IUI Numero 4

And they're off!

As of 12:20 p.m., 11798's swimmers were on their way to my giant follicle filled with an egg for them to fertilize.  This was my fourth IUI, so sadly, I feel like an old pro.  It was a different doctor this time.  An older man, with a funny accent.  Clearly I'm not the only one who had trouble understanding him, the nurse had to ask him three times to repeat what he had asked her for.  This was also by far the most painful of the four IUIs.  I was hoping that by leaving my bladder slightly full it would help with the 'tilted uterus issue' the doctor mentioned last time.  That damn speculumn pinches the crap outta my lady parts (that's just fun to say) and this time there was actually some spotting afterward.  OWWWW.  After it was all done, I stopped at the store picked up a few of the foods I read about people eating after the proceedure that supposedly helped in them getting pregnant (figured it couldn't hurt) and then came home put my legs up and indulged in some pineapple and walnuts (protein).  For dinner, we're having chicken (more protein) and I will drink 100% grape juice. 

I even went so far as to put my legs in the air for awhile.  Yep, that's me above with my pug socks on, lying flat on my back with me legs up to the ceiling.  Hey whatever works.  It only takes one and I will do everything in my power to make sure that lil' guy or gal makes it to the right place.

Fertile Friday

Well Friday I had my follicle check with Dr. Lovely.  My appointment was at 11 a.m., but for some reason they were running WAY behind.  I say way because I didn't get into an exam room until 11:55 a.m.  But I wasn't the only one who was waiting; the waiting room was more packed than I had ever seen it before.  In fact there weren't enough seats, people were standing outside. 

Apparently it was a "Fertile Friday" at California IVF. 

During my nearly hour-long wait, at least two couples learned they were "with child."  I am hoping their baby dust will rub off on me since I was seated in between the two fertile women.

The first couple were these two adorable gay men who were there with their surrogate.  It was so cute, they called her back for her blood draw (I assume it was blood because one of the guys asked her if she had to fast beforehand) and they wanted to know if they could go with her.  So the three of them proceeded back into the exam area and ten minutes later everyone on the otherside of the door broke out into applause and congratulatory expressions.  I could see through the glass window one of the proud smiling papas, holding a picture of his lil' "bean" from the ultrasound.  Then they emerged with a little baby gift bag. 

Fifteen minutes later, the second couple, a young man and woman received their blessed news... they too had a baby on the way.  Again, applause all around and hugs.  Minutes later the smiling couple emerged and went on their way.

This has to be lucky right?  Never, in the four cycles I've been going there (each cycle consisting of at least three visits), has this congrautulatory ritual taken place.  I hope I was able to inhale and consume of of that baby dust, juju or whatever you want to call it during my long wait before being called back to examine my follices.

Anyway, when I finally get back there, Dr. Lovely eventually comes in.  We exchange pleasantries and get down to the exam.  Much to my disappointment, and I'm sure hers too, there was only one follicle on right.  What the heck?  In her words, "you've had a better response to the Clomid."  It's bizarre, the dosage hadn't changed. 

So I've decided I am going to be optimitic about only having one follicle.  It was a nice, big follicle.  And even though there is only one, I was an only child... I got LOTS of attention growing up.  So I'm hoping this one little follicle gets a lot of attention from the swimmers tomorrow morning when I go in for my IUI.  This follicle is "supercharged" in the words of Dr. Lovely. 

Last night, I did my part.  I had my hcG injection at 11:30 p.m. in anticipation of my Monday morning 11:30 IUI.  So sperm, I need you to do your thing... GO RIGHT, ATTACK the EGG and MAKE MAMA PROUD!!!! 

Steph and I are ready to be parents!

Please, please, please... let this be our time.

When after first you don't succeed, try, try, try and try again.  This is apparently my motto when it comes to makin' babies.  The wife and I decided to try one last round at California IVF since we have one more vial there and IF, for some awful reason, it doesn't take then we switch over to Kaiser during open enrollment and try there.

When I went in to see the doctor last Thursday, I asked her what can I do different?  Is there something I can eat, take, do????  I've been getting a good response from the Clomid, my lining has been perfect since I started the estrogen... so it must be my damn eggs.  I told her what is the next step, aggressive-wise?  She said injectibles, which are two grand a cycle, but since my FSH was high (13) that wasn't an option.  Shit, I rule it out as an option as soon as I heard the price.

So here I am, four days into my Clomid pills and one more day left.  Then on Tuesday I begin five days of estrogen.  And then a follicle check on Friday.  My guess is the IUI will be either Monday or Sunday depending on when I have to give myself the shot of hcG.

