Follicles

Two weeks ago was the week of blood tests and ultrasounds. After doing genetic testing, there was the blood draw for the preconception test, and lastly, CD3 blood work. I haven't received any results, but no news is good news. On CD2 I also had an ultrasound, looking at my reproductive structures and my resting follicle count. The tech was able to count follicles in both ovaries, I believe the count was about 12-16 per ovary. Which she bat an eye at. Another test passed with flying colors!

I made the tech go back through the pictures with me and show me what she saw. Pretty awesome! I didn't take pictures of my ovaries, but for those of you who wonder what follicles that hopefully turn into egg(s) look like.....this is what it looked like.

This past week I started Clomid, 50mg, the lowest dose available. The side effects were minimal until the last two days. I was up, then down, then up again in a moments notice. Thank goodness the manfriend was on a business trip out east and missed most of my rage. However, my co-workers suffered.

On top of the emotional roller coaster was the swelling/growing/changing going on in my ovaries. I currently feel like I have a small golf ball in my lower right abdomen, along with some new found sore muscles in the area. Strange feeling.

After completing my 5 days on Clomid, I got a couple mental days off. It's not until CD12 (today) that I start testing for my surge. Once I get that smiley face, I'm to call the office and schedule an ultrasound for the next day. If all looks good on the ultrasound, then it's a green light to go ahead with the IUI that same day. If I don't surge by CD15, I go in for a trigger on CD16, and do the ultrasound and IUI from there.

When looking at a the calendar and seeing what day my surge could possibly fall on, I realized that the manfriend was most likely (98%) going to be out of town on another business trip. But, no need to panic. There's a way around this. :) Yep, just as you're imagining it, the manfriend makes his donation before he leaves and the sperm is frozen. Not ideal, but it's our only option (the manfriend is attending a meeting as a manager's replacement, and being recognized for his 15 years of service with his employer. It means a lot to him, and I don't want to take that away from him.). Then it takes 25 minutes to thaw the sperm the day of the IUI and make it mine! :)

On another random note, as of now and I'm sure it'll change a little after the IUI during the TWW, I can work out, just no swimming (not that I'm currently diving at the Aquarium) and I have to keep my heart rate under 140. That's easy enough, right? This is where I try not to think about the physical limitations that might come. Both of my jobs are physically stressing on the body, the shelter much more so than the Aquarium. But, both sets of managers (and co-workers) are aware of the situation, that things could change in 24 hours, and have been nothing but supportive. I lucked out!

A new session for fertility yoga has started and there are some new girls in the class, that means more future success stories! And acupuncture continues to be great. This past week's session was intense, it felt like every needle she stuck in my body was grabbed with such intensity. I gotta hand it to that woman, she really knows what she's doing. I feel at my best after I'm done with one of her appointments. And she makes comments about a soft liver, good kidney yin, and other things I don't really understand. But, again, I'm so relaxed when all is said and done.

I'm scheduled to have my weekly acupuncture appointment on Thursday this week, which might fall right around the time I ovulate. My acupuncturist wants me to come in the day after my IUI so she can help with implantation...I've also made an appointment for next Monday. If the timing should work out I'll be super relaxed for our drive to Minnesota next Monday. :)

Here's to hoping that Clomid causes me to ovulate a little early, a fresh donation, perfect follicle growth, and sperm meets egg. Sure is nice to have science working on our side and take some of the pressure off of us. Can't wait to see how those follicles have developed!