Today was my third ultra sound… my follicles are getting
bigger, although the left side is much slower than the right. The biggest
follicles are at about 12, and they will start the antagonist drug when the
biggest one surpasses 14, so they asked me to come back on Friday! Yay!
It looks like we might be right on schedule!
Friday, October 18, 2013
June 17, 2013
Today I had my second ultra sound appointment. Wahoo! The
doctor told me that the cyst on my ovary was producing some hormones, but that
they had determined as long as the hormone level was under 50, they would
proceed with the IVF cycle – my hormone level happened to be 49.9 Wow right?! You can’t get any closer than
that! I’m so glad I didn’t have to wait
though.
My body seems to be trucking along just fine. Nothing
exciting yet although there are about 19 follicles on my right ovary and about
8 or 9 on the other, so that’s good. They aren’t big yet, so we just keep going
along with the plan. 5 vials in the am,
and 5 in the pm.
AM meds... 5 vials of Bravelle, Saline, plus 1 syringe of Ganirellix
PM Meds... 5 vials of Bravelle, low dose HCG, plus Lovenox (blood thinner) and a million pills!
IVF Attempt #2 - June 13, 2013
Here we are almost 9 months from the day we started our
first cycle – and I am on day 2 of my cycle and we are starting again almost
the same way we started last time. This morning I went in for blood work and my
first ultrasound, and they found that one of the follicles on my ovaries is
large. Which means it might be producing
hormones. They will test it, and if the
hormone levels are below a 50, then we can proceed. My nurse said that since the same thing
happened last time, it’s likely my hormone levels are just fine. But we will see. She said she would call me
by 4 pm today.
I got my box-o-drugs yesterday and another box today with
the shortest shelf-life drug (14 days). Hopefully, we won’t need it that long.
The nurse gave me the special needles I use, and a calendar for what my cycle
should look like. It’s much shorter than last time, but probably because we
actually know where to start in terms of hormones.
I’m really excited to be doing this again – excited at the
prospect of what could potentially happen. But, I’m also terrified because of
the results from last time. Luckily, I’m
working with my therapist still and she is wonderfully helpful. We are working
on being positive and optimistic while preparing for a less than ideal
result. Keep your fingers crossed!!!!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
BCBA!
It's official! I passed that crazy test and am officially a Board Certified Behavior Analyst!
What does this mean? It's means I know what I'm talking about when I talk about behavior and its function, among other things. It also means I get some more letters after my name which is always nice! It also means I am qualified to take on more difficult cases. It means I no longer require supervision. Oh, and a nice pay increase!
It also means a lot more job opportunities if I decide to look for something else. Right now I'm not looking, but who knows what will happen in the future!
For now though, it's a huge accomplishment just to pass it on my first try (the average has been about a 47% pass rate). I don't think I'll go back to school for a while unless I decide to make a career change. So I'll keep working and focus on getting my "L" and do some research.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Testing... Testing...
It's April... Almost the end of April... Time is seriously flying!
Since my last post, I have been extremely busy studying for the BCBA board exam. As we speak, I have just completed a 2-day guided review of the task list to help prepare. Travis has been supportive of course, making sure I study each evening for at least an hour - usually two, and on the weekends, for several hours. It's not fun, but what do you do.
I'm taking the exam on May 31st at 8 am. The test is only available three times per year (January, May, and December), is open for the full month, and the results come out 45 days after the tests closes. Yes, I am taking it the very last day possible. I figure, why not give myself some extra time to prepare, after all, the test is supposed to be one of the most difficult, with an average pass rate of about 50% in the past year and a half. Obviously, I plan on being one of the ones that passes. Hence the reason I am studying as hard as possible!
Once the test is over, I plan to read a book for fun... scrapbook... paint the inside of my house... try a little kickboxing... buy a new purse... and of course, try the dreaded IVF process again. That's the plan anyway. We will see what happens. I wanted to try again away, but figured with the stress of the exam, adding extra hormones and extra stress probably wasn't the best idea. Plus, I'm also looking into the possibility of doing Acupuncture while doing IVF. There is research that says it improves your chances, and some that says it doesn't - but there is no research saying it worsens your chances so I figure... why not?
Until then... I'll keep studying EO's, SD's, DRA's, and a bazillion other acronyms that will never escape these lips in a "normal" conversation. :) Wish me luck!
