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Monday, November 3
I haven't updated in some time. Caleb is now sitting up and crawling. He will be 8 months old a week from today. He has already
been in his first car accident. He wasn't hurt, though. Caleb has said a few words. He says Mama alot, especially when he's not happy.
He says Dada, and he tries to say kitty cat, although it sounds more like Kika. Caleb is a healthy happy boy who is slightly spoiled.
He loves to stand, and will probably be trying to walk soon. He still has no teeth, though. We have some new pictures up on his
Photo Page.
Tuesday, July 22
Caleb had his four month old checkup last week. He is now over 18 lbs. and he is 26 inches tall. Caleb got four shots, and
the doctor said he is developing normally. The doctor said he is ready to start solid food, so we bought him some rice cereal. He
likes it. Caleb is playing and laughing and squealing. He has the most beautiful laugh you've ever heard. Caleb isn't crawling yet,
but I bet it won't be long. He's going to try some oatmeal today. We'll see if he likes that too. His next appointment isn't until
September. I guess he will get some more shots then. Caleb hates shots. They are not fun.
Monday, May 12
Caleb's two month checkup and shots were this morning. He got five vaccinations, three shots since one of them was a three-
in-one vaccination. Caleb is now 14 pounds, 4 ounces in weight. He is 23-1/2 inches long. He will soon be unable to sleep in his
beloved bassinet. It has a weight limit of 15 pounds. Caleb was determined to be in good health other than a touch of rash on his
face which we are told will be cleared up in a few days if we apply cream to it twice daily. The doctor was out of the office, so
Caleb saw a nurse practitioner today. She had to break loose an adhesion at the site of his circumcision which caused a bit of
bleeding and tore up Mommy's heart. He will be okay, though. We just have to put antibiotic ointment on it three times a day for
three days and make sure when he gets his bath that it isn't trying to reattach. Unless he gets sick, Caleb won't have to return
to the doctor until July.
Tuesday, March 25
We took Caleb to his pediatrician for a well baby checkup this morning. We felt that he had grown some, but were surprised to
learn that little Caleb has gained almost a pound in two weeks. He now weighs 8 lbs. 2 oz. Caleb measured 21 inches long, so he has
grown an inch. Dr. Bello said his physical exam was completely normal. Caleb is a bit ahead of his age in physical strength. He can
lift his head a bit and roll over to his side quite easily. His next scheduled visit isn't until he's 2 months old. Dr. Bello was
very helpful and informative. I think Betty made the best choice when she chose Dr. Bello for Caleb's pediatrician.
Thursday, March 13
Caleb Zachary Turner was born at 7:05 pm Tuesday March 11, 2003 by Cesarean. Caleb weighed in at 7 lbs., 3.8 oz. He was 20 inches
long at birth. He is precious and truly our little miracle.
We checked into the hospital at 3pm on Tuesday to prepare for Betty's C Section. She was given an IV and shaved for surgery.
I was given sterile scrubs to wear into the operating room. They took Betty in first and got her ready for surgery while I
waited in the hall. When I was allowed in Betty was
draped and prepped for the surgery. I watched as Dr. Libson pinched Betty's tummy 3 times with forceps. Then he tickled her and
asked if she could feel it. She said no, and he said, "Good, because I already pinched you real hard." I watched Dr. Libson make the
incision. When he finished that the anesthesiologist told Betty to get ready because Dr. Libson was about to cut her. Then he smiled
and said, "woops, I was wrong; he already did it."
When Dr. Libson brought out Caleb's little head, Betty asked him, "Well, is it
a boy or a girl?" The doctor replied, "I don't know yet; you can't tell from the ears." Then he said that the cord was around Caleb's
neck 3 times. The doctor said that it was good that we did a Casarean just for that reason. Of course, when he got him all the way
out, the doctor announced, "It's a boy!" Tears filled my eyes as I saw that little
blueish boy come out into the world. I followed Caleb into the nursery while the doctors and nursed finished up with Betty. We
all stood and watched the nurse give little Caleb his first bath. Soon little Caleb was
in mommy's arms. We feel especially blessed to have this little one in our lives.
Monday, March 10
Tomorrow's the big day. Betty went to the hospital today for some blood tests. We have to be there at about three tomorrow afternoon
to check her in. Things are really happening quickly now. By popular demand, we decided to post some pictures of baby's room with
furniture. This picture is of the baby's crib and dresser.
This one is the baby's closet. And here is Betty standing by the closet. Say a
prayer for tomorrow, please. We will know soon whether we have a boy or a girl.
