Friday Update

I had my lining check sonogram today, and everything is right on track. The lining of my uterus is 13.3 mm thick, and I was told that was good. We want the lining to be nice and thick so the little embryos will stick. I am to continue my Lupron shots, and on Sunday, I'll increase the estrogen to three times a day.


Monday Paul and Lisa came to visit. I've been meaning to post a picture of the three of us all week, but I haven't had a chance. We had a great visit--we are all getting excited. It's just a little over a week until the transfer.

More Estrogen

After three days of having a severe headache, the estrogen has finally kicked in, and I'm feeling so much better. The first few days I took the estrogen, I took one 2 mg pill. Now, I'm taking it twice a day. Next Friday, I'll go in for a lining check, and then I'll increase the estrogen to three times a day. I kind-of dread that one because I'll have to take the middle pill between 2:00-3:00 every day, and I think that will be hard for me to remember. It's not so hard to remember to take it in the morning and at night. I'm just so glad I'm feeling better.

Hot Flashes!

I have a new found respect for women going through menopause.

I think I've officially run out of estrogen, and I've decided I kinda like having estrogen in my body.

I've been having hot flashes since Monday, and both yesterday and today I've gotten a terrible headache. I'm not worried, though, because tonight I get to start taking estrogen pills.

The Lupron I'm taking shuts down my ovaries and makes them stop producing estrogen. I read that your pituitary gland actually stores extra estrogen, so if your estrogen level gets low, your pituitary says, "Oh, here--I saved some up--you can have some of mine." (OK, I made that dialogue part up, but you get the message.) But I think around Sunday I used up all the stores of estrogen.

I think the doctor actually wanted me to run out so he could give me exactly the amount he wants me to have.

So, in just a minute, I'll give myself the Lupron shot and then take my beautiful, little estrogen pill.

Oh, sweet estrogen, how I love thee.

Remind Me Why I Became an English Teacher

It's 3:00 am, and I just now finished grading the timed writings I gave for my six weeks test.

No, it wasn't my idea. Do you think I'm crazy?

The district's new mandated Pre-AP English curriculum stated that I give a timed writing for my six weeks test, which simply means that I had to grade 96 hand-written essays over the weekend. I've been working on them since Friday in-between trying to be a mom, and I'm finally finished.

Maybe I should send an e-mail personally thanking the lady who wrote wrote the curriculum who no longer teaches, but sits in a little cubicle then leaves at 5:00 every day.

I know I should be in bed, and at about 10:30 pm, I was so tired I thought I couldn't go on, but I plowed ahead, and now I'm wide awake. So I thought I'd take a minute to write, and see if I could wind myself down for the two-and-a-half--who am I kidding, I'm going to skip the shower tomorrow and throw my hair in a ponytail--three hours of sleep I'm going to get.

Does anyone know how much they pay those ladies at Dillard's who sell purses? That seems like a good job.

After I published this, I looked at the time stamp and it says 12:55 am. I don't know why that is. Trust me; I'm looking at my computer screen and it's 3:14 am.

Kennedy Quips

Kennedy: "Why did the banana go to the doctor when he wasn't feeling well?"

Me: "Hmmm...I don't know; why?"

Kennedy: "I have NO CWUE."

Me: Fit of laughter

Kennedy: "I still don't get it."

Back on Track

The shot in my thigh Wednesday night went smoothly, and last night I ventured back over to my tummy, and it didn't hurt a bit. I guess I just got a hold of a dull needle Tuesday--I still have the bruise on my stomach.

The nurse thought perhaps I was responding a little too well to the Lupron, so she had me cut the dose back from 10cc to 5cc. Although it's only been two days on the new dosage, I'm feeling better--no more of that funny drunken feeling when I turn my head too fast. Next Tuesday I go in for a sonogram to check my lining, and Wednesday I start Estrogen. The Lupron shuts down my own hormone production so the doctor can control exactly how much Estrogen I get. That's all for now!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday was my 14th wedding anniversary, and today is my birthday. David had two-dozen roses delivered to me yesterday at school. Aren't they beautiful? I just love having fresh flowers on my table; it feels so luxurious and makes me smile every time I look at them.

This morning my parents called to wish me a happy birthday, then the doorbell rang, and it was the postman with a package. It was a beautiful charm bracelet from Paul and Lisa. Then, my friend Gayla took me to lunch, and we had that wonderful hot chocolate cake from Chili's with the ice cream on top. Yummy! This afternoon both of my sisters and my cousin called to wish me a Happy Birthday. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful, caring people in my life.








I love getting packages in the mail. That's why I was so excited when I received this one the other day.










This doesn't look so bad.








But upon further inspection, this is what I found...





This is the harmless looking needle that left the little bruise and red spot on my tummy last night. I'm feeling a little gun-shy tonight. I think I'll try my thigh again. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bad Experience

The shot experience wasn't so good tonight. I tried to give it on the left side of my stomach, and had trouble getting the needle to go in--I had to really push. Once I barely punctured my skin it REALLY hurt, so I pulled it back out and was bleeding. I decided to try the other side of my stomach. That REALLY hurt too, and it left a bruise. By that time, I'd poked myself twice, and still not administered the medicine. I decided to trash that needle and start all over. The third time was better, but still stung a bit--I think probably because by this point I already had two puncture wounds in my stomach, and I was tense. But, it's over now, and I don't have to think about it again until tomorrow.

I think the Lupron is making me feel a little loopy. It's hard to know, because I tend to be a little forgetful and random anyway, but I several times today I've felt as if I were in a fog. It's really strange--it only lasts for a second, but it's this weird feeling in my head like I'm floating or I'm not really in my body. I tend blame a lot of things on hormones, but I'm thinking that the total absence of hormones isn't good either. I've already warned my husband that the next few weeks could be strange, and to not take anything I say too personally. So far I haven't been mean or weepy, so hopefully it won't be too bad.

Shootin' up

I just did something I NEVER thought I'd do.

I gave myself an injection...

IN THE STOMACH!

My friend, Brandon--who is a doctor, talked me into it. He insisted that it wouldn't hurt as bad as my thigh, so I tried it, and he was right. I didn't feel it at all!

I'm shocked because just a few weeks ago the very idea of sticking a needle into my stomach would have been enough to send me over the edge.

It's almost scary the way I'm shootin' up like a pro!