Our TTC History

February 2011: 

• Quit taking birth control

March 2011: 

• Married my Hubby and began actively trying

June 2011:

• Referred to RE by OB/GYN due to suspected endometriosis and severe back pain
• RE put Hubby on a fertility blend, Vitamin C, fish oil and Vitamin E to improve morphology
• RE told him to keep laptop off his lap, cell phone out of pocket and stay out of hot tubs
• Ordered to recheck in 3 months

July 2011

• Clomid Challenge Test: normal

August 2011: 

• HSG: normal, tubes open, "beautiful uterus"... not a compliment you get every day!

September 2011:

• Semen Analysis recheck:  morphology improved to 3% of 44 million
• Conceived our first little angel

October 2011:

• Contemplating next step of IUI or IVF  (didn't know we were already pregnant!)
• 10/10... BFP!!!!
• 10/24:  First ultrasound - gestational sac and yolk sac present

November 2011:

• 11/7:  Second ultrasound - gestation and yolk sac, but no heartbeat... told the ultrasound appeared our little peanut had stopped growing
• 11/15:  Third ultrasound - no change and no sign of miscarrying naturally
• D&C performed - our little peanut is now an Angel Baby.  Never in our arms, but always in our hearts... Forever our First 

December 2011:

• 12/22:  HORRIBLE CRAMPING 5 weeks post D&C... no bleeding
• 12/28:  Yearly exam... first abnormal pap smear result 

January 2012:

• 1/10:  progesterone levels indicated ovulation
• 1/21:  HORRIBLE CRAMPING 10 days after confirmed ovulation (28 days since last cyclical pain) ... no bleeding
• 1/23:  Colposcopy for abnormal pap - Normal, repeat pap smear in 6 months
• 1/30:  Met with doctor to discuss concerns about absent periods and the severe cramping
• Ultrasound looked normal
• Wanted me to come back following week for bloodwork and to schedule ultrasound as soon as next cycle began
• RE wants to check for Asherman's Syndrome or stenotic cervix at the beginning of next cycle

February 2012:

• 2/6:  Progesterone levels low on CD 21 so no confirmed ovulation
• Started 10 day course of Provera to induce cycle 
• 2/15:  Last day of Provera
• 2/18:  Minimal spotting and HORRIBLE CRAMPING... no bleeding
• 2/20:  Met with RE... progesterone had dropped indicating start of new cycle
• Confirmed that pain was start of new cycle through ultrasound as you could visibly see uterine lining shedding
• Scheduled hysteroscopy and laparoscopy for 3/2 to check for/remove intrauterine adhesions/scarring and endometriosis

March 2012:

• 3/2:  Laparascopy, hysteroscopy and chromotubation
• Confirmed Endometriosis:  removed 1-3cm from each ovary and 3cm from posterior peritoneum (covering of abdominal cavity)
• Removed simple cyst off right ovary and sent to pathology - Normal
• Chromotubation - no obstructions in fallopian tubes
• Uterus:  NO SCARRING!!  Uterus still looks beautiful - no scarring or adhesions seen
• RE assumed there was a small amount of scar tissue in my cervix that he broke up when hysteroscope was insterted or hormonal
• 3/7:  Bloodwork to see if I ovulated naturally
• Progesterone 4.42 (1.5 is indicative of recent ovulation)
• Estradiol 150
• 3/13:  SPOTTING
• 3/14:  AF has arrived!!!  Officially CD1 of Cycle #12
• 3/15: 4 months since we said good-bye... our littlest angel will always be missed
• 3/19:  Post-op appointment with RE
• Call in 4 weeks if no natural cycle and will induce period with progesterone
• Repeat SA for hubby on April 3
• Start Femara with next cycle
• 3/19:  Pre-ovulation acupuncture
• 3/23:  Pre-ovulation acupuncture
• 3/25:  Ovulation confirmed on Ovacue
• 3/28:  HAPPY 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY to the love of my life!!

