There's always a but...

Hi everyone! I have been thinking about this post for many days now and have been unable to even attempt normal hygiene routines let alone sit up or think straight enough to post anything! But I know everyone is sitting at the edge of their seats just waiting to hear, so I will lie flat and attempt to get something down between bathroom vomiting sessions! They retrieved 22 eggs and of those 22, they were able to fertilize 18 with Ian's sperm! We are so happy, relieved, blessed, excited.. Really any good emotion, you can add to this list. But, it was a process so I will start from the beginning.

Ian took me to the FTC Surgical Center on Friday morning at 8:15. A really awesome nurse did the preliminary paperwork and started my IV and some fluids to keep me hydrated. Then we were seen by an anesthesiologist (who I would let put me under any day) and he explained how the procedure would go, pretty straight forward. Lastly, we saw our doctor and she answered our last questions before sending Ian to the waiting room and me to the surgical room.

In the surgical room, they had set up a tiny half-bed with ginormous stirrups (at this point I felt vulnerable knowing I would be under fentanyl (an analgesic) and propofol (an anesthetic) and my naked legs and body would be suspended in mid air), but the anesthesiologist shot me up with a dose of fentanyl and I didn't have a care in the world :) Then I saw him hook a white liquid, which was the propofol, into my IV and the next thing I remember is being on a gurney in the recovery area! It seemed like an instant!

Ian was able to come back to the recovery area and he told me she captured 22 eggs!! That seemed like a huge number and soon we found out I was an overachiever when it came to egg production. The down side to this phenomenon is that I developed a mild case of Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome caused from excessive levels of estrogen due to each follicle emitting it's own dose since its inception. So, while I had many eggs develop, they were slow and steady to mature and ultimately caused toxic estrogen levels for tiny, fragile embryos.

This leads me to the but..... If the embryos are of high quality (utmost importance), our doctor will elect to wait 6 weeks (an entire cycle plus) to allow my body to return to its prior healthy state of homeostasis (my family makes fun of me for using that word). Therefore, increasing our chances for a healthy pregnancy. What do you say to that? No way, I want them to be dropped into a toxic waste land where they don't have a chance! So once again, Ian and I have to change our thought process and I can't tell myself "you can do this, just remember, you will be pregnant when you leave here.." But, we both agree, that waiting really isn't such a bad thing. Especially when you consider we've been at this for a year and a half, so what's six more weeks? Nothing really; we want the best result, bottom line.

At this point, they are prepping us for implantation just in case the embryos don't look like they could survive a 6 week freeze, so Ian is stabbing my buttocks with an 1 1/2 needle (which he enjoys and most importantly, is good at) and I'm covered in creams and patches to trick my body into thinking it's pregnant. This will all stop on Tuesday if the embryos are "high quality" and restart sometime over the next 6 weeks. And just to add to the fun (since there's not enough already), I'm either experiencing a bad side effect from one of the medications/hormones, have food poisoning, or just the plain old stomach flu! Seriously, living the dream!

I must send out a huge thank you to Ian for taking such good care of me, holding my hair and rubbing my back as I hug the toilet and keeping me comfortable so I can sleep! I feel so lucky to have him. Also, a huge hug and thanks to my in-laws who are taking care of my fur children with a smile. And also to my Dad and Sheri for letting me take over their house the last two and a half weeks. And finally to everyone who sent encouraging words and kept us in their thoughts and prayers! Your support and friendship is invaluable!