I must say, you all really have no idea how helpful you have all been to me -- when I see how many responses I get from you on these threads and how long the thread got after just a few days, I feel so lucky to have you all!!

Okay, so here is my dilemma: You all know I've had some issues with work and with pay recently. And my need to start saving for IVF as it is our next step if there's a BFN this cycle. However, DH and I took a week off in February (Valentine's week) a while back. We were planning on taking a vacation. We keep putting off doing things for ourselves because of these cycles. I thought we should just keep going, and save every penny towards IVF. DH agrees that we need to save money but thinks for our own sanity we should plan a trip.

So, here is my thinking... I originally thought we'd plan something locally (go antiquing/stay somewhere nearby) to save money. But it is so COLD (we are not the skiing, enjoying the cold type of people). DH thinks we should plan a trip to the Caribbean or somewhere warm, but to do it on a strict budget. But, as soon as we start looking, I start to worry... (1) that money could go into IVF saving and (2) AF is due that week... that might delay another cycle if they'd consider doing another IUI while we're still saving.

Any ideas? I know we need to take time for ourselves, but this is totally another example of how this is running my life!

Thanks for listening!

Kel

Ok, I've been in this situation myself this last year.
Dh and I took a few vacations this year and all the while I'm thinking about the money going towards IVF. HOWEVER, we chose to go on the vacations!
Only because it's just like you said, IF will run your life if you let it. I had to make myself stop the "money" thoughts because i worry alot.
For your own sanity and for stress reasons, i think the vacation is a fantastic idea for you both to get away from EVERYTHING and just have fun and be a normal couple (even if it is a brief moment).
I'm jealous. Drink a giant pina colada for me and have a great time.
You deserve it!

Hi Kelley, I can understand that you would like to save every cent and put it towards you IVF cycle, but I think taking a vavcation will also do you and DH the world of good. Even if it means taking a break from IF for one cycle (It is not easy I know). I know that in Dec when we decided to take a break it was very hard for me but it was the best thing I could have done. It gave DH and I sometime to think things through and decide what we want to do next. I also think my body needed the break. Only you and DH can make this decision. IF does tend to take over your life an as much as we tell ourselves not to let it, it does anyway. We all want our miracles so badly that we will do anything to get them.

Good luck with you decision.

Love
Charlene

Hey Kelley,

Well it is such a hard choice we have all been there.Honestly I dont know what to say I think the girls are right we cant let IF control our life or else we will lose the game.We have to give sometime to our DH and ourselves.Now as to where you can go and that it might be in the middle of a cycle etc it is hard to figure things out.What about Fl somewhere not that FL is close but closer.Well I think only you and DH can figure out what you should do but try and plan it like normal and try not to think of IF and you might be suprised at how well things work out.Good luck and keep us posted.Have a wonderful day my friend.

Love ya,

Mapia

Thanks, girls!!!

You know, I think you're all right -- and I'm gonna tell DH we should just go ahead and schedule something! Part of me was feeling guilty, but I'm not going to feel guilty anymore for taking care of ourselves, right? Hopefully we can find something to book that's reasonable.

Lol, Bees -- I took off the week of Valentine's Day and I'll be in the 2ww then, so I won't be drinking any pina coladas. AF is due that week, so we'll see if she shows up!!! If so, then I'll definately have a big one for you!!

Thanks for the advice!!

Kel

OOooh!!! Have a virgin pina colada for me too!!! :D:D:D
Seriously, Kel, I completely agree with the other posters here. I feel right in my heart about how you feel about saving for IVF (you know my current finacial situation too ;)) but at the same time, you can't let IF ruin yours and DHs lives. :) You need 'married time' too. So I think that going to the Caribbean (on a budget) is a wonderful idea!!
No matter what you do, take reassurance in knowing that your BFP is on it's way, dearest :)

Hi Kelley!

