Boats, Bahamas, and Baby-makin'

May 13, 2013

Darren and I got back from our cruise last night.  We flew to Miami (from Portland, OR) and caught Carnival's newest ship "The Breeze" for a 6 day cruise to: Florida Keys, Grand Turk, and the Bahamas.  The main rule was, for once in a LONG time, not talk about cervical mucus, and sperm, and bbt, and opks, and what-ifs, and whens', and maybes. 

This of course was a bit challenging since 1.  I am always thinking of this.  2.  I should be ovulating around the time of the cruise.  For the most part I was able to not ramble on about any of the above and quietly take my ovulation kits in the morning.

The highlight of the trip was our last day in the Bahamas, we went to Atlantis (the biggest water park in the Caribbean).  It had the most fun lazy river called “The Current” with rapids and dips and slides.  I’m a big scardy-cat but after much convincing and reassurance I agreed to go down a huge tube waterslide on a double intertube with Darren that shot us into a shark tank.  I was having a blast and then it hit me.  I had actually gone a few HOURS without thinking about fertility/infertility/IVF, etc.  I looked at my wrist and noticed my bracelet/wristband that let me in the park.  This is the first time in 2 years I have had a wristband that DIDN’T have my health record number on it.  It was nice.

A little update, right before the cruise Darren saw an urologist.  From blood work he re-confirmed that his testorone level is very very low.  He was shocked that Dar’s first doctor didn’t put him on clomid and he prescribed it for him to instantly start taking it. 

I was really really annoyed about this.  Clomid can take 3 months to really kick in for the males.  Hopefully it will increase sex drive (it’s hard to really “try” during ovulation), his sperm count which will in turn help his morphology (shape).  Nothing really improves morphology but more sperm means more normal shaped overall.  I was annoyed because we did a year of IUIs without anyone telling us to try this.  We went months “trying on our own” and me suffering through nasty femera side effects all to be sort of trying in vain.  But, it is what is it and he is taking Clomid now, so God-willing in will work a bit.  Both of our infertility issues are minor (I ovulate with medication/he can have more sperm with medication) but it's been a MAJOR process.

The plan is to do IVF sometime this summer. 

We kept referring to our little trip as “Honeymoon Dos” and it was a perfect getaway although I still feel like I’m rocking on a ship.  I did get my little smiley face the last day of the cruise so although odds are low, it was nice to ovulate on vacation.  My poor husband did tell me that he “needs a break” from all the baby-makin’ efforts for a bit, but it was a good run ;)  The fear of another IVF is fading as the desire and the “bring it on” attitude is coming back.


Here's some pics from our vacay:  The first two are from the "formal night."  In the 2nd picture I'm laughing beacause the waiter counted to like 5, very slowly, before taking the shot.

These "cabanas" were on the adult only deck and we snagged one right by the clear railing.  It was such a fun, and relaxing day.  I'm secretly hoping this is our LAST babymoon ;)