The Painful Wait

28 APR: I went back to work. Not much more I could do. I had to let my body take care of the rest. I had specific 'rules' that I had to follow. No lifting, no exercise, etc. The waiting is the worst!!!
We continued Progesteron in Oil (PIO) every day. We were scheduled for bloodwork on 2 MAY!!!

Bedrest, pineapple, Brazil Nuts, OH MY!

22 APR to 26 APR: Bedrest was required after the embryo transfer. I took the necessary time off from work. I did very little. I did manage to sleep alot...(the week before we had moved into our new house so I was actually really tired!!)
I went a little crazy reading all kinds of websites on what to do after transfer and what not to do... Many had recommended eating pineapple. The core has "bromelain" which is a complex mixture of substances that can be extracted from the stem and core fruit of the pineapple. Well, since I was on the crazy train already...why not. I ate so much pineapple my tongue hurt. I ate pineapple for 6 days after transfer!
I had also read that it was recommended to eat Brazil Nuts. I really can't remember what they were for but you better believe that poor Rob was at the commissary searching for Brazil nuts. Which we discovered we couldn't buy except in the Planters mixed nuts can. So, he would bring it home and dig out all the Brazil nuts for me. He's my hero!
I stayed in bed this time. No walking. No complaining!! (hard for me to be still for long!!!) I did not go downstairs at all until SAT. The hardest part was to see Rob running around doing so much. At the time he still had a cast on his right arm so if he had to bring me anything, he had to go up and down the stairs several times. I love you, Rob!!
The cramping was not too bad. I took tylenol if I had discomfort but for the most part it was okay. The day before the transfer we also started Progesterone in OIL shots on my butt! Not pleasant at all. Hurts very much!!!!
My friend Terelle came to visit one afternoon and my friend Christy also came to hang out on another afternoon. It was very nice to have their support! I watched FRIENDS on dvd....and just relaxed!!!

Magic Happens in the LAB

20 APR: Our embryologist called us with a report. Overall, we were doing EXCELLENT! We were excited but with all that we have gone through, it is hard to get your hopes up! At this time we found out that 15 of the eggs had fertilized!! We still had another 48 hours before the transfer. So, we had 48 hours to wait and see what would happen. (nail biting time)
The hardest thing at this time besides the waiting is trying to determine how many embryos we will put in my body! Very scary! What if we don't put enough? What if we put too many? We actually put 3 in NOV. We finaly came to the determination that we wanted to do 5! Yes, FIVE!
22 APR: We left early. This time I took the valium at the required time! When we got to the office, the embryologist was ecstatic! He gave us a thumbs up and said things look phenomenal!!! We patiently waited for Dr. Vu to talk to us. Dr. Vu came to speak to us. (By this time I was already in the "transfer" room.) His advise was for us to implant 3 embryos because they were all "good quality". Rob and I looked at each other and said well, we have decided to do 5! He said that he did not recommend 5--maybe 4 and that he would give us a few more minutes alone for us to discuss. When he left the room we looked at each other and said FIVE! No question. We have made a decision and we are sticking to it. Dr. Vu came back in the room and asked how many and we both said FIVE. He smiled and said if I can't talk you out of it, let's start the procedure. For this procedure, Rob was allowed to stay in the room.
Thrilling experience when the embryologist handed the syringe to Dr. VU!!! Dr. Vu then pointed out in the monitor what to look for---we actually saw our little ones as they were placed in me!!!
AMAZING!!! We had to stay in the room for 30 minutes. We listened to music that the nurse put on for us and just tried to talk very positively about our future. We were discharged and my bedrest began!

Western Medicine

After about 6 weeks of vitamins, acupuncture, cupping, etc, we were ready to start our fertility meds! Oh, I forgot to mention that I quit drinking coffee in FEB!! Not sure how I forgot as this was quite traumatic for me and for weeks walked around like a zombie at work!!
1 APR: Rob had wrist surgery.
2 APR: Consulted with our fertility doctor. He performed an ultrasound and blood work to check if we were ready for fertility meds. Everything checked out and we were given our meds!
3 APR: Our fertility treatment started. The first 2 days I only had 2 shots a day but on the 3rd day, it increased to 4 shots a day--3 different medications. We were really happy that the meds were different than the ones that we had used for our procedure in NOV 2007. I had to do two shots in my belly, one in the am and one in the pm and also 2 shots in my upper thigh, one in the am and one in the pm. This was also rough because the last two treatments Rob administered all the shots. Well, with Rob's arm in a cast--I had to do all my own shots. OUCH!!! NOT FUN!!!
11 APR: We had our first ultrasound and bloodwork that showed that the treatment was going well. The "follicles" were developing very slowly but the doctor said that it was normal. I left the office with misgivings but tried to think positively!!!
14 APR: We had our 2nd ultrasound and bloodwork that again showed that the treatment was going well but slow.
16 APR: We had our 3rd ultrasound and bloodwork that also showed that everything was going well. The doctor said we were ready for egg retrieval!
17 APR: Had our HCG shot in the evening. This induces the eggs for prepartion for retrieval.
19 APR: Egg retrieval day!!! I was a mess this morning. In fact, I took a valium that was intended for our "transfer". When they were putting my IV in (the anesthesiologist was terrible--she stuck me 4 times!!) I was really scared. Rob was with me up until I went to the operating room. This is the actual day of conception!!!
When I woke up from anasthesia, the doctor said everything had gone very well and that they had retrieved 22 eggs. WE were very happy to hear the report!!! BTW, while I was under Rob was doing his business in preparation for my eggs. Poor thing had to do everything left handed because his arm was still in a cast.
20 APR: Weekly acupuncture appt. I really felt that I needed it as the "embryo transfer" would be on 22 APR!!!

