RE Consultation

Ethan and I had our RE consultation today. It went very well! It kinda sucks that the fertility clinic is on the same floor as obstetrics. We almost knocked into a very largely pregnant woman when we got off the elevator. Not what you want to see on your way to the RE office. But it ended up being a pretty fantastic appointment.

First of all Ethan and I both LOVE our RE doctor! She was very nice and friendly and explained everything to us. She never once brought up the issue of weight. That was a big fear of mine. But she never said a word. She made it very clear that although fertility treatment does have an increased risk of multiple births she in no way shape or form wanted to make me the next octomom. Which in our minds gave her a lot of credit. Her goal is to help us fill our dream of bringing home healthy baby. There is always the chance of 2 or 3 but it is low. She will not do anything to put me or our baby/babies in danger. That made us respect her more and feel safe in her hands.

She went over all of our past test results with us. She broke it all down and explained the results and what every thing meant and what was normal. She also looked at my BBT charts and was impressed. She said it helped her zero in on what she thinks the problem is and what tests need to be run. She was also very happy that we had already done most of the tests she would have suggested to us. That way we can just get on with treatment and not have to wait since we have been TTC for 3 years now.

So Ethan' SA was fine. We knew that. But she went over everything in the results piece by piece. 20 million is considered normal. His sperm count was 89 million and she was pleasantly shocked. Morphology should be 15% and his was 14% but with that many spermies swimming around it is really not an issue. So Ethan will not have to do anymore testing.

All my tests looked good. She did notice from my charts that I have been ovulating later and later in my cycle. I told her I have a lot of cramping around ovulation so I know ahead of time when it is coming. She said my body should not have to work that hard to ovulate. Also because it is taking so long she is worried about the quality of egg that I FINALLY pop out.

Soooooo ... when I get my next period I have to go in for blood tests to check my hormone levels including my FSH. She does not think there is a problem with my ovarian reserve but she wants to check it to cover all our bases. I will also have to go in for an ultrasound so they can take a look at my ovaries and the egg quality.

The doctor gave me a prescription for clomid! She said I can start as soon as I get my next period. Well CD 3 ... but ya know what I mean. I don't have to wait for all the testing to be done since we have already done the big stuff. She said hopefully this will make me ovulate sooner in my cycle, increase the quality of egg I release and of course the number of eggs I release. That ups our chances of getting pregnant. Also it means shorter cycles which means more opportunity to get pregnant. We will try 4 cycles of clomid and if that doesn't work we will move up to IUI.

The doctor did warn us of twins. She asked if that was a problem or not. Would we be ok with twins? We both said YES! Twins are just fine and dandy! Of course our goal is one healthy baby. But at this points twins would not bother us one bit.

So everything was great. We love our doctor and feel well taken care of. We are both relieved to have taken that first step and started to try and fix things. There is light at the end of the tunnel again!

New Hope

I have some renewed hope again. I made the call yesterday to the fertility clinic. I have been scared to do it for 2 years now. I just kept hoping that I would "POOF" and become pregnant. That some how egg would meet sperm and settle in for a 9 month nap and I would not have to call in the doctors. But sadly that has not happened. So I sucked it up and finally called the appointment desk. The woman on the phone was wonderful and kind and patient with all of my questions. I hope this is just a small glimpse at what will be a wonderful clinic. We have our consultation on May 20th. We just go in, give the doc all our info, past test results, my BBT charts and chit chat about what might be wrong and what tests are needed still and what he will be able to do for us. I am so excited and can not wait. I just hope that I get a doctor who does not make my weight an issue. Or worse make my weight the only issue in his/her mind. I am working hard to lose weight and doing well. 15 pounds lost and like 8 billion left to go. But I am trying and getting results. So I can't complain. And hopefully the doctor won't either. Wish us luck!

It is fixed!!!

YES! Our dishwasher is finally fixed!!! I can wash dishes again. OK so I could still wash dishes before. But I had to do it by hand. And well I am lazy and it didn't get done very often. But now the dishwasher is full and running well. What more could I ask for?! ... OK maybe a maid that comes just once a week and deep cleans everything in my house ... that's not to much to ask for right?

I am frustrated!!!

This is my last week of class for this semester. I am getting to the point where I can not wait for this Chemistry class to be OVER! The material is hard but I can work through that. It is the behavior in the class and the teacher that is making me stress out. I don't need more stress!

There are a group of students in my class, roughly half of the class, that are disruptive. They talk constantly through out class, making jokes and not paying attention. They interrupt the teacher often in the middle of lecture. I don't mind so much when it is to ask a question to clarify something that they do not understand. I think there is a more polite way to do it. But maybe I am an old fuddy duddy. But I can not stand when they interrupt for stupid and often smart a$$ comments about the teacher, the class, the material or some way to wiggle out of doing the work.

Today one of them asked if we were the worst class that my teacher had and he said "Yes you are." AHHH! I was so mad! I sit quietly and make every effort to pay attention and learn the material to the best of my ability. My education is important to me and I am really trying. It frustrates me to have that focus interrupted. It frustrates me to be thrown into the general "bad" class comment. I just want it to be done.

I don't blame my teacher for being angry ... let's face it he is just flat out pissed off lately. I can see why. I feel his frustration and it does bother me. Today those other students were trying to get him to let them take the final Thursday morning during our morning lecture. The final is scheduled for Thursday afternoon during our lab hours so that we have the entire 2 hours to take the final and do well. So after class this morning and by the time I made it home my teacher had sent out a mass email to all the students in my class. Here is a copy of the email he sent out.

"Due to the lack of respect for me and the people who are trying to learn the material, I will not give any final exam early during lecture unless everyone is ready so I can watch you take the final. There are no exceptions to this. Matt"

I want to send him an email back, separate from the original email of course so no one else can read it. I want to tell him that I want to have Thursday morning for review and that I am not comfortable expressing that in front of those other students.

My birthday has got to get better soon right?

Decluttering continues ...

I believe I have mentioned that my resolution this year is to declutter my home. I am slowely but sure making progress. I worked hard this afternoon. I tore things apart, cleaned them out, wiped them down, disinfected when needed and reoragnized everything before putting it back. And what do I have to show for it?
A nice clean cabinet in the kitchen.
1 down ... just 6 more to go...
And a fridge and 2 freezers that you can actually find food in.

Now if only a little fairy would come a long and wash my dishes for me ...

Our Third New Addition

And lastly ... well for now anyway ... are our new bulls! The other ones were makin babies that were to big and the mamas were having trouble and the calves were getting stuck ... it's a long story. Anyway we got 2 new Black Angus bulls on Tuesday. They are big meaty handsome men ... and a little noisey too.
He enjoys striking a pose.

This one never stops talking. LOL

Big boy ain't he?

Our 2 new handsome bulls.

Second New Addition

First it was the ducklings. Now we also have chicks! WOOHOO! We have 6 Rhode Island Red chicks now too. They are so fuzzy wuzzy you want to snuggle them to death. But I resist.

Ouch ... bright light ...

Snugglin in and makin new friends.

Sibling rivalry.

WOMAN! Must you really bright me so often?!

It's harder to get them to look at the camera for a picture then Brad & Angelina.

Who needs king of the hill when I have KING OF THE DUCKLINGS!!!