Please, please, please... let this be our time. 

Time Out

Well I put myself on a little time out this month.  I decided when Aunt Flo showed up on August 17, I would take at least a month off from trying.  I wanted to give my body and my wallet a rest.  As that evil time of the month draws near (I'm less than two weeks out), I wonder if it's time to get back into the game.  We've already agreed tht we would try California IVF one more time since I have one vial of ICI left there, and will switch insurance in October to Kaiser if it doesn't take (which I hope it does) and then try with them after the first of the year.  However, when I switch to Kaiser, I have to start buying IUI vials and not ICI; this equates to about $100 more per specimen.  However, they cover 50% of the treatments and appear to be more reasonably priced.  It's too bad, because I reallyl like the place I've been going to, but I'm not made of money.  So until I restart my journey, I'm taking a little time out.

PIcking Up the Pieces

If this were a baseball game, I'd be out.  If these are crimes committed, I'd be off to prison for life.  But this third failure was an IUI.  So after I caught my breath following Aunt Flow's third devastating blow to my gut (or really my uterus), I had to my some tough decisions. 

It's not that I'm making these decisions on my own, I have a very supportive, yet practical wife.  We're different in a sense that she knows the mone tree has gone bar and that it's time to stop (for now) and I don't give a shit and will charge it or take out a loan.  This is why I'm in debt and she's not.  I've never let a little thing like money stand in my way of life.  Yes it sucks paying the credit card bills every month, but I've been places and done things so it's the price I (continue to) pay.

But I digress... I believe Steph and I came to a compromise.  We have one more vial of our donor at the RE's.  We're going to take a month off for financial, physical and mental reasons I definitely need this break, and then try one last time at this place.  If for some horrible reason this doesn't work, I will be switching my insurance during October's Open Enrollment Period to (I can't believe I'm saying this) Kaiser to continue trying in January when the new insurance kicks in.  It's A LOT less expensive.  I've had a handful of friends use their fertility services and be sucessful and I hear having a baby with them was a wonderful experience as well.  I"m hoping the switch won't be necessary, but it's my "Plan B." 

When we started I didn't expect it to take this many times.  But with each failure I began asking friends how many times it took them.  A year and half, 13 tries, 17 tries and two one timers.  UGH with my age, the deck was stacked against me and I finally accepted that.  Because paying for this stuff out of pocket is NOT helping with the stress and I truly want us to have a family.  So when insurance starts picking up part of the cost, I will be much less stressed.   

I know my wife will make an amaing parent, and my instinct tells me I will be one too.  It's a shame I waited so late in life to figure all this out.  So I'm hoping this time off will be just what this ol' uterus needed.

The Suspense is Killing Me

The only BFP (lol sorry couldn't resist the accronyms I've been consumed by lately, BFP= Big Fat Postive) about not knowing whether or not I'm pregnant... at least I still have hope.  I am 12 days post IUI, and according to My Days (the app on my Droid I track my period with), I am 12 days late.  Before we crack open the bottle of champagne and celebrate, last month I was four days late when Aunt Flow finally decided to rear her ugly head.  And with my symptons, I'd swear she's gonna show up any day now.  GRRR

Lately, I've been crampy, tired, moody as hell (just ask my wife), sore boobs, sensitive nipples and nauseas the last couple of days (around the afternoon).  Part me says PMS.  Part of me says it's all the days meds I had to take to try and get pregnant.  But a tiny part of me, that is deeply afraid of disappointment, wants to believe I'm pregnant.  The main reason I"m even letting myself entertain the possibility is because of the nausea. 

It sucks, everytime I go potty, I dread droppin my drawers and seeing AF.  Last time I was four days late; peed on the stick the mornning I woke up, which was 14 DPIUI, and went to wipe myself dry and there she was... Aunt Freaking Flow.  It was is she was laughing at me. 

I've already prepared myself for failure considering how many times it took my other friends who were close to my age when they tried to get pregnant.  I have this fear my eggs are so old and can't be penetrated.  What if they're bad?  There's no way to know unless they do some expensive egg retrieval for IVF and then discover there's an issue.  I'm even to the point where I am afraid to pee on the stick  because I don't want to see that "Not Pregnant" again. 

Grrrr  come on mother nature, cut this girl a break and let me conceive!!

