Egg Retrieval=Success!!

Today was the egg retrieval and everything went great! We got there at 9am and went back to get things ready. When we walked in I saw a familiar face, Jenni. Jenni is a friend from church and I had forgotten that she worked there. She works only in the surgery part so I have never seen her in my previous visits, plus she only works on Thursday's. Well, everyone is familiar now, Casey was laughing at how everyone knew me! but I have been there almost everyday for the last week and a half.
It was nice to see a familiar face and know that Jenni would be with me. Everyone there was so nice. The last thing I remember was going back to the operating room and them saying, time 10:11am. Then I woke up in my room and I heard one of the nurses say "you can go get Casey now". So I was in recovery for about 30 mins I guess. I woke up groggy and with a little discomfort, but besides that I was surprised at how well I felt. She keep asking me about my pain level every 10 mins. I told her 2, she said I was a trooper then, most people seemed to be in more pain. I like it when my high tolerance kicks in! Before we left the embryologist came in and told us everything looked great and that they were able to retrieve 13 eggs. We will get more information on them tomorrow.
So we came home and  I slept for a while, just hanging out in bed all day. Casey has been taking good care of me. He just gave me my first injection "in the buttocks" and he did AWESOME! I was really worried about him giving me the shot, although the whole time he kept telling me it would be nothing. He will have to give me this injection "progesterone" for the next 10 days and then possibly longer. I am feeling better about it since tonight went so smoothly. Thank you for all the messages and text. We truly appreciate all of your love and support. We will keep you posted on how the developing goes!!

Egg Retrieval is here!!!

So first let me tell you that today was a little crazy. The first rule of IVF is DO NOT RUN OUT OF MEDICINE! the medication that I am taking cannot be bought at Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, etc...So I have been checking my medicine everyday like a mother hen with her eggs. So yesterday when I was at the doctor, my nurse told me that if I needed to go another day or two she did have some medicine to float me for tonight and Wednesday. I had told her that I had enough to last me until Tuesday night. So this morning I am getting ready and go pick up my box of Bravelle, it is EMPTY!!! I HAVE to have my morning FSH injection! I cannot mess things up right now when everything is so close! I had already used it and for some reason put an empty box back in the box of medication. I was freaking out, trying not too, because I knew that she had some at the office, but I am suppose to take my medicine at 7 and the office does not open until 8:30 and I am suppose to do a training today at 8:30-Ahhhhh.....
Long story a little shorter I was able to go set up for the training, run to the doctor and get my injection, start the training a little late, do the training until lunch, go back to the doctor at lunch for blood work and ultrasound, and back to finish the training for the rest of the afternoon. Whew! but I did it and everything turned out OK. We got the call this afternoon around 4pm that said everything looks great. I will "trigger" tonight, which means we will have the egg retrieval on Thursday at 10am!!!!
Are you serious!!! It is all happening!! The moment we have been waiting so long for-so many emotions!!
I am so excited and feeling great. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that everything goes well and successful! I will keep you updated as everything happens.
Egg retrieval on July 29 at 10am
Bed rest for Friday and Saturday
Implant the embryos on Tuesday August 3rd.

Yippee!!

4th Ultrasound...

Well, everything is moving a long just as it should, but the egg retrieval will not be Wednesday. They are saying it looks more like Thursday or Friday now. They have said since the beginning that it is all a guess. Everyone is different and everyone responds to the medication in different ways. Today it looked like I had 14 follicles and about 6 that were almost ready. So I go back tomorrow for another ultrasound and blood work. Everything is so close! Please keep the prayers coming! Check back with you tomorrow. Maybe we will have a date for surgery!

3rd Ultra sound...

Everything is still good. I had a few more follicles this time. Looks like there were 13 that were good and some that were still growing. She said I am exactly where I need to be in the cycle. We always like hearing words like that! In the last post I told you about Dr. Freeman, but what I did not tell you is how she freaked me out! She was telling me the process of the egg retrieval and then she said "you and your doctor have discussed how many embryos will be transferred". I told her that we had not really discussed it, that she had just flat said that if you are under 35 we only transplant one embryo, sometimes two but we can discuss that when the time comes. So Casey and I have discussed it and Casey is sold on two for sure. I go back and forth with it, but after talking with Dr. Freeman she has really freaked me out. She said "we do not want you to have twins, our goal is for you to have one healthy baby, your body is not made to have twins, many twins dies at 15 and 20 weeks". Are you kidding me? I did not know what to say? I said well our goal is to have a healthy baby as well, but after 5 years of trying and all the money that we have spent we do not want to do this again. We do not want to be stupid or selfish, but we would like to weight out our options and hear the facts. I asked her about my height (having more room for them) and being in pretty good shape may help? She said no! that stuff does not matter. We ended the conversation with; you will discuss this with your doctor after your egg retrieval.
So I went back today and was talking with my IVF nurse, Jennifer. She was telling me that everything looked good and that I do not have to come back in until Monday. She said that she still thinks Monday will be my "trigger day". I guess that means when things will be ready? She said if Monday is my trigger day than the egg retrieval will be on Wednesday. I told Jennifer about my conversation with Dr. Freeman. She basically said that was her job to scare you and make you think. She said about 100% of people who come in for IVF say they want twins! Just for the same reasons we do. There has been some recent research showing that women who go through IVF are at a higher risk because even if you become pregnant with a singleton, your body things you are having twins from all the hormones and steroids you have in your body through this process, so if you have twins your body thinks it is triplets! putting you at a higher risk. She said with each baby you subtract 4 weeks! So twins 36 weeks and triplets 32 weeks! They just know those babies need to stay in the oven as long as they can. She also said that they had lost three sets of twins in the last few months, which was rare, but on every ones mind. I guess I had never told Jennifer that I was a twin. She asked me how long my mom carried us? I said we were 1 day early. She said that was good news! I guess there is some correlation in your moms delivery and in how you will be with your pregnancy/delivery? So I left feeling a little better, but it still ways heavy on our hearts. So please pray that we will know what to do with the number of embryos and that everything will be a success and whatever God's plan for us and our baby or babies will be to his glory!

