Sometimes I beloved husband comes up with the most random things ever, so if I will remember I will share them with you all.
This conversation happened on Friday as Andre picked me up from work, and we were walking to the car.
Andre: Jenna! ::he was very enthusiastic:: Today I had the most amazing, mind reviving thing today! Guess what it was!
Me: ::blank stare, who asks questions like this after a long day at work??:: A blow job? Who did you find to give you a blow job?
Andre: ha ha, very funny.
(I couldn't resist)
Andre: Limeade! Did you know that there was Limeade in the freezer?! Jenna you need to have some!
At this point I laughed pretty much the whole way home. You see my husband is really one of those men who stops to smell the roses. He notices those little things like how wonderful Limeade tastes on a hot summer day.
(This story was brought to you by my friend Mary Ann who left a can of Limeade in the freezer that we didn't consume mixed with alcohol on the last girls night.)
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Welcome to Crazytown
Population: Me
Or at least that is how I feel while I am on Clomid. I don't know what it is about that drug, but it's like all common sense and normalcy leave my body, and all that is left is this hysterical, crazy person. Not fun.
So if you haven't guessed I am once again on the Clomid bandwagon. I had my baseline b/w and u/s done on Friday morning which was CD2. We discussed some options about what the next step could be since the previous two cycles on Clomid were non-responsive. The RE asked about my symptoms and since I don't have a history of some of the more horrible Clomid side effects (headaches/migraines, vision disturbances) he decided to try one more time. This time he prescribed 150mg. I am not looking forward to the craziness. I'm crossing my fingers the maniacal mood swings last cycle were a fluke, and I will be cool as a cucumber this time. Only time will tell.
He did tell me that if when I go in for my first follie check this coming Friday that there has been no response, that he will immediately start another different medication. I will not have to wait for this cycle to be ended yet again with another dose of Provera. I also made a big stink about not having a Hysterosalpinogram, otherwise known as an HSG, so I have one of those booked on Friday morning as well.
An HSG is one of the first tests that most RE's recommend that their patients before beginning fertility treatments. My RE is of the opinion (I'm not saying it's the right opinion) that if you are of a lower risk for fallopian tube blockages, he will wait until there is an unsuccessful cycle (ie. ovulation, but no pregnancy) before ordering one to be done. Well I changed my mind about halfway through the second Clomid cycle. I decided that I wasn't willing to go through the emotional roller coaster of another cycle if he wasn't going to order one. So at 11:30 on Friday morning I will have dye shot through my fallopian tubes. Doesn't that sound like fun?
My mother along with two of my friends have had this procedure done. My mother and one of my friends said that it was no big deal. My other friend said it was one of the most painful things she has had to go through. Altogether the procedure is suppose to last around 5 minutes. I'll give you my verdict later on on Friday. Since I have no clue how I am going to feel, and since I can only take Tylenol beforehand (this sucks so much) I booked the afternoon off. I decided that if having someone insert a catheter through your cervix and then shoot dye through your reproductive organs doesn't constitute a "mental health day" then I don't know what does. That and I'm already working Saturday, so when you think about it it's like I'm not really taking any time off.
Or at least that is how I feel while I am on Clomid. I don't know what it is about that drug, but it's like all common sense and normalcy leave my body, and all that is left is this hysterical, crazy person. Not fun.
So if you haven't guessed I am once again on the Clomid bandwagon. I had my baseline b/w and u/s done on Friday morning which was CD2. We discussed some options about what the next step could be since the previous two cycles on Clomid were non-responsive. The RE asked about my symptoms and since I don't have a history of some of the more horrible Clomid side effects (headaches/migraines, vision disturbances) he decided to try one more time. This time he prescribed 150mg. I am not looking forward to the craziness. I'm crossing my fingers the maniacal mood swings last cycle were a fluke, and I will be cool as a cucumber this time. Only time will tell.
He did tell me that if when I go in for my first follie check this coming Friday that there has been no response, that he will immediately start another different medication. I will not have to wait for this cycle to be ended yet again with another dose of Provera. I also made a big stink about not having a Hysterosalpinogram, otherwise known as an HSG, so I have one of those booked on Friday morning as well.
