I think it is finally setting in. I am exhausted. I know this side effect will go away, but wow, it hits you like a ton of bricks.
I think we are holding our breath until Thursdays ultrasound to see just how many are in there. Whatever it is, we will be happy.
The baby is the size of a sesame seed. When you stop and think about it, that is so hard to believe that we are all once at that stage. It is amazing and mind blowing.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Attack
Attack of the blue veins!!!! I have them all over my (.)(.) and upper chest area!
My back also has some pimples. Guess these are the first "signs." Let's hope there are many more to come!
So far, we have told:
My Mom (who told her friend Mary)- We told my mom by putting a Grandma t-shirt in a bag of clothes that I was giving her. I told her she needed to look through the top 3 things in the bag because if she didn't want them, I was going to give them to someone else. When she unfolded the shirt, she asked who does this belong to!?!??!?! She was so excited, and of course, she cried.
Kathy- I called her at work and asked for Aunty Kathy. She cried.
Sam- Bill told Sam to get out his beard and top hat because he would be Uncle Sam soon!
Mary- Mary was in a rest stop bathroom in Toledo. She was so happy and she cried with me, well we sobbed. She said here mom had been praying so hard for us.
John- Was very happy.
Ed- In typical Ed fashion, he asked when we'd find out who the father was.
Linda--She was very happy, said she had chills
Andy Hammer- We haven't seen Andy in years, but bumped into him at Olivor Twist as we were eating dinner Friday night. He kept asking me to try his drink, etc. He also asked if we had kids and we looked at each other and smiled and said "not yet." He said to keep trying. I said well, there is only one wine glass on the table. He still didn't get it. He joined us for dinner, and again tried to get me to drink. We finally told him. He was so happy for us that he bought us dinner.
Lori - She emailed me a nice thinking of you card and I emailed her the results back. She cried!
Our friends have been with us for lots of ups and downs. Our baby (ies) will be very lucky to have so many Aunt's & Uncle's.
It is all still overwhelming and still holding my breath until we hear a heartbeat.
I think the cats something. They have been especially needy with me..... wanting to kneed my stomach and sit there.
My back also has some pimples. Guess these are the first "signs." Let's hope there are many more to come!
So far, we have told:
My Mom (who told her friend Mary)- We told my mom by putting a Grandma t-shirt in a bag of clothes that I was giving her. I told her she needed to look through the top 3 things in the bag because if she didn't want them, I was going to give them to someone else. When she unfolded the shirt, she asked who does this belong to!?!??!?! She was so excited, and of course, she cried.
Kathy- I called her at work and asked for Aunty Kathy. She cried.
Sam- Bill told Sam to get out his beard and top hat because he would be Uncle Sam soon!
Mary- Mary was in a rest stop bathroom in Toledo. She was so happy and she cried with me, well we sobbed. She said here mom had been praying so hard for us.
John- Was very happy.
Ed- In typical Ed fashion, he asked when we'd find out who the father was.
Linda--She was very happy, said she had chills
Andy Hammer- We haven't seen Andy in years, but bumped into him at Olivor Twist as we were eating dinner Friday night. He kept asking me to try his drink, etc. He also asked if we had kids and we looked at each other and smiled and said "not yet." He said to keep trying. I said well, there is only one wine glass on the table. He still didn't get it. He joined us for dinner, and again tried to get me to drink. We finally told him. He was so happy for us that he bought us dinner.
Lori - She emailed me a nice thinking of you card and I emailed her the results back. She cried!
Our friends have been with us for lots of ups and downs. Our baby (ies) will be very lucky to have so many Aunt's & Uncle's.
It is all still overwhelming and still holding my breath until we hear a heartbeat.
I think the cats something. They have been especially needy with me..... wanting to kneed my stomach and sit there.
8/22/06 Finally!
The news we've waited 2.5 years for, finally came at 12:16pm. Dr. Loret De Mola called with our blood test results. He asked me how I was feeling, and he said "well you did it. You are definately pregnant."
In order to be considered pregnant, the HCG level has to be 25 or higher. Mine was 439! I asked him if the was indicative of multiples and he said possibly. He said "one for sure, maybe two, but not three."
We go back on Monday for another blood test and the numbers should double.
I was shocked. I've waited to hear those words for so long that I didn't know what to say. Bill was home and we cried and hugged. All the things I hadn't allowed myself to think about ran through my mind. It is overwhelming, but I just have to take it one step at a time.
We went to dinner to celebrate and we bumped into a friend we had not seen in several years. He asked the usual questions, he thought he had heard we had a kid. He kept trying to buy us drinks. We hinted, but he wasn't getting it. He joined us for dinner and we told him. He was so happy for us that he picked up our dinner tab.
Bill is already thinking about how to remodel upstairs....... so much to think about, but still being tentative until we get past the critical stages.
In order to be considered pregnant, the HCG level has to be 25 or higher. Mine was 439! I asked him if the was indicative of multiples and he said possibly. He said "one for sure, maybe two, but not three."
