So I made it through day one of ovary stimulation. And can I just proclaim a miracle here??

It was almost a year exactly that we had our very first appointment with our RE. If you would have told me that in a year I would be at the point where needles don’t bother me AND they don’t bother me to the degree that I am capable of taking a syringe with a needle and sticking in in my own stomach, I would have told you there are definitely screws loose in your head.

In March of 2008, I was the girl who wouldn’t go to the normal doctor because I was afraid he would demand that I had to have my blood drawn. I couldn’t imagine voluntarily sitting down and allowing some nurse to poke and prod my vein. Then, the thought of blood coming out literally make me weak in the knees. I couldn’t stand the thought.

But now, can I even count the number of times I’ve had my blood drawn? Um. No. There are too many occasions to count.

Then it came time for injectible IUI cycles and I soon learned it was expected that I was to inject myself! No, thanks! I had about three different nurses that I knew lined up to give me my injections. And my first injection went something like this:

I sat with shirt pulled up and face turned away. I could not bear to look at the shot. And then, whoever happened to be around at the time, had to scratch my arm as a distraction mechanism. Then, I braced myself for the shot, grit my teeth and breathed a sigh of relief when it was done.

And then came IVF.

I have given myself the first two shots, no problem. Miracle.

This also makes me realize something more.

Infertility has a way of stretching us in ways we never thought possible. Infertility has forced me to do things that I never dreamed of being able to do. Infertility has taught me God’s grace and strength are there. All we have to do is go to the Source and draw it up. The account never runs dry.

This shot business also shows something else. Putting mind over matter really does make all the difference in the world.

Our minds really are a powerful thing. Yesterday morning at 7am when it was time to administer the first shot, if I had allowed myself to panic, or allowed myself to dwell on the fact that I was about to give myself a shot, I would have freaked out and not been able to do it.

Instead, I told myself, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

I say all that to encourage anyone out there reading this and facing IVF injections soon. If I can say giving yourself shots isn’t bad, it isn’t bad!!

And like my nurse told me, they try to make it as easy as possible for patients. The needles are very, very tiny and honestly, I have never even felt the prick. It just slides right in because it is such a “baby” needle.

So day two of injections are in order for today. And then again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday I go in for an ultrasound to see what my ovaries are producing.

*****

Prayer Requests

1. The number one request is always going to be to pray against the attacks of Satan. He will try to attack me by planting seeds of fear. However, if my prayer warriors are praying, I will have a protective shield against these attacks.

2. Pray for lots of healthy follicles to start developing. This is our prayer focus from now until Thursday’s ultrasound.

- Elaine