Friday, March 7
Betty had an appointment with Dr. Libson this morning. The doctor estimates the baby's weight at now 7.25 lbs. He feels that
the baby will be too large for Betty to deliver successfully given her four foot nine inch height. For that reason we are now
scheduled for a C Section rather than induction. Betty will check in at the hospital about 3 pm Tuesday, and the surgery will
take place around 7 pm. Dr. Libson said we could still try induction, but there is a high probability that Betty would still need
a section after a long and unproductive labor, so we agreed to the C section. Betty and her mom worked on the baby's room this
afternoon, and it looks great. They organized everything into the drawers and the closet. Everything looks super. All we need to do
now is to hang a few pieces of artwork on the walls if I can remember to buy some hangers. Keep saying prayers for our little one, please.
Monday, March 3
Baby Biz called Saturday to say the crib was in. We picked it up this morning. It is now assembled and in place. We also
picked up the chest/changer combination that matches the crib. It's starting to really look like a nursery now.
Betty had a shower Saturday, and 30 women attended. She said it was lots of fun, and she brought home tons of clothes,
a play gym, blankets, socks, play yard, swing, and other goodies. About the only thing left to buy is a Diaper Genie, a crib
mattress, and a nursery monitor. I think we have too many clothes, but I guess there's no such thing as too many. Woohoo....eight
days to go. Keep those prayers coming our way.
Friday, February 28
Today's appointment with Dr. Libson went well. He estimates the baby's weight as 6.25 lbs. We are still scheduled for
induction on March 11. I changed our countdown to reflect the estimated birth date of March 12. Betty's feet swell tremendously now,
but her blood pressure is fine. We told the doctor that her feet swell when she rests and go down when she is on her feet. He
said she is "weird" because that's not normal. Dr. Libson is going to use cytotec to begin ripening the cervix. We asked about
cytotec because of the bad publicity it has received. He assures us that it is the best drug available for the purpose, and he has
been using it successfully for several years. He said the hospital's neonatal specialist developed a protocol for cytotec use that
is as safe or safer than other drugs that could be used and much more successful, so we feel better now. If you read everything on
the internet about cytotec it can be pretty scary, and we were a bit worried about that. Next visit is 1 week from today on March 7.
I called Baby Biz yesterday. They assured me that our crib will arrive tomorrow, probably in the afternoon. All I can say is
it's about time. I guess we will see if they are true to their word this time. We've been told this before, so I'm not counting on
it. Ultimatum time is fast approaching, though, when I will have to demand a refund if it hasn't arrived. The four to six weeks we
were told has now stretched to nine, and time is growing short.
Monday, February 24
A funny thing happened last Tuesday. The hospital called about 7pm and wanted to know why Betty wasn't there for her induction.
Dr. Libson had called and scheduled it for Tuesday March 11. All they had apparently written was Tuesday. Everything is going well.
Our baby furniture has still not arrived. Baby Biz says it will be here this week. Let's hope so. I was waiting for the furniture,
but I guess I may as well show you a couple of pictures of the baby's room now. This picture
is of the baby's room and the glider in one corner. That glider is the only piece of furniture right now. This one
is a closeup of just the border. Our next appointment with Dr. Libson is Friday. It seems that the baby has dropped some more, and we
are looking forward to the next appointment except for that unpleasant Strep B test. Keep saying prayers for our little one.
Friday, February 14
We just came from Betty's appointment with Dr. Libson. The baby's head is down and it has dropped 2 cm. Dr. Libson estimates
that the little one is currently about 5 pounds, and he is concerned about the possibility of an 8 or 9 pound baby. Given Betty's
size, he has tentatively scheduled her for induction on the evening of March 11. Betty will be at 38 weeks then and considered
full term. I guess that means our little miracle will be born on the twelfth. We have another appointment in two weeks for a
checkup and strep B test. Things are happening fast. I'm starting to feel a bit nervous, but I suppose that is normal. Looks like
this little one will be here in three and a half weeks or so. We still don't have the crib, although the store said it will be here
any day now. I hope so. The room is painted and looks good. All it needs now is some furniture and, of course, a little one.
Friday, January 31
Betty's appointment this morning with Dr. Libson went well. The nurse told us that the baby "sounds like a boy" this time.
Amusingly, it "sounds" different to her each time. The doctor told us that Betty measures a little ahead of average for this time.
He said, "with your height and the size of that belly, don't be surprised if I tell you you need a C Section at around 38 weeks."
I have been working on the baby's room a little. I put up a chair rail on the walls. We have ordered some Noah's Ark border
paper to go above the chair rail. Next weekend I plan to paint the room. Our crib should be arriving any day now, and Betty is
eager to see it arrive. Keep us in your prayers these last few weeks before D-Day.
Monday, January 20
We saw Dr. Libson on Friday for Betty's 30 week appointment. Everything checks out just right. We finally did select a crib
and changing table / chest combination. The crib is called the Roma by Baby's Dream Furniture. We have a
picture if you want to see it. We had some paint mixed to match our crib bedding at Home
Depot also. Now I have to find a weekend that I can take off to paint while Betty goes to stay with her parents. We
still have a while, but time flies. Next doctor's appointment is January 31. I will try to keep this page updated better. Maybe
after the room is painted I can post a picture of it.
