One month down...

We started doing our drug treatment this month.  I was put on birth control for two weeks to regulate a start date.  I took ten pills, not really sure what they were, on July 2.  I had an ultrasound on July 6, the nurse saw three to four follicles growing.  I started giving myself 125mg of the Follistim shots on July 6 and 7.  Went in for my ultrasound on July 8, the doctor gave the go ahead to give myself the hcg shot (which I messed up).  We did the magic baby dance 12 and 36 hours later.  Now we are just waiting.  I go in tomorrow to get my progestrone checked and next Monday July 23 I go in for my blood test.  (I'm not really up on the lingo with this whole fertility thing yet.)  So I'm in the wait weeks and it's kiling me.  That's about it for now.

Not very good at this...

I had my surgery and the doctors say everything looks good.  They also found out that I have PCOS.  That's no good.  The doctor said that we need to try more invasive fertility meds then clomid.  I guess we will try that for a few months and if that doesn't work then he wants to go to IVF.  Lets pray that the drug treatment works.  As far as my surgery went they removed the Endometriosis from my ovaries, all over my uterus, my colon, and my bladder.  I'm all healed up and we start our drug treatment next week.

so much has happened

So much has happened in the past three weeks since I last posted anything.  I mentioned that we had gone to the infertility seminar and meet a doctor that we liked.  I had my appointment last Monday to meet my doctor and do my work up.  We decided that I need to have the surgery to explore for and treat endometriosis.  He said it would take about 4-6 weeks before they could afford to fit me in.  Well, I was checking out and setting my appointments to get all my blood work and exams done, and then there was a cancellation in the surgery schedule for the following Tuesday.  YAY!! I was jumping for joy.  So I was able to get my surgery today.  The only bad thing is I got a visit for Dear Aunt Flow yesterday. So gross.  I not even going to talk about the bowel prep.  OMG!!  I though I was going to die.  So when I woke up I was not a happy camper.  I won't even go into details.  I won't have all of the resolutes until my post op.  I'm just hoping that this will help and not only will I be pain free but I will l also be able to get pregnant.

(picture from http://www.endofound.org)

I've just found a ton of websites and support groups on facebook that help in the fight of endometriosis.  There is so much help out there for us.  We have to know that we are not alone. Check one of them out here.  They are pretty awesome.  If there's any advice I can give to anybody who thinks that they may have this disease but can't get anybody to listen it would be to not give up.  Keep pushing and pushing until someone listens to you.  I do not have all the typical endometriosis symptoms but I have some of them so it was really hard for me to try to get my doctors to listen to me. Don't give up.  You are not alone, don't try to fight this alone.

I'm Back

So it's been awhile.  We have gotten to Jacksonville and are getting settled in our house (pictures to follow).  So we are found a new RE doctor here.
   I'm really excitied.  My first appointment is next Monday.  I got to meet him this weekend.  At a infertiity  seminar

 Last week was National Infertility Awareness Week and in Jacksonville they had a Fertility Awareness Seminar.  They were raffling off three free IVF treatment.  Unforchently I didn't win any of the IVF treatments but I did win a gift certificate to a very nice resturant.  The seminar was very informational.  We learned a lot!!  I also learned about a group called RESOLVE.  They are The National Infertility Association.  Their website has tons of useful information about support and anything you could possibly need.  

(from the RESOLVE website)




So check them out.  They offer some great services.


Also Meg over at In This Wonderful Life is having another give away here.  I've never had the chance to try any of the Scentsy products but I LOVE to try this flavor



or this flavor

(both pictures from the Scentsy website)


So go over there and check out the giveaway.


I will be trying to posting on a more regular basis from now on.  

going in a different direction.

Well I went to the Crossfit gym the other day, and I've decided to not go there.  The price to go to the one here was $150, for the month, to go only 3 times a week.  So I'm going to just stick with the base gym and I've started Weight Watchers.  I'm going to track that on here too.  

I didn't go to the gym yesterday or today because I've been sick.  I had to go to Urgent Care.  That was a nightmare.  I put one of those masks on just so I wasn't breathing in everybodies germs.  YUCK!!  I hate when the clinic on base is booked.  

Day one of the "new me" complete.

So the gym was great today.  I left having a great attitude and with lots of energy, but I crashed out around 2:30 today.  I passed out and slept for two hours.  Tomorrow I plan to take two classes.  I have Turbo Kickboxing at 9:30 and right after that is Tai Chi.  I'm stoked to try Tai Chi.  I also playing with the idea of trying a Crossfit gym.  The only problem with them is that they cost SO much.  They the first session for free so we'll see.  I know OJ did some Crossfit while he was doing NROTC at Ole Miss, so maybe that's something we can do together.  Who knows.  He'll probably laugh and tell that I won't be able to do it.  Well all I know is that I really want to stick with this.  I hope I'm not too sore tomorrow.

Here's to a new beginning!!!!

I've decided to make a new start.  We PCS (permanent change of station) in about 6 weeks, and that's just not going to give me enough time to get any kind of treatment, so I'm just going to work on getting healthy.   Tomorrow is going to be the last, first day of the rest of my life.  I really want to get healthy so that I can get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy.  I'm really want to make a life style change.  I want to also make this my weight loss journal as well as journey to getting pregnant.  It's also my hope for me to talk about our lives and military things too.