Emotional and Needy

Dear God... please just let my emotional needy state of mind tonight be that sign I have been looking for!  I'm sitting here texting my wife, whom I'm missing like crazy tonight.  She just left a little more than an hour ago to go to some sleep clinic to be tested for sleep apnea.  Meanwhile, I'm online looking at all kinds of fertility websites and the cryobank bulletin board looking for information, exactly what information I'm not sure.  I guess I just want to reassure myself that the fact that I'm not noticing any symptoms of pregnacy is normal and not a sign of another friggin' failed cycle.  Before Steph left, I snuck a little stuffed pug (beanie baby) into her overnight bag; I didn't want her to be lonely.  She found it.  I told her it was "peanut" (that was our puggy Harley's nickname who died last September) and she was there to watch over her.  Her next text was... "Awwwww I love u."  BAM, instant tears in my eyes.  I'm sure feeling emotional and needy tonight.  I guess I'll go curl up with our two furbabies, Roxy and Sassy in our King-size bed and watch a bunch of crappy TV 'til I fall asleep.  This is a treat for me and the girls, since Steph doesn't like the dogs in the bed LOL....and the crappy TV is my kinda television.  Thank goodness it's only one night.

I Need a Damn Sign, PLEASE!!!!

 Signs, signs, everywhere (not really) there's signs.... I'm just not seeing them.

Maybe I should really be more specific; I really want a sign that says you’re pregnant!!!!  I have never been so aware or in tune with my body as I have been these last three months of trying to conceive (TTC).  Where are my sore boobs?  Although, they did look quite big in a photo I took over the weekend.  Hmmm, maybe they’re swelling from the progesterone and hCG that started flooding my body after the egg was fertilized?  Not that I know what day post IUI that even occurs; what kind of woman am I?

Cramps?  I guess I feel a little crampy.  But am I crampy because I’m about to start my damn period or because the fertilized egg is attaching to my uterine wall and my uterus is stretching?  If so, where would those cramps be occurring?  Anyone?  Anyone?

Spotting?  No light bleeding, but not sure this happens to everyone.  In fact, none of my friends experienced this (or at least would admit to experiencing it).   Apparently, this only happens to as many as 25 percent of women during implantation.  At least there’s no way for me to confuse AF with light implantation bleeding;  AF ain’t playing when she comes to my hood.  Break out the Supers (TMI).

Fatigue?  Hell I am ALWAYS tired, especially since I cut out caffeine back in January.  Nothing new here.  I just chalk it up to being old.

Nipple Darkening?  How dark we talking?  Let me check.  ::lifts up shirt::  Don’t think so, but I don’t remember how pink they were pre IUI.  Next……..

Nausea?  From what I read, full-blown morning sickness affects 85 percent of pregos.  However, it’s not likely to strike for a few more weeks.  I did get queasy in the car Monday on our way home from our anniversary trip to Lake Tahoe but I was reading directions on my cell phone while I was riding in the car on winding roads.

Bloating?  While I’d like to blame feeling chunky on pregnancy, that seems more like an excuse for snug jeans.  Part of it is that I’m not working out like I was before going through these proceedures.

Peeing more often?  I usually chalk those couple of trips during the night up to old age and water before bed.  And I don’t think I’m going any more than I was before during the day.

Cravings?  Hmmmm sounds like another excuse but definitely have had “cravings” lately.

Headaches?  Definitely had some mild tension headaches over the last couple of days, but nothing that would drive me to a bottle of Tylenol.

Constipation?  We’re about to venture into TMIville again but I’m not all that regular.  I just figured it was from the meds, in fact, prior to my IUI I was drinking two glasses of Metamucil to help “get the party started.”  Lately it seems like it’s not uncommon for me to not to “drop the kids off at the pool” only a few times a week.  I can go days without without having a “movement.”

Mood Swings?  Apparently the increase of hCG hormones and fatigue can make a girl prone to moodiness.  Plus the combo of headaches, bloating, constipation and breast pain doesn’t help either.  I don’t think I moody but I’d like to think I never am cuz I’m a well-balanced Libra.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)?  Note to self:  check your BBT and see if it’s staying elevated.  But between you mean and the handful of other followers, I don’t feel feverish.  I’ll check tomorrow.

All I know is that I hope Aunt Flow (AF) is missing in action next week; that beyatch is scheduled to arrive on August 15 but last month she teased me by showing up four days late.  I wish she’d take a hike for the next nine months so I can have a baby.  I’ve spent so damn much on sperm and IUIs I won’t be able to afford tampons (joking…. sort of). LOL

The Morning After

Well the dreaded two week wait has begun. 

