Final Beta Test

Today I had bloodwork done for the 3rd and final beta test. The numbers were up to 5723 hcg! What is crazy is that I only know that is good because the doctor said it is good. The hcg levels are really strange to try to figure out but as long as they are rising at this point it is good news.

We wont be going in for anything again until March 14 and that will be our first ultrasound! We will probably get to hear the heartbeat which will be crazy!

I have to admit, I am just feeling really fat these days. Unfortunately, because of what happened in my life and the IVF process in general (plus the fact that you cant work out for a while during it) I did gain a few pounds prior to even getting pregnant. That just does not make me feel good at all, especially now because I feel kinda bloated and my before IVF pants aren't even fitting. Im not even supposed to start showing for a while so it just sucks that I already feel so fat.

Also, I am feeling pretty lazy. But I have been telling everyone that I am lazy anyway so it is hard to tell if it is a symptom or if it is just normal. I have been walking every night this week on the treadmil and lifting a few weights, just trying to get back to my routine as much as possible without pushing to hard.

I really just want to stay at a healthy weight during this whole process so I better buck up and kick my own ass into gear!

One other thing... I find it weird that I am 5 weeks, 3 days prego according to all the calculators. Apparently doctors count 2 weeks prior to when you actually conceived as part of the equation.
Sounds good to me! Less time to wait :) 

It worked!!!

Ahhh! I'm so excited to tell you that the blood test results came in positive for pregnancy!!! Yes! We were so nervous! I waited and waited for the call from the doctor on Wednesday and they didn't call until after 3pm. She asked me if I was nervous and I said of coarse! Then she said... Well, you shouldn't be because you are pregnant! Ahh! Yes! So awesome. First IVF cycle and we are good. So glad I don't have to do that again! I actually don't think we could have afforded to do it again. I had done everything I was supposed to do and exactly when I was told to do it :) we are so excited for the months ahead!

The waiting game

Im so nervous about tomorrow. Tomorrow I find out if I have a baby growing inside of me! Since I have been back to work, I have been busy and that has helped keep me from thinking about it constantly. I have to say that I do feel different and I’m sure everyone says that but early on I was having some random cramps, I also feel like I am getting a few more blemishes on my face then normal and it is weird but I do have a heightened awareness of my uterus area. I feel stuff that I have never felt before. Anyway, who knows what that is but I am hoping for them best! I know tomorrow is going to feel like such a long day just waiting and waiting for my blood test results. I know of a lot of women that try taking at home pregnancy tests during their two week wait but I have not tried that. I am too scared to find out on my own.
It is really interesting that I am so nervous about this and anxious to find out because when I learn that I am pregnant, we will have 9 months to wait! I wish we could have our baby now :) Anyway, it is really hard to focus on work today so I thought I would take a minute to type up what I am thinking. Maybe that will help clear my thoughts….I doubt it. :)

Is anybody in there?

Today is my fourth and final day of staying home, basically doing nothing. I have had Frank home with me for some of the time, my grandparents came on Sunday and will be here again today and also my dad that stayed with me yesterday. It has been nice to have the support of everyone and the help. I feel like all I have done is eat because my grandparents made so much food for us. I totally appreciate it but really we don't eat like that with the mashed potatoes, gravy, rice, Mac and cheese, pot roast, meatloaf! I just can't eat those foods because I eat so much of it, I have no self control! Plus my body just loves to suck up the carbs and I gain weight so easy!
Anyway, here is what is bothering me. I just have no idea what is going on inside of me! I don't know if the coughing from earlier in the week had any effect on the little Emby. I hope not, I hope it is safe and sound in there and getting cozy. But I have no way to tell, it feels like absolutely nothing. I hope that these four days have helped! I have blood tests on feb 18 and 20 so I hope all is well.

Transfer!

