDL Protocol converted to Antagonist protocol; 1st check at CCRM revealed a hormone generating cyst, not caught during u/s in Canada prior to departure; cycle cancelled at our option after 6 days of stimulation as we could not do our last cycle knowing that it had been done under less than ideal circumstances
Our Last and Final IVF #5 - EPP Antagonist Protocol; 11 eggs retrieved (best ever!), 8 mature + 2 matured overnight, all ICSI'd, 8 fertilized, 2 good quality blasts (5BB & 2/3) biopsied for microarray testing + 2 really poor quality blasts biopsied as well at our request. Two normals were the result - a 2/3 grade and a 4CB grade. Transferred both and currently pregnant with twins! Estimated due date is February 28, 2010!

Acronyms

2ww - two week wait (between embryo transfer and pregnancy test)
2yw - two year wait
AF - Aunt Flow
AMH - Anti-Mullerian Hormone. This is a hormone emitted by resting follicles so the less follicles you have, the lower the number
ASA - Anti-sperm antibodies
B/W - blood work
BFN - Big fat negative
BFP - Big fat positive!
CCRM - Colorado Centre for Reproductive Medicine
CD - Cycle Day
DD - Dear Daughter
DH - Dear Husband
DOR - Declining Ovarian Reserve
Dr. Sch - Dr. Schoolcraft
DS - Dear Son
DW - Dear Wife
EPP - Estrogen Priming Protocol
FIL - Father In Law
HPT - home pregnancy test
IF - Infertility
IRL - In Real Life
IUI - Intra uterine insemination
IVF - in vitro fertilization
IVFC - IVF Connections Bulletin Boards
LH - Lutenizing Hormone
M/C - miscarriage
MDL - Micro Dose Lupron
MF - male factor
NIVF - Natural IVF (i.e. very little or no drugs)
OPK - Ovulation predictor kits
PG - Pregnant
POAS - Pee on a stick
PUPO - Pregnant until proven otherwise
RE - Reproductive Endocrinologist
TCM - Traditional Chinese Medicine
TTC - Trying to conceive
U/S - ultrasound

Two Miracles to Come

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Photos!

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