Friday, January 3
Betty's 28 week appointment was this morning. She had a one hour glucose tolerance test which she passed with flying colors.
No need for the 3 hour test. She also had blood drawn for a maternal profile, and, of course, the doctor measured her and listened
to the baby's heartbeat. We will be going in for prenatal visits every two weeks now. We still don't know if we're having a boy or a
girl, and it doesn't really matter to either of us. We just want a healthy little one. I think Betty's Dad will be disappointed if
it's not a girl, but he will be okay either way. Betty has to return to the doctor's office on Monday for a rhogam shot since she is
negative and I am positive.
We have been shopping for baby things. Betty is finding baby clothes irresistable. I think she has more than enough clothing
for the baby's first 3 months already. We went looking for a crib and changing table on the first. We discovered that many changing
tables are too tall for Betty since she is quite short. We would prefer a combination chest/changer since it would be useful for
several years after the baby is out of diapers, but those tend to be taller than regular changing tables. Betty found a crib and
chest/changer on Amazon that she loves, but shipping will add over $200 to the cost, so I would prefer to find something locally.
We have one more place to visit that was closed on the first, so we plan to look there this afternoon.
I am starting to feel the pressure of time. This baby is coming in less than three months, and we have to get everything
ready. Betty chose a Noah's Ark theme for the nursery bedding. She found some at Target that is very cute and will work for either
a girl or a boy. I want to paint the nursery walls in a matching color, and I thought I would try my hand at recreating the Noah's
Ark design on one wall. I need to get busy, but I will have to paint when Betty isn't home since they recommend that pregnant women
not breathe paint fumes. That will be a challenge since she is only working five or six hours a day now. Oh well, I'm sure it will get
done.
Friday, December 13
Last night we celebrated Betty's 30th birthday. It was also my Dad's 72nd birthday, so we went out to a local Italian
restaurant called Venezia to celebrate the dual birthdays. Venezia is very well regarded for its cuisine, but personally I prefer
Olive Garden's food. The atmosphere is very elegant, though, at Venezia making it perfect for a celebration. Betty received a few
baby outfits as her gift from my Dad & Yvonne. Little one now has his or her first clothes. Betty was thrilled to get baby things
instead of something for herself.
Tuesday, December 10
Betty's 25 week appointment was today. Everything looks good. Dr. Libson says she measures 24cm which is about right for 25
weeks. In 3 weeks Betty will have a 1 hour glucose challenge test. She will also have blood drawn for a 28 week profile and antibody
screen for rH factor antibodies. Everything looks great. Today the nurse said the baby "sounds like a boy." That's funny because the
last couple of times she said it "sounds" like a girl. We forgot again to ask about an ultrasound. I guess we won't ever find out
what we're having. When some one asks, I just say "it's human." This morning Betty said she had a nightmare. She woke up sweating
and thinking, "It's only 3 months away, and we haven't bought anything for the baby yet!" I guess we need to get busy.
I have to mention that last night I put my hand on Betty's belly and felt the little one kicking. A couple of times junior
kicked really hard. That is so cool. Well, we are caught up in Christmas shopping right now...almost finished, though. December is
a very expensive month around here. Our anniversary is the 4th. Betty's birthday the 12th. My Dad's birthday is the 12th also. My
Mom's birthday is the 24th, and then there's Christmas. Whew! Well, anyway, keep those prayers coming our way. They are appreciated.
Tuesday, November 12
Today we had our 21 week appointment with Dr. Libson. Everything looks perfect, he said. We listened to baby's heartbeat
on the doppler, and Dr. Libson measured Betty's uterus, saying it measured perfect for 21 weeks. Things are moving along nicely.
Betty is feeling Baby's movements regularly now. She doesn't feel them constantly, but certainly every day. Dr. Libson didn't mention
another ultrasound, and both of us forgot to ask. I guess we will have to wait another four weeks at least. We would like to know
the sex of our baby, but Dr. Libson has told us that he doesn't recommend ultrasounds unless they are medically necessary since
the long term effects on the baby are not known. Perhaps we will talk him into it a bit later.
Thursday, October 24
Last night Betty felt her first real "kick" of movement from baby. She was startled and frightened at first until she realized what had
happened. Since I had today off, I picked her up and took her to lunch. As we were walking to the car from the restaurant, Betty
received another fierce kick which again startled her. During our last visit, Dr. Libson told us that Betty would start feeling baby's
movements soon. He certainly got that right. Since the doctor's warning about overusing the doppler, we have tried to limit its
use to no more than every other day and no more than a few seconds at a time. Betty sometimes needs the reassurance of hearing that
little galloping heartbeat, though, so we're not always successful at limiting it. The baby is now 18 weeks and 1 day. Wow...almost
half way. I'm sure that these little kicks will increase in frequency and intensity as the little one gets bigger and bigger. I can't
wait until I can feel baby move by putting my hand on Betty's belly. I know that is still a while off, though.
