Eggs Out, Embryos In, IVF Waiting Game Begins

Christine had two embryos implanted inside of her today

Since I last updated you on our IVF/ICSI process one week ago, so much has happened that was both unexpected and critical in this process that Christine and I have embarked upon to have a baby. THANK YOU to everyone who has been praying for us and supporting our efforts over these past few weeks as we've gone through this emotional and physical challenge. Knowing that so many people are thinking about us and rooting us on in this whirlwind journey has been very comforting.

Last week as she began taking the follicle stimulation shots, Christine's ovaries got bigger and bigger as those follicles, which hold the eggs, grew as well. Virtually going to the doctor for a vaginal ultrasound every single day to make sure they were growing properly, it led to the big day of retrieval on Thursday morning.

The long shots began for Christine this week when she had the hCG shot with an intramuscular needle on Tuesday night preparing for the egg retrieval and then the Progesterone hormone shots began on Friday morning. We had a friend from our church who has experience giving shots administer the hCG shot and she did awesome. But then on my first attempt to duplicate that same motion, I made Christine jump through the roof! EEEEK!

I already cringe just at the sight of a needle, but it makes it worse when you know you're causing pain to someone you love. Instead of trying to jab her, I decided the slow and steady approach would be best. And other than that initial pinch of the needle going in, Christine said it's not so bad. The hormone has to be in an oil-based form which makes it that much more difficult to get it inside of her. And she's got about two more weeks worth of this, too. I'm in such awe that she's willing to put herself through this just to have our baby. WOW!

We were anxiously awaiting how many eggs Christine produced and were very pleased when our reproductive endocrinologist said we had eight eggs after her surgery on Thursday morning. Christine was a little upset by this in the moments after the surgery, especially when she heard the 20-something woman on the other side of the curtain tell her husband that she got 27 eggs! Sheez, rub it in, why don't ya?! :)

But I assured Christine that eight is a good total number and we'll just see what happens from here. Well, out of those eight total eggs, six of them were viable for doing the ICSI process of placing the sperm in the center to see if they will fertilize. Because of my low quality sperm count, this was the only way we would even have a chance at making a baby together. And we were hopeful for the best!

On Friday, Christine got a call from the doctor midday while I was at the gym working out and he gave us the somewhat grim news--out of the six embryos, four didn't fertilize and were rendered useless while two of them fertilized. Because there were so few embryos that survived, the doctor moved up the transfer of the embryos inside of Christine to this morning (it was supposed to be Sunday morning at the earliest for a 3-day transfer and Tuesday at the latest for a 5-day transfer). But the thinking is Christine's womb is the best place for the embryos to continue to grow if they are going to. And so that's where they are right now.

In fact, that picture at the top of this blog post is of our two little ones that we hope will be growing inside of Christine real soon. The top one you'll notice has not split yet which makes it a Grade 4 embryo and less likely statistically to become a baby, but the bottom one has already split which makes it a Grade 2 embryo and fairly likely it will do what it has to do to grow and make Christine pregnant.

At this point, it is the waiting game. All of these shots, drugs, doctor visits, poking, prodding, and the like has led up to this moment--and we've got 12 days to think about it. Of course, we're already prepared if things don't work out like we hope. But we're staying positive knowing that God is in control and can make it happen in His will for our lives. He knows we want kids, but we're leaving it in His hands now and trusting in what will happen.

Although the money we are spending to do this has been a bit harrowing, we know the financial sacrifice will be worth it either way because of the peace of mind we will have. And ever since we announced our "Beads Of Hope" fundraiser recently, the response has been incredible. In fact, Christine wanted me to share with you a necklace, watch and earring set she made for a reader named Deborah.

Check it out:



Speaking of the bead jewelry, one of my readers suggested Christine make something we hadn't thought of. Here's what she wrote in an e-mail:

Hey, Christine:

I ready Jimmy's blog about your beading business, and I wanted you to know I'm wishing you success in the business and sending prayers for your IVF journey. I was looking at the samples of your work, and I think what I'm looking at are the watch bands, the pieces with a "hooking" clasp on both ends: I wanted to tell you those make fantastic Medic Alert bracelets. I've bought them in Cracker Barrel and Hallmark stores, and hooked the ends onto my Diabetes medallion. They turn a sterile-looking metal item into a fashion statement. All the best to you and Jimmy!