We go back on Monday for another blood test and the numbers should double.
I was shocked. I've waited to hear those words for so long that I didn't know what to say. Bill was home and we cried and hugged. All the things I hadn't allowed myself to think about ran through my mind. It is overwhelming, but I just have to take it one step at a time.
We went to dinner to celebrate and we bumped into a friend we had not seen in several years. He asked the usual questions, he thought he had heard we had a kid. He kept trying to buy us drinks. We hinted, but he wasn't getting it. He joined us for dinner and we told him. He was so happy for us that he picked up our dinner tab.
Bill is already thinking about how to remodel upstairs....... so much to think about, but still being tentative until we get past the critical stages.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Week 1 of the 2WW
The week started off with bedrest for a couple of days. That is not so fun. Back really hurts. I was able to go back to work on Tuesday and sitting and walking really help my back.
I'm not sleeping very well, so I'm always tired.
The HCG shots give me a rash on my stomach. Only 1 more of those though.
Wednesday, it was raining and the sun was out. I knew there had to be a rainbow out there, so I went to check it out. I opened the garage door and gasped. It was right there. A full rainbow in all its glory. Then another. I think it was a reflection of the 1st, because the colors were reversed. It was stunning. I stood in the rain for a while and took pictures and just admired it. Maybe someone from heaven sent that as a sign to me, I hope so.
Other coincidences have been that one of the lab workers that worked with our embryo's was named Vicky. My mom's mom was Vicky.
Thursday in my email there was a spam note with the name Bryn. That is on my short list of girls names.
Maybe I'm just grasping at straws, but I'd like to think these will add up!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Home From Transfer
The transfer went well. We did 3. One nurse was doing an external ultrasound to help guide the doctor so he would get the catheter in the right place and so we could see the procedure. On another screen on the wall they showed us the three "babies", as the doc called them. That was kind of scary. Bill held my hand the whole time, it was a very moving experience. We got pictures of the three embryo's to bring home.
After the procedure I knew I had to stay at the hospital for 3 hours, but I wasn't expecting to have to lie with my head tilted toward the floor for those 3 hours after the transfer on a hard gurney, but hey, whatever it takes! My back hurt so I came home and got right in my comfy bed. Bill made me dinner and I finally felt up to typing.
I'll stay on bed rest tomorrow and then back to light activity on Monday.
The long 2ww has begun........
After the procedure I knew I had to stay at the hospital for 3 hours, but I wasn't expecting to have to lie with my head tilted toward the floor for those 3 hours after the transfer on a hard gurney, but hey, whatever it takes! My back hurt so I came home and got right in my comfy bed. Bill made me dinner and I finally felt up to typing.
I'll stay on bed rest tomorrow and then back to light activity on Monday.
The long 2ww has begun........
Transfer Day
Six were going strong as of yesterday morning. We will put 2 or 3 back this morning! I am very excited, not so nervous.
Last night I dreamt that they mistakenly put all 6 back in, and they all took. Luckily I woke up before they were all delivered!!!
Last night I dreamt that they mistakenly put all 6 back in, and they all took. Luckily I woke up before they were all delivered!!!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Lab Report
Of the 10 (we only ever saw 9 on the ultrasounds, so the last one was a surprise) eggs they retrieved Wednesday, all were mature enough to fertilize.
6 did so normally, there is a 7th in question (maybe this one has ADD like it's Daddy) that could possibly catch up today.
The normal rate for "abnormal" response is 30%, so we are right there.
They'll call tomorrow with another update, but she said at the rate the 6 are going, they (how ever many we decide) will be put back Saturday between 10am-noon.
Phew, my biggest fear was that they would call and say none of them fertilized and this would be over. Hopefully the 6-7 will continue to do well.
A weird coincidence, the girl from the lab is named Vicky. That was my grandmother's name. Just of all the names in the world.......
6 did so normally, there is a 7th in question (maybe this one has ADD like it's Daddy) that could possibly catch up today.
The normal rate for "abnormal" response is 30%, so we are right there.
They'll call tomorrow with another update, but she said at the rate the 6 are going, they (how ever many we decide) will be put back Saturday between 10am-noon.
Phew, my biggest fear was that they would call and say none of them fertilized and this would be over. Hopefully the 6-7 will continue to do well.
A weird coincidence, the girl from the lab is named Vicky. That was my grandmother's name. Just of all the names in the world.......
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
10 Little Indians
Everyone thought there were only 9, but there turned out to be 10 follicles! Phew.
The retrieval process was very interesting. We had to be at the hospital by 6:30am. They got my IV going right away and that was about it, until 8:25am. Then everyone showed up and we were off to the IVF OR.
The room was stark white, kind of like the scene in Willy Wonka where Mike TV gets zapped into the TV set. They got me settled and started the drugs. I wasn't completly asleep and they told me I talked the whole time. I did feel some pain, but they would just give me more medication when I asked for it.
