Frosties on board!!!

SNOWBABIES! FROSTIES! SNOWFLAKES!!!

These are our two blastocysts currently residing in the ute. DH is typing this for me right now (Hi everybody!) since I am currently on day two and a half of self-ordered bed rest.

The FET was on 3-11-11 at 11:45 -- suppose to be at 11:45. To make a long story short the time the actual FET took place was 12:35 PM. When the RE finally came in he said that we had two embryos ready to go. I asked if these were the two highest quality blasts that were suppose to be thawed as discussed with the nurses several times before the FET. So, I questioned, since things often go wrong, "Is our 6AA one of the two?" Our smart ass RE quickly replied, "You don't have a 6AA embryo." I said, "Uh, yes we do. The nurses told me about the 6AA several times and I've seen the paper work. They were also suppose to unthaw the highest quality embryos first." He then, in an attempt to prove that he was right, because he never thinks he is wrong, told the embryo techs to give him the papers back and, lo and behold, I was right. As I knew I was because I had seen the papers a bazillion times before.

What happened next is something I question to this very moment. Instead of admitting that they made a mistake it seemed like he was doing nothing other than covering his own ass. He babbled on about something to do with the 6AA not being the best embryo, blah, blah, blah. This of course to me is ironic since he had no knowledge that we even had a 6AA embryo a few seconds ago. Also, ironic that they have a grading system that means nothing.

So, what's inside the ute currently? A 5BB and a 4BB... I think.

I felt like from that point he was more agitated than anything and he felt like having a conversation about the crappy governor and bad excuse for a repair bill that is screwing Wisconsin since my husband and I are both teachers. A 15% pay cut is not exactly the best stress reliever during and FET procedure. Especially when the RE lives in a different state and has no idea what he's talking about... again.

To add to this awesomeness, the two nurses running the ultrasound machines couldn't even find the freaking uterus on the screen. They actually had to switch jobs at one point.

So, the moral of my story, the RE office was clearly not on its "A" game. I was the only FET that day and the last appointment. I was the only one in the back office and I could tell I was not their top priority. This PISSES ME OFF. But, I'm suppose to be calm, right?

So, right now I'm trying to ignore the stupidity of nurses on cell phones and people that can't do their jobs, when I'm doing way more than my part.

So, how do I make myself feel better about this whole situation? I ask for FET success stories on the chat. I look at my clinics success rates, which are clearly good for IVF, but not as hot for FET, and make DH prepare mac and cheese for this afternoon.

In other news, one of my blasts had hatched before FET. Kinda cool, huh? If you see the top picture, part of its goo is spilling out of its shell. Statistics say, this Wednesday, 3-16, would be the last day for implantation to occur. I am really going to try hard to do absolutely nothing until Thursday morning despite the fact that I have to go to work everyday this week. How am I going to do this? I have no clue. I'll let you know how it goes.

House arrest, day 3.

The days since ET have flown by laying in bed. It's the next week until BETA that I am afraid of. I have no idea how I'm going to think of anything but the two blasts in my ute! I have to go back to work tomorrow, catch up, do lesson plans, grade, stress, do two photo shoots and somehow stay low-stress and motionless until next Monday's BETA. (Which I will be thinking of all day THAT day).

So what happened over the last few days?

Saturday:

DH survived the night of being sick and was one hell of a trooper. He drove us down to the RE around 10am. At 11:15am we arrived and were taken back into our little 'curtained room'. My bladder was wayyyy full and ready to go. (You need a full bladder for this procedure so it will actually 'lift' up your uterus at a better angle).

Very soon afterwards, we were taken back and I undressed on the bottom half. I laid back and waited for the RE to arrive. He asked us how many we were putting in. We both said, "TWO!!!"

He put in the "spreader" and cleaned off my cervix (the worst part). Then they turned on the BIG screen. DH and I could see it all (The ultrasound) on a huge TV. He then put the catheter into my uterus. We could actually see it moving on the screen.

He then asked us to identify our embryos on the screen. They switched to the microscope and the was our last name, in huge letters. We didn't even see the two little dots that looked like to tiny water drops staring back at us. They looked like eyeballs!!! They were the cutest thing I've ever seen. DH and I will never forget it. Our blasts! Our babies!!!

They then sucked them up into the tube and we watched them slip them into my cervix through the catheter. Crazy. Two BB blasts into my ute!

RE said, "Looks like twins to me." He said he thinks it looks really good for us.

That was it. It was over. VERY low pain. It was an amazing experience and I got to leave with the photo of our little blasts!

The nurse rolled me back out to my room where I laid still for almost an hour. I talked with DH and listened to music, mostly Michael Jackson :)

At 12:47, I got to pee! I was so worried that I'd lose the blasts during the process--but I know that is silly.

