SLOOOOWWWW MOTION

This is worse than watching paint dry...I never dreamed I would be this antsy.  Fortunately, N & J are out of town...hoping they are having a great time.  I haven't spoken to her which is for the best for both of us.  I'm sure she is as nervous or more so than I am. 

Not much to post about...shots are going pretty good, I just sleep with a heating pad every night!  :)  That helps a lot! 

Talk to ya later!

WE HAVE A TRANSFER!!!

What a day!!!  Both couples went to Jacksonville today for the transfer, to say that we were all on edge is probably a bit of an understatement.  But after being together for a few minutes and throwing a few jokes around, we all settled down a little.  The Dr. called us back and told us that there was one Blastocyst Embryo and 4 Morula Embryos.  A Blastocyst is the ideal type that you would want to have transferred.  It is strong and has developed to this stage after 5 days, leading to a higher success rate.  N & I were a little disappointed that there was only 1 Blast - we even were discussing implanting 3 instead of 2, just to increase our chances.  J disagreed, arguing that we needed to stick with the original plan.

The clinic was as "busy as a hive" as our Dad would say...so our appointment was delayed for 15 minutes.  "Thank you, Lord" as our Mom would say, because the Dr. came in and said, "Guess what?  Good news - we have another Blast!!!"   So he implanted two Blasts!  The procedure was fairly quick, and then recovery room time was just 30 minutes.

We all 4 were more much at ease after the procedure...it's unbelievable how emotional this process can be on  everyone involved. 

So, I am tilted back at the present moment - on bed rest until tomorrow morning.  My K has been very supportive - he's cooking supper and getting ready to give me my daily shot.  What a guy!! 

We go for our first pregnancy test on November 3rd...they tell you not to take a home pregnancy test because of inaccurate results....whatever....

Thanks again for all the emails, texts and phone calls - we all appreciate every one's thoughts and prayers more than you can imagine.

Here we go........

OK, tomorrow is the day!!!  The procedure is at 11:00 am.  Both couples are going to be there.  I just spoke to N and we can hardly believe we have finally made it!!!  So exciting! 
The procedure only takes a couple of minutes, and then they hold me in recovery for 30 minutes.  This is not nearly as in depth as N's retrieval procedure.  Then it is bed rest until Monday morning.

Stay tuned....

SUNDAY IS THE DAY!!

Dr. just called N.  There are 11 eggs that are Grade 2 and 2 eggs that are Grade 3.  So, that means out of the 18 eggs that were captured, 13 of them were fertilized!!!  So, they are going to implant 2 of the Grade 2 eggs in me on SUNDAY!!!!!

N is feeling better, she was still pretty sore yesterday.  My shots are going really good so far.  K does an excellent job and I really appreciate him for stepping up to the plate to do it.  I don't know that I could give someone a shot, I would probably end up on the floor.  Here is a hint if you are taking shots, take all the weight off the leg where the shot is going - MAJOR difference in the aftermath.  The nurse told me to do that, but I "forgot"....will definitely not forget again.

Procedure is at 11:00 on Sunday, then I have bed rest that day and night and then I am good to go.  Then the first pregnancy test is a week and half later. 

We are so thankful, I can not even put it into words.  Thank you for all of your prayers and support.  Some people have asked me how to "follow" the blog - if you look at the top left, there is a link that says "Follow".  Just click it and it will give you the option to follow publicly or anonymously. 

Thanks again for all of the support....

RETRIEVAL

N did great!!!  She is sore and tired, but the Dr was happy how the retrieval went.  They were able to get 18 eggs!!!!  Isn't that amazing?!  So at this point we wait until Thursday afternoon for the 2 day reading.  Transplant will be either Friday or Sunday! 

Thanks for remembering us!

Retrieval Eve

My ultrasound went great today!  Dr. was measuring the lining of my uterus (sorry, guys - don't mean to gross you out).  They wanted to see at least a 7, but being the over-achiever that I am, it measured an 11!  And being the over-achiever that SHE is, N has about 20 eggs at last count!!!! 

She and J are at a hotel tonight - she goes in around 7:00 am tomorrow morning for the retrieval!  My first progesterone shot wasn't bad at all and N said the same about her trigger shot, so that was a big relief!

We had a great day together!  Dr. remarked again how much we look alike - we told him that we hoped that helped!  :)
It is truly amazing how all of this works! 

TRIGGER TIME!!!

