And the Official Fertility Trip Begins....

So, I (Amanda) had an appointment with a fertility specialist yesterday, and I have mixed emotions about how it went. First off, I've been using progesterone cream for six months now as a fertility treatment that was easy and inexpensive. The only thing I got from it was acne returned and 20lbs of non-baby weight! Oh, and the cat urinating on my PJs and on the floor by my side of the bed for the first couple of months! (Thank the Lord that stopped) Only good thing from the cream was regulation of my cycles, which has never happened my entire life! My OB/GYN told me yesterday that the cream could have been preventing me from ovulating these last few months, which was very upsetting. So, even with the family history if endometriosis, she doesn't think a laparoscopy is warranted at this time, which I wish she would have been like, "Yes, let's schedule one right away just to take a look!" because that would have given me some peace of mind. The next step for us?
1. Well, she wants to monitor me as I approach and go through ovulation next month.
2. She recommends IUI (intra-uterine insemination). This process is roughly $900 per round! Joey and I have some serious praying and discussion to do with regards to this process.
3. We've been placed into a high risk category since we've been pregnant twice and miscarried both times, meaning if we do get pregnant on our own, she wants me to go on immediate bed rest until I can be seen and wants to see me right away as early as 4-5 weeks for ultrasound. We wouldn't be able to see a heart beat or anything yet, but would be able to make sure that attachment is OK and that a good gestational sac is forming.
Most important thing about yesterday's appointment is that I feel like I was given hope! My doctor is so wonderful and spends like 30 minutes just chatting and getting a clear picture before the physical. (if anyone is looking for a good OB/GYN in the BCS area, go to Dr. Friedman!) She said she has every confidence that we will get pregnant and have a healthy viable pregnancy at some point in time! She's happy that I stay healthy, already limit my caffeine intake and take pre-natal vitamins, (as you should if you're planning on getting pregnant) and that I'm young. I need to pray and get over the fact that Joey is older than me. I feel so pressured by myself since Joey's going to be 32 this year and thinking that he won't want to be a Dad at an older age, or that our kids won't want to have a Dad that's "old" when they graduate or go to college or get married. I know, it sounds silly, but it's something that's important to me, for whatever reason, and something that I struggle with. At this point, we're just trying to pay off debt so we can buy a house. According to our plan with working two jobs, we should have 1/2 of our debt (the non-student loan portion) paid off by the end of the year and may be in a place to house shop by May! :o) This makes me very very happy!
Prayer requests:
Joey is still on the search for a full-time teaching position in TX public school.
Fertility treatment process that has just gotten more involved.
That we would use wisdom and restraint over the next few months to pay off debt.
My sister-in-law and brother: That her pregnancy would continue to go well and that my brother would come to know Christ as his savior!
That my foot would heal quickly-somehow I got two stress fractures on my 2nd and 3rd metatarsal on my left foot, dorsal side. How? I'm not sure! :o)