So here's to a new beginning!!!!!

Waiting Again....

I still waiting.  I have not heard from Tri-care about referral.  I don't know if I should even bother or keep trying.  I feel like giving up.  I was suppose to have an appointment on Jan. 22 but they just called me today to let me know that that doctor will not longer be coming to that office.  That's  GREAT!!!!  It's pretty freaking awesome.  I sat on the phone for over 45 minutes today and then came to the conclusion they were closed.  Not a good day for me.  It makes me so mad when people say " Don't worry it will happen".  Stop saying that because I am worried and you don't know if it will happen.  I feel like people are belittling what is going on.  I am done bitching now.  Have a great night!!!

Still sad

I'm still feeling really sad.  I've been sad all day.  The new OBGYN can't get me in until Jan 21.  I find this kind of crazy.  Is it going to be a two month wait every time I try to get in there?  This makes me very sad because I can't go through another cycle in this much pain.  There has to be somethng they can do.  I hope the new RE doesn't have a waiting list that long.  Who knows....   I just feel yucky and sad today.

sad, sad, sad.....

I really sad today.  I had a good doctor's appt today.  I got a referral for a new RE and OBGYN.  I also got my referral for my feet and back renewed so I can go this time.  When I was at the doctor's appt today I got a pregnancy test and a BIG FAT NO!!!!!  The real reason I sad is because another TWO friends of mine posted that they we're "expecting" today.  That's the forth or fifth this month. AWESOME!!!!  Why am I so bitter?  Why can't I just be happy for my friends?  I try really hard.   I think about all the things that I am thankful for having, and try not to be ungrateful.

I want to say Happy 1st Birthday to Andrew Edward Mitchell.  This is my friend Lindsey's son over at Drew Needs Rest.  We really wish you could be here to celebrate with your sweet mom.

I also wanted to say Happy 2nd Birthday to my nephew Aiden.

Oh one last thing.  Meg at In this wonderful life is hosting a wonderful giveaway.  She is giving away a $25 gift cert from The Delta Girl.  These frames are so beautiful, y'all.  I really hope I win one.  I really love these Christmas prints and the red one with the white polka dots.

New Doctor

Well I have another doctor's appt tomorrow.  It's to get a new referral for a new (and hopeful better doctor.) I'm sure it will go well.  I'm pretty sure the second round of Clomid did NOT work, but I won't know for a few more days.  I'm trying not to be such a downer but it gets harder every month.  It doesn't help when everybody around me is getting pregnant.  I get sick to my stomach every time I hear "I'm pregnant" or " We're expecting!!!!!!"  You got to love all the exclamation points behind it to.  Yuck listen to me.

I fully intend to put pictures on here but my camera lens is broken.  I'm also really new this blogging thing so I haven't really figured it all out yet.  I want this blog to be more then just a journey to get pregnant.  Once I get a new lens for my camera I can add things to it.  I want to add some of the crafts and thing that I work on too.

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving!

Back on....

So after a lot of crying, frustration, talking to Tricare, and arguing with the billing office at the doctor's office we have decided to change doctor's.  I knew that I was right about what should be covered and what should not be covered.  I was just not willing to pay for things I have coverage for.  I also don't want to go to a doctor who is not willing to go out of their way for me.  So we are going to see another doctor.  I have taking Clomid again this month,  I won't be monitored, but I also have my shot of Ovidrel.  The only problem is I don't know how big my follicles are or if they are ready to be released, but I going to take it tomorrow.  It's along the same time line that I took it last month and I'm using ovulation test to see.  I hope this works so that I don't have to go through the IUI's and IVF's.  I'm praying.  I'll keep everybody updated on how it's going.

Happy Veteran's Day

  I wanted to take time today to say Happy Veteran's Day to my dear husband.   Today is a day to remember all the veterans past, present, and future.  Most importantly those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  I also want to say Happy 235th Birthday Marines!  Yesterday was the Marine Corp birthday.  Here are some pictures of my veteran.

(While he was in Afghanistan.)

(The morning he left with Mollie and Dixie.)

Remember if you see a veteran today go up to them and thank them for their service.  

A bump in the road

Well the first, and possibly the last, round of clomid didn't work.  We've also hit a bump in the road.   I went in for an ultrasound just to make sure that I wasn't pregnant and they told me that this would be the last appointment that Tri-care would cover.  So where do we go now?  Do we keep trying the Clomid with the feeling that I have endometriosis and the Clomid won't really work because of it? I don't know what to do. I am going to into the Tri-care office on Monday to see if there's anything else that we can do and why they won't cover my appointments just because I've started taking Clomid.  Maybe I  misunderstood what they said they would cover but this doesn't make any sense to me.  I just don't know what we're going to do.   I'm looking for a job but we need to pay some bills down so we can buy a house when we move to FL.  We need to sale the house that we own.  I am just beside myself right now.  I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now.  I hope I can get something done on Monday.  I'm also hoping that there was some kind of miscoding done and they will cover my appointments and and ultrasounds and we'll pay for the meds and treatments.

