Here they are!

Aren't they the cutest little things you've ever seen?

We decided to put back 3 perfect looking blastocysts! And..... we were able to freeze 6! We have 6 totcicles! I honestly can't believe we ended up with 9 blasts! That is so amazing. I am so proud of our little ones!

So, now it's bedrest for 2 whole days! Time to catch up on my shows - thank God for the DVR - one of the greatest inventions ever!

Just got the call

It is so amazing to me how you can care so deeply for something that exists only in a cellular state. The embryologist just called with a progress report. First of all, she normally calls around 10:30 - today it was 1pm. Talk about nerves! My stomach tightens every time I hear her voice on the other end.

We lost one little embryo. The good news is that 12 are still dividing and looking good. She said that today they should be between 6-8 cells, and most of them are 8 cells. Ahhh - such little fighters we have!

I am on the schedule for Saturday at 7:45 as of right now. They will call me tomorrow to confirm the exact time. I can't wait for those little embabies to get nice and comfy!

13 still growing strong!

Our precious 13 are still going strong.... Grow babies, grow!

I think we'll be doing a 5 day transfer this time since we have so many embryos growing. For all of those who aren't too involved in the fertility world, this is actually good news. The theory is that 5 day embryos (blastocycsts) are the strongest ones and the most likely to survive and be free of chromosome abnormalities. The embryo usually makes it's way to the uterus around day 5, so the feeling is that it's the best time to transfer them into their more natural environment.

I learned today that the culture in which embryos are grown in the lab mimics that of the fallopian tube. Huh - who knew?

Fertilization Report

I just got the call from the embryologist at my clinics office. Everything continues to progress nicely and look really promising for us. Out of the 18 eggs they retrieved yesterday, 14 were mature, and they were able to fertilize 13! We have 13 potential little babies! She will call me tomorrow morning for an update and let me know how many have progressed. Keep your fingers crossed for our little ones. They need your blessings!

Thank you so much for your support and excitement during our journey! I love you all!

18 eggs!

Today was our retrieval. Dr. Lavy was able to get 18 eggs. I just can't believe it. I am in a bit of pain, but that's to be expected. We should get our fertilization report tomorrow. Hopefully we'll have lots of little embryo's!

Fingers and Toes crossed!

Back on for Monday

My scan went better than expected on Saturday morning. Apparently all the eggs grew quite a bit overnight and are expected to be ready Monday morning. Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well tomorrow! I'll post when we know our egg count tomorrow.

Looks like it will be Tuesday

Went for my sonogram this morning. We are still showing about 15 eggs, but they aren't quite ready for hatching yet. They range in size from 12-18mm. We need them all to be a bit closer to 20mm. The nurse feels it will be two more days of (3) shots - ugghhh - trigger on Sunday night, and retrieval on Tuesday morning.

On a side note, this seems to be at good time for IVF at my clinic. It isn't very busy and the nurse taking my blood this morning said there aren't a lot of patients cycling this time. She felt that was a good sign for us! And I'll take it as one!

Just for DH

Just in case any of you checked out my profile - my favorite movie is Porn. DH got a hold of the laptop the other night. I must have still been logged into the blog and he did some editing for me. Isn't he sweet?

Follie Check #2!

I am happy to say things are still looking good. I have about 10 eggs in the right ovary (they expect 6-8 to be ready on retrieval day) and about 7-8 in the left ovary! I told my nurse I was an overachiever (and DH won't stop making fun of me now!) Damn men!

Had to give myself 3 injections last night. I have to say, I did pretty good. I am proud of myself. No bruising either! I can honestly say, I never, in my life, thought I'd be giving myself injections, and be excited to do it no less!

Friday is the next scan. We should know by then if the retrieval will be Mon or Tues. I am getting excited.

It's working!

Your prayers are working! YAY!

My Scan this morning went great. Everything is growing as it should (what a huge relief)! So far, I have approximately 8 eggs in my right ovary, and about 7 in my left! No wonder I've been feeling a little crampy! LOL The biggest one so far is measuring 15mm which is a good size. They want them all to be in about the 20mm range when it's time to go in and take them! And my uterine lining is already 7mm (the goal is to be between 8-12 around the time of the embryo transfer which is still about 12 days away - so I'm looking good already). I have a feeling they may actually lower my medicine dosage tonight. I'll get that call later!

Thanks for all the positive vibes! I am so excited! : )

Biopsy

Things are still looking good for us. My nurse called on Thursday and said my biopsy results came back "exactly where they should be". That is the first time I have heard those words. Last Sept they came back 3 days behind, and in March they came back 1 day behind. Which my RE said was within the acceptable range. Not sure what caused the change, maybe it was the acupuncture, the chinese herbs, positive thinking, or maybe all your prayers are making their way up to our Gracious Lord! Either way, it's keeping me positive.