Tuesday, October 15
Betty's regular monthly prenatal appointment was today. The nurse listened to baby's heart rate, and the doctor measured Betty's
uterus. He said everything looks great. They took some blood for routine tests that had already been done by Dr. Dorsett. Dr. Libson's
office has been unable to obtain Betty's records from Dr. Dorsett despite repeated requests, so we had to have the tests again. Dr.
Libson told us that the AFP Quad Screen results showed everything normal. That, obviously is good news. I asked Dr. Libson about using
the baby beat home doppler. He said there are no known ill effects, but he advised using it infrequently because nobody really knows
the long term effects of sustained ultrasound exposure. Since no long term studies have been done, Dr. Libson recommends caution. This
seems reasonable to me. Dr. Libson also said that the use of the doppler causes heating in the fetal heart. Therefore, it is probably
a good idea to minimize exposure.
Saturday, October 12
It works! I got home from work a bit after midnight. Betty had waited for me to try out the baby beat. It works like a charm.
We found the baby's heartbeat almost immediately. I timed the heartrate at 140bpm. I would recommend baby beat to anyone who is
interested in listening to their unborn baby's heartbeat at home rather than just in the doctor's office once a month. You can visit
their website for more information.
Friday, October 11
Airborne Express just delivered the baby beat Betty ordered. Baby beat is a professional quality doppler like the one used in
many OB offices. Supposedly we can use it to listen to baby's heartbeat without any ill effects. Betty decided to rent one when
a friend told her about using it during her pregnancy to reassure herself. We will try it out tonight since Betty is at work now and I
have to work the closing shift tonight. Here's hoping it works.
Thursday, October 10
Betty has been suffering for a few days with anxiety. She said she thinks something is wrong because it doesn't feel the same,
and it is still too early to really feel the baby move. We spent a couple of restless nights. I couldn't talk her into calling the
doctor, though. I felt that everything was okay, but that a visit to the doctor would reassure her. Well, yesterday she was
scheduled to have blood drawn for the AFP Quad Screen, so I told her to ask the nurse to use the doppler to listen for baby's
heartbeat.
I surprised Betty by meeting her at the doctor's office at two yesterday afternoon. As soon as we walked in one of the nurses said,
"You want to listen, don't you?" It seemed as though she had read our minds. We were soon listening to our baby's healthy heartbeat.
Very reassuring. Betty got her blood drawn, and we both went back to work feeling much better. Our next prenatal visit is next
Tuesday. The results from the AFP may be ready by then. Barbara (Dr. Libson's chief nurse) told us it takes about a week for the
results. I am sure we both said prayers of thanks on our way back to work. I know I did.
As an aside, I have to say that Betty is getting quite large already. She seems bigger than normal for 16 weeks. I guess this is
due to her height. Because of the Turner's syndrome she is only 4 foot nine. It is so exciting....soon she will be big as a house.
We are both looking forward to that. Sounds crazy, I guess, but it has taken us so long to get here with so many disappointments
along the way that we can't help it.
Tuesday, September 15
Today was our first official visit with Dr. Libson for prenatal care. We both smiled as we listened to the little drumbeat
rhythm of our baby's heartbeat on the doppler. The doctor performed an examination and said everything looks perfect for 13 weeks.
He scheduled us for the next visit in four weeks and for an AFP test on October 2. The nurse gave Betty a handful of free
pregnancy magazines that they get every month, so we have some reading to do.
Tuesday, September 3
We had our final visit with Dr. Dorsett today. We watched our little one on the ultrasound move around and kick his or her
little legs and wave his or her little arms around. At one point it appeared that she or he was waving to us. Very cool. We both had
tears in our eyes as we watched our little miracle there on the screen. Dr. Dorsett said that our little miracle measures exactly 11
weeks. It is eleven weeks today since conception. Betty has a feeling that this little one is a girl. Dr. Dorsett said that although
it's way too early to be certain she has the same feeling because of the relatively fast heart rate of 172. Girls, she says, generally
have a higher heart rate than boys. Everything looks perfect according to the doctor. We will now see Betty's local OB, Dr. David
Libson. We are very excited and are looking forward to holding our little one in our arms. If she is a girl she will be Alexandra
Grace. A boy will be Caleb Zachary. We both gave Dr. Dorsett a big hug and thanked her for her help and expertise. If any one is
considering IVF in the western part of Texas we heartily recommend Dr. Dorsett and her staff.
Of course, our biggest thanks go to the Lord. We are so grateful for this opportunity and for His gift to us of this
little one. We have faith that everything is going to go smoothly, and we are looking forward to a smooth delivery and a healthy
little one.
