Happy Easter!

I am off from work for three weeks starting last Friday and my gosh I need everyone of these days off! Don and I planned this round of IVF very carefully, taking into account spring break from school, union blocks for vacation requests, imaginary baby due date, ect. I took this week off thinking, “just in case I have a weird reaction to my meds.” Well, I NEEDED this week off. When we paid for IVF one of the lines of our bill stated “5 ultrasounds, progesterone and estrodiol levels.” I knew that meant I would have ultrasounds and blood work, but I never questioned when that would be. It turns out that meant that every other day I am in their office for ultrasounds and blood work. All appointments are in the morning and then I get a call in the afternoon with my levels and specific instructions on how to tweak my meds. Sometimes it is “Go from Gonal-F 150 units down to 112 units” or “Tomorrow change your Menopur from 2 vials to 1.” I just go along with what they say at this point. I am finally at the point where the hormonal manipulation is beyond me just enough that I can stop thinking of this clinically and just think of this as a unique way of getting pregnant!

Besides having such frequent appointments the meds have distended my abdomen greatly and I am exhausted all the time. I look pregnant and I am using a belly band to stay in my clothes. My belly is sore, but not unbearable. Dr.Hessla said by the time I have my egg retrieval (probably next Wednesday or Thursday) my abdomen will be huge and very tender. Physiologically what is happening is the follicles in my ovaries are getting very large so they can be aspirated. What happens to my belly after the retrieval depends on if I get pregnant. According to Dr. Hessla if the embryos take my follicles will refill with fluid and I will remain distended. If I don’t get pregnant my belly will go back to its usually chunky size.

School started back up this week and this semester will be a tough one. I am taking a therapy course which goes over the four major thoughts behind the therapeutic process and how to incorporate it with your patients. Followed by that I have supervision to discuss clinicals. My clinical placement has not changed and I am grateful for that. I am working in a community mental health clinic with a wide variety of patients. I really love community mental health and can see myself working in this setting long-term. I just don’t think private practice will be the place for me.

Lastly I have pharmacology. This is the first of the 3 main pharm courses I have to take and I can already feel this is going to kick my butt! Just looking at the reading I am overwhelmed. I keep reminding myself I did fine in pharm when I was 19 years old and had no clue what was going on in the world. At least now I have lots of practical professional experience with these drugs, but it is still daunting!

Please keep us in your thoughts this week. Don is feeling very discouraged with the house. Although we are having showings everyone hates our upstairs. I agree. The upstairs is not all that next to the downstairs, but we don’t have the money to raise the roof, put in hardwood, move walls or do any of the other things that would make it more appealing.

Also one of my favorite family members may be coming to visit!!! I don't want to say who because I know he reads this and I don't want him to feel pressured because he has a lot going on right now. Still please pray that this man comes out to see us because I miss him a lot and I know we won't be able to meet up for another year. (Again, no pressure M but we really want to see you!!!)

Anyways, happy Easter and we love you all!