Fertilization Report

If you're visiting from ICLW, I am in the midst of an IVF cycle.  Our egg retrieval happened yesterday, and we're set to transfer on Monday morning.

It took all day for the clinic to call, but we now have news.

Of the 26 eggs retrieved yesterday, 15 were mature.  Of the mature 15, 9 have fertilized.  They were able to use Brandon's fresh sample for ICSI.  Janet told me that I would receive another call on Saturday.  She mentioned the possibility of having more or less fertilized at that point.  From there we should know what grade they are.  Please keep praying for our precious embryos!

I've tried to take it easy today.  Dad picked me up around 11am to take me to get my hair trimmed.  We met Brandon for lunch at Zaxby's and then headed to the store for a few items.  I was completely worn out when we got back home.  My abdomen is still super tender and I've had to take the pain medicine.  I can't even carry my purse without feeling it in my tummy.  Dad watched tv in bed with me all afternoon and I slept on and off.  I'm going to try to go to work tomorrow.  I'm not sure if I'll make it all day, but I have to try. 

I am overwhelmed right now.  We have embryos. =)  We're parents.

For all things relating to my journey with IVF go to my IVF Schedule page.

Egg Retrieval

Dr. Houserman retrieved 26 eggs today!

This is a LONG post about the events of our day.

I was so nervous and excited this morning.  I woke up before my alarm clock, got cleaned up, and gathered my things.  Dad showed up around 6:45am and we left the house at 7am.

We showed up to the office right on time.  It felt like it took me forever to get there because my ovaries felt like they were on fire.  It was painful to walk.  My body knew it was time to get those eggs out!  Dad stayed in the waiting room when they called us back.  I got to wear a lovely hospital gown with matching socks and a hair net.

Before

 We watched tv and played on the iPad while we waited our turn.  They had scheduled quite a few egg retrievals and a transfer scheduled for the day.  Yvonne, my nurse, was great.  She got my IV started and kept me company when it was time for Brandon to leave and do his part.

Before

They wheeled me into procedure room where it was freezing!  I got super nervous up until they started my medicine.  I couldn't stop shaking.  I prayed to God and said the Benediction.  I feel like I remember part of the procedure.  I remember being in pain.  It was bad.  I don't know if I dreamed it, or if I actually felt it.

When I woke up after the egg retrieval, Dad and Brandon were with me.  (Dad said that he went to get breakfast around 8:30-8:45am.  He said that it was good.)  Around 9:15am, Brandon came and got Dad out of the waiting room.  They went to another waiting room that was smaller.  Brandon asked if Dad could come back when I was awake.  Around 9:20am, Dr. Houserman came and told them they could come see me. 

They had me in the middle curtain "room."  Brandon woke me up.  I kept falling asleep for a while.  Brandon said that I was super concerned whether or not Dad had breakfast.  Apparently I asked this same question over and over.  Brandon was laughing and Dad said that he got emotional.  They gave me a sprite and some peanut butter crackers.  I was so hungry!  I think I kept falling asleep in between eating each cracker.

Those drugs made me tired.

With Dad.  He's done so much for us.

Trying to wake up more

After I finished my IV, Yvonne said that I could go and get dressed.  Once I got up, I felt horrible.  My abdomen was hurting and I could feel myself bleeding.  Brandon got me to the changing room/bathroom.  I was standing so he could get my hospital gown off and started feeling strange.  This part is blurry for me.  I know that I passed out twice while trying to get dressed.  I passed out once while sitting in the chair.  I passed out again but Brandon caught me.  Yvonne came in to check on us and found me feeling sick.  My face was white as a sheet and my lips were blue.  They said that I passed out from getting up after being "put under."  All I know is that was the worst I've ever felt in my life.

 After getting dressed, they me in a wheel chair.  Janet (IVF Coordinator) came back to check up on me and she gave me another sprite.  She and Dad talked to me for a while as Brandon went to get the car.  I kept dozing off until we got to the car.  We stopped at Panera on the way home to get some lunch.  Dad then dropped off my prescriptions WalMart.  They gave a script for Phenergan and Demerol.  I slept on and off the whole ride home.


Back at the house, Brandon helped me get dressed into comfortable clothes and gave me lunch in bed.  Dad and Brandon both took turns checking in on me as I ate.  I took one Demerol at 1pm.  I've slept on and off all afternoon.  I'm still tired.  My abdomen is extremely tender.  It still hurts to move, sit down, get up, etc.  The bleeding has subsided for the most part.  Brandon's been busy all day (he works from home).  Dad's been laying in bed with me for the past hour and a half.  (I hate being alone when I don't feel well).

Liz is stopping by with dinner tonight.  I can't wait!  There's no way that I could cook dinner tonight.  Plus, Brandon's been busy taking care of me and working all day, so I know he's tired.  I've got some great friends!  

