Defeated

IUI #1 didn't work. I'm not pregnant. I took this one really hard. My feelings about this have been all over the place. Today I am just numb.

11dpiui Update

More updates. Three days to go!!! I think this anticipation might kill me.

12 things to do before I am 14dpiui

1. Try a new exercise, since I am taking a break from mountain biking during this two week wait - I have been walking Apollo, playing badminton in our backyard, using my exercise ball and hiking. I really do miss riding my bike, but I would rather play it safe.
2. Wash every single piece of dirty laundry in my house - I started! Yay! I have a few loads left.
3. Attend my Mom's cousins' art exhibition - We went last Thursday. So amazing! He is very talented.
4. Finish reading Water for Elephants - I haven't read any more of it yet. I just haven't had time to read :/
5. Frame three photos and hang/setup in our house - The print & frame I ordered arrived yesterday, I just need to hang it. I also need to print photos for the other frames. Hopefully tonight.
6. Bring lunch to work every day - almost every day. My Mom did buy me lunch yesterday.
7. Clean out/organize our hall closet - I am planning to do this tonight.
8. Frame two photos for my desk at work - I framed one of Mr. B & I and it's on my desk :) I still need to print one of Apollo.
9. Get a massage with my gift card - I think I am going to run out of time for this one. Maybe next week!
10. Use my Target gift card - I spent it on Friday. Clothes, a pair of shoes, socks for Mr. B, pillows for the couch, frames, etc.
11. Babysit Rachee's munchkin :) - We had her for a few hours on Sunday. Such a cutie pie!
12. Go to the OC Fair with Mr. B - We went Saturday night. We had a Mexican funnel cake and Australian battered potatoes with ranch & cheese. Delicious deep fried goodness!

Don't know what a Mexican funnel cake is? It's made of churros, topped with whipped cream & strawberries. It's delicious and the six of us finished it all!

xoxo,
Mrs. B

7dpiui Update

The wait is halfway over!!!! YIPPEEE :) I had my progesterone blood draw done this morning. They called me about an hour ago. Progesterone was 17. My RE wants anything over a 10.

Here's an update on my list: 

12 things to do before I am 14dpiui

1. Try a new exercise, since I am taking a break from mountain biking during this two week wait - I have been walking Apollo, playing badminton in our backyard and using my exercise ball. I really do miss riding my bike, but I would rather play it safe. Tomorrow morning I am going to hike the same place that Mr. B & our friend are going to ride.
2. Wash every single piece of dirty laundry in my house - None yet ::blushing:: Did I mention I hate laundry?!
3. Attend my Mom's cousins' art exhibition - We went last night. So amazing! He is very talented.
4. Finish reading Water for Elephants
5. Frame three photos and hang/setup in our house - The print & frame I ordered should arrive on Monday and I bought frames at Target today for the others. I will post pictures when they are all up.
6. Bring lunch to work every day - every day, so far!
7. Clean out/organize our hall closet
8. Frame two photos for my desk at work - I had one frame and bought the other today. I should have photos in them this weekend and they will be on my desk on Monday.
9. Get a massage with my gift card
10. Use my Target gift card - Spent it today. Clothes, a pair of shoes, socks for Mr. B, pillows for the couch, frames, etc.
11. Babysit Rachee's munchkin :) - this Sunday. I can't wait!
12. Go to the OC Fair with Mr. B - We are going tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait to see all of the animals and eat deep fried everything!

xoxo,
Mrs. B

Time is moving so slowly

This feels like the longest two weeks of my life!!!! I feel like I am taking crazy pills LOL. Zoolander, anyone? It's only my favorite movie EVER :)

I decided to make a list of things to do in the meantime. Hopefully this will keep my mind off of things. p.s. I stole this great idea from happilyhomespun!

Crap, I am starting this list late so I will call this 12 things to do before I am 14dpiui:

1. Try a new exercise, since I am taking a break from mountain biking during this two week wait
2. Wash every single piece of dirty laundry in my house
3. Attend my Mom's cousins' art exhibition - planned for July 21st
4. Finish reading Water for Elephants
5. Frame three photos and hang/setup in our house
6. Bring lunch to work every day
7. Clean out/organize our hall closet
8. Frame two photos for my desk at work
9. Get a massage with my gift card
10. Use my Target gift card
11. Babysit Rachee's munchkin :) - planned for July 24th. I can't wait!
12. Go to the OC Fair with Mr. B

xoxo,
Mrs. B

IUI #1 is done

Well, our first IUI is done! Yay!

I went in yesterday morning for the first one. They did an ultrasound and I had two follies on my left that were 31mm and 24mm, and one on my right at 18mm. I had not ovulated yet. The RE confirmed that we would be doing another IUI on Friday to be sure we covered the bases. The procedure was quick and easy. Mr. B gave a great sample, 20 million post wash {they want to see at least 10 million} I laid down for 10 minutes and then off to work I went. This morning was an exact repeat, except the ultrasound showed that I had ovulated and Mr. B's sample was even better at 23 million post wash.

