Erica Joyce Photography BLOG

Monthly Archives: June 2008

Monday, June 30, 2008

{ Getting Back To Business }

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After a quick and hectic weekend…it’s back to business today ( well, actually it was back to business yesterday ). I was in west Texas over the weekend for a funeral, and coupled with some bad weather here in DFW & in Midland/Odessa, made for some awesome airport fun for a few hours!

Anyhow – I’m making it a mission to get all follow-ups done today and begin the final stage of the processing of our friend’s Wade & Mel’s wedding that we shot a few weeks ago down in Mexico. The photos in this post are all from their wedding.

———— IVF UPDATE # ??? (I lost count) ————

Let me think – what was the last update about…oh yeah, the cells divided and the transfer was scheduled. So, we did the transfer on Friday afternoon and everything went great – we even got to see a couple of photos of our little embryo cells divided. So they picked the “best” two looking cells – and that is what was transfered. The lab called Erica on Saturday and informed her that none of the remaining cells progressed to the next stage and therefore none of them could be frozen should we need to transfer again.

So as of this point, we are hoping and praying that at least one of the two cells transfered will take and in two weeks we are hoping we have a positive pregnancy test! Keep your fingers crossed!

Now you are up to date! I hope everyone has a great week!

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Tags: wedding, Mexico, IVF

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Photos

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

{ IVF Status & A Challenge }

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OK, wow, where do I begin. The last few days on the IVF trail have been CRAZY. So we received a call on Monday from the IVF lab that we only had two cells fertilize and divide and that the other three weren’t really doing much. So they scheduled the “transfer” for today at 12:30pm…well Erica receives another call from the lab today to tell us that there was an update.

So as of today, the other cells that weren’t doing a whole lot started “dividing”…yes – this is an awesome thing! They called once again shortly after the other call – “you have 4 excellent cells and 1 good cell”. What a relief!

Our plan was going to be – transfer the two that we thought we had and pray for the rest. At least now we have a bit of a “cushion” and the transfer has been rescheduled for Friday to give the cells a little more time to progress. Thanks everyone for your continued support and prayers.

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{ The Challenge }

OK – our awesome friends at Photogenic Images, Jason & Dori, have issued a challenge to me personally! We recently added a new set of Photoshop actions to our arsenal to give us many more options when it comes to processing. The new set is awesome and has some amazing results with hints of brown and vintage touches all over the place.

Anyhow – Dori challenged me – post your best image on the blog before midnight using these new actions – winner receives a big-a$$ bag of coffee! Oh yeah!!!

Dori – I’ve enclosed a photo of the coffee that I’d like when I win!!!!

Be sure to go over and check out their BLOG to see what results they were able to come-up with!

#1 – before

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The After

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#2 – before

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The After

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#3 – the before

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The After

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Let’s not forget – I’m up for any challenge that has coffee as a prize! Just as a reminder Dori, below is the winning photo from Bludomain that won me an iPhone!

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Coffeebeans

Tags: coffee, Photogenic, IVF

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IVF, Photos

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

{ Update to the IVF Update }

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OK everyone, for all you that get grossed out by the IV talk – cover your ears now….last warning.

OK, so we did the retrieval on Sunday morning and let us know as we were getting ready to leave, that they retrieved six eggs. The doctor was really hoping for more like twelve, but he quickly reminded us that it only takes one. So we left the hospital to head home to recover and enjoy a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Yesterday (Monday) the lab called to inform us that out of the six they were only able to “fertilize” five…but unfortunately only two actually fertilized and divided. I believe that it is common to get about 60% fertilization from this process, so two out of five isn’t really near the 60% mark. But once again – we reminded one another, that it only takes one.

So as of now – we are scheduled to do the transfer of our little cells tomorrow afternoon – and then the long anticipating waiting game begins. Fourteen days later – we’ll know.

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

“EJ – you’re doing great, and I am so proud of you.”

Blogthis

Tags: MadysinJo, baby, newborn

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IVF, Personal, Photos

Sunday, June 22, 2008

{ IVF – Retrieval Day }

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OK blog-stalkers, if you’ve been keeping-up with the blog you know that, one, I haven’t posted in a couple days and two, you know that I haven’t had any IVF updates in a few days as well. Let me just say – it has been a crazy week…but then again, when isn’t it a crazy week?!?

Erica has been self-injecting her IVF meds now for a couple weeks and she is doing wonderful with that! Friday afternoon the doctors office called and told her to take her “trigger” shot Friday night and be ready for the next step, the retrieval, on Sunday morning. So we head out this morning for our next step in this amazing journey.

Thank you to all of you for your continued support and love and prayers. We are so blessed to be surrounded by such great people!

(one shot from my new niece, MadysinJo)

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Tags: IVF

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IVF, Maternity

Monday, June 16, 2008

{ Introducing ‘Lil Madysin Jo }

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We just had an awesome session with my new niece! Little Madysin Jo has been officially welcomed into the world by Erica Joyce Photography! Erica & I had a great time with this shoot – it is always so much fun when you get to spend some time with the little ones like this. I think we even snuck a few photos of my nephew into the mix! Check out the photos below – and for an extra special treat click HERE FOR AN AWESOME SLIDESHOW.

{ IVF Update }

We’re still hammering away at all the injections and medications – Erica has to go to the doctor’s office now several times a week to get blood work done so they can graph her progression. If it all stays on track as it is now – we may be looking at a “retrieval” this weekend. Keep us in your prayers!

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