The light at the end of the tunnel

I feel like we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though we have only been working toward this for 4 months, it seem like a long time. We decided on January 1st that we were going to try this. Actually, Ashlea was given a cut off date and that was January 1st and she held out until the final hours to make a decision. I know this is really hard for her and it is drastic measures we are taking here.

We had our nursing class yesterday so I could learn how to give myself shots, we also received our prescriptions so I can get the meds. I also had to have an ultrasound to make sure that I was not going to ovulate, since I have only had one period in the last nine months they felt fairly certain that we would be safe there, but to be positive we did the ultrasound before starting meds.

Ashlea received a call from the doctors office yesterday before we went for our appointment and they had everything all lined up. It was nice to know going in that they were not going to send me for one more test and that we had finally started the race and are so close to the finish line. Because her doctor especially wanted to do the transfer, they arranged everything so he would be able to do that. That was more than fine with us because we wanted him to do it. For this plan to work, I had to start on the estrogen patches yesterday so the clinic let me borrow two until I can get mine in the mail.

I will go back in on May 2nd for an ultrasound to check my uterus lining. We will transfer on May 9 and that will be 2 frozen embryos. We should have our pregnancy test on or about May 23rd. I am so excited and can't wait to find out that I am pregnant and that Ashlea and Bill are going to be a Mommy and Daddy!!!

I'm not crazy

And I have confirmation of that!

We had our Psych exams on Monday. It was about a 4 hour appointment and all 4 of us had to attend (me, my husband, Ashlea and Bill). As you may have assumed from the title, all went well.

I met with her first and talked to her for about an hour and a half. We talked about everything, my childhood, my brothers and sisters, my first and current marriage and of course how we came to and how I feel about carrying a baby for Ashlea. After that, she talked to my husband for about 20 minutes and then to Ashlea and Bill for about 45 minutes. After all of our meetings were over, the 4 of us went in together and that was only for about 5 minutes and she told us that she did not see any reason why we shouldn't proceed.

In trying to make good use of time off work, I had also made an appointment for that same day to get a saline sonogram that was required. First, let me say that there were no problems with my uterus, no fibroids or anything that could keep me from proceeding. So that was really good news. Second, anyone who tells you that this is not painful might be crazy! It took me way back to 1984 and labor pains. That is exactly what it felt like. Luckily there were only about 3 really strong cramps and the whole procedure was about 5 minutes so that makes it very tolerable.

We are now waiting for the results to come back from the colonoscopy  that I have a couple weeks ago. Once we get those back I can schedule my nursing class, to learn how to give myself shots and I will get my meds at that appointment and we will start the process. It looks like I will only have to take the meds for about 3 weeks as they are fairly sure I will not be ovulating so that cuts out one step. In my calculations, we should be ready to start the medications about the 15th of April. I can't believe it has finally arrived and we all just need to keep our fingers crossed and say a little payer that this will result in a pregnancy.

Not much to report

We don't have much to report right now, just kind of waiting for our next appointment to roll around. This process could actually go fairly quickly if you could get appointments and not have to wait a month between each one.
I was required by the clinic to have a colonoscopy since I am 50, I had that done last Thursday, lots of fun there let me tell you. I don't think I will eat Jello again for 5 years. And we have our Psych exams coming up on Monday, April 1st. That is for me, my husband, Ashlea and Bill, it will end up being a 4 to 5 hour appointment. At my age, I have had a little concern with each of the appointments and hoping that everything would be good, the Psych appointment is not one that I am concerned about at all. Just wait, I will probably find out I am crazy.
After this appointment, we will be so close to having all the preliminary test done. I have to have a saline sonogram and I have scheduled that for the same day as the Psych visit. After that all we have left is to take the nursing class so they can teach me how to give the shots to myself. Then it is will finally be time to start the meds. :)

Color Run

The group before the run started - myself, Reg, my 2 sisters, 5 nieces and 2 great nieces

We had a great day Saturday at the 5K Color Run. For me, it was mostly a color walk but we still had a great time. There were several of us that decided to participate, Reg being the only actual runner in the group and he finished the race in about 20 minutes. I won't comment on how long it took the rest of us to finish. I will say that every muscle in my body was very sore the next day.

After the Color Run - Reg, myself, my great niece Hannah and my 2 nieces Riley and Macey

One Step Closer

We have had a lot going on the last few day and are a little closes to the big day. We are all so excited! First, we had our appointment with the High risk OB. He had to give us the go ahead before we could proceed and that went better than we had both anticipated. We met with him on Friday and he went over the normal questions, about my medical history and my previous pregnancies. He gave me a big A+ as far as health and my ability to safely carry a baby. He also said that he felt it might be OK to carry twins. All along we have been told that they would transfer two embryos but if they both take we would need to reduce. According to Dr. Brown, if both did take they would counsel us on the risk of carrying twins but it is not out of the question. Yeah! I would love to have twins. I think that would be totally awesome and you can't beat two for the price of one, right?

We left that appointment feeling great and as usual, we went to lunch so we could talk about all the the things he said. We decided to have lunch at the mall and celebrate with a little shopping. I don't know if I have mentioned that we live about an hour and a half apart, that is not that far but when we get together for these appointments we like to spend a little extra time together.

The second part of the good news. I had gone to my family doctor a few weeks ago to get a physical and all of the required blood test as well as the required EKG. I had to go back in yesterday to get the test results and all of those came back good. You will be pleased to know that I don't have AIDS or Hepatitis. The EKG came back normal so that was good. One of the main concerns with being pregnant at 50 is your heart. Evidently, being pregnant is very stressful on your heart (something you never think about at 25), but mine is good.

So far, everything is falling into place and going better than we ever thought it would. We have not met one obstacle so far. All we have left now if our Psych exams for the four of us and a saline ultrasound. We will have all of this done on April 1st. Almost there!!!!!

Words that hurt

That's not fair

When Ashlea was a little girl, I think this was her favorite line. Nothing was fair if it didn't fit into what Ashlea wanted. We still joke about it today and when something happens one of us will say "that's not fair" in that long, drawn out whiny voice, just the way Ashlea used to do.

I'm sure she has said that line a million times when it comes to infertility and she might say it again when she sees this post but being a mother, I just couldn't have a blog and not dedicate at least one post to what Ashlea always thought was my favorite child.

My son is a wonderful person and he has been so supportive through this process. He totally understands me and why I am doing this. God has really blessed me with two wonderful children and a wonderful son-in-law and I know that soon I will have the most amazing grandchild on the earth, but back to my son. He has spent the last 4 month in Brazil with his girlfriend (her home) and he just returned to the US 2 days ago. It was so nice to see him and have him around again. Skype is nice but it's nothing like actually being together. Now that he is home, maybe I can talk him into shaving that beard off!

Reg and Ingrid in Brazil