The hardest part is trying to not think about it.  Last night my cramps were the worst they've been following a proceedure.  And this morning, I woke up nauseas (which I know it's too soon for morning sickness).  I am hoping going away this weekend for our third wedding anniversary will help me keep my mind off of the TWW (good luck with that).  My goal is to focus on fun and throw caution to the wind (to some degree).  The hardest part will be faking drinking when we're out with friends, lol.  Sounds silly but we're not telling people (except a handful that already know for one reason or another) and everyone will be drinking tonight at the bar and Saturday night for my friend's 40th birthday.  Tonight I can get away with the excuse, "I'm the designated driver."  But tomorrow on the lake and then back at the house I will have to pour faux drinks for me.  What's funny is, I'm not even sure why I would need to avoid alcohol, how may people are drunk when they get "knocked up?"  My main reason for staying sober is I'm old (38), in terms of baby-making years, and I spent a truckload of money trying to get knocked up.... so I do NOT want to do anything that might negate that goal.  Capiche?

Third Time Will Be The Charm

Ready to Go!!!!

Last night I peed on the OPK stick and got a smiley face, which means it had detected my LH surge and ovulation is close to occuring.  Excellent, because my IUI was scheduled for 10 o'clock this morning, just 36 hours and 15 minutes after my trigger shot.  The night felt like it lasted forever, but finally it was time to head to California IVF to see Dr. Z. 

Anxious, I got there a little early but had to wait for a bit.  By 10:15 I was in the room with my pants off climbing up onto the table and waiting paitiently for the Dr., nurse and intern to come in so we could get the party started.    It was weird, this was my third IUI and the third doctor at the clinic to do this proceedure on me.  Oh well, I'm hoping this one has the magic touch.  When my regular doctor, Dr. Lovely, told me she wasn't available to do it today, I told her, "just give me the doctor who is the best shot."  Dr. Z it is.

He's very thorough, which I appreciate.  He told me the sperm had a pre-wash motility of 22 million and post wash it was 17.3 million.  Apparently, that's pretty good.  Let's hope this 22/23 year old's sperm is agressive and seeks out those two eggs on my right side and fertilizes the heck out of them. 

With my legs in the stirrups, and my butt slid to the edge of the table, Dr. Z got down to business.  Once the speculum was locked in place, he attempted to insert the catheter into the uterus.  Apparently, mine was titlted making it difficult with the stiff catheter; so he switched to the softer catheter.  Still struggling to place the tip of it where it needed to be, cuz my darn tilted uterus, he decided it was time to use the abodimal ultrasound and see exactly how tilted that sucker was.  At this point I'm getting nervous thinking maybe I can't get pregnant cuz it's tilted. 

EUREKA!!!

After what seemed like forever, they located it on the screen and he got the catheter exactly where it needed to be.  The cool part is, since he had it up on the screen so he could see where he was going in that titled maze, I was able to see the swimmers exit the catheter and had off on there journey.  I almost wished I could watch and point them in the right direction so they could hook up with the egg.  Finally, it was done.  I dressed and headed out, reminding the girl to make sure I get an itemized receipt for tax purposes (I overheard another woman asking for one earlier).

So now I'm home relaxing, gonna do the things I love and make me happy today.  At 1 p.m. I'm going to Foot to get a massage.  When I get home, I will make cake balls.  The rest of the day will be spent on my back watching TV with the dogs while we wait on my beautiful wife to come home.  Life is good!

Twas the Night before IUI Poem

Okay, so it's not the story your parents read to you growing up, it's my twisted pre-IUI poem. 

Twas the night before IUI, when all through my blouse
My heart was racing, much like a mouse.
At 10 a.m. my legs will be hung in the stirrups with care,
In preparation for the swimmers that will be put in there.

The furbabbies were nestled all snug in their dog beds,
While visions of dog bones danced in their heads.
Other mama in her jammies, and I in my cap
Had just settled our brains for a brief night nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
Oh nevermind, it's just the dogs going pitter patter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the blinds and started talking trash,
"Stop barking a the siren and get your ass inside,
I've got to get up in a few hours," my tired ass cried.

Here we go again

I'll admit, I've wanted to blog but haven't had much to say as I'm heading into round three.  This afternoon I go into California IVF for my follicle check.  Hopefully, thanks to the meds, the follicles and the lining will be to Dr. Lovely's liking.  If all goes well, I will be getting the "trigger shot" tonight to kick start ovulation and on Thursday go in for my third, and hopefully FINAL IUI.  I say final not because I'm giving up, even though we said we'd only try three times, but because financially and emotionally I'm drained.  Insurance, as you know, isn't covering any of this and my damn money tree never sprouted in the backyard.