Money is something I worry about all the time too...even more so now that we are facing IVF costs. But, I do agree w/ everyone else that it's important to take care ourselves & to continue living our lives. I think a vacation sounds splendid, and I'm glad to see that you have decided to treat yourselves. I wish I could escape the cold weather for a week or so. Can you take me with you? LOL :D

Holly

Hey Kelley glad to see you have made up your mind and I really think you made the right choice.Getting away for a week can do you a world of good.DH and I kept trying to get away for at least a weekend but hasent happened yet cause he has so much work and he has to work on Saturdays to finish up his jobs.Since its his buisness its not like he can take a vacation thats the only bad thing about having your own buisness.Well I envy you can I come please please I promise to behave...........lol.Serious though I think you made the right choice good for you girl.Well hope you are having a great day.

Love,

Mapia

Hey Kelley, sounds like you've got your mind made up, but I wanted to throw in my two cents. I totally agree about the financial aspect. DH is frugal and is always thinking of money...which is a good thing I suppose. But the past two years, we've decided to take vacations because we were thinking it might be our last chance before we're busy with kids! Not that you can't travel with children, but our thinking is the first year or two, you're not going anywhere far away! Well, as you can see, we keep getting to take a vacation each year because those kids haven't come yet. But I'm sure glad we didn't just wait until we had a kid. We could have been waiting a while!Vacations are a life savor. It gets your mind off things.

As for where to go, is AF due later in the week? Maybe you could take a trip to FL as suggested...or a short cruise (3 or 4 nighter)? Cruises are fairly cheap and include all of your food. It's just the flight that you have to get a deal on. You could try to do that in the early part of the week, then come home for the latter part.

Have fun on your vacation! - April

OMG - that would be SUCH a fun trip!!!! All of us in the Carribbean!!! Sure, you can all come too :).

AF is due mid-week that week. But I figure that if she doesn't show, I'll just go in for beta a few days late, and if she does show, I'll just drink a couple pina coladas while I'm there and take the next month off (my RE's office hasn't started any sort of talk about scheduling the IVF preparation anyway, and if they'll agree to do another IUI while we're saving up, I'll just take off one month, I guess). So, we'll see!!

Well, off to bed soon, I have my appointment at 6 am (UGH!! Why do they have to be SO early!!! I live 45 minutes away!!!! -- but again, it'll all be worth it someday when I get a BFP, right?) -- so I don't want to oversleep like that one time, lol!

Good night!

Kel

Hey Kel! I am glad you decided to go thru with the vacation. I'm getting anxious to escape somewhere with my DH too.... seems we've postponed a real vacation b/c of all the IF treatments. I feel like if we could just plan and committ to a trip then maybe that's just when we'll end up with a BFP! So I hope that is the case for you now that you've decided to go! Good luck at your appointment tomorrow. I'll be waiting for your update!

Just got into work from my u/s & b/w. This is the first time that no follicles have started growing. Weird. There are 6 on the right and 5 on the left, but they're all under 9 mm. At first I was worried, but whenever I've thought a cycle went perfectly, it didn't turn out with a positive either, so I'm just gonna wait and see. I guess they can always up the dose, or do whatever. AND, I've always thought in the back of my head that the IUIs have been done too early for me, so maybe this will push it back a few days. I'll go back in on Sunday.

So, I just have to add another doctor to my list, hopefully this will give all of you a laugh -- I didn't get to see Dr. Nice today (or Dr. Gas, thankfully)... When I had my first IUI, I almost had a heart attack when the doctor walked into the room. He appeared to be about my age (but when I think about all the school/residency he did, he must be older) and REALLY REALLY good looking! I was so embarrassed, and it felt strange every time I saw him. Well anyway, I haven't seen him in a long time until today. So, I'll add Dr. Cute to the list :). (Funny thing is now, I've gotten so used to laying there with my feet in the stirrups, it doesn't bother me anymore, lol).

Well, off to catch up on everyone's threads!

Kelley

Hi Kel!

Can you get me an appt w/ Dr Cute? :D;) The u/s tech does all my monitoring appts, and she's not really my type....LOL. I think you have the perfect attitude about your follies growing slower this time. You are so right. It is not always the perfect cycles that work & I have heard over and over again that it is actually better for the follies to grow slowly. It usually results in better quality. So, this cycle very well may be that bfp we have all been waiting for! :D:D I'll be keeping everything crossed for you!

