Friday, August 07, 2009

The Cowgirl Rides Again!

Oh how I've missed you friends. I have so many things I could write about, and each time I would think about writing a post, it just seemed too overwhelming. I think I indeed needed a break! But, I'm back now!


So, I could write about my nephews visit, our trip to Uvalde, the family pictures we took, the BEST sushi I've ever had, some summer projects, some deep thoughts about the advancement of technology vs. the human body and so on.

However, I think I'll get you caught up on where we are in our fertility journey, since that is what is most poignant and current.

But first, a little humor...



While we were visiting my parents in Uvalde, my trip was cut short unexpectedly after a phone call to our doctor. It was Friday afternoon and I called because I knew I was going to have to start a new medication soon and I needed to know exactly when and how to do it.

I was told I had to come in for a baseline ultrasound and blood-work Sunday morning at 8:00 in Lubbock; I was 6 hours away, so I had to leave Saturday early afternoon and miss an extra day with my brother and SIL, my parents, and McHotterson. He was headed to College Station to help a friend out for a week and a half.

So, I drove North by myself Saturday and made it to my appointment Sunday morning on time after staying with family in Levelland.

Later that day, I got a call that said all was clear and that night (Sunday), I started the first of many days of subcutaneous shots in my belly of a medicine called Bravelle.
Because McH has been out of town, I have given the shots to myself, which I must admit, I was terrified to do. The first night, I sat on the couch with the syringe ready to go and pointed at my belly, trying to convince myself to do it! I even put it in a little ways and then pulled it out because it started to sting. Eventually, I did the 3-2-1 countdown and just got it over with. There's no problem now, but it has started to hurt more each time I do it...more knotting and bruising, but I'll take it if the final outcome is what we're hoping for!
I went back to the doctor on Wednesday for a follow-up ultrasound and things looked great. I was told I had "beautiful, young, healthy ovaries"! I had to laugh at that...it was definitely a first. My left side had about three really good looking follicles on it, which is a normal number. The right, however, had so many big follicles, the nurse actually asked me if I had ever been told I had PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome). I was a little startled, and said I had not been told, at which point she said, "well, if you had it, you would have been told way before this, so you just have healthy, young, beautiful ovaries." Sigh.

She did lower my dosage of medication, and I go back Saturday for a 9:00 a.m. appointment for another ultrasound.

Soon after that we will have our IUI (intrauterine insemination) procedure done.

So, things are happening quickly and it is very exciting, but also, as you can imagine, very nerve-wracking. We are so hopeful this will work, but in the back of my mind I also have a fear of not happening that keeps me from being too hopeful. I hate that that has happened, but sometimes I think our psyche protects us from utter disappointment and despair by grounding us in reality.

Please continue to pray for us if you are so led. If there is anything I've learned in this experience it is that I have to be more bold in asking our friends and family to lift us up in prayer and petition for God's healing and blessings.

I will keep you updated on how things progress.

Thanks to all who made it this far, and who stuck with me through my bloggy hiatus!

Oh, and here's a little teaser for my next post...family pictures!!


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10 comments:

  1. oh i am so happy for a post, especially one about this subject b/c i have been thinking about you so much since we saw you in austin. i know you will keep us all posted, and in the meantime, i'll keep praying for you every day. xoxo

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  2. Praying praying. Glad you are back. I love your sincere heart-felt writing. I hope prayers are answered SOON! I love how Mchotterson's (SP?) finger is on your arm...so sweet and somehow protective. Love ya!

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  3. You sound so positive! I am happy that things are looking better but you are right there is a long way to go and with infertility it can all change in an instant, for better or worse. Hang in there and keep your head up! Love ya!

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  4. Charla, you know I love you and I myself have been down this road....maybe God was preparing me to help & support you. Either way I will always be there for you and I can't wait for our trip in the morning and shopping after. Girls day here we come.

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  5. Charla you are in my thoughts and prayers...I am so glad that you are back blogging! I was diagnosed with PCOS in between my girls....strange that I never knew before then. The human body is a CRAZY thing!

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  6. Well hi!!! I have missed you (even though we talked the other day! ha ha) I'm glad things are going well with the infertility treatments. As always, we are keeping y'all in our prayers. Your steadfast faithfulness just amazes me! Love you guys!

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  7. I'm glad to see you back! You're always in my thoughts and prayers!!

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  8. praying praying praying! hate that you are having to go through all of this...but the Lord is preparing you for something amazing. can't wait to find out what that is! love you so much.

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  9. It's great to hear the hope again in your voice. Ok, I mean to READ the hope in your voice. I mean in your WRITING.

    Well, you know what I mean.

    Love ya!

    And those shots? ouch!

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  10. Oh, I so don't miss thinking about injections, follicals, counts, timing, dosages, etc. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

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Comment away, y'all!