Okay!  So we are officially in our first IVF cycle now!  Period started this morning-so that may explain the massive headache last night.  Earlier than we were expecting, which is good considering patience is not my best virtue.  We head into the clinic at 8 am tomorrow for the first of MANY ultrasounds in the days to come.  Tomorrow is referred to as the baseline ultrasound. The purpose of the baseline is to check for any ovarian cysts or other complications.  Cysts=delayed or no cycle, depending on severity, so lets keep our fingers crossed that they are a no show.  The hormone level they check is my estradiol, or E2, levels.  The levels should be <50 pg/ml. Low levels are good, as research indicate low estradiol levels correlate with a better response to the ovarian stimulation medication. High levels indicate the potential presense of a cyst or diminished ovarian reserve (lack of good quality eggs).  I also get my finalized medication protocol with all my stuff laid out for me over the month. Shots begin tomorrow as well!!!

Tomorrow is a big day!  It is finally starting to hit me that we are doing this!  Someone asked me today if I was scared or nervous.  No.  I feel hopeful, positive, like I am about to get on a ride that might take me somewhere amazing.  It might not….but it might.   There is a reason to have hope.  I was scared 6 months ago when we didn’t know what was wrong, when everyone was telling us that there was nothing wrong.  Yet months dragged on and still nothing happened for us.  During this time,  I felt lost, like I was wandering around in the woods where no one could give me direction.  I once told my husband during that time that I would rather just be told that we couldn’t have children than continue fumbling around in the dark-wondering, desperately wishing.  At least then we could move on, move forward, dream new dreams.  The unknown wore my soul to the bone.  But now we have a plan, a map, a light to guide us somewhere.    We made it out of the woods….we KNOW what the issues are and we know what we have to do to get around it.  And knowledge is power-a reason to hope, and thats all I needed.  So heres to day Day 1!

Okay…this will be quick because currently the white of the computer screen causing me to feel like Thumper and his 10 little brothers are having a Mexican fiesta behind my forehead.  Thats right…a headache, and one of the serious migraine proportion.  One of those headaches where the only respite is to lie in a dark room void of all noise, including the sound of the light breeze outside my window.  And that is exactly what I have done…for the past 5 hours.  It must be a side effect of the birth control pills, which I had assumed, out of all the intense medications I will soon be taking, would be the least of my worries. I guess not!

But on a more positive…this means I’m one day closer to getting this party started.  My hunch is that tomorrow will be Day 1.  So party on Thumper and all your friends…party on….but here, let me introduce you to a little friend I like to call Exedrin Migraine…..