So Long 'Cyst'-er!

As I had said last week, Mackenzie was scheduled for an ultrasound in order to check up on the cyst that had formed this cycle. They changed her appointment to 12:15pm, so I was able to go with her after school. Our ride there was filled with nervous conversation. I think neither of us really knew what to think. We were hopeful for the best, but also preparing ourselves for a the probable Cyst Aspiration scheduled for Wednesday.

When we arrived we sat in the waiting room talking and joking around with Victoria (the do-it-all receptionist) and Marilu (the nurse) for quite a while. We really are so lucky to have such a great staff to work with on a weekly (daily) basis! They seem to really care about us as people, not just as patients.

Mackenzie was called back into the room for her ultrasound around 12:45pm. I can't explain how nervous we were ... I think Dr. Hickey was too ...

right before Dr. Hickey came in

Dr. Hickey began the ultrasound and went immediately to her right ovary... and then we all saw it...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! There was NOTHING there. The cyst was GONE! I jumped up and made a small yell. Mackenzie just kept saying, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. You should have seen Dr. Hickey's face. It was a mixture of surprise and excitement. I don't think he could believe it either.

When the ultrasound was over, Dr. Hickey and the nurse excused themselves out of the room and Mackenzie and I just burst into tears. We gave each other a big hug and tried to put ourselves back together. Then we met them back in the hall to talk about the next step.

They decided to keep our transfer date the first week of August. They want to give Mackenzie's ovaries some time to relax and regroup after the cyst burst (or whatever it did), so Mack will continue taking her birth control pills until Sunday the 19th. Next week she should begin her period and then she'll go back into the office on her Day Two. On her Day Two they will do another ultrasound and take blood work and that evening she will begin her injections.

I will continue as previously planned. I have another office visit this Friday and will continue all of my injections that I have already begun.

We DO NOT need to go in tomorrow, Mackenzie is free and clear! YAY!!! I can't even believe it! Thank you for all of your prayers - it sure is amazing how well they work!

After our appointment we met Kristen at Portillo's for a little celebratory lunch - yum!

Brian, Mackenzie and I are so touched by your thoughts and prayers. We can't thank you all enough. It sure has been a bumpy road...one that isn't sure to ever be paved. We wouldn't be able to make it through this without the love and support we have received from all of our friends and family. We love you all very much, thank you!

Oh! and keep them comin' - we're not done yet!

Tucker Alan Bea!

Along with the weekend, came the arrival of Tucker Alan Bea. Tucker was born on Saturday, July 11 (7-11!) at 6:41am. He was 19 1/2 in. long and I think weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz - Brian & I can't seem to remember! Sorry Tuck! His proud parents are our awesome friends, Tim & Stephanie Bea. We were very lucky to get the chance to go hang out with Tucker and his mom and dad for quite a while today at Edward's Hospital.

Here is our first picture together...

...and here is our second!

I love you Tucker! Love, Aunt Rachey

Tim's sister Christy meeting her nephew!

Uncle Brian and Tucker

me & Steph

Mommy and Baby

The Bea Family

I'm telling you...all of my friends have had the most beautiful babies! First Kailey, then Jackson, and now Tucker...Baby Witko is sure going to have a lot of friends when he/she finally gets here! I can't wait!

Nascar

On Saturday, Brian, my mom, my dad, Kristen, Eric (Brian's brother), & I traveled to the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet for the Lifelock 400 Nascar race. It was a night race which was really cool. The cars look awesome under the lights! Mark Martin was the winner - boo! but we still had a great time tailgating and cheering on our drivers.

tailgating

as you can see by my tank, my hat, and my drink
I cheer on the Miller Lite Racing team

walking up to the Speedway

family pic!

sweet seats, we could see the entire track

mom & I are listening to the drivers talk to their teams

Cubs/Cards Game

Brian and I went to the Cubs/Cards game on Friday afternoon. We sure had a great time, there is nothing better on a summer afternoon than sitting at a ball park eating nachos and drinking a cold Old Style! Too bad the Cubs are terrible ...I should have worn red like everyone else in Wrigley. At one point I could have sworn we were in St. Louis!

my two Cardinals fans & I before we left for the game
you can't see it, but Tripsy has a Cardinals collar

my dad's tickets...he has sweet seats

Pujols about to jack it out of the park

Always some Notre Dame love...Jeff Samardzija

No "W" flag flying after this game...Cards win 8-3

Never Easy

Remember when I said that the dates they gave us aren't set in stone??? Well, this week that has already been proven.


