Welcome!

My partner, Baby Mama, and I, have started a journey together - one unlike any other we have ever taken but we know many others have done before us with varying degrees of success. We are starting the process of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, an assisted reproduction technology, or ART.

This journey started today, in fact. I had a "TESE" procedure done to retrieve sperm from my testicles. The surgeon came out into the waiting room to tell Baby Mama I had tons of sperm (a lot, anyway) retrieved and they were very motile (jumping around like a fish in the boat). So, I/we think that's good news.

I sit now on the couch with peas on my "junk" and hydrocodone for the mild ache in my groin area. It feels like my testicles, the right one specifically, is trying to retreat into my insides. I would too, I guess, if I'd been chased with a scalpel earlier in the day. Baby Mama has been great - she stayed home from work today to help ice me, feed me, and make sure I didn't go on a pain pill-fueled shopping spree online.

The reason I had to do TESE was due to a vasectomy I'd had almost two years ago. This was a principal reason we determined ART was required for us if we wanted to have children together. I'll let Baby Mama introduce herself and explain the other reasons.

I tend to write a lot, but I'll keep it short today. I have to change my cold peas ice pack anyway.