3 days past egg retrieval

It's been a hard last 2 days.
I've tried everything to distract me and that may have included going to Disneyland twice in one day.
I waited and checked my phone every min. yesterday waiting to hear the update on the embryos. By 4 o'clock I just knew the worst had to happen, we probably dont have any left, so my dr isn't bothering calling me.
I called his office and he was out, so they connected me to the lab to give me my results. I was sooo happy the embryologist (yes, the person who studies my embryos) was so helpful and had good news.
We have 1 shinning through!!! It's a grade A and has 8 cells already, it's our hopeful one and perfect. The other 2 are grade B and only have 4/5 cells so they aren't sure if they will make it to day 6 where it will become a blast (meaning they can transfer it). If the 2 don't keep dividing in cells it will appear as finished because it stopped growing and they can no longer do anything for it.
So right now, I know we have 1 good one.
They hard part is what do we do next.
We could easily go ahead with PGS testing and wait to see if it comes back a normal embryo and then do the transfer in Sep.
Orrrrr (we are most likely doing this one)
Freezing what embryos we have this saturday and taking a month off (Dr.'s orders) then doing ANOTHER (3rd's time a charm, right?) Egg Retrieval in Oct. and hoping we get more embryos to do the PGS testing then have the transfer schedule for Nov. then find out if all this really worked in Dec.
Have I told you yet, we started our treatments last Aug. and I never ever ever ever ever thought it would be taking us this long to have another baby.
Baby B was SERIOUSLY a miracle with our 1st treatment and IUI. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday to be her mom!
With all that said....we love all the prayers and support coming our way and I know they are helping so please remember us in the next few months still ahead we have.
Thankfully I have a great husband and family and soo grateful for a great therapist!!

The first call

Our egg retrieval was yesterday and this afternoon I'm feeling much better. I've been resting in my bed since I got home yesterday and I really think sleeping more has helped my body heal faster.
The bad news...
Dr. Anderson called me and informed me once again we have a problem with my eggs. They were able to get 12 yesterday but they all looked not normal, They ended up doing ICSI which means they fertilize them by injecting one sperm into each egg.
Out of the 7 they did this too only 3 fertilized. Yes 3 is 2 more than we had last time but now I'm not counting on anything. I don't think this IVF is going to last much longer, we are just on day one and there are soooo many hurdles these 3 embies would have to overcome to even make it to a pregnancy.
Right now, I'm just not hopeful
I'm just numb

Egg Retrieval procedure

Today was our egg retrieval and I was the only one booked for Dr. Anderson and the only one in the surgery center. We put our alarm for 5:30am, jumped in the shower and got ready. At 6am we left and drove 45 mins up to Newport Beach to check in at 6:45am. The one nurse met us and got me all dress  and in my bed, she also started my fluid, and finished filling out paper work.  Right at 7:45 the anistlogist and Dr. Anderson got my sleepy drug in and I was off.
After I woke up my husband came by my side, he told me Dr. Anderson retrieved 12 eggs and they were all going under to be fertilize. They will call me the next day to fill me in on the report.
I went home and slept for 4 more hours. I'm gonna stay in bed until tomorrow night to relax and feel better again.

Egg Retrieval schedule

I'm so excited when my Dr. called me this afternoon,
oh wait, no the surgery center called me first.
Ha
They told me they have me down for an egg retrieval on Sunday, I told them that was funny because they jumped the gun on my Dr.
obviously he set this all up and they did confirm that he confirmed it all, it was just funny finding out all the details first from them. I can't blame my Dr. though, he is a very very busy Dr. with a TON of hormonal women needing his attention  medical skills.
The surgery center also told me I was the only one coming in that day, sooo special, everyone better be alert and ready. I have to wake up at 5am, leave at 6am, hubby drop off his sample and get in the surgery center by 6:45, I do under at 7:45.
I.Can.Not.Wait


Tons of tons of HOPE!