Still Waiting.....

I'm still waiting to see if AF comes or not.  I have a bad feeling that it will.  BOO!!!  I just feel pretty yucky today.  I guess only time will tell.  I have to say I'm pretty disappointed even though I knew it probably not work the first time.  I think I may have gotten my hopes up a little.  I'm just exhausted of trying, and hoping, and wishing, and praying.  I know it will happen when it's suppose to but I'm really tired.  Part of the reason I'm so frustrated is because when we finally start to get some headway we have to move. We'll be moving soon and I hope it will happen before we leave so I don't have to start all over.  I guess we'll find out on Friday.  Time seems to be ticking by so slow.

Happy Birthday My Love!!

Yesterday was my husband's 32 Birthday.  Happy Birthday Muffin!!  I surprised him with tickets to see Jay Leno.  We had so much fun.  This is the second time this week or ever that I've gotten to go to a taping of a talk show.  I Love It!!!! It has to be one of the coolest things I've done since we've been in CA.  We got to see Anne Hathaway, Brian "The Beard" Wilson (pitcher for SF Giants), and Aaron Neville.  I do have to say that I like The Tonight Show better then Lopez Tonight.  Jay was just more personable and nicer.  He talked to the audience and interacted with us and George seemed like he didn't want to be bothered.  Here's a picture of the two of us.

    

  In baby news, I had blood work to check my progesterone today.  I'm waiting to hear back from from the doctor to see if it's normal.  More waiting.  All this waiting is about to drive me crazy.  Only 8 more days until I hope to get a BFP but I'm not getting my hopes up.  I am fully prepared for it to take more then one time to work.  I'm hoping it won't but I'm preparing myself for it to so I don't get heartbroken and hopeless again.  

The Waiting Game

We're are right in the middle of the waiting game.  It's so frustrating having to wait.  I'm trying to stay busy so that it keeps my mind off of it.  Monday my friends and I went down to LA to see the taping of Lopez Tonight.  Lopez Tonight was really cool.  The guest were Kathy Griffin, Simon somebody, and One Republic.  It was one of the coolest thing I've had the opportunity to do since I've been in CA.  One Republic was really good.  Tomorrow is OJ's birthday so I got him tickets to see the taping for Jay Leno.  We're also going to take a tour of the studio.  Then on Saturday we're going down to San Diego to visit some friend of ours from college.  I also have the never ending Auction.  I can not wait for this auction to be over.  I think it's more stress, that I don't need, then it's worth.  I just hope it turns out OK.  So that's the long list of things that I have going on to keep me busy and keep my mind off of things.  I keep getting more and more anxious with each passing day.

Clomid Success

My doctor's appt went well. It looks like I responded well to the Clomid. I've got two big follicles on my left side and a smaller one on my right side. I took my Ovidrel shot this morning to induce ovulation and tomorrow should be the big O. I have to go next Thursday to get a blood test to check my progesterone levels. If my progesterone is off they gave me some to take. I'm very hopeful for the first time since I had the miscarriage. I know that it may take more then one month to achieve pregnancy, but I feel like have we have a very good chance now. I feel like I can relax. I have a good feeling that this might be the month and if it's not this month then it will be next month. Send good baby thoughts my way.

phase one complete

So I finished my 5 days of clomid and have a doctors appt on Friday to see how many of eggs were produced. I really didn't have any side affects excepts maybe some mild hot flashes but I'm always hot so who know if they were hot flashes or if I was just hot. It's very exciting. This hurry up and wait thing is killing me. I'm just happy that we're are taking active steps in the right direction. I'm trying to have a positive attitude and keep positive energy around me. At this point I'm putting everything in God's hand.

I also wanted to say Happy Birthday to my good friend Trista today. We went down to visit her in 29 palms this past weekend. It was nice to just hang out and see the baby again. OJ couldn't believe how big the baby has gotten. It's funny how much changes in just 10 short months.

A little about us!

Hi my name is Ericalyn. I'm a thirty something military wife. I married the love of my life about 7 years, and it's been a wild roller coaster since. We survived five moves, a hurricane, a miscarriage, college (civil engineering degree in three years was tough for both of us.), three deployments to a war zone, five years of infertility, and the list keeps growing. We have three of the sweetest dogs you will ever meet. Jack is as big a horse and he eats like one too, Mollie has an old soul and is very sensitive, and Dixie is the gentle one. They help make my heart full.

We are currently stationed in Port Hueneme, CA. It's nice here but I'm an East Coast girl with southern charm. We are going to PCS (permanent change of station) in March and will be heading to Florida. I can't wait.

We've been trying for little ones for about five years. I've been to a few doctors but all they can come up with is unexpanded infertility. We were referred to a RE ( reproductive specialist) and our first line of attack is going to be Clomid. I've been getting everything from "I'm happy they're finally doing something" to "oh my gosh, you're going to end up with eight babies." I guess we'll see if this will work. We're going to try that for a a few months before taking it to the next step which is laparoscopic surgery to check for endometriosis.