Blood test results are in

I'm a little late posting my results because I wanted to keep it to myself for a bit. But I kept my posts updated when going through this process with Alex that I feel I should keep that transparency with this cycle too.
So, my first blood tests came back positive with a HCG level of 71.  Very similar to the level I had when I got pregnant with Alex.  I went back for my second blood test 48 hours later and my level doubled almost exactly to 143. Which is what the hormone level needed to do for this to be a viable pregnancy.  I am officially pregnant!  And 4 weeks and 5 days now.
I am cautiously optimistic.  After the 2 chemical pregnancies from the last two cycles and I'm still being cautious until we get through a couple of ultrasounds.  I have an ultrasound scheduled in a couple weeks that we will hope to see a heartbeat and growing baby.
In the meantime, Alex is excited by the idea of being a sister though she doesn't know that being a sister is in her future. Not really going to tell her that we are having a baby until we get through the first trimester.
As for how I am feeling, since everyone asks, I feel good for the most part. After my second blood draw, my estrogen and progesterone levels came high so my doctor lowered my medication dosages in half. I may even get off one medication if my first ultrasound goes well. With that drop in my medication I noticed a little more nausea. Also, I'm tired by most afternoons. I wish Alex would nap some days so that I could nap too. But she is not so accommodating. It's early bedtime for me most days.
I am anxiously waiting for the ultrasound appointment. I want to know that everything is going well. I feel almost more nervous this time then with Alex because we had the two failures and everything with Alex went so well from the beginning.
Updates to follow after that appointment.

Transfer Day

Today was the day! Transfer has been completed.
I started my morning off with some acupuncture, which was relaxing and calming. Exactly what I needed before my transfer.
At the doctors office I had to wait almost a hour with a full bladder before we were actually ready for transfer.  The embryologist said our little embryo look great and she is hoping this one will be the one.  Which was good news since it was rated as a 3 quality when it was frozen, which isn't great.
But since the embryo thawed out so nicely we are more hopeful.
Also, my doctor said that I should not be on bed rest. I need to resume my usual activity.  So that's good. A little hard to do with Alex around even with help from my mom.
So now it's the dreaded two week wait!  Hoping for a much better outcome then the last two attempts.  Going back for acupuncture on Friday for my relaxing treatment. Updates to follow as I get them!

2 Weeks Away

Only a couple more weeks until the transfer. Wanted to post an update even though not much interesting has been happening. Had another hysterectomy, while the experience wasn't great the results were good. Nothing out the ordinary.  My thyroid blood results came in with my level being a little low. And I had to get more blood drawn to test for thyroid antibodies and that test came back normal so for now thyroid is not an issue.
Everything is progressing along as it should. I go back in for my lining check and blood draw next week. Hopefully everything is good as well. I'm so ready for it to be the 21st.
I have been continuing to go to acupuncture. and that seems to helping control my stress and keep me calm. And an early Valentine's date this weekend is something fun to look forward to that doesn't include needles.

Transfer #3

It's that time again! I decided to try another transfer. My transfer date is February 21st.  It took me a while to decided that I was ready to go through everything again. But in the end I thought it would be better to try one more time before I turn 30. 

I am trying a new medication protocol. This time including a steroid to suppress my immune system. I am still concerned about taking it but it seems to be a pretty common medication for IVF patients who have trouble with implantation or multiple chemical pregnancies. I am hoping that this will be the thing that makes this embryo stick.

We have decided to transfer only a single embryo again. But we have yet to decide which gender we will have transferred. I have no preference either way this time.  Just want one to stick.

I start my first round of injections on Saturday, the 21st.

And I am also going to try having acupuncture during the cycle to see if that makes difference. Acupuncture seems to be helping me with some other issues I have and acupuncture has been shown to improve ivf cycle success rates. 

I'll try to keep updates as things progress but as usual these frozen transfer cycles tend to be pretty boring.

Hoping that the third time will be the charm for us. And that we can at last complete our family and be done with all this infertility stuff.

Trying on hold

Soon after posting about going for our third try, we decided that we were going to put that try on hold. I hadn't been feeling well and decided that I wanted to feel normal before going through everything again. After a couple more doctor visits and couple of tests, there appears to be nothing physically wrong with me.  I must have been completely stressed out and/or the meds had me feeling off.  I've been off almost all of the meds for a month now and I have done a couple sessions of acupuncture to help my ailments.  I am happy to report that I am feeling much better and pretty much back to normal.
I am hoping to continue doing the acupuncture to help my fertility problems.  Maybe it will help with the success of another try.  In the meantime, we have not yet decided when to try again. We are considering the more natural route, or at least give it try. We are both taking some vitamins and supplements to help wth our respective situations. If nothing comes of that then we will go back to IVF.  So for now... normal life with no extra hormones.