The Waiting Game....

I said I would never do IVF, and here we are, done with our 1st IVF.  I only said I would never do it because I never thought I would have to, but with the small chance of us getting pregnant without any help, it was the only way to go.  So, I am officially done with our 1st IVF.  After many doctors visits, blood tests and injections and procedures we get to play the waiting game.  Well, I guess I shouldn't say that I am done with shots since I still have to do my progesterone shot every night.  And tomororw morning I start my estrogen patches, that will be the easiest part of this entire process. 

Yesterday we had 2 grade "B" embryos transferred back into me, it is very rare to get a grade "A".  A week from today I will go for my first beta test, so lots of prayers that the numbers are where they are supposed to be and I get to go back on Monday for another one.  I am going to try to take it very easy this weekend and all next week to help my little biscuits cook.  We have a baby shower Saturday evening for some good friends and then some of our best friends are getting married next weekend so it will be a very busy 3 days starting on Friday. 

Eggs Retrieved, now it's time to fertilize!

The retrieval was on Saturday morning and went very smoothly.  After the retrieval we went to lunch and then headed home and I rested for the remainder of the day.  Poor Ben was so bored because I couldn't do anything and it was too hot outside to work in the yard.  I made a list of groceries and he went grocery shopping for me and then we ordered pizza and watched movies.  We watched The Switch with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston is single and wants to have a baby by getting a donor egg.  She sent out invitations that said, "I'm getting pregnant party!"  Ben thinks I should send out an evite for my transfer on Thursday to say I am getting pregnant. :)  It was a cute movie.  Sunday I was still really bloated and just sore so we took it easy for the day.  I was so bummed to miss Grant's birthday party, but I didn't think I could handle the heat that day.  They called that afternoon to let me know that they took 13 eggs, or biscuits as we have referred to them and 9 of them fertilized!!  So exciting!!!  Today they will call with an update of how they are growing and then the transfer is scheduled for 1:00PM on Thursday.  Luckily I won't be under anesthesia so I will be able to have a light meal and water before the procedure.  And Ben gets to go into the OR with me while they do the transfer.

Unfortunately it seems like everything in our house is breaking all at once so it has been a little stressful in the house because of that.  Ben noticed our fridge wasn't cooling on Sunday so we were concerned we would need a new fridge possibly.  But thankfully on Monday when he checked it, it was working great and still is.  And then our sprinklers aren't working so we have to call someone out to fix those, and then our pool pump is messed up but Ben and his dad can fix that.  We have a lot to be done in our backyard after Ben tore down our big storage building and the hot tub needs to be filled in.  He is stressed about getting all of this stuff done before we have a baby, but I tried to remind him that they don't come out walking. :)  But his concern was not having the time to do those things around the house because he will be busy with the baby or babies.  I reassured him that we will get it all done before that happens and he felt better after that.

Here we go!

It's here.  The ER, or TVOR (Trans Vaginal Oocyte Retrieval - gross!) as it's "officially" called on my paperwork.  It's tomorrow!  I go in at 9:30 am and the procedure will be at 10:00.  Holy crap, I'm nervous!!!  I took my ovidrel shot last night at 10:00PM to trigger ovulation. 

I received very specific instructions for taking my ovidrel last night, the ER (egg retrieval) and the ET (embryo transfer).  At the top it states, "Tomorrow you have the day off and no injections!!!!"  That was very exciting for me after weeks of injections and being black and blue.  Tomorrow I cannot wear any jewelry, make-up, perfume, deoderant or I cannot fill my car up with gas.  Apparently these can be considered embroyotoxic.  And I cannot have anything to eat or drink after midnight tonight, I hope Ben does this with me as well so it will be easier. :)

Say lots of prayers please!

Pin Cushion

I started my stim meds on July 5th and everything is going as planned, I am just bruised and very sore.  I do two injections every morning and one injection every evening, and in between that I take one antibiotic two times a day and a low dosage aspirin and a prental viatmin.  Ben is also taking the antibiotics so we can both stay healthy prior to the retrieval and transfer.  I knew the shots would be uncomfortable, but I didn't realize how bruised and sore I would be from them.  And since about Saturday afternoon, I have been really bloated and just feeling tired.  We went for an ultrasound and more blood work on Sunday morning and the ultrasound showed to be normal for a 6-day stim cycle, so everything is on track.  I had a few follicles, so hopefully when I go back on Wednesday for another ultrasound and blood work I will have more follicles and they will have grown so we can do the retrieval on Saturday.  Have I mentioned that I REALLY like my doctor, he is great.

This process is going by so fast.  It seems like we were just talking about starting it and starting birth control for the few weeks before starting any medications.  Ben and I were talking on Saturday about how fast this is going by since the retrieval will be this weekend and then the transfer the following week. 

A little evidence of the bruising I am experiencing on my abdomen.

Everytime I go to the doctor I have to get blood work done, and am walking away with bad bruises on my arms.  I'm sure people are wondering what all the bruising is from. :) 

Ready for Stims

I had a doctor's appointment this morning for a pre-stimulation ultrasound and bloodwork at 7:45.  Ben had to work a double last night, but ended up coming home at 2:30 because his boss said he has put in so much time lately to leave early.  Well I still figured that was too early for him to get up and go with me, but I woke him up just to make sure he didn't want to go and he asked if he could just stay home and I said yes.  Then he told me he was going and I said no because I didn't think he should be driving since he was so tired.  I finished getting ready, gave myself my lupron injection and then headed to the doctor.  Once I got there and checked in, I needed to use the restroom.  When I came back out I just sat in the closest chair and figured I would get out my phone to catch up on morning emails and got a text from Ben saying, "Sitting by yourself?"  I said yes and not to do this, I just thought he was being funny.  Then he responded, "Me too" and then another one right after that, "By the door."  He surprised me and came to meet me at my appointment, it was so sweet.  He wanted to be there with me and I was so happy he was.  We paid our labs fees this morning and then I went back for bloodwork and the ultrasound.  Once I got done with that they told me I needed to reduce my lupron from 10U to 5U starting tomorrow morning and to go ahead and start my stims on Tuesday like scheduled.  They said my ovaries look just the way they are supposed to look.  So we will be adding 2 more injections on Tuesday, one more in the morning and then one in the evening.  Ben is off until the night of the 6th, so he will be home with me on the first day of them.  We are having a date night tonight and going out for sushi because this will be my last time for sushi and wine.  Once I start all of my stims I have to treat my body as if I were pregnant so that means watching what I eat and no alcohol.  Also for the next month I cannot get my heart rate above 130 so unfortunately I will not be able to continue my morning walking with my neighbor, Karol.  But I will be ready to start again once they give the okay.  So for the next month I will be taking it easy and resting like the doctor suggests.