An HSG is one of the first tests that most RE's recommend that their patients before beginning fertility treatments. My RE is of the opinion (I'm not saying it's the right opinion) that if you are of a lower risk for fallopian tube blockages, he will wait until there is an unsuccessful cycle (ie. ovulation, but no pregnancy) before ordering one to be done. Well I changed my mind about halfway through the second Clomid cycle. I decided that I wasn't willing to go through the emotional roller coaster of another cycle if he wasn't going to order one. So at 11:30 on Friday morning I will have dye shot through my fallopian tubes. Doesn't that sound like fun?
My mother along with two of my friends have had this procedure done. My mother and one of my friends said that it was no big deal. My other friend said it was one of the most painful things she has had to go through. Altogether the procedure is suppose to last around 5 minutes. I'll give you my verdict later on on Friday. Since I have no clue how I am going to feel, and since I can only take Tylenol beforehand (this sucks so much) I booked the afternoon off. I decided that if having someone insert a catheter through your cervix and then shoot dye through your reproductive organs doesn't constitute a "mental health day" then I don't know what does. That and I'm already working Saturday, so when you think about it it's like I'm not really taking any time off.
Monday, May 24, 2010
The waiting game
I have decided that the one lesson I am to learn through this whole fertility treatment thing is the lesson of patience. There is so much waiting that goes on with a cycle.
It starts with waiting. You get AF, then wait for your baseline u/s and b/w on CD1. Then you wait for the nurse to call you with the results. Then you start your specific medication. Then you wait for your first follie check. If it's a good one then you're waiting to see when you'll actually ovulate (something that I've never gotten to). Then you wait through the dreaded 2ww seeing if maybe just maybe you timed everything just right, and you were lucky (again, I've never gotten this far). If you weren't lucky then you wait for AF to arrive.
This is the stage that I'm at right now. Waiting for AF to arrive. It's funny, when I was on the pill I dreaded the end of the pack. Dreaded AF's arrival and the days of just feeling BLAH while she was here. Now, it's a countdown. Waiting for it, because with it comes the beginning of a new cycle. After two unsuccessful medicated cycles a new cycle means potential and hope that maybe this will be the cycle we will have a shot. Hope that just weeks later I could be staring at two lines on a pregnancy test.
So now I wait.
It starts with waiting. You get AF, then wait for your baseline u/s and b/w on CD1. Then you wait for the nurse to call you with the results. Then you start your specific medication. Then you wait for your first follie check. If it's a good one then you're waiting to see when you'll actually ovulate (something that I've never gotten to). Then you wait through the dreaded 2ww seeing if maybe just maybe you timed everything just right, and you were lucky (again, I've never gotten this far). If you weren't lucky then you wait for AF to arrive.
This is the stage that I'm at right now. Waiting for AF to arrive. It's funny, when I was on the pill I dreaded the end of the pack. Dreaded AF's arrival and the days of just feeling BLAH while she was here. Now, it's a countdown. Waiting for it, because with it comes the beginning of a new cycle. After two unsuccessful medicated cycles a new cycle means potential and hope that maybe this will be the cycle we will have a shot. Hope that just weeks later I could be staring at two lines on a pregnancy test.
So now I wait.
Slow Cooker Triple-Layer Lasagna
I made this recipe forever and a day ago and DH and really liked it (but didn't love it). I was talking to a co-worker about what we were making for dinner a couple weeks ago and she made lasagna. I immediately thought about this recipe.
I found it in a Prevention Guide Slow Cooker Recipe Book.
I'm going to include the original recipe, followed by my additions and substitutions.
Triple Layer Lasagna
1 pound extra lean ground beef (very important that it's extra lean!)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 clove of garlic, minced
9 oven-ready lasagna noodles
1 jar tomato sauce
1 container fat-free cottage cheese
2 cups shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (we never have this so I don't use it)
Additions/Substitutions
-I use 1 pound of ground turkey instead of ground beef. It adds a little more of a milder flavour to the lasagna, and it's a little more healthy
- I add waaaaaay more garlic
- added half a red pepper, chopped
- added one handful of spinach, chopped
- added a few shakes of Club House Italiano Seasoning (or whatever is your favourite)
1. Combine meat, vegetables, and seasonings in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until meat is no longer pink, 8-10 minutes .
