Sleep!

Sleep, its all I do with my life. Since I have had to quit going to the gym that cut out what time I have to get up in the morning. Which meant I just started sleeping until I wanted too. Not a really good habit since school starts Wednesday. Also, since I can't really do anything anyway, I lay on the couch a lot. Got in the habit of taking a 2-3 hour nap a day. Also, not a really good habit for going back to school. But, I swear I am so dang tired. Pretty sure my shot that I take could keep me in bed forever! It makes me feel like I have never slept before. Blah! So who knows how on Wednesday I am going to get up at 5:45 and work a full day. I may die.

Bedrest

So I had to be on bed-rest yesterday after my transfer and today. I have to be laying down the whole time except to sit up and eat. So, as you can imagine, meals are my favorite time of the day! This morning I watched some TV, cut out some laminated stuff for school, and watched some TV. G made me a waffle (well the frozen kind you put in the toaster- but still yummy) for breakfast, a pb&j with Cheetos for lunch, and he is grilling burgers for dinner! I basically can't wait! We watched Varsity Blues earlier because clearly that movie can put anyone in a good mood, and I'm still deciding what to watch later. I accidentally took a 3 hour nap, which isn't good because I could have some difficulty sleeping tonight. But the progesterone keeps me kinda tired so maybe I will be fine. As I type G is cleaning the house! He is so great! Since I started FSH they said no heavy lifting which included the vacuum..so the house is a little dirty! I am glad that bed-rest is over tomorrow, and I have a doctors appointment so I get to leave the house! My progesterone shot was hurting so bad I wasn't able to sleep. The nurse said it could be because I was giving it myself. G's mom gave it last night (because he was at his football meeting- story of my life until December) and it doesn't really hurt at all today. Glad that problem was solved. I have to be back at work next Wednesday..ugh. But glad that it will keep my mind off the waiting a little bit.

Transfer Day!

Not really sure if I just posted an emtpy blog...my comp freaked out! Anyway, we had the transfer at about 10 this morning. We got there at 9, got in our scrubs and gown, took my Valium and just waited. The valium was a fun experience! I was totally in my happy place. The embryologist came in and showed us the embryo they planned to transfer. He said they recommended 1 but would 2 if that is what I wanted. I wanted two. Its just difficult to go through all this and think that you only have one chance. I feel better with two chances. The process didn't take but about 15 minutes, and really no pain. I am a little crampy now, but I figure that is expected. I am on bedrest today and tomorrow so just laying on the couch for me! I am just thinking good thoughts and hoping these babies like me, and latch on for 9 months! They were able to freeze 3 embryos today and would check in the morning to see if they could freeze anymore. I am happy with three! That gives us a good number if we want to do it again. Here are some pictures of our embryos and me and G in our surgery gear!

Transfew

Day 2 embryos

We are on track for a day 5 transfer on Monday at 9am! It was supposed to be at 1130, but they just called and asked if we could be there at 9 instead. My voice mail today said that we had 3 grade A embryos and 1 grade B. I'm not sure if they continue to grow or what, but I am happy with that number at this point. Hopefully some of the others will catch up by Monday. I am used to hearing from them everyday, but I have to wait until Monday to see how they are doing so I'll just keep praying they grow like they are supposed to!

I started my progesterone shot on Wednesday. OUCH! It goes in the hip/butt. Doesn't really hurt when it first goes in, but give it about 30 minutes and my butt is on fire. It feels like a charlie horse that never goes away.

Yay for my embryos!

Just called my voice mail box to check on my embryos today. They got 16 eggs yesterday in retrieval. They did ICSI (due to G's low sperm count, they have to actually put the sperm in the egg instead of letting it go through itself in the dish) on 14 eggs, and 12 fertilized! I hope that they continue to grow into healthy little embryos before Monday when they go back in to make their home for 9 months!

