big plans.

My first injection was on Tuesday, and I rocked it! I didn't feel a thing. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. These little subcutaneous injections are nothing. I'm still nervous about the big ones.

Thankfully, the big injections won't start until November 30th. I'm SO thankful for this. Since I gave away the date for the progesterone injections, I might as well tell you all that we have a complete timeline now. So, this is how the next month and a half will go...

October 17th: Carlos and I will be in Arizona for my first appointment at the fertility clinic. I will have a sonohysterogram (SHG). This is just a fancy word for an ultrasound of the uterus. They will be looking for any abnormalities that could make it difficult for the pregnancy to stick. I will also have a hysterosalpingography at a radiology clinic near the fertility clinic. In this exam, they will be looking at the fallopian tubes. This exam is invasive and according to the clinic makes you feel like you are "having bad period cramps." According to the people I know that have had one, it hurts. It hurts bad. Hopefully, it won't be that bad after all.

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Rest of October: I will continue taking the Lupron injections as I have been thus far.

November 5-9: Sometime during these four days, I will make another trip to the clinic for an ultrasound and appointment with the doctor. They will be looking at my uterine lining and checking my ovaries to be sure they have "shut down."

November 12th: I will start taking Estrace 6mg every morning. This is to replace the estrogen that I'm not producing from being on the Lupron. It will help to build my uterine lining up, and make my uterus a more desirable environment for the embryos to attach to. Thankfully, this is a pill. I will continue taking Lupron at this time, and will also start prenatal vitamins, baby aspirin and CoQ10 supplements.

This will be my bathroom

November 27-29: Sometime in these 3 days I will go to Arizona again. At this appointment, I will have another ultrasound to check my uterine lining, and sign the final permits for the embryo transfer. November 29th will be the last day that I take Lupron injections, but I will continue to take the Estrace.

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November 30th: Start Progesterone injections and progesterone lozenges. Progesterone is essential in sustaining a pregnancy.

This is where I have to inject myself...for 12 weeks!

December 3rd: Start Medrol and Zithromax. Medrol is a steroid and studies have shown that it reduces the risk of my body attacking the embryos after transfer. Zithromax is an antibiotic and is intended to prevent infection from occurring during and after the transfer.

December 4th: TRANSFER!!! That's right, on December 4th the transfer will occur! It is so exciting to finally have that date. It is happening on a big week...close to deployment time for Brian (the dad) and just a few days before Olyvia's birthday! I will stay in Arizona overnight after the transfer and then I have to take it very easy for the next week. In all honesty, I think I'm not going to want to move. At all. I want the baby/ies to stick. I don't want to jeopardize anything. So, maybe Ali will keep the kids for a few days so that I can really relax.

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So, that is it. That is the schedule. I'm assuming that dates could change throughout the process depending upon ultrasound results and everything else, but in general, these are the dates that it all will happen.

Stay tuned.