January

I feel like I don't have much to post yet about this experience. Right now we are just waiting for the months to pass and saving money like crazy. I am CD3 today so it's just another cycle. I will be doing my 3day blood work at CCRM in February so that is my next step. At that point I will hopefully get my calendar for our egg retrival in April. I am slightly concerned with my FSH as it has been tested twice now at 8.9 & 9. I know that is on the higher end as they like to see it below 10-11. I have asked several times if they were concerned and they said not a all. I do like the fact that they make me feel like our case it easy but I wish I truley felt that way. As of December they told me I did not need to do the clomid challenge. 
I know when the time comes for all the shots and other fun stuff I will post tons of pictures.

If at first you don't conceive

I may be a little late on reading "If at first you don't conceive" written by Dr. William Schoolcraft but better late than never. I must admit I didn't even know he wrote a book. I will say I wish I would have read it before this entire process but I will say the infertility clinic in Arizona I picked out was amazing. I didn't waste any money with them as they found out what was wrong right away and suggested we go to CCRM. Dr. Schoolcraft is not my doctor but he is the Director at CCRM.One number from the book that shocked me was that there are "7.3 million woman and their partners in the US that are unable to have children from infertility challenges". I will report on the book again after I finish it.

So Excited For 2011

I am happy that 2010 is behind us and now we have 2011 to look forward to. I know this year will be a busy one for us since we are planning on doing the ER in April. I feel like it's right around the corner. I am so glad we are waiting to start all of this because it  really helps husband and myself prepare mentally, physically and financially. We are waiting to do the 3 day blood draw until February because we are going to actually do it at CCRM. Husband's friends invited us to stay free at a house in Vail and it just so happens that it's during my cycle. I guess that works out...husband will also provide one of 3 back up samples.

Vitamin Cocktail

We got an email from our IVF nurse Annie for DH to start his vitamins. This is what they are suggesting so we got  all of them. DH went to Whole Foods last night to get them all which cost about $100 and that is for a 3 months supply so not too bad.  You can probably find them cheaper someone where else but we like the Whole Foods brand and it's close to home. This is the email that was sent, looks like we need CF testing done as well. Like I said before when they give you the breakdown of ALL the fees I should have just said we will take everything that has a $ in front of it.

Co-enzyme Q10 200mg

Vitamin C 1000mg

Vitamin E 400IU

1 Centrum with minerals

Take each of these every day.

As Shannon also recommended, you may wish to have Cystic Fibrosis testing done. Although we know your karyotype is abnormal, you may be a carrier for CF as well which can cause low sperm counts.

DH tried to get me to take them too but they said I only need the prenatal vitamin and that is all I am taking...besides I have to do the injections. 

Running + Girl Talk = Fast Fun

I love running, it’s my de-stressor in life. Running can pretty much help me figure anything and everything out. Sometimes when I don't want to think so much on a run I listen to "Girl Talk". It is a mix of top 40 songs from different genres. Not only does it keep the beat going the entire song, it makes me feel super fast. I am not looking forward to not running so much when I start the stims. They say to limit running, lifting weights and other strenuous activity when starting IVF. Until then I will continue to try to have as much of control of my life as I can.

While in Colorado

We had a great trip to Colorado for the ODWU while we were there we totally took advantage of the great outdoors. The temps were mild and the snow was coming down in the mountains. I must confess we went snowboarding for 2 days after our appointment on Friday. They actually tell you not to go skiing or snowboarding while in Colorado and then they tell you horror stories of a husband falling and breaking his leg and then they have to aspirate is sperm for the day of retrieval. We figured we weren't doing IVF till spring and we are not first timers on the mountain so why not. It was too funny while we were meeting with the Danielle the Geneticists; she said someone was going snowboarding because she saw the boards on the rack. We had to confess that it was us. She chuckled and said "good for you two". So while you are in Colorado enjoy yourself, we did. I know I won’t be doing that come ER time.

I'm A Stalker

I started this blog mainly because I searched the internet for answers to my questions and came across a lot of wonderful blogs that helped me out more than any family member or friend. Don't get me wrong family and friends are important to me but they just don't get it sometimes and that is fine I am not expecting them to. I continue to go back to many of these blogs as they are ahead of me on this infertility road. As most of them I too am going to CCRM. I get more positive everyday reading their success stories. Here are a few of my favorite CCRM blogs. I can tell you one thing is sure I will never be as good as them documenting my events but I will do my best as I know there are many more out there just beginning journey.

http://ccrmjourney.wordpress.com/

http://babymarathonadventure.blogspot.com/

http://hopefulincolorado.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for creating such wonderful blogs!