Paris, Papers, and Progesterone

Well I would like to start off the post on a happy note. Steve and I had a wonderful time at the Miller Ranch in Paris TN. It was one heck of a drive, but such a beautiful place. We spent the days lounging and helping out his parents get things together. (Lounging for Steve was sitting in a tree stand!) We had a little scare when his brother, Josh, got lost in the woods, but all turned out well and Steve got a little more exercise than planned. We had mentioned how we "triggered" on Tuesday so we got our own trailer for those 4 days so we could have some alone time. I posted the pictures I took on my phone on FB, but here's a couple:





Steve drove me around on that bush hog tractor, it was a blast! Plus I did some target practice as you can see above. I'm a good shot! I hit the middle of the target with my first shot! Now Steve wants me to go hunting with him! lol

In other good news I went in for a blood draw yesterday (Wednesday) on CD 21 and my progesterone level was a 19! Which is way above the miserable 3.9 is was last month. She said that I definitely ovulated! MY FIRST TIME EVER!!! Score 1 for my body responding! I have an appointment for a follow up next Wednesday and to discuss further action if this happens to be another failed cycle. Although I'm hoping that it will just be good news all around, I'm not trying to have false hope that we've finally succeeded after 2 years. I'm really just grateful that I am in my first 2 week wait ever, and that my body responded to something! I do have slight cramping today but I'm not really sure if it means anything good or bad.

In school news I going out of my f$*%&#% mind! This semester is the most demanding yet. We have 2 IPP papers (as usual), an MPP project, Glo-Bus software project, Portfolio IPP paper, Case Study (14 pages), on top of regular homework and exams. I have a Case Study that was assigned Tuesday and due next Tuesday. UGH! On top of trying to write drafts for my IPPs and study for an exam now I have to write another case study because I got a B+ instead of an A. Someone please remind me that this will be worth it when its over because the stress level I'm at is in the RED!

Cinderelly Cinderelly.........

So I've felt incredibly overwhelmed with work and school lately (hence a 2 week break from a blog) but I need to update the goings on in the Miller Household.

We started the Femara on Oct3, and right away I noticed that I had less side effects (THANK YOU GOD!) Barely any hot flashes, and no sweating through my pj's at night (well maybe once). My edginess was better although I could still tell I was being a bit of a crab. Maybe the crabbiness stems from being so exhausted too. Working fulltime and school fulltime can really kick your butt. Especially with the workload they've unleashed on us this semester. I have to write 2 IPP papers, 1 IPP Portfolio paper, put together my portfolio, 2 group projects, a MPP project, not to mention read the chapters (ha! yeah right) and complete the normally due homework. Oops shoot, thats totally due today! ugh!

Anyhow I went back to the RE on Monday (the 12th) for a scan and bloodwork, as typical. This time I didn't have any big ones on the right (which has been where they've been coming from). BUT on my left ovary was a follicle that was 19mm (on CD12 no less!) which is the biggest one I've had on scan yet! So they took bloodwork and called me that afternoon to tell me to trigger the next day (an entire day ahead of normal schedule! woo hoo) So maybe this new drug is actually doing its job. So as of today we're triggered and again following doctors orders.

We're heading down to Steve's parents new land in Tennessee this weekend. I'm pretty excited it looked gorgeous from the pictures. I wasn't going to go since this was mainly a hunting trip, but since we've triggered I have to go (honestly I could really use the 4 day break! lol)I'm pretty excited! Paris, Tennessee here we come! I'm hoping to stop at Mammoth Cave on the way back too since we didn't see much of it the first time.

In other Miller news, our pudgy little Beast had an accident yesterday which made his toenail come completely off! Poor little guy. Steve rushed him to the vet (thank you my wonderful friend Katie!) and all is well. Although he looks a little sad with his bootie. SEE:



back to the grind!

This is the end, the end my friend

So my doctor just called and we're changing the game plan. No more Clomid. They feel my body isn't responding to it well. This is what I don't understand:
1. I had mature follicles, so I triggered. Bloodwork shows low progesterone on CD22, which means NO ovulation. Supposed to start prometrium, but Aunt Flow reared her ugly head before I even got a chance. AUNT FLOW!!! You exclaim?!?! YES! I got AF withOUT medication. Wouldn't that suggest that I in fact DID ovulate? Not sure. Since I have no experience in the ovulation department I'm not really sure how this whole fiasco is working.
2. SO now they're taking me off Clomid and I'll begin my first round of Femara on Saturday after an ultrasound tomorrow to make sure I don't have any "fake follicles" which are "endo-cysts." Which she thought I had heard of, but in fact I have not. Since Dr. Blacker didn't feel my endo was severe, I'm not sure why now they're considering me a (quote, unquote) "special case"

So I asked what makes me a special case and all that. I wanted to know what the difference was between Femara and Clomid. This sucks. I wish I understood and I wish my body worked. This whole thing is so Gawrsh Darn frustrating. I need to pray to Isis or something to get this figured out! Just kidding. But still....

Steve is supposed to be heading down to the Miller's land in Tennessee on the 15th to hunt with his Dad. NOW, since this will put him leaving on the day AFTER I trigger, I might have to go too. This stuff cost too much money to waste a cycle because he was hunting. UGH!

In other news my semester began this week. Its going to be a bunch of writing. This weekend we are heading to the Renaissance Festival. I'm excited! I've never been. I hope its fun.