Well, it is Monday the 27th of Aug and where, oh, where has the summer gone. I am currently looking very forward to 4 days of work and then vacation....ultimately to the beach with family, but also to Blacksburg for the VT football game and some down time at home.

We are hoping the timing works out to IUI on the 7th and 8th of Sep. We'll see, you just never know, but we think we'll be able to get in at least one days IUI, but hoping for both. If we do get pg then the EDD would be 30 May 2008......crossing fingers and saying a prayer.

Let's see..the start of Cycle 17 (I think)

So today is the first day of another cycle. This has to be 17 cycles, but there maybe one to two in there I missed....probably best to stick with 17 it is just easier. I so can't believe we have almost been trying for a year and a half. It just seems insane when others take a few months or no time at all. Oh, well, I guess this is just how it goes sometimes.

I am hoping the timing will all work out and we will be able to IUI this month, but it is a bit up in the air with vacation. I am going to go ahead and make all the calls I need on Monday so everything is in order and I think we'll discuss "tentative" options this weekend to decide a rough game plan....but since my body doesn't always follow the plan...there will be some up in the airness this month. But I really want to IUI, so crossing fingers and a daily prayer will be in the plans. :)

Otherwise, I think we are doing well this month. I think we both were more prepared for the possibility that this wouldn't work the first month and just knowing we are being proactive has helped the sadness a lot. Now if IUI#2 doesn't work I don't know if I'll be so positive.

We do already have a follow-up planned with the RE, even if we don't IUI this month so we can figure out what is next. For that I have no idea, other than insurance requires 3 IUIs with meds....so that is probably the next step we would have to take.

SIGH...................

Beta results from IUI #1 are in

And as expected....it is a Negative (so onto month 17 of TTCing). The nurse was so sad about having to call and tell us this news, but it came as no surprise. I am glad Andrew and I had discussed it over the weekend, so we are both feeling optimistic about the next round. One problem.....vacation. It seems IUI will probably be needed the week we are on vacation, although we are not sure at this point nor will we really be until the time arrives. I am going to authorization and all and plan like we'll be here and hoping it will work out. I'd really like to get a chance this month.

Either way..yes or no this month.....we have a reconsult with the Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) on the 25th to develop a plan for after the two natural IUIs. He initially felt so sure these would work since we have no underlying medical issues that the next step wasn't really discussed. I have no idea what would be best for us and since I know insurance only helps with a limited number of IUIs (per lifetime) and in order to change options there are steps you must go through for the insurance, so after one or two failed IUIs naturally, we want to sit and chat again about this. Plus, Andrew has been unable to come so far and this visit he will be able to go and talk to the doctor too---which I think will help his understanding of some things as well.

So that is where we are at.....feeling optimistic this month with the future. Some months this can't be said.

Well, today is Sunday and....

I tested first thing this morning. I didn't feel confident at all, but had a sliver of hope. Anyway another Big Fat Negative (BFN), so I go into the doctor's tomorrow for a blood test which will certainly be negative as well and proceed onto another month. I am hoping to stay on the prometrium a bit longer so we'll get a chance to IUI next month otherwise we'll be out of town.

Even though it didn't wotk this month, I am still in a better place this month than last. I think because at least we are being proactive and the traditional baby making isn't working and we are trying out technological advances, which makes me positive.

To know we are both healthy and in g good baby making order helps a ton and so I am still feeling very optimistic....needless to say, I am looking forward to the glass of wine I have been avoiding with optimism during thsi 2ww....which is something I haven't had to do much since usually there isn't much optimism.

So here's to crossing fingers and saying a lot of prayers that IUI #2 falls into place in September and produces a little baby Holmes!!!!

Not too optimistic, but still hoping

Well, I've decided to start to blog the happenings in the Holmes' household as we continue the journey to expand our family. So far it has been 16 months of trying with out any success. We are optimistic that one of these days we'll have some good news in this area.

In April 06 we started our TTC journey, in April 07 we began going to see a specialist in the hopes of getting pregnant. After a lot of tests, we are both healthy and there is no medical reason why we can't conceive.

In Aug 07, we did our first IUI. Today, we are 11 days past the IUI and I did take a pregnancy test, but it was a BIG FAT NEGATIVE. Although it is early and I could very well be pregnant- since on this day the home tests are about 60% accurate..., but I am not feeling very optimistic at this point. I am planning to take another home pregnancy test on Sunday (just hoping for a two pink lines) and then I have a beta test at the doctor's on Monday.

I am starting this blog in the hopes that one day I will be able to share it with family and friends to make a big announcement. Who knows how long that will be from now.....time will tell. For now, I am just going to share thoughts on everything going on as it happens, to document the journey that hopefully will have a happy ending.