Update!

Wow, so much has happened since my last entry... there were so many times I thought about posting but time just flew by!  At my last entry we had just went in to visit with Dr. Allon and discuss what happened with our first cycle.  I have to admit I was so frustrated after our visit with him.  I felt he was so postive about everything but maybe he was just painting a pretty picture without being completely honest.  I spoke with numerous people who have gone through the IVF process and we decided to get a second opinon, and I am so glad we did.  Dr. Allon was very pushy for us to try again because he felt the first cycle was just a "bad cycle" and that it would work the second go round.  One main problem is because we did not have any frozen embryos we would have to start everything over again, they were willing to work with us on financials according to Dr. Allon.  A few days after our meeting I received an email that they would start over for half of the original cost.. which is not what I had in mind as far as working with us.  Hind sight is 20/20 and looking back we probably should have gone to another doctor or at least had a second opinon before starting but unfortunatly there is no going back only moving forward...  Dr. Allon had recommended a cleanse for me to do- talk about yuck!  I did it for about 10 days and finally starting thinking to myself, honestly how much is a cleanse going to help us?  People drink, smoke and do drugs all the time and have no problem getting pregnant.. so you're telling me some nasty shake is going to make it work, I don't think so.  We eat healthy, I don't drink, smoke or do drugs.. My "drug" is my diet dr. pepper and those who know me will tell you, just don't take that away, haha!  After we spoke with Lacy and family we decided to try another office to see what their opinion was on what could have gone wrong.  We chose to go with Dr. Laurie McKenzie @ Houston IVF- this was one of the office my ob/gyn had given us a card for also, but they are a bigger office and I was worried about having the one on one care- which mind you we didn't get that at Dr. Allon's anyways.  Houston IVF has one of the highest success rates you will find.. Now reality is just because of that doesn't mean it will work for us or even if we would have tried them first we would have had a different outcome but it sure gives me hope considering their success rate is double Dr. Allon's.  A friend of ours also has her office inside Houston IVF and she could not say enough good things.  Dr. McKenzie is extremely compassionate but above all else honest- which there is not enough money in the world to pay for honesty.  We had our consultation in her office- which I thought was so cool!  I could really tell she had studied our records because she knew just about every question I asked her and had so much good input on things she would change.  Good news is she doesn't see a problem with any of us-- She felt I stimmulated well, Thomas' sperm was good and saw no issues with Lacy.  SHe did however ask if I was miserable early on during the stimmulation medication- which I absolutely was, I told her I couldn't even button my jeans by day 3.  She definitely had some concerns with the protocol that they used to stimualte my ovaries.  Houston IVF never wants the estrogen over 5k before egg retrieval because with high estrogen levels it can damage the quality of the eggs-- well little did we know mine estrogen was 9997 two days BEFORE retrieval leading her to believe that my estrogen was over 10k at retrieval.  SHe also stated they would never transfer on day 4.. if the embryos weren't looking great they would transfer on day 3 but if they're looking good then we would do day 5.  She also felt there could have been an issue in the lab.. Houston IVF's lab is state of the art!  I wish I could turn back time and chose them first but we have to move forward if this is what we're going to do.  SHe said to do away with the cleanse and all the vitamins he had me on- all she has me on is vitamin D and COQ-10.. during stimmulation she also said absolutely no caffiene or ibuprofen.. We have decided to take some time to think things over to make sure this is what we want to endure again.  NO part of this is easy for anyone involved..  We are blessed to have such supportive friends and family and most of all Paul and Lacy.  I ask for all of your prayer warriors to say some extra prayers for a few friends who are on their IVF journies-- One recently received a negative result and will possibly be taking the surrgacy journey and another friend is waiting to do a frozen transfer.  Thank you to each and everyone of you for your prayers and support...  We are blessed to share this journey!