Meditation

my therapist gave me some great meditation advice, because I feel like I'm very specific in why I'm doing all this (for my IVF cycle) I started googling infertility mediation and came across

CircleBloom 

of their facebook page is CircleBloom Facebook

This is the only meditation out there that is specific for IUI/IVF and they have many different programs to pick from. I started doing the meditation IUI/IVF cycle and can really tell a difference. I plan on buying the other programs they have for FET, and giving birth.
Also my therapist told me about Oprah and the mediation she started with Deepak. Just this past monday they started a 21 days program on "Expanding your Happiness"
I think this cycle has been different from the first with all these great changes I have made.

Insurances with Infertility

I just added to my blog my email address because I want to be able to answer or help anyone who felt as lost as I did in the beginning of this journey.
You can always e-mail me at Aubs03@gmail.com

About Insurances with infertility coverage and IVF coverage with medicine.

Let's just say it....its rare to find any insurance company that is going to pay a dime for what we have to go through.
When we 1st started treatments in 2011 we had nothing, we borrowed up front money from my parents to start IUI, and shocked when it worked the first treatment.
In 2013 we started treatments again for baby #2, but this time my husband had a new job with Fidelity Investments and as a company they have infertility insurance in California under United Health Care. I know each state can be different and each insurance company has a ton of different plans but if you find a company that will provide infertility coverage, never ever leave. It's rare. I found it rare that ours covered IVF, and PGS and had a separate lifetime maximum for fertility drugs and procedures.

How can you help afford infertility treatments?
Here's a few links to help you...at Fertilitythoughts.com 

Here's a great form with companies that have infertility assistant.

Clinic promotions, clinical trials and ivf discounts.

Ultrasound appt 9

Todays appt was great! My Dr. office was completely booked. I took a moment to look around and feel empathy for all these women that are going through their day to day life but there day usually starts here, in hopes to one day have a baby. Infertility effects all types of women, old, young, race. Just looking at some people you would never guess they know exactly how I feel too. I probably look like an egg donor in there being only 28, not going through my 2nd IVF.
The ultrasound show a few more mature follicles, yes we are up to 14 on the ultrasound. Not the same number that they always retrieve, but the higher the number the better chances of more eggs we have. I really thought this would be it, but I just got my call from Dr. Anderson and he says we are going to give follistim and menapour 1 more night!
We did see smaller ones that could defiantly grow. I'm excited to do one more night too since I have about 1 more night of medicine and I want as many as we can get. It just seems like a FOREVER stimming processes. Even Dr. Anderson said today I was a slow grower but that doesn't effect the outcome. Here's to one more night of follisitm shots then onto trigger and more when we do FET next month.

appointment 4,5,6, 7, & 8

I have not been doing a good job at all writing down on the blog about my appointments. I have moved most of my focus this IVF to another form of support I have a separate Instagram account, BecomingRichardsonFam. I have kept only friend on there that are going through infertility right now, which has built in a great support system of women all around the world (some down under and some in the UK) that are going through IVF right now or just did or waiting for there turn.
I've been able to post more and everyone is more aware of the infertility lingo.
The last few appointment I was a little down just wishing I was ready for retrieval right now. Now, that I soooo close to the end I can not wait to see how many more pop up! We are at 12 mature follicle as of today.
I'm so great for a great cycle right now and all of the love and support and many prayers people have offered for us at this time. I want to continue to be a great support for everyone that is continuing there journey to pregnancy.

appt. # 2 & 3

Nothing new to report...My follicle are not growing as fast as I would hope. Which means longer on the hormones injections and time to give these follicle.

Baseline appt.

I'm on top of the world!

HEY!

I had my baseline appointment last Thursday morning with my blood work and ultrasound. I wasn't nervous because I didn't think they could tell anything much, but I guess during the ultrasound Dr. Anderson could count up to 19 follicle that could possible produce an egg, and I haven't even started my shot (hormones yet!)
I was just so excited nothing else in my world felt like it could go wrong.