WOW, what a GREAT idea! So now you have that option for Christine to make as well to add to any orders you place with us. THANK YOU to this reader who made such an excellent suggestion.

She's so thrilled to take something she loves like bead jewelry-making and be able to bring in some extra income to help us pay for this. We will be continuing this fundraiser well beyond Christmas, so feel free to place an order anytime by sending an e-mail to Christine at muzikgirl@charter.net. Let her know your name, mailing address, what you would like to order, the color scheme of the jewelry, the sizes, and the quantities of each piece. Special thanks to everyone who has placed an order already, sent us beading materials, and even mailed donations to us because you care about us and want to help us as we continue on with this IVF cycle.


Christine preparing for the embryo transfer

That pretty little lady right there is my hero. She has literally put herself through so much over this past month and I can never tell her how much I love her for her selflessness through this entire process. We've become closer through this journey which is probably rare compared to the norm. But I think we've prepared ourselves for whatever happens so our marriage will remain rock solid whether she gets pregnant or not. The thoughts and prayers of those who love us has helped.

The next big date for us is Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 8:00am. That's the day we go back to the doctor for a blood pregnancy test. In the meantime, Christine will have a regimen of Progesterone with a long needle daily, a Medrol pill and two Doxycycline daily through December 12th, a Vivelle dot patch every other day, and a baby aspirin daily. We'll see if all these efforts work to produce a pregnancy just before Christmas. What an incredible present for 2007, eh? :D

For now, Christine is resting. She's got her beads out arranging them in order by shape and color ready to make some jewelry for presents and anyone who orders in our "Beads Of Hope" fundraiser while watching the Sci-Fi and Discovery Channel. She's been ordered to take it easy today and tomorrow, so that's what she's gonna do. I'm waiting on her hand and foot right now and taking care of whatever she needs (yes, I even made a pizza for her to eat--YIKES!).

Pray for us, wish us well, and hopefully my next IVF update will be a great big celebration that we're pregnant with at least one child. It'll be here sooner than we think, but the waiting is gonna be the hardest part of this entire process, especially for Christine who naturally likes to worry anyway (is that a girl thing or what?). Anyways, that's where we are for now.

If you missed the Newsweek article this week entitled "How Diet Affects Fertility," then be sure to check it out and then read Regina Wilshire's stern response to it. There's a whole lotta misinformation going on out there about how diet impacts your ability to have a child. It's interesting reading nonetheless.

Here's a little bit from my e-mail box over the past week:

Jimmy and Christine, I just wanted to lend my support and prayers to you during your IVF experience. God Bless you both and give you the desires of your heart.
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Hey, Jimmy --

I saw the post about the IVF process on your blog. I realize we don't know each other well, but if you don't mind, I'd like to pass along something that worked for us after nearly two years of trying.

A little background: we had friends who'd tried everything while going to specialists in LA. When they moved to New York, their new specialist told them (this was after $20,000 of treatments in LA), "You know, sometimes the woman is just a little too acidic for the little swimmers. Before we try anything expensive, I want you try mixing a teaspoon baking soda in a cup of water and douche with it about a half hour before you have sex." (Hope I'm not being too graphic here.)

So they did. Bingo, conception. So we tried it. Bingo, conception. Worked in bringing our second daughter in the world, too. We told another couple we knew who were having problems and ... yes, Bingo.

Anyway, I know how trying over and over can get frustrating -- I have a whole bit about in my standup routine -- so I thought I'd pass it along. You never know.

Best of luck.
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I am praying so hard for both of you right now!!!!!

My friend went through this TWICE! Yes, TWICE. 10K+ each time. No, they are not rich either, but, the loans they took out, the perks they did without to have 2 of the most precious children was to them...priceless.

