Cycle Day 3

I'm still waiting to hear officially, but right now it looks like my HSG will be March 15th. They don't normally like to go that far into the cycle, but since we're still actively preventing pregnancy it's okay. I'm looking forward to getting this test done (again) for the information purposes, but not so much for the fun factor. Because it's not fun at all. Of course it's better than the D&C/ectopic surgery, but still not something I want to do all the time.
Weather-wise we're gearing up for what could be a big nothing or the biggest snow of the season or something in between. I was supposed to have a meeting in another county tomorrow, so luckily that was postponed. We do these meetings as potlucks and I had signed up to bring a main dish without any thought as to what I would make. So not only will I not have to slip-slide my way to work if it's terrible, I also won't have to worry about throwing something together food-wise. Win-Win.
At home we're back to counting calories. Huzzah! Time change is this weekend, so starting next week we'll be running again too. Hopefully I can knock off a few pounds before we get back to TTC. I'm back up from my lowest weight by 5 or 6 lbs, but I'm still under where I wanted to be before getting back to it last summer.

Cycle Day 2: This Again

I've been expecting this. Almost 2 weeks ago I had excruciating pain on my left side. I believe that was the egg attempting to travel down a blocked fallopian tube. I am so not looking forward to my HSG next cycle. Shooting dye through blocked tubes cannot be pleasant. Also, last week I was absolutely ravenous. That's usually a sign.
More snow over the weekend. We're supposed to get another couple inches today. It hasn't started yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Between snow and monster cramps, I'm planning on packing up some work and taking it home with me. Even with cramps, I'm sure I'll be able to focus more while snuggled in bed wearing my pajamas.

Weather Rollercoaster

Last week it was so cold schools were cancelled. This week we've experienced highs in the mid-60s. WTF, weather? But fear not tomorrow we could get snow again. Here's a picture of my 13 year old dog hanging out this past Saturday enjoying last Friday's snow. That's right. Last week was Frigid (with a capital F). Then it warmed a bit and snowed all day Friday. And then this week we experienced 60 degree weather and the tomorrow it could snow. Fantastic.

maggie enjoying some snow

This is the Week

This is the week that we get back to tracking our calories. I've already put in my breakfast, lunch, and part of dinner and have a tad over 700 calories left for the day. I think we're off to a good start. The elliptical was killer today. Looking forward to that getting easier. Also, with the warmer weather maybe we'll go running this weekend. Probably the whole city of Columbus will be running this weekend though.

Today's weight: 160.7

Elliptical (30 min program + time to end of song, 514 cal):

Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.
Big Time - David Dallas
Bright Future in Sales - Fountains of Wayne
Miss You - The Concretes
Just a Girl - No Doubt
Carlotta Valdez - Harvey Danger
Days are Forgotten - Kasabian
Same Old Song - The Pietasters
Kiss My Lips - Borgore & Dev

Tylenol Just Won't Cut It

Another trip to the lab this morning. It wasn't crowded at all--in and out in record time. Today's value is: 438 Next lab work is scheduled for next Friday! Huzzah.

Last night my bleeding increased to heavy bleeding. So that's good since it most likely means the HCG level is still in decline. But not so good? Cramps! Normally I load up on on advil or motrin (whatever's handy), but those are currently on the forbidden list. They did say tylenol is okay, but that didn't actually do anything for me. So last night I broke out the ole heating pad. It's the one I used ever since my first cramps started. It looks very 1970s, but I don't know for sure how old it is. It has colors like mustard yellow and turquoise and it's a paisley pattern. I've been using it since the early 90s. A bit of menstrual cramp nostalgia right there. But of course every other time I've relied on the magic of the heating pad I've also been on copious amounts of ibuprofen. At one pint last night I turned off the heating pad. Apparently a mistake, because I woke up later and needed it again. But the good news is I've been told I can take my hydrocodone that's leftover from my surgery if my cramps get bad again. Sweet!

The roads are greatly improved after Wednesday's weather. HOWEVER, we could get 1-3 inches tonight. Ugh.

And another thing. Today is the 10th anniversary of my grandfather's death. My eyes still well up with tears every time I think about it. In fact (I wasn't sure of the exact year until my uncle posted it on Facebook today), but it was the reason I didn't want my parents to reschedule Christmas this year. We rescheduled Christmas in 2002, because my grandfather wasn't doing well. He was having back pain and they wound up calling a squad to take him to the hospital. Three days later he died. He had cancer and wasn't going to live much longer anyway, but it just felt too awful to reschedule Christmas because of my dad's influenza and developing pneumonia. Irrationally, in the back of my mind I thought the same thing could happen. We almost lost my dad in March and I didn't want to chance it this week. Superstitious? YES!!!!!!

Wednesday is the New Monday

After a thrilling 4 day weekend, it's back to the ole grindstone. Except it isn't really. Today we're in the midst of some winter weather. Our office currently holds just 4 people: 2 office assistants, a student worker, and an HR person. (Isn't funny that when I started up my Google music just now the first song was "Lonesome Town?") It seems most of the mucky mucks had already planned to take today off. We are the troopers. Well, it seems everyone else drove here. I took public transit. It's $2 each way, and well worth it.

