Long Overdue Update

A lot's happened since my last blog post!

Husband and I have been staying busy with work, church, family and fun. We've also spent a weekend in Dallas at a Cowboys game (amazing stadium!) and I was in Chicago for a few days for work. Being busy has really helped to keep my mind off the wait before our upcoming cycle.

I started weekly acupuncture and love it! This was something that made me really nervous, so I had been putting it off for a long, long time. But it's really a piece of cake and I honestly do feel more relaxed afterwards. I haven't noticed any improvements in my cycle, and I don't think I will since I am starting birth control tonight, but I am hoping it will help improve the outcome of my IVF cycle. The acupuncturist specializes in infertility and knows both of the doctors well at my clinic, so that is encouraging.

I start birth control tonight and will probably be taking it for 4-6 weeks. I freaked out a little at first when the nurse told me that - I had always read around 3 weeks was average and I am really worried about being oversuppressed. (Of course, I want to avoid OHSS as well!) I called her back and left a frantic message - I hope they don't think I am "that patient!" I could tell she thought I might be a tad crazy when she returned my call this morning. :) She told me not to worry and that it was a normal protocol for them, especially since they really don't know how I will respond since this is my first IVF and I haven't done injectibles, and I am young and have a good AFC and okay AMH. So I'm going with that!

A very close friend of mine recently became pregnant with her second child. I knew it was coming because she got off birth control in June. I am happy for her because she is a dear Christian friend - in fact, she and her hubby are the only people outside of my parents and sister that know about our struggles. But it's still so very, very hard to watch others be blessed with children while I wait and wonder and ache. I really want to be a good friend to her throughout this pregnancy, though. I am taking her to lunch tomorrow to celebrate. I would like to throw her a shower in the spring, but I imagine that could be very hard for me if my IVF is unsuccessful, so I am waiting to put that offer on the table. I am hanging on to the hope that we may finally be pregnant with our own little orange by then and the pain won't prevent me from hosting or even attending.

That's about it for now. My IVF coordinator is taking the next few weeks to work out my schedule and my stimulation drugs. Sometime in December Husband and I will go in for an IVF consult with Doc and to review our medications, the procedure, do some tests and learn about all of the shots. (Oh joy!)

A happy and blessed Thanksgiving to everyone - this year I am thankful for being right where I am at in this journey. No, it's not where I want to be. But it's where God wants me to be, and if I have learned anything in my 28 years it is that being where He wants me to be is the very best place to be.