Chapter 4: Round Two- Here We Go!!

Round 2… What a delayed process this was. I kept trying to get this on the calendar. The problem is, when the first round doesn’t go as planned, everyone (including myself) starts questioning everything. And on top of that you get 100,000,000 different opinions from everyone to go along with all of your own insecurities and insanity 🙂 Joy. Everyone does mean well, and lots of great advice usually filters itself through the blue of it all. I promise. My doctor suggested that I do a seriously invasive priming protocol. One month of testosterone cream followed by a human growth hormone priming and then the 12 days of shots using the max amounts of meds (Menapur and Gonal pen for me). First off, I don’t have two months to do this. I can barely squeeze it in for 12 days of shots, a surgery with Joe and my work schedule. Second of all, Joe plays baseball. He will test positive for performance enhancing substances if he gets anywhere near that cream. So no. The next answer I was given was don’t worry it comes in a shot format. Well yippy. Another 4 weeks of traveling through airports with needles and requesting mini fridges in hotel rooms.   

Turns out, I wasn’t the same person that went through egg retrieval the first time. My blood work showed that my FSH levels were MUCH higher (3-4 times higher) this time around just from being off birth control a year longer. And everything else check out as healthy. I was told that FSH was the number one indicator of follicle growth, so if that was high, there shouldn’t be a need for human growth hormone or testosterone. I was also told that testosterone is for women going into menopause who have HIGH FSH levels, not low. So I called around to many fertility experts and finally heard an opinion that really went straight to my heart. “You aren’t the same person that you were a year ago. You don’t need all of these meds. You are normal. Everything is going to be just fine.”

Omgosh those words sounded like they came straight from the heavens. 

I started my shots a few days later. Only 75IU of Menapur and Gonal.

Day three we increased the goal to 225IU for the remainder of stimulation as the eggs were growing so well. Every time I got to see my growth on the ultrasound machine, I breathed a sigh of relief. Although I wouldn’t let myself get my hopes up entirely, there was a ray of sunshine on those days that was so bright.  

The day I took my trigger shot I had 15 that were POTENTIALLY eligible!!!!! 15!!!!!!! LAST TIME I HAD 6!!!!

I didn’t change my diet, exercise or travel schedule or anything. I just let my body recover from birth control suppression. I wish I would have known that before round one. BUT, then again, my last blog went into the incredible lessons and blessings God gave Joe and I after the first round. Those, are invaluable. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I mean that. 

Fastforward to surgery day, I wake up to my doc telling me “We got 13.”

No words to describe that level of happiness…

The next day they informed me that 12 were mature and 8 fertilized with Joe’s sperm.

8 reasons for hope…and joy.

The next blog I will walk you through the next week of pure torture waiting for the updates on health, growth and maturation of the embryos!! (NO THEY AREN’T DONE AT THIS POINT YET!!!) Here was my post after it all went down with a play by play of my schedule:

Back to reality. I said I’d share the personal journey Joe & I are going through. Good or bad, I will stick to my word. Today we found out we have to do the entire process again. 12 days of shots and $37k. This is why we are funding families on HelpCureHD.com to do IVF & make HD free babies. It’s NOT easy, or cheap. But we believe it’s worth it. Here are moments from our journey:

1: (Jan 25) started shots in Atlanta. Had my new show “The Bounce” out of our Turner Atlanta studios.     

2. Flew to Ohio. Said goodbye to Lee since we are leaving for baseball season. She rubbed my belly for good luck️

Blood work, ultra sounds etc.

3: Flew to Atlanta for work.

4: Flew to Houston. New York Post is there & HDSA helping us capture this adventure!

5: Eggs are growing a little slow & retrieval now Sat or Sun, which means missing my show  I didn’t want to tell work. But was a huge blessing & they support me 100% & ended up being why I am sharing with you!

6: New York Post story printed!

7: Today Show saw the story & came to Houston 

8: Joe got to Ohio, packed house & dog & drove to FL for Spring Training like a CHAMPION HUSBAND.

9: Joe got to FL at 3:30 AM then flew 3 hrs later to make my retrieval.

10: Egg retrieval!! I had 6 retrieved. Wanted 8.

11: Told us 3 were mature & fertilized. Went to FL that night to move in officially.

12: Got a call saying eggs should be between 4-8 on day three and that mine were 12,10,3.

13. Lee choked & was rushed to the emergency room. They were able to save her life THANK GOD.  Flew to NBA All Star game.

14: None ready to freeze yet. Surprising because two got out so such great starts

15: Hosting All-Star Sat night. RIGHT before we went on air, told “No one ready to freeze yet.”

16.  home. Joe said not to worry…I do have peace knowing no matter what, God is using us for good. Without this process we wouldn’t have been able to bring light to HD. If we don’t make any embryos THIS TIME, it’s still worth it. But even with that peace, I am holding back tears. It’s not hard IF you produce an HD free baby. It’s hard, if you come up empty handed. God’s timing NEVER fails though. I have faith in that alone. Xo