Friday, August 9
We drove to Lubbock this morning for our ultrasound. We now know for certain that there is only one baby. This is probably
good news since Betty is very petite. The nurses seemed relieved that there is only one. The baby measures 7 weeks 3 days, and is
actually 7 weeks 2 days, so everything is perfect in that regard. The baby's heartbeat was visible on the ultrasound as it should be
at this point. Heart rate of 146 was termed "perfect" by the nurse. We were given a few still pictures and a videotape of the
ultrasound. Very cool. Well, our next appointment isn't until September 3. That will be our final appointment with Dr. Dorsett. Then we will
go to Betty's local OB here in Odessa. Thanks for everyone's prayers, and most of all thanks to God for this miracle He has given us.
Thursday, August 8
Tomorrow we will drive to Lubbock for the big ultrasound. Are we pregnant with one or two babies? We both feel like its twins,
but tomorrow we should know for sure. Betty is feeling a bit apprehensive about tomorrow. That is inevitable with what we've been through in
the past, I suppose. I feel confident, though, that we will receive good news. We are seven weeks into our adventure now. Say a
prayer for good news tomorrow.
Monday, July 29
Betty has been experiencing intermittent morning sickness for a few days now. Today, however, has proven to be the worst
day yet. She has been nauseated and "pukey" all day. Of course, if she were not pregnant she couldn't experience the joys of morning
sickness, so there is a bright side to all this. Every time she comes back from bending over the toilet Betty has a smile on her
face. This may seem odd, but it is her way of saying how happy she is. She is hungry all the time, but when she looks at food she gets
nauseous. She is hungry now as we type this together...well, I type and she coaches. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we progress
through the wonderland that is pregnancy.
Friday, July 19
We are off to Lubbock in an hour or so for our pregnancy test. Betty is still feeling alternately pregnant and not. She is
extremely nervous about this appointment. I really believe she is pregnant. Last night she became nauseous and threw up for no
apparent reason. She is often hungry, but when she eats a little the food sometimes makes her nauseous. Sounds pregnant to me. At
any rate, we will return home this afternoon knowing the truth. Check back for more later.
Betty had her blood drawn at 9 am this morning. The nurse told us to call back in an hour and a half for the results. Since
the drive home is two and a half hours we elected to go to the mall and kill the time. As the time neared we became increasingly
nervous. Betty decided she wanted to make the call and hear the "bad news" for herself. The bad news turned out to be very good. A
positive beta HCG of 334. This, according to the nurse, is usually indicative of twins. She said anything over 300 usually indicates
more than one baby. We are obviously ecstatic. We won't know for certain until August 9 when we have our 7 week ultrasound, but
chances are good that we have twins. As pregnancy is measured, we are now 4 weeks pregnant. The next several weeks will no doubt be
both exciting and frightening. I once heard pregnancy described as "nine months of sheer terror." This is especially true in light of
the problems we have had in the past. These babies, though, have no chance of inheriting Betty's genetic trouble since they are from
donor eggs. Keep praying for us as we go through the maze of pregnancy. Thank you, God for this gift (or gifts).
Friday, July 12
We returned home this morning after our 3 night stay in Lubbock. Betty is feeling alternately elated and frightened. One minute she
KNOWS she is pregnant; the next she is uncertain. I believe the next week will be a difficult time for her. We return one week from
today for the pregnancy test. I will have an easier time than she will as I will return to work starting tomorrow. I have to begin preparation
for inventory which is the 24th. This will be a busy time at work and will not allow me much time for worrying about the results.
I have faith, though, that we will receive good news. Please continue to pray for us. Betty is experiencing breast tenderness and a slight darkening
of the areolae (she may kill me for posting this). This is said to be one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy, so I think that is
a good sign.
Tuesday, July 9
This afternoon we had our embryo transfer at 1:30 pm. We had 2 really good blastocysts to transfer. One of them is beginning
to hatch. That means that it is ready to implant itself in the endometrium. The other is about a day behind. Unfortunately, we will
probably not have any to freeze. There is one still alive, but it is not growing. The embryologist said that it would probably not
survive. We ask for your prayers for our little embryos. The 10 days until the pregnancy test will undoubtedly be difficult.
Monday, July 8
This morning Betty received a call from the embryologist. He said we had one embryo that had reached blastocyst stage and 2 that
would be there by tomorrow. Three others were a bit smaller, but still viable. Our transfer is scheduled for 1pm tomorrow. Everything
is looking good at this point. The clinic will only transfer 2 embryos. If everything goes well the others will be frozen for possible
later use. We are praying for a successful pregnancy. We also appreciate your prayers on our behalf.
Sunday, July 7
I have not written an entry in a couple of days. On Friday the embryologist called to tell us that eight embryos had successfully
divided. Six were still at the two cell stage. Those six were not necessarily lost, but they were definitely of lower quality, he
said. We both found this frightening. The embryologist assured us that it is considered quite normal.
