And the overachiever strikes...again

When we last left our heroines, they were en route to a much needed vacation to Vermont. Vacation accomplished. Snowboarding successful. Ah...ready to go back to focusing on procreation (can you call it that when it's via insemination???) Fast forward to the week after returning from vacation...

We had a visit planned a few days after we got back from vacation for our monthly viewing of Heidi's uterus via ultrasound. For this cycle, we changed things up a little bit by adding Prednisone to the drug ritual. Heidi started taking Clomid already, same dose and added a low dose of Prednisone to her repertoire to hopefully reduce any inflammation potentials because of her high ANA count. No huge changes. We were excited about taking on the process again. We hadn't done an insemination since November because of all of the extra testing so we were definitely happy to be back to this point again. We need to get some sperm into that woman!

So, back to the uterus on the big screen. Remember, we've finally gotten the drug concoction down so there wasn't anything on our radar that would indicate that we wouldn't be able to inseminate. Well, the ultrasound changed that. For whatever reason, this cycle, Heidi, my little over-achiever, well, she over-achieved. With the same dose of Clomid, she ended up creating seven follicles. Seven. Not four or even five. Seven. We were shocked to say the least. The doctor explained that if they continued to develop, he would recommend against insemination. While we knew the answer, we still asked...what were the risks?

I know that's a stupid question. We knew the risks but we felt like we just couldn't wait anymore. We've been working on this for so long with no result so we were to that point where we were almost willing to minimize the risk in our heads and go forward anyway. The doctor explained, as he had in the past, that the risk of multiples increased...to about 50%. That was a 50% increase in the potential that she would get pregnant with two, likely more, children. Then, when you add the number of babies, you increase the risk to their health. And then that which I am not, nor will I ever, be willing to risk...Heidi's health.

We scheduled an ultrasound for two days later to see how the follicles were developing. We crossed our fingers and prayed and hoped that against all odds, maybe two or three of the follicles didn't develop. We hoped that we would be down to a more reasonable number and would still be able to inseminate. Yea, not to be. Let me again refer you to Heidi's new title of the overachiever. Somehow, in the two days since the last ultrasound, she managed to create yet another follicle. Now there were eight.

So, reality hit hard. Really hard. There were tears for the lost opportunity. There were tears of frustration. There were tears knowing that it would be at least another month before we could even try again.

Today started the next cycle. Three days from now, Heidi starts Clomid again. Only this time, she's only taking it every other day for five days...reducing the dosage. This could either work or not...fingers crossed. Oh hell, fingers, eyes, toes, everything is crossed. I'm going to do my best to chant through her belly button into her uterus numbers...small numbers...so, if you hear me chanting "four, four, four", you know what I'm talking about.

Come on, baby...this is it. This is going to be the month. There's a very special kitty in Heaven talking to the big guy about getting this done.

Say it with me, people..."four, four, four".