Well, it's in there! I'm thrilled to report that there is a perfect little embryo inside me as I type this. Hopefully right about now it's taking a good look around and deciding it seems like my uterus is a pretty nice place to hang it's hat for the next 9 months...
What a fantastic experience the transfer was. We transferred one 3AA blastocyst this morning - apparently this is the very best you can possibly have. The embryologist ID'ed us by saying that our embryo was "gorgeous" - her exact words. That felt so good to hear.
The actual transfer was relatively quick and easy. It was cool to see the embryo go shooting out of the catheter like a little cannon ball on the ultrasound. And now it's in there. In me. So cool. I almost feel like crying. I'm so happy.
I asked my doctor what our chances of success are with this specific embryo and our case history, etc., and she replied "64%". I'll take those odds.
I want my embryo to be as happy and as comfortable as possible, I do love it so.
Now, I rest.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
31 & Cross Eyed
Today I am 31 years old. This year has gone by so fast. There have been so many ups and downs, but mostly downs this year unfortunately. Here's hoping that 31 treats me better than 30 did.
I have noticed (in my old age) that over the past few months, I am going a bit cross eyed. It seems to happen when I first wake up in the morning, and when I'm really tired at night. My eyes cross and I start seeing double. I can't seem to undo it. I either have to wait it out - usually takes about 10 minutes in the morning - or just go to sleep.
I have also noticed that bedtime has become earlier and earlier over the past couple of years. I can remember when I would routinely go to bed at 1 or 2am with no problems. These days it's a miracle if I make it past 10pm.
I can't tolerate alcohol as much as I used to either; I believe this to be another product of getting older. I remember when I could polish off a whole bottle of wine or several beers and not feel a thing. Now, one glass of wine or one pint of beer usually has me under the table. It's embarrassing.
But other than a few grey hairs, I wouldn't change a thing. I like being an adult in my 30's. I'm excited to share all the things I loved from my childhood with my someday child. I like the idea of changing from kid to parent. I like the responsibility of a mortgage, bills, career and hopefully family. I surely don't know everything, but by now, I know a fair bit about what NOT to do. It's empowering.
Here's to being thirtysomething.
Transfer tomorrow at 9:45am. I really hope my birthday wish comes true this year.
I have noticed (in my old age) that over the past few months, I am going a bit cross eyed. It seems to happen when I first wake up in the morning, and when I'm really tired at night. My eyes cross and I start seeing double. I can't seem to undo it. I either have to wait it out - usually takes about 10 minutes in the morning - or just go to sleep.
I have also noticed that bedtime has become earlier and earlier over the past couple of years. I can remember when I would routinely go to bed at 1 or 2am with no problems. These days it's a miracle if I make it past 10pm.
I can't tolerate alcohol as much as I used to either; I believe this to be another product of getting older. I remember when I could polish off a whole bottle of wine or several beers and not feel a thing. Now, one glass of wine or one pint of beer usually has me under the table. It's embarrassing.
But other than a few grey hairs, I wouldn't change a thing. I like being an adult in my 30's. I'm excited to share all the things I loved from my childhood with my someday child. I like the idea of changing from kid to parent. I like the responsibility of a mortgage, bills, career and hopefully family. I surely don't know everything, but by now, I know a fair bit about what NOT to do. It's empowering.
Here's to being thirtysomething.
Transfer tomorrow at 9:45am. I really hope my birthday wish comes true this year.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Crazier Than Britney
I just heard from the lab with the latest update on my embryos.
We have:
one with 14 cells (this one is looking like the transfer front runner at the moment)
two with 12 cells
one with 8 cells
one with 5 cells (it had 5 cells yesterday also...boo hoo)
Additionally, they froze three more:
one with 14 cells
two with 9 cells
I asked why they didn't freeze one of the 12 cell embryos and leave out the 14 cell embryo. The lab technician said that the 14 cell embryo that they froze wasn't "as nice" as the 12 cell embryo. I guess I'll take her word for it. She said that all the embryos look really good (even that slow little 5 cell guy), with nice even cells and no fragmentation. She implied we should count ourselves lucky; which I most certainly do. Indeed.
Transfer was reconfirmed for Friday at 9:45am. I will not hear from the lab tomorrow, which is probably a good thing. I spend most of the day working myself into an anxious lather waiting for these embryo updates. I swear this process makes me feel crazier than Britney.
Tomorrow, I must finish the laundry and go on a gathering mission to round up all my post-transfer requirements, as I plan to lay as flat as possible, for as long as possible. I'm thinking movies, trashy magazines, books, etc. Maybe I'll even pull out the old knitting needles...
I think I'm starting to get excited.