I go back next Friday the 22nd for a blood draw to check my progesterone levels, then again on July 29th for a pregnancy blood draw. I hope these next two weeks fly by!!!

“Some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end.  Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.  Delicious ambiguity…”  Gilda Radner

xoxo,

Mrs. B

You are the Bees in my Knees!

I came across this sweet card on Pinterest and just had to buy it {and the frame made for it}, for a little piece of art in our master bedroom. Finally a start to putting something on the walls in that room! I am really excited for it to get here :) Isn't it cute?!

{source}

xoxo,

Mrs. B

CD12 update

I went this morning for my monitoring ultrasound. I had a couple 14mm follicles, a 19mm and a 27mm. My lining was at 5.7, so they gave me an estrogen patch to wear for the next three days. Maybe it will also get rid of these crazy hot flashes from the Clomid LOL. I am going in again tomorrow morning and they are going to give me the trigger shot then. IUI's will be Thursday and Friday. The RE says it's about an 85% chance we will do back to back IUI's, so I am assuming we are. Mr. B leaves Friday morning, so the timing of everything worked out. I was so worried about having to freeze samples.

I guess this is good news so far. I have no previous medicated cycles to compare to, so who knows. My only concern is my lining. I think they usually want it at an 8 or above.

And now we wait. You know, the usual :)

xoxo,
Mrs. B

Music Friday - Adele

Someone Like You by Adele

Wise Words

I added this quote to the top of the blog. It reminds me to never lose hope and remember that there will be a wonderful gift at the end of this journey.

"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 {source}

The insurance saga never ends!

I know I just posted an update, but I called my RE right after posting and I have a great little story for everyone! Or maybe it's just me that finds the ridiculousness of insurance and doctor's offices so funny? Hmm.

I have been waiting since our first RE appointment on June 23rd for my infectious disease blood work authorization to be approved. My RE suggested submitting it for approval to see if it would be covered or not. We have to have these results back to go forward with the IUI. CA state law requires it. I have been calling the RE's office every few days and they always say "it's still pending." I finally talked to someone in the billing department. She looks me up and says "oh, your insurance doesn't cover IUI's, so they won't cover this blood work either." Are you kidding me?! I have been waiting for nothing. The communication in doctor's offices really needs improvement. I am going to leave work early today and go have my blood drawn this afternoon. If for some reason the results do not get back in time for my IUI, I will be so frickin' pissed.

Oh yeah, one more part to that story. I interpreted the insurance approval incorrectly. We do not have any Infertility treatment coverage, only diagnostic testing is covered 50%. My monitoring ultrasounds, for example, are part of the IUI process and therefore are not covered at all. We are 100% out of pocket. Anyways, here is a tally of the costs, as of today:

$260 per IUI. RE says we will likely do two, back to back.
$110 per ultrasound. Two so far.
$200 for my infectious disease blood work
$100 for hCG trigger shot
$10 for Clomid

$1,050 total for IUI cycle

Additional Costs:
-$350 for hamster test
-possibly $200 for Mr. B's blood work
-costs for my HSG & diagnostic U/S. I have a $1,116 claim still pending. Not sure how much is covered by insurance. I assume at least 50%. We'll see.

Cycle Update

I had my CD4 baseline ultrasound on July 4th {we were out of town for CD2 and 3. And of course my neurotic self is already feeling like I ruined our chances by starting Clomid a day late ::rolling eyes::} Everything looked good. The RE said my lining was at 4.7mm. From what I have read, we want it to be between 8 and 13mm by the time we do the IUI. They gave me a rx for 100mg of Clomid and scheduled another monitoring appointment for July 12th. From there, they will decide when to give me the hCG trigger and schedule the IUI. Timing may be a bit tricky because Mr. B will be out of town July 15th - 19th for work. I am hoping that we can do the IUI by the 14th, but if not my RE did say they can freeze a couple of sperm samples.

It's so weird to type all of that out. We are doing an IUI. It's very surreal. I guess I am just going through the motions right now. I am not getting my hopes up, mostly to protect myself if this doesn't work. Thank you to everyone rooting for us :)

xoxo,
Mrs. B

Here we go!

Just a quick update. I am posting on my phone from our hotel in Big Bear.

AF arrived today so I called the RE this morning. We scheduled a CD4 ultrasound for Monday because we are gone until Sunday afternoon. I will start Clomid for 5 days, then monitoring until the IUI.

I don't feel good physically today, but I am hopeful for this cycle. Tonight I shall enjoy some wine :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful & safe holiday!

xoxo,
Mrs. B