The class and future events

Well, I have to say it's been an interesting day. We had our IVF class this morning. In a nutshell, we got a HUGE amount of information that was really hard to follow and had to make some VERY BIG decisions with very little to go on. Although I was ready to scream and starting throwing things, in the end, I just have to keep telling myself we're still on track and are moving forward.

There are so many steps to remember, which injections to take when, with which needle, mixing with which solution, injected where, which appointments to make and when, etc., etc. that it's critical to make sure it's all done correctly. Our nurse (a.k.a. presenter) was telling us step 3 and then jumping back to 1 and then saying, "oh unless this, than go to step 5"...REALLY?! The group asked questions but we were left with partial answers. Ugh. She obviously knows this process but just doesn't know how to communicate it. I even had her sit down with us to explain things but her answers were seriously in riddles.

Then there were the *big* decisions like whether to do certain additional tests and procedures on our embryo's, how many embryo's we are willing to transfer and at which stage of cell division and whether to freeze our embryo's...many, of course, come with an extra price tag. The explanations about these huge decisions were two sentences long, so it was pretty much take your best guess - even after asking her to clarify.

Anyway, Rod and I were both pretty frazzled but at least know what the next steps are and will just keep asking questions - maybe even go straight to the doctor instead of our nurse if we need to.

On the positive side, I am really so excited about the final outcome. When she was talking about the day the embryos will be transferred to me, I realized how amazing that will be. She said she cried the first 4 years she did it as a nurse because it was such a special event. And, after you take a pregnancy test two weeks after that (if it works) you'll actually be 4 weeks into your pregnancy, because you count all the days the eggs were maturing,etc. Something I didn't know.

We sat across from a couple who went through IVF with this clinic 6 years ago and as a result have a 6-year-old son. They were so pleased with the doctor, they're back for another addition to their family. A success!!

I also had a great photography appointment this afternoon after we got home. Two cute little girls who want to be actresses - an 8 and 11-year-old. Being around children rejuvenates me!

Here is a glimpse of the next steps:

This coming week (11/2-8)
Schedule a financial appointment to pay for procedures

Sun., 11/9
Start Lupron injections every evening; continue birth control; continue pre-natal vitamin

Fri., 11/21/08
Blood draw and ultrasound

Sun., 11/23
Continue with Lupron injection, but ADD two additional medications to daily injection (she called it the IVF cocktail - woohoo!)

Wed., 11/26
Blood draw

Thur., 11/27
HAPPY THANKSGIVING - I'm bloated, breaking out and either crying or slapping everyone. Enjoy.

Fri., 11/28
Blood draw and ultrasound

Sun., 11/30
Blood draw and ultrasound as needed

Tue., 12/2
Stop all other injections and give myself the mother of all injections (the one to release my eggs for retrieval)

Wed., 12/3
Take a pregnancy test (strangely enough) which should be falsely positive if the mother of all injections did it's job. But no, I won't really be pregnant. I know, it's a sick joke.

Thur., 12/4
Egg/sperm retrieval. I go under anesthesia, they take my eggs and inject Rod's sperm into them. Woohoo!

[...meanwhile, back in the petrie dish, fertilization will be taking place and over a 3 -5 day period the embryos will be dividing - go babies!]

Fri., 12/5
Start progesterone daily injections (much bigger needle, I'm told they hurt) but by then I'll be a pro.

Sun., 12/7
*Target day for transferring embryos into my uterus if ready on day 3 of division!* If the embryo's have divided and look great, they'll be transferred. If they're great but they want them to further divide...

OR

Tue., 12/9
*Target day for transferring embryos into my uterus if waiting til day 5 of division!* We were told if the embryos have continued to thrive to 5 days you're in great shape, although it still doesn't guarantee anything.

Sun., 12/21
The big day! Pregnancy Test! Still taking progesterone injections.

If positive, Merry Christmas.
If negative, flying to the Bahamas. Just kidding. I'll probably be feeling as great as I did at Thanksgiving only worse. Happy Holidays.


Sat., 1/4/09
If positive pregnancy, first ultrasound. An AMAZING start to 2009!