A Mini Update

Friday, June 16

It's IUI Day!  I woke up feeling blessed.  Just so very blessed.  

I'm very teary this morning.  Liberty has not left my side.  She is very concerned about all the crying going on this morning.  Dogs don't really understand the difference between sad tears and grateful tears.  And it's grateful tears this morning.

I feel covered in prayer by so many people.  There are no words to describe how appreciative I am of that.

Everything seems to be lining up perfect.

It feels like Baby Weaver day.

I'm just happy.  A little reserved and hesitant but a lot happy.


Tuesday, June 20

I had planned to save everything for when we knew the results but I've had  several people message me to ask how I have been feeling and when we would know the results.  Because so many people are praying on our behalf I don't want to leave everyone hanging.  I hate it when books or movies do that.

It's not much but here's the latest update.

The procedure was a little more painful than our first IUI.  Andrew was across the room and I came very close to asking him to come over and hold my hand.  My doctor kept asking the nurse for different instruments.  I just closed my eyes and prayed for God to guide her hands and help her do what she needed to do.  Right as the nurse opened a new tool my doctor said nevermind.  She got it.  Afterwards she told me I did not want them to use that new tool, that it was very painful.  Praise God she didn't have to use it.

When the procedure was over they left me to lie down for about 10 minutes.  I closed my eyes and prayed and just relaxed.  If they had left me there much longer I could have fallen asleep.

With  IUI I was able to resume normal activities once I left the doctor's office.  

I had some cramping that first day which is totally normal.

Saturday, Sunday, and yesterday I had moments throughout the day where I felt nauseous. It sounds silly but if you've dealt with infertility you know that you sometimes have to remind yourself that it can't already be morning sickness.  I'm pretty sure it was a side effect from the trigger shot.  Maybe it has just been nerves.  I don't know.  It's hard not to analyze every little thing I feel.

As for results I have an appointment for Thursday morning to check my progesterone.  This will let us be sure that I did in fact ovulate when we think.  While this is not an indicator of pregnancy it can be an indicator of no pregnancy.  When we did our first IUI back in January by progesterone was very low at this point and we knew then I was not pregnant.   I don't really feel nervous about the appointment.  I believe our timing was spot on and that my progesterone will be where it is supposed to be.

I do fear it being where it is supposed to be and me taking that as a positive pregnancy test even though in my head I know it doesn't work that way.

The big results...well we have a few weeks of waiting before we know anything.  We have not shared the exact date with anyone.  Whether it is positive or negative we want to have time to process the news before sharing with our family and friends.  But don't worry I promise to let you all know something as soon as we are ready to share.

Travel, Toys, & Things

I used to love watching The Newlywed Game.  Andrew would come home from work and I would ask him some of my favorite questions from that day's show.  I'm sure he loved it.  Ha!

I've quit watching the show but I still like to ask him random Question of The Day questions.  

I thought it would be fun to share some questions and answers with you.

QUESTION #1: If you had to live in one of the places we've visited on vacation which one would be your first choice?

Andrew: Probably Charleston

Elaina:  Denver I think.  I really enjoyed our time there and I love the snow.  

QUESTION #2: If you inherited ten million dollars, what would you buy first (after all the bills/debt were paid off)?

Andrew: Tickets for us on a world cruise.

Elaina:  I'd buy an RV and we'd take a long vacation traveling across the US going everywhere we've always wanted to go.

(Great minds think alike.  We like traveling together.)

QUESTION #3: What is your least favorite think about travel?

Andrew: Other Travelers

Elaina:  Definitely flying.  It is slightly scary to me and it makes me sick.

QUESTION #4: What was your favorite toy growing up?

Andrew: Legos

Elaina:  Probably my chalkboard and then whiteboard.  I've always been a teacher. :)

QUESTION #5: If you could medal in an Olympic sport, what sport would you participate in?

Andrew: I think it has to be 100m sprint.  That's the fastest man in the world.

Elaina:  Gymnastics for sure.  I've always wanted to be able to flip across the floor like that.  

Here We Go Again!

The question I've been getting a lot lately...

"What are you doing this summer?"

My answer...

"Not much"

Which isn't really true at all, but I'm pretty sure it would be a little awkward for some if I answered honestly.

