Egg Retrieval.

This morning was the egg retrieval. I was really hoping that we'd have at least 10-14 eggs retrieved. After all, they told me I had such a huge number of follies when we began. I was nervous., but prepared. I had on all three lucky necklaces and my lucky socks.

We arrived at the back door just before 8:40am. I felt like I was now part of the secret club. It was a private entrance for those of us having surgery, ER's or ET's. Not necessarily the club you dream of being a part of since you were a young child, but right now--I am proud card carrying member.

I went to my own little room with a curtain. I got into the gown and had my vitals checked. The nurse then listed off a huge set of instructions and medications I would need over the next two weeks.

DH was then wisked away from me to go give a fresh sample. "The sample of all samples". DH said, "This is the most important 'jack-off' in 31 years of life." True, true.

I then waited. . . and tried to relax. I figured I'd go back before DH returned--but then, there he was! I got to see him again before I walked back.

When the nurse came to get me, I went to the back room with her. One final pee before the procedure began. I had to crawl over the stirrups and get hooked in. They began by using the speculum and cleaning off my cervix to prevent infection. That kinda sucks. I didn't have the twilight hooked up yet and I HATE anything touching my cervix.

The anesthesiologist then numbed where she was putting in the IV. Seems pointless to me. Why numb something with a needle that you're just going to poke with another needle?

Anyways, both finished what they were doing and I could feel the sedation begin to kick in. I kinda enjoy it. It's a weird feeling. I reminded them that I wanted a photo of each ovary before they removed the eggs and before I knew it, things begin to blur and it's a soft fade into sleep.

Before I knew it, I was in my room again with DH staring at me. I never even saw the RE. For all I know a monkey came in and did the retrieval.

I did know I was feeling pain in my ovaries and abdomen. Cramping and intermittent sharp pains in really specific areas on both the left and right side. I also began to feel some bloating and pressure.

Once I sat for a while and the nurse had done several rounds of checking my blood pressure and pulse I was able to use the bathroom (again) get dressed. There was some bright red blood but not much. Nothing that made me want to pass out. Once changed I also took a vicodin of my own supply to help numb some of the pain. My RE says I can take those as long as I wish. But I'm not going to take more than 1 per day--and only then when I really need it.

Dh and I then waited a long time for the RE to finally appear and talk to us. He told us they retrieved 8 eggs.

That's it.

I know I should be thankful I got any. I know it only takes one. But I was really hoping that we'd have more. I'd like to have a backup in the deep freeze, if needed, and odds are it's not very likely that we will have many.

Either way, he told us we do not need ICSI and that we have a few scenarios in front of us:

• If all 8 are fertilized, we will automatically have a 5-day Blast transfer on Saturday.
• If less than 4 are fertilized, we will automatically have a 3-day transfer on Thursday.
• If 4-7 are fertilized and look good, we will check on Thursday morning and then decide if it will be a transfer than day or Saturday. (This is the choice I want the least).

The last two options are the least appealing, but also the most likely. It would be a pure miracle if all 8 are fertilized--but I am hoping and praying or it. Truly, I am.

I accept all forms of support and good thoughts! We are hoping for our miracle baby or babies!!! Our beta is on Monday, the 25th-- I am officially in the 2WW--even without the embabies inside me! SO CRAZY!!!

Love you all, thanks for the support!