Chapter 1 -- Our Struggle with Infertility -- The Cliff Notes Version

As David and I begin the second chapter in our journey toward growing our family, I thought I'd create a blog with the purpose of updating friends and family regarding our journey, explaining the process, and I'm sure at times I'll just be venting... Before I get started with Chapter 2, I'll give you the Cliff Notes version of Chapter 1 - Our Struggle with Infertility.

Beginning in December of 2006 we began the process of "trying"to get pregnant. Little did we know what this was really going to mean for us. After a year of "trying" with no success, we sought medical help which led to lots of diagnostic procedures and researching our options. Our final diagnosis, or lack thereof, was "unexplained infertility". We did three months of Clomid (oral medication to make me ovulate) and three months of Clomid with Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). With all efforts still unsuccessful, we were then referred to a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) who reviewed our history, did a few more tests and recommended a medication called Letrosol (another oral medication similar to Clomid), two rounds of this still did not result in a pregnancy.

After a couple of months of no treatment, we decided to pursue In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Simply put, this is where they took my eggs and literally injected one of Dave's sperm into each one, let them grow in a petri dish for 5 days, then transfered them back to me . Prior to knowing we'd struggle with infertility, this is something we did not think we'd pursue... Funny how things change. Anyway, after lots of shots, blood draws, ultrasounds, and two outpatient medical procedures, we found out on Christmas Eve 2008 we were pregnant!!! Needless to say we were very happy, but also knew we had a long way to go to our final destination so to speak. Well, after 10.5 weeks of a relatively smooth pregnancy, I miscarried on February 9. I'm not quite sure I can articulate the feelings Dave and I had; Disappointment, frustration, and sadness begin to explain it, but there were many other complicated layers as well that I'll spare you the details of.

The support we received from friends and family was overwhelming, as it has been throughout this entire journey, and lessened the blow so to speak. I can't begin to thank all of you who sent cards, gifts, made phone calls and kept us in your thoughts and prayers. It all meant and still means so much.