the road to RYAN - our IF timeline

• December 09 - 10w4d u/s shows embryo measuring 9w2d and heart rate of 180, this marks the end of our IF journey and the beginning of our pregnancy journey
• November 09 - 11/4/09 u/s shows gestational sac, 6w6d u/s shows yolk sac, no heartbeat, 7w4d u/s shows embryo measuring 6w4d and a heart rate of 120, 8w4d u/s shows embryo measuring 7w1d and heart rate of 140
• October 09 - IVF, 28 eggs, 16 embryos (2 transfered, 12 frozen), day 5 transfer, BFP, Betas: 8dp5dt 102, 11dp5dt 209, 13dp5dt 325, 14dp5dt 625
• September 09 - Month off treatments to allow cysts to go away (caused by follistim)
• August 09 - Follistim 100IU, Ovidrel, Progesterone/ BFN
• July 09 - BC pills to shrink cyst (caused by clomid)
• June 09 - 150mg clomid, 1mg estrogen, human chorionic gonadotropin injection/ 3rd IUI/ BFN
• May 09 - IUI-Cancelled- only 1 egg (100mg clomid)/ BFN
• April 09 - 2nd IUI (50mg clomid)/ BFN
• March 09 - Diagnostic laparoscopic surgery/ No emdometriosis/1st IUI/ BFN:(
• February 09 - 50mg Clomid/ No luck
• January 09 -
• Hysterosalpingogram/ All structures patent
• Sperm analysis/ Super swimmers
• Ovarian ultrasound/ Good egg production and quality
• Human chorionic gonadotropin injection/ No luck
• December 08 - First visit with fertility doctor
• November 07 - Officially trying;)

My Sweet Emma

I brought Mazie home when she was just six weeks old. She was a terror on paws and she cried every time I left the house. When she was almost one I decided, since she was a pack dog, she needed a sibling to keep her company. And from that came the decision to get dog #2.

Nine years ago today I brought my sweet Emma home from Town Lake Animal Shelter in Austin Texas. She was estimated to be about one year old. She was a stray so I have no idea what happened to her that first year, however when she came home she was sooo nervous (thank goodness the submissive peeing didn't last long). Mazie and Emma quickly became best friends. In fact, the first time I left them home alone together was the first time Mazie didn't cry!

Other than the isolated incident of drinking baby oil and the unbelievable, constant shedding (seriously, you wouldn't believe it), she has been the best dog one could hope for. Happy 10th Birthday Emma!

Happy 2nd Trimester to Me

That’s right! We made it past the first trimester! It seems like only yesterday we were being told ‘congratulations you’re pregnant’, ‘I’m sorry you’re no longer pregnant’, ‘I see a fetus and a heartbeat’. Needless to say it was quite an unexpected roller coaster. All the ambivalence surrounding this pregnancy caused us to be very cautious with our excitement. Now that we’re past the first trimester, we’ve decided to let it all go and be excited!

As for the slow start and small size of the baby, only 2 of the 4 doctors we’ve seen are concerned. And the fact remains… there is nothing we can do about it anyway. We were advised by my fertility doc, due to a slight increase in chromosomal abnormalities with the ICSI procedure, to have genetic testing. However, I declined the early testing. For a previous NICU nurse, a current pediatric nurse, and my personality this decision was quite amazing. Well a couple days ago I had a panic attack about having declined the testing. Fortunately Chris was there to talk me down!

As promised, here are pictures of Chris wearing pantyhose. I suppose I should explain. Chris's colleagues paid money to see certain people, Chris included, dress up like idiots at work. They raised nearly $2,000 to help families in need. (why the first 2 pics are so small is beyond me, but you get the idea)

Resignation Delivered

I’m reading A Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy and it’s hysterical. It’s non-medical, straight talk about the startling effects of pregnancy. In the chapter titled Pregnancy Insanity it clearly states, among many things, do not quit your job. In other words, there are too many hormones running amuck to make such big decisions. But, of course, I’m not inflicted with this so called gestational psychosis so I feel free to disregard such advice!

I’ve thought it over for awhile and the timing just fell into place. I’ve been on a pediatric palliative and hospice team for a couple months and while I’m only required to work 8 hours a week, I am able to work up to 40. So, that’s just what I’m going to do (maybe not a full 40 hours, but certainly more than 8). In addition to working more there, I also accepted an adjunct position to teach once a week at a local community college. So there you have it.

Oh, Chris dressed up as a toy solider, complete with thigh high white pantyhose, to raise money at work today...I'm hoping for some sweet pictures to share!

This week...

1. Our Christmas cards went out with the announcement
2. I told my co-workers I was expecting
3. I resigned from my full-time job as an instructor
4. I accepted an adjunct position elsewhere
5. Chris started preparing for his impending job search
6. I finally bought a Christmas gift for someone other than Alison

And it's only Wednesday, I’m exhausted! Details to follow…

Trust me...

Many people have said 'maybe you got pregnant naturally after the IVF and that's why the baby is smaller than expected'. Trust me, that did not happen. It's impossible. Me and my oversized ovaries were put on strict restrictions. Need I say more?

Chris and I recently went to Texas for the Big 12 Championship game between Texas and Nebraska. The game was in Arlington Texas at Jerry's house (aka the new Cowboys stadium). There is nothing like 76,211 football fans cheering in a single location. This was Chris's first UT experience and he made me proud!


As for the game, we were ranked #3 and Nebraska #22. Needless to say this was suppose to be a cake walk. Of course, it was not! When the clock ran out in the fourth quarter it was Nebraska that ran the field. But there was a discrepency and there was ONE second left. So, our kicker was sent to save the day at the 46 yard line and he did! We won and off to the national championship we go! Hook'em horns!


While in Texas we also did a little shopping in Grapevine with my Mom (aka Nonna-to-be). Here are some snapshots of the day.

'Outing' Baby Hayes

Chris and I went for an ultrasound today and we saw our baby and his or her tiny heart beating 180 times a minute! The baby is growing steadily, however the little tike is still about a week behind schedule. It was, yet, a different doctor and he was not concerned with the small size.


After seeing the heartbeat three times, we're prepared to 'out' this pregnancy! Even though many people already know about it via this blog or via being 'in the know' about the IVF, we will now make it known to the world!

10 Weeks

Having seen the heartbeat twice now has eased my mind, somewhat. The signs and symptoms of pregnancy, while bothersome, are also somewhat reassuring. If it's an early pregnancy symptom I have experienced it. I had morning, afternoon, and evening sickness for a couple weeks but it is seems to be passing.

The other symptoms are fleeting and rarely bothersome. Don't mistake any of this for complaining. The thrill of being pregnant outweighs any sickness! Oh, and Chris is picking up much of the slack around the house. Thanks Love.

I've been wanting to take an early pregnancy picture. You know, one before my belly changed. Well, I should have taken it before undergoing IVF; my belly has never been the same. So here is my 8 week shot...just know the belly is likely due to my ovaries not the baby!



My fertility doc said I could stop the shots at 10 weeks...so no more shots! Over the last 8 weeks I had just over 50 IM shots in the bum! I have my first prenatal appointment tomorrow but I don't get another ultrasound until Thursday. Simply put, I won't learn anything about the baby tomorrow, just pregnancy stuff. You know, don't drink, get enough sleep, etc., etc.