Another week of summer

Our dog, Bauer, is very obedient and is so good with Kyler. So it's a rare occasion when he does something wrong. All Jared has to do is point his finger and say "Come here Bauer"...and he grovels towards his feet every time. It's kind of hilariously pathetic the way you can see how bad he feels when he disobeys. Lucky him, he doesn't get in trouble very often!

 These two are best buds! Kyler would be so bored at home without this dog to tease and play with.

Kyler recently learned how to operate the touchpad on my computer. He randomly asked me one day if he could use my computer and I laughed at him and said "Okay." I humored him by going to pbskids.org and he surprised me with his mad coordination skills and played a game! His loves this game: Pearl Hunt Pretend Fish.

Kyler had a great week at preschool! He loved participating in Soccer Shots for the first time. A soccer coach comes to our school once a week and teaches the kids basic soccer skills. He was actually pretty good at it...and of course not a week goes by without a few trips to the park, pool, library and/or discovery place kids.

We've been having a great summer so far!

A journey (part 10) --- IUI

I'm going to copy and paste another piece of our journey towards expanding our family below. If you haven't read the previous parts, you can do so HERE.
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Today is February 27, 2014. YOU. WILL. NOT. BELIEVE. WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED!!! Before you jump to conclusions ...I'm not pregnant, but I'm so happy right now I could cry! I went in for my ultrasound this morning, and not only did BOTH of my follicles grow, buuuuuuut......I now have THREE good sized follicles!!

I know i'm not even pregnant yet, and there is a chance that this won't work, but I think it will! I am just so happy that things are looking good, and the fact that we have three follicles growing... increases our chances of getting a baby out of this!

Just for my own documentation on the ultrasound showed today: 1 follicle on my right ovary at 20 mm, and one follicle at 21mm and another follicle at 16mm on my left ovary.

My RE doc instructed me to give myself the Ovidrel injection (to trigger ovulation) right after the appointment this morning. I told Jared, who was waiting in the car with Kyler, the good news and handed over the injection. I was too squeamish to give myself a shot (especially in my stomach) so he did it for me. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would (and I'm a wimp), but it did burn for a few minutes after. 

Our IUI is scheduled for tomorrow!

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February 29, 2014

THE LONG AWAITED IUI

Yesterday we had our first (and hopefully last) IUI! If you don't know what an IUI is, I would recommend watching this short video.

Anyways, back to the actual IUI procedure. At my appointment, the nurse told us Jared's SA results, and we were thrilled! It was a big relief that everything is good on his part- as this was his first analysis. I wouldn't really say the IUI procedure was painful, but it was definitely uncomfortable.

 When the procedure was complete, I was instructed to lay reclined for a half hour. The nurse dimmed the lights, and turned on some music. I got all emotional and cried, while holding Jared's hand... because I couldn't believe that it was already over... and I was hoping our baby was on it's way!

It makes sense that this will work, we had the fertility medications help with the PCOS, and the IUI supposedly helps get past my scar tissue (endometriosis) which are the two things holding us back from getting pregnant.

After the IUI, and work, Jared and I made the (nearly) 2 hour drive to Columbia, SC to attend the temple. As soon as I walked in the doors, I felt all of my stress and worry dissolve. The temple truly is a holy place. I felt so close to the Lord, that it brought tears to my eyes several times. While I hope that this works out, I know that if it doesn't the Lord knows best, and has plans set in place for me. This knowledge brings me comfort.

A journey (part 11) The End of the Two Week Wait

I'm going to copy and paste another piece of our journey towards expanding our family below. If you haven't read the previous parts, you can do so HERE.
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Today is March 5, 2014.  This has been the longest two week wait of my life! I'm SO glad it is half way over now. I just want to know if I'm pregnant or not! I'm feeling kind of down right now. I consulted Dr. Internet (such a good thing to do when you are worried) and now I feel like there is a good chance that this IUI is not going to work...but I'm still hoping it does anyway!

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Today is March 14, 2014. The results are in......and my pregnancy test is BFN. Negative pregnancy test after negative...for nearly two years now! This one is especially hard for me though. The fertility medications gave me 3 eggs. I had ultrasounds, blood work, and a shot to trigger ovulation. My husband had great SA results. We had those swimmers inserted through the cervix so that they were past my endometriosis and literally as close to the eggs as they could be. Yet....I'm not pregnant.

As disappointed as I am, I do find great comfort through prayer, and I have faith that things will work out in the Lord's timing and ways. My relationship with my Heavenly Father and testimony of His church on the earth today have grown so much through this infertility journey. I truly believe that even the most bitter trials can become sweet through prayer. I've felt the peace that was given to each of us as a gift through Christ's Atonement, and it has been a blessing in my life. To quote Elder Henry B. Eyring: "It is a gift we are promised when the Atonement of Jesus Christ has worked in us. The gift is to want what He wants. When our love is the love He feels, it is pure because He is pure...When we pray for the gifts of the Spirit -and we should- one for which I pray is that I might have pure motives, to want what our Father wants for His children and for me, and to feel, as well as to say, that what I want is His will to be done" (Eyring, LDS Ensign 2007).

Grateful in any Circumstances

I recently watched this short video....

I love it! It reminds me of a wonderful talk by President Dieter F. Uchtorf- Grateful in any Circumstances. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here are a few of my favorite points:

-What takes away bitterness? What makes life sweeter? What makes life joyful? Being grateful!

-Be grateful not only for things, but have a spirit of gratitude. 

-See it as a disposition. A way of life. Instead of being thankful for things (although this is good too), also be thankful for the circumstance of things. 

-The choice is ours. 

-Don’t limit your gratitude on the things you lack. 

-Don’t murmur because of your afflictions. 

-Be grateful- no matter what. 

-Choosing to have a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness.

...but if you do have time to read it...do! It's worth your time :)