My summer plans include a TON of doctor's appointments.

It's time (hopefully) for IUI #2.

Emotions...I have so many of them.

Let me just walk you through we are at right now.

We took a bit of a break after IUI #1...it just hadn't been the right time.  The break was long enough that everyone at my clinic commented on how excited they were to hear from me.  I seriously love the staff.  They are so sweet and are the biggest cheerleaders for their patients.  

So anyway...we finally decided it was time.

Or maybe I decided, but Andrew agreed. :)

Last month I was on birth control.

Seems counterproductive doesn't it?

The plan was that the birth control would allow my body to rest so that it would be all ready for an IUI.

So I did that and then I had my baseline ultrasound last week.  This is where they check to make sure there are no cysts and my body is ready to start the process.

I had zero cysts!!

That's such a huge praise because I normally have 1-3.  

I have a total of 13 follicles (potential eggs).  She told me this during the ultrasound and how many of the 13 were in each ovary.  I didn't really think much about it other than it sounded good.

Then a few days later I went back and looked to see how many follicles I had at this point when we did IUI #1.

I had 7.  

Another huge praise!

Everything about this cycle feels different and look different.

I feel different during this cycle. 

I feel hopeful and scared.

But I also feel trust, which I'm not sure I did the first time.

I trust that no matter the outcome it's going to be okay.

I trust that God has me in the palm of his hand and he's not letting go.

And I keep telling myself those two things over and over and over.

Because there is that fear and the enemy tries to use that fear to fill me full of lies.

It's a daily struggle.

I will begin home ovulation tests this week.  

My next appointment will be Monday or when I get a positive ovulation test..which ever comes first.  That appointment will determine where we go from there.  I am taking 150mg of Clomid which is the most I've ever taken.  And so far (knock on wood) I haven't had any hot flashes with the Clomid.  

Praise!

I would greatly appreciate your prayers.  Pray that clomid will work and I will have plenty of good healthy eggs.  Pray that I would have the strength to fight the lies that too often fill my head.

Thank you for praying and for walking alongside me in this journey.

The Fourth Annual Americana Porch Party

It seems as soon as one year's party ends my mind goes to the next year's party.

I'm already thinking about centerpieces and outfits for next year.

How do we make it better?

I may say it every year but I think this year was the best year yet.

The porch looked great as always.

We had our biggest group yet this year.

38!

Andrew says we are shooting for 50 next year.

In order for you to truly appreciate the growth, let's take a look back...

First Annual...2014

Second Annual...2015...in the rain

Third Annual...2016



And the Fourth Annual...2017


I love having these group pictures every year.  It's fun to watch new family members and friends join us.  


The group photo starts the party...


It was time to eat.

A huge shout out to Carl for providing all the meat...he smoked turkey, pastrami, and pork tenderloin.  I sampled it all and it was all AMAZING...and I don't even like pastrami. :)


As people were waiting to eat or finish up their lunch we snapped a few more fun pictures.

I shared the camera with Uncle Kevin.  It made me smile when I started going through pictures.  I think he captured his heart...

The Annual Porch Party brings with it the celebration of two very special people.  We love getting to celebrate Jayna & Jessica's birthdays.

Photographed and well fed, it was time for yard games.

Andrew outdid himself this year with yard games.

Whatever your favorite yard game may be, I'm sure we had it set up.

This is  easily one of my favorites from the day.  This is my niece Kandace.  I was just looking at her thinking about how tall, how pretty, and how sweet she is!

 Deep concentration before she throws...

Yes...Andrew and I changed outfits this year...we were too fancy for yard games.  Picking out our outfits is one of my favorite things about this party.  We have fun with it.

2014

2015

2016


2017



Andrew and I love this party.  But I will say we do not do this by ourselves.  My kitchen is full of women (and a few men) the entire time helping prepare the meal and clean up after the meal.  There are men moving about everywhere setting up tables and chairs, yard games, and any other last minute things.  We are so thankful for all the help.



And we don't have any pictures but my favorite part of this party is preparing care packages for soldiers who are out there fighting for our freedom and are away from their families.  The biggest sacrifice!  Everyone brings items and we fill as many boxes as we can.  I'm glad Andrew started this tradition the first year.