Our (pre)Baby Blog

Haha…I crack me up!  I woke up feeling really good today, better than I have since starting this latest IVF cycle.  I felt good physically (minus some leftover cramping from the retrieval), but more importantly I felt good emotionally.  I finally feel like myself again.

I did some food shopping, then I came home and spent pretty much all day in the kitchen.  I made 3 kinds of cookies - oatmeal, biscotti, and some tropical inspired thing that still needs a name.  Actually, I botched the biscotti somehow.  Oh well.  I also made 3 cans of dulce de leche, roasted chicken legs and sauteed green beans.  (Oops, am I making you hungry?  The cookies are on my recipe site, except for the last one which I’ll try to post after writing this.)

Today was a good reminder of the things I like to do aside from TTC.  So, I know I’m going to be  okay.  I’m going back to work tomorrow.  I had planned on taking the week off because of recovery from the retrieval and then the transfer, but now I think it’s best to keep busy.

Of course, I can’t totally ignore what happened.  The doctor called today to go over everything.  He had a couple of ideas of what could possibly have gone wrong, but nothing that really seemed to fit.  On Thursdays they have their weekly case review where “the board” goes over troublesome cases.  He asked if I’d mind if he brought this up then so he could get some collaboration and decide on a plan of action.  Then we can meet with him Friday and make a decision.  I thought it sounded like a great idea.  Hey, the more brainiacs involved the better, I say.

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I was not surprised by the call I received today.  A nurse from the clinic called to tell me that our eggs didn’t make it.  Two weren’t mature enough, so they didn’t even try to inject those.  The one they did perform ICSI on didn’t continue to develop.  Because it’s a holiday weekend, my doctor was not around.  I’ll have to wait till he gets back to me to ask questions and decide on our next plan of action.

I was pretty upset yesterday when they told me there were only 3 eggs.  I knew then that we were out this cycle, even though Al kept saying, “It only takes one.”  I just couldn’t be positive about it.  So I think I got most of the tears out of my system then.  Now I’m just resigned to it.  Well, I’ll make the most of the remaining weekend anyway.  On the plus side, since we already paid for PGD this cycle, and we didn’t even get that far, that’s one less thing for us to worry about on our next attempt.

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Well, I just got home from the clinic.  The were only able to retrieve 3 eggs.  I’m not sure what happened.  They’re not either.  I was just awaking after the anesthesia, so I only partly remember the conversation with the embryologist.  He was verifying when I had the trigger shot, because he thought maybe I’d already ovulated…he thinks.  As I said, it’s hard to remember what they tell you in that state.  It doesn’t matter at the moment though.  Hopefully all 3 fertilize and make it through PGD.  All I know is that I will not do another Lupron cycle.  I felt much worse on the meds this time than last time, and I ended up with fewer eggs.  To me, that’s just not a good recipe.  Wish me luck with these 3 little guys.  I’m going to need it!

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I’m triggering tonight!  At 8:30 pm EST I will be giving myself the last shot for this cycle.  Whew!  I made it through.  The retrieval will take place Thursday morning.  Yup, on Turkey Day.  Now I know how the turkey feels!

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I’ve been feeling kind of mopey since starting the Lupron, so I’ve been neglecting my blogs. The addition of Gonal-f and Menopur seems to have helped with the headaches, surprisingly enough.  Of course, now I’ve entered the cramped, bloated stage of the cycle.  It’s an improvement, though, so I’ll take it!

I went for blood work and an ultrasound on Saturday.  The numbers looked pretty good.  My estradiol was 687 with 7 potential follicles:

• Left Ovary:  4 follicles - 15, 12.5, 12.5 and 11.5 mm
• Right Ovary: 3 follicles - 15, 13.5 and 11.5 mm

Not too shabby, but I knew there were none big enough for me to trigger ovulation.  I was instructed to continue with the 3 nightly injections and come back for more testing this morning.  A lot changed in 2 days!  Today my estradiol is 1,182, my progesterone is 1.67, and I now have 9 potential follicles:

• Left Ovary:  6 follicles - 17, 17, 16, 13, 13 and 13 mm
• Right Ovary: 3 follicles - 20, 18 and 13 mm

I guess what my right ovary is lacking in quantity it’s making up for in size!  I’ll still do the 3 injections tonight, but I have to go back for more blood work tomorrow.  Hey, at least I won’t have to face the dildo cam this time!

Last time I was told they wanted to see at least 3 follicles over 18 mm, then they had me trigger ovulation the next day.  Since I’m so close, I’m guessing I’ll be triggering in the next day or 2.  Retrieval takes place 2 days later.  So at this point my Thanksgiving plans are up the air!  I hope everyone else has more concrete plans than this. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

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