Though this pregnancy has been a gift, and I currently have our little miracle boy in my uterus, it hasn't been the easiest pregnancy. I'm not sure what I expected. The people closest - friends and family- have had "easy" pregnancies. In other words, no symptoms besides being tired. That has not been my experience in the slightest. I have had ALL DAY nausea since week three. It wasn't until last week- week 17- that my nausea started to ease up. Instead of being all day, I'd just get nauseous at night. Yesterday was a fluke because I was sick from sun up to sun down. But I do believe my nausea will now come in spurts, rather than nausea with no relief. Additionally, I've had acid reflux, bloating, terrible migraines, heart palpitations along with the normal tiredness. As I mentioned before, I'm not sure what I assumed my pregnancy would be like, but it wasn't this. I guess a part of me thought that maybe since I had been through so much already, my pregnancy would be a breath of fresh air. HA! Silly me! God had other plans. 

As it's my anniversary today, I found it fitting to update everyone on where we are at!On September 27th, Sean began administering shots into my abdomen again. These are known as Lupron shots and are used as an injectable fertility medication that helps prevent premature ovulation. (As stated in my last post, I have been put on and off birth control so the doctors can control my cycle. But this really messes up my body, therefore the Lupron shots are needed to ensure the doctors are still in control.) We ended the Lupron shots on October 8th. 

Following our egg retrieval process in July and August (featured in a separate tab,) I entered what was called the Wash month, or recovery month. During this process, no medications are administered besides being put back on birth control. The doctors do this, to monitor all aspects of my cycle- therefore they're in control of it. I must say, being taken on and off birth control, and going from injection medications to nothing, really messes with ones hormones! YAY!

It's been a while since my last post because I encountered some hiccups that needed to be taken care of prior to continuing our journey. I regularly have heart palpitations, so the doctors requested an echocardiogram and stress test. I needed to wear a heart monitor for a week, where it was discovered I have Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). Additionally, my heart skips beats and stops when I'm sleeping, so I will need to get a sleep test done. That being said, we are FINALLY at a starting point. 

Do you ever have those days, so consumed in thought that you're completely withdrawn? Driving 40 minutes to work and not knowing how you got there? Enduring another restless night's sleep full of racing thoughts, rapid breath, and blurry vision?

On Friday 1/26, Sean and I went in to find out the results of our recent cycle. Unfortunately, my follicles were growing on the right side (confirming that my right side, is my dominant side.) Though initially, I had the plan to try this method a few more times, we found out that this method is no longer a viable option for us in this fertility journey. 

As I sit here, tears streaming down my face, I try my best to write and find comfort in this blog. However, I'm filled with unbelievable frustration. For the second time, the fertility office has sent me detailed notes on my lab results that aren't completely positive. I received an email this evening stating that my FSH has "increased quite a bit." So, naturally, I began my search on what a high FSH could mean. I'm frustrated that the nurse wouldn't just wait to give me this information at my already-scheduled appointment on Friday. As I checked my notes from May of 2023--our first fertility appointment-- I wrote the following: