The Gallagher Journey to Parenthood: The Big 3-0!!!!

Friday, August 15, 2008

The Big 3-0!!!!

Well, today marks a big milestone, I turned 30!!! Looking back on my twenties I had two big things happen....I graduated from college and got married to a man I love more than ANYTHING!!!! I hope that this year will be another big year, the year I become a mommy!!! Well, till next time!!! See ya!!!

TTC Abreviations

AF - Aunt flo (menstruation)
B/W - bloodwork
BCP - Birth control pill
Beta - Test performed to confirm pregnancy by measuring the amount of HCG (the pregnancy hormone) your body is producing
BFN - Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test result)
BFP - Big Fat Postive (pregnancy test result)
CD - Cycle Day
D&C - - Dilation & Curretage
DH - - Dear/Darling Husband
DOR -- Dominished Ovarian Reserve
DPO - days past ovulation
E2 - - Estradiol
Endo - - Endometriosis
ER - - Egg Retreival
ET - - Embryo Transfer
FSH - - Follicle Stimulating Hormone
HCG - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HSG - hysterosalpingogram
ICSI - intracytoplasmic sperm injection
IF - infertility
IUI - intrauterine insemination
IVF - in-vitro fertilization
LH - - luteinizing hormone
M/C - miscarriage
O - ovulation
OPK - ovulation predictor kit
PG/Preggo - pregnant
PNV - - Prenatal vitamin
POAS - - Pee On A Stick
RE - - Reproductive Endocrinologist (Infertility Dr.)
TTTC - trouble trying to conceive
TTC - trying to conceive
US or u/s - - Ultrasound

Our Journey Thus Far....

05/28/08: Our profile is up & running on The Cradle's website!

05/21/08: We are officially APPROVED AND WAITING!!!

04/21/08: Counselor homevisit complete!

03/25/08: Fourth homestudy class and individual interviews completed!!

03/22/08: Third homestudy class completed!!

03/06/08: Second homestudy class completed!!

02/25/08: Second meeting w/ our counselor, couple interview.

02/09/08: Adoption 101 class...DONE!

01/19/08: Initial consultation with our counselor from The Cradle.

01/07/08: Turn in registration forms and registration fee to the adoption agency.

01/06/08: Stop taking Prednisone.

01/01/08: Decrease Prednisone to 1/2 tab once every other day.

12/27/07: Decide to adopt domestically.

12/26/07: Beta confirms BFN. Stop PIO, Suppositories, Estrace, Prenatal and baby asprin. Decrease prednisone to 1/2 tab once daily.

12/13/07: FET #1

12/08/07: Increase PIO and Progesterone Suppositories to 1 in the morning and 1 at night of each, all other meds stay the same.

12/07/07: Decrease Estrace to 2 tabs in the morning and 2 at night. Start PIO and Progesterone Suppositories, 1 of each in the evening.

12/03/07: Increase Estrace to 3 tabs in the morning and 3 at night.

11/28/07: Increase Estrace to 1 tab in the morning and 1 at night.

11/23/07: Start Estrace, Prednisone and baby asprin - all 1 tab in the morning.

11/11/07: Take last BCP.

11/09/07: Start Lupron, 10 units (0.5mg).

10/26/07: Start BCPs for FET.

10/03/07: Post m/c follow-up to discuss next steps.

9/22/07: Started researching adoption.

9/15/07: Start m/c.

9/12/07: Third beta, HCG declined further, HCG 25. Instructed to stop taking meds.

9/10/07: Second beta, HCG declined to 31 : (

9/7/07: Beta confirms BFP, HCG of 58!!

9/3/07: First + HPT

8/25/07: Egg transfer of 2 8-celled embies.

8/23/07: Fertilization report - 21 retrieved, 14 mature, 12 fertilized.

8/22/07: Donor has egg retrieval.

8/11/07: Donor starts stims

7/27/07: Donor starts Lupron 10 units (0.5mg).

7/24/07: Last BCP taken.

7/23/07: Start Lupron 10 units (0.5mg).

7/16/07: IVF loan approved! August cycle is a go!!

7/12/07: Received meds for donor egg IVF cycle.

7/10/07: Start BCPs for donor egg IVF cycle.

6/26/07: Received news that donor passed her medical evaluation and doctor prescribed donor birth control pills.

6/22/07: Received news that donor passed her pyschological evaluation.

6/4/07 : Donor has pyschological evaluation.

5/25/07: Sign both contracts, one between us and CEO and one between us and the donor.

5/19/07: Meet with our lawyer regarding egg donor contracts.

5/8/07: Call egg donor facility to let them know we have chosen a donor.

5/6/07: Initial Egg Donor Consult.

5/2/07: Post IVF consult to discuss next steps. RE notices a high FSH level and dominished ovarian reserve. Suggests looking into using an egg donor.

4/26/07: Egg transfer cancelled due to all 3 eggs stalling.

4/25/07: Nurse calls to say 3 eggs feritlized.

4/21/07: Egg retrieval performed (8 eggs retrieved).

4/19/07: Take HCG trigger shot at exactly 9:00pm.

4/9/07: Start gonadotropins. 225 units Follistim in morning and evening. Menopur, 1 vial morning and evening. Lupron dose reduced to 5 units (0.25mg).

4/6/07: Begin Ovulation monitoring.

3/28/07: Last BCP taken.

3/26/07: Start Lupron 10 units (0.5mg).

3/19/07: Post IVF consult to discuss next steps. Decide to try IVF again with a 5-day transfer.

3/14/07: Start BCP's for IVF #2.

3/6/07: Pregnancy test is negative.

2/22/07: Egg transfer performed.

2/19/07: Egg retrieval performed.

2/18/07: Take HCG trigger shot at exactly 1:00am.

2/8/07: Start gonadotropins. 150 units Follistim in morning and evening. Lupron dose reduced to 5 units (0.25mg).

2/6/07: Begin Ovulation monitoring.

1/27/07: Last BCP taken.

1/25/07: Start Lupron 10 units (0.5mg).

1/24/07: Baseline ultrasound performed.

1/8/07: Start BCP's for IVF cycle.

1/4/07: First IVF consult with the RE. Decide to do a 3-day transfer.

1/2/07: Pregnancy test is negative.

12/18/06: IUI #2 performed.

12/8/06: Clomid 50mg to be taken on cd 5-9 prescribed.

12/4/06: Pregnancy test is negative.

11/20/06: IUI #1 performed.

11/10/06: Start Clomid challenge (100 mg on cd 5-9 of cycle).

8/11/06: Initial visit with reproductive endocrinologist.

5/3/06: Given Lupron Depot 3-month injection to supress menstration and further development of endometriosis. Also instructed to use Climara patch once a week.

4/6/06: Laparoscopic surgery reveals stage II endometriosis and several small polyps on the uterus.

3/13/06: DH has semen analysis performed. Reveals normal ranges.

2/23/06: Hysterosalpingogram reveals "T" shaped uterus with normal fallopian tubes. No blockage detected.

2/17/06: Baseline FSH, LH, and Estradiol levels taken.

1/5/06: First saw reproductive endocrenologist to help with pelvic pain during menstral cycle.

The Gallagher Journey to Parenthood

Friday, August 15, 2008

The Big 3-0!!!!

4 comments:

How long until we're matched w/ a birthmom?

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