Finally-updated

**UPDATE - Surgery scheduled for March 9!!!!**

I finally had my surgery consult yesterday. I can't imagine having to wait another 4 weeks for it. I would seriously go insane. Especially since it was just a 1/2 hour little thing with no earth-shattering information. Looks like the medical world is just a "hurry up and wait kind" of place.

Dr. Sharp was super nice and seems very competent. He took the time to answer all our questions (and we all know how busy he is by looking at his wait times) so I appreciated that. He thinks he'll be able to "deliver" (yes, he actually used that word) Vampire Baby out via the DaVinci robot (laparoscopically) - Google it, it's quite fascinating - although it is quite large. He said it very likely could be affecting my fertility (along with the Prolactin) so hopefully this is a giant step in the right direction. Either way, it'll be good to have it gone. It's been twinging a lot lately and will give me side aches after running. I'm sure it did before, I'm just acutely aware now. I explained to him what a vampire baby is but he's never seen Twilight so I think he thought I was just weird. ha ha

He said the chance of it being cancerous is less than 1%. Having to open me up due to blood loss is about 10%. But they will keep me in the hospital overnight just to monitor. All pretty good odds.

He needed to look at my scans to see how far into my uterus the stalk goes. If it goes deep and they have to cut the uterus open to get it all, we won't be able to try for 6 months. We're really hoping it's superficial so we only have to wait the 2 months. This whole waiting, waiting, waiting thing is really starting to grate on me. With the robot they'll have to put 5 holes in me, he said I'll have some good "bullet" stories to tell at the beach if I wear a bikini. I laughed and told him, there is no way I'd be seen in a bikini with my body whether or not there were bullet holes.

My uterus should heal nicely. He'll put an adhesive over it to help it grow back correctly. If they do have to cut into my uterus, then I'll have to be closely monitored during pregnancy and for sure deliver via c-section at 36 weeks so my uterus doesn't rupture during labor. Sounds lovely.

They were supposed to call me back today to schedule but I hadn't heard so I called and he's looking at my scans right now. His medical assistant will call me back tomorrow, Friday, or even as late as Monday to get things scheduled once they have a game plan. Surgery will probably be 2-3 weeks out. My sweet mom asked him to squeeze me in sooner if at all possible, I really appreciated that. I'm trying not to be too pushy since my body will be in his scalpel-filled hands (or robot hands). But I'm glad I waited for the best, I'm just sick of waiting in general.

“Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I sure hope I'm enduring well...

February Happenings

Our February has been pretty low-key. Dallin was in Portland for Valentine's so we didn't do much. With Christmas, our anniversary and Valentine's within 6 weeks of each other, we really don't need gifts or anything.

We did, however, have a reservation for the Penguin Encounter at the Aquarium on President's Day. We've been trying for a year to get to see the penguins but we could never get there early enough since the encounter is limited to 8 people. Groupon had a 2 for 1 deal a few months ago so I snagged the passes up AND they now take reservations! I tried to get us in on our anniversary but they were all filled so we settled for the 20th.

The Aquarium is a nightmare. It's small and crammed full of people, small people, and hot. Glad to hear they are building a huge one in Draper. That is the only way I'm going back. I vowed to never take children there, especially children in strollers. We met up with our group and they took us behind the scenes where they keep some birds that they take for presentations at schools. They were mainly parrots and such. One species (don't remember which) actually has the mentality of a 5-year-old so they are doing lots of studies on it. Kids that age can read so I found that fascinating! They also showed us how they make water for the penguins and regulate the temperature. The temperature in their habitat and water ranges from 38-45 degrees. We bundled up and crammed into a small room to meet the little guys!

It was about 45 degrees in there. One guy was from North Dakota and refused to wear a coat. I guess they don't get cold in North Dakota. They open the door and let the penguins come in and out as they please. The first one in, not unusually, was Ghost Rider. He's kind of the bully and boss of the penguins. But the others don't like him and don't listen to him and pull out all his tail feathers. He only had one left. He was pretty funny and curious. He nibbled on my coat and Dallin's pants and shoelaces. The poor kids were terrified. Penguins don't like to be touched so we just had to sit there as they came up to us and projectile pooed. They were sooooo cute! I looooove penguins. It was cool to learn about them. They can jump 4-5 feet out of the water but only about 6 in. high on land. They can also swim up to 22 (!) miles an hour. We met Gentoo penguins which are about knee-high. They find mates and there is one couple who has been together about 4 years and another 1 year. They are hoping for chicks this summer. The gestation period is only 3 weeks. ?!?!?!

So we had an awesome time! If your kids love animals, I highly recommend it. Nothing else going on, just my appointment is finally TOMORROW!! Stay tuned...

Fertility

No one tells you how exhausting infertility is. I don't think anyone can truly understand until you've experienced it. I've heard so many of your stories after sharing mine. The one conclusion I've come to is it's an epidemic. It touches everyone in someway. Whether personally and indirectly.

It's easy to let it consume you. Don't move first thing in the morning until you've taken your basal body temperature. Pee on sticks. Am I ovulating? How do I tell? Pee on more sticks. Hope...Disappointment. Nonstop. Every day. Month after month. You get one shot.

It's kind of been nice to have a little break from the day in and day out routine since we obviously aren't trying until I have surgery and heal. They tell you not to stress and even though you feel like you aren't, you are still consumed. The GOOD NEWS is that my Prolactin levels are down to a 7 so they are normal now. Hopefully that will regulate everything and get me normal. The bad news is that I can't quit taking the medicine even though infertility treatments are at least 2 months out. I was HOPING because it is not fun stuff. My surgical consult is a mere 12 days away. The wait is almost over! So glad that's coming up so fast. More updates will be coming soon!