View from my window at 9:40 am on 12/26/2012

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas with my family. My dad has influenza A/ H1N1. My mom seems to also be sick. And my nephew and niece spent a lot of time coughing. It's a miracle we got out of there alive. Of course we could have been infected and it just hasn't kicked in yet.
My hcg level on Monday was 734. It seems to be continuing a downward trend, because I am now experiencing a bit of bleeding. My next blood draw will be Friday. Hopefully I can get my little car out of the neighborhood by then.

Take that, Errant Embryo!

This morning I had another blood draw for an official pre-treatment HCG level. Then I went to the doctor's office to get my methotrexate injections (yes, plural). One in each hip. Ugh. Monday I go back for another HCG. And then next Friday. The nurse said next Friday is the important one. From that one they'll know if it's decreasing enough. So here's hoping today marks the beginning of the end of Smeagol.
In other apocalyptic news, it's snowing! Gross! And it could snow on Monday. Thumbs down!

Update: My hcg level this morning (pre-injection) was 944. So there was already some decrease, so hopefully with the methotrexate there will be a continues decrease and no more of this back and forth.

Cycle Day 8: WTF October

As part of FRANKENSTORM, we had some gusting winds (which continue, I guess) and some wet snow this morning. So far no widespread power outages here, which is good with it being so cold.

Yesterday's estrogen number was 238. I checked my August cycle and the Day 8 number then was 127 and the lead follicle was 11. So I'm ahead. Hopefully we get some quality eggs.

Cycle Day 7: Following the Leader

At this morning's ultrasound the lead follie was at 13 and there were 4 or 5 others at 10. So we'll see what the doc has to say about that this afternoon when they call with further instructions.
We saw the in-laws yesterday. It wasn't terrible. Now that the twins are older (almost 2) they don't bother me so much. But if I really start to think about it . . . they were born right after I had my first miscarriage. But thankfully my brain isn't taking it beyond that point. Last weekend? I probably would have fallen down that rabbit hole and not been able to crawl out for days and days and days. On the phone last night the ole MIL told my husband she thinks we would have cute babies. Thanks . . .
We're supposed to get high winds today and tomorrow as part of this hurricane/FRANKENSTORM thing. Hopefully we won't lose power. This time of year is so horrible. It's dark all the time AND cold. I'm thankful we're not in an area that's supposed to get 2-3 feet of snow or obviously all the flooding and damage that comes from being directly hit by the hurricane.

Cycle Day 4: TGIF?

Last night marked the beginning of my injections. I picked them up from the pharmacy yesterday and spent $444.65 all together (gonal-f, novarel, and sharps container). It was going to be in the $600s, but apparently there's a discount program for gonal-f. So hooray.
Even though I still have 3 vials of Bravelle left, I started with the gonal-f pen last night. I was curious to see how it would work. It's supposed to be kept refirgerated and it's a pen with a "dial-a-dose" dealy, so yeah. When you prime the pen, a small bit of the meds comes out. My husband and I both thought it smelled bandagey. So that was weird-ish. On the whole it's a slightly different technique, and I'm not sure I like it just yet. With the Bravelle, it's an actual syringe and the plunger depresses MUCH further and it just feels like you've actually done something. But oh boy I'll sure get that feeling when it's time for the trigger shot. :(
We ran again on Wednesday and will go again tonight. I was slower Wednesday, but I think it was due to a combination of feeling like crap and 80 degree temps. Today's high is supposed to be 60, so we won't have that problem again. Still feeling a little jiggly in the butt area, but hopefully we can keep up the running through November and I'll get some muscle tone back. It'll still be under a layer of flab, but still . . .
And of all the things I'm not looking forward to . . . in-law visit on Sunday. Ugh.

The Opposite of a Good Decision

Tonight we're redeeming a Groupon for our favorite vegetarian Indian restaurant. Uh oh. And it's a big one. 3 course tasting menu. The last time we were in we saw a couple tables using this very Groupon and omg . . . SO MUCH FOOD. Thus, I am very happy my weigh-in was today and I'm hoping my weight will recover in time for next week's weigh-in. Will it be delicious? Yes. Will my stomach burst? Probably. Will I recover in time to go running at the crack of dawn tomorrow? Perhaps.
So Weight Watchers . . . today I received my 5% star sticker AND my 10lbs weight loss blue ribbon. I'm like a hog at the fair! Good times.
I ellipticalled this morning, but my Google Music wasn't cooperating so I went back to Pandora, which was also kind of funky. Tomorrow we hope to run at the crack of dawn since we're in the midst of a heat wave. We'll see how our stomachs are doing. Of course my body tends to reject binges in a most unladylike way. I won't share any specific details. I've felt pretty unenergized the past couple mornings, so I'm wondering if I just need more calories. Yesterday and today I worked in a couple servings of frozen fruit. I'm going to try to remember a multivitamin.
Tomorrow is the first official CSA pickup. So excited. I think there's going to be summer squash! Yumyumyum.