Interesting information.

So, it looks like we may have an answer, or at least the beginnings of an answer, to why we've been struggling to conceive.

The testing we intitated prior to our IVF that took weeks to complete finally came in a couple of days ago.

It's very strange to try and explain this, because I essentially understand little to none of all the ins and outs of genetics, but I'll do my best.

When a woman gets pregnant, her immune system has to recognize the developing embryo as different from herself - as a separate developing entity that should be allowed to stay. That means that genetically, a man and woman should be different from eachother and not too similar. If it happens that there are genetic matches on particular alleles, trouble can occur. The woman's body may think it's her own cells that have altered, or mutated in some way, similar to how the body recognizes and destroys cancerous cells.

Well, my dearest husband and I are an exact match on an allele that is notorious for both causing a.) immune problems and b.) miscarriages. Hmmm - sound familiar?

I don't know whether to feel happy or upset about this. Yes, it is good to finally start getting some answers! But what I read tells me that our situation is treatable, but it involves a LOT of meds, transfusions, and travelling to get what is most likely needed.

I feel a little daunted right now. It will probably pass, but I am wondering - will this REALLY work? I am so incredibly cynical anymore.

One step at a time. One day at a time. Breathe, Kelly, breathe.

So, Chris and I talked last night and decided - let's make lemonade out of lemons. He is taking a couple of days off work and coming to Chicago with me, and we're taking Christopher out of school and bringing him with us. We've never been to Chicago before and it IS a great american city and all. So we're going to make an adventure out of it. Of course, we're not telling him that mommy is seeing a new doctor - I'll go and do my thing while they find something fun to do. I think it will be fun.

Crazy - so now we're planning our vacations around specialist appointments in different cities around the country? Friends, life takes us to some veeerrry strange places, it does.

Meanwhile, it's my husband's birthday on Tuesday and still have NO idea what to get him. Time to focus on the here and now for the next several days.

As always, thank for checking in.

-kelly