I will admit, I'm a little excited as we've switched donors and this new one is (one paper) perfect, but I got a chance to see his baby pictures.  The donor is described as 6'4", dark brown hair and green eyes.  He's Italian and Greek. CCB says he resembles the following celebrities:  Been Affleck, Carmine Gotti and Paul Adelstein.  He's also an open donor, which means at 18 the child will have an opportunity to have some form of contact if they wish.  #11798 is also young (early 20's) and hopefully that means some healthy active sperm .  Wait... does that make me a cougar?

Better Late Than Never?

That is a bunch of BULL$#*T!!! 

Guess who showed up exactly two weeks after my IUI?  Good ol' Aunt Flow?  Not only was the bitch four days late, she waited 'til I busted open the 12 dollar pregnancy test and peed on the stick.  As if the evidence on the toilet paper wasn't enough, the obnoxious, "NOT PREGNANT" appear minutes after.

Talk about deflated!  I'm trying not to let this get me too down, but it's hard when you've begun to invest emotionally in something.  I even let myself look at baby clothes and books yesterday.  "Sssssssssssssss,"  that's the sound of more air being knocked out of my sails.  I was starting to exhibit symptoms, I was late, I felt like hell.  "Ssssssss," more air coming out; pretty soon I'm going to look like someone's overloved blow up doll.  Somebody please toss me the bike up, so I can blow a bitch back up!


So many questions floating around in my mind:  "What am I doing wrong?"  "Am I too fat?"  "Should I be eating different foods?" "What can I do different next time?"  "Will there be a next time?"  "Am I meant to be a parent?" 

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTT UPPPPPP!!!!!"

Okay Debbie Downer, you and Aunt Flow can enjoy your moment (or day) in the sun, cuz tomorrow I'm gonna dust myself off and get back on track.  When we started this process we said we'd try three times; it's only been two.  And you know what they say?  "Third times a charm!"  And you know what I say, "Better be muthaf@#$er!"

I'm Late! I'm Late! For a Very Important Date!

Don't Jinx It!!! 

So part of me is afraid that by writing this entry I'm going to summon my Aunt Flow (AF), but I said I would chronicle this little journey so I'm going to try to type as quitely as  possible so I don't wake the beast.

All my life, I've been pretty darn punctual when it comes to "that time of the month."  In fact, it's probably one of the few things I'm ALWAYS on time for.  However, this month is a different story.  AF was due to arrive on 7/16, and so far she's a no show.  Normally when someone doesn't show up on time, you send out a search party; this is one guest I don't want to arrive.  In fact, I paid quite a bit of money to swap her monthly visits with a baby bump for nine months.

So the waiting game continues, but for now, "I'm late!  I'm late!  For a very important date!"

When at first you don't suceed...

An unwelcome visitor arrived on June 20...

I can't remember a time in the past 26 years that I was ever so disappointed to get my period.  It had only been 13 days since my first IUI.  We were so hopeful, and I was convinced that I was pregnant.  The emotional let down packed a helluva punch; I was at work when nature's gift arrived. 

After the tears, anger, disappointment and feelings of failure subsided, I called the clinic and geared up for round two.  It was hard to mentally prepare myself for more ultra sounds, more pills, more shots and more financial hemorraging.

I felt like an old pro when I walked for round two.  First the baseline ultrasound, then the following day I began my five days of 100mg of clomid, when that was through I started my five days of estrogren.  The hope was the estrogen would thicken my lining which was not quite "as thick as (the doctor) would like it."  Then on the Fourth of July we went in for our 9 a.m. appointment with Dr. Lovely to see the results of all the pill popping.  During the follicle check they found three mature follicles, one of which she described as "beautimous", and she I had "a nice thick thriple layer" of linging.  Encouraged, we left the office and prepared for our 9:30 p.m. "trigger shot" to kick start ovulation.  The IUI was set for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6.

THE HUMAN PINCUSHION

In addition to the medication, I decided to add acupuncture to my regimen this time around to keep my stress levels down; I figured it couldn't hurt.  I found someone who specialized in fetility issues.  Prior to my second IUI, I squeezed in three appointments which included acupunture and "cupping" which left weird hickey-like marks on my back.  I did my fourth appointment, complete with the electrical stimulation a few hours after my IUI.