A few days later my pharmacy called me and informed me we have hit out maximum lifetime for infertility medication!!
I had no idea we were even close. After all our maximum is $15,000. So you can just imagine how much these drugs really cost!!!
There is a reason they call is fertility gold....because it cost more than gold itself!!

infertility counseling

Last month I finally books my therapist session. I chose one close by my house and she claimed on her website she dealt with infertility. needless to say I spent a good amount of the time just trying to explain to her how IVF works. I left feeling bummed and got home to set out to find another one, that really specialized in infertility.
Just 30 mins later under my insurance page I found one that had group therapy for infertility. I called her, Dr. Kristina Brosius-Rodriguez right away to sign up but she was no longer having the classes. I was so bummed at first until we started talking and found out she herself had been through failed rounds of IUI/and IVF's and knew a lot of what I was feeling at this time.
I was lucky enough to grab a regular Wednesday spot for the next week. I didn't know why I needed to go other than IVF is hard and having someone to talk to you and give you pointers how to keep calm is someone I needed.
Our first visit was great. I felt comfortable and relax and so happy she knew the lingo.
I am now an educator on why IVF patience can benefit from a weekly therapy session. We talked about meditation and she gave me a recommendation for one she liked that Oprah does! Every once a while they start a new meditation group online, you sign up for free and you get emails and download the meditation.
Starting Aug. 11, 2014 a new one will start called, expanding your happiness, now who couldn't use that help???
Check it all out at Meditation Experience

all ready for round 2 IVF

Last IVF 2 months ago was such an emotional roller coaster. I was sinking into depression and wasn't sure I would even want to blog again about round 2.

So, what made me decided to type all this again?

I'm so happy and confident working with
1. nutritionist
2. acupuncturist
3.therapist
4. meditation
5. great fertility specialist Dr. Anderson
I feel like I am going all out for this cycle, and even though a lot of these stuff takes a few months to have effect on a healthy IVF cycle I need to do all I can.

Today marks the start of IVF, and I have been counting down the day to start and get things going again. Everything is so timed so when I found out I would be missing my brothers up coming wedding because I'll be seeing my Dr. for blood work and ultrasounds everyday next week I was bummed. I talked with him and we have a good understanding and love for each other.

Today I feel hopefully, excited, bit tired and happy!!!

We are not alone

Jaime King Opens Up About Infertility and Five Miscarriages: I Have to Be Brave to Support Others

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Jaime King

JUSTIN CAMPBELL/STARTRAKS

BY EMILY STROHM

 

UPDATED 07/27/2014 at 09:00 AM EDT 

•ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED07/27/2014 09:00AM

After welcoming her first child, son James Knight last October, actress Jaime King has opened up about the struggles she faced during her painful pregnancy and childbirth. 

"For all the struggling women & moms out there that think they are alone – This is the truth about conceiving my son and struggles after. 8 yrs of pain and undiagnosed PCOS & Endometriosis," she posted on Instagram on Friday (the post has since been taken down). 

"9 doctors until Dr. Randy Harris diagnosed me & saved my life from a severe ectopic, 5 miscarriages, 5 rounds of IVF, 26 IUI's, most with no outcome, 4½ years of trying to conceive, 26 hours of brutal labor, early delivery b/c of sudden preeclampsia, tearing and tearing after the stitches were in once I was home, milk supply issues, painful mastitis, uncontrollable crying while breast feeding, worked until the day before I [gave] birth and went back after 6 weeks after because I was afraid of letting others down." 

King, 35, told ABC News in May that it had taken her a long time to get pregnant, but the Hart of Dixie actress felt compelled to share more details of her story to support women who are dealing with the same struggles. 



"#youarenotalone," she wrote in her post along with two more hashtags that read "#ihavetobebravetosupportothers" and "#realtalkthatterrifiesus" 

Nutritionist

If you ask my husband about my diet he would say I was not a healthy eater. I feel like I eat better or change my diet when I have that wash jeans feeling, you know the one when you just put your jeans on right after they have been washed and dried. You do some squats to stretch them out and grab just an apple for breakfast.

I have the personality that I tend to listen to a person by there ranking. Sad to say but even my best friend could make me change my mind even if it the exact same thing my husband has been saying a million different ways a million times. With this said back in March I decided I was ready to cut out all sodas for health reasons. I found myself haven't a hard time completely kicking the habit, so I knew if I talked to my ER dr I would listen to whatever he would say. So when I went in and asked him how bad soda is for me going through all my treatments, he laugh a little like I was crazy for even asking him such a silly question and said that stuff has nothing good in it for you. 

So just like that I have quit it, easy too. 

