Can a child be stubborn pain in the butt before they're even conceived? I say yes!!

So, despite our utmost attempts, I just can't seem to get knocked up. No matter how often we....haha. just kidding. I won't go there. So, if you don't want to know the whole break down, stop reading now. I may get a little graphic :P haha (but I'm known to do that anyways, right?)

First off, I decided to put this in my blog because for some reason I feel like it's an awkward subject to bring up out of the blue. I don't have any problems talking about it or anything, but this way I can tell everyone at one time. 

So in November I made an appointment with Reproductive Endocrinologist John Couvaras from IVF Phoenix. My cousins wife went to him so that's how I found him. I really like his attitude. Anyways, first appointment we pulled off an Ultra Sound on me and a Semen Analysis on Dustin. Dustin LOVED it. haha. Actually, in fact I'm pretty sure he'll be embarrassed that I put that in the blog, but he'll survive. Everything on the Ultra Sound looked fine as far as my insides go, I do have a fibroid, but the Doc acted like that was no big deal, who cares. I love that about him. To him it's almost like there's nothing that he can't fix. Nothing's a big deal. It helps to keep a woman calm while going through this. Anyways, then he ordered me to do all this blood work and an HSG (Hysterosalpingogram). I think they took half my blood that day (and I got the bills to show it!!) Then the HSG is to test if my tubes are open. The shoot dye up in there while they x-ray...some say it's painful, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. Nothing worse then my monthly cramps...which...well really can get bad sometimes :P haha. Anyways, right there the Radiologist told me my tubes were fine and the fibroid wasn't blocking them as far as he could see, so that was great news! I scheduled my 2nd apt. with Dr. Couvaras after I had all my tests done (which was last week.) He said that Dustin's analysis came back fine so he's good. My blood work showed a few things (well these are thing things I remember....well kinda)

1. Something about some signal from my brain to the reproductive area possibly being lost in transfer.

2. Something about some weird thing that he's never seen so high in any of his patients. I really didn't understand most of it cause he had so many technical terms he was using. Either way, he said it was no big deal, most people have it, it's just interesting I guess. 

3. I'm a happy go lucky kinda gal! haha. That cracked me up, but he was dead serious....I think. At least he never said just kidding or took it back.

Anyways, so he had a lot of other things he talked about...Omega 3's, Omega, 6's, Omega 9's, and all sorts of anagrams that made no sense to me. I didn't even try to understand. I figured I'd just try to do what he told me. So, what conclusion he came to is that we would try artificial insemination...BUT FIRST I must take 2 millions pills, work out nightly and go on a diet. Yes, a diet. Not because I'm overweight, but to get my body in optimal health before we go forward with it. I need to balance out some things in order to make sure that one signal from my brain is making it there. Anyways, the diet is call "The Zone Diet" He said I don't have to be super strict, just watch my intake of certain foods. So that's may be hard for me...Especially since we're going on a cruise in a week! What!? Diet on a cruise? I think not, but I'll try my best! Next he gave me a ton of pills to take (See photo below). I gotta get one of those little plastic pill distributor things so I don't get confused on what to take and when. Luckily it's all mapped out and easy to follow. 

11 bottles and 1 pack (plus my thyroid meds I already do daily)! Yikes! 

I feel like an old person...hahaha!

So after I'm on this for a couple weeks we'll set up to meet with him and then when the time comes, do artificial insemination. I'll have to go on fertility meds...Heaven help Dustin when that happens. haha. poor guy. I'm going to try my hardest to be nice, but I'm really afraid it will be out of my control. Anyways, so We'll try artificial insemination a couple times and if it doesn't take then we'll remove the fibroid and start again. Ugh. So we hope for one time, but we'll settle if it takes 2! And if it does take, we must hope and pray only ONE does. We all know if I end up with twins or more I'd go crazy. hahaha. 

Of course insurance covers nothing. Well I sort of lie, in my book it says they cover "diagnosis" so I'm thinking, ok so tests, anything done to figure out what's wrong, right? Then when I actually do the treatment they'll pay for nothing. I was fine with that. No big deal. Well, at my first Dr. appointment I find out that they're version of  "diagnosis" is acceptance that you need to see a Dr. They let me do my $15 co-pay on my first appointment. That's it. Everything else will be out of pocket. 

So what has all this set us back? So far the total isn't aweful, well kinda...I mean it's a big chunk of money, but it's no in-vitro or anything crazy...yet. Here we go...

$200.00 - Semen Analysis 

$200.00 - 1st Dr Appointment (including one test)

$1,178.38 - 1st set of blood work

$444.08 - 2nd set of blood work

$412.00 - Most recent Dr. appointment plus a few bottles of pills

$80.00 - some more pills

$40.00 - some more pills.

Not yet billed for:

HSG - It's going to be at least $500+...I'm afraid maybe more (still hoping Insurances pays it)

3rd set of blood work - Don't have a clue...I'm guessing around the $200-300 range in comparison to my other 2

Artificial Insemination- I think around $400-500 a pop

And hopefully NOT SURGERY :)

Yes, it adds up to be a healthy chunk of money, but hopefully it doesn't get too much further out of control. I didn't know that you can tell a lab that you're going to pay the bill and that will save you money in the end. I thought it was all the same so I thought I'd let them bill my insurance in hopes they'd cover something, now I know I'm best just to cover it myself.

One thing I do know is once this stubborn kid gets here he's/she's not going to get any birthday/Christmas presents for at least the first 10 years...it's all been spent on trying to conceive. (that is open to change depending on how the bills keep rolling in :P) So you guys all will have to be nice and buy presents! hahaha. 

I make jokes cause I must find humor in most things. It's the only way to live!! :) Although I would be lying if I said it hasn't been hard. Every time I see a teenage girl knocked up, or think of people having abortions or see a child who is killed/abused by their parents or whose family doesn't even care about them...heck even that family on TLC with 50 million kids I do get a bit upset and can't help but feel a little cheated. Either way, I have faith (and I'm TRYING to have patience) that it will happen with time...