Large Numbers

Retrieval went well yesterday. We had to be there at 7 am for a 7:30 am scheduled retrieval. Nick had to make his deposit and while he was doing that I was being prepped. I stripped down to just my sports bra and put on a gown, hair net, and booties. Then the anesthesiologist came in and had me sign the consent for sedation. She was all ready to take me in to the procedure room, but I wanted to wait for Nick so I could see him before the procedure. So, she decided to put in my IV in the prep room. Nick wasn't ready, so I went into the procedure room without seeing him :(. The procedure went well and we were told they got 22 eggs. Last time we got 18 eggs.  This time was about the same with post anesthesia nausea. I threw up in the post procedure room once and then again when we got to the door of our apartment. When we got home we went back to bed and slept for a while and I felt so much better. The rest of the day I was having a hard time walking around. I think its because when I would sit everything in my abdomen would become crunched together and then when I would get up everything would have to try to come apart again. It subsided as the day went on, but I decided to be on the safe side and took today off of work.  

This morning we got a phone call from the embryologist who told us how the fertilization went. Of the 22 eggs that they harvested, 20 of them were mature, and 16 of them fertilized normally. We are super excited about the possibilities from this harvest. We are preparing for transfer on Tuesday. We will get a phone call on Sunday to let us know what time and how the embryos are looking. 

As far as medications now, I started a Z-pak on Wednesday night to kill any bacteria that could keep the embryos from implanting. Then Thursday night I started taking a steroid to suppress my immune system so that I won't reject the embryos when they are put back on Tuesday. I also started my Progesterone in Oil shots (PIO) again Thursday night. Also started again is the estrogen pills to keep the lining of my uterus where its supposed to be for implantation. 

I feel pretty good about this cycle. I hoping my life changes have paid off. We are really hoping that this is the last time we have to go through the stimulation and retrieval. Hopefully we will get pregnant with this cycle and there will be some left to freeze for the future. Fingers crossed!

Love

Today I was reminded of how much I love my husband. Let me explain...

Yesterday I went to the office for another ultrasound and estrogen level. Nick wasn't able to be there for this appointment as he had gone back to Indiana to help his family at Johnny Appleseed Festival.  This time there wasn't anyone in the office when I walked in. It helped that it was only 8:10 in the morning. I walked in had my estrogen drawn by the wonderful Kim and then went into a room for my ultrasound. Boy had they grown since Friday. On the right I had eggs measuring from 14-21 and on the left  from 15-21. Everything looked good and Dr. M thought we were ready to go. Typically I would have triggered with an HCG shot on Monday night, however they wanted to push me an extra day. I was told to take the same doses of medication that I had been taking and to come back on Tuesday (today) for another ultrasound and estrogen level. That was all fine until my estrogen level came back. It was 3,065, awfully high. My estrogen level went from 755 on Friday to 3,065 on Monday. This puts me at risk of having Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndromw  (see OHSS explanation). So the plan changed. I dropped the amount of Follistim that I take at night to 150 IU. Then I took my Lupron this morning.

I had to work today in order to get Thursday off for the egg retrieval. I felt like crap. I was hot, nauseous, emotional and hurting. It felt like I was carrying around two grapefruit in my abdomen. I ended up bawling in the middle of rounds this morning. Luckily for me we were almost done and my attending physician completely understood. I stuck out the rest of the day since my appointment was at 4:30 today on the same side of town. Now we get to my I am completely in love with my husband. Nick had to work today. I thought we could face time for the appointment this afternoon and I let him know when I was on my way to the office. When I got to the office I found that we did indeed get to "face time." He was there! He had asked his boss if he could come for the ultrasound. We got in the elevator and I started crying again. I was so glad that he was there.

There wasn't anyone left in the office that late so we pretty much got in and out. I had my blood drawn for an estrogen level, which won't be back until tomorrow, unfortunately not by Kim. This time it hurt. I'm sure it will bruise. Then we went for the ultrasound. Dr. N did the ultrasound this time. This time on the left they range from 19-26 and the right they range from 13-26. Everything is good. I will trigger with an HCG shot tonight at 8:30pm and then we will go in Thursday for the retrieval.  I will probably not post anything until Friday after they call and tell us how many eggs were retrieved and fertilized. I am hoping that in the end off of the heartache the last 2 1/2 years will be worth it with this cycle and I will come home with my dream.

