19 weeks today!

I had my 2nd of 3 scheduled ultrasounds this week. It kind of sucks because I won't have another one until next month. It just seemed to be the way the schedule worked out.

I don't know what it is with ultrasound techs. They are either great or they completely suck. Yesterday, Tom, our tech at WWAV was OUTSTANDING!!! I couldn't ask for a better experience. Today, Penny, was just a bump on a log. I tried numerous times to engage her in even the most polite conversation and she was silent. I am not sure what her deal was but on the way home, I told hubby that when the kids were old enough, I was going back to school to become an ultrasound tech just so that no other woman would have to go through some of the experiences that I have had to. I mean, this is a happy time. At least try to act like you enjoy your job, I am mesmerized by the images on the screen and would love to do that for a living. Not Penny..... Maybe she ran out of coffee, maybe she is PMSing, maybe she is just a miserable person, I don't know.

Anyway, Melissa (Baby B) is weighing in at a whopping 11 oz (estimated, of course) and Daniel is catching up at 9 oz. I figured that since Melissa was kicking the crap out of her brother, she was had a pretty good leg workout this week and as we all know, muscle weighs more than fat. I think I am going to have a little girl very similar to her mom. I was, am and have always been the "athletic one" in my family. Hubby is of course, quieter than me, tall and lanky. This should be an interesting experience.

Hubby was nearly in tears yesterday upon finding out that we were having a boy. He is the oldest in his family and the last chance for the family name to be carried on in a direct blood line. He has several step brothers. He is already planning on building an obstacle course on the back yard. He just had this grin on his face last night like a kid at Christmas. I am just so happy that his dreams are coming true too. Don't get me wrong, he is excited about the babies in general, but since he has three grown daughters, he just never figured that he would ever have the chance to raise a son.

My Aunt is visiting my parents this week and she has already been shopping for lots of pink and blue and I am sure that my mother has. My Grandmother, who will be 93 tomorrow is busy knitting for the kids and is happy about the news and not having to do everything in green and yellow. I happen to like green and yellow but.......

I am feeling a bit tired and think that I will lay down for a few minutes before moving on to my chores for the day.

Day # 6

Well, the trip over to NJ was uneventful. I only had to wait about 5 minutes to have my blood drawn. I took my seat in the very busy waiting room after signing in for my ultrasound.

I have one decent sized follicle on the right, which is a 14 (not sure what the actual unit of measure is) and a bunch of smaller ones. One the left, i have a 12 and two 10's, and again a bunch of smaller ones. I feel pretty encouraged. I come home and putter around the house for a while.

I get the call from the nursed to review my blood work. I am told that my blood work doesn't match my follicle sizes and I am to increase the Bravelle to 3 units on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Also, I am to start Centrotide (to inhibit ovulation) on Monday and have more bloods and another ultrasound done Monday morning.

So, 3 cc's of Bravelle kind of hurt last night. I am using a 30 gauge needle, which is much better than using a 22 like the other doctor had me doing. No bruising as of yet, but I am sure it will show up, it always does.

I am trying to remain calm for all of this. During a normal cycle, I ovulate on days 14-18. This is only day 6 and everything seems to be happening fast. I know that it is a side effect of stimulation.

So, another day until I get to see what is happening in Ovaryland.

Blood work results from 2/17 are as follows:
Estraidol: 88
Progesterone: 0.6
LH : 2
FSH: 5

Day # 3

Well, Carol from Super RE's office just called with my blood work and ultrasound results.

Estriadol was 58 pg/ml:
Levels on the lower end tend to be better from stimulating
Normal range: 25-75 pg/ml

Progesterone is .8
Normal is <1.5ng/ml

Lutenizing Hormone (LH) is 3mIU/ml
Normal is <7mIU/ml

Follicle Stimulating Cycle (FSH) was 3 mIU/ml
is 3 mIU/ml is normal and Often the gauge for ovarian reserve, in general under 6 is excellent

In addition, I have 12 antral follicles (sleeping follicles).

So, I will be starting my Bravelle this evening. I mix 2 powders with 1 cc of water and inject into my upper leg or my abdomen. I will do this tonight, tomorrow and on Saturday.

I have to get more bloods on Saturday (has to be drawn before 8:45 Saturday morning) in New Jersey. Then, lucky me, I get to sit around and wait until 11:30 for my ultrasound.

Normally, they don't have minimal stimulation cycles start injectables until day 5 of the cycle, but since my bloods look good and I have 12 antral, they are going to start a little early. The sooner the better.

Also, I don't think that it is fair for women to being their babies in to a RE office and flaunt them in front of a bunch of women who are trying like crazy to even become pregnant. Couldn't they hire a babysitter or something?