December 2009: J & R get married. We intend to start trying in January 2010, but discover that R will need additional cervical surgery before beginning.
January 2009: R has the surgery.
July 2010: Six months out, we get the green light from our nurse practitioner to start TTC.
July 2010: Donor #1 – Two ICIs at home (#1 and #2): BFN.
August 2010: Donor #2 – One IUI at the clinic (#3); One ICI at home (#4): BFN
September 2010: Donor #2 – One IUI at the clinic (#5); One ICI at home (#6): BFN
October 2010: Donor #2 – One IUI at the clinic (#7); One ICI at home (#8). Additionally, R begins natural progesterone cream twice daily starting on day 15.
1st pregnancy test – 11/7/10: BFP (very faint line)!!!
2nd and 3rd pregnancy tests – 11/8/10: BFP!!!
11/9/10: First prenatal visit with nurse practitioner – HcG = 125 (normal)
12/8/10: First ultrasound – Everything looks very good.
January 2011: R is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and is prescribed anti-thyroid drugs. R is experiencing intermittent bleeding. We have a high-risk ultrasound and MD consultation during our 13th-week. R’s bleeding increases in the 14th week. We hear strong fetal heart tones and are told everything is okay. On 1/18/11, R goes into labor. Our daughter, Emmett Ever, is born, still and at-home, on 1/19/11.
January to March 2011: R begins to recover physically from the trauma of delivery and loss. R and J work to process what has happened. R is diagnosed with Graves’ Disease and Factor V Leiden. We are told that there are risks in her carrying again. We have a memorial service for our sweet girl. We make the decision to try again, using J’s body this time.
March 2011: Donor #3 – One ICI at home (#1); One IUI in the clinic (#2): BFN. We begin a fertility work-up with a new clinic on the other side of the state.
April 2011: Donor #3 – Three ICIs at home (#3, #4, #5): BFN.
May 2011: Donor #3 – One IUI at home (#6).
1st pregnancy test – 5/14/11: BFP!!! We nickname our baby Rabbit River.
July 2011: First fetal heart tones at 8-weeks.
August 2011: First ultrasound at 18 weeks. We’re having a son! He looks healthy and thriving. We are due 1/23/12! Also, J and R begin feeling the Rabbit move!
January 19, 2012: Abram Adrien (Bram) is born strong and healthy. 7 pounds, 13 ounces. 20 3/4 inches long. He arrives after a seventy-one hour labor on the one-year anniversary of his sister’s birth.
October 14, 2012: We are notified by our private adoption agency that we’ve been chosen by a seven-month pregnant birthmother for a direct placement open adoption. Bram and the new baby will be Irish Twins!
November 21, 2012: “Saul Spencer” is born five weeks early. We are able to be with him on the night of his birth and continuously at the hospital for 48 hours postpartum before taking him home!
December 2012: In a devastating and wildly unexpected turn of events, Saul’s birthmother demands his return nearly one month in placement. We are heartbroken to lose him.
How did you time your IUI at home? And Congrats! : )
We always tried (and were only ever successful) on the later side of a surge. So we always waited until at least the day following a surge. When we thought that we had a surge on a traditional opk, then we would try a digital stick (we tried to use them sparingly, as they are a lot more expensive). Once we got a smiley face on the digital opk, then we would wait one day and inseminate. It’s tricky business and every body is different, so you have to find what works for you. Best of luck!
This minimalist piece broke my heart and then elated me; I could not stop reading, though I’m still unclear about most of the medical acronyms.
I’m honored to have my blog on your blogroll. Thank you for that.
You’re creating a beautiful life together. Keep sharing.
The dudes’ Daddy