Grow, Grow, Grow

Today was the first ultrasound since we starting doing the Follistim and Menopur on Sunday night. Our appointment was at 8:30 this morning and when we first walked in there weren't that many people in the waiting room. The more we sat and waited the more people showed up. This time I didn't have to deal with any ultrasound pictures or pregnant women. First, the phlebotomist (her name is Kim) drew my blood for an estrogen level. She had a hard time this morning, but I think I've probably not been drinking enough water. Then we went to have our ultrasound.

I had forgotten that Dr. Moretuzzo had said he wasn't going to be in the office today, so when Dr. Maseelall walked in I did a double take. It's the first time I've ever met her. She was very nice. When she put the probe in to do the ultrasound I knew my ovaries were big. It hurt!  At this time during our cycle in April we had 14 follicles that measured from 8-11mm. Today we have 6 on the right and 6 on the left for a total of 12. The ones on the right measure from 9-14mm and the ones on the left measure from 8-13mm. They are definitely bigger this time compared to last time. If you recall we are looking for a measurement of at least 14mm to be considered mature. I only have 1 at this time. I guess being on Lupron also allows you to push past the 1 that is big enough already to be able to grow the rest of them (or so I'm being told).

My estrogen level was 755 which is apparently right where it should be. The nurse that called me said that everyone is different and there isn't a right or wrong number. It depends on the ultrasound a lot.  The plan is to continue on our current medication (225IU of Follistim and 1 vial of Menopur) for tonight, Saturday night, and Sunday night. Then I'll go back for another ultrasound on Monday morning. Hopefully retrieval will be Thursday of next week.

Last night I got to thinking about the fact that I haven't had any nausea since I went gluten free. Well that was gone this morning. I'm pretty sure its the medications and that my estrogen level is so high. Darn hormones :)

As far as the move goes, I am still waiting on credentialing at Parkview. The house plans are moving right along. The mortgage application is with the underwriters and we are just waiting for their go ahead. We are hoping to get ground broken soon. Nick is spending the weekend working with his family at the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne. Check him out at the Ye ole Candy Shop. Tomorrow is my first call shift at work. Wish me luck!

Onward and Upward?

I'm sorry that I haven't posted sooner. The last couple of days have been very busy.  I added a couple of pages to the blog; Our Story and Timeline. I thought it would be nice to have a quick link to see how far we've come through this process.

We had our ultrasound on September 12th. When we walked into the office we noticed that it was very busy. There was hardly anywhere to sit. I was reading another bloggers blog the other day and something she said made an impression. She said that she is glad that she doesn't have to go to a regular OB office and see all the pregnant and happy women around. Going to the RE is so much better. No pregnant bellies to look at all the time. However, there are still instances in which women do get pregnant at the RE office. Thursday was one of those days that I noticed it. A women came out of the exam rooms into the waiting area carrying ultrasound pictures. You could clearly see on the pictures the gestational sac. Seeing those pictures sent me into a tail spin. I at least waited until we were in the exam room and then I lost it. It's not fair.

I've been taking Lupron for the last two weeks. The ultrasound  on the 12th was a smashing success. No cysts!  I guess there is a first for everything, huh? So, Sunday I started the ovary stimulation process. I continue to do Lupron 5 IU every morning and then at night I do Follistim 225 IU and 1 vial of Menopur; all three are shots in my abdomen. I already have bruises on my left side from the Lupron. I will continue to do this regimen until Friday when we go in for another ultrasound. This ultrasound will check how the eggs are growing and see what I need to do next. This cycle needs to work.

I promised that I would post pictures of our house process as soon as I figured out how to. It was a long process, but here ya go!

Our Lot

The power box that went up so construction can begin.

These are our exterior selections. The stone is going to be on the bottom of the house. The blue chip is the color of our siding and shakes. The white chip is the color of all of the trim, our garage door, and front door. 

We were in Indiana Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. We spent Friday meeting with the mortgage people and doing some things for the credentialing process for Parkview. We also were able to spend time with some good friends, Dave and Stacy. It was a good weekend overall. I love going back for visits to Indiana. Can't wait for it to be permanent!

Anyway, I am trying to keep my hopes up for this cycle and praying that maybe God had a plan in all of this and that He knew that we needed to be going home to family before he would give us the joy of being parents. I have to keep telling myself that just so I can make it through the day.