IVF number one!

So, I am writing this blog to chronicle my journey through IVF #1. My husband and I are incredibly blessed to have a beautiful little girl. She was an absolute miracle and was conceived from a Clomid/TI cycle. On her first birthday, we threw away birth control pills and began the long journey to make her a big sister. She is now almost 3 1/2, and we are desperate to give her a sibling. The desire for a second child is just as great as the desire I felt while waiting for my first baby. When we brought her home from the hospital, I looked at my husband and told him, "Our family still isn't finished yet." That's exactly how I feel. Someone is missing from our lives and I don't feel like I will be "complete" until I meet that little person. How is it possible to love someone so much, when you haven't even met them yet?

Our diagnosis is simple. I have mild endometriosis and don't ovulate regularly. As an adolescent, I was a competitive cheerleader and had a very low BMI, as a result I have a hypothalmic-pituitary axis problem, which causes annovulation. I have had three dianositic laparoscopies to remove endometriosis. I conceived my daughter after the first surgery, and after the second surgery last Spring, had two IUI's with Follistim. I became pregnant after the second IUI, but it resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. The weeks and months following the ectopic were some of the hardest days of my life. Some mornings, I only got out of bed because of my sweet little girl. Because of the increased risk of subsequent ectopic pregnancy, my husband and I have researched IVF. We found a clinic in Jacksonville, FL that performs "mini-IVF" and we have decided that is the route for us. "Mini-IVF" is designed to produce few, quality eggs. My husband and I really only want one more pregnancy, so we were concerned about having an abundance of leftover embryos. Also, the "Mini-IVF" is much more affordable for us, since we have no insurance coverage for fertility treatments.

My first consult with the JCRM was a week and a half ago. Since that time, we have decided to begin our cycle in July. I plan to use this blog to help during the process. Infertility is a long and painful journey. Writing seems to help me work through the tangles.

I received my packet of information and cycle calendar last week. I also began birth control pills to help suppress my ovaries before we begin stimulation. My "mock transfer" is scheduled for June 21st. I am nervous and excited. More than anything, I am ready to get started. I am so anxious and ready to be pregnant and ready to complete this journey. The birth control pills have had some horrible side effects this time around. The pills are a higher dose than I have taken before, and I am experiencing mood swings, nausea, headaches and horrible hot flashes! I will be glad to be finished with them and ready to start the next round of medications.

This week, my husband and I are throwing a family yardsale. My family is very supportive of our journey, and will be donating to help us save up for medications. We are fortunate that the clinic we are using offers in house financing, but we still have to come up with $3,000 for a downpayment and around $1500-2000 for medications, all which must be paid up front. It's expensive, but I will gladly sacrifice for a baby of my own.