Documenting the trip...

Let's start it out with a picture of us.





















This is the state-of-the-art CCRM building.





















We landed a big truck from a sleazy sales guy.





















Beautiful view from the PF Changs at Park Meadows.

Hope and Loss in 2 Cities

While I was in Denver with all the hope in my heart my friend was at home grieving the loss of her identical twin boys on their due date. And I wasn't there for her. I can't imagine the pain of living through the day that once was a date of hope and now is a date of loss. Loss of motherhood, loss of dreams, loss of little boys. I am sorry.

We met the Wizard!! (ODWU)

Wow, yesterday was a crazy day. We got to partake in the famous One Day Work-up (ODWU)!

On Tuesday night we flew to Denver - arrived just a bit late, rented a car and headed to our hotel in the Tech Center area. We dropped off our bags and went just next store to an Irish pub. We had a yummy Irish meal and a beer! Yay!

Wednesday our schedule didn't start until 9:30AM. So, we got to sleep in, I went for a cool, hill-y, run, and we watched the first 1/2 of the USA World Cup Soccer Game. Then, it was off to CCRM!!!

Everything I have read was true. It was kind of like preparing too much for a vacation. You read so much about it, nothing is a surprise. A beautiful office, very prompt with our appts, and very professional.

We started with our consult with the Wizard himself. He had an electronic medical record device and reviewed our history and basically went over the same things we discussed on the phone. He was very relaxed and kind - and I absolutely love that he uses the "big" words and doesn't dumb it down too much. I NEED to know he is smart. He is - no joke.

Then, while Josh made is first Colorado deposit - I had an ultrasound that tested the blood flow to my uterus, measured follicles, etc. Then, I had the hysterscopy with Dr. S. Both went well - and all checked out fine. I will get more details in a week or so.

Then, we met with our nurse, Dawn. We went over a binder of all IVF stuff. We went pretty fast b/c we have done this a time or two.

Next we had our blood drawn for all kinds of tests (details to come when I get results).

And finally, we met with the business office - in which a young girl explained the thousands of dollars we will be spending. We put down a 1K deposit so they know we are serious. Of course we are serious, we just spent 4K on testing!!!!

I have some tips I will write in another post....

Only disappointing thing is we may not be starting with my next cycle (July 15th). We may not have all the results in to know "how" to start. Although I am pretty sure BCP will be the beginning, so Dawn said she will see about squeezing us in. This will push the whole schedule back considerably, but it is out of my control. Patience, Patience, Patience...........

How we make a baby.....

Quick baby making history:

April 2006: Married
Dec 2006: Stop BCP / Start charting
Feb 2007: Big trip to Italy - officially start trying
Summer 2007: Knew there was something wrong. Why? Well, b/c Josh was born with undescended testicles and didn't have it fixed until he was much older. Back then doctors said it wouldn't cause issues. WRONG!!! I told my OB/GYN we had been trying a year (white lie) so they would refer him to have a SA.
July 2007: First SA (Semen Analysis). Results very poor and we were referred to a RE. But, I was actually very happy b/c there was a chance there could be no sperm. A few is better than none!
Sept 2007: Met with Dr. Y. Said IVF was our only option. Kicked off all the testing, etc.
Feb 2008: 1st IVF. Hopes sky high. 32 eggs retrieved, 17 fertilized, 5 day transfer of 2 morula's....no blasts and none to freeze. BIG FAT NEGATIVE.
May 2008: Joined the shared risk program. IVF #2. Lowered meds.....18 eggs, 12 fertilized, we chose to do a 3 day transfer regardless.....they watched the remaining embryos and 2 made it to freeze as blasts.
June 3rd 2008: 1st POSITIVE HPT ever. Happiest day of my life.
Feb 12, 2009: Charlotte born!!!
Dec 2009: Back to Dr. Y. to discuss FET......
Jan - Mar 2010: Repeat testing, etc.
April 2010: FET. Both blasts thawed great. BFN. So sad. Wanted to complete our family and leave IVF behind us. Apparently not that easy for us.
June 7th 2010: Phone consult with Dr. Schoolcraft at CCRM
June 23rd: First trip to Denver for our One Day Workup!!

Can't believe June 23rd is 2 days away...

Haven't Met You Yet

Whenever I hear Michael Buble's song "Haven't Met You Yet" I think about the son/daughter that I have yet to meet.....and hope one day (soon) I will be pregnant.

I am starting this blog after almost 3 years of reading other wonderful/amazing blogs that have helped me through tough times and taught me so much. We are on the search for baby #2. And this search is taking us to CCRM - The Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine....all the way from Tampa, Florida.

I am so thankful for our beautiful daughter, Charlotte. Being a mom is the most amazing thing that has happened to me that I want to do it again. And on top of that I want Charlotte to have sibling.

So this is where I will lay it all out - our trips/ODWU/cycle, etc with CCRM. My next post will explain our IVF history!

Thanks for reading!

But first, a few lyrics from Michael's song:

And I know that we can be so amazing
And, baby, your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility

Here's to hoping every possibility includes baby #2!!!!

-Maggie