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2. Coat 4-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Place 3 noodles, side by side, in bottom of cooker. Top with one third each of the tomato sauce, cottage cheese, meat mixture, and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers two more times, ending with mozzarella. Sprinkle with Parmesan on top.
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3. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours, or until lasagna is cooked through and cheese is bubbly.
Note: I find that if you put the cheese on and then cook it, it gets hard and over done. I usually top the last noodle layer with tomato sauce and meat mixture, making sure that all the noodles are covered to keep moist, if it looks a little dry add some of the liquid that was in the skillet with the meat mixture.
When the lasagna is about half an hour from being done, or when you get home from work, sprinkle with the last bit of mozzarella, and wait for it to melt.
I found it in a Prevention Guide Slow Cooker Recipe Book.
I'm going to include the original recipe, followed by my additions and substitutions.
Triple Layer Lasagna
1 pound extra lean ground beef (very important that it's extra lean!)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 clove of garlic, minced
9 oven-ready lasagna noodles
1 jar tomato sauce
1 container fat-free cottage cheese
2 cups shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (we never have this so I don't use it)
Additions/Substitutions
-I use 1 pound of ground turkey instead of ground beef. It adds a little more of a milder flavour to the lasagna, and it's a little more healthy
- I add waaaaaay more garlic
- added half a red pepper, chopped
- added one handful of spinach, chopped
- added a few shakes of Club House Italiano Seasoning (or whatever is your favourite)
1. Combine meat, vegetables, and seasonings in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until meat is no longer pink, 8-10 minutes .
.JPG)
2. Coat 4-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Place 3 noodles, side by side, in bottom of cooker. Top with one third each of the tomato sauce, cottage cheese, meat mixture, and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers two more times, ending with mozzarella. Sprinkle with Parmesan on top.
.JPG)
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours, or until lasagna is cooked through and cheese is bubbly.
Note: I find that if you put the cheese on and then cook it, it gets hard and over done. I usually top the last noodle layer with tomato sauce and meat mixture, making sure that all the noodles are covered to keep moist, if it looks a little dry add some of the liquid that was in the skillet with the meat mixture.
When the lasagna is about half an hour from being done, or when you get home from work, sprinkle with the last bit of mozzarella, and wait for it to melt.
Yummy!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Cycle #2 of Clomid=FAIL
For the second time I have gone for my last follie check around CD21-22 only to find that instead of the Clomid producing follicles they have disappeared. 7 out of 8 of my follicles were gone. I have one remaining on my left ovary, so I will be heading into the clinic on CD3 for my first visit with the dildo cam of the cycle. I am NOT looking forward to that at all. The danger with one follicle remaining is that it will remain and turn into a cyst. Fertility drugs do very bad things to cysts, and a cyst could grow and eventually rupture causing damage. This is something that RE's monitor, so this can be avoided.
I was given another prescription for Provera. We haven't discussed what I will be taking next cycle, but it was decided at my second check this cycle that I would be starting a different medication, and not trying a higher dose of Clomid. At this point the two options would be Femara, or Injectibles. Now I just have to wait out the next two weeks until we find out what the next plan is.
Stay tuned.
I was given another prescription for Provera. We haven't discussed what I will be taking next cycle, but it was decided at my second check this cycle that I would be starting a different medication, and not trying a higher dose of Clomid. At this point the two options would be Femara, or Injectibles. Now I just have to wait out the next two weeks until we find out what the next plan is.
Stay tuned.
My Theme Song
There are a few message boards out there that I have started to frequent since we started this whole TTC journey. Actually that's a lie, I lurked for a long time before we actually started TTC. On one of these boards a couple weeks ago was a discussion about the Michael Buble Song "Haven't Met You Yet". One of the girls was talking about how the lyrics to this song really struck a chord with her and her TTC journey. The ups and downs of it all.
Now Andre and I have all of his albums, and Andre just happened to have uploaded this album onto my MP3 player, so one morning while on the treadmill I started to listen to it. For those of you out there that live under a rock here it is:
So there I was on the treadmill listening to my MP3 player really listening to this song for the first time. I cried. Here was a song that perfectly summed up my feelings and emotions. Especially since we have begun treatment with our RE. So now whenever I'm on the treadmill I listen to this song while I jog. It helps me to push myself, reminds me of why I push myself. This song helps to remind me of why I take all the hormones, why I drive myself to the brink of insanity (and Andre too I'm sure).