Holly

I wanna go on vacation too:D Sittin in the sun:cool: Having some drinks:dizzy: Then sleeping in late:yawn: I'm there man, can you see me:wave:

Kelley I am glad to read that you ahev a good outlook on things. We'll be doing the "grow follies" dance for you, I'm boogin right now:jester:

Take care of yourself and have a nice day:angel:

Kelley, I am so glad that you and Dh have decided on a vacation I am sure you are going to have a blast and also get to relax a bit as well.

As for your follies I am sure they will still grow in the next couple of days. I will be doing a follies dance for you all weekend and I hope when you go in on sunday they will be really big:D.

Have a wonderful day
Char.

An appointment with Dr. Cute!!! Make it a date!! :D (Holly, I nearly choked on my water when I read "The u/s tech does all my monitoring appts, and she's not really my type....LOL" :jester: That was HILARIOUS!!)

You know, I am so proud of you for getting down on your little ones!! You are absolutely right, there is no reason why a lucky one or two of them can't be your BFP!! They definitely have a soaringchance! You're right, this cycle may be the one you have been waiting for! :D

Hoping so much for your BFP!!

*******babydust******

Kelley,

Congrats on so many possible follies, and you know the saying, slow and steady wins the race. I think it's a great attitude to think that this may not be a picture perfect cycle, but this could definately be the one that works! And I hope for many more visits with Dr. Cute, as long as DH isn't with you, lol!:jester:

Christin

Lol, now we have Dr. Nice, Dr. Gas, and Dr. Cute! I swear I think I have a crush on Dr. Cute, lol!

Anyway, in all seriousness... thanks for the follie dances!!!! I really think this has all taught me to not read into every little thing (not that I don't do it at all... but like I said, when I think that a cycle is going perfectly, it apparently isn't -- so this cycle could just as well be it, right?!)!

I'm doing some dancing right back at you all!!

As for our vacation, DH and I better sit down and plan something this weekend, because otherwise we'll be staring at each other at home for an entire week!

:D
Kelley

I'm liking doctor Cute Kelley! ;) So now the "good" doctors outnumber the "bad" doctors for you! That is awesome news :D

Well I think that taking it slow might be what's needed to get your follies ready. Gotta give those eggs plenty of time to fully mature! You know I'm pulling hard for you and your follies. Hope you're having a good Friday!

[QUOTE I really think this has all taught me to not read into every little thing[/QUOTE]

DR was telling me yesterday a story, he told me because of being an accountant he didnt want me counting the follies everytime I got monitered. So, he says he had a patient who kept counting her follies and on her last moniter she had written down that she was going to have 30 eggs because she had 30 follies. When she came to after ET he told her that he got 24 total and 14 real good ones and this was such an excellant response. So she starts crying. He asked her why and she said "what happened to my other 6 eggs". Because he didnt know what she was talking about she explained that before she went under she had 30 follies and he explained that not every follie contains an egg. He said here he has this patient who all in reality had the best looking eggs he has gotten all year from 100 girls and she is crying because she only got 24.

I know I have been full of stories lately, but I thought this kinda went along with your quote. I have a habbit of "pre planning" everything and I could see myself being just like this girl.

Funny, I'm an accountant, take my taxes to someone else, but I always do them myself before I take them, because I HAVE to know. Liek I've been saying...I'm horrible with patience!!

Hey Kelley I got a laugh from reading your thread.Dr.Cute that is funny.I feel the same way I am so used to having these RE's looking at me it doesnt even phase me anymore.Well looks like you have plenty of follies and I am sure they will grow so this cycle is looking good.Well I hope you and DH figure out where you will be going on your vacation because sitting around the house staring at eachother doesnt sound like much fun........lol.Well have a great weekend and will be looking forward to your report.Take care sweetie have a wonderful afternoon.

Love ya,

Mapia

Well, I will go in tomorrow morning (6 am - on Sunday, ugh!! But, I'm keeping my happy face on, because this is going to be all worth it!!!) for u/s and b/w. I haven't been too worried that I didn't have any follies growing because I'm thinking a later start will be good. But, I will worry tomorrow if nothing's grown at all (since that will be day 9). So, we'll see!

