Getting Creative in the Creation

Well, today did not go as we had hoped. Turns out we have one follicle that is 13 and a few that are much smaller. Our NP didn't seem too discouraged by the news but we were. As S says, "it just seems like more bad news every time."

NP suggested coming back on Thursday for another ultrasound. She seems to think by then the follicle will have grown to around 19 and S can get the hCG shot. However, this is where the kink is thrown into the plan. I have to leave at noon for board meetings in Chicago all weekend. If in fact S's follicle has grown to larger than 19 the insemination dates will be Friday and Saturday.

This poses two problems. One, I will not be able to be in Madison during those days as I have about 12 hours each day of meetings. Two, S will have to be in Madison alone while trying to get pregnant. Neither of these options work very well with our co-dependant neurotic desperate lesbian selves.

Soooooooooo, what is a co-dependant desperate lesbian couple to do......well, we can't let a month pass with out trying to make sperm meet ovum.....on to plan #6,000.....

1. We ordered two ICI (this is used for at home insemination) of Bernard for delivery tomorrow.
2. We scheduled the ultrasound for Thursday
3. Pack the sperm and liquid nitrogen container in the car with two of my co-workers, S, myself, and suitcases and drive to Chicago.
4. S will pack the sperm and liquid nitrogen container and take the train to Grand Rapids (GR) to see her family.
5. S will inseminate in GR by herself (stay away Betsey and Katie!)
6. S will pack the sperm and liquid nitrogen container on the train again on Sat. and return to Chicago
7. We will inseminate in Chicago on Saturday.
8. We will then drive the liquid nitrogen container back to Madison to ship it back to Virginia.
9. We will start the dreaded two week wait (tww).


Here is the approximate size of the liquid nitrogen container....not really all that easy to move around with! (This picture is from 1.5 years ago when we thought we were introducing Leah and her cousin! Time does fly.) S is on her knees in this picture but the tank is not a small item!

This is all if the Thursday ultrasound gives good answers. If not.....who knows what we will do with the Bernard's ICI sperm.....I guess we'll just have to get creative.

All this and board meetings has left me drained....but I'm still going to work till about 10 pm tonight.

The meeting

We got back from Michigan yesterday just after noon. We ended up going in to get S's blood drawn early for her Estradiol and come back at 3 for the ultrasound. While S was having her blood drawn they said they could do the ultrasound early if we wanted. We decided to go with it as we woke up at 6 am to drive the 5.5 hours back to Madison. Gladys (our dog) was in the car but we figured better to get it all done now and spend more time with her back at home.

Well, the ultrashound, blood work, and day went wonderful! We for the first time ever have all the ducks falling into a row. Granted we aren't getting too excited but things are looking good. Our NP consulted the triage nurse from home and told her to go ahead with the HCG shot. S had 2 (19x24 and 18x20) great follicles and one other that might be ready. Her Estradiol was up to 385!

We walked over to the pharmacy, got the hCG, had it injected and went home. I spent the evening talking to the little ladies and asking them to release soon. We scheduled inseminations with a different NP in our NP's office (ours is out for vacation)for Wed. and Thurs!

This morning S's BBT was up a little and we are hoping it will spike tomorrow morning. We went to the appointment and I had the pleasure of pushing the plunger of the syringe in. While doing so our luck seemed to have run out. the catheter end of the syringe can disconnected front the syringe and Bernard got loose!!!! We did get most of it in but some of the escaped. We'll surely get'em all in there tomorrow! Fingers crossed....for the little ones to meet up.

Rum PA pum pum

So we honor him, per rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, us and his sperm! S ordered our latest donor! He is our third selection since starting this process! In the beginning we were concerned with reading every answer and detail provided by the donor. Now we look for a few key things, read the essay and make quick decisions. Our main criteria are blue eyes, tall, thinner, some Irish, and mainly willing to be contacted by the child after age 18. It is not to say we are going to push our child to contact him but that we think our child should have the option if they so want it.

Anywho, we decided to try a new on and I read this one (we have named him Bernard pronounced Bur-nerd) and we did not need to go any further. He is 75% Irish, blue eyes, brown hair, thin, tall, smart, and kind. I am nearly 100% Irish, blue eyes, brown hair, not tall or thing (traits we would like to give that I never could). Since S will be carrying the baby we decided to go for a donor that had many of my physical traits. It is a match made in heaven and probably one that will be lucky!!!! (fingers crossed)

Well, Bernard arrives at the doctor's office tomorrow (at least his vials filled the second most important ingredient in baby making)! We are set for our ultrasound on Tuesday at 3:00pm. This is causing us to cut Christmas at my dad's short but he sure doesn't mind if it means a grandchild might arrive in 9-10 months!!! Our NP is coming in on her vacation on Wed and Thurs to inseminate and then the waiting beings again. We plan to get the hCG shot this time to force the ovulation. S is on a double dose of Clomid and everything seems to be running as it should.

Here we go, decking the halls....fa la la la la, la la, la, LA!