Retrieval

Had my retrieval at 1015 this morning. Its 500 in the afternoon, and I finally might be awake. I came home and ate some lunch because I had to take an antibiotic that you cant take on an empty stomach. After that, I have been snoozing big time. They said there might be some stomach cramping like period cramps. My stomach really hasn't hurt that bad. It has hurt for the last week from the eggs so that's about what it feels like still. It hurts a little worse when I get up and walk around. I told G that the worse pain I am having is from the IV in my hand. My hand is so sore, but she had a hard time getting a vein she could put it in. As for the retrieval, we went in at 915. Got into a hospital gown that completely didn't fit, and one of those little hats to cover my hair. My room was freezing so my fingernails were purple. They told me to bring socks, so I was glad I did that. Next, they came in and put in my IV of fluids. I laid in there for awhile, they made me pee twice. About an hour later two ladies came in and gave me some meds that "would make me not care". Effective. I remember then rolling me down to retrieval and putting me on the OR bed...then gone. I woke back up in the room. G says I was talking crazy, but I don't remember any of that. Laid there for about 45 minutes and then had to get up and go to the bathroom. Also, an interesting experience. Got my IV out, got my clothes on, and they wheeled me down to the car. I was good and awake by that point. We stopped at subway to get me some lunch and at the pharmacy to get Valium filled for transfer day on Monday. They got 16 eggs out today. I feel really good about that. They say that about half of those are good, and about half of that will fertilize at the best state. So keeping my fingers crossed for my little embryos as they grow over the next few days! Here are some pictures from today.

Getting Close!

We are finally getting close to retrieval and transfer day! Yesterday was a little crazy. I had an in-service at 830 in Coopertown, had a doctors appointment in Nashville at 1100, back to Coopertown to finish up my in-service, to school to get my class roll, home for like 10 minutes, girls prayer group, shot at 1115, bed at 100am. Whew! Normally G goes to my appointments with me, but since I was coming from my in-service I just went by myself yesterday. I had my usual blood work, and then an ultrasound just to check on my eggs. My voice mail box last night let me know that I was done with my FSH! I was very excited because my stomach was really starting to hurt and bruise! She also let me know that I would take my trigger shot at 1115 last night to get ready for my retrieval on Wednesday at 1015. Went back today just to do some blood work and then talk with an IVF nurse about what to expect tomorrow. My retrieval is at 1015. Have to be there at 915. No food or drink after midnight tonight. I figure I will be pretty out of it most of the day tomorrow. I don't really do well with any kind of procedure. Tomorrow, I will also start my progesterone shots. They are a fairly large needle that goes in the butt. Everything I have heard about them- no fun! G will have to give those, so I hope it goes smoothly! I will also start another steroid tomorrow and an antibiotic. The antibiotic will most likely make me sick, so I am prepared for that. After tomorrow I will call my voice mail box and check on the quality of my embryos everyday. The plan is to do the transfer on Monday the 25th. They really only wont to put 1 in due to my age, but I'm fighting for 2 :)

Last night I was so lucky to get to go to a prayer group with some awesome girls. A friend of mine went through IVF almost exactly a year ago. I think her transfer was the 27th! Anyway, she had a prayer time over her procedure last year, and she wanted to do the same for me. It was amazing the wonderful women of God that don't even know me, but do know how powerful prayer is and wanted to be there to pray for me. My mom and mom-in-law went with me. It was awesome to be surrounded by all that prayer, and it gave me some hope that things are going to work out for us! She has the cutest baby to show from her IVF :)

Ultrasound 2

Went in this morning for another ultrasound and estrogen level check. Mine was 700 something..whatever that means! To get results, they give you a voice mail box- which I think is genius- because you don't have to talk to anyone, and they don't have to spend all day trying to get a hold of people. Anyway, just checked mine and they said to keep on with my FSH, start Ganirilex tonight, and keep on with my steroid pill. I do that tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday. Back to the office on Monday. The fun part about Monday is that I have an in-service from 830-330. Really don't want to make up those hours so I am going to go to my in-service, run to the doctor at 11, go back to in-service for the rest of the day. I hope no one notices that I am gone, but luckily some of it will be during lunch break. They are thinking my retrieval will be on Wednesday. Which would work out great because I am going to run out of FSH on Tuesday. The Ganirilex, which I haven't looked at yet, is to prevent ovulation. I think its a shot, but will have to go find it amongst all the other meds. My ovaries feel like they could explode at any moment. They feel very swollen. I will be glad when Wednesday gets here, and we have lots of eggs to get out!

