leading up to the big day

Well, tomorrow is the big day.  I can't believe it's here...I would say "I can't believe it's here already," but it sure took long enough to get here - a whole month and a half from our last fresh cycle, which is equivalent to forever in the IF world.  To prepare, I started taking my PIO shots as prescribed and had acupuncture on Monday and again tonight after work.

I started my PIO shot Saturday night.  And it was a fun one!  Really, it was - I'm not being sarcastic.  My RE's office said I could take the shot any time, day or night, as long as it was taken at the same time every day.  So I decided evenings were best.  There was no way I was going to wake up any earlier in the morning than I had to in order to take a shot with a needle that size.  Talk about a rude awakening.

My hubby just happened to be visiting his parents one hour away the evening of my first shot.  And my girlfriend, CA, just happened to plan a girl's night out that same night.  So my two girlfriends and I were getting ready at my house for a night on the town when I broke it to them:  as I was gathering my drugs, I asked how they felt about needles.  Neither of my lady friends said they had any problems with needles so it was left to CA to give me my shot.  In my tushie.  And the one inch needle had to go all the way into my muscle.  I wish I could say that it didn't require a one inch needle to reach the muscle in my tushie but after gaining weight from the fertility treatments, I'm not surprised.  At least my doctor's office downsized me from the one and a half inch needle from my fresh cycle.

So I showed CA the goods (my butt), and she just went for it.  I'm quite certain I would not have been able to give her a shot in her tushie if our roles were reversed.  I admit it, I'm wimpy like that.  And she is one brave (and fabulous) friend!

I have to say I was pretty nervous for the shot.  Not that CA was giving it to me but that the needle was so huge!  It made my heart race just looking at it.  But now it's been a few days - one shot per day makes five shots already - and I'm used to the giant needle.  And I think my hubby is too.  I'm not so sure I should be happy about being used to a shot like that.

Unfortunately, one of the side effects from the PIO was unavoidable:  I do have the infamous "lumpy butt."  I've used a heating pad after the last four shots to try to avoid lumpy butt but it's still there.  I'm hoping the heating pad has at least lessened the severity of said lumpy butt.  Although, it's not like you can see that my tushie is lumpy just by looking at it.  It's more that it feels lumpy because it's like there is an area under my skin that feels firmer than the rest.  Hmmm...maybe I should spread out the injections so my entire rear end feels that way.  Then I can say I'm just very muscular from working out.  ; )

Anyway, onto my acupuncture appointments.  I took a break from acupuncture after my last failed cycle but I couldn't wait to get back into it this week.  I was so relaxed during my first appointment on Monday that I almost fell asleep. I was actually on the verge of sleep when a needle fell out of my head and crash landed by my ear. In my relaxed state, it made me jump. I also noticed that the regular pregnant nurse was out of the office. She must have had her baby. Her replacement was very friendly and very non-pregnant.

In addition to the pain points (on my hands) and the many fertility points (stomach, legs, feet, etc) that he always does, my chiropractor added several points for my allergies (on my face and head).  He did the allergy points because my RE's office recommended I not take any medication other than my prenatal vitamins and fertility meds that they prescribed.  So I've been in allergy misery.  Plus, the treatment is covered by insurance if it's for something other than fertility.  And I'm completely amazed at how well it's worked for my allergies!  I've been breathing so much better and sneezing a lot less since Monday.  Hopefully, I'll have great results with the fertility aspect as well.

My acupuncture appointment this evening wasn't quite as relaxing as it was on Monday.  For one, I'm super anxious, excited, and scared all at the same time for our transfer tomorrow.  And for two, the medical staff was having a very loud conversation in the hallway outside my patient room.  Oh well.  I didn't let it get to me (too much).

While chatting with my chiropractor during Monday's appointment, he said something that reminded me to ask about the kelp minerals that he recommended for me way back in July to help with fertility. If you recall from a previous post, I went to Whole Foods one evening to pick up some kelp minerals and as I was walking to the register to pay, I read the label. It said something about how it may contain cancer causing agents and may be harmful to the reproductive system. I promptly returned it to the shelf and walked out empty handed.

I mentioned the label warning to my chiro and he was very surprised. He said he takes kelp supplements himself and had not noticed anything on the label about that; he was going to go home and check the bottle he has. In the mean time, he recommended I take a multi-mineral instead. So I stopped at Whole Foods again tonight, read the label on the multi-mineral (it was clear of any scary warnings), and made my purchase. I also picked up some more flax seed (coarsely ground this time instead of whole) since I ran out of that last week.  I've come to really like it in my morning yogurt.

And now I'm going to publish this and go to bed; I'm completely worn out.  But not before asking for your prayers.  Please pray for us that we have strong embryos that survive tomorrow's thaw and that they thrive in their new home - me!