Thanks for the story, Praying! You are right - as much as we all do it, and as hard as it is not to, we've got to not read into numbers and everything that happens each cycle. I'll work on it!!! (Even though there I was worrying in the paragraph above :dizzy:).

Kari - By the time I'm done with this IF journey, I'll have a name for every doctor in my RE's office (and I think there are like 12 of them), lol! What's even funnier is that you all understand who each of them are when I mention them!

Mapia - So, by this afternoon, DH was SO grouchy looking for a trip for us, he was about to throw the computer across the room. He saw a travel agent this morning who told him we should never have waited to long to book something, because now it's so last minute, the airfare is nuts. But, he finally found a flight to Florida (cheaper flight) and a cruise to Honduras/Belize leaving from there - yay! So, we did book something, and even better - it was in our budget! Now I just have to hope that AF doesn't show her face during the trip because we'll get there Sunday and AF is due Tuesday or Wednesday. I hope you had a nice time at the beach!!

Love,
Kel

I just thought this was interesting...

DH brought home Chinese food tonight, and here were our fortunes (not that I read too much into them, lol):

Mine: "You will pass a difficult test that will make you happier" ... to which I said to DH, too bad I didn't get this fortune before my Board Exam in September (I did pass - whew!)... to which he said back, No, you Nimwit... it'll be the pregnancy test!!!! I didn't even think of that, so then I started dancing around.

DH's: "All of your hard work will pay off!"

He told me to save them this month. I think I'll post them on the fridge!

So, hmmm...

;)
Kelley

Hi Kelley!

Good luck at your appt tomorrow. Hope you get to see Dr Cute. ;) I'm certain your follies have been growing nicely & all is going according to plan. Your trip sounds like a lot of fun & I'm so glad you & DH went through w/ booking it! Even better that it was within your budget. February is going to be a great month for you. Those fortunes do sound promising!! I don't usually read into that sort of thing either, but what the heck. It can't hurt anything. Hope you are doing well. Talk to you on Monday.

Holly :)

Kelley I am just chcking in to see how your appointment went this morning, I have been follie dancing for you all weekend. :D:D. I hope that everything is going according to plan:D.

LOL:jester: as for Dr Cute I know exactly how you feel.When I had my appointment last year at my gyn and the fertility expert from Cape Town was there, well I almost died of shock when this gorgeous man started asking me about my PCOS and sex life, then it was time for the internal exam:o. As I told my sister that the Dr was so hot I was nervous to open my legs for him:jester::jester::jester:LOL. But at the end of the day I am so use to being poked and proded, it does not make a difference any more.

I am still follies dancing I hope you have some good news to post.

Char.

Hey Kelley! Wondering how everything went at your ultrasound appointment this morning! I'm definitely thinking about you and your follies! Did they give you an idea of when you may be triggering? I'm still excited to share the 2WW with you :)

Well sweetie, I have a good feeling that your fortunes are going to come true a lot sooner than you think. :angel: Hope you are having a nice weekend!

Hey Kelley well sounds like you had a good fortune and I pray they come true.Wow sounds like you will have a great vacation I am so happy you guys booked it.Lets not worry about AF hopefully she wont show for 9 months so with a BFP a vacation will be the topping on your cake sweetie.

So how did your appointment go?Havent heard from you sweetie.Well hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Love ya,

Mapia

Hi!

Appointment went okay today - the follies are growing a bit slower this month, but I'm really thinking (with all my non-expertise, lol) that could be a good thing! There were 3 follicles - all 11 mm. They upped my dose a couple days ago and are keeping it there (part of me wishes they'd drop it again so they could keep growing slowly, but of course I know nothing about how the doses work - so I should just trust the dr). (BTW - it was Dr. Gas today).

For some reason (this did not happen AT ALL the last two cycles), all of the injections this time are giving me raised bruises (they look like black pimples)... my belly looks so ugly right now. We're not doing anything differently, so I'm not sure why this is happening :confused:

This post is getting a bit long, so I'm going to close it for now. I won't have anything new to report until Tuesday morning - so we'll see how things are growing then!!

Love,
Kelley

p.s. Charlene - your story made me laugh! I felt the SAME way with that doctor at first... now I'm like 'Whatever!'