Now Andre and I have all of his albums, and Andre just happened to have uploaded this album onto my MP3 player, so one morning while on the treadmill I started to listen to it. For those of you out there that live under a rock here it is:
So there I was on the treadmill listening to my MP3 player really listening to this song for the first time. I cried. Here was a song that perfectly summed up my feelings and emotions. Especially since we have begun treatment with our RE. So now whenever I'm on the treadmill I listen to this song while I jog. It helps me to push myself, reminds me of why I push myself. This song helps to remind me of why I take all the hormones, why I drive myself to the brink of insanity (and Andre too I'm sure).
I might have to wait, I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing, and the other half's luck
Wherever you are, whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere and into my life
~Michael Buble
"Haven't met you yet"
I guess it's half timing, and the other half's luck
Wherever you are, whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere and into my life
~Michael Buble
"Haven't met you yet"
Monday, May 3, 2010
I'm Baaaaack
Well I wasn't really gone, but decided to get off my butt and do a blog entry today. I promised my friend Mary Ann that I would do and update and recipe, so I am accountable!
I hate to say it but it looks like cycle #2 on Clomid is looking like a big fat fail. I had my first Follie Check (follicle check) last Wednesday. That was CD10. The good news was that I had 4 follicles on each ovary. The bad news was that they were all under 10mm and the biggest on each side was only 6mm. To give you a good reference, a mature follicle is around 20mm. See, mine were small. The lab tech is always so nice. She had "the look" on her face, but still told me "It's still early!" in her Romanian accent.
After a week spent in a emotionless haze, I was back again this morning for my second follie check. More dismal news. It was CD15 today and my follicles had not grown. Not the news I was dying to hear. It seems that I had shed all my tears last week so the remaining emotion today is just frustration. I have not ovulated since April 1, 2009. It has been 397 days since Andre and I last had a chance at getting pregnant. I would just like a chance, just one chance. Instead I count the days until I have to take some drug to give me my period.
::Le Sigh::
The worst part of this morning is that Dr. C wasn't in the office yet this morning when I was getting my b/w and u/s done. So instead of having a meeting with him immediately I had to wait until he had a chance to review my results. They finally called just a little bit ago. Dr C agreed that I am not responding to the Clomid (although the nurse assured me that anything could happen over the next week). I have to go back next Monday for yet another follie check. If at that time there is no response I am going to start Provera again. Oh Joy! The only difference is that they won't be doing Clomid again. We will be doing a different treatment. I have no idea what that will be, so I will be discussing that with him then.
So now I just sit and wait.
I hate to say it but it looks like cycle #2 on Clomid is looking like a big fat fail. I had my first Follie Check (follicle check) last Wednesday. That was CD10. The good news was that I had 4 follicles on each ovary. The bad news was that they were all under 10mm and the biggest on each side was only 6mm. To give you a good reference, a mature follicle is around 20mm. See, mine were small. The lab tech is always so nice. She had "the look" on her face, but still told me "It's still early!" in her Romanian accent.
After a week spent in a emotionless haze, I was back again this morning for my second follie check. More dismal news. It was CD15 today and my follicles had not grown. Not the news I was dying to hear. It seems that I had shed all my tears last week so the remaining emotion today is just frustration. I have not ovulated since April 1, 2009. It has been 397 days since Andre and I last had a chance at getting pregnant. I would just like a chance, just one chance. Instead I count the days until I have to take some drug to give me my period.
::Le Sigh::
The worst part of this morning is that Dr. C wasn't in the office yet this morning when I was getting my b/w and u/s done. So instead of having a meeting with him immediately I had to wait until he had a chance to review my results. They finally called just a little bit ago. Dr C agreed that I am not responding to the Clomid (although the nurse assured me that anything could happen over the next week). I have to go back next Monday for yet another follie check. If at that time there is no response I am going to start Provera again. Oh Joy! The only difference is that they won't be doing Clomid again. We will be doing a different treatment. I have no idea what that will be, so I will be discussing that with him then.
So now I just sit and wait.
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