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.