1st IVF Stimulation Cycle

I filled up my first sharps container today.  I guess the timing was perfect because I finished my first set of medication protocol today too.  It was 40 days of medication with 24 of those days being injection days.  I am pretty proud of myself for getting through it all since I was really nervous before I started.  I hated needles a month ago.  Now I just don't like them.  Mark even commented last night that I didn't flinch before sticking my stomach with the needle.

Since I'm a visual person I wanted to see the progress.  So this morning I took all my needles out and grouped them based on which medication I used for each type.  Now I'm really impressed with myself - that's over 50 needles sitting on the table people!  And even better than that is now I finally get one day off!  Just one, but I'm quite excited to not give myself a shot tomorrow!  

I feel like I need the one day off just to gear up for the needles that I start to use on Wednesday, because unfortunately the shots don't stop for good.  I've got at least 84 more coming my way in the next 3 months - crossing my fingers that it won't be more.   After retrieval on Wednesday I go from the small insulin needles (left) into my tummy to that honking huge needle on the right that will be stuck into...oh let's just say a nice big muscle that I can't easily reach myself.  YUCK!  Fortunately my neighbor is a nurse and has volunteered to be around to either teach Mark how to do it or do it herself until he/I am confident in his abilities.  She'll see a whole new side of me, bless her heart :-)!

I also get the next two days off from driving to Tulsa.  I went to Tulsa four days last week.  That translates into 20 hours of driving.  I could have driven to Veracruz, Mexico & been vacationing on the beach this morning.  Wow...that idea sounds kind of nice.  Fortunately I found a carpool buddy.  Another girl from Bentonville is on the exact same day of her IVF cycle and our appointments have all been within 30 minutes of each other so we've been able to carpool all last week.  It seems odd that we've only known each other a week, but I guess 20 hours in a car talking about one of the most intense times of our lives is a recipe for a fast friendship.  The drive goes much faster with another person in the car and it has been interesting to compare our medication differences, ultrasound developments, and even theological differences on what to do with extra embryos.   She's never done any fertility treatment so I'm able to help her understand some IF vocabulary and help her know what questions to ask while she provides me a breath of fresh air.  It's working out quite well!  Hopefully we'll have the same outcome this cycle and we'll be able to continue our compare and contrast conversations over the next year.

Other than IVF stuff taking up most of my mornings things have been business as usual.  Mark still seems to be enjoying work and I'm still busy with Sophie & Max until well into the evening.   We are enjoying the cool weather that has made it to Bentonville. It finally feels like fall and I hope it sticks around.  I love summer, but I am very ready for sweaters, jackets, pumpkin pie, corn mazes, and all the holidays autumn brings with it.