I really have been relaxed this time around. I am so proud of myself. No real "obsessing". Things are just kind of happening and I'm going with the flow! Let's see how I am in the 2WW - that's the worst part!

Follie check tomorrow - hoping for more positive news!

A Moment of Silence

Hello all,

I just wanted to take this moment to remember all those who lost their lives or loved ones on this tragic day, only 7 years ago.

I am always so torn around this day. It's not like I want to forget the day, I don't, but I don't enjoy watching it and reliving it on TV. The memories are still so vivid in my mind and will remain there forever. I don't think it's something we can ever really "forget".

I listened to the recaps this morning on my way in, and couldn't help but cry. I have said a prayer for all those who we lost and those who have lost their loved ones. You will always be in our hearts.

The only positive that came of 9-11 was the camaraderie we saw in Americans when this occurred. It was really heartwarming to see everyone fighting for the same team and be caring towards one another.

So on this day, love one another. Let this be a reminder of how precious we all are and what a great country we live in.

I love you all - God Bless you and America!

Ready, set.....GO!

So, I had my baseline sonogram this morning, and all is looking perfect! My lining is nice and thin and I have 2 perfect ovaries with lots of antral follicles! That means we have the potential to get lots of eggs! More eggs = more chances!

I am feeling very positive! I feel great. Not stressed at all. Sleeping great. I am just so excited to be here again. I asked the nurse who drew my blood this morning if that was weird. She just laughed! : )

So, we have our first shot tonight. Then I go back on Monday for another scan and start adding the other injections. We'll have a total of 3 per night at one point. We used to be scared to death of them, but now they are a piece of cake. I think they might be the easiest part of this entire process!

Thanks for all your support, well wishes and prayers. They mean so much to us!

Have I lost it?

Does everyone else belong to so many websites that they can't remember their password and log in for each one? Or have I lost my mind? I feel like each site has it's own set of rules. Must be a minimum of 6 letters/2 numbers/no icons/ and your pets name...... It only took me 5 tries to get into this site!

Anywho.... so it looks like AF is here. That's code word for Aunt Flo. She will probably come on full force tomorrow. So then I'll have to go for my baseline sonogram Tues or Wed and start the good injections on Thursday. I can't believe we are finally here. And I am not stressed out at all. Seriously. I swear. Maybe the fact that this is our 3rd IVF has something to do with it!

I saw this cute cartoon on someone's else blog. Yes, I am now a thief! I couldn't resist!

First Shot

First shot(s) tonight! I have to do 150 units of Follistim. I have 4 vials leftover from our May cycle and I am determined to use every last drop. Those suckers are expensive (thank God for insurance). Even so, I don't want to waste any. So folks, there's a good chance I get to stab myself in the belly 3 or 4 times this evening. No wonder DH (that's short for Dear Husband) scheduled to work tonight! Hmmmm.....

Thank God it's over!

I had the biopsy this morning. I was nice and relaxed thanks to my codeine. It was painful as expected. Maybe a little more so than the previous two actually. The nurse who performed it this morning didn't use the numbing spray like the doctors do, so I guess I felt a little more than normal. She didn't give me any warning either. Bam - just took the sample, and it was over. I guess I should thank her for that - I think it was the quickest one I have had yet!

So, now we begin! I stop my meds on Saturday, wait for my period and begin the IVF meds by Wed or Thurs of next week!

Nerves!

Well, I am getting that all too familiar feeling. Nerves. Gotta love em'. You'd think I'd be used to them by now. Not looking forward to this biopsy tomorrow. I have done 2 already. I know they are quick, and the pain only lasts for seconds, but still. Not looking forward to it. I'll take my codeine in the morning, so hopefully I'll be a little numb... or at least giggly! I'll take either. I think the worst part is not knowing what to expect. The first time it was my RE (not bad at all). Second time it was his partner (tolerable - but a little worse than the first one). This time it will be a nurse practitioner! I am sure she's done plenty of them, so I'm nervous for no reason right? It will be over before I know it!

Calling all Prayers

We are so blessed with wonderful family and friends who are more than supportive of our journey into "familyhood". I just want to say thank you to all of you for all your well wishes and good luck trinkets. You don't know what it means to us. We know that you all want for this to work for us just as bad as we do.

Before we start a cycle, I always go through the "do you tell or not tell everyone"? I think more recently I've been in the "tell everyone" phase. I read a report that said prayers actually make a difference and increase the odds! I swear, google it! So, we are calling all prayers.

I can't believe how quickly this is sneaking up on us! I am very excited and anxious to begin. It's kind of a bittersweet ending to the summer for me. Get all the parties over with, and now it's time to get serious.

Biopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, and I am pretty sure we begin the IVF meds on Monday! Armed with our fertility cross above the door frame, our miraculous medal and our newest addition the miracle silver rock, I know it will work this time.