Yesterday morning he called again. We still have eight and six. The eight, though, were still at the four cell stage and had
not divided further. He said this is not unusual with ICSI since the eggs may need time to recover from the injection. Often ICSI'd
embryos divide less rapidly than otherwise. He said that although they will probably not all survive he is confident that we will
have enough to transfer and possibly some to freeze as well. This waiting is extremely stressful. We had imagined that the time
between transfer and the pregnancy test would be the most trying time; now I'm not so sure. The embryologist will call again this
afternoon to keep us up to date. Pray for good news, please.
The embryologist called about one this afternoon. We now have six 8-12 cell embryos. He said four of them look really good
and the other two are questionable as to whether they will survive. I guess as long as at least two survive we will be okay, but
more would be better so we can have some to freeze for another try later on.
Thursday, July 4
The embryologist called this morning to tell us that fourteen eggs had been successfully fertilized. It is too early to tell
anything about quality since they are only at the two cell stage. He will call again tomorrow with more news. Betty now has a very sore
behind thanks to the progesterone injections. It will all be worth it, though. Keep those prayers coming our way.
Wednesday, July 3
I just finished giving Betty her first progesterone in oil injection with that monster needle. I was extremely nervous as I used
the HUGE 18 gauge needle to draw the thick liquid into the syringe. I became more nervous as I changed to the smaller 22 gauge needle
for the actual injection. That puppy is an inch and a half long, but it appears to me to be about a mile and a half. My hand began to
tremble as I located the injection site the way the nurse showed me. I was quite frightened as I poised the needle ready for the
injection. I said a quick prayer as I pinched the skin as I had been shown and shoved the needle home. Injecting the oil is a slow
process because of its thickness, but it was not nearly as bad as Betty and I had imagined. She says she hardly felt it at all. I
feel much better now. Funny how something we are nervous about is almost never as bad as we think it will be.
Today is retrieval day. We arrived back home about three from Lubbock. The clinic told us to call at 4:30 and they would tell
us how everything went. The news is good. They retrieved 25 eggs from our donor. They said they gave her our gift, but she was still
sleepy from the anesthesia so they couldn't tell us how she felt about it. They will perform ICSI this evening fertilizing each egg
by injecting a single sperm into it. Tomorrow we will be called by the embryologist and informed of their progress. Join us in praying
for a positive outcome.
Tuesday, July 2
Our appointment this morning went well. We were told that our donor is doing very well. The nurse said it looks like they will
be retrieving at least 20 eggs. The nurse told us that the donor looks a lot like Betty. We aren't allowed to meet her or even to see
her since everything is anonymous. Betty's uterine lining was measured at 8.1mm. They like to see 10mm, so we were told that Betty will
probably need to use additional estrogen patches for the next few days. The retrieval is definitely tomorrow afternoon. We have to be
back at noon tomorrow for my part. This is getting exciting. When we returned home we went to James Avery and bought a charm bracelet and
a little Thank You charm as a gift for our donor. We were told by the nurse that their donors are not usually given gifts by the
recipients, but that we could do so if we wanted. It seems like the right thing to do after all she is going through for us. She is
giving us a gift beyond price. Our gift to her is not expensive, but at least it shows our gratitude.
The clinic called this evening and instructed Betty to use 4 estrogen patches today, 4 on the fourth, and four on the sixth. She
is also to take a baby aspirin every day between now and the transfer date to help build up her uterine lining. Most doctors consider
anything over 8mm to be sufficient, but Dr. Dorsett likes to see at least 10mm. The extra patches and aspirin should be enough to get
it there. Well, tomorrow I have to make my contribution to the process. It's a tough job, but . . . well . . . you know the rest.
Monday, July 1
Tomorrow is our next appointment with Dr. Dorsett. Betty will have an ultrasound to confirm that her uterine lining is getting
thick to enable the little one to implant itself. We will drive up to Lubbock early in the morning for our 9 am appointment. The following
day is the estimated retrieval date when the eggs will be removed from the donor and fertilized in culture. Then six days later, we
will return to the clinic for the transfer. We are planning on spending a couple of days in Lubbock then to make sure we don't endanger
anything by traveling. This is getting exciting. The moment of truth approaches rapidly. We can't help being a little scared, but this
is what we've been working towards. I pray the Lord will bless us with a positive pregnancy test on the 19th and a little one (or two).
Monday, June 24
Betty brought home one of the syringes that I will have to use to inject her with progesterone. I have to say that it is a
frightening looking thing. I have never had any qualms about sticking her with the little insulin needles we use for the Lupron, but
this, in comparison, is a monster. I'm sure I will be able to do what is needed, but the size of that needle is daunting. I guess,
though, that if she can take it, I should be able to give it.