We had to wait for 3 hours after the procedure and then we were able to come home. The girl from the lab came in and described what will be happening with the embryos over the next 2 days. She said she was only expecting 8, so she was surprised to get 10.
Tylenol 3 is my friend for the moment. I'm sure and my stomach is very tender, but I guess that is to be expected when your organs get poked at with a needle!
Tonight is a sub-cu injection of HCG, nothing like the intramuscular shots I had to have 2 days in a row. The first one was not bad, but the emergency one we had to do yesterday afternoon was not pleasant. Even Bill was grossed out by it.
He has done such a good job with the injections. Let's hope this is the one and only time we have to do this.
The waiting over the next 2 days will be tough. Waiting to see if the eggs divide and do what they need to do. Hopefully Saturday we will be ready to put 2 or 3 back.
I feel calm about this, I'm not sure why. It is out of my hands. I am surrounded by love and no matter what, Bill and I love each other so much.
The retrieval process was very interesting. We had to be at the hospital by 6:30am. They got my IV going right away and that was about it, until 8:25am. Then everyone showed up and we were off to the IVF OR.
The room was stark white, kind of like the scene in Willy Wonka where Mike TV gets zapped into the TV set. They got me settled and started the drugs. I wasn't completly asleep and they told me I talked the whole time. I did feel some pain, but they would just give me more medication when I asked for it.
We had to wait for 3 hours after the procedure and then we were able to come home. The girl from the lab came in and described what will be happening with the embryos over the next 2 days. She said she was only expecting 8, so she was surprised to get 10.
Tylenol 3 is my friend for the moment. I'm sure and my stomach is very tender, but I guess that is to be expected when your organs get poked at with a needle!
Tonight is a sub-cu injection of HCG, nothing like the intramuscular shots I had to have 2 days in a row. The first one was not bad, but the emergency one we had to do yesterday afternoon was not pleasant. Even Bill was grossed out by it.
He has done such a good job with the injections. Let's hope this is the one and only time we have to do this.
The waiting over the next 2 days will be tough. Waiting to see if the eggs divide and do what they need to do. Hopefully Saturday we will be ready to put 2 or 3 back.
I feel calm about this, I'm not sure why. It is out of my hands. I am surrounded by love and no matter what, Bill and I love each other so much.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
13 hours and counting
In 13 hours I will be in the hospital for the egg retrieval. Nervous, excited.... yep. I'm more nervous to hear how the embryo's will do in the lab in the next couple of days and if we will have to make a decision on how many to put back in. Maybe there will only be one.
The intramuscular shot last night was no problem. Well, none for me. Bill had some issues and had to call the doc at 9:30pm last night, but it was all settled in a few minutes. The surprise came today when we had to do another IM injection because some bloodwork numbers came back too low.
It looks like I will have 5 more shots to do at home after the transfer. One tomorrow night and then 1 every 3 days. Fingers crossed that I will not need the PIO intramuscular injections every night..... for 2 months. YIKES. What's white and black and blue all over? Shelley!
The shot last night made me very bloated and made my boobs achy. They hurt like hell in the shower. I guess this medication mimics pregnancy so your body starts producing something to sustain a pregnancy.
I know alot of people are praying for us.... family, friends, strangers, on-line friends. I hope someone is listening. It is our about time that it is our turn.
I've lost track of my treats... People magazines, cookies, dark chocolate, candles. They have all been very nice, but there is really only one treat I want in the end.
The intramuscular shot last night was no problem. Well, none for me. Bill had some issues and had to call the doc at 9:30pm last night, but it was all settled in a few minutes. The surprise came today when we had to do another IM injection because some bloodwork numbers came back too low.
It looks like I will have 5 more shots to do at home after the transfer. One tomorrow night and then 1 every 3 days. Fingers crossed that I will not need the PIO intramuscular injections every night..... for 2 months. YIKES. What's white and black and blue all over? Shelley!
The shot last night made me very bloated and made my boobs achy. They hurt like hell in the shower. I guess this medication mimics pregnancy so your body starts producing something to sustain a pregnancy.
I know alot of people are praying for us.... family, friends, strangers, on-line friends. I hope someone is listening. It is our about time that it is our turn.
I've lost track of my treats... People magazines, cookies, dark chocolate, candles. They have all been very nice, but there is really only one treat I want in the end.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Some Weekend
It has not been a great couple of days.
The follicles are developing slowly. I just want them out. I am miserable. We go back to the doctor on Monday. Hopefully then a retrieval date of Wednesday will be scheduled. I just want this over. No one understand that it may only seem like a couple of extra days, but that means 2 more injections every night, at least 2 more blood draws and ulstrasound, none of which is pleasant.
I just want my life to be off hold.
The follicles are developing slowly. I just want them out. I am miserable. We go back to the doctor on Monday. Hopefully then a retrieval date of Wednesday will be scheduled. I just want this over. No one understand that it may only seem like a couple of extra days, but that means 2 more injections every night, at least 2 more blood draws and ulstrasound, none of which is pleasant.
I just want my life to be off hold.
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