Today (Monday 8/10) was my first monitoring appointment, after 4 days of stims. At the appointment Thursday, when the nurse said I would be on the same protocol as last time, I reminded her that last time they weren’t very happy with my response to the stims. She said, “Well, whatever we did, it worked, so we will just do the same thing again.” I said, “Good point!”

I resisted the urge to touch the ultrasound machine this time (go me!). I have 3 measurable follicles on my right side (12 x 6, 11 x 7 and 8 x 7) and 2 measurable ones on the left (14 x 6 and 9 x 7). There are also 5 others smaller than an 8 (I think that’s millimeters). I am now at the same point in the cycle that I was last time, when they said I was not having an exhuberant response to the medicine and they doubled my dose. The same thing happened today, except they did not double my dose; they increased it by 50%. I’m not sure why they didn’t double it. I am on a different brand of medicine this time, so maybe that’s why.

Speaking of meds (is there anything else to talk about at this point?), I am still “borrowing” them from the center! I went to the appointment today fully expecting the cycle to be cancelled due to the insurance holdup but they are confident it will get worked out. Let’s hope so! The medicine she gave me today is the same, but the method of mixing and delivery is different (and also different from what she ordered me!). It can get confusing switching needles around! I would post pictures, but my laptop cord is not working and that’s what I use to manage pictures (I ordered a new one but it hasn’t come yet).

So I go back Wednesday for more monitoring. One difference from last time: Since we know exactly what to expect, we are more business-like about it. There is much less “romance” (for lack of a better word) this time. Tim doesn’t feel the need to go to every appointment (and I don’t feel the need to have him there). We don’t get very excited about doing the shots this time. We’re more serious about it- we know exactly what it means if it works. It’s not that we’re not excited about the prospect of having another child; we’re just realistic about the impact it will have on our family!