Third Time's the Charm?!

Today was the day for my third (and final) IUI.  If it works, my husband and I will have a baby at the end of January and if it doesn't, we'll be moving on to IVF.  There were a few things that were different about this IUI than the others.

1. My husband had to work so I went alone this time.
2. We had the highest amount of swimmers and motility this time.
3. The room they did it in was different.
4. They left me with my legs up longer this time.
5. They are starting me on Progesterone earlier in the process.  The last two times they started me after my one week ultrasound, this time I'll be starting in 3 days.

Is this where the magic happened?

I'm hoping the next two weeks don't totally drag.  And I'm really hoping one of those 37 million sperm finds their destination.  I've been sitting with me feet up all day and trying to relax.  Those suckers better swim!

Needles and hormones

If you read my blog, or know me in person, you probably know that I'm going through fertility treatments.  Believe me, I never thought I'd be considering IVF (invitro fertilization) but things don't always work out like we plan!  When my husband and I first decided to expand our little family, we had no idea the journey we were in for.  It's been almost 2 years, 1 miscarriage, 4 rounds of Clomid and we are now on our third round of IUI (intrauterine insemination) with shots.  If this last attempt doesn't work, we will be moving on to IVF.
The first round of IUI, I was so optimistic, why wouldn't it work?  Especially since the doctors have pegged me with "unexplained infertility".  But, it didn't work.  Luckily, we jumped right into round 2 and sped up the process a little.  But, that didn't work either.  So now, I'm on round 3, three vials of Bravelle a night at this point and another doctor appointment tomorrow before work.
I have to say, it's really starting to take its toll on me mentally and physically.  I'm lucky enough to be producing a lot of follicles, but that's causing my ovaries to become enlarged, which is uncomfortable bordering on painful.  Not to mention, I've gained a ton of weight since I've started with the shots.  I have not actually weighed myself, but my stomach has gotten huge and none of my pants fit me.  It's not fun.  I could really do without this lovely side effect!  On top of that, I'm not allowed to go to the gym.  I can't risk, jostling things or even worse, twisting or flipping an ovary (who even knew this was possible?!), so I have to avoid the gym.  Also, I am so emotional!  I almost started crying at work the other day while talking to a co-worker and just tonight I started crying for no reason.  I have no idea why, I was just reading my blog roll and I started to cry!
I really can't wait for this all to be over.  I'm ready for that baby and I'm also ready to stop putting my body through these things!  Hopefully, the third time's the charm!

I get to stick one of these suckers in my leg every night!

The bill is what?!

Just last night, my husband and I were talking about being better with grocery shopping.  Setting a budget and sticking to it.  Planning our meals before we go shopping.  And then today I stopped at Whole Foods for prenatal vitamins.  I ended up leaving without the vitamins (they are cheaper on Amazon) but still spending $72.59 on a bag and half of groceries.  

I bought:

Brown rice shrimp california roll  (dinner)

Brown rice tuna avocado roll (dinner)

Baby mixed kale

2 yams

2 cookies

4  organic avocados

Jason's Vitamin E face creme

Organic cilantro

Organic strawberries

Skirt steak (Just local, not grass fed.  That was more $$)

365 organic milk

Zico coconut water

4 PB pretzel luna bars

Organic eggs

That's it!  I think it's the most I've ever spent for the amount of food I got.  Granted, the face lotion was $12.  But still!  This really reiterates the fact that we need to set a budget for food and have a plan before we walk into the store.  My problems are these:

1. I shop at Trader Joe's, Wegman's, Whole Foods, Target and Shop Rite.  This kind of blurs how much money you spend per week.  But, I really need to start settling for other brands or foods and stop going to 5 stores a week!  Not to mention the time I'd be saving!

2. I try to buy a lot of organic and foods with better ingredients.  Sometimes this doesn't happen for cheap, actually most of the time.  I know I could just go somewhere like Produce Junction and get a bulk of produce for super cheap, but last time I checked, that stuff is not organic.  And right now, with the whole trying to get pregnant thing, it's very important to me the quality of the food I put into my body.

So, I guess this means I need to plan, plan, plan and search for deals.  Also, I'm thinking I might need to simplify my meals and keep the ingredients to a minimum.  Any ideas?  

Preparation

I spent the first two days of my weekend on my couch, I literally didn't leave except to get dog food and that took about 15 minutes.  So, in an attempt to redeem myself (and because we had no Easter plans) I prepared a bunch of food for the week.  This way I was being productive and getting ready for my healthy week.

pasta salad made with TJ's radiatore pasta

quinoa with peas and roasted carrots

black beans, corn, peppers, tomatoes and avocado salad

guacamole (this was just a snack)

New blog love

Today I was perusing Pinterest and clicked on a makeup photo which led me to a new blog called The Honeybee!  I've been reading it on and off all day and I've come away with two thoughts.  1. I would like an Alexander Wang Rocco bag with rose gold hardware and 2.  I hope when I'm nine months pregnant I can look like Andee, but seeing as how my butt is already bigger than hers, it's not likely.  I kinda feel like I should go on a starvation diet in the next few weeks before I find out if the second IUI worked.  Of course, I realize this is unhealthy, so instead I'm cutting back on the meat, sweets and dairy.  I actually made this decision before seeing Andee 9 months pregnant but I have to admit, it's an extra push.  In preparation, I watched 'Food Inc.' again today.  Just to gross myself out a little more about the state of our food.  So the goals are these:

1.  Juice every day.  I have a very expensive juicer that I rarely use.
2.  Eat less meat and more vegetables and grains.
3.  Cut out the added sugar, specifically in things like cookies and cupcakes.
4.  Cut out dairy.  Or at least cut back.  I don't consume a ton of dairy, but I do like cheese on my tacos and in my salads.  Oh and I'm also a fan of sour cream on my tacos.  I eat a lot of tacos.

I have to say that I have a tire around my waist that I'm not a fan of and I have awful skin (or really it's just my chin area) and while neither of these things are being helped by the hormone shots I've been giving myself, the shots are also not the main cause.  I can stand to eat better, especially since I'm forbidden from going to the gym these days.  No jostling things.  The spin bike in my living room is starting to collect dust.  I might try to do some slow steady state though.  I'm just afraid to hurt anything.  No jostling.