2dp3dt

It's so exciting to be writing that phrase.  Of course, it also just means that I have a long way to go before my beta.  For now, I'm feeling good.  The 48 hours of bedrest is exactly what I needed to feel better emotionally, physcially, and spiritually after all the stress of stims, retrieval, and transfer.  I'm feeling good now and ready to return to work...that will at least help the time to pass a little faster!!

Anyway, this was just a  quick update since I have to start getting ready for work, but I had a question.  I have 375IU of Gonal-F that I had to reconstitute (from a 450IU vial that actually contains 600IU and I used 225IU) it will expire in 21days from today.  I would hate to just throw it away since it's worth around $200 and my clinic did not seem to keen on receiving it as a donation since it was already reconstituted.  Does anyone have need of 375IU of Gonal-F?  All I would ask in return is to pay for shipping costs...and maybe include a cool pair of socks for my next ultrasound or a good luck charm.  We used complete sterile technique to draw up the medication and it has been stored at room temperature and in the box for the past week.  There are also the extra little syringes in the box as well.  Just let me know if you are interested in the comments.  I can send it out tomorrow at the earliest.  Just let me know...I would hate for it to go to waste.  It will be good for the next 3 weeks too.

Happy Monday!!

The Eagles have landed...

that's what we are calling our little 8-cell embabies that we transfered today...the little eagles.  they landed back in my uterus today for a three day transfer.  the embryologist told us that the little eagles had no fragmentation and were very symmetrical and the doc said that everything looked good.  we are hopeful.  we have another 6 embryos that are still growing in the lab. wait, 6+2=8 and i said that we had 7 fertilized...well, it looks like one more caught up, which is exciting.  i'm not gonna lie, i was so nervous that they would call this morning nd say that there were no embryos left.  i couldnt be happier that we had 2 perfect little eagles that landed today and another 6 still growing.  my clinic does a 3 day transfer whenver they are able to distinguish the very best embryos from the pack, so thats where we are now.  i guess if i'm totally honest, i was hoping for a 5 day transfer, but it feels reaally good to have my embabies back home.  plus, i can finally relax (who am i kidding, right?) but we made it through all of the steps of ivf...suppression, stims, retrieval, transfer...now only one more hurdle to cross...beta on february 10th.  for now i'm pregnant with twins, resting comfortably on bestrest, and happy and thankful to be right here where i am right now!!

Fraternization...

This was the term that we used at summer camp to describe when a male and female counselor spent a lot of time together and we had a strict no fraternization policy.  This is funny because I met my husband at this summer camp and we of course spent our fair share of time fraternizing.  Anyway, for the past 24 hours, my eggs and his sperm have been fraternizing as well.  Here's the update.

7 fertilized.  The other 5 did not fertilize.  She didn't say anything about how many eggs were mature or anything else. 

Now, I just have to wait another 48 hours to find out if we are doing a 3-day or 5-day transfer.  After so much action for the past 10 days, it's hard to wait...as some of my fellow bloggers have said, I just want my embabies safe and secure inside my uterus (with it's nice plump lining!!)

I'm a little disappointed that the number isn't higher, but it's our first try at this and it only takes 1. 

A Dozen!!

That's how many eggs we got.  12!!  I'm really happy, but I know that this is far from over.  I just had these fears that I would go in there today and they wouldn't be able to get any eggs or only a couple, but 12 is a great number!!

The retrieval went really well.  We got to the clinic at 7:30 and the procedure nurse brought us over the the pre-op/recovery room.  Then, I changed into my gown and hospital socks and jumped back under the blankets and heating pad that they had because it was freezing in the room.  The nurse came back in and started an iv.  Then, I met the anesthesiologist who was really nice and friendly and my doc popped his head in to say hi before the started giving me the good drugs.  I kissed my husband goodbye and they wheeled me into the procedure room.  I remember the anesthesiologist saying that she gave me some versed and then I remember them helping me get my legs in position and putting the EKG and BP cuff and nasal cannula on...and I remember feeling a little dizzy, but I was trying to keep my eyes open...and then the next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery room with my husband there.  It was a very pleasant experience and everyone was so nice.  My husband left to go do his thing.  Side note:  in the room for him to do his thing there is a tv with a dvd player, but the eject button is broken, so every time he goes there he has to watch "Juicy," which I think is hilarious.  He was back pretty quickly and I drank some ginger ale, ate a york peppermint patty, had my iv removed, and got dressed.  The nurse then gave us the instructions about the PIO shots which we will start tomorrow morning.  Then, they gave us the final count of 12 eggs and sent us in the way.