Yay! Today was transfer day! We got to the doctors office and I had a full bladder like I was supposed to but when we went to open the office door, it was locked! I immediately thought oh my gosh did they tell us to go somewhere else?! Then frank called the office emergency hotline and found out that they were in the office doing another transfer but didn't know the door was locked. At least I felt better then. So then we had to wait for about 20 more minutes until they opened the door but then they took us right back into the room. They gave me a Valium to relax and the doctor showed us our little embryos. He pointed out the chart on his desk of what embryos should look like and then pointed out that ours looked just like that! That was great news!
Doctor took us into the transfer room and started the ultrasound so we could see what was going on it there. Then they had the embryologist come in with the best most mature one and doctor transferred it right in. Hardly felt anything! We could see it on the ultrasound and that was fun! It was done and they just asked me to lay there for about 20 mins. But, keep in mind my bladder is full the whole time and about 5 mins into the wait I was going crazy, I had to go soooo bad! Haha it sucked! I waited as long as I could, probably just under 20 and had to get up to pee! Ahh!
So that was it! So simple but now I have a little embryo inside of me which is crazy to think about! I took today and Monday through Wednesday off so I can do nothing but lay down on the couch and make sure the little Emby sticks! We have blood work on the 20th that will tell us if everything looks good so it will be a long ten days :)
Of coarse my grandparent and frank are left to wait on me which is so incredibly amazing and caring of everyone. It is so great to have the support of family and my awesome husband!
Here is a photo of me and the embryo after the transfer ;)

Procedures and Results!

Ok this is going to be a long one. I didn't post yesterday but we both went in for our procedures. My procedure was at 10:30am. I didn't have anything to eat since dinner the night before so my stomach was not happy. When we went back into the room Frank was able to stay with me until the anesthesiologist was ready to put me to sleep. One thing I have to say is that the staff at our fertility clinic is amazing. Everyone is sooo super nice and caring. Anyway, I said goodnight to frank and the anesthesia kicked in. I barely said hi to the doctor before I was out. Next thing I knew I was awake. It was so quick I couldn't believe it. Plus, the anesthesia they use is awesome. I didn't feel sick at all! They had me sit up and walk to the next room over where Frank met me and we waited until they said I could leave. I only felt cramps and pressure for most of the day but mainly when I sat down or stood up. I only needed Tylenol. Today, I feel fine. Actually better because I don't have all of those eggs inside of me :)
Franks procedure was at 2:30pm. My grandparents came up to take care of us since I couldn't drive after having anesthesia. My grandma made us about 2 weeks worth of food for one day! My grandma stayed at the house with me and made me lunch while my grandfather took frank to his appointment. Frank texted me when he went in. We were both so nervous because his trial procedure came up with nothing so we had no idea what would happen. His procedure was a little more involved then mine so it took longer. He called me when he got out and was still groggy. He said he didn't know how it went but that it was a lot different than the first procedure because this one was more painful! When he got home he put ice and took Vicodin but still it was painful. Poor guy! He said the doctor would call with the results.
We had an awesome ravioli dinner and went to bed early. I have a cold right now so I am totally stuffed up so I didn't sleep well at all. Frank was in pain so he didn't sleep either.
This morning we both had to go back to work so at least our minds were busy. It was still hard wondering if they even got anything out of franks procedure! It was after 2pm when they finally called. Unfortunately I had my phone with me all day but still managed to miss this call.
The doctor left a voicemail letting us know that out of the 17 follicles they pulled out of me, 8 of them were able to be fertilized! Yay! That is great news! Even if a couple don't make it, we will still have one good one to transfer! And that's all we need :) I called frank and he was really happy that the procedure produced healthy sperm and my grandparent were also very very happy!
The doctor said they will call on Friday with an update and to schedule a time for my Sunday transfer. Until then, I take an antibiotic and progesterone gel to make sure my uterus is sticky!
What a crazy experience. Now we are on to the next phase which is worrying about the transfer and the horrible two week wait before we take a pregnancy test.

Lots O' follicles!

So I haven't posted in a few days because Savannah came to visit our family from Texas but boy do I have an update! Friday was our first ultrasound and as soon as the doctor looked at my first ovary she was impressed! She said wow, we couldn't ask for better results! She found 10 follicles in one and 11 in the other ovary and some were already at 17mm which is great for he first ultrasound. She said that we might be ready on Saturday but when we went back on Saturday we had significant growth on a few other follicles but none were over 18mm yet. Then, we went again today at 11am and we had two that were over 19mm! We were ready for sure. I had my blood drawn jus so they could check my estrogen levels to make sure and then they called this afternoon confirming that Tuesday will be our day! We do the trigger shot tonight. Now that we know we have some good looking eggs we are just worried about getting some good sperm! Frank goes in for his procedure at the same time as me and we are both nervous! And as long as all goes well we will transfer on Sunday. So for now I will go back to watching the Super Bowl in my pjs because wearing pants right now sucks!