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Yesterday we decided that we couldn’t wait until day 5 to hear an update on our embryos. I called the RE’s office and requested they call today with a 3 day update. Although I feel like I am entitled to this update I did feel annoying asking someone to call us…but I got over it quickly.

So today we got the call from our RE updating us on the status of our little guys and gals.  Of course we missed the first phone call and when I checked the message it was from a Dr. not a nurse. My heart stopped. I thought oh my god…something’s wrong. How sad is that? A Dr. calls to give me an update and I automatically assume all of our embryos are gone.  We had to wait over 3 hours for the second call, not that this isn’t stressful enough already.

But, we’re happy to say the news was good.  We have 11 of 11 embryos going strong.  Eight of them are in a perfect 6-8 cell range, and the other 3 are just a little bit behind. The runts of the litter.

The Dr. was really nice on the phone and we also learned a little more on how things went down with fertilization.  She explained that of our 16 beautiful follicles, 13 had mature eggs.  And the 11 embryos came from successful fertilization of that baker’s dozen. 🙂

Sunday is a big day.  This is the day when all the healthy day fivers will be biopsied for PGD and then frozen down.  We’ll find out the news on that on Monday.  So for now, we’ll enjoy the weekend as much as we can as we anxiously await the next step.

Thanks for checking in!

YAY! The nurse called and left a message because of course I was in a meeting at the exact time she called! 11 out of  our 16 eggs fertilized! This is really great news and Mike and I are thrilled. It’s crazy to think we have 11 little babies hangin’ out at Columbus Circle. 🙂

Today I’m feeling much better and I’ve had minimal cramping and no signs of OHSS. (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome… Google it, it’s no joke!)

What now you ask? Let the waiting game begin. My Dad always use to say “hurry up, hurry up, hurry up aaaaaannnnnd wait”…I totally feel like that now. Right now we are waiting for our day 5 biopsy (Sunday) before they will freeze the embryos that have survived. Then they will test those to see what if any genetic defects they have. Then they will call us on Tuesday to let us know what we are working with. Stress…

But for now…my heart smiles because we have 11 little embryos. 🙂

After my first needle free day in almost two weeks, it was back to the RE office for the big egg retrieval.  We were the first case of the day, and arrived bright and early just before 7AM.  After checking in, I was whisked backstage to prepare for the proceedings.  At the same time Mike went upstairs to prepare his “fresh specimen.”   I hear the provided entertainment was quite sufficient.

Meanwhile, I met my doctor, the nurse, and the anesthesiologist (who was late because he was pulled over on the way to work…not kidding).  Everyone was super nice and before I knew it I was out.  They tell me the whole procedure took about 15 minutes, but I remember none of it.  After I came to my senses, the doc let me know she retrieved 16 beautiful follicles, and was very happy with the result.  So are we.

Now we anxiously await for tomorrow’s phone call when we find out how many of them were successfully fertilized.  In the meantime, I’m resting up in bed while my fabulous husband cooks me dinner.  Protein, fluids, and prunes are the name of the game.

This morning we headed back to our home away from home to find out how our follicle friends are doing. GOOD NEWS! They’ve grown in size and number. 🙂 This is such great news and has really lifted our spirits. It’s true what they say about this process, a few hours can change everything.

We met with the nurse to learn about what the next 48 hours would be like. First she told us that we should take my meds as soon as we were done talking to her. So in the smallest room known to man we gave me: 75IU of Gonal-F and Menopur as well as 250mcg of Ganirelix.

Of course Dr. Mike did not disappoint and handled it like a pro.

The nurse told us all about the Trigger Shot and how time specific it is. She explained that I would be coming back to the office tomorrow AM to take a urine test to make sure I took the shot. To check if I took it? Here is my question…who lies about taking the shot?

We later found out that I should be given the shot at 8:30pm in my booty muscle, which we just finished.

Then we found out that our retrieval is Tuesday at 7:30am! 🙂

Now…it’s time to relax…

We had our day 10 ultrasound today and the follicles haven’t grown as much as we’d like them to. In order to do the retrieval we need a decent number of follicles to be above 16mm so we did the same routine tonight and will head back to the dr. in the am. Hopefully, there will have been some more growth, especially on the left side. Each follicle doesn’t necessarily have a matured egg in it so we really want a high number of follicles. Everyone think GROWTH tonight. 🙂

We headed to the Dr. this AM and good news, follies are growing and the party is on in the right ovary! The left…is still waiting for some more RSVP’s.

Left 6 Follies Measuring – 10.5, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10

Right 8 Follies Measuring- 13.2, 10.5, 11, 10, 11.5, 11, 11, 12

My follicles will need to grow to at least 18 mm for our retrieval to happen.  My right ovary feels like its going to explode and we are only at 13.5 mm.  So I’m excited interested scared to see how much more bloated I can actually feel.

What are the first shots REALLY like? Well, this was our experience.

I woke up and was across town by 6:50am to sign in for my Day 2 testing, early bird gets the worm. I was told to be at the office between 7:30-8:30 to have my tests done and I could sign in at 7:15 but I was eager.  Well I got there at 6:50 and I was #4 in line!

First of all how sweet is my husband? Look at what he came home with to celebrate the start of our IVF with PGD cycle.

This is our first night and I had to take 75IU of Gonal-F and 75IU Menopur. Mike prepared everything below and I sat in a chair and took pictures. 🙂

Step One: Take Gonal-F out of the fridge and leave at room temp for 30 min. I’m not gunna lie, the Gonal-F and the fact that it came in a pen threw us for a loop. So, we did what any adult our age would do…watched a few youtube videos about how to use it.

Step Two: Prepare the Menopur. Mix the saline with the powder and set aside.

Look at that form…it’s like he is a professional or something.

Step Three: Use alcohol swab to prep area.

Step Four: Pinch area 1 inch to the right and 1 inch below my belly button and inject Gonal-F. Release pinch and hold button on pen down for 10 seconds and pull needle out.

Step Five: Pinch same area of skin again and insert the Menopur.

Step Six: Clean up and drink water.  I was super thirsty!

Step Seven: Put on the Bruins and the Sox.