We have:
one with 14 cells (this one is looking like the transfer front runner at the moment)
two with 12 cells
one with 8 cells
one with 5 cells (it had 5 cells yesterday also...boo hoo)
Additionally, they froze three more:
one with 14 cells
two with 9 cells
I asked why they didn't freeze one of the 12 cell embryos and leave out the 14 cell embryo. The lab technician said that the 14 cell embryo that they froze wasn't "as nice" as the 12 cell embryo. I guess I'll take her word for it. She said that all the embryos look really good (even that slow little 5 cell guy), with nice even cells and no fragmentation. She implied we should count ourselves lucky; which I most certainly do. Indeed.
Transfer was reconfirmed for Friday at 9:45am. I will not hear from the lab tomorrow, which is probably a good thing. I spend most of the day working myself into an anxious lather waiting for these embryo updates. I swear this process makes me feel crazier than Britney.
Tomorrow, I must finish the laundry and go on a gathering mission to round up all my post-transfer requirements, as I plan to lay as flat as possible, for as long as possible. I'm thinking movies, trashy magazines, books, etc. Maybe I'll even pull out the old knitting needles...
I think I'm starting to get excited.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Quietly Freaking Out
I just got the day-2 embryo update. Of the 8 embryos left out of the freezer, ALL of them are Grade A's. I'm kinda in shock right now. Transfer is currently scheduled for day 5 - Friday at 9:45am.
This sounds crazy, I know, but as happy as I am about this news, I'm also a little nervous. Doesn't it seem like things are going a little too well? I don't mean to be cynical but shouldn't I be waiting for the other shoe to drop here??
I'm quietly freaking out today. I'm happy, nervous, thrilled, worried, overjoyed, and wary. I'm so used to getting bad news when it comes to all things reproductive, I guess I'm just not used to this.
OK. I'm just going to try to enjoy this fantastic news and not let my demons get the better of me.
Truly, I am beyond grateful.
This sounds crazy, I know, but as happy as I am about this news, I'm also a little nervous. Doesn't it seem like things are going a little too well? I don't mean to be cynical but shouldn't I be waiting for the other shoe to drop here??
I'm quietly freaking out today. I'm happy, nervous, thrilled, worried, overjoyed, and wary. I'm so used to getting bad news when it comes to all things reproductive, I guess I'm just not used to this.
OK. I'm just going to try to enjoy this fantastic news and not let my demons get the better of me.
Truly, I am beyond grateful.
Monday, November 26, 2007
15 Is My New Favourite Number
Just heard from the lab - of the 16 eggs harvested, 15 fertilized perfectly. Even that last 16th fertilized well, but just not as perfectly as the other 15. I am so happy. So. Happy.
The doctor tucked 8 of our little guys in the freezer already. This leaves us with essentially 7 embryos that are still growing. The doctor thinks we have a fairly good chance of making it to 5 day blast, but we'll know for sure tomorrow afternoon, when they call for an update. It's too early for the embryos to get a grade (look at me, already forcing my offspring to be over-achievers), but my heart sang when the doctor actually said that our embryos are "phenomenal".
I am so ecstatic, thrilled, overjoyed about this news, words cannot express.
Keep growing little embryos, keep growing!
The doctor tucked 8 of our little guys in the freezer already. This leaves us with essentially 7 embryos that are still growing. The doctor thinks we have a fairly good chance of making it to 5 day blast, but we'll know for sure tomorrow afternoon, when they call for an update. It's too early for the embryos to get a grade (look at me, already forcing my offspring to be over-achievers), but my heart sang when the doctor actually said that our embryos are "phenomenal".
I am so ecstatic, thrilled, overjoyed about this news, words cannot express.
Keep growing little embryos, keep growing!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Photos From The Retrieval
I'm still pretty out of it and tired from the drugs this morning. And probably because of that, I'm throwing my vanity to the wind and have decided to post a couple of photos that I had D take at this morning's retrieval. Let's call them before and after photos. Obviously I'm not looking my best here.
Top is before, bottom is after.
Everything went so well, and to say I'm grateful is truly an understatement. The procedure was fairly painful at times and I'm moving pretty slowly now as I recover. But if this gets us a baby, I'd go through all of it a million times over.
I'm so pleased, 16 eggs is nothing short of fantastic. I feel so blessed already. I keep thinking about our embryo children and wondering how they are doing. I hope they know their mummy and daddy love them so much already.
Top is before, bottom is after.
Everything went so well, and to say I'm grateful is truly an understatement. The procedure was fairly painful at times and I'm moving pretty slowly now as I recover. But if this gets us a baby, I'd go through all of it a million times over.
I'm so pleased, 16 eggs is nothing short of fantastic. I feel so blessed already. I keep thinking about our embryo children and wondering how they are doing. I hope they know their mummy and daddy love them so much already.
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