Last week when we were in for Mackenzie's Teach, ultrasound, and blood work, Dr. Hickey had seen a structure in her ovary. At the time they were just thinking that it was a follicle, but they were surprised to see it because she is currently taking Birth Control. Dr. Hickey wanted to see her again Wednesday, July 8th in order to monitor the structure and see what the heck it was up to.

At her appointment on Wednesday we found out that Mackenzie has an ovarian cyst - a structure filled with fluid - in her ovary. Instead of it getting smaller and going away, it had actually gotten bigger. Mackenzie cannot begin the IVF process with this structure and if it doesn't go away on its own, then they have to make it go away. On Tuesday, July 14th, Mackenzie will go in for another ultrasound and blood work, so that Dr. Hickey can monitor the cyst one more time. There is a small chance that the cyst has dissipated on its own and if so, then we're good to continue our process, as originally planned.

The more likely scenario is that on Tuesday the 14th, the cyst will still be there. In that case, Mackenzie will undergo a Cyst Aspiration the morning of Wednesday, July 15th. She will be put under anesthesia, they will take a needle and aspirate the cyst and then suck all of the fluid out of it. The funny part (if there is one) is that this is the EXACT same process as the Egg collection that Mackie will undergo when we get to that point. She'll be a pro!

All in all this will only put us back ONE WEEK! We are now looking at the first week of August for the transfer. After the procedure, Mackenzie will continue to take the birth control pill until the 19th in order to give her ovary a chance to recover. She will begin her IVF injections around the 24th/25th and then everything will continue as planned, just one week later than was first presented. Unbelieveable, huh?

I, on the otherhand, will change nothing. I will continue my Lupron shots daily and the Delestrogen on Mondays and Fridays, up until we are ready to go. I had my weekly appointment this morning and everything looks great for me. My lining was at 9.5mm! My next appointment will be next Friday, July 17th at 9:00am.

We'll just get this little Cyst out of the way and then we'll be back on the road. Please continue those thoughts and prayers, our little Mackie sure could use them right now. Let's all will this cyst to dissipate on its own!!! :)

Love you my sweet girl!

The Adventures of Trip

Our favorite activity this summer has been heading out to Lake Waubonsie. It is located right behind our high school, Waubonsie Valley. This is the lake that Brian & I use to have to run around in gym class. Let me tell you...it is much more fun now!

We take a nice long walk around the lake and then halfway through Trip even gets to take a dip in the water! We have enjoyed taking this walk together, but it is even more fun when we have friends come with us. So far we have had Parker Kerckhove (Katie K's puppy) and Pepper Milazzo join us at the lake. Please let me know if anyone else would like to meet up with us...we love the company!

Buddies, Trip & Parker

Katie & Parker at the dam, the midway point

Trip loves swimming in the water!

Come on Parker, it's okay, you can cross!

Pep and Krissy

Aunt Pepper with her niece, Trip

Two swimmin' girls!

Pepper would stay all day if she could!

Pepper standing nice for Kristen, Trip going crazy!

She is so pretty!

Whew! There's nothing better than a nap on the couch after a nice walk!

Trip & the Vet

Brian & our girl

Sleepy Puppy

I can't believe after that long post I just wrote that I completely forgot to write about Trip's visit to the vet on Friday morning! Thanks for the reminder Katie! I love it that you remember my week better than I do!

Trip's vet is Dr. Withers and Dr. Rybiecki at the Eola Point Animal Hospital which is right near our house, our friends, Matt & Michelle Shiles referred us. This was her second visit. We were going to the vet in order for Tripsy to get her last round of puppy vaccinations.

After the three vaccinations, I talked to Dr. Withers about Trip's eyes and how they seemed to produce crazy excess mucus all day long. I also asked about her ears. I know that Beagles are very susceptible to ear infections and ear mites, but it is so hard to clean them and I feel like I'm doing it every other day in order to keep them somewhat clean. Dr. Withers was also going to examine a stool sample that I brought in with me to make sure she was parasite/worm free.

I think Tripsy wanted to be just like her Momma...

Maybe she feels left out with all of the medication being taken in our house because I left there with eye drops, ear cleaner, ear drops, and then the usual Heartgard and Frontline. After I got home the Vet called me. In the stool sample that I brought they found that Trip has parasites. It is probably from the rabbit poop she just can't seem to resist eating. I had to go back to the vet to pick up the meds. Now she has to take a pill every day too. My goodness, now Trip is even on a med schedule! Are we high maintenance over here or what?!

Overall Tripsy is fine...she just loves to try to bite off my hands as I'm trying to put drops in her eyes and clean out her ears.

Lizzie & Trip on Father's Day

Me and my girl the day she came home
look how little she was!

me and my girl now...she has gotten so big!