Today was the big day. Our blood pregnancy test was today.
You know it isn't good news when the doctor calls before the window of time I was expecting to get a call in.

Our one little fighter embryo didn't make it. We knew our chances weren't as good having only one to transfer, but we still held on to every bit of hope we had. (And there was a lot of it!)

I can't beat myself up over this. When there is a next time, they'll give me a higher dose of meds from the start. I had as many follicles on IUI cycles as I did this time around. Did they shut me down too much and I couldn't turn things up enough in time to get good production? That's the question for the doctor to answer.

Unfortunately this was our first cycle with the new clinic and we'll have to chalk it up as a very expensive learning experience. In the future, I'll test at home first. I can take seeing a stark white test strip easier than I can take the phone call.

We'll have a conference with the doctor in a few weeks to go over what went wrong this cycle and what they'll do in the future to get better results.

For a fleeting moment, we had life. At least we have a picture of it. Something tangible. That's more than we've gotten in the past.

Melissa is on bed rest now, so this will be the last update until Thursday.
Of our three embryos only one made it to a stage where it could be transferred.

Today is the big day. Our transfer is scheduled in just a couple of hours.

I did not really get an update when they called to schedule us yesterday, but they did say they still all looked really good and pretty equal when they looked at them on Sunday.

Now it's up to their team to select the 2 best looking embryos in hopes of implantation.

I'll be spending the next 48 hours on bedrest so I won't be able to check-in or give any updates.

Thanks again for all the support and well wishes during this process.

I sure hope so, cause that's how many embryos we have! Out of our 7 eggs that were retrieved, 4 were mature and 3 fertilized with ICSI.

Things were on track as of this morning, and all of them were right about equal. We'll get another call on Monday and set up the transfer for sometime on Tuesday.

Tonight was my first PIO shot and I have to say, it really wasn't that bad. I was definitely expecting a lot worse.

Thanks to everyone who's left comments or sent emails in the last few days. I definitely appreciate all the love and support going into this.

Our ER was at 8:30 this morning. They went in looking for 7 and that's what they came out with. We won't know any more until Saturday.

I had 9 follicles earlier in the week, so I don't know how it turned up that they were only looking for 7, but at least they got them all.

Anyways, the worst part was trying to find a good spot to start the IV. She finally settled on the back of my hand and it was pretty easy going. I woke right up and was holding a conversation on my way back to the recovery room. We hung out for about 1/2 an hour and then I was discharged.

I was given some Tylenol before I left and just now I took some more. I've had only a slight crampy feeling so far, but I want to stay on top of things. I actually feel pretty good.

We did ICSI on all of them, so I'm hoping for good numbers on Saturday!
(I'm borrowing someone else's lucky number here!)

Tonight, in honor of our tradition for important baby related days (and this was a big one!) we will be having Mexican!

These little follicles are getting their eviction notice delivered to them tonight at 8:30pm! Time for me to meet "the big guy" as referenced below.

Egg retrieval will be Thursday morning at 8:30am.

As of today, still 9 measurable follicles with plenty of smaller ones tagging along for the ride. I feel really good about those 9 because 9 happens to be my lucky number. And, I'm hoping for quality over quantity.

Of course I'm really anxious with a bit of nerves thrown in the mix too. I've never had an IV and only ever been put under once and that was when I had my Wisdom teeth out. I don't do well with needles, but I have gotten better after what feels like a million blood draws over the last 2 years.

Our clinic calls on day 2 with the fertilization report, so I probably won't know anything until Saturday.

Wish me luck!

This morning I was at the clinic for another blood draw and ultrasound.

Different ultrasound tech, different nurse. Still 9 measurable follicles with 5-10 smaller ones on each side.

Just got the call that I'm supposed to continue with the same dosage of meds again tonight and tomorrow morning. Follistim 225iu, Menopur 75iu and 5 units Lupron. Tomorrow will be day 12 of stims. That feels like so long given my past experience with the IUI cycles. I only stimmed for about 6-8 days at a lower dosage and was ready to go.

Anyways, back to the clinic again tomorrow for more of the same.

I think they said my E2 was at 998 yesterday and up to 1234 today. Slow and steady she goes.

And for your viewing pleasure, a shot of our shots. ;) Fortunately, I haven't had the pleasure to meet the big guy just yet.

Another Sunday morning starting out with a trip to the doctor's office.

Ultrasound is showing 9 good sized measurable follicles (above 10mm) and anywhere from 5-10 smaller ones on each ovary. I have one lead follicle that's sort of taking off from the pack. Funny, there had been pretty equally sized follicles on each ovary up until now. Thoughts are we let that one go and get some of the rest of them to catch up.

My blood work (Estradiol) has made a nice steady climb all week. I have been in on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. What started out at a low 20, climbed to 39, then 185 and then up to 498 as of Friday.

I go back again tomorrow, but as of now, it sounds like I'll be stimming for a couple more days. "Maybe" triggering on Tuesday with retrieval on Thursday.

After all this time, you'd think I'd be used to all this waiting. The anticipation has me excited, but at the same time, I don't want to get too excited, because things keep changing.

Time for an update.

After two and a half days on stims, 75iu Menopur and 150iu Follistim I had a blood draw yesterday. My E2 was at a lowly 20. Eeeks! It was actually down from 28 earlier in the week. Huh?

Doctor upped my Follistim to 225iu and wanted to see me back first thing this morning. Today my E2 was up to 39. Yeah, making progress!

My first follicle check will be Wednesday. I'm anxious to see how things look by then. That'll be after five and half days of meds.

Come on Follies! You can do it. Grow grow grow.

Yesterday was my suppression check ultrasound and blood draw. I'm assuming since I didn't hear anything from the clinic that it's all good and we are clear to go!

My ultrasound showed 17 total antral follicles. Last time I had 23. I guess this is a sign that things were shut down a little better going into this round.

Friday I start both Menopur and Follistim. It's going to be weird doing morning and evening injections. I can hardly believe my last medicated cycle was in January! That feels like so long ago. That was so long ago. Hopefully my body will remember what it's supposed to do with these medicines and produce a good number of excellent quality eggs that mature nicely.

I am more than ready to get this long awaited show on the road. I'm sure there will be lots of updates through next week as I have appointments scheduled for almost every day.

Here we go!