So take a deep breath and here we go.... Kelly let me know her period came a knockin' on Saturday. The first "Cycle Day" (CD) is always a big one. After many calls and voice mails, we finally spoke to someone so we could schedule an ultra sound (US) for tomorrow. Every single element of this is time sensitive and it was extremely frustrating, to put it mildly, to keep hitting a brick wall when trying to get this scheduled. Not only does Kelly need a US on CD5, she also has to start her Folical Stimulating Hormone shots (FSH). Even the injections are timed!
The good news is that The Fertility Center has opened an office in Sparrow Hospital in East Lansing. This means that Kelly won't have to drive all the way to Grand Rapids for her ultrasounds and estridol testing (E2(Sick of all the abbreviation yet?)), which is a simple blood draw. These have to be done every two to three days toward the end of the procedure. So, it will be nice to save her the trip for the quicker appointments.
The first US is tomorrow morning at 8 am. I'm nervous about finding the hospital and the drive. Kelly offered their hospitality but I have too much to do tonight to accept. The nurse will be looking at Kelly's ovaries to make sure they are free of cysts and that everything still looks good. The injection she will start tomorrow night (FSH) will stimulate the ovaries to produce fat and healthy ovum. If Kelly were to have cysts this hormone could enlarge them. The medicine is in a large pen, kind of like an EpiPen but bigger, it stings a bit when injected. The medicine will go just under the skin. The medicine, called Gonal F, stinks. It has been a long time since I've used it and I can still recall the scent. *gack*
Matt and I made contact again with our lawyer who specializes in gestational carrier law. We will mail out our check for the first phase tomorrow. This first phase is relatively easy and quick thankfully. I'm actually a little relieved to have something to do on our end. We'll have a conference call in the next day or so to set up the pre-birth order (PBO). I've written some about that earlier, but this is the contract that allows Matt and my name to be placed on the birth certificate immediately after the birth. The turnaround for this contract is short, approximately 2 days, and is relatively easy. I guess the contract is supposed to be fairly standard. We thankfully have a good friend who is also a lawyer so she explains the pieces that may be over our heads!
So on the personal and emotional end of this, things feel very strange. It seems to be constantly in the back of my mind and attaches itself to random thoughts like an unexpected barnacle. I spend a lot of time with my niece, who is the sunshine of my life, and I keep thinking how nice it wold be for her to have a cousin. I look at our house in a new way too. I wonder where the hell are we going to put all the stuff that comes along with a child.
I seem to have allowed my self more hope than I really wanted to feel. I'm sure that sounds strange, but I think I will do better keeping hope at arms length. I still want to be able to see it, maybe touch it with my finger tips, but I don't want to do this without the safety net of doubt. I bet that sounds crazy, but until you've had hope stripped from you violently, doubt can feel like a real blessing. Reality has doubt wrapped deeply and tightly into the threads of its web. Hope is the shimmer of the silk and I do still hope.
So tomorrow is the next step forward and it is exciting. I wish Matt could be there to hold my hand through this, if not to be a path finder to the hospital and then to listen to me comment on Kelly's skinny ass hips on the way home!
We have a tentitive transfer date of the 18th of June and I will be keeping you all posted along the way.
I would also like to thank you all for the out pouring of support you've offered. I think this support has carried us through the days where we didn't have the energy to move on our own. We rely on it more than you could possibly know. I would like to thank all of Kelly and Ben's family and friends we had the pleasure of meeting at Ben's graduation party. The support you've offered Ben and Kelly means the most of all.
Much Love and Many Thanks,
Katy Taber
Little Wonders
For Katy and Matt. May you realize that each step of this is a little wonder, a small miracle. We love you! ~Kelly & Ben
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1 comments:
Amazing! I am so happy for you!
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