Transfer Day!!! August 28, 2001...

Well, after worrying myself silly all day yesterday and finally feeling ready to throw in the towel on this whole IVF because the embryologist told me that one of my three embies didn't divide as of 8:00 in the morning and the other two were only two-celled, I found out I was wrong! The RE told me that we had two beautiful 6 celled embies and one little 3-celled embie (he made it he did divide!!) I love the little 3-celled one. Anyway, these were perfect for a 2 1/2 day transfer. So Paul was again present when they brought in the three "babies" and put them in there. We held hands the whole time. We were so excited. I could not get over how elated that I felt. We have, at least for the time, three little babies on board. Please let them stay..Please!!! My beta is scheduled for Friday September 7, 2001....just 10 days away!!! How will I ever get through the next 10 days????

Fertilization Results

We found out today that of our 7 eggs, five were mature and 3 fertilized with ICSI. I was hoping to have at least 4 to transfer but thrilled that three little babies decided to grow....keep growing little embies...please keep growing!!!!!

Retrieval Results!!!

On Saturday morning (August 25, 2001) Paul and I got up at 5:00 am and got ready for the big retrieval day. We arrived at the clinic before the lab was open so we sat in the car excitedly waiting . When the embryologist arrived to open the lab we asked her some questions about embryo quality, fertilization, etc. She was really helpful. Then I left Paul to "do his thing" and I headed next door to the clinic. I received a shot of some sort of narcotic...and the nurse talked to me about what was going to happen as the drug started to take affect. Paul was present during the procedure. It was somewhat painful (our RE keeps us awake) but not really bad at all. They retrieved 7 eggs....we found out on the spot. Paul & I were thrilled with that. Initially, they said four...and I started to cry, partly because of my disappointment, partly because of the drugs. But then after a few minutes they gave a final count...and it was seven! Clearly not a GREAT response...but better than I was expecting! I pretty much slept for the rest of the morning and awoke to some discomfort in my ovary area. Not bad...just a general soreness. Anyway, that night was Paul's 30th class reunion...so we attended that. (I looked horrible because my stomach was so bloated) but I was so happy and excited knowing that our babies were growing.

Day 11 of stims and the retrieval is set!!!!

Well, I went in and found out that I had 7 1/2 follicles (how do you have 1/2 of a follicle) between 11 and 15 mm. The RE (Rat Face AGAIN!!!) said, with noticeable irritation, "Well, I guess this will be a Saturday retrieval...but there is nothing you or I can do about that." What a jerk. Once again he told me nothing without a direct question from me. He told me that we would probably get about 6 eggs and that 9 was normal...but that they wouldn't cancel the IVF unless there were fewer than 3 retrieved. I hope, I hope, I hope that I get at least 6 and that all of them fertilize....but I digress... Anyway....after placing two calls to the IVF nurses (since I had not received my instructions for the next day yet) I found out that my E2 level was at 1,100 (from 357 three days ago...YES!!!) and that I was to continue with my meds through Thursday morning and then no Gonal-F that night...only the Lupron...with the hCG trigger at exactly 7:30 pm. Then in for retrieval by 6:30 am on Saturday morning (Paul to give his sample immediately) with the retrieval procedure to begin by 7:30...YIKES!!!! I am so excited, nervous, scared!!! Please let us get lots of eggs, and don't let it hurt, and help all of the little eggs to fertilize and turn into embies and then let them stick...and help me not to miscarry...and ...... I really am excited!!!

Results -- Day 8 of Stims....

Well, I went in for my second Ultrasound and Blood work on Saturday. Saturday was my eighth day of stimulation drugs for my first IVF cycle. Unfortunately, I had "Rat Face" (You will have to read way back in my Journal to an entry last May regarding this doctor) and he did not tell me much of anything. I could not tell how many follicles were growing on each ovary. The only comment that he made was.."well, we aren't breaking any records, but they are growing." Nice. Anyway, I called one of the IVF nurses this morning and told them that I wanted to know what my Estradoil level was from Saturday (as Rat Face never called with  the results of my blood work) and she told me everything was progressing nicely. That my E2 levels had gone from 108 on Wednesday to 357 on Saturday and that my follicles were between 9 and 11 mm. She said that I needed to come in on Tuesday for another Ultrasound and Blood work and that hopefully, just once more and then I would trigger. She was very nice and said that despite the impression that I got from Rat Face, I was not responding slowly...but was right on target. I am not sure that I believe that, however. I will have been on stims for 11 days as of Tuesday and that is about how long most people are on them before they trigger and I suspect that I will not be ready to trigger (based on the cycle so far) until Thursday or Friday.  Oh well, at least she was nice and gave me some hope today. Just think, though in a matter of a week or less....I will hopefully have some little babies in my tummy!!!!! Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope!!!!!

My Response So Far...

Well things on the IVF trail are moving along very well so far! I had my first ultrasound (after starting my stims -- Gonal-F-- on Saturday) and I have 4 follies 7 mm and under on the right and over 10 (I think) 7 mm and under on the left. I got the impression that my response is very good and that they may have to slow things down a little as that is a high response at such an early stage. We will know how to move forward once we receive the results of my E2 levels this afternoon. I am so excited....just think in less than a month I may be pregnant! This is the most excited I have been in over a year (since we were pregnant last June). P.S. My E2 level was only 108. The nurse said that was fine...that they were looking for anything over 100. (I guess I just barely made it). So I guess my response was not as good as I originally thought. My next U/S and blood work appointment is scheduled for Saturday (day 8 of stims).

And thus the ride begins.......

Well....After having prepared for IVF almost 5 years ago....changed our minds and having chose instead to undergo a second vasectomy reversal with Dr. Silber...and then a spontaneous pregnancy in June 2000 (no assistance on that one) and with no luck since....we have come full circle. We have started our very first IVF cycle. I finished my BCP's last night and had my baseline ultrasound and blood work done today. Everything is a go! Estradoil levels are excellent--20-- and ovaries are suppressed nicely...so we start Lupron (Micro dose) twice a day on Thursday and Gonal F (3 amps) twice a day on Saturday. We are looking at a retrieval (assuming all goes well) in approximately 2 weeks or so. Well...I don't really know what to expect....but here we gooooooooooooo...