Day 1 of "rest cycle"

Should have known AF was just around the corner when I found myself getting misty over the dulcet tones of the Jackson Five Christmas album.  Totally lost it during "Give Love On Christmas Day."  What, little MJ has never brought a tear to your eye?  (I sometimes dream of raising musically talented children who will form a sibling duo or quartet -- which is hilarious, if you've heard either Rhett or me sing.)

Yesterday afternoon, I got the urge to take Oscar out for a "frustration run" through the park.  We lasted two miles; the last quarter consisted of me stopping every 50 yards so as not to strangle my stubborn pup sitting on the grass.  He loves to sprint in one direction only but hates to turn around and go home.  We got back finally after what felt like 20 minutes of coaxing and there was the gift I've been waiting for. 

I did as I was instructed and called Nurse Anne.  Who else but an IVFer lunges for the phone when her period comes?  What will happen when no one knows my menstrual cycle after this is all over?  Will I got through notification withdrawal?  I'll have to start posting on facebook...

Shockingly, within an hour of making the Day One call, my phone rang and it was Anne calling back.  She was in an uncharacteristically chatty mood and told me all about driving to South Jersey for Thanksgiving at her mother's.  She also got around to instructions for the next month.  The whole FET cycle is approximately 21 days, which is longer than you'd think it would be, but seems simple enough. 

I call on my next Day One, sometime around New Year's, and then we start.  Less monitoring - every 4 days - and then more frequently once you start the progesterone for the last week.  Yes, there are lots of variables but hopefully if everything looks normal there won't be any roadblocks.  I'll be hearing back from Anne later this week regarding what protocol Dr. Hock wants to use.  I could do the standard estrogen priming or there's a way called "unmedicated" which relies on your body's natural ovulation.  The risk with using Estrace for 3+ weeks is that it will flare my Endometriosis but we don't really know how bad the reaction will be until it happens.  The risk of unmedicated is that you are dependent on your body's natural hormones and timing, which has its own disadvantages as well as perks. 

We shall see which one is recommended, though it would be nice to have a choice.