The exciting Part II . . .

So, as I said yesterday, last week's ultrasound showed an empty sac A and a yolk sac, fetal pole, and visible heartbeat in sac B . . .

Look what we have this week!!!!!!!

Baby A has appeared from nothing!! We now have what my parents call "The ABs (ay-bees)".

Baby A's heart rate was 121 as demonstrated here. B's was 127. They said normal is between 120 and 180, so they are on the low end of normal.

Baby B's solo debut!!

Baby A's solo debut!!

Both babies are measuring behind, but I think they are within the one week margin? We go back in for one LAST ultrasound next Tuesday. If everything looks okay, and the ABs are still growing, they will graduate me to the OB!

This is the best birthday present ever! I turn the big 3-0 this Friday, and was dreading it, but this makes it all better!

I'll be back soon with some more posts. I have a lot of photos in my camera of things that I meant to blog about, but October is the busiest month and I just haven't had time to unload the pictures!

Time to buckle down!

School is OUT for the Summer!!! I am so happy to have two months off of work to do what I want with. I am supposed to be working at the nursing homes PRN (as needed) throughout the Summer, but so far they have only been calling for me on the weekends (when I'm usually camping, or out of town). I need the money for our big trip to Thailand, so I hope they start giving me weekday hours soon! Speaking of Thailand, we are indeed still going!!! I am re-excited. For a while there (being my pessimistic self) I was convinced we weren't going. I had even checked out just about every travel book from every country from the library. I returned them yesterday, as I returned to my day dreaming of elephant rides, snorkeling in pristine turquoise water, and Thai cooking classes.

But, before we depart for Thailand, I have a LOT of getting in shape to do (in a month's time). I know, it's pretty ridiculous of me to expect much out of last minute working out, but I am going to do my best! I have a schedule of classes that I have signed up for at the YMCA: Mondays Zumba in the morning, stability ball in the evening; Tuesdays Zumba; Wedensdays Zumba in the morning, stability ball in the evening (although, I probably won't do this, because my favorite Summer event takes place Wednesday nights); Thursdays Zumba; Fridays Zumba, Saturdays Core Conditioning. And, of course, I will add other exercises to that list independently. I also have to work on my eating habits (as always). I can be a really healthy eater, but I just LOVE food, so I often eat way too much!

There's no excuse for me not to work out at least an hour a day for the next month, as I have no work schedule to abide by! I am really looking forward to starting these classes, and getting into a really healthy eating routine. I plan to cook from my new "How to Cook Everything: Vegetarian" cookbook a lot! I have already made several things from this book that have turned out deliciously! I will blog about them soon, as blogging is another thing that I can do a lot more of with my new found free time. I actually made a list of what to do in my spare time, as you'd be surprised how easily time can get away from you without a set schedule!

Well, I'm off to do something with my day -- to be determined!

3, It's the Magic Number!

Well, today was the day . . . we transfered two embryos into my cozy uterus.  One of the embryos was a seven cell, and the other was an eight cell.  The doctor said they look for between 6 and 9 cells.

I put on quite the show.  There were a lot of people in the egg transfer room today: the RE, an intern to the RE, two nurses, the ultra sound nurse, the ultra sound nurse's intern, and Chris and me.  After they got the catheter in, someone from the embryology lab brought in my two embryos to be inserted via catheter.  They told us to watch for the flash of light on the ultra sound screen on the count of three, and sure enough, there was a big flash of light when the embryos were placed inside.  It was so cool, like a big bang of life in my uterus.  I don't know why I got so emotional, but I started crying.  I was so happy to see actual embryos being placed in my uterus, I told them all it was the most pregnant I've ever been.

Then they wheeled me into the other room to lie down for 30 minutes before they discharged me.  I get to go in for a blood pregnancy test (beta) in two weeks, February 25th.  This will be a LONG two weeks!  But, as I have seen others who are going through this journey write, "I am pregnant until proven otherwise!"

