Sweet SIXTEEN

Well, 22 to be exact...but we got 16 mature eggs!!  We are beyond grateful for such a successful retrieval.  This could be {quite possibly} the best birthday present EVER.

We drove downtown bright and early this morning for our 6:15 start time.  My nurse took my blood pressure, temp and weight and walked us back to our room.  I changed, donned my FABULOUS striped knee socks and gown, took a few pics (okay, a LOT of pics) and signed more consents.  My anesthesiologist came in, introduced himself and complimented my airways and veins (behave, sir).    Moments later, my nurse came and got me and I hugged my hubby good-bye...it was go time.

I walked across the hall, climbed onto the table, got an IV (ow)! and the rest is history.  Actually, the rest is that I love anesthesia...I mean LOVE.

After about an hour of digging around in my ovaries, we were done.  They wheeled me back into my room where my husband was waiting.  What was the first thing I asked?  C'mon, you know...how many???!!!  I teared up each of the EIGHT times he told me.

After catheter removal, Coke, Chee-zits and a delightful small, white narcotic, the cramps began to subside.  I was wheeled down to the car and we headed back home.

What now?  We wait...we pray.  Our little eggies are being ICSI'ed this afternoon.  We'll find out tomorrow morning how many fertilized and tomorrow afternoon if we'll do a 3-day or 5-day transfer.  To be continued...

I appreciate all of the well wishes...this group of someday mommas is the best!

EGGS on the Brain

With tomorrow (yes, tomorrow) being retrieval day, I can't stop thinking about eggs.

On my way to school this morning, I prayed that God would give me eggs for my birthday...never thought eggs would be on my birthday wish list.  Then I found myself bartering with God, "Alright God, how many are ya thinkin'?  I'm thinking at least 8-10.  In fact, if you give me 8-10, I promise to..."  yeah, there's not an ending.  I've got nothing.  Just a weird in-my-head conversation.

Guess what they were serving in the cafeteria for breakfast?  You guessed it...eggs.

I was also brainstorming word plays like EGGSellent, EGGStravagant, EGGSpert and EGGSercise.  Weird, right?

Basically, I see egg dreams in my future; that is, IF I can sleep.  Here's to a night of egg-less dreams and a morning of egg-filled follies.  Good luck to my retrieval buddies: Liz @ Compromised Fertility and Anasara @  Impregnable.  (All hands in the middle) 1...2...3...GO EGGS!

Pulled the TRIGGER

My appointment went really well this morning.  After measuring what seemed like 20ish follicles (I didn't ask...don't want to get my hopes up), my RE said, "We're ready.  We'll see you first thing Wednesday morning."  I was BEYOND thrilled because Wednesday is my 30th birthday.  Happy birthday to ME!  I couldn't wait to call my hubby to tell him the good news!

But then...the fear set in.  DEAR GOD.  This means we trigger TONIGHT.  It was time to bust out that needle I've been fearing since it arrived on my doorstep just one month ago.  HAVE MERCY.  I spent most of the day worrying about that damn thing.  My hubby did the same.  Good news: we did it!  Better news: I'm doing great.  We iced a bit before then went all in...right at 8:30.  Done and done.  Boo-yah.

EARLY Retrieval?

Had my 3rd monitoring appointment since starting stims last Saturday.  Yup, 9 days of stims and counting!

Since it was a Saturday, my hubby was there with me and it ended up being a doctor sono (my nurse usually does everything on weekdays).  My RE was super chatty and reassured me that everything was moving right along. He even mentioned moving my trigger day up to Monday (it was originally Tuesday or Wednesday).  DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS POTENTIALLY MEANS???!!! BIRTHDAY RETRIEVAL!  My 30th is this Wednesday, the 1st.  Oh and if we do a 3-day transfer, we'll transfer on my hubby's 31st.  What wonderful birthday presents.  Definitely the most we've spent on birthdays in our 13 years together!

My RE, himself, called me in the afternoon (fancy!) to let me know that my levels looked great and my follies and lining were right on track.  I couldn't ask for more.

In the meantime, no changes to meds. 5 Lupron and 150 Gonal-F in the morning and 75 Gonal-F at night. I'm hoping and praying that we don't have to purchase more Gonal-F. Good Lord, that stuff is expensive...liquid gold fore SURE!