Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise

Monday, November 7th was our 3dt. On Saturday we received our fertilization report, but still had no idea what we would have still going strong until we arrived at the office. We were preparing ourselves for bad news while praying for good news. We had decided on the ride over that I would be happy with 8-10 out of the 16 and Tom being optimistic said we are shooting for double digits. Our IVF nurse met us in the lobby and told us they weren’t quite ready yet but to go ahead and take the valium. Then she mentioned that everything looked fantastic – so I asked “do you have the numbers?” She said we had

Three 8 Cell 0% Fragmented
Nine 8 Cell 5% Fragmented
Two 8 Cell 10% Fragmented
One 12 Cell 5% Fragmented
One 6 Cell 10% Fragmented

Which meant all 16 were still alive! I just squeezed Tom’s hand… we were both speechless! Not only are they all still alive but 14 were 8 cell – the exact size they should be at 3 days past retrieval. We had one Speedy Gonzalez and one who was a little bit lagging… BUT THEY WERE ALL STILL ALIVE – PRAISE GOD!

They brought us back into the same room we waited in before the ER. Again we sat staring at the framed collage of babies on the wall. The IVF Nurse came in and said that they were running behind and that we should be able to start our ET in about 10 minutes. Tom and I wondered if it was the same couple who made our ER run late as well (joking about it kept our mind off of what we were doing, what we were waiting on). I was floating – not only because of the wonderful embryo report but because of all of the water I had drank before the appointment (You must come in with a full bladder for the ET) and boy was mine full!

Finally it was our turn. I returned to the same bathroom with a line of lockers – my locker was available, Locker #2 I though this must be good luck! This time I was able to keep my jewelry on as well as my garments above the waist. I wrapped another robe around my body and returned to the room that just three days before I was there to remove my eggs that are now beautiful embryos! I was greeted by Tom, the RE, and the embryologist (Seth). Seth had to come in and talk to us in person, he said that we kept him busy and we had wonderful eggs and sperm. He believed that we would have 10 to freeze. The doctor also congratulated us on what we had already accomplished. Tom asked why we haven’t been able to get pregnant on our own or with IUI before. Dr. Sanchez stated that sometimes even though my tubes seem clear the sperm do not make there way up, the egg doesn’t make there way down etc. Sometimes we just never find out the reason why we cannot get pregnant on our own. Dr. Sanchez also said that if we ever for whatever reason decided to do another fresh IVF cycle (instead of a Frozen cycle) we would not need ICSI!

So then it was time to begin. I scooted down the chair to get into the perfect position. Dr. Sanchez comment on my perfect uterus and my very full bladder. The nurse pressed down the very cold ultrasound to my lower abdomen… she pressed down from the outside and the doctor pressed up from the inside. He attempted a few different things to get a good angle and decided that my bladder was TOO full. Right then the embryologist stuck his head out of a little cubby hole that is in the wall between the embryologist room and the retrieval/transfer room, to see if the Doctor was ready to be handed my precious embryos. I couldn’t help but imagine the Wizard from the Wizard of Oz sticking his head out of the door to the Emerald City and chuckled to myself. The doctor explained to Seth, the embryologist, that I had to empty “ a little “ out. Oh, sure Doc no problem… I was actually kind of happy as I skipped down the hall to the restroom looking forward to relieving a bit of the pressure. I was always told not to stop peeing once you have started as that will cause urinary tract infections, so this was not something I was accustomed to. TMI Warning: I let a little out, but still had to go pretty badly, so I let a little more out and began to panic – how much do I let out, have I already let out too much? Will I have to drink more? Oh, well what is done is done; I will just see what the ultrasound says. So I walked back to the transfer room questioning my urinating abilities. The Doctor was no longer in the room but the nurse checked to see what she thought and said we should be good so she went to get the doctor to try again.

Dr. Sanchez returned and explained to both Tom and I that he wanted it to go perfectly, whether that mean I urinate a little or drink more – he wanted to ensure the best possible transfer. I smiled at Tom and we both shook our head in agreement with the doctor. The doctor then said everything looked okay to proceed. I felt a lot of pressure, and kept my eyes closed thinking of accepting these beautiful rockstar embryos into my womb, and at other times I looked at Tom who was stretching to see the ultrasound pictures (he thought my bladder was my uterus so he wasn’t much help LOL). It took a lot longer than IUI’s did, and I appreciate him strategically placing the embryos into my uterus. He printed two pictures (one for my file and one for Tom and I to take home) of our embryos being placed into my uterus. It was the most beautiful picture that I had ever seen. I spent the rest of the day in bed with the love of my life, my furbaby and our two precious embryos.