In a dish down the street . . .

there are 16 eggs fertilized and growing!  I got my fertilization report today.  We started out with 18 eggs, 1 of which was not mature enough.  Of the 17 remaining, 16 fertilized!!!!  Those are some good odds!  They used ICSI (where they put the sperm into the egg with a microscopic needle) on 9 of the eggs, and let the remaining 8 fertilize naturally.  Eight out of the 9 ICSI eggs fertilized, and 8 out of 8 fertilized naturally!

Now we wait for tomorrow to find out how they're progressing!  We could either have a transfer on Thursday or on Saturday.  I'm hoping for Saturday so I don't have to miss anymore work!  

Switching Over

I decided to start a new blog, separate from my baking blog to talk about all of my fertility struggles.  I was worried that certain people would read about my infertility that I didn't particularly want to know about it -- this blog is for me and my fellow infertility sufferers.

I am starting somewhat where I left off at www.sweetmelissasweets.blogspot.com.  But, a lot has happened since I last posted about infertility there.  That blog ended where we went on a cruise because my first IVF cycle was cancelled due to only 1 lead follicle.  It wasn't that I didn't have plenty of follicles, in fact, that's my problem.  I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and have at least 50 resting follicles in each ovary.  For those of you who don't know, that's a LOT, even for people with PCOS -- I have an extreme case.  Additionally, I have a mild hydrosalpinx in my right tube (slight blockage), and an issue with prolactin production.  For the most part, IVF takes care of all of these issues.  

So, we started our second IVF attempt after returning from the cruise.  This time my ovaries responded quite well.  I developed 30+ mature-ish follicles.  But, my doctors were worried because my e2 (estradiol/estrogen) level was way too high (3700+) and I ran the risk (and still do) of developing OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome).  But, miraculously, my doctors let me go through with egg retrieval.  I went in yesterday morning at 6:45 am.  The nurses and staff were very nice and tried their best to comfort me.  I was crying because I was so scared.  When they hooked me up to the heart rate monitor it sounded like a hummingbird's heartbeat.  After some prepping and consultation, the anesthesiologist came in to start my IV.  He was very nice, and gave me a numbing shot so that inserting the IV wouldn't hurt.  Those anesthesiologists are the best!  So then they wheeled me into the operating room.  They gave me a nice, warmed blanket and put my feet up into the comfiest stirrups I've ever been placed in.  They were ultra padded, plush stirrups.  Why doesn't everyone have coushy stirrups?!  Next thing I knew the room started to fade out and I was out like a light.  I woke up in the recovery room to Chris (my hubby) and my mom standing over me.  I felt pretty crampy when I woke up, so the nurse gave me some pain meds through my IV as well as a Tylenol.  They brought me some apple juice and graham crackers, since I hadn't eaten or drank anything since 10pm the night before.  They came back in to tell me that they retrieved 18 eggs!!  I was so happy.  Although, I dreamed that they would retrieve 22 eggs, so I was a little disappointed at my lack of being psychic.  But, I couldn't complain!  

Then the nurse gave Chris a lesson on how to give me my PIO (Progesterone In Oil) shots -- the ones with the 1 1/2 inch needle that had me shaking just thinking about it.  But, surprisingly it didn't hurt.  She circled with a permanent marker the spot that Chris needs to aim for when he does it.  I have to take these shots once a day for eight weeks (if this results in a pregnancy).

After that we signed some discharge papers and I was free to go home.  My dad came over to stay with me while Chris went to work.  Really, I didn't need anybody after all, because I wasn't all that uncomfortable.  

My brother-in-law stopped by in the afternoon to drop off flowers.  That was so sweet and thoughtful.  He and his wife are having twins in the next couple months, and I think they feel a little bad that they were able to get pregnant so easily (all while we were trying so hard).  So, it's nice to know that they acknowledge the struggle we are going through.

Everything turned out better than expected -- and a lot less painful than expected.  I would do it again, but hope, with all my heart, that I don't have to!!