Things are going well!

Oh my gosh, things are going so well.  I can't believe I haven't updated!

My retrieval was yesterday (Thursday).  My mom went with  me and sat with me while we waited for the doctor to arrive.  I think it was hard for her to see everything that I have to go through.  She was making sad faces when they were putting my IV in.  The doctor took a long time to get there so my friend Alicia (the embryologist) kept coming in and visiting us.  Finally it was time to go back.  I was so nervous.  I've done this before but this was a new place and instead of putting me out completely, they only do conscious sedation.

Alicia came into the room with me and sat on a stool by me.  She held my hand and rubbed my arm when it was painful.  There were times when it hurt a LOT and I would make a horrible face.  Then she would rub my forehead.  She was such a sweetheart.  I don't remember a lot from the retrieval.  I remember seeing who was in there and the pain.  But the parts in between I don't remember. 

We got 17 eggs!  Woohoo!  We only had 9 from my first IVF.

After the retrieval I had to rest for an hour. I was so tired that I just dozed off and on.  We stopped to eat at The Cheesecake Factory on the way home.  It was delicious but I was having a hard time staying awake.  Next we stopped to get my prescription filled and then headed home.  I spent the day in the recliner trying not to move too much, wincing in pain and sleeping. 


Alicia texted me that afternoon to give me an update (normally you don't get an update until the next day).  She said that 3 were immature, 1 was degenerate, and 13 were mature!  Yay!  I only had 4 mature last time! 

This morning my phone rang bright and early at 7 am.  Alicia was so excited.  She said she was dancing around the lab like a 5 year old.  Of the 13 eggs that were ICSI'ed, 12 fertilized!  I cannot believe that we have that many to start out with!  I only had one fertilize last time.  One.  And now I have TWELVE!

Did you know that the embryologist has to tap the sperm on the tail to make them stop moving, then they suck them up in their little tool to inject them into the egg?  She said J's sperm were ornery.  There were two that she would tap on the tail, they would stop moving, and then they would swim away as soon as she tried to suck them up.  She said she was laughing pretty hard trying to ICSI them.

Alicia is so excited about this that she can't stand it.  She had to take a look at them again this afternoon and she said they were beautiful.  The next check isn't until Sunday but she works tomorrow and mentioned checking on them again.  She is the best! 

My transfer will be on Tuesday. 

I'm actually feeling a little hopeful now.  Cross your fingers that everything continues working well.