Ultrasound 1

Went this morning for my 1st ultrasound to see how my eggs were doing. I have been taking my FSH, shot to help grow eggs, since Saturday. Went in this morning, did my usual blood work, and then on to the ultrasound. Its nice that the ultrasound tech is always the same lady. A LOT of people have seen more than necessary during this whole process! So anyway, she gave G a page to record some numbers. I am guessing it was the size or count of my eggs. Not real sure. I'm just glad that G was there because she was going really fast! I asked her if everything was fine because I was feeling some stuff going on. She said I should be feeling it, and will really be feeling it by this weekend. I was trying to explain to G what it felt like, and the best way to describe it is that my ovaries feel busy and full. I go back on Friday for another ultrasound, and then probably back on Monday. They should know when my retrieval will be on Monday. I have an in-service on Monday so maybe if I am not having my retrieval (which would be fine) its a quick appointment and I can still get to my in-service. I would hate to have to find six hours to make up, but if its retrieval day- I'd be fine with it!

Also on Monday, I have something really great happening. A friend of mine, who has a sweet baby boy from IVF last year, is hosting a girls prayer group that she has invited me to! I am so thankful for her! I know I have worn her out with questions, but I feel so lucky to have her for support through this.

On another note, I really am not good at doing unknown things for myself. I figure its because my mom, dad, boyfriends, or husband have done things for me my whole life. This being said, I was not able to give my shot to myself for the first few days, of course G did it! BUT, yesterday, I mixed up my meds myself and gave the shot! I was super proud of myself! I knew that G would be gone Friday night and Saturday night working a football game so I had to do then, might as well get used to it.

Have to be back to work August 3rd...ugh! Got my roll a few days ago. So far I only have 12 kids, oh how glorious that would be! However, I know it will be up to about 20 by the time school starts. I have to have my room ready by the 3rd since we have Open House that night. My room is pretty close, just a few more things to get out and organize. Also, I have got to put names on everything in the room. I am anxious to meet my new little ones!

First Shot

Well today was our first day for shots! Luckily I only have to do one at night. G mixed it up for me, and gave it to me. This one I take in the belly. I can't remember the last shot I had so I really wasn't mentally prepared. I have about the lowest tolerance for pain of any person I know..so everything hurts! It hurt, only for about 10 minutes and then I was fine. The bad part is, this is the little needle :( I also have to take a steroid orally. Can't really feel any side effects yet.

Today also started my no exercise. For a person that tries to do something at the gym everyday, this is going to be difficult. My nurse said don't do anything you would consider exercise and no lifting over 10 pounds. So I have some books ready and plan to do some reading over the next few weeks.

Along with all this, school starts August 3rd! I am soooooooo not ready.

Suppression Check

Well, today we went in for our first visit during our IVF cycle. They just want to make sure that everything is on track. I have been taking birth control for the last month, and it is supposed to suppress my ovaries. It did! The nurse had me all worried that it hadn't because I haven't started my period yet, but it worked. I told G, I surely feel suppressed. I haven't been on birth control in years, and I forgot how terrible it makes me feel. Glad that stage is over. G and I started our day with a walk. I am always anxious when we go to NFC so it was nice to relax this morning before we went in. I started with blood work- the nurse said I have to have blood work every time..yay! Then, I had an ultrasound to check out my ovaries. She said they looked great! Next, it was on to the trial transfer. This is just to make sure that they are prepared for everything on the day of the transfer. I figured there would be a few complications because there were with the HSG. Apparently my uterus doesn't "cooperate" and I have a narrow canal. I told G that a narrow canal sounds fun for delivering a child. So, she had to get a special utensil to help getting the cath through the canal. She said they would probably but a stitch in while I am under sedation to help with that on transfer day. After that she went back over how to take our injections that begin on Saturday. Luckily G will be here to help out! She gave me step by step instructions with pictures :) I got my voicemail box setup and we were on our way home! I go back on Wednesday and Friday of next week to check my estradodial levels. I think that is just to check and make sure I am growing enough eggs.

When we left the doctors office, we went over to see my aunt. She had a double mastectomy on Tuesday. She looked great! She was a little sore, but who wouldn't be! I was complaining to G the whole way there because my ovaries hurt from them poking around at them. Talk about reality check, she was handling it like a champ! We got news today that all her cancer was gotten in surgery, praise God!