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January 12 2006-My period started perfectly on time. I was told to come back the following morning for a baseline ultrasound.

January 13 2006-The doctor said the baseline ultrasound looked great, no cysts or abnormalities and I was instructed to wait for my blood work results to
come in later that afternoon; The office called and my blood work was all normal so I started my birth control pills.

January 15 2006-Statred my Lupron injections today, 20 units every morning between 6-8 AM. I do them in the stomach, they don't hurt too much.

January 19 2006-Stopped the Birth control pills today. Should start my period in a few days, that will mean everything is on schedule.

January 22 2006-Started my period today, I have never been so excited for this time of the month (haha). I am right on schedule for my appointment on
Tuesday the 24th.

January 24 2006-Had an ultrasound and blood work today. My ultrasound was normal, so were the labs which means the suppression is working. I got a call
this evening to start my gonadatropin injections. I am using Follistim AQ at 15 IU's every evening and morning. I am also on Repronex 75 IU's every evening.
I am to continue with my Lupron injections every morning, but the dosage was reduced to 5 units. I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will do my first injections this
evening.

January 26 2006-More blood work today, I was a little bit discouraged today because the nurse called and apparently my levels aren't off to a "rip roaring"
start. They are going to have me continue the same dosage, my E2 (estradiol) was only 90.

January 28 2006-More blood work, My E2 was 288 today, but darn it, I forgot to ask the nurse what "average" would be. She did have me reduce my Follistim
AQ to 75 IU's every morning and evening. Everything else stayed the same.

January 30 2006-My E2 jumped to 1091 today-WOW!!! The nurse told me to reduce my Follistim AQ to 37.5 IU's every morning and evening and to
discontinue the Repronex. I was to continue taking the Lupron 5 Units ever morning though.

February 1 2006-Back to the doctor for more blood work and an Ultrasound today. My follicles looked pretty good according to the doctor. My HCG trigger
injection is scheduled for tomorrow but he thinks I might be ready tonight. They will call me tonight after they get my E2 levels. They called, tonight is the
night for the TRIGGER. My retrieval will be moved up a day, to the 3rd of February vice the 4th.

February 3 2006-The big day!!!
Mark First-Mark went back first for his Non Surgical Aspiration. I got to sit with him while the Anestheologist put in the IV and ran some fluids. He was taken
back to the OR and I went to wait with my mom. The doctor said the procedure should take 15-20 minutes. After and hour had passed, I got a little worried.
The office called me back and I thought they were taking me to Mark. I was taken into a room right next to where they started his IV and was told to change
into a gown and put on my hat and booties for the OR. I asked about Mark and the Nurse said the doctor would be in to talk to me. My heart sank.

The doctor came in and told me they had gone in two times and hadn't found any sperm in the first retrieval. They had found some in the second one, but
they weren't motile and thought they might be dead. I just about started crying. The doctor told me that they were trying again while he was talking to me, and
that he was baffled as they had never experienced this before. I immediately started regretting our decision NOT to do a MESA procedure. Oh well, too late
now though! He told me that since we were right next to the hospital, they could see if a urologist could come over to go in surgically and retrieve any sperm
but to me, all I could think is that would mean more money-we already didn't have enough. I asked the doctor if he could go get my mom for me, I didn't know
what to do. Mark was still under anesthesia so I couldn't ask him. My mom came in and was really supportive, telling me that they WILL find sperm and that it
WILL all work out and not to worry. The finances will figure themselves out.

The doctor came back with some good news-FINALLY! The sperm they though might be dead were now moving around I was told this is pretty common when
they retrieve them. They kind of go into a shock and "play dead", although Mark's played dead a bit longer than he had ever seen before.

I got to see Mark when he came out of the room and I told him everything that happened. He was relieved that they found sperm and then I had to go back to
my room so they could take me in for my retrieval.

Julie Second-Last thing I remember is the nurses telling me I would feel like I had 5 drinks, and then everyone laughing because nobody thought I could
handle 5 drinks, maybe 1. Apparently my retrieval went very well and when I came out, my mom and Mark told me that I asked, "how many did they get" about
5 times. Oops-I guess anesthesia will do that to you.

They had retrieved 17 eggs. I had 14 follicles on my Right side and 10 on my left, but as the doctor had previously explained to me-it is common that some of
these sacs won't have eggs in them. Still 17 is a GREAT amount!

