Lovin' the green and the 4 follicles

As a part of my TTC journey, there has been significant attempts to better our diet. I am a self-proclaimed "veggie- and anything green-hater." You could lock me up in a candy store for the rest of my life and I would be perfectly happy. However a diet of solely candy bars probably don't make for a healthy baby or reproductive cycle. When I first met my husband, back in 2003 when I worked at EuroDisnney in Paris, my diet as he remembers it was: Twix or Snickers, Diet Coke and cigarettes.... yes, for a brief moment in time, I was stupid enough to smoke, albeit just a little bit of time. My only healthy habit was riding my bike to and from work.

So this month I was surprised to find out that we have gone through 4.5 lbs of spinach....(yes, I have started an Excel spreadsheet keeping track of all the groceries that we buy, in order to try and figure out where I can save money and which store to buy what). 4.5 lbs - that is just insane!! But I must say that there are ways to make spinach tasty (I'm not talking salads, because I am sooo not there yet). There has been the delicious Spanakopita (Greek spinach pie), Palak Ka Shorba (Lentil and spinach soup), Saag Paneer (Spinach and Cheese) and then of cause this tasty recipe that we made the other night:

 http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Toasted-Spelt-Soup-with-Escarole-and-White-Beans-51210020

Although it called for escarole, I just used lots of spinach instead. Yum!!

Disclaimer: This week I also made some horrible food decisions, like the day I ate 4 home-made pastries, why?? It just happened and I paid the price with horrible stomach ache.

In the baby-making world, there is not much to say. Yesterday I went in for a post-ovulatory scan and the nurse told me that 4 follicles have ovulated and had developed into 4 nice corpus luteums. I have had some discomfort and that would probably be why. Now we just keep waiting...

....and now on to the TWW

I went in for another US on Sunday - had no idea that my Dr would schedule appointments on the weekend. Nice to know that he cares so much. The medical office building was closed, so the nurse had to meet us in the hospital lobby. And to my surprise it was the actual doctor that did the US and not the usual assistant. He took his time and showed me all of the glorious follicles. There were at least 4 follicles ready to go and others smaller ones right behind them. I triggered in the office and hubby and I went for a nice long hike afterward (a bit too long really, ~12 miles to be exact). It was a really nice day and we talked about just how lucky we are. So, we don't have kids yet, but we have each other, we are healthy, and still in love after 9 years of marriage.

Monday morning was our IUI #4. It was pretty uneventful. Felt excited and was happy to have hubby there with me for the procedure. His count was 16 million, so we will see what happens. By midday I was feeling some pain in my lower abdomen. Like from the many follicles ovulating... Appetite wasn't good and I just relaxed all day. Now there is nothing else to do but wait. On Thursday I go in for another US to make sure I ovulated and that corpus luteum looks good, and then next Thursday the 6th is the blood test. I am hopeful that 2014 will be our year!!!

Done poking me yet? Guess not!

So, it is cycle day 9 and I went in for an ultrasound, checking up on progress of my follicles. And of cause since I'm doing Menopur my RE wants to monitor my blood work as well. I'm telling you, I'd rather have two ultrasounds and skip the blood draw (if that was possible), because I bruise so easily and have shy veins. So the result is hematomas on both arms (one is from Monday's blood draw), which draws quite the looks and attention of my fellow yoga peeps at the gym.

But anyway, I've got 4 leading follicles, all around 14mm and a few other in support and hopefully cheering on, what will soon be my future baby. A girl has got to hope.... Going back in on Friday and perhaps doing IUI #4 over the weekend or early next week.

Is this where babies come from???

Friday was a strange day for me. Positive and negative all wrapped into one weird day. I was happy that I after two days of harassing pharmacy and insurance office, finally secured myself the first vials of my Menopur.... My new hope in achieving a long sought after pregnancy. But with it came the very strange act of having to stab myself with a needle. Something I just have a hard time wrapping my brain around. I am no newbie around needles and drugs, having worked in the veterinary field for a while, but I have a whole new appreciation of the terror that the birds may have felt upon seeing me and my needle. Of cause I am anthropomorphizing and at no point in time did I asked them to inject themselves... Anyway, made it through and I guess it is not as bad as I have a tendency to make it in my head. My dear husband looked at my hesitation and asked me if I wanted him to do it - and all I can think is "what? You WANT to stab me???" Immediately followed by the horror of an image of me having to give him an injection - "Nope, I got it (very brave smile and stab)"

And I just had that once a day injection. I know that there are plenty people out there with many more injections than me. But do you remember your first???