Pretty picture huh? Well the road to get to that glorious moment wasn't as easy or attractive. I guess I'll start from the beginning-and I'll give you the condensed version (you're welcome lol)
October 2010-I had an MRI done during the summer showing that I had no new brain lesions. At this time Lou and I discussed when we would want to have another child.
In order to conceive I would have to be completely off of my Copaxone injections. So we came to the conclusion that I was in the best shape that I could be in at this time so it was time to discuss the subject with my neurologist.
We came together as a group and my doctor stressed that I was off my Copaxone for the smallest window of time before getting pregnant as pregnancy is believed to help offer a protective quality from MS. For most people this wouldn't be an issue-but I also have Poly cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and do not ovulate properly. So it was on to my OBGYN to discuss our next step.
November 2010-Prepped with all the info from my neuro, my OBGYN decided that I would go off the birth control pill I was put on because of the Copaxone, begin treatment for the PCOS by taking Metformin
(which made me super sick) and go off my Copaxone injections a week later. I would also be given Provera to begin a cycle so that I could start on 50mg of Clomid.
(Keeping track of all these meds already?) We were pumped because we had a really good chance of conceiving the first time due to the sudden increase in all the hormones.....Fail.
December, January, February, March...FAIL
April 2011-Clomid is a tricky drug and you should only take it for 6 months, if you are keeping score I was running out of time. I was already off my injections for 5 months and time was ticking. We upped my Clomid to 100 mg and made an appointment with a fertility specialist. When we met with her I was at the beginning of my cycle so it was too late for a lot of the testing they needed to do. We decided that I would continue with the Clomid, get monitored for egg maturity and then induce ovulation with an injection of Ovidrel. If we didn't conceive this cycle-Lou and I would both undergo extensive and invasive testing and then attempt with an IUI.
Most people on Clomid find that they have plenty of mature eggs to choose from-hence the increased chance of twins or more. I had
ONE. One tiny egg that was maturing very slowly which meant we were taking more than enough early morning trips out to Cleveland for ultrasounds. Finally we got the go ahead to inject with Ovidrel but even the nurse wasn't that optimistic about my lone follie.
May 3, 2011-(13 days past injection) It was the day after my birthday and I just wasn't feeling right. I honestly didn't think that it worked this cycle and was just so used to the disappointment that I didn't want to get my hopes up. We had a few dollar store tests in our house so I figured-what the heck...I did my thing and thought that
maybe there was a chance I saw a very, very light 2nd line. I browsed the Internet to find out which test was the most sensitive, bought a test and decided to put my bladder to a 5 hour test. I dropped Dominic off at Lou's office and ran across the street to tan. Seriously, 4 hours must be my limit because I almost didn't make it back to Lou's office! I couldn't just waste all my hard work so I just tested at his office. (His secretary was gone for the day so it was only Lou, Dominic and I in the office). Booya-there it was. Another light, but definite second line. We were pregnant!
The shock of that test lasted a few weeks through blood tests and an ultrasound. When we finally heard the heartbeat at 6 weeks 2 days it finally got real. The fertility specialist (our 2nd because our 1st doctor just up and quit being a doctor altogether???!! lol) released me back to my OBGYN and wished us luck! :) We were able to see the little bean again another 2 times via ultrasound.
Now you are up to speed on the story of how we found out about this little miracle. The story isn't over yet as now I am in the mix of a slew of doctors and specialist but I'll save that for another post! If you stuck through and read through all this--bless you! If you didn't-I don't blame you!
Once again,
thank you so much for all your well wishes and support. We lived through this process with only a handful of people knowing. I went through such a wide spectrum of emotions and I just want to thank Lou, my mother, Becky and Maggie for always being there for me!
Oh and to answer a few of your questions:
*We DO plan on finding out the sex of this baby-most likely in early-mid August
*I will have a repeat C-Section and discuss having my tubes tied with my OBGYN (I cannot get pregnant on Copaxone and after this baby-we have to continue with my treatment. It's bittersweet)