So I knew meeting with a nutritionist would help me a lot too. Also my aunt got me a book called The Kind Mama,  by alicia silverstone. While the book has caused some controversial, I feel like there is a bit of good education for me in there. It helps teach me what foods are good for going through IVF. I like to stay in the middle....but you can find a little green in me (I still cloth diaper). I would say I like to stay in the middle of the whole spectrum. I don't believe that you can cure all with just what you eat.
So my nutritionist talked about my diet and we decided while it wouldn't be best to over night make a change, I could week by week.
It's been almost a month now and I have been feeling great! I had some pizza, and hot dog here and there but nothing like I used to. My weight has stayed the same (maybe a pound lighter depending on the day).
Here are something and why my nutritionist asked me to skip on or add to help our IVF cycle.
1. MORE lefty green
2. Raw nuts
3. Keep your body warm and avoid or minimize cold foods and drinks.
4. switch from using antiperspirant to a deodorant that does not contain aluminum chloride.
5. Body lotion- switch to coconut or sunflower oil. face lotion should be 100% aloe.
6. Avoid using products that contain sulfates or parabens. These chemicals are commonly found in beauty products, such as soap, shampoo, lotion, sunscreen.
7. choose naturally sourced cleaning products.
8. swithc to a fluoride free toothpaste.
9. Begin to find supportive ways to reduce your daily stressors. (meditation)

The things I was already doing that they said to cut out, no soda or caffeine. I don't drink but alcohol is bad when doing IVF.
Process food is the number 1 thing to cut out of your diet when trying to retrieve better eggs for IVF. So, I am doing my best and I feel like its making a difference.
There was one more thing I wanted to add into my life before our IVF cycle and that was to meet with an infertility counselor once a week. I'll follow up a post about how I found one and how it is going so far. 

Today show Savannah Guthrie sends love and prayers

Infertility is all around. I feel like the more and more I speak openly about this topic the more I feel so many others are starting the same journey.
I saw my aunt and uncle post this article from the Today Show and I wanted to post it up on my blog since its so great to read.

Savannah's Maternity Musings

Savannah Guthrie: 'Love and prayers' to those dealing with infertility

I recently read (and posted on Facebook) my friend Bobbie Thomas' honest, funny and touching essay about going through IVF. I am always impressed by Bobbie, but in this case, even more so. She is amazingly strong — not just to go through the insanely arduous IVF process, but also to share it and to take the arrows that sometimes come with going through life's ups and downs on national television.

She even coined a hashtag to capture her message in social media parlance: #nomorewhispers. And that's the spirit in which I write this week.

Bobbie raised something so important that I've thought a lot about, given my current circumstances. I've been so overwhelmed and blown away by the kindness, heartfelt joy and good wishes for me as I've gone through this pregnancy journey in front of the whole world — or at least our TODAY audience.

But one thing I've thought a lot about, and worried about, too, is how one person's joy can be painful to another person going through their own struggles. This is something I understand personally, and something those struggling with fertility have to deal with every day — whether they are turning on their television or going to work or just hanging out with friends.

Samantha Okazaki/TODAY

Ah, those little baby onesies -- so cute, but even something innocent and sweet can be a hard reminder when you are struggling with infertility.

A poster on my Facebook page recently shared her experience. She was really candid about how difficult it was to see her friends getting pregnant and having babies, and having to attend baby showers and coo over new kids, while she herself was struggling to start a family. On top of that, she felt guilty for feeling that way. I think we can all relate to that: feeling bad because we feel bad.

(By the way, Facebook is the place everyone posts their pictures of smiling kids or joyous engagements or exciting new adventures. This is wonderful and as it should be, but it can be excruciating if you are struggling and wishing for some of those experiences for yourself to no avail.)

I can remember many difficult times in my personal life when even just turning on the TV could be painful — everyone seemed to have it together and I felt totally alienated by the happy, well-adjusted people on TV who didn't seem to struggle.

So, in the spirit of Bobbie's candor and courage, I just want to send love and prayers to all those who are going through difficulties of their own. What I wrote back to the young woman on Facebook is what I truly believe: be compassionate to yourself. What you're going through is one of life's most difficult challenges. Things will get better, but in this moment just do the best you can, and be sure to be as gentle and kind to yourself as you are with others.