I have known them for years. In fact, for her 4th attempt (first 3 attempts failed) I went with her. I sat and massaged her head and sang Paul Anka's "Having A (my) Baby" using words that matched her and her husbands life. And she has a beautiful baby boy from that!!

Anyway, it is about you two, not anyone else. Right now you need all the positive energy and focus and that is what you got from, I am sure many more people that count and also, I believe from the man that matters most.

Having a baby--What a lovely way of saying how much love each other,
Having a baby--What a lovely way of saying your thinking of the other--you can see its face a glowin'--we can see in your eyes you're happy to know it!

Keep it up, this is the most important thing in your whole life, and if I could I would pay for it ALL for ya. But, my prayers seem to carry some weight so you got those coming full force!
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I'm not trying to be trite, but can I suggest that you both have your Vitamin D blood levels checked? If they are not around 40ng/ml that might be contributing to the problem.
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Jimmy & Christine-

Good luck on the meds. I remember it well. And I'm sure with the proper guidance, Jimmy, you could do the shots for Christine.

The Progesterone shots are definitely no fun so tell your lovely wife to massage the area right after so the solution doesn't cause welts.

You'll get through it. Don't worry.
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Best of luck with your IVF cycle. The Progesterone shots are the worst part of it -- I found that icing the area, and warming the progesterone in my hand, helped.

To the poster who suggested NaPro Technology, please don't spout off when you don't know what you're talking about. Their "technology" is just tracking your natural fertility signs and using ovulation predictor kits. This can be helpful for couples with relatively simple fertility issues, but does nothing at all for tubal infertility, complete failure to ovulate, or male factor infertility (which is Jimmy's diagnosis).

It'd be nice if there were a simpler, cheaper fix than IVF, but for many fertility problems, that just isn't the case. If you aren't thoroughly familiar with the underlying medical issues behind infertility, please let the couple be guided by their doctors, rather than offering useless "advice."
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The "My Weight Loss For Life" blog wrote the following in a post this week:

Jimmy Moore has a great low-carb site. He's also detailing the progress of his and his wife's IVF treatments, so if you're interested in either, this is a great site to check out. If you like it, check out the link to buy his wife's handmade jewelry. They're raising money to pay for a $18,000 IVF bill.
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As someone who finally became a father at age 45 and now has two adorable girls, I wish you all the luck in the world on the embryo transfer. Fatherhood is work, but it's also a joy. (The work is part of the joy, believe it or not. I think men thrive on having a purpose.)

12-10-07 UPDATE: Because so many people have requested a way to make a donation towards our IVF expenses, you'll now notice a "DONATE" button at the top of the right side of the blog. Participation is completely voluntary and we sincerely appreciate all of the kind gestures of generosity that have come our way during this process. We are still taking orders for Christine's homemade bead jewelry, too, so let us know if you'd like to have her make you something. She LOVES them beads! :)

An IVF Update: Shots Galore And So Much More

All of THIS just to have an IVF baby? Yep, that's right!

Since I last updated you on our decision to start the IVF/ICSI cycle to try to have a baby, the process is now well underway with tons of shots, doctor visits, tests, blood work, and one big fat loan to tell you about. More about all of that in just a moment.

Special thanks to everyone who has responded to our "Beads Of Hope" fundraiser that will help us defray the costs of our medical expenses during this procedure. The total cost is going to come to about $18,000 for one cycle and thankfully we were approved for a Capital One fertility loan for most of that money. We'll be paying it back over the next five years, so every little bit of money we can raise through these homemade beads Christine creates will help us pay for what could be the miracle we've been praying for regarding having a child.

Not everyone is happy about our "Beads Of Hope" campaign, though. One of my readers expressed her sincere disgust for my decision to use my blog for what she describes as "panhandling." Here's what she wrote in an e-mail to me:

"I may turn out to be in a small minority -- I think your panhandling through your web site is truly inappropriate. For the low-carb planet, you have been a valuable resource. By selling your wife's beaded creations to pay your medical bills, your have gone beyond boundaries of propriety."