2nd Ultra Sound...

So today was my second ultra sounds but my first one since starting the FSH injections. So when I go into the room for my ultrasound the technician gives me a chart and tells me to write down what she says. She says I will not tell you anything under 10??? She says ok, we are on the right side 11x4, 12x9,  and 4 < 10 now we are on the left 12x8, 11x6 and 6 <10. (I think they are suppose to be around 15-18mm). Alright, you are good to go! I am still confused on what those numbers mean, but she acted as though they were good. She tells me to get dressed and meet with Dr. Freeman. Dr. Freeman? never heard that name, but ok. It turns out that Dr. Freeman was a sweet little lady doctor that I needed to meet with to see if I had any questions about my egg retrieval as well as tell me the details of the retrieval and give me some heads up on what to expect the day of my surgery. WOW! Is all I can say. It is amazing that anyone gets pregnant naturally, but it is almost equally as crazy to think that science has come this far and can do all of this, she was blowing me away. I could not say anything, but just listen to her and look at her pictures (this is your egg, your egg being fertilized, your egg on day one, your egg splitting, hatching, day 3, etc...So I left feeling a little overwhelmed and excited that it is all almost here!
Tonight I called and listened to our voice mail box. This is where the IVF nurse leaves messages for us telling us what we should be doing (as far as meds go) and then she gives us the results of my blood work and ultrasound. We got the green light for everything. I am exactly where I should be at this point. I will continue with my FSH injections, dexamethasone (steroid), and starting tomorrow I will take Ganirelix (another injection in my stomach-I think it is just a stronger form of FSH) with my PM injection.
I feel good and all is going well right now. Everything is tentative and totally an estimate, but they guessed that my egg retrieval will be next Wednesday if everything stays good and continues the way it should. I go back Friday for another ultra sounds and blood work. I will keep you posted! and you keep the prayers coming!! I know that it is because of all the love and support I am staying so sane right now. Love you all!!

Prayer is Powerful!

I just got back from a prayer group with some friends at church. It was specifically for me! I felt so honored and touched that this sweet friend from our Sunday school class offered to do this for me/us. She sent me this email, that I thought was so funny and sweet.

"Hey Kristi!  Thank you so much for being so open with our class and sharing your long journey over the past 5 years.  I can't imagine what all you have been through or how hard it's been on you, but I want you to know that I think you are an unbelievable strong woman with an incredible attitude that really is infectious!  I think you are a beautiful woman inside and out (with killer hair, too I might add--oh to have such body....but I digress!) and I am so glad your faith has been able to help you through this.  Now, I feel like it's OUR turn to step up too.  You put out the call, and I would like to answer.  I would love to have a women's prayer group for YOU at our house (in Hendersonville) sometime.  It won't have to last long, but I would think it would be early evening (so we can do what girls to best--socialize and eat!!) so we could get done at a decent time.  I would really like us to get together and pray over you and let you talk (if you want to) about anything you need prayers for at that time.  My goal is to do this every month (at least) until you can announce joyfully that you are pregnant!!!! 

You and Casey have been in my prayers and I know others are doing the same.  I truly believe in the power of prayer, but I also believe in the power of the gathering of believers and even laying on of hands.  If there is ANYTHING I can do for you, just let me know."

So we had an awesome night of fellowship, devotional, and prayer! It was powerful to me and meant so much for these friends of mine to take time out of there crazy busy schedule to come pray for me! /us and our baby! Thank you so much! Like I have said over and over, I have amazing friends! and I am truly blessed with them all in my life. Thank you for being my friend and having the faith with me to help us as we are on our journey. I love you all!~

Dr. appointment tomorrow to check on how the follicles are doing since starting the hormone injections. I will update you with that news tomorrow!
Here is a picture of me and the wonderful ladies in my prayer group.