Since my last post, I have been extremely busy studying for the BCBA board exam. As we speak, I have just completed a 2-day guided review of the task list to help prepare. Travis has been supportive of course, making sure I study each evening for at least an hour - usually two, and on the weekends, for several hours. It's not fun, but what do you do.
I'm taking the exam on May 31st at 8 am. The test is only available three times per year (January, May, and December), is open for the full month, and the results come out 45 days after the tests closes. Yes, I am taking it the very last day possible. I figure, why not give myself some extra time to prepare, after all, the test is supposed to be one of the most difficult, with an average pass rate of about 50% in the past year and a half. Obviously, I plan on being one of the ones that passes. Hence the reason I am studying as hard as possible!
Once the test is over, I plan to read a book for fun... scrapbook... paint the inside of my house... try a little kickboxing... buy a new purse... and of course, try the dreaded IVF process again. That's the plan anyway. We will see what happens. I wanted to try again away, but figured with the stress of the exam, adding extra hormones and extra stress probably wasn't the best idea. Plus, I'm also looking into the possibility of doing Acupuncture while doing IVF. There is research that says it improves your chances, and some that says it doesn't - but there is no research saying it worsens your chances so I figure... why not?
Until then... I'll keep studying EO's, SD's, DRA's, and a bazillion other acronyms that will never escape these lips in a "normal" conversation. :) Wish me luck!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Four Years
It's hard to believe that Travis and I have been married for four years now! The time really has flown by so quickly! We are in a really good place both personally and in our marriage - we are both happy and love each other immensely. In fact, I fall in love with him more and more every day. I feel so lucky to have him by my side.
I know that the last few blogs have been kind of negative - and I hope that I don't come off as a seriously crazy person - but I feel as though I have changed in the last month or two. As I mentioned previously, I started attending therapy in November last year. The therapist was fine and I felt like we were making some progress - but I felt like the fit wasn't exactly right. She treated me like a patient and not a fellow therapist - which is wonderful. But at the same time, when I would say something like, "I understand why you want to use that technique, but that does not mesh with my style, can we try something else?" she would always tell me that I needed to be open to her style and work with her. I get it... I do... but eventually, she talked so much that I started making lists of things I needed to do later that day during our sessions, so I stopped seeing her at the end of December/beginning of January. At the end of January, I decided I needed to go back to therapy. I just felt like I needed someone else to talk to - so I started researching again. I came across a therapist that I felt like would be good - and called to make an appointment, which happened later that evening and immediately I knew she would be the perfect therapist for me!
Not only does she understand me as a person, but also as a clinician myself. During our initial meeting she told me, "You are a therapist, and you know what works for you - so if I ever ask you to do a homework assignment, or try a technique that you know isn't going to work - just let me know. We don't want to waste your time or mine, and you know yourself better than I do - so let's figure things out together." I can't tell you how much I like her, and how much work I feel like i've done in the last month and a half or so. I feel like I'm in a better place emotionally.
Poor Travis keeps saying, "I wish I could make you happy, so you didn't need therapy." The truth is, I don't NEED therapy, I'm not crazy, I'm not in a co-dependent relationship, I'm not (name any other reason people go to therapy) Really, I just needed someone to help me sort out my feelings and figure out why I feel the way I feel, and help change some of those perpetually negative thoughts I have. These are things I can (and do) share with Travis, or a friend - but sharing them with someone who understands me and "the process" has been amazing! I feel like a different person!
Like I said before - it's been four amazing years that Travis and I have been married. I used to think that our relationship would be that much stronger when we had children... but, in the past four years, we have been through things that have strengthened our relationship in other ways. Don't get me wrong, I want to have a family with Travis - we both want to have children. But if for some reason we don't... I will be sad of course, but it won't break me. I have Travis, and he has me. We love each other so much, and are extremely supportive of each other. I know we will be okay with or without children. We will be happy with each other. It doesn't mean it won't hurt when other people get pregnant. It doesn't mean I won't hope for a positive, but be sad every time a negative pops up on the pregnancy test. It just means that it isn't the end of my world... My world will just be a little different than I had planned - and I think I'm okay with that.