Sunday, June 23
Since beginning the estrogen patches we have both noticed that Betty's mood has become more positive. I guess hormones really do affect you
mentally as well as physically. She is hobbling around now with a sprained ankle, though. Oh well, we are looking forward to our next
appointment on July 2 when the doctor will check the lining of Betty's uterus to make sure it is getting thick and ready to support
implantation of the embryos. We are excited just thinking about the next few weeks. I think that the period between the transfer and
the pregnancy test will be very difficult days, though. We have been told that for 2 or 3 days after the transfer Betty should basically
do nothing, so she has already started buying books to help her pass the time. I guess we will spend a couple of days in Lubbock
after the transfer just to be sure she doesn't overdo it.
Wednesday, June 19
Today's call resulted in more good news. Our donor's blood levels were good. Betty was instructed to begin estrogen patches.
She placed one patch today. That one will stay on for 2 days and then be replaced. Our next appointment is July 2 which is the day before
the estimated retrieval date. I will have to be there on the third as well to do my part. Keep those prayers coming our way.
Tuesday, June 18
We had an appointment this morning at nine with Dr. Dorsett. They took some blood from Betty for baseline estrogen and
progesterone levels. Betty was given an ultrasound to make sure that she was not producing any cysts. There are none. They told us
to go home and they would call us back this afternoon with our test results and those of our donor who comes in later this afternoon
for the same tests.
We were getting antsy for that phone call around 4:45, knowing that they close the office at five. We called and were told that
the nurse was in the process of doing call backs. We should hear from her soon. In about five minutes the phone rang. It was the nurse.
Betty's estrogen and progesterone levels are fine. The donor's test results are not in yet because of her late afternoon appointment.
Betty has to call back tomorrow at 10 am to find out if it is time to start the estrogen patches. We will reduce the amount of Lupron
we inject tomorrow from 0.2ml to 0.1ml. Betty is looking forward to the estrogen since the lupron is causing some side effects such
as headache and irritability. We are excited and at the same time a bit apprehensive. Here's praying for good news in the morning.
Thanks for your continuing thoughts and prayers.
Sunday, June 9
This morning I gave Betty her first injection of lupron. She was not looking forward to it, but afterwards said that it was
virtually painless; just a tiny sting. I guess that means I did it correctly. That is the first injection I have ever given, though
over the years I have received innumerable ones. I think that I realized through years of observation how to give them properly. This
Wednesday, according to our calendar, Betty will take her last birth control pill. So will the donor. During our visit to the clinic
we were given a number of consent forms to read and return signed at our next visit. One concerns the disposition of any extra
embryos. The choices include freezing them for possible later use, donating them to another couple, or simply letting them die in
culture. We have chosen to freeze them for use at a later time if the first attempt should prove unsuccessful or if we decide that we
want another child later. Should we decide after the birth of a child that we will not use them they could still be donated to
another couple. I pray that God will help us to make the correct decisions throughout this process. I cannot see simply letting the
embryos die as a viable alternative.
Thursday, June 6
We just returned home from our appointment with Dr. Dorsett. The drive up is two and a half hours. About two hours in the
clinic and another two and a half hours back home. Throw in another hour or so for dinner, and we returned home quite tired. The
visit went well. The doctor did what is known as a uterine sounding. This is a kind of dry run for the embryo transfer. The insertion
of the catheter turned out to be fairly unpleasant. It caused cramps in the cervix for several minutes. The doctor told us that this
is not unusual. Betty's uterus measures at the small end of normal. The doctor recommended only one embryo be transferred, but she
said that we could use two if we wanted. I asked her about the differrence in success rates for one as compared to two. She says that
her success rate with two is seventy percent, and the success rate with a single embryo is fifty percent. The difference being rather
significant, we both chose to go with two. Dr. Dorsett said she will transfer two if Betty agrees to have a cerclage if she becomes
pregnant with twins. We readily agreed to that. A cerclage is a stitch in the cervix to help keep it closed during pregnancy. Keep us in
your prayers, please. We will begin injections of lupron on Sunday.
Wednesday, June 5
Tomorrow's appointment has us a bit worked up. I will be learning how to give Betty her injections. I keep joking with her
that I will really enjoy that part of the IVF process. We will post more details after we return home. Betty is just about 100% convinced that
she will have twins. Strangely, she is usually correct when she has these kind of insights. I have learned over the past few years
that she is correct more often than not. I guess we will see.
Thursday, May 23
Dr. Dorsett's office faxed Betty our new schedule today. Betty will stop taking birth control pills Monday and restart on June 2.
The donor will follow the same schedule. We have an appointment on June 6 for an ultrasound and some other tests. We will begin Lupron
injections on June 9. Betty will stop taking birth control on June 15, and so will the donor. On June 18 we are scheduled for another appointment,
and on June 19 Betty will begin using estrogen patches. Expected date of retrieval is July 3 with transfer to take place approximately
six days later. We will begin progesterone injections (the painful ones) on July 3 as well. The emotional rollercoaster is on the upswing again.
Prayers are, of course, appreciated.