I had to stay resting for about 1/2 hour, and I actually rested a bit longer because I had some cramping-which is normal. Mark and I were both able to walk out
of the office and my mom drove us home. But not before Mark got Teriyaki Madness and I got Ivars for lunch. We took it to go so we could eat at home and
rest. Once at home, I slept for the rest of the afternoon and Mark slept for a few hours and then got up to do his homework.

February 4 2006-I work up this morning with a HUGE bloated stomach and it was painful too. I started reading around and discovered it could be minor
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) although this was pretty soon after retrieval for it to happen. I took it easy today, just resting and relaxing. We
are planning to do a 5 day transfer so I will go back in on Wednesday afternoon (the 7th). The doctors office called with the fertilization report. 13 of the 17
eggs were mature-that is normal. Only 4 fertilized though. The doctor had previously explained to us that sperm retrieved from the testicles usually has a
lower fertilization rate than sperm from ejaculation. Medical experts believe this has to do with sperm continuing to mature in the Vas Deferens. Because we
only had 4 that fertilized, the doctor wanted to do a day 3 transfer instead of a day 5 transfer. So, we rearranged our schedules.

February 5 2006-The bloating feels better today but I am still huge, it's not painful though, just uncomfortable. Just getting mentally prepared for the transfer
tomorrow.

February 6 2006-My transfer is scheduled for 12:00. I scheduled to have Accupuncture beforehand so I arrived at the clinic at 10:30. It is very nice that my
clinic offers a "private" accupuncturist to come in to their office and do the accupuncture. That way one doesn't have to drive to 3 different places on a
somewhat stressful day. I have never had accupuncture before, and was actually quite skeptical because massages don't do a darn thing for me. But studies
have shown higher IVF success rates with accupuncture before and after IVF so I decided to give it a try.

WOW!!! What a relaxing experience. The needles were tiny and felt like if you accidentally poked yourself with a sewing needle. I only felt the pinch for a
minute and then it was gone. She put on some relaxing music and I had needles in my wrists, above my ovaries in my stomach, right below my belly button, in
between my eyes, at the top of my head, on the inside of my calves and the middle of the top part of my foot. I got to relax like this for 30 minutes, she came
in every 10 minutes to "stimulate" the needs, then she came back and took the needles out. I was taken back for the transfer.

The transfer was pretty uncomfortable actually. They have you do the transfer on a full bladder so they can see better because they do a guided ultrasound
transfer in my clinic. I told the doctor that I really hoped I didn't pee on him. Mark got to be in the room for the transfer and just rubbed my head and then
held my hand. There was a lot of pressure on my stomach and it was quite uncomfortable. I only felt actual pain on two occasions for about 15 seconds when
they were guiding the catheter inside my uterus, but the rest of the procedure was just uncomfortable. I was done in about 20 minutes and taken back to lay
on my back for 30 minutes.

I started my post-transfer accupuncture and Mark got to stay in the room. The accupuncturist, Lee, had a "guided meditation" for In Vitro and after she put
the needles on me, she started the tape. After the accupuncture, I asked Mark if he was relaxing too. He told me he was very very relaxed until the tape said,
"feel your uterus..." Guess that doesn't really apply to him. Poor guy, he's been so great through all of this!

After the accupuncture Mark drove me home and I slept for the rest of the day. He also picked me up an organic pineapple and cut it into 5 pieces. Some
research shows that it is suppose to help with implantation because of the Bromeline in the pineapple, specifically the core.

Also, before we were leaving the nurse informed us that out of the two embryo's left, only one had made it overnight, so technically we now had three
embryos. We had just implanted 2 and had 1 to hopefully freeze. They take those "freezing" embryo's to day 5 so keep your fingers crossed.

February 7 2006-I rested again today, but got up around 1pm and just did some minor household things-I was getting bored and bothering Mark with chatter.

February 8 2006-I am really really bloated today!!! Back to that uncomfortable feeling again. It's difficult to walk, and my butt hurts from the Progesterone in
Oil injections I have to do twice a day. I imagine I look like I walk and manuver around pretty funny! I had to go back to work today and imagine my surprise
when I couldn't button my uniform pants. CRAP, what am I going to do???? I found my huge long peacoat and just my belt was holding my pants up. I coudn't
zip them more than 1/4 of the way up and I definitely couldn't button them. haha.

The doctors office called tonight, our lone embryo didn't make it to freezing stage. I'm a little sad over it but just keep hoping that means that this cycle will
work!