I know that the last few blogs have been kind of negative - and I hope that I don't come off as a seriously crazy person - but I feel as though I have changed in the last month or two. As I mentioned previously, I started attending therapy in November last year. The therapist was fine and I felt like we were making some progress - but I felt like the fit wasn't exactly right. She treated me like a patient and not a fellow therapist - which is wonderful. But at the same time, when I would say something like, "I understand why you want to use that technique, but that does not mesh with my style, can we try something else?" she would always tell me that I needed to be open to her style and work with her. I get it... I do... but eventually, she talked so much that I started making lists of things I needed to do later that day during our sessions, so I stopped seeing her at the end of December/beginning of January. At the end of January, I decided I needed to go back to therapy. I just felt like I needed someone else to talk to - so I started researching again. I came across a therapist that I felt like would be good - and called to make an appointment, which happened later that evening and immediately I knew she would be the perfect therapist for me!
Not only does she understand me as a person, but also as a clinician myself. During our initial meeting she told me, "You are a therapist, and you know what works for you - so if I ever ask you to do a homework assignment, or try a technique that you know isn't going to work - just let me know. We don't want to waste your time or mine, and you know yourself better than I do - so let's figure things out together." I can't tell you how much I like her, and how much work I feel like i've done in the last month and a half or so. I feel like I'm in a better place emotionally.
Poor Travis keeps saying, "I wish I could make you happy, so you didn't need therapy." The truth is, I don't NEED therapy, I'm not crazy, I'm not in a co-dependent relationship, I'm not (name any other reason people go to therapy) Really, I just needed someone to help me sort out my feelings and figure out why I feel the way I feel, and help change some of those perpetually negative thoughts I have. These are things I can (and do) share with Travis, or a friend - but sharing them with someone who understands me and "the process" has been amazing! I feel like a different person!
Like I said before - it's been four amazing years that Travis and I have been married. I used to think that our relationship would be that much stronger when we had children... but, in the past four years, we have been through things that have strengthened our relationship in other ways. Don't get me wrong, I want to have a family with Travis - we both want to have children. But if for some reason we don't... I will be sad of course, but it won't break me. I have Travis, and he has me. We love each other so much, and are extremely supportive of each other. I know we will be okay with or without children. We will be happy with each other. It doesn't mean it won't hurt when other people get pregnant. It doesn't mean I won't hope for a positive, but be sad every time a negative pops up on the pregnancy test. It just means that it isn't the end of my world... My world will just be a little different than I had planned - and I think I'm okay with that.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A Year in Review
It's hard to believe it's 2013 already! 2012 was a decent year for us. We made several trips to St. George to visit Travis' parents, as well as some of his clients. We went to Vegas a couple of times. Visited family in Portland and Tucson, and had family come visit us.
Travis continues to enjoy being his own boss at Dream It Financial. He and his business partner have been working on building their client book, and are looking forward to growing more in the next few years. Travis is obsessed with board games, and now has so many that I can't even name half of them. He loves playing games and spends a lot of time researching games on his favorite website - boardgamegeek.com
I have been working as a Behavior Analyst for Chrysalis for almost 2 years now, and I really enjoy it. About two weeks ago I finished the last of my Behavior Analysis Classes with the Florida Institute of Technology. I am now preparing to take the board exam in May - wish me luck! I haven't had much time to participate in many hobbies because of school and work - but I'm hopeful that this year will allow me some time to read, scrapbook, and find some other hobbies.
This year, is promising to be a great year! We have a couple of trips planned - St. George, Vegas, Cour d'alene, and hopefully NYC! We will attempt IVF again this spring (hopefully it works and we don't have to try again), and hopefully be expecting! I am hopeful that 2013 will be our year!
Travis continues to enjoy being his own boss at Dream It Financial. He and his business partner have been working on building their client book, and are looking forward to growing more in the next few years. Travis is obsessed with board games, and now has so many that I can't even name half of them. He loves playing games and spends a lot of time researching games on his favorite website - boardgamegeek.com
I have been working as a Behavior Analyst for Chrysalis for almost 2 years now, and I really enjoy it. About two weeks ago I finished the last of my Behavior Analysis Classes with the Florida Institute of Technology. I am now preparing to take the board exam in May - wish me luck! I haven't had much time to participate in many hobbies because of school and work - but I'm hopeful that this year will allow me some time to read, scrapbook, and find some other hobbies.
This year, is promising to be a great year! We have a couple of trips planned - St. George, Vegas, Cour d'alene, and hopefully NYC! We will attempt IVF again this spring (hopefully it works and we don't have to try again), and hopefully be expecting! I am hopeful that 2013 will be our year!
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