My Fertility Journey So Far

Here's a look at where I've been, where I am and where I'm going. I do want to note that I've added my successful pregnancy and live birth with my son, Mason. This shows that I battle with SIF. I will also update this post as necessary:

• August 2004 - Go off BCP and pregnant in one cycle with Mason. 
• September 2004 - End up in ER with major bleeding and what is thought to be a number of things, including a threatened m/c. blighted ovum or vanishing twin. With the amount of bleeding that occurred and the fact that I carried Mason to term, it is ultimately believed that I had in fact been carrying twins and lost Mason's sibling very early on.
• May 25, 2005 - Mason is born at 38 weeks, 5 days - he's perfect.
• March 2008 - I have my Mirena IUD removed to begin TTC for #2. 
• April 2008 - My BFP with Robert just 2 weeks after removal of IUD. 
• May 2008 - The bleeding begins. 
• June 2008 - The bleeding continues. It looks like I have several subchorionic hematomas around the placenta causing the bleeding. I am told that these will slowly resolve itself as my pregnancy progresses into my second trimester. 
• July 2008 - I continue to be monitored and continue to bleed. The hematomas continue. 
• August 2008 - Time for our BIG ultrasound to find out the sex. Mason and Bob are in with me. The tech gets quite during the US and asks me again how far along I am. She tells us that the measurements are much earlier than they should be. I see Dr. Segal in his office and he refers me to a specialist at UNC Maternal Fetal Medicine at Rex. I am having a boy.
• Bob and I meet with Dr. Robert Strauss. He confirms that Robert is much smaller in size than he should be. For the time being, blood flow to the heart looks good. I am sent for a battery of tests and Bob and I meet with a genetic counselor. 
• Results from tests are crazy off the chart. Indicating anything from downs syndrome and more. We are devastated and confused. We are told that an Amnio will help my doctors get a better idea of what is going on.
• August 21, 2008 - I go in for my Amnio. During the US before beginning the procedure, I see no tiny heartbeat. We learn that Robert has died. I am admitted to the hospital that evening and labor is induced. 
• August 22, 2008 - After 12 hours of labor, I deliver Robert still. He is so tiny and beautiful and perfect. I'm not sure how long I held him; I was so exhausted. A few photos are taken by my nurse. Robert is taken to pathology for an autopsy. 
• September 2008 - The results from Robert's autopsy come back; he is perfect. No genetic defects of any kind. Cause of death: unknown.
• October 2008 - With my cycle back, we are given the green light to begin TTC again. We're not "trying" but not preventing.
• April 2009 - I see my OB after six months of TTC. I am prescribed Clomid for my next cycle. I begin to also use OPK's, charting and taking my BBT.
• May 2009 - I begin my first of two rounds of Clomid + monitoring and progesterone check. Continue with OPK's, charting and BBT. 
• June 2009 - Another round of Clomid and charting, OPK's and BBT.
• July 2009 - Begin a round of Femara and charting, OPK's and BBT.
• August 2009 - Second round of Femara and charting, OPK's and BBT. 
• August 20, 2009 - Bob has a Semen Analysis done. Results come back perfect.
• August 31, 2009 - I go in for an HSG. My tubes are clean and no blockage is found. I have no polyps, scar tissue or other issues. 
• My OB refers me to RE Dr. William Meyer at Carolina Conceptions. I make an appt. for October. In anticipation of IF coverage, I call our insurance company and learn that we have up to $20,000 for IF treatments.
• September 2009 - Bob's company is bought out by another company. We have a lapse of insurance company for the month of October. I reschedule my RE consult for November.
• Our new insurance kicks in and I call for benefits. 100% for IF diagnosis. Nothing for treatment. I am angry and devastated.
• November 17, 2009 - I meet with RE Dr. Meyer. We go over my history and I hear the dreaded words uttered "Unexplained Secondary Infertility". I am sent for blood work to check my AMH level. The levels come back fantastic. Next steps are injectables w/IUI. 
• December 15, 2009 - I have my injectable and IUI class at CC.
• December 18, 2009 - CD3 and I begin Bravelle (and continue through CD10)
• December 22, 2009 - I begin Ganarelix CD7-10)
• December 26, 2009 - I trigger with Ovidrel. IUI is scheduled for Monday morning.
• December 28, 2009 - IUI is done. Piece of cake. 
• January 9, 2010 - AF arrives 12dpIUI during a day out with my best girlfriends. 
• February 24, 2010 - During annual exam, my OB does a huge blood panel. Panel checks for everything from blood-clotting disorders, autoimmune diseases/disorders, to my thyroid. All tests come back normal, except for an elevated ANA level. He refers me back to the same specialists at UNC that I saw during my pregnancy.
• March 1, 2010 - Consultation with Dr. Goodnight at UNC Maternal Fetal Medicine. We go over my test results from last week, as well as rehashing all the results from Robert's death. Dr. Goodnight performs another test to check another blood-clotting disorder, as well as checking my creatinine level (due to that fact that I have just one kidney.)
• March 18, 2010 - Officially made the decision to move forward with IVF. IVF nurse education class scheduled for March 31st. 
• April 6, 2010 - Started taking BCP for IVF cycle
• April 20, 2010 - Baseline US showed ovarian cyst. Another week of BCP's. 
• April 30, 2010 - Another US and now, 2 cysts. Plus, my estrogen level is too high to proceed with Stims. Another week or so of crazy pills. 
• May 4, 2010 - Another appointment shows that cysts are still there. Dr. decides to go ahead and aspirate and drain the cysts. Gani.relix injections for the next few nights to kill the cyst.
• May 8, 2010 - I finally begin my Stims.
• May 15, 2010 - Monitoring appointment. We discover that due to poor response, we very likely will not move forward with IVF.
• May 17, 2010 - IVF cycle is officially cancelled due to poor ovarian response. IVF converted to another IUI.
• May 21, 2010 - I have my second IUI. The waiting begins (again). 
• May 31, 2010 - AF shows up while we're on vacation at the beach. 
• June 3, 2010 - Begin crazy pills again for my next IVF cycle. I must be on BCP's for a month this time for a "flare" IVF cycle.
• June 24, 2010 - Bob and I attend our IVF nurse education class. We voluntarily cancel our IVF cycle. Living in Radical Obedience to what the Lord has in store for our family.