February 9 2006-Still bloated today, had to wear my jacket over my stomach again. I just keep drinking my gatorade and water-hopefully that will help! I was
walking down the hall at work today to get my stuff to go home and one of the doctors grabbed me and told me I didn't look good. I had some blood work
done, my WBC's were two times the normal amount and my family practice doctor wanted me to go to the ER. He was concerned about some sort of infection.
I didn't feel bad and didn't see a need to go tot the ER, but I called Dr. Opsahl just in case. He told me if I was still feeling bloated and uncomfortable on
Friday morning, to come see them ASAP.

February 10 2006-Surprisingly I felt much better when I woke up this morning. I had never been so excited to have my pants button!! They were still tight,
but they buttoned.

February 11 2006-Another day that my pants buttoned!! Such progress. Nothing major going on today.

February 12 2006-Uneventful day, but I did not sleep very well at all tonight. I felt like my stomach was expanding again. I just don't understand what is going
on. I was starting to feel such relief, it was a great feeling.

February 13 2006-Took a trip to Dr. Opsahl's office today. They did an ultrasound of my stomach and there was enough fluid in my abdomen to warrant
some intervention. The doctor took a huge needle and inserted it inside the transvaginal ultrasound device. He guided the needle until it was in the right
place and then poked through my pelvic wall. That hurt badly, but only for about 10 seconds. Poor doctor and the nurses. They just had to sit there holding
the device for about 30 minutes while the fluid drained from my abdomen and pelvic cavity. They got about 950 cc's of fluid. I felt much relief after the
drainage.

February 14 2006-What a valenties day!!!! I woke up this morning with my stomach hurting a little bit again, but it wasn't really bloated so I figured I'd just
walk around a bit and see if that would help out. By dinner time tonight, my stomach was HUGE again, almost bigger than it was before. Before, the bloating
was limited from my belly button down. Now, it starts from my chest and goes all the way down. I have an appointment to go back tomorrow afternoon, but I
think I am going to give a call and see if I can go in earlier. Here's a picture from this evening-

February 15 2006-We had to go back to the doctors office today and have my stomach drained again. This time they got about 1300 cc's of fluid from my
stomach. I must say that I feel so much more relieved. I am on "modified bed rest" until Friday just to give my body a break. The doctors office also drew a
Beta HCG to see if I am pregnant. It's early, but since I am here they figured why not.

February 16 2006-I was suppose to call Dr. Opsahl's office today at noon to check my Beta HCG results. I was counting down the minutes, "It's 11:38 Mark,
it's 11:41 Mark"... and then they called us. "Julie, it's Malinda. You are pregnant, very pregnant". My Beta HCG is 146 and it was drawn 4 days early (it
wasn't due until Sunday 2/19/06). Mark and I are thrilled, a little scared but absolutely thrilled!

February 17 2006-Rough night for me, and Mark too by default. My OHSS is still bothering me, but I was having some severe troubles breathing and was
having sharp pain in my upper stomach that was persisting for about 1 hours. We went to the ER where they gave me some meds, fluid through an IV and did
an ultrasound just to make sure it wasn't my pancreas or gallbladder or anything else like that. I checked out fine, so I was sent home with more pain meds
and told to rest. The ER drew another beta HCG on me today and it has more than doubled to 318. I have been told that his is GOOD! WE ARE GOING TO
BE PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!

February 18 2006-Still really bloated from the OHSS but I suppose worse things could be happening. Just relaxing and staying off my feet seems to help the
most. I have to sit up in bed to sleep at night or else breathing becomes very difficult and uncomfortable. Every where I read about OHSS and every doctor
I've talked to says that it subsides naturally, and almost overnight around the 8the week of pregnancy. Oh yeahhhhhhhh!! Only 2-3more weeks to go of this
discomfort-poor Mark! But hey, at least I am pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

February 22 2006-I believe the OHSS is starting to clear up, which is WONDERFUL! I have noticed that I have to go to the bathroom a lot more, and it can't
really be because of the baby this early. It seems to me that I might be loosing some water weight and I am not as uncomfortable as I have been. It's a great
feeling. I had my beta drawn again today and it is 2221. I am now 16 days post a 3 day embryo transfer. That is a great number (according to our doctor) for
this early in the pregnancy-they've even mentioned the word twins?????

February 24 2006-I feel so much better today, so much better! My bloating has all but disappeared and I just have a tiny bump now, hardly noticeable. I had
another beta drawn today but won't have the results until Monday or Tuesday. The levels are suppose to double every 24-36 hours so we'll see what
happens on monday. I am so excited. I also feel very lucky, no morning sickness (knock on wood) and no other problems. I'm going to start a pregnancy
progress page as soon as we have our first ultrasound and hear a heartbeat.