While I respect and appreciate the opinions of those who disagree with our fundraiser, it was my decision to do this and I don't regret it one bit. I have had readers suggest that I put a PayPal link on my blog so they can pay me for the work I do here at my blog. I have refused because to me that would be in poor taste. But by offering something in return for those funds like the bead jewelry, it is in my estimation a natural trade-off of funds for merchandise. No problem in my eyes.

Nevertheless, we are not discouraged by those who disagree with the fundraiser. Nobody is being forced to participate in it and yet you still get the same quality low-carb content you always have absolutely FREE every single day at my blog. I provide it willingly because it is the cry of my heart to help others find the success that I have since 2004. That commitment will NEVER change.

Okay, so let's talk about the IVF cycle that began the day after Thanksgiving. My wife Christine is a real trooper and I have the utmost respect for her and anyone willing to put themselves through all these shots and drugs just to have a baby. What a sacrifice of pain and anguish she has put up with to try to make this work and I love her more than ever for being willing to do this for us. THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU, HONEY!

Here's the rundown of all the shots and drugs she has had to take on a daily basis for the past week:

9:00AM
Lupron 20 units (injected in the belly with a subcutaneous needle)
Gonal-F 150 (injected in the belly with a subcutaneous needle)
Doxycycline 100mg (taken orally)
Baby Aspirin (taken orally)

9:00PM
Lupron 20 units (injected in the belly with a subcutaneous needle)
Menopur 150 (injected in the belly with a subcutaneous needle)
Doxycycline 100mg (taken orally)

I have faithfully prepared each of these shots for Christine and she has dutifully injected them herself for over a week now alternating back and forth between one side of her belly button and the other. The purpose of these shots is to stimulate the follicles on her ovaries to help them grow to around 18mm for ideal egg-making.

She had a baseline visit on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and then a follow-up on Wednesday and Friday this week. A vaginal ultrasound was done to determine whether the follicles are growing like they are supposed to and the good news is they are. As of Friday, many of the follicles have reach 12-13mm in size and are well on the way to being ready for egg retrieval on this coming Wednesday or Thursday morning.

In fact, the follicles on her ovaries right now are so big that Christine says it feels like she has "a watermelon in my abdomen." My response back to her was that it is "preparing you for when you have babies inside of you real soon." She smiled and said "yeah, I know." It's getting closer and closer!

We are scheduled to go to the reproductive endocrinologist on Sunday morning bright and early for one last ultrasound to make sure Christine is ready and it looks like she will be. They have seen about 10 follicles grow which is excellent news because each one has the potential to make an egg we can use for the IVF/ICSI procedure. The more eggs we have, the better odds that several viable embryos will be ready for the transfer back inside Christine.

And the shots will continue this week for Christine and they get a little worse. While all of these needles she has had so far have been subcutaneous, meaning just below the skin, many of the next ones will be intramuscular (around 1 1/2 inches long) which will require us to seek assistance from a nurse friend of ours from church to help with. I'm absolutely terrified of needles personally or I'd try to stick Christine myself. My hands would probably shake too much, though.

The main shot will be the hCG IM that is administered 36 hours before the retrieval of the eggs. That means it will be either 8:00pm Monday night or Tuesday night depending on what the doctor says after the visit on Sunday morning. The egg and sperm retrieval will take place on Wednesday morning or Thursday morning where the doctors will conduct the actual procedure of placing the motile sperm in the middle of each egg to see if they will fertilize. This takes 3-5 days to happen.

Then the real "fun" begins for Christine when she begins taking DAILY shots of Progesterone 50mg/mL with an intramuscular needle in the morning, a 0.1mg dot patch of Virelle in the morning, Medrol 16mg in the evening, along with the Doxycycline and baby aspirin.

The torture for her body just doesn't stop, does it?

But all of this is preparing Christine for the transfer back of the viable embryos that survive after a few days. If there are only a couple still around after three days, then the transfer will happen on Saturday or Sunday morning. Otherwise, if the embryos continue to do well and look good through five days, then the transfer will go as planned on Monday or Tuesday morning a week from now.

From there, we wait two weeks while continuing to take the hormone shots to see if the embryos continue to develop inside Christine's womb and on or about December 24th we will know whether or not she is pregnant. It's rather ironic all of this anticipation builds up to that particular date because either way it will be a gift from God.