April 2012:

• 4/1 - 4/3:  Spotting
• 4/3:  Repeat SA:  morphology still 3%, but doubled sperm count..... now 3% of 82 million
• RE says it is still considered low, but doubling the sperm count increases our chances because it doubles the good little swimmers!
• 4/4:  CD1 of Cycle #13
• AF arrived a week early, previous cycle was only 21 days
• 4/6:  CD3 Ultrasound (baseline)
• 20 follicles in each ovary
• Started Letrozole/Femara CD3 - CD7
• 4/13:  CD10 Ultrasound
• Right ovary: 12mm, 12mm
• Left ovary:  16mm
• 4/14:  CD11 - HCG Trigger Shot (given by hubby!)
• 4/16:  Strong ovulation pains at 6am
• 4/17:  Started progesterone suppositories 2x/day
• 4/29:  Negative pregnancy test... AF appeared!! 
• 4/30:  CD2 Ultrasound (baseline)
• 15 follicles in each ovary

May 2012:

• 5/1-5/5:  7.5 mg of Letrozole/Femara deaily (CD3 - CD7)
• 5/8:  CD10 Ultrasound - 7 follicles!!
• Right ovary:  4 follicles 11-12mm
• Left ovary:  3 follicles 11mm
• Uterine lining: 3.1mm
• Schedule follow-up u/s for CD12
• 5/10:  CD12 Ultrasound
• Right ovary: 4 follicles 10-12mm (yes, they are shrinking)
• Left ovary:  many follicles all 10mm (yes, they are shrinking, too)
• Uterine lining thin - 3.2mm
• Started Menopur injections to force maturation - CD12 - 15
• Scheduled follow-up u/s for CD16
• Recommended injectibles with next cycle or IVF... UGH.
• 5/14:  CD16 Ultrasound - 9 follicles... yikes!
• Right ovary:  17, 16, 16, 15, 15mm
• Left ovary:  14, 14, 12, 10mm
• Uterine lining:  8.9mm
• At least 3 eggs will release for sure, likely that all 5 from right ovary will as well
• It is possible that 7 follicles release eggs this cycle since they could all grow 4mm more by the time ovulation occurs
• 5/15:  HCG Trigger Shot (Ovidrel) - morning
• Timed intercourse
• 5/16:  Ovulation occurred this evening
• Timed intercourse
• 5/17:  1dpo - Timed intercourse
• 5/19:  3dpo - Begin progesterone suppositories - am/pm
• 5/26:  10dpo - BFN... confirmation that all of the HCG is out of my system
• 5/27:  11 dpo - TWO PINK LINES!!!!!!!!!!  We are officially pregnant... PHEW!
• 5/29:  13dpo - Bloodwork
• Beta HCG = 244 mlU/ml
• Progesterone = 114 ng/ml (very high!!)
• 5/31:  15dpo - Bloodwork (HCG should double every 48 hours)
• Beta HCG = 637 mlU/ml.... STRONG!! 

June 2012:

• 6/19:  6w4d Ultrasound.......... TRIPLETS!
• Baby A - measures 7w0d, heartbeat 138bpm
• Baby B - measures 6w5d, heartbeat 128bpm
• Baby C - measures 6w3d, heartbeat 112bpm
• Referral to high-risk OB
• Concerns that Baby C is smaller and heartbeat is not as strong.  Possible that Baby C will not make it. 
• 6/28: 8w0d Ultrasound.......... TWINS!
• Baby A - heartbeat 175bpm
• Baby B - heartbeat 178bpm
• Baby C - we now have a second angel baby watching over us - never in our arms, but forever in our hearts!

September 2012:

• Baby A - It's a BOY!
• Baby B - It's a GIRL!

December 2012:

• 12/14: Placed on bed rest due to high blood pressure

January 2013:

• 1/6....... My precious little miracle babies were born!!
• Baby Boy
• 6lbs
• 10 days in the NICU
• Baby Girl - 3lbs11oz
• 3lbs 11oz
• 14 days in the NICU
• 1/7: I got to meet my little miracles for the first time!
• 1/16:  Baby boy A goes home!
• 1/20:  Baby girl B goes home!

