We went for our second beta on Friday and our hcg went from 164 to 536. Progesterone from 64 to 72. So the pregnancy is sticking and sticking well! Also, the docs are taking bets that it's twins. My mother (a neonatal intensive care nurse) is worried it might be triplets. I think our RE is also worried, cause they scheduled an ultrasound for Thursday, which will be five weeks. Yikes!

Holy HCG!

So we went in for a blood test on Wednesday (which was only CD25--KB has 26 day cycles usually)...before even having a missed period because of the positive pregnancy tests (5 of them)....and Holy HCG! Our HCG was already at 164 (progesterone 64). No wonder KB has already been experiencing nausea, excessive thirst and constipation! We go back in for our second Beta tomorrow morning, just to make sure the HCG is still rising. We have become addicted to peeing on sticks just to see that awesome purple line...which is getting darker and darker every day.

So part two of the news regarding KB's HCG, because we have not technically hit 4 weeks yet (which will be on Sunday)...the doctor said that our HCG is much higher than average. We also know that KB had three follicles this month...they said that there is a possiblity that we are cooking up more than one baby in there!!!!

Oh Jesus Christ.

I am very excited about this possibility...and a little nervous too...KB may become a stay at home (or work from home) mother afterall...


On a slightly different note...the realization that we are actually pregnant is setting in more and more. I feel like I am walking around with a goofy grin and major secret at all times. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to just blurt it out...but alas...caution is needed...it's still quite early.

I'M JUST SO EXCITED!!!!!

BFP!!!!!!!!!

BFP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So we couldn't sleep last night...at all. KB has had waves of nausea coupled with intense hunger and thirst since Sunday (9dpo)...which we thought we were imagining because that seemed way to early to be having symptoms...but this morning, we peed on two sticks and both had a faint, but very clear line! And just to be sure it was different than evaporation lines, I peed on one too...and as we suspected, I am not pregnant....but my wife IS!!!!!!!

This day is now entered into one of my top 10 days in life so far.

And now I am nervous about the pregnancy sticking...After all of our friends' experiences with miscarriages and infertility, I think I will be anxious until we pass 12 weeks...and then I will rest easily. That is only 8 1/2 weeks away...it will come quickly!

Now, back to looking at cute baby stuff on-line. Good thing my last patient cancelled and I am caught up on paperwork...cause I am going to be majorly unproductive for the next few hours!

A crazy three months

So...it's been a while since I've updated this blog...it's been a pretty busy season. We both started new jobs that have kept us more-than-occupied, we've been exploring New England, and there have been some conferences, etc. Sorry.

We've also probably been purposefully avoiding looking at other blogs, and hence have forgotten about our own. We were waiting until our insurance kicked in on November 1st, and it was just too difficult to watch other's getting pregnant, etc. while we were waiting for a chance to try again.

We went to the doctor the beginning of November, and were informed that our lovely insurance would not cover us until we had paid for 6 IUI's out of pocket at the doctor's office (I guess the one's I did at home didn't count). So we technically have to do four more before they will pay a dime. If we had known this, we wouldn't have waited three blasted months! But alas...onward and upward.

Our first appointment with the new RE was horrible. She had double-booked us after already calling a week earlier to reschedule us. Then they said they had an appointment the same day, a few hours later, so we both moved around our appointments to make this appointment (otherwise we would have had to wait another month to get in)...and then the doctor was 1/2 hour late to this appointment. She had obviously not bothered to read the chart, because she asked me if I was KB's "friend or cousin...or...????" KB became pretty upset at this, and not-so-gently informed her that I was her wife...which the doctor brushed aside...no apologies for being late or for making stupid assumptions.

We thought in Massachusetts we wouldn't have to deal with people being ignorant about same-sex marriage...and I guess now we are realizing that only close to Boston are people more progressive. Also, it might be just me, but fertility specialists in general should probably be more sensitive to the idea that their patients might not be straight since many lesbians require the assistance of RE's to become pregnant...I'm just saying...

So now we are on Tamoxifen. No more clomid for us. It thinned out KB's lining too much. We had three mature follicles (which is about half of what we typically had when on clomid, but still quite good). Her lining was within normal limits...and now we are 7dpo. We had to inseminate on Thanksgiving, with a different doctor (who is the head of the department and so much better interpersonally)...so if this doesn't work out this month...we are switching doctors to her as well.

The other strange thing that has happened that I am totally reading into (because really everything can be a pregnancy sign, can't it?) is that KB had weird nasal congestion for about three days from 4dpo to 6dpo. It was like a cold...but she wasn't extra tired and didn't have any other symptoms. No relief if she took an allergy pill...and not the typical nasal mucous for a cold...it was clear...
I've (of course) been reading about "early pregnancy signs and cold symptoms" on various ttc sites...which you would think that a year later I would be learning my lesson on this...and this phenomenon has been reported as a fluke sign of early pregnancy. so of course...despite how much I am trying to ignore it...I'm freaking out a little in my head. But much less than in past months.

7 days to go. Let's hope this works...for both us and our bank account.

Yay Massachusetts!

We're here! Well...we've been here for 2 weeks now...but no internet until this weekend. So far, we are loving Massachusetts and not really missing Chicago. But there are a few things we miss, and a few things we don't like about Massachusetts. First, we miss grided streets. I realize how much we depended on a street system that makes logical sense and am thankful for the time we had it, but now I find myself wondering where I am a lot of the time. Thank goodness for GPS. Second, I miss being able to buy my alcohol at the grocery store. It's such a waste of time to have to go to two places...an irritation that is livable...but annoying none-the-less. Third, I miss drivers that are somewhat curtious. People actually speed up here in order to prevent you from changing lanes. Massholes. So far, that is it...but I am sure the list will grow a little in the next few months as we adjust.

Some semi-exciting things have happened since we moved. First, we upgraded to a queen-sized bed. That extra 6 inches really makes a difference! And ever since, I have woken up without any joint pain. Woohoo! Second, we upgraded our entertainment system...from the 19inch my dad bought me when I was in college, to a 37inch flat-screen. I know this is not a giant TV or anything...but in comparison, I feel like I'm sitting in front of the big-screen at the theatre. Also, today, we pick up our marriage license and later this week, we are going to legalize our marriage in Boston. I'm pretty excited to have the same rights as every other married couple (at least when I am in New England).

So far, we've been doing a lot of exploring, which has been fun. We've discovered that Worcester restaurants are much cheaper than we are used to...which means we can probably afford to go out a little more than we used to...so that is great. Also, we played an impromptu game of Bocce Ball with some locals while we were walking our dog through the park the other night. That was a weird--but fun experience. We also walked the grounds of Worcester State Hospital as it was getting dark. That was creepy, actually. And we have hung out with some blog friends a few times...which was lovely.

As far as baby stuff goes...we aren't totally sure what we are doing right now. We may start a few home tries just for the hell of it...we may take another month off. We are researching good RE's in the UMASS system (and elsewhere) for November when the health insurance kicks in. And from there, it will all depend on what the RE says. If they want us on a new fertility drug with IUI's...fine. If they want us to continue on with IVF...fine. At least that is how I am feeling. I think KB would prefer not to go right to IVF. But I am so tired of this game and every day my baby obsession grows. I have a lot of fabric sitting in the closet and it takes all my strength to not start turning it into new baby outfits. Plus, our guest bedroom would be so much better as a nursury. Right now, it is so hodge-podge. I need a unified theme. Baby seems like a good theme.