Walter Ranch

20 MAR: We finally took the plunge and bought a small piece of property in Rockdale, Texas! I say small but it is actually 17.38 acres to be exact. It's beautiful! Rob is very excited to finally have a piece of property to call our own!! Our realtor was excellent!! Overall we had an amazing experience shopping for property before settling on what we are temporarily calling Walter Ranch!!! The property has 2 miniature donkeys! Yes, we now own donkeys too! Never in my wildest imagination did I think we would own donkeys!!! Also, it has a 1/2 acre pond which we are affectionately naming "LONGORIA LAKE". (Longoria is my maiden name for those who do not know.)

Proud Land Owner!!

Our Favorite Tree!

Andrew Swinging

Meagan Swinging

Me with Mom and Ellie

the girls

pasture

view of Lake Longoria

Rob's personal Golf Tee

Rob with Meagan and Andrew by the lake

Rob fishing at Lake Longoria

fishing with the kids!


Day view of Lake Longoria



Sunset at Lake Longoria

The Baby Making Scheme

1 APR: Our Baby making "scheme" started the first week of April. Actually, the "western medicine" started in April but I was already doing other creative fertility methods...I was excited and scared to do this all over again. I did feel that I had a bit more control.
While I was on vacation my mother insisted that I visit with an homeopathic "doctor". (not sure if she was a real doctor as all she prescribed was vitamins). I started a fertility homeopathic regiment. All natural products. I was even drinking aloe vera juice!!! (helps cleanse the uterus and actually not bad tasting at all!) This was a 30 day ritual that I intended on finishing before we started our in-vitro procedure. ( I was taking about a dozen or more pills a day---before breakfast, after breakfast, before lunch, after lunch, before dinner, before bedtime!!!)
Secondly, I started Chinese acupuncture and cupping. We started doing this every Sunday in China Town! Very interesting and very relaxing! (highly recommend both!!) Rob was so incredibly supportive through all my crazy ideas that he even did acupuncture once to show his support!! Plus, my acupuncturist put Rob on crazy chinese herb pills for fertility.
(Rob was also taking a whole slew of vitamins. Zinc, vitamin C, sellenium, omega 3, etc. )
When I say, we did it all, I really do mean it!!

Montana

FEB 2008: We finally made it to Montana!!! Montana is a beautiful state! The in-laws are wonderful, loving people! I am so glad that we finally made it to visit with them. It was snowing when we arrived and it remained quite cold the whole time we were there. It did not matter. We had such a fantastic time sharing and getting to know each other. My father- in-law sure can tell stories! I really understand where Rob gets his storytelling from!!! :) For me, it was a trip of a lifetime! I had always wanted to know more about Rob and his childhood and my in-laws were great at sharing all kinds of tidbits of information!! I think they like me....hehe....We also were able to visit with our dog, BO! Bo actually recognized us! It was so cool!!! He slept with us on the bed every night!!!

Mom, Dad and the little One!

Background Information

NOV 2005: We had our first in-vitro. Unfortunately, it was not successful. Very hard to think about now.
FEB 2006: We moved to Hawaii. Upon arriving we discovered that Rob would be deploying JUL 2006. We tried to see a doctor immediately but we just could not get it all in before he deployed. So, the baby making "scheme" was put on hold.
27 JUL 2006: Rob was deployed for a very long 15 months!
OCT 2007: Rob returns from Iraq. We immediately started consulting with our doctor!
NOV 2007: Our Second In-vitro. Right before New Year's Eve, the test came back---negative. I was in shock! I just did not want to believe that we had failed at this again. We had implanted 3 very good and healthy embryos!! I was in a slump for a few weeks but knew that I had to snap out of it. The doctor told us that my body had to recover from all the fertility drugs for a few months before we tried again.
FEB 2008: We went on vacation to Montana and Texas. We both needed a break.
MAR 2008: Start preparing for our 3rd in-vitro.

The Long Road

This blog is a long time coming. I just didnt want to put it in writing until we had finished our treatment.

Yes, it has been a long and hard road for us to travel but we are very happy and eager to share all of our news with all of our friends and family!

Rob's Homecoming

15 OCT 2007: Rob is finally coming home! I am so excited! Words can not explain the excitement! Rob has been gone for 15 months!!!

Some Set-backs: IRAQ

JUL 2006 - Rob deployed to Iraq. Initially it was supposed to be for 12 months. As we neared 11 months, it was released that the deployment would be extended 3 more months! We were heartbroken but knew that was his military responsiblity.

JUL 27, 2006: The day our guys left on deployment!!

The guys made it to Kuwait! Rob with Steve and Francis

The guys with a beauful sunset!

The Tower where Rob worked.

Christmas in Iraq DEC 2006

My sweetie spends Christmas in Iraq!

Friend or Foe?

Iraq Sunset