I can't believe I'm writing this post already - the last two weeks have been a total whirlwind both emotionally and physically - but, my egg retrieval date snuck up on us much sooner than anybody (including our doctors and IVF nurse) anticipated. So, for the first time all week, I'm home alone with just my dogs and my laptop. No television, no nothing. So, I figured it was time to write my final blog post before we know whether or not we're having a baby.
What Happened?
My reproductive system has officially been dubbed, "The Little Body that Could." When our journey began, we were told I would begin having ultrasounds and blood work every other day, and then every day as my little eggies grew closer to their retrieval date. Well, to everybody's surprise, my body took to the medicine like white on rice, and, I never had those "every other day" ultrasounds. I had my first ultrasound, and, our medical plan changed instantly. Our fear of not developing enough eggs was quickly changed to a new fear of developing too many eggs. As of today (Thursday, August 30th), I have 18 eggs ready for retrieval. My stomach is huge, it hurts, I can't eat, and, I live in anything without buttons. Don't believe me? See for yourself...
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| 2 Days Pre-Retrieval. We call this, "Suzi and her 20 babies!" |
After my blood draw and ultrasound I was given my post-op instructions along with my instructions for the one, final injection I will give myself tonight. Tomorrow (Friday, August 31st), I will go to RMA Philadelphia for one last blood draw, and then, Saturday morning, I will report to the surgical center at 7:00 a.m. for my egg retrieval.
What Have We Done Over the Last Few Days?
Ashley got here on Wednesday, August 29th. After I was almost an hour late picking her and her adorable son Benjamin up from the airport, we drove to my house to get them settled in their current digs (my son's camp themed bedroom). George and I then took our three kids, Ashley, and Benjamin out to dinner so the kids could meet the fabulous woman who has offered to carry their new baby brother or sister (or both!) on behalf of their mom and dad. Tonight, George and his daughter took Ashley and Benjamin to a Trenton Thunder game (I had to stay home as my last injection had to be given at 7:30 p.m. on the dot...not 7:25, not 7:35...7:30 precisely!).
Backtracking a bit, this morning, after I got home from my final ultrasound, George drove me to my mother's grave. I went there to pray, to tell her how much I wished she was here, and just to have some peaceful time with the woman I so desperately wish I could call for guidance during this time. This ranks right up there with getting married without her; It's hard, and, it just sucks that she's not here by my side. But, somehow, I do have faith that she is by my side, and, that she's played a little role in our successes to date.
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| One of the last gifts my mother gave me. "A Mother Is Love." She sure is... |
What's Next?
Tomorrow night, the people I am closest to (George, Ashley, and my best friend Denise) will spend time at my house to help me remain calm and positive as my nerves are just about shot right now. Without the love and support of those three, I would have never made it this far without having a complete breakdown. George, Ashley, and Denise, I love you and appreciate your more than you will ever know.
On Saturday morning, George, Ashley, and I all have to report to the surgical center at 7:00 a.m. I'll head into the operating room, and while I'm there, George will be doing what he has to do in order to give the embryologist a "fresh" sperm sample to inject into my little eggies, and, Ashley will be having blood work and an ultrasound while I'm in the recovery room.
When I return home, I will resume taking my Coumadin to prevent the development of a blood clot as my hormones get back to normal. Additionally, I will also resume my abdominal injections of Lupron which will make my ovaries shrink to their normal size.
From there, the embryologist will call us later in the day on Saturday and Sunday to let us know how our embryos are doing, which I think is adorable. Some day, God willing, I'll be able to tell my child I received medical updates about him or her while they were developing in a petri dish! I also think it's kind of cute because, again, God willing, George and I will take on our first parental duties making decisions pertaining to our own child. It's just amazing and miraculous - I really have no other words for it.
Depending upon how our embryos grow, they will either be transferred into Ashley's uterus on Tuesday, September 4th, or Thursday, September 6th. We then begin our ever-stressful "two week wait." So, in less than three weeks, we'll know whether or not we are pregnant.
As I spoke to our IVF nurse today, she wanted me to remember that the odds are in our favor. My eggs grew fantastically, Ashley's uterine lining is perfectly thick for an embryo to attach to...really, even our stiff-lipped doctor said, "This has been a beautiful cycle." I did ask the, "What are our odds?" question, and, while our IVF nurse said they are 60% or higher, the doctor said they were 50/50. I was disappointed when he said that, but, George was quick to note that the doctor can't say anything more; If it doesn't work, the first thing I'd do is burst into tears and say, "But you told me it would!!!" So, I get the logic, and, all I can do now is hope and pray.
When Will You Be Back?
Well, I'm taking my hiatus until I have concrete information. As I sit here and pray for a miracle, my thought is that, if we do conceive on the first try, I will not say anything until the baby's heartbeat has been confirmed. If our first attempt does not work, I'll be back as soon as I know that information (a little less than three weeks) to let you all know that we're starting over.
Until I am back, thank you all for your love, support, and prayers during this amazing journey. We have received so many positive wishes over the last few weeks - I really don't know what we would have done (or will continue to do) without you.
So, for now, I just ask that you please pray for all of us. George, Ashley, the bambinos, and I all want and need your continued prayers.
Until Next Time...
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