Another disappointing bit of news was received yesterday. Dr. Dorsett's office called to reschedule today's appointment. We will
now be going on June 6. This is a bit like riding an emotional rollercoaster. I still believe that we will be succesfull. I have
been accused of incurable optimism, though - usually by Betty. Please continue to pray for us.
Tuesday, May 21
We received a bit of disappointing news today. Our cycle will be delayed because our donor has developed ovarian cysts. Continuing
with treatment this month could endanger her health. We will still be going for our appointment on Thursday. I believe we will learn
more at that time. Betty is struggling with her disappointment. I am trying to see the bright side. This is only a delay, not a
cancellation. Stay tuned for more details, and please continue to pray for us.
Saturday, May 18
This afternoon we had our psychological evaluation. The psychologist asked us some questions about how we felt regarding
receiving donor eggs. She also told us more information about our donor and her evaluation. Dr. Frost told us that our donor seems
to be very stable and happy. She is intelligent and independent. She gave her a high recommendation. Another good sign for this
process. She will be sending a report on both us and the donor to Dr. Dorsett. Dr. Frost revealed some additional points about the
donor's medical history that we did not know. It seems that the donor and one of her uncles have a condition in which two of their
permanent teeth never grew in. Dr. Frost says that this may be a genetic condition, but obviously it is not a huge concern regarding
the health of a child. We are looking forward with eagerness and with a certain amount of nervousness to beginning the process.
Friday, May 17
Yesterday Betty told me that if we have a boy she wants to name him Caleb after the Biblical Caleb. This came as a big
surprise to me. When I was in my late teens I heard a sermon concerning Joshua and Caleb and their faithfulness. I decided then that
if I ever had two sons I would name them Joshua and Caleb. Of course, that was many years ago, and I had since forgotten about it.
Betty's mention of it brought all those memories back. I had never told her about that experience. It seems the Lord works in
mysterious ways indeed.
Wednesday, May 15
This morning we talked with Dr. Dorsett's office again. We have an appointment for May 23 for a uterine sounding. This is where they
measure Betty's uterus to determine where to insert the embryos when the transfer is done. We were told that Betty will begin Lupron
injections on May 26. I am looking forward to giving her shots. During this appointment we will receive a calendar telling us what to
do on each day of the cycle. The nurse went through several of the highlighted dates. The only one I remember for certain is the date
of the pregnancy test. July 5 we will know whether Betty is pregnant. This is exciting and frightening at the same time. Say a prayer
for our success.
Thursday May 9
This morning I went to the bank to take some money out of savings and transfer it to our checking account. This procedure is going to
be very expensive, and we will need to send a check to the doctor soon to begin the treatment. Our insurance does not cover fertility
treatments; we will have to pay every cent out of pocket. Total estimated cost is a bit over $17,000. When I returned home, Betty told me she
had started her period, so she called the clinic to let them know. One of the things they have to do is get Betty's cycle and the donor's cycle in
sync. It seems that that has already happened naturally. It's like God is looking out for us. We are waiting now for more information
and for our treatment calendar. We are anxious to begin.
We received a call this afternoon from the nurse. She told us that both Betty and our donor will begin taking birth control pills this
Sunday. They will take them for 28 days. The donor has already had her psychological evaluation. We will be receiving a call from the
psychologist soon. The nurse said she would call us back either tomorrow or Monday with further instructions. Here we go.
Wednesday May 8
We debated whether to call the clinic again or wait for them to call us. We decided to call. The nurse was free, and said she would
call the donor to see if she was ready to go and then call us right back. Minutes later the phone rang. It was the nurse. The donor
is ready and anxious to begin. She has just started her period. The nurse told us that she will set up a calendar and get back to us.
She also told us that she will call the psychologist to set up our appointment. A psychological screening is mandatory before IVF.
We are very excited about this news, and we are looking forward to the future.
Tuesday May 7
Betty and I have discussed the potential donors, reading each profile repeatedly. One stands out in our minds as the best choice.
She is healthy, intelligent, and has a healthy family. We called the clinic to make our choice. We were told that the nurse would call
back. Waiting is difficult, but we waited all afternoon for the call that never came.
Monday May 6
We spent Sunday night in Lubbock in preparation for our 9:45 am appointment. Slept very little in the too-soft hotel bed. We
reserved a room in the local Residence Inn. They are usually very nice. This one's bed was awful, though. During our first appointment
with Dr. Dorsett we learned that we could use donor eggs since Betty has a genetic problem called Turner's Syndrome which calls into question
the viability of her own eggs. We both got blood tests. Betty was given an ultrasound to measure her uterus. The doctor expressed some concern
about the size since Turner's Syndrome often results in a smaller than normal uterus. Hers proved to be just fine. I had to provide
a semen sample for analysis. We were then given profiles of four donors and told to select one and call back when we've selected one.
Dr. Dorsett informed us that her success rate with donor egg transfers is one of the highest in the country, 70%
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