BRING ON THE SWIMMERS

It was finally time to let the let the swimmers out of their deep freeze and put them into the pool so they could seek out the egg.  Dr. Green did the honors this time.  The motility was encouraging, 17.5 million compared to the 8.4 million last time.  More sperm, thicker lining, it's hard not to be optimistic.  The whole proceedure takes a mater of minutes, it's the two week wait (TWW) that is the killer.

The following day, as advised, I was given my 1/2cc booster shot of the same stuff we used to kick start ovulation three days earlier.  The final shot will be tomorrow.

Now I keep looking for a sign, anything will do.  But how soon is too soon for a sign?  It's only been four days since my IUI, I'm pretty sure it's too soon to see a change in anything at this point.  The waiting game continues.

Always The Procrastinater

"TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK!!"

You hear that?  It's the sound of my antique biological clock ticking.  I don't feel old, and I don't think I look old either; however, the reality is that I'm a 38-year old woman, with equally old eggs. In fact, at this point, they're so prehistoric I'm afraid a dinosaur may hatch from them if I become pregnant.

Ideally, I would've done this in my mid-twenties or early thirties; not me, I decide I want to have a baby in my late thirties.  Prior to that point in my life I'll admit, I hadn't thought much about having a mini me running around.  I'd always been so focused on my career, friends, love life or fun.

So after 26 years (I've only been PHYSICALLY able to conceive since I was 12 years old) of procrastinating, I decided to stop waiting for the stork to drop a little bundle of joy on my doorstep and give conception, the ol' college try.  Thanks to Uncle Sam and my tax return, the wife and I were able to start trying for our family in June 2011. 


HETEROS HAVE IT SO EASY!

Don't get me wrong, I realize sex every night around the time you're ovulating can be exhausting... but atleast it's FUN and FREE!  And if Aunt Flow (AF) shows up two weeks later, at least she didn't drain your bank account and your uterus at the same time. 

INSURANCE DON'T COVER SHIZZNIT!

I knew when we started this journey in May it was going to be $$$$, but I went in optimistic despite my slightly elevated FSH level.  According to the bloodwork it was 13 and they (the medical professionals) like it below 10.  They higher the number, the harder your hormones are working to signal the eggs that it's time.  My hormones are definitely not using their "inside voices" which is a lot like me, loud.  I even forked over $400 for an HSG (Hysterosalpingogram) to make sure my tube were open (it's not like they've had many visitors over the years) for business. 

The fun part leading up to my first IUI (Intrauterine insemination) was selecting a donor.  After Steph and I agreed on which bank to use (California Cryobank: http://www.cryobank.com/) we began our search for Mr. Right.  It's amazing; you can choose his height, weight, eye color, hair color and texture, skin tone, etc.  It's amazing all the categories you can choose from, they even tell you who their celebrity look-alikes are.  We finally narrowed it down to 14, then 10 and then we printed all their medical histories and determined that would be the deciding factor because in the end all we really wanted was a HEALTHY baby.  Immediately the list shrank and we were left with five donors.  Among the five, only one was an "open" donor which meant he was willing to be known once the child reached 18 years of age.  That was a characteristic that was important to us, but it also increased the price by $100 and he only had IUI (washed) samples avaialble and that increased the price another $100 dollars.  Doesn't surprise me that I wanted the most expensive sperm, I've always had expensive taste. 

11438

But then I stumbled on #11438.  His online profile described him as an "Old Soul."  It went on to read, "If penmanship counted in adulthood like it did in school, Donor 11438 would be set for life. A club hockey player in college, this 5'11", hazel-eyed Criminal Justice major also enjoys playing electric guitar, snowboarding, and drawing. Outgoing with a great smile, he enjoys leadership roles and is an active member of the US Marine Corps. Upon completing his four years of duty, he looks forward to a career as a federal agent. Extremely close to his family, he decided to become an anonymous donor after learning about the infertility issues experienced by his aunt and uncle." 

At 5'11", he was a little shorter than I originally wanted (I said my cutoff was 6'0" since I'm a mere 5'3" and I want to give the kid a chance) but he has hazel eyes, black hair and his celebrity look likes are Channing Tatum, Matthew Fox and Scott Foley.  YUM!  And, even though he was anonymous, the price was right since he had ICI vials available (of which I purchased two).  The reason I opted for the less expensive ICI (unwashed) sample was the lab at California IVF (where I was having the proceedure done) would be washing it anyway before the proceedure so I figured why pay to have it done twice. 

With my order placed on May 31, the frozen swimmers made their way north to Davis, Calif. where they would await the arrival of their new home on June 7, my ovulating uterus.