January 2014:

• 1/6:  My miracles turn 1!!
• IUD removed 
• Actively "not trying"  ;)

June 2014:

• 6/6: BFP... surprise!
• 6/16:  Ultrasound
• Gestational sac present, no heartbeat  
• 6/23: Follow-up ultrasound
• No change
• 6/27: Follow-up ultrasound
• No change
• 6/30: D&C
• Angel baby #3 watching down on us - never in our arms, but forever in our hearts

July 2014:

• Actively "not trying"... again!

January 2015:

• 1/6:  My miracles turn 2!!
• One year off birth control
• Actively TRYING.... again
• Began using OvaCue fertility monitor!!

March 2015:

• 3/16:  CD3 bloodwork:
• Estradiol - 30
• FSH - 5.7
• LH - 3.1
• TSH - 1.36 (.40-4.00uIU/mL)
• FREE T4 - 1.2 (.8-2.0 ng/dL)
• Prolactin - 5.4 (2.0-25.0 ng/dL)
• Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibody - 31.7 (0.0-115.0 IU/mL)
• Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody - 25.4 (0.0-35.0 IU/mL)
• 3/17:  Initial appointment with RE (Dr. V)
• CD 4 Baseline Ultrasound - 20 follicles in each ovary
• Planned course of treatment: natural cycle, trigger shot, progesterone suppositories
• 3/25: 
• CD12 Ultrasound:
• Left ovary - 16mm follicle (17 follicles <10mm li="">Right ovary - 14mm follicle (19 follicles <10mm li="">Uterine lining - 7.84mm (anything <7 is="" li="" optimal="">
• Change of plans:  natural ovulation due to 2 possible follicles, progesterone suppositories
• 3/29:  positive OPK in the morning, ovulation confirmed on OvaCue, ovulation pains

April 2015:

• 4/1:  3dpo progesterone level = 15.7 (normal is anything over 15)
• began progesterone suppositories
• 4/11:  CD 1 - no spotting
• 4/22:  CD 12 - midcycle ultrasound
• 9.1mm trilaminar uterine lining
• Right ovary - 20mm follicle
• 7pm - HCG Trigger shot (ovidrel)
• BD tonight
• 4/23:  CD 13 - BD in the evening
• 4/24:  CD 14 - Ovulation day (36 hours post trigger shot - 7am)
• BD afternoon
• 4/25:  CD 15 - BD again for good measure?!  HA!!
• 4/26:  CD 16 - start progesterone suppositories

May 2015:

• 5/7:   CD 1 - AF arrived
• 5/18:  CD 12 - midcycle ultrasound
• 5.5mm lining
• Left ovary - 13 mm follicle
• repeat ultrasound on CD 14
• 5/20:  CD 14 - repeat midcycle ultrasound
• 8.8mm lining
• Left ovary - 18mm follicle
• HCG injection @ 9am
• 5/21:  CD15  - BD @ 12pm
• Ovulation day
• 5/22:  CD 16 - BD @ 7pm

June 2015:

• 6/4: 13dpo:  - HPT
• 6/5:  CD1 - AF arrived
• 6/16:  CD12 - midcycle ultrasound
• trilaminar lining
• Right ovary - 22mm follicle

July 2015:

• 7/2: CD1 - AF arrived
• 7/4-7/8:  CD3-CD8 
• 50 mg Clomid
• 7/13:  CD12 - midcycle ultrasound
• Trilaminar lining
• Left ovary - 18, 14mm follicles
• Right ovary - 17, 13mm follicles
• Risk for multiples is too high - ABSTAIN

August 2015:

• 8/3: CD3 - baseline ultrasound
• 8/11: CD11 - midcycle ultrasound 
• Trilaminar lining
• Left ovary - 18mm follicle
• Right ovary - 17, 19mm follicles
• 8/11:  Trigger shot, timed intercourse
• 8/26:  CD1 - AF arrived

September 2015:

• 9/2:  Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy - Dr. V
• removal of accessory third fallopian tube on left side
• Left fallopian tube tied in a knot "like a pretzel"
• both tubes flushed out and open
• removal of endometrial adhesion of uterus to posterior pelvic wall
• removal of filmy adhesions in uterus (mild Ashmerman's syndrome)
• Take estradiol to promote regrowth of healthy tissue
• Rest of the month on pelvic rest

•  And the story continues...................