I'm feeling pretty good now.  Minimal pain, minimal spotting, just a little nausea/dizziness, but overall I feel pretty good.  I'm looking forward to the call from the lab tomorrow morning.  Let's make some babies!!

Good luck to Charlotte at The Reluctant Infertile who had her egg retrieval today too!!  And thank you to everyone for your supportive comments and helpful tips.  I really feel like we have an awesome sorority here online that I know has helped me especially going through IVF.  Thanks!!

On our way...

We are leaving for the clinic in about 5 minutes for the retrieval.  I'll update later with the results!!

Here we go...

The Day Before Retrieval...

We pulled the trigger last night at 9:15.  CJ had to wake me up to give me the shot since I had fallen asleep on the couch.  It went well though since CJ is an expert at subq injections.  We'll see how he is at IM later this week.  I'm feeling pretty good today.  Just nervous about the usual stuff...how many eggs are they going to get, how am I going to feel tomorrow, how's will CJ's sperm look, will any of my eggs fertilize...will this work...mostly though I'm just stuck on the first question, how many eggs will we get?  Only time will tell and it's not too much longer to wait!!

In other news, I just made an appointment for a massage on Thursday evening.  I've been reading that's its good to do acupuncture or massage before a transfer to help with relaxation.  It's kinda expensive and it's definitely not something I need, but I think it will help and I have been super stressed out this past week or so.  I also have an appointment with my therapist.  My first one since we started stims and I hope she can help me with some relaxation/coping techniques for this week. 

Symptom-wise, I'm not feeling great.  I've very bloated and I've had occasional cramps and twinges and my ovaries seem to hurt every time I stand up or sit down or move around, which is a lot of fun since I'm working in a clinic seeing patients today and there has been a lot of sitting and standing and moving around.  I'm not complaining though.  I'm happy about the symptoms because it means that my ovaries are doing their job and growing some nice follicles/eggs.  The symptoms definitely make me happy, but it's tough because no one at work knows why I would be in pain or stressed this week or having to take tomorrow off, so I kinda feel like I've been living in a bubble.  It's nice inside the bubble though...just me, CJ, our puppy, lots of shots, and the docs and nurses at the clinic. 

Has anyone gotten a massage before transfer?  Did it help?

Trigger tonight...

Yea!  I did it!  After my scan this morning, the doctor annouced that I was ready.  So, the plan is Trigger tonight with Ovidrel at 9:15pm.  The nurse will call me this afternoon with instructions on whether or not I need to take anymore Gonal-F tonight as well.  Then tomorrow hang out.  On Wednesday, I have an appointment for 7:30am for the Retrieval.  CJ has his appointment at 9:30am and he's taking the rest of the day off to hang out with me.  I can't believe that I'm actually writing these words, trigger and retrieval.  I'm super excited.  I'm also super crampy and bloated.  I think the symptoms are definitely worse today but it may just be that I'm up and around at work and wearing real clothes as opposed to scrubs or sweat pants. 

Thank you to everyone for your support and comments while I was stimming.  I know I sounded a little neurotic about my levels, but I think it was the only thing tangible that I could really obsess over.  My goal for the next 2 days and 2 weeks is to stay as relaxed as possible.

Update: The nurse called and my E2 is now 2244 which she said was perfect.  So, tonight I will take Gonal-F 225IU (bummer because we have to open a new box) and then the trigger shot at 9:15pm.

Retrieval here we come!!