All set for 5 day x-fer...

Yesterday we had our retrieval.

Coincidentally we were able to retrieve 18 eggs again. (we had 18 eggs last cycle too) Of those 18, 11 were mature, and here's the best part....we have 10 that fertilized!

18 must be the lucky #. Our due date will be July 18, 2011 with this retrieval date.

With that number that means were are doing a 5 day x-fer. So on Halloween (Monday) will transfer 1-2 embryos. This all really depends on how these 10 little ones are over the next few days. If they are still of good quality then we may just do one.

I am so excited this is twice as many as we had fertilized last time. We also did a 3 day transfer. I am much more excited than last time. I could do cartwheels...if it didn't feel like someone was stabbing my ovaries every time I move.

I'll keep you updated once we know more about when the transfer will be and how it turned out.

But, for now I'm just going to be super excited!

Let's harvest these Eggs...

They called at set up my Retrieval for 8:30am Wednesday.

Today I had lots of large follicles on both sides. The right side still has more, but there are quite a few on the left as well.

I am really excited about all on this. For sure I will be "pregnant unless proven otherwise" by Monday. Whoo hoo!

I really do have a good feeling about all of this. I'm sure that could/ will change during the TWW and after the retrieval and we are waiting to hear our fertilization report. With our angel Eleanna watching over her bother(s) or sister(s) how could we not have success?

At this point I am so relieved that I have lots of follicles to work with and that after Wednesday pretty much this will all be out of my hands. Even if we don't get a BFP I am really hoping to freeze embryos this time for now or later :) Last time I was slightly hyperstimulated which may have been why we had not so many "great" embryos. This time it "cooked" the eggies longer, so hopefully there will be better embryos this time.

I'll keep you posted once I know more. Hopefully I'll have an "egg report" before I leave the DR. on Wednesday.

It's a little quiet on the western front...

Today I went in for another Ultrasound and blood work to see how things are going.

The right ovary has over 10-12 follicles that are progressing nicely.

The left and often illusive ovary has just a couple of follicles "cookin'"

So, the are upping my dose of Gonal-F to 225 tonight, and adding 5 IU of low dose HCG.

All in all things are just progressing slower this time. But, that was kind of expected because of the lower dose of meds I have been on .

We have to go back on Saturday for another Ultrasound. Hopefully we will have a better idea of our retrieval date then. They gave us all our instructions for our "trigger" shot I was glad to find out this time it will be sub-q instead of in my backside muscle...

I'll have plenty of them after the retrieval.

I keep you posted after Saturday.

Follicles, Follicles here and there...

Today we went in for my first follicle check and blood work.

I have been on a low dose of Gonal-F 75 IU am and pm. They will be upping my dose to 75 IU am and 112.5 pm. The shots don't really hurt or bother me. Although I think that the Follistim pen was easier to use... They are all done with a tiny little needles...

There seemed to be lots of follicles measuring around 5-8 mm there were not as many measured on my left ovary, but that one "hides". My estrogen level was 133.

I go back on Thursday to see how they are growing. Everything seem to be progressing as it should.

Last night I was able to go to a "Healing Hearts" meeting in Rockford. It was comforting to attend. I have made some great friends with 2 other families who lost babies right around the time we lost Eleanna. We all wish we didn't have to meet, but now they feel like family to me. I love them so much, because I know that they were sent from God to me... I know it may sound crazy. But, really there is no one else who really know how I am feeling like them. I feel so blessed to have them on this journey with me.

I made some little Halloween treats for all in attendance... It was the least I could do for those who have been such a blessing to me.

Since we have moved along a bit in the process I am feeling better. I had this fear that they were going to tell me that I would not be able to do this cycle. Now that things are "normal" and underway I am feeling better.

This past weekend I helped my Pastor at a conference on Evangelism. His talks were on faith sharing so I shared "my message" with other United Methodist members. It felt really great sharing mine & Eleanna's faith story with them...

Pastor & I had a nice chat on the way there and back. I told him that this time around I was going to be uber happy from the start...I have found there is no use in holding back excitement, etc. because of what might happen. The truth is it doesn't make loosing you baby hurt any less not getting as excited about it. This time I will not be cautiously optimistic. I will just be excited for every moment. Weather it's a few days, weeks or a whole 9 months...

Just think in the first few days of November I will know how this cycle played out. I'm planning on a BFP! By Eleanna's due date (November 29) I pray that we will see a tiny heart(s) beating on the ultrasound.

Thanks for reading...

Casting Crowns - Voice of Truth [LYRICS]

All systems go for Operation Bring Home Baby...

Today I went in for my baseline ultrasound.

All is quiet, as it should be. They will be calling me later with my dosage of Gonal-f and possibly low dose HCG. Both are tiny subcutaneous shots in my abs of flab... :)

I will also be doing lupron with these other shots.

My Mom was kind enough to get up before 5 am and ride with me in there today. Thanks Mom.

I go in for the next ultrasound on Tuesday.

All in all I am very excited about all of this. I did have some moments earlier this week where I was just so pissed off that I have do this all over again. I just want to still be pregnant. It makes me so mad that I'm not. I'm certain that these feelings are totally normal, and I would probably be odd if I did feel at least a little bit this way. I'm so glad to be at the easy part. Where I'm not waiting on anything. Right now I just give myself shots and hope that all goes as planned.

There are times where I could just fast forward to July 2012 and be holding my baby(ies)...

On thing I do know it that I will be enjoying every moment of this pregnancy. And I will be "one of those" people who call the Dr. all the time...

I have lots of IVf buddies this time on Daily Strength. There's power in numbers right?

This is all such a blessing. There are so many who would love to have the opportunity to do just one IVF. We have the possibility of 2 more fresh cycles after this or unlimited frozen cycles (as long as we have embryos frozen) It is so amazing to have that available to us.

I trying my best to put all my trust in God. It's not easy. Doubt is so easy, but it only makes you feel awful...

Last night we sang the song "The Voice of Truth"

Out of all the voice calling out to I will choose to listen & believe the VOICE of TRUTH...

Something Beautiful NeedToBreathe

I really like this song... I love the lines about...will you let me drown...consume me like fire...I just want something beautiful...

How to make a baby...

how most people make a baby...

One Boy + One Girl + Bow Chica Bow Wow = baby

How we make babies...

One Boy + One Girl + One Reproductive Endocrinologist + several kind nurses + (Gonal F, HCG, Lupron, estridiol patches, Progesterone) = baby

It's no wonder with IVF you can get multiples...

Here's a picture of my meds that I have gotten so far.

October 5th I start with the lupron.