Uterus. Check. Estrogen. Check Check.

I saw my local doctor yesterday for an ultrasound and labs, and everything came back great! My uterus is perfect (lining has shedded), no cysts on the ovaries, and my estrogen has bottomed out! I'm on Day 4 of my cycle and started taking oral Estradiol today. They have completely shut down my ovarian function with the Lupron injections, and now they are manipulating my cycle as my own body would do. This way, they have complete control over all of my hormones!

I will escalate the Estrogen dose weekly. Right now I'm on one every morning and one every night. After a few weeks, I will have titrated it up to two tablets three times daily. Around transfer time, I will begin the Progesterone in oil injections twice daily, as well as progesterone vajayjay suppositories. I will stay on Lupron injections every morning from here on out to keep my ovaries asleep. Andy is taking ten days worth of doxycycline (an antibiotic) to make sure he doesn't have any infections that will affect his sperm when it's time to take them...this is standard protocol. I will also have to take it around the time of transfer.

I'm seriously not stressing at all...yet. I have a different set of medications to keep up with, but I can't tell you how happy I am that I don't have to stimulate myself this time. Been there, done that, and don't ever want to do it again...it's torture!

My next ultrasound and lab work is 4/4. That is around the time our donor will begin stimulating. So excited!!!

Please don't forget that we are keeping this cycle hush hush to everyone but select members of our family, and those that are sweet enough to continue reading our blog. I haven't told anyone at work except my boss, but I suspect that some people are starting to figure out what is going on with my comings and goings and phone calls from my doctor everyday. That is fine, but I just don't want to have to explain everything to everyone..everyday. As much as we appreciate the support, it is so very hard to manage everyone else's emotions on top of trying to deal with this ourselves. Plus, if it does work, we do not want to tell anyone until we are absolutely sure it is viable. This probably means when I carry a baby home from the hospital. Thanks for understanding...and for everyone's support!