If He chooses to bless us with a child or children, then what an awesome Christmas present that would be. But if not, we will at least have that "peace of mind" I blogged about previously. We're ready for whatever His will is for us in this.

Obviously, we would love to have your prayers as we continue down this journey to have a baby and what an adventurous ride it has been so far. We really are lucky people to have so many amazing human beings show us the love and dignity that literally hundreds of you have done over the past couple of months. Our gratitude and appreciation for your support cannot be any greater than it is right now. So THANK YOU for showering us with your encouraging words during this time.

The next time I update you will be after the transfer of the embryo expected in about 8-10 days. This next week is crucial in the entire IVF/ICSI process, so pray for us, the doctors and nurses, and those tiny little zygotes that will be formed. One or more of those could be a baby Moore nine months from now. Here's hoping! :)

Here are some more e-mails we have received about our IVF journey:

Please, before you pay so much money for IVF, let me alert you to NaPro Technology. Their success rate is much higher than IVF and much less expensive. They are a Catholic institution, but don't let that put you off, they accept all patients!

Check out their web site:

Pope Paul VI Institute
6901 Mercy Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68106

God bless!
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Hi Jimmy,

Just wondering have you thought about doing IVF in Ireland? An IVF cycle here costs about 3000 euro ($4394) for each IVF cycle. Including return flights and accommodations it would be cheaper to do it here.

I know it seems like a wild idea but I hate to think of you and Christine would have to shelling out so much money. According to this article, it's seen as unethical to make money from infertility treatment and I think that's the way it should be.
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Dear Jimmy and Christine,

You and your wife will be in my prayers for sure for the next couple of months. I have a great burden for those wanting a child and have not been able to conceive. There are times I wonder why God gave me 14 children and the next couple none. But may you and your wife be pleasantly surprised by what God has in store for you in the near future. As you and your wife have been givers to so many, He will reward you beyond all that you can ask or think.

Blessings to you both,

Michigan Mommy of Many
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Dear Jimmy,

I recently read your blog about your struggle with infertility. My husband and I used ICSI/IVF in 2004 and our twin daughters are now 3 years old.

My book, Tiny Toes: A Couple’s Journey Through Infertility, Prematurity, and Depression was just released. I'd be happy to send you a complimentary copy. Maybe reading about our journey will help you with yours. You can visit my web site to learn more about the book.

Best luck to you and Christine. It's an exciting, emotional and trying time all at once!

Best regards,

Kelly Damron

We received Kelly's book in the mail this week and I'll be reading and reviewing it soon. I appreciate her generosity in sending me a copy of her new book which looks to be an OUTSTANDING resource for anyone going through this IVF process.

And finally, let me give a big shout out to the "Debt Daddy" blog for helping me promote our "Beads Of Hope" fundraiser. Here's what he wrote:

Speaking of kids and fathers, I came across this guy a while back and wanted to pass his name along to you. Jimmy Moore has been blogging for quite some time - one of his most read blogs is "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" (which is just the kind of kitchy title that makes Debt Daddy giggle). Anyway, he and his wife have been trying to have children for quite some time, but have had no luck, and are now turning to IVF (IVF = in vitro fertilization, for anyone who doesn't know what the heck I'm babbling about).

IVF can get pretty expensive, but have no fear! Believe it or not, Capital One now offers an "infertility loan" to finance the long (hopefully successful) road of making a baby with doctors present. So, whether or not their attempt to procreate is successful, they will still be paying back this loan with interest. Fortunately, Jimmy's wife has a sideline business that they're hoping will help to supplement some of the expenses and get this loan paid down.

If you're still looking for Holiday gifts for people on your list, you might want to check out this link - Jimmy's wife Christine makes some very pretty beaded jewelry, and purchasing some of her handiwork would not only make a lovely gift to whomever you're giving it to, but to the people you bought it from as well.

WOW, now that was too cool! I don't know who you are Debt Daddy, but God bless you buddy! You are an honorable guy and we appreciate your selfless support for us as we go down this road. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!