Checking in with Lulu and Rita...

Got to see some old friends this week. And by "old" I mean...well...old.

There are like 2 new readers so let me get everyone caught up.

I am infertile. Meaning. WE are infertile.

In September 2009, we walked into our baby-makin' doctor (an RE), Dr. K's office for the first time. Two hours later, I had given some blood and had my first date with Wand for an internal look at my ovaries and uterus. It was also the first time I realized for all of Dr. K's fabulousness, the man had not a clue how uncomfortable having a 14 inch stick poking around your insides is. I say he does it like he's stoking a fire.

The nurses are a little more careful.

Anyway during that first meeting, Dr. K said he liked to see at least 10 chocolate chips cooking on the ovaries. Those are actually follicles that may turn into mature eggs which might be released and by the sheer miracle of God, meet a couple of hard-working, determined sperm. So Wand was poking around in there hoping to see 10 follicles.

I had 5.

Awesome. On opposite day.

That means I have Diminished Ovarian Reserve or DOR for short. We infertiles are kinda partial to abbreviations.

DOR basically boils down to I am likely a whole heck of a lot closure to menopause than most 34 year olds. My ovaries look and act more like 40 somethings. Possibly even 50 somethings.

And in the ovarian world, 50 is NOT the new 30.

Overcoming DOR is not an easy task. For me, I had to get cancelled once and then fail during IVF 1.5 to get off my stubborn duff and do something about it.

That something was four months of weekly acupuncture treatments, herbal supplements, an all organic diet and less strenuous exercise.

With a gigantic dose of prayer.

After four months, Dr. K took another look at my ovaries, who I had by now named Lulu (left ovary) and Rita (right ovary). I even created back stories for them. Spending almost a full year trying to have a baby spurs you to either become depressed or get creative.

I opted for creative.

So after those four months, I had 10 chocolate chips.

Double stuffed!

Now, understand, 10 is the LOWEST number he likes to see. Still qualifies for DOR. Which means I still had the joy (and expense) of taking the highest dosage allowed of stim meds.

Stim meds "stimulate" the ovaries and force them to grow more follicles and thus more mature eggs.

Or more plainly, I was getting four shots a day for 8 days.

Miracle of miracles, IVF 2.5 worked and nine months later...Aubrey Kate.

Totally worth every stinkin' shot including all those tiny needles during acupuncture.

Alright, so that brings us up to the present.

Pumpkin is almost 13 months and while we are not all fired up to have another baby right away, thanks to DOR, I don't so much have the option of taking our time. But I wanted to know how much of a rush are we in here. I mean, are we talking need to get on the ball now or can we wait six months or even a year.

So off I go to see Dr. K.

We did some hugging and catching up on Pumpkin and his two kids (thanks to IVF). He asked about Chris and looked at some pictures of the miracle kiddo he played a role in helping create. He told me he doesn't remember every couple but there are some he will never forget. We are of the unforgettable version.

I heart him.

So then came the appointed time to visit Wand.

Dr. K walks in and says, "Does it feel weird to be back in this position?"

"This position" being naked from the waist down, feet in the stirrups.

And I said, "No, not really. Sort of feels normal."

He laughed and said "I bet it does for you."

The stoking of the fire began but I think he's been getting some pointers because it was way better. Way.

He measured Lulu and Rita, counted follicles and took at look at my uterus (which he once referred to as "beautiful". And yes, I loved that compliment.).

We started with Rita first and when I called her by name, he started laughing. He said he'd forgotten I had named them. He said, "You were such a fun couple."

Aren't we though?

Rita had 5 follicles. FIVE. Holy moly.

Then over to Lulu. I reminded him that Lulu is our beauty queen who prefers to let Rita do all the work. He looked at my chart and said, "Ha. You're right. She's a little lazy."

Exactly.

But she must have had some sort of life changing event, like her sugar daddy husband dying, because she had FOUR follicles.

That's NINE total.

Nine. Sans acupuncture, supplements and organic diet.

We still have the AMH (I can't spell that whole word so let's just define it by saying the lower the number, the older Lulu and Rita are) results which should be back in a week or so. But he said based on my measurements and follicle count, I am still in the game.

That really IS awesome.

So we don't have to be in a huge rush. Somehow I am more fertile today than I was 2 1/2 years ago. I suspect that has to do with less stress, a better gluten-free diet and a loving God.

We aren't really anxious to have another newborn anytime soon. We are loving Aubrey Kate at this age. She's a big ole bag of fun. And she portable now. We can order off the kids' menu at restaurants (should we actually go out to eat) and the nap times are more flexible. We are feeling rather normal. And let's face it, a newborn is anything but normal.

So I have to tell you, we are both really thrilled with the news. Like let out some serious sighs and then laughed because we didn't even realize we were holding so much pent up worry over it. We'll take stab at giving Pumpkin a sibling.

But not today!