First Day of Injections

Here are the drugs! A little overwhelming at first!






Here is just a closer look of some things

More drugs!

This is the FSH injection. I started this today. An AM and PM injection. I also take a oral pill (dexamethasone) with my PM injection.






So today was the first day and all went well. I was able to give both injections to myself. I was a little worried about if I could do it, but it was nothing. Just a little prick and sting when I was pushing the hormone into me, but not bad at all. I have to alternate sides for my injections. So I decided Right side for the AM for Rise and Shine (get it, R) and left side for PM for Late Night! HaHaHa! Yes, that is the elementary teacher in me! We must find a way to remember things. One day down and about 10 to go!!! Come on follicles and grow!

1st appointment for IVF cycle...

Well, today was my suppression check. The suppression check is blood work, an ultrasound (to check my follicles and make sure there are no cyst on my ovaries-I have PCOS which causes me to have cyst-so the birth control was suppose to help that! and it did). I also had a trial embryo transfer. That is where they act as if they are transferring my embryo. They are looking at my lining, the shape of my uterus, what size instruments they will need, etc...Very interesting! Especially when you are spread eagle on the table and they are discussing your insides to you! With out to much detail, I checked out and my uterus looks great! as well as my lining (apparently this is very important as well, so that was good news!)
When I left I got my voice mail box, this is where I will call and check on everything. How my blood counts looked, ultrasound results, egg development, embryo development, etc...This is how we stay up-to-date with everything that is going on with my body through this process.
We also go a new updated calendar. We start with injections (Bravelle) and dexamethasone on Saturday (7/17). I will take an injection in the morning and at night (12 hours apart) as well as take 1 mg of dexamethasone at night. My next appointment is next Wednesday (7/21). It is for an Estradiol (bloodwork) and ultrasound. I will have another appointment on Friday (7/23) for the same thing. I may have a few of the Estradiol and Ultrasound appointments over the next 10-12 days. They want to monitor me very closely so they will know exactly when the moment will be to retrieve my eggs.
Right now I am feeling great and very excited for this moment to be here. We have waited a long time for this magical moment and we are both so ready!!! We have such a great support team of friends and family that are behind us all the way. There are so many wonderful people that are praying for us everywhere (thanks to you all for spreading the word). Prayer is SO powerful and I truly believe in it! I know this is not the only case, but I was reading a friends blog and was so touched I just began to cry. She did not mention me by name, but told her blog readers about me and our struggles with infertility. She asked all of her bloggers to pray for Casey and I.  What she said was so sweet and touching, but then as I read the comments that her friends had posted I was completely in tears! It truly meant so much to me. I can feel the love and prayers all around me. Please keep them coming as our journey is REALLY here and these next two weeks are going to be an emotional roller coaster. I am excited and SO READY for this miracle to happen. I will continue to keep you posted.

It will be starting soon!

Well, we are still about two weeks away from getting this party started, but it feels like it will be here really soon. I am leaving tomorrow for Alabama to spend the 4th with some great friends and do a little relaxing on the boat, Monday morning I leave for Chicago (for work), the following week I have some professional development that I am presenting, and then the 15th will be here.

July 15th is my doctors appointment. It is called my suppression check (words you understand- blood test and an ultrasound). This is done a few days prior to the start of stimulation to ensure that all is ready. If everything checks out I will start my injections on July 17th. With the injections (follicle stimulation hormone) the follicles start to grow and once they reach about 12 to 14mm, they will grow fairly predictably at a rate of 2mm per day they say. During this phase (10-12 days) of growth I will be monitored closely, sometimes as often as daily and or every other day; just depending on how things look. Then when everything looks right and my eggs are “ready” I will have my egg retrieval. The Egg Retrieval is a minor surgical procedure that takes around 45 minutes depending on the number of follicles, I will have anesthesia. I will be on bed rest for two days and they will keep me updated on my eggs and then embryos!! Our embryos will only grow in an incubators for 3 to 5 days. At this time, they must be transferred back into me! I keep saying embryos, but it is just one. I may have more embryos, but they will transplant one and the others will be frozen. If you are under 35 years old they just transfer one, sometimes two, but never more than that. The transfer may be done either on the third day after retrieval or on the fifth day. The transfer itself is relatively easy they say and it only takes a few minutes. Then I will have office visits for follow up blood work several times over the next 12 days. During this time I will take Progesterone shots, which I am not looking forward too! but whatever I have to do I will. If you have ever seen Progesterone it is thick and oily, which means a thick, large needle. Oww!!

Well, that is the brief story of IVF. I am very excited about this journey and looking forward to what God has in store for Casey and I. I appreciate and love you all. Thank you so much for caring so much and going on this journey with us. I will update again once I start injections to keep you up-to-date with my progress. I truly feel all of your love and support!!! Love you all!