CD 44 / CD15
Day 7 Doxycycline (10mg twice daily)
It doesn’t matter the time of day, with or without meals this sucks!
Day 2 Endometrin (100mg three times daily)
So Easy, but not the most convenient thing in the world

CD 44 / CD16
Day 8 Doxycycline (10mg twice daily)
Yuck!
Day 3 Endometrin (100mg three times daily)
Oink oink I will be a pig – because I am eating everything in sight!

Somewhere over the rainbow, Skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream, Really do come true. ~ Dorothy: Wizard of Oz

Ring Ring

We found out on Saturday November 5th that out of the 17 eggs retrieved, 16 were mature and ALL 16 fertilized. I remember hugging Tom in our living room and sobbing on his shoulder. It was better than what we could have ever imagined. We didn’t have solid numbers but it didn’t matter we had 16 little embryos with both of our genes sitting in Petri dishes two hours away. That was something in the past four years we weren’t sure could happen.

CD 43 / CD14
Day 7 Doxycycline (10mg twice daily)
I have 16 embryos – I don’t care how crappy it makes me feel… I am on top of the world!
Day 1 Endometrin (100mg three times daily)
Still doing pretty good with this white pill.

Even miracles can take a little time ~ Fairy Godmother (Cinderella)

Retrieval Day

The day of the retrieval I had an odd sense of calm, going in. I was concerned about what the quality and quantity of eggs that would be retrieved, but I knew in my heart I did everything in my power to grow the eggs that could some day be our ½ of our child(ren). I wore my white velour hoodie and yoga pants that I wore the day of our wedding (who cares if it was after Labor Day-I live in Fl people, we wear white all year long), along with a brightly colored tank that was pink, blue, aqua and lime green striped (I didn’t want to wear pink or blue, and green was my Great-Grandmother’s favorite color – I wanted to represent everyone), and some comfy Dr. Scholl’s flip flops. I packed the car for the ride home with plenty of water, crackers, vanilla wafers, a pillow and a comfy blanket… and we were off. Tom and I barely spoke on the ride there about what our morning would bring. It was a rainy Friday, and although we didn’t speak about the retrieval I thought about how I was born on a rainy morning and how are child(ren) would be conceived on the same type of day – that had to be good luck! The ER scheduled before me was late, she had problems getting there because of the rain, Tom and I wondered if she had a two hour commute too, but tried to cut our anticipation down by looking at the framed collage of baby pictures that hung in the room they placed us in to wait as we held hands. We signed our waivers, met the anesthesiologist and then it was time. The IVF nurse showed me to the restroom that had lockers that I could place all of my belongings and valuables. I closed the door and began to undress, placing everything in Locker#2. Before placing my wedding rings and my Great-Grandmothers ring in my purse I kissed them for luck and closed the locker door. I stood in front of the mirror placed on the bathroom door and stared at myself wearing a maroon hospital gown. I was staring at a face of an excited, anxious, worried woman who was finally going to conceive her child(ren). Tom was waiting in the surgery room with the nurse and anesthesiologist. I handed him the key to Locker#2 and sat down on the chair. The anesthesiologist began by hooking me up to the heart monitors, blood pressure cuff and finger oxygen meter and proceeded to give me oxygen. Tom noticed that I was not wearing my socks… he didn’t want my feet to get cold so he went to get my socks and then put them on for me. Another reason why I have the best husband, he is my prince charming, my soul mate and my best friend. The anesthesiologist joked about giving me the Michael Jackson drug (since the trial was still going on during this day). It was time for Tom to kiss me and leave me in the hands of the RE. The doctor laid the chair back and raised it up while I positioned myself on the chair/table hybrid with the knee stirrups. I was asked to take a couple of deep breaths… I remember thinking okay they better make sure I am asleep before they start. The next thing I know Tom is standing beside me and they are finished with the retrieval. It seemed so quick to me. Tom stroked my hair as I regained full consciousness which didn’t take long. I sat up soon after and we were told that out of the 17 follicles we knew were growing they retrieved 17 eggs!!! I had to finish the IV of liquid before I was able to leave, and was on bed rest for the entire day. However I was also famished, and asked Tom to stop at Cracker Barrel since we had a two hour drive home I knew I couldn’t make it all the way home on just the crackers that I had packed. I hobbled into the restaurant and was served quickly! I felt like I really needed to reward myself with yummy veggies before spending the rest of the day in bed. Tom and I spent the entire day in bed watching movies. It was such a nice day together – that we will NEVER forget!

CD 42 / CD13
Day 6 Doxycycline (10mg twice daily)
Because I couldn’t eat in the morning, I thankfully missed my morning dose although I took it in the afternoon. I am happy I am over half way done with this nasty aqua pill
Day 1 Endometrin (100mg three times daily)
Not too bad, so far no side effects!

Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway.~Mary Kay Ash~