OK - N just called me - she just had her trigger shot!!!  YEAHHHHH!!! And the best part - it didn't hurt like she has worried about all day!  So happy we have made it this far.  Thank you for all the best wishes and mostly the prayers....

m

TRIGGER DAY!!!

Doc decided that N will take the trigger injection tonight, so here it is....the week we have been waiting for!!  I go to the Dr. tomorrow for an ultrasound - Retrieval of N's eggs is Tuesday - Transplant will be sometime Friday, Saturday or Sunday!!!! 

We are so excited and relieved all at the same time!!!  Thanks for following...

COUNTDOWN!!!!

N just got out of the Dr's office and here is the plan...he has lowered her dosage of estrogen, and is trying to hold her off until tomorrow, but may have her take the trigger injection either tonight or tomorrow.  This is what stimulates the eggs to get them ready for the retrieval.  So, if she triggers tonight, then I go tomorrow for an ultrasound and the retrieval would be on Monday.  The transplant would follow 2-5 days after that, depending on how the eggs look.  Or she triggers tomorrow and everything is a day later...

WE ARE SO EXCITED!  N feels so much better this time.  Thanks so much for following along,,,,
m

Growing, growing, growing...keep those eggs 'a growing!

N went back for another ultrasound today - she has several 11's, a 17, some 9's....So, the next step is for her to have another ultrasound on Sunday morning...we should know more at that time.  But what she and I have "surmised" is that the Sunday doc is going to refer her to the Monday doc and then maybe he will make the call for a retrieval on Wednesdayish....

N is a nurse for handicapped children and as always she has her favorite.  This little sweetie can not speak for herself but she mimics what she hears her mother say...needless to say, she's a Hoot!!!  So, our family has become use to the Quote of the Day from the sweetie - And the quote for the day from N's little  patient:::  THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!

  Keep praying everyone...

Eggs-a-growin...

They are still growing....N went to her ultrasound today and the eggs measured as follows: a 12, an 11, a 9, some 8's and 7's....her estrogen level is close to 500...that is up from 167 last week.  She goes back for another ultrasound on Thursday.  The eggs and estrogen level should start growing faster toward the end.  

So, here is the process for those of you that are curious:  
At some point (hopefully, sooner than later), they will decide that the eggs are ready and they will tell N to take her trigger injection...this will stimulate the eggs and get them ready for the retrieval.  The next day, I will go have an ultrasound to make sure that my uterus is ready. The following day N goes in for the retrieval.  At that time the eggs are fertilized and then the "watching" process begins.  At any point between 2-5 days, they will call me in for the transplant, 5 days being ideal.  They will put in the two strongest eggs.  We should know if the process was successful anywhere from 2-4 weeks.  

Now this is all in VERY layman terms, but you get the jest of it....

EGGS ARE GROWING!!!

The eggs are growing, sloooowwwwlllyyyyy but surely!  As long as they grow, so we can have a successful retrieval!  The original date for retrieval was suppose to be the 11th, but N is thinking that they are going to push this back because they won't be big enough.  So,,,,she goes tomorrow for another ultrasound, we should know more then. 
Last Lupron shot was yesterday!  And as I kicked her sorry butt out the door, she left me with a killer migraine.  Just a little something to remember her by....sweet girl that she is.  
Tomorrow is a 4 patcher day!  Here's a riddle:  A woman wearing 4 estrogen patches on her belly, who has gained 5 lbs in the last 2 weeks, and is only allowed Tylenol and 8 oz of caffeine per day walks into the clinic to stand in line in order to get a flu shot......  how do you think that went, ladies and gentlemen???

RIGHT ON TRACK!!

"Everything looks good, you're right on Track,"  - Dr's remarks for Niesa!!!  WHEW! What a relief, I know that I feel better, hopefully, N does too....She goes back to Dr. for another ultrasound on Wednesday.  Her measurements were a few 4's, a few 5's and one 7!  We'll take it!

NERVOUS NELLIE

N goes for a sonogram tomorrow to see if the eggs are growing...this past week has been horrible for her as far as headaches.  She also has back pain, which is concerning.  She is nervous that the eggs are growing too fast...we really really need some good news.  The Lupron is making her weepy, but I, on the other hand, could go postal at anytime.  Especially, when everyone from the Nurse to Dog Groomer is taking advantage of her. 

I know if we can just get to the retrieval that this will work..We will know soon enough!  At this time the Retrieval is set for October 11th and Transplant is October 16th.   Will keep you posted...