Afterwards, DH and I packed up and left for home--all FOUR of us.

For the rest of the day DH and I laid around the house. DH moved the bed in front of the TV downstairs and we watched TV and talked about how crazy this all is.

The highlights from Sunday are the same except for one. The nurse called from the RE's office and said "Incredibly, ALL of our embryos are blasts and made it to freeze!" That's FOUR snowbabies!!!

To celebrate, we sat on the couch and bed like lazy butts! It was great. My back is hurting for sure, especially since we are still doing progesterone in oil shots nightly.

Today, Monday, DH went back to work. I am trying to ignore school work and take it easy. But now I have these THREE HUGE estrogen patches on my lower abdomen. DH helped me place them before he left for work. I swear they make me feel weird and kinda dizzy. But it's necessary to support the pregnancy--So, bring it.

In the meantime, I will be careful about every step and laying in bed upon arrival at home each day. I really hope to see two bright pink lines at the end of this week. I hope that our beta gives us HUGE numbers.

Nuzzle in little ones, Mom and Dad can't wait to meet you!

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!

A day without stims. . .

10.9.10

I spent my early Saturday morning driving to the RE for the 7th day in a row. They took my blood and did an ultrasound--again. Nothing out of the normal but we knew it would be Monday or Tuesday for the ER.

On the way home Dh and finally stopped at this "pancake house" we pass each visit to the RE.

It. was. awesome.

I had raspberry compote and cream cheese stuffed french toast with bananas on top. DH had a huge veggie skillet with hash browns underneath. If the eggs don't want to be made into babies for a piece of that in their future-- I don't know what else to do. :)

After a few hours we go the call.

My test results are listed on the side bar again. But in addition to that, they told me, "You're coming in Monday." AHHH Crazy!! It is time!!!

My egg retrieval will be this Monday at 9:10am. I need to be there by 8:40am to get settled and ready so that they can get started exactly 34 hours later. Hopefully, the eggs/follies won't have release before then!

I will have IV "twilight" sedation. I will also be wearing my lucky socks, my "exchange necklace", my horseshoe necklace, my feather (honeymoon gift) necklace and anything else I can find that will be lucky. Anyone else have thoughts!!?? :)

They told me I was DONE with Lupron, Gonal-F and baby aspirin. The only shot for the night was 10,000 units of HcG at 11:10pm.

Other guidelines include:

• No "sexy-time" until the ER.
• East and drink nothing after midnight Sunday.
• NO perfume, lotions or fingernail polish.
• DH needs to be there to make his "fresh deposit" and drive me home.
• Wait for call from anesthesia office to call with info.

After the ER on Monday, they will check out the eggs and fertilize them with DH's sperm. I will have to decide tomorrow whether we are doing ICSI or not. I prefer NOT to do ICSI unless we only have very few eggs or very low quality sperm. In light of all the 'technical and medical' interventions we have had to go through so far, I'd like to at least keep the fertilizing step up to mother nature--kinda, I mean, it's still happening in a dish. But, I think you get my point. I'd prefer not to have the selection of my child chosen by some nurse I've never met. I prefer the "throw them all together and see what happens" method.

After they have fertilized the eggs-now embryos (which ever method) we wait to see how they grow and divide. They will call me by Tuesday before noon. (See: I will be freakin' out all day until I know). At that point we will have information about how many eggs were successfully fertilized, what grade the embryos are, and how many they suggest putting in (we hope for at least two). If there are only a few embryos we will most likely do a "day three transfer" which would be Thursday. If there are many to choose from that are all progressing well, we will do a "5 day transfer" also known as a "blast transfer".

I will not post again until tomorrow after the ER. I hope all goes well and that my original 43 follies turn into some great numbers tomorrow. Wish me luck-- I'll see you on the flip-side. . . probably ten pounds lighter! :)

In the middle of the last week. . .and in the middle of nowhere.

(Above: "Steve").

My DH and I are on our annual wedding anniversary camping trip. This year we celebrate being married for two years.

We camp each year because that is pretty much how we spent our honeymoon; camping across the Western U.S. This trip, we have set up camp in Peninsula State Park in good 'ol North Eastern, WI. It's awesome!
They have Lake Michigan surrounding the park, hiking and bike trails, good food, little shops, camping spots, and the people are pretty friendly around here too. Today we went kayaking across the lake, soaked up some sun, swam, and fed "Steve" the chipmunk.

And schanzy as all of this is, I just keep thinking how I have 4 more days until I can test! Or at least during the down times, that's what I think about. "Za Goat(s)" have now become "Blastocyst" and "Embryo". We talk like they are in there. . . and all we can do is hope and pray that they are.

Happy 2nd Anniversary, DH! I hope we give each other the best gift EVER!