The joys of fertility

I have decided to post about the process of invitro. And I am saying the very beginnings as we haven't even started the actual invitro process yet!

WOMEN:

Step 1: Typically they will start by taking your hormone levels on a random day.

Step 2: If hormones are fine, they will do an HSG test which tests to see if your fallopian tubes are open or if there's a blockage.

Step 3: If nothing is wrong there, it's time to start ultrasounds! You will call the doctor on the 1st day of your period. On day 3 you'll go to the office, get blood drawn, and get a uteran ultrasound to check the process of your eggs.

You will go back on day 12, 14, 21, and 27 (or whatever days the doctor says) and get blood drawn and do the ultrasound each time.

Step 4: You go to the doctor and get your cervix filled with fluid to see if there's a hole in it (I guess).

*For me, my estrogen level is low in the beginning, my LSH is low in the middle and my progesterone is low in the latter stage of my process. Apparently this is easily fixed with pills. Good news right? Typically...

MEN:

Step 1: You will go to the doctor and get blood drawn. For some reason these tests take a couple weeks to get results. So you'll wait...

Step 2: You'll go to the doctor and give them a semen sample in a very awkward room...

Step 3: If your levels are normal, you'll move on to step 4. If all looks well, the woman will take her drugs and you will go from there.

Step 4: So your levels are normal but your semen analysis wasn't. Now you are going to go to a Urologist and talk about getting a testicular biopsy done. The biopsy will help them know if you have any active sperm in your testes. Apparently 50% of men who have low sperm counts can have a great sperm level hiding in their testes.

Step 5: If you have sperm hiding, you will get the sperm taken out somehow and frozen for future times.

Step 6: If you don't have sperm hiding, you can use a sperm donor or adopt or not have kids. *Most of these steps for us are done. It has taken 4 months so far with waiting for appointments and everything. I feel like it's taking FOR-E-VER but 4 months really isn't that long granted it's been about 4 years since we started trying to have kids. So here's to waiting....

An ode to Tippy

Tippy is my baby girl. She is so funny and smart! She tells me when she's hungry, thirsty, when she wants a treat and when she needs to go potty. One thing that's funny is that she HATES the snow.When she lands in a spot of snow that goes past the middle of her leg she just stops and picks up her front paw.We've been a little nicer to her since it's been so cold outside. We let her sleep on her blanket on the couch. She takes advantage of us. We're such softies.

I forgot to post about Tippy's birthday but she is 2 now! Ever since we got her she just loves plastic! Anytime she hears plastic she comes running up to me and wants to eat it. Gatorade bottles are one of her obsessions.

Tippy also has been really cold since the move to Chicago. I think it's because she has short hair. But she is getting more used to it. Nevertheless she lays in front of our space heater and takes up all the heat! Then she has to have her own heavy fleece blanket to sleep with at night. I love you Tippy! You are such a good girl!!

Stores

I'm trying to learn about the the different stores here in Chicago. Here's what I've found out so far:

1. Dominicks = Vons

2. Jewel-Osco = Albertsons

3. Meijer = A way more fun Walmart

4. Woodman's = The best grocery store EVER!

5. Costco = About the same distance away as it was in Vegas (apx. 16 miles)

6. Menards = The Mega Home Depot/Lowes

7. Portillo's = The best fast food hot dogs in the world!

I have to admit I am liking Chicago, despite the fact that I can't do anything outside without putting on 5 layers of clothing. The people are pretty awesome and they love to play games with us! Our ward is cool too. It's rather small compared to Vegas, but still a good little ward. Michael and I teach CTR 4 together and are having fun with the 6 kids we have! They're a handful most of the time but it's fun playing mostly games in class :) The snow is starting to melt (which Tippy appreciates) so it seems we'll be able to start working out again!

What I Miss About Vegas

Living in Chicago for the past few weeks has given me reasons for actually missing Vegas. I never thought the day would come, but here they are:

1. The sun! It is so dark and dreary in Chicago. It makes me sleepy.

2. The mountains! If I get lost, I don't know what direction I'm going because there are no mountains to steer me in the right direction.

3. My hot water! This town house we're living in has warm (not hot) water coming out 80% of the time. I miss my old shower :(

4. Being able to exercise just about 24/7 365 days a year! We still haven't figured out how to work out in the snow and ice. Cleats? And it's so cold we don't even know how to go biking...we would freeze!!

I guess that's it for now...

San Diego Part 2 - The Competition

So on Saturday Michael had to get judged, get filmed, get photographed and have rehearsal for the big event. We met the competition (dun dun dun)...they were pretty cool. Eric's in the middle and Michael W. is on the right. Everyone we met was actually really awesome!
Here is Michael's info on the big screen when they announced he won 2nd place! Good job honey, you are the BEST!
Here are the three of the guys in the 18 - 29 age group. Michael was in an awful place. I couldn't get a picture of him with his briefcase :( It says $2,000!
Here is Michael with his 2nd place medal! He's my hero!
Later that night they had a Gala dinner. When we arrived, we walked around the whole area trying to find a table. All of the tables said reserved which apparently we were supposed to sit at one that didn't have a reserved sign. No tables had no reserved sign so we walked and walked, found some of the other finalists who eventually all found tables. I was about to leave because I was so irritated and then finally we got a seat where no one else was! Where did this stealthy table come from and why didn't anyone else want to sit by us? I thought I looked pretty cute! Needless to say the chicken was disgusting, the fish was good, the salad was good and the dessert was nasty. So we left after an hour or so and got some candy for dessert :) All in all we had a wonderful vacation!

San Diego Part 1

So we got a free vacation to San Diego for Michael's Isagenix weight loss competition this past weekend. When we got off the plane, we saw this guy waiting for us! I felt pretty important (even though my name wasn't on it)!

Here is the view from our hotel room at the Marriott! We were right on the harbor right next to Gaslamp Quarters and Seaport Village. Needless to say, we walked probably 10 miles while we were there! It was beautiful!

While walking around Gaslamp we found this strip club which is actually just a steak house! Michael thought it was so funny he had to hold up some ones while standing outside the club!

We went and ate at a place called Dick's Last Resort. The waiters actually treat you like crap and throw napkins and things at you. It was quite entertaining!

Fun times

So we went to Irvine, CA to visit Ben & Heidi and had a super fun time! We played games, went to the beach, and I picked oranges and lemons from their trees! I was way excited about this. The only downfall was that it was in the 70's while we were there which is not really beach weather. I wanted to go to the beach everyday but it decided to rain one day. Bummer...

On another note, Michael is a finalist for the Isabody Challenge! This means he will either be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in his age group. If he is 1st (which we'll find out in August) he will be entered to win the overall prize of $5,000!! Even if he comes in 3rd we will still win a free trip to San Diego for the challenge results! Woo woo!

Tippy has some BAD allergies! She is still on steroid pills and is now doing a lot better than what she was about a month ago. If anyone has any ideas for what we can do, we'd love some advice!

Back in May we finished our 1st triathlon!! It was SO much fun! We decided it was the BEST race we've ever done! We will be doing an olympic triathlon in September and I have to admit I'm a little nervous about it. It's twice as long as the 1st one we did...kinda scary!