I decided against doing a 'last post of 2010'. I'd rather focus on the upcoming year, versus revisiting the past. I will say that 2010 was actually a very good year for us, in everything except for our luck maintaining pregnancies. Outside of infertility, things went swimmingly well. And we did zero in on estrogen priming being the right protocol for us (yay for no Lupron!)
We'll continue doing IVF this year. After our first (briefly successful) IVF, we told ourselves would take 1-5 more, so that we didn't focus too much on any individual one. (That doesn't work so well, by the way.) We'll be looking at our next IVF attempt sometime in late February/early March. Technically it'll be IVF 3.0, since our second attempt didn't result in embryos, it's apparently not counted -- so I'll label that attempt 1.5. Having 4-6 weeks before things ramp up for the next attempt will be good for my husband and I -- crazy IVF med hormones, leading to no sex after the transfer, leading to no sex until the 6w3d ultrasound, leading to no sex after the 8w0d D&C isn't so great for closeness and intimacy.
We just completed our last major house project, and it will be nice to take a break from all that and get to enjoy our house this year. We'll finally organize everything (including our giant storage room -- at least as much a curse as a blessing). And we'll do some travel, starting with a rescheduled trip to Hawaii in February that was supposed to happen in the fall.
I don't know right now what I want to do about working. If I were still pregnant, I'd be considering a 4-6 month part or full time role with a startup. But given more IVFs in our future, and uncertainty about how everything will progress, I rather suspect I'll continue not working. It's weird not working (good topic for a future post...) but it does help me deal with all the crazy scheduling and stress of IVF.
Thanks for being along for my ride. I hope 2011 is kind to us all.
My husband and I started trying to have a baby in 2007. We ended up doing 5 rounds of IVF with our own eggs, miscarrying twice due to chromosomal abnormalities, and then moved to donor eggs. Our son was born in 2012. After two unexplained miscarriages trying for a sibling, we found a gestational surrogate, who carried our second son (2015) and our daughter (2018).
Happy New Year! Oooh Hawaii in February...nice! Good luck on IVF 3.0...I'll be here following along!
ReplyDeleteRelaxing in Hawaii sounds like the perfect way to unwind before an IVF cycle :) Heres to a good 2011 :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a great plan for 2011, not only with infertility treatment, but with life. It's refreshing to hear you say 2010 was a good year for you. I think I need to feel more that way too, and not have my entire critique of the year be based on all my infertility woes. I hope you have a blast on your trip to Hawaii, lucky!!! And good luck with your future IVF cycle. So much to look forward to in this coming year, right? :)
ReplyDeleteWishing you the very best of things in 2011. Hawaii sounds amazing!!!!
ReplyDeleteHere to hold your hand through the next ivf cycle. I am on a similar time table so we may get to be cycle buddies!
Happy New Year! I love what you said about having several IVFs so you could focus not only on one. In retrospect, I think that wouldve worked for us too, you know, we put all our eggs in one basket (literally LOL) and thought for sure that our one IVF would work and when it didnt our world fell apart. I really hope it all turns out for you guys this year. I'll be following along to see about your work issues, Im going through a similar situation, dont want to go back to full time job but need to help dh with our new house payments and I need to start soon. anyway, hoping for the best for u hon. hugs, HopingforBaby from Twitter
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year. I'm very very sorry about your recent loss. Thank you for the visit and the comment. many hugs and lots of hope for you as your journey continues.
ReplyDeleteMuch love.
I hope 2011 is very kind to you. I hope the little break you have from now until your next ivf is relaxing and brings you and your husband back closer. A trip to Hawaii sounds great! What do you do when your not working? I wasn't working for a bit and started to go stir crazy.
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ReplyDeleteHi there, I really hope your 3rd IVF works for you! I was just wondering if you have been tested for something called Natural Killer Cells? Here is a link to a tv programme that is on in the uk that did a piece on it, it was really interesting and it may be something to look into.
ReplyDeletehttp://thismorning.itv.com/thismorning/health/natural-killer-cells
I wish you all the best! Anna x
Thanks for the link, Anna. I do have elevated natural killer cell levels (and TH1:TH2 levels), which are treated with Humira (immune suppressant) and Intralipid infusions. With that combination of treatments, I went into my last IVF with completely normal levels.
ReplyDeleteHope 2011 is wonderful to you!!! Hawaii sounds fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAh thats good that you know and have sorted them out! I will be following your journey and thinking positively for you! Ax
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