Positive, SO positive!

We got our results back today from the Dr. and it looks like we will be welcoming a new member (or members) to our family! We are excited and now just hope to make it to the 12 week mark with no problems. So far my hormone levels and Hcg levels look very healthy and good. In the next week will have our first ultrasound. Hopefully we will get a picture of the little peanut or peanuts to post on the blog.  

My numbers were sky high- Progesterone level was 84 and Hcg Level was 426. 

Good News to start the New Year!

2 perfect Blastocysts= 2 chances of success

Hey everyone,

As we near Christmas, I thought I would give you an update on what is happening with us. I have been on bedrest/house arrest (per Dr's orders) since Wednesday of last week. I can finally begin to venture out of the house tomorrow! Just in time for Christmas eve- like I will leave the house to go where? A crowded mall? A crowded grocery store...ok maybe I will stay in until after Christmas! Maybe I am enjoying being a shut in!

The embryo transfer went very well. We had 2 very good blastocysts to implant into my uterus. The Dr. liked the situation and said that he is positive we will have good success with this. We are keeping our fingers, and our toes, crossed. 

This week, I feel pretty normal. I have been getting my daily progesterone shots that both Jason and my friend Lisa are giving me. Lisa takes over when Jason is out of town. They have to be given every night at the same time. In my rear end. Yes, that is where it has to go. Humility goes out the door when the nurse draws big circles on your rear (the target) and you have to get your husband/friend to retrace the targets every few days with a permanent marker so that we know where to place the shots. I now have permanent marker "tattoos". :)

We hope this post finds you all well and in a festive mood! 

16 little embryos sitting in a dish...

This Friday I had the surgery to remove my eggs. They put me under general anesthesia and aspirated the follicles one at a time using a small needle. Thank God I was asleep for that part!

After coming to, Dr. Anderson told us that we have 17 good eggs and all is well. He prescribed that I go home and rest until the embryo transfer in 5 days. Now, every day we get an update on which embryos survived to thrive another day. So far we have 16 that fertilized which is a great number. More than likely about 50% of those will not survive to be implanted or frozen and that is perfectly normal. Also, I don't think Jason and I are up for the challenge of 16 kiddos either. So natural selection helps us out of that situation. The Dr. is very happy with the numbers so far so we have our fingers crossed that all will go well on Wednesday when they implant these little guys and girls.

I'm not in too much pain...a little sore but that is expected. My mom is here to help out and boy has that been nice! It's just great to have her around to take some of the stress of the situation off of us. She even got to participate in the IVF tradition of constant injections! When Jason's flight got delayed, she had to give me my HCG shot which has to be done at a certain EXACT time. The needle is HUGE and she compared it to a "jackhammer". Needless to say after some practice on an orange, she gave me the shot and did great!

Wednesday I begin my 3 days of bed rest. After that I have 4 more days of not being able to leave the house. I have to be patient because Dr. Anderson said that all the way to my pregnancy test has to be characterized by maximum rest and minimal stress. That is 12 days, so I am pretty well in for the rest of the year. 

I will post some more info soon, but assume that all is well!

Insomnia and FOOD!

This picture kind of sums up how I feel right now- Like a breeding mare with a feedbag strapped to my face!

Uhhh, the things that they don't tell you when you start taking multiple pills (I am at 12 a day with 1 injection) is that you will start to feel side effects. I just assumed I would have a sour stomach, maybe a little gas, and all would be good. Well I have developed a raging case of insomnia and boy was I unprepared for this little suprise! 

I have taken to watching VERY bad late night/early morning TV. I guess my body is preparing itself to hopefully be ready for 3 am feedings and numerous nighttime diaper changes. I am ready and willing, and also have some shows to follow at that time  now! Granted all that is on at that time is old reruns of the Cosby Show, but I was like 7 when the show was first on so they are all new to me!

The other thing is when I wake up at 3 am I am also RAVENOUSLY hungry. Something tells me that late night eating will catch up to the thigh/ booty region eventually. Last night I dove in to a piece of cheesecake (ok fat free/sugar free cheesecake so not too bad) and who knows what treats are in store for me tonight. 

I have also been trying to enjoy things I will not be able to eat when I become pregnant like HOT DOGS (bye bye Portillos), blue cheese, and bologna. All of this makes for a very healthy diet! 

Next week I will begin what they call "stimming" which is stimulating my multiple follicles to grow at a rapid rate. I will then go into surgery for the retrieval and implantation. We are almost in to the final stretch here. I will keep you all updated with what happens post surgery!

Till then!

The Science (and Business) of being born..

11/20/2008

I got the big box of meds, just in time to begin phase 2 of the IVF cycle on Friday. I am still very excited and positive. Here are pictures of the meds that I will be taking. Keep in mind that this is all to be taken in a 2-3 week period (sigh)! The first picture is of the multiple packages of needles I will be injecting into my thigh, stomach, and rear end, and the sharps container to dispose of them. Thankfully I already have a larger one because something tells me this one isn't big enough.

This whole process overall is very interesting. A decade ago this was a still very new science and it has come a long way. I am completely a believer in the IVF process, since it gives me a chance that I would have not had years ago. It's great to be part of this medical miracle. 

I will be posting again after the egg retrieval surgery in December. All my eggs are literally in that one basket! 

Till Then!

And so it begins....

Friday November 14th 2008- Day 1 of IVF Cycle

This is the first entry in our new blog to keep all of you that are close to us (but so far away) up to date on the progress of our adventure to have future grandchildren, nieces, nephews, buddies for all of you. I will be updating it with pics and information as I get it so bookmark the site and check back often! You can also leave comments too- isn't technology great!

Today we were given the green light to begin IVF and I took my first dose of medication today with a full glass of water and a HUGE smile. It was a relief to begin what we hope ends in a pregnancy and for the first time in this struggle to overcome infertility, we feel we have a fighting chance. Jason and I are going to celebrate this weekend because we are HERE! 

I will be getting the "big box of meds" this week and I will take a picture of it to post it on here. I have seen it before from other friends of mine who have had IVF and let me say it is very intimidating to see it all spread out. ALL of this needs to be taken in a 3-4 week period. Crazy!

I would take all the medicine in the world if it meant we would get pregnant. Here's hoping!

As my mother would say "shamrocks"!

Bye for now-Deana and Jason