This is a long one. Grab a cocktail or glass of wine and get comfortable.
Where We Were
It's been a little while since we've written an update about where we are in our journey to parenthood. If you've followed along this far, you know we took a little break over the summer after 4 failed IUIs. Between my uterine polyp removal, a breast cancer scare and a really bad infection, we fit in a little much-needed summer fun.
Come August 3, it was time to start cycle #5:
Back to counting the days (which cycle day is it again?!)
Back to taking hormones (is it really hot in here, or is it just me?!)
Back to peeing on ovulation sticks and not showing a positive surge, which results in yet another transvaginal ultrasound (is anyone really surprised at this point??)
On August 17, we went to the clinic for the ultrasound to check on my follicles so we could time the IUI accurately. You can't tell, but we are smiling behind our masks in this picture because it is the FIRST ultrasound Brian actually got to attend in person and not via FaceTime!!
I had one really good follicle on the left ovary which was measuring ready! I turned to Brian (you know, since he was actually in the room) and asked him if he thought we should do a trigger shot this time. We decided to do one, so I got that shot in the arm and we were on our way, with IUI #5 scheduled for the next morning.
The Stars Aligned
We had a good feeling about this one, you guys. Everything seemed to align just right.
It was our first IUI since Pixie the Polyp (who had taken up residence in my uterus) was removed
It was our LAST vial of sperm
It was the first IUI Brian got to attend in person
We did the trigger shot, so that increased our chances of a successful IUI
I was reading my bible the night before the IUI and I found a penny in it (pennies are my sign from heaven)
We went in for the IUI the morning of Wednesday, August 18. The procedure went smoothly and we were out of there in no time.
Now we wait.
...and wait....
...and wait some more.
My "official" test day after the two week wait was Wednesday, September 1. Day 28 of my cycle (the day I usually have signs of Aunt Flo) was Monday, August 30.
We Broke the Rules
On Monday, August 30, I was expecting my period to show up. By the end of the work day, I still had no spotting, no cramping and no other signs/symptoms. When Brian got home from work, I told him that I thought we should take a pregnancy test.
He was a little leery of taking one early. But, my persuasiveness and peer pressure got the best of him. (Plus, it's in his nature to say yes to people––especially his wife!)
We only had four pregnancy tests left in the cabinet (3 rapid tests and 1 digital test).
I snagged a rapid test (I wanted to save the digital one for Test Day!), ripped it open and hurriedly (yet gracefully) peed on the test––what can I say...I had been holding my bladder for quite awhile!
I replaced the cap and set the test very carefully on the bathroom counter.
"Alexa, set a timer for 3 minutes."
We willed ourselves to not even take a peek at that test until the timer went off. It was the longest three minutes of our lives!
We stood over this pee-soaked stick....and we. could. not. believe. our. eyes.
HOLY SHIT!
BABE!
DO YOU SEE THAT LINE??
I MEAN, IT'S KINDA FAINT.
BUT IT'S THERE!
THERE'S A FREAKIN' LINE!
You guys –– THERE WAS A SECOND LINE! We have NEVER seen a second line. And do you know what a second line means??
IT MEANS WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!!!!!
Ok...I might be getting ahead of myself a little bit here. BUT:
We did, in fact, see a second line.
It was, in fact, extremely faint.
I did, in fact, get REALLLLLLLLLY excited. So excited I cried. Tears of JOY for once during this rollercoaster of a journey for the last three years.
Brian was worried. He couldn't really believe it, since the line was SO light. And...he was worried for me. He saw how frickin' excited I got and he was so concerned about another heartbreak.
"Babe, we can't go off this test. Let's wait another hour or so and take another one to see if there is still a faint line."
My husband, the logical one.
I chugged about 143 ounces of water and took another test shortly after.
"Alexa, set a timer for 3 minutes."
This time, there was no faint line.
Just a
BIG. FAT. NEGATIVE.
(known in the fertility community as BFN)
I was deflated.
I couldn't stop thinking about that faint positive. When I couldn't sleep that night, I Googled pretty much everything:
How common are false positive pregnancy tests?
Does Ovridel (trigger shot) cause your period to be late?
How long does the trigger shot (which contains a small amount of the pregnancy hormone, hCG, stay in your system)?
Can a trigger shot cause a false positive?
What does it mean if I see a faint line on a test?
A couple things I learned:
Ovridel can stay in your system for up to 14 days and could possibly give you a false positive test. <<cue the better-luck-next-time music>>
A faint positive IS still a positive test. <<cue the celebratory music>>
Drinking a lot of water before a pregnancy test can dilute your urine. It's best to take a test first thing in the morning. <<cue the there's-still-hope music>>
This is far from the end of this story. Stay tuned for Part II to hear about:
Testing on August 31
Actual Test Day
Crazy Things that Happened the Morning of Test Day
Things that Happened After Test Day
Where we are now and what it means for us
It is captivating reading your posts. Thank you for sharing your journey!