Fertility treatments stink...

Well, round two of fertility treatments with Clomid and Ovidrel resulted in a negative pregnancy test.  I didn't have high hoped for that cycle because of the timing with Hurricane Irene and out power being out.  The Ovidrel shot has to be refrigerated, and that wasn't happening as consistently as I hoped because we couldn't run the generator constantly.  So, hopefully this round will be better. Done the Clomid already, and I just had the Ovidrel shot.  Now it's just the waiting game... I don't know how many people are actually reading my blog, but whoever may be doing so, if you could just take a couple minutes and pray for us.  This has been emotionally draining since the beginning.  I can't believe that it was nearly a year ago that I was told I had PCOS.  In the meantime, as I sit and hope that a baby is in the works, I'm just trying to keep an upbeat attitude!  Here's hoping!

I thought this was supposed to be easy...

Well, Craig and I are getting ready to start round 2 of fertility treatments.  Round 1 was back in the beginning of June and resulted in a pregnancy. Sadly, the pregnancy terminated after six and a half weeks.  We may never know if it was purely chemical, an ectopic pregnancy, or if it was just a bad pregnancy.  Anyway, had I not started going for these treatments that wouldn't have happened.  It turns out that I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), which is genetic, in my case.  Because of this I produce more testosterone than I require and not enough estrogen.  The side effects, to be blunt, suck.  I look like a 13 year old because of all of the breakouts, and I am a complete psychopath.  Not how you want to feel when you are struggling to conceive... you aren't depressed enough that you can't perform the simplest function of the female body, so let's add hormonal mood swings and acne to the mix.  Nice. 

So, after letting my body rest and reset, and having a great vacation with my parents, brothers, and husband, we are ready to roll again.  So today I made some calls and set up my ultrasound and blood work for day 12 (or Ovulation Day, as I like to call it) and an HSG (hysterosalpingogram).  The HSG requires dye to be injected into the uterus and fallopian tubes and then watched via an x-ray machine.  This will determine if there are any blockages or abnormalities that we missed or couldn't be seen in the ultrasounds.  So that is next Wednesday and the ultrasound and bw is next Friday.  I still need to call and order my Ovidrel shot.  This is what makes me ovulate.  It requires an injection into my stomach by my belly button, and a trip to my parents' house, because my mom is the lucky one to give me the shot.

Going through all of the motions to set up the appointments is easy.  Right now, I'm nervous... it's unheard of to have Clomid treatments work after one cycle (only a 20% chance).  We were lucky the first time, what if it doesn't work this time... what if I do get pregnant and lose it again...  all of the "what-ifs" are conspiring to make me lose my mind.  I know that I am evil during the Clomid cycle as it is, but now I feel like this on top of it... We're in for a bumpy ride!  Prayers are always welcome, just know that if I bite your head off or I seem distracted... it's not you... it's the hormones!

It's been a while...

Well... I have been extremely lax in my posting... it's been over a year!  I admit. I am ashamed... Since I last posted so much has happened.  Here is a run down of the highlights (I'll delve into more later...):

• went to WDW again with Craig and had a blast
• Spencer swallowed a few chunks of a dog toy and had to have them surgically removed
• We had the first Brown family Halloween without decorating in a LONG time... it was stupid...
• Ryan performed in his first off-off Broadway play "Wake"... it was long and he was amazing!
• We spent New Year's with the Hriniak clan and had so much fun!
• March 8th marked my mom's One Year Survivor Anniversary... Cancer free!!!
• Hardwood floor was installed and the Hall bathroom was finished
• Craig's cousin got married in Baltimore
• We went to the Poconos with the Hriniaks again for the 4th of July
• Got to see Ryan in "La Dia de Los Muertos," his second off-Broadway show.  He was absolutely incredible... I am so proud of him!
• Spencer got sick again (it seems to be an annual phenomenon

I think that hits the biggest points... there were many others...