I should get a call tomorrow letting us know how many eggs were viable, and how many fertilized.  Our embryo transfer is scheduled for Monday, June 25 at 10:15am.  Our beta is scheduled for Thursday, July 5 (since they are closed on July 4).

Thank you for reading.  Thank you for praying and sending your well wishes.  I cannot wait to see what the next few days hold for us.

IVF

This is a video I found on YouTube about how IVF works.  I thought it would helpful for those of you reading who don't know much about ART.

I'm both nervous and excited about tomorrow.  If I was smart, I would have already went to the grocery store and had meals planned out for the next few evenings.  Not saying that B is a bad cook, but he will be busy making sure I'm comfortable.  I'm sure we'll make due.  Keep us in your prayers tomorrow! Pray for lots of viable eggs!

Trigger tonight; ET Wednesday

Janet called.  =)
e2:  3929
p4:  2.1

We are triggering tonight at 9:15 with 10,000 IU Novarel.  Our Egg Retrieval is set for Wednesday morning at 9:15.

Janet did inform me that I am at an increased risk of developing OHSS.  They have prescribed me Dostinex to start taking this evening to help reduce the risk.

Thank you for sharing in our journey!  We are excited to see what God has in store for us.  We have complete faith that He is in charge of our situation.

Day 9 Stims Check

We returned to the RE again yesterday morning.
6-17-12:

• e2:  2526
• p4:  1.5

My follicles looked great and they adjusted my injections.  We only took 75 units of Menopur and 5 units of Lupron last night.

We returned again this morning for yet another ultrasound and labs. Many of my follicles are maturing, and my lining is thick at 0.8 cm!  It should be happening any day now.

I am waiting for Janet to call me and let us know if we are going to "trigger" tonight or tomorrow night.  I'm secretly hoping that we'll "trigger" tonight and have the Egg Retrieval on Wednesday.

When I say "trigger," I'm referring to the hCG injection.  Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is the pregnancy hormone.  In IUI and IVF cycles, the RE instructs you to administer a dose of hCG to trigger the eggs to release.  

Waiting another day does not make much of a difference at this point, but I'm ready to get this show on the road.

My follicles look like they're smiling!

I will update as I know more!
Continue to check my IVF Schedule for updates as well!

Day 7 Stims

We had another monitoring appointment this morning.  Everything looks great!

At the appointment, the nurse still saw 28 follicles growing.  As we left, they scheduled us to return on Monday morning with a plan of triggering with hCG on Monday and Egg Retrieval on Wednesday.

*They called me with my lab results around 10am.*

• My e2  was 1842 and p4 was 1.1.  
• 6-14-12:  e2 497 and p4 .4

They have me scheduled to return in the morning and are tentatively planning for us to trigger tomorrow night and have the retrieval on Tuesday.  To say that were excited is an understatement!  Keep your prayers coming our way!

B in the waiting room this morning

My beautiful follicles 

Another picture of my beautiful follicles

Update to last post

After checking my patient voicemail repeatedly, I finally got an update.

My E2 is 497 and p4 is .4

We are scheduled to return to the RE Saturday morning between 7:30-8:30am for more ultrasound monitoring.  We both begin our antibiotics on Sunday.  

It's getting close!  

Day 5 Follicle Check

We had our first ultrasound/follicle check today. To say that I'm progressing well is an understatement!  We have 12 follicles on one ovary and 16 on the other.  The measurements were crazy awesome!  Some of the numbers I remember were all around 2.0cm, 1.8cm, and 1.6cm.  My lining looked great and was triple stripe!

I am still awaiting more specifics about my blood work from Janet.
I will update as soon as I know more information!

This is how we roll at the fertility clinic...

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Our anniversary was lovely!

Brandon made me breakfast yesterday morning and drove me to work.  We went to dinner at Joe's Italian with Rachel, Clint, Jennifer, and Dad last night.  When they brought dessert, everyone sang happy anniversary to the tune of "Happy Birthday".  It was perfect!

Our marriage may not be perfect, but you won't get any complaints out of us!  Here a few pictures from the evening, courtesy of Jen!

A candid of us while they were singing

Posed shot

Our fabulous dessert

With my best friend

Wedding Anniversary

We have been married for three years today!

Brandon and I married at Magnolia Springs Manor in Helena, Alabama.  It rained ALL day before the skies suddenly cleared for our 6:30 pm wedding ceremony.  With about 200 members of our closest family and friends, it was perfect.   

Our marriage has been less than perfect.  We have endured many trials, but overcome each of them together (with the grace of God).  Every day presents itself with new challenges.  The past two years have been extremely difficult for us.  We both tried to make it through our circumstances on our own and realized that we can't.  When we are seeking God, our marriage is easy.  God has used our Infertility to bring us closer together and closer to Him. 

I can't wait to see what He does for us and our family in the future.  My prayer today is that we are holding our baby on our next wedding anniversary. 

I thought I would share some photos of our special day.

 

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8