The wait continues...

I just wanted to pass along an update -
I've included a couple of photos from the past week.

Parker before the transfer, and me after. The last one, is my view in the "hotel" room at the clinic. I have been taking it easy all weekend -
resting here and there, and being sure not to do any lifting or "bouncing"(Dr's orders)
Mom and dad leave tomorrow for NY, after a long stay. I can't count the number of times Parker has asked them to stick around. We have had so much fun. Charlie is spoiled, the house is clean, broken items are fixed, and tummies are full.

We continue to wait to see if our 2 "friends" have settled in for the long haul.

We will visit with the doctor late in the week to find out where we stand.

Home from transfer

We are now home from the transfer, and the wait begins.
We also found out on the way home that there was one blastocyst to freeze.
That way, should we choose to go this route again, we are already a step in the right direction.
If we don't utilize the embryo, we will donate it.

Exciting stuff - such an amazing process...

Prepping for our next OKC trip...

Updates via voicemail

Well, we were in church this morning when the nurse called. Although her message was positive, I was hoping that we would be able to speak in person. Her message? Our oocytes continue to split - the count stands as follows:
3 eggs = 8 cells
2 eggs = 7 cells

Awesome!
Parker is certain that his boys are in charge of the great results.
:O)

I have decided to teach tomorrow. I'm going to take it easy - the classes are shorter because it is a Monday schedule, which includes our chapel service.
Mom is always on call should I need a teaching assistant.

I'm so excited about Tuesday and getting to appreciate the miracle that these doctors are capable of - our transfer.

We have even joked that we have kids growing in a dish two hours away at this point.
Fun to think of - and an upbeat joyful attitude can only help!

Cells dividing

The nurse called today with our update. We have 5 eggs fertilized, and this is the breakdown:
2 eggs with 4 cells (as far as i know, this is right on track)
1 egg with 3 cells
2 eggs with 2 cells

We will continue to get daily updates - with transfer day on Tuesday.
I'm heading to school on Monday to welcome the kids back and get plans ready for three days of rest after the transfer.

I'm feeling better today - we even got out in the snow and went to see a movie.
Life is good - home with a fire keeping us warm while we watch the snow blow around outside.

The egg update

It was an absolutely beautiful day here today. The temperatures got up into the 70's, so we took full advantage of it.
While we were out running errands and preparing for a snowy weekend (eek!), I got the call form the doctor. Surprisingly, she said that all 5 of our eggs fertilized! Although I was super excited, I also knew that anything could still happen.
She explained that they will watch the eggs and hope that they begin to multiply into developing embryos. We are still up in the air on when the transfer will take place. Although Sunday is an option, there is a winter storm watch in this area that could put a damper on that plan. :O)
I decided that showing the Charlie boy would be fun tonight. We spent the afternoon playing with our nieces and nephews out back. Parker would throw tennis balls to them, and Charlie spent most of the time trying to intercept them. Oma is certainly sharing her attention with our dog too - he is well loved! Charlie is NOT a furniture dog, but we made an exception tonight, as you will clearly see.

I'm still getting nightly shots in my upper gluteus muscle of progesterone. All in preparation for eggs.
As always, thank you for your thoughts and prayers...

Retrieving eggs....we hope

It was an early morning at the Parker house. We left the driveway @ 5:15 am.
Despite the early morning and the darkness that loomed on the two hour drive, there WAS light at the end of the tunnel.

Terps are in town...

Looks as though Thursday is the day to jump start this baby deal...
With an ok form the doctor, we are set to retrieve the eggs early that morning.
You know you'll hear from us!

Tuesday before St Pattys

I head back to the doctor today @ 11:15.
Thank goodness for the time luxury I have this week, as the kids are on spring break!
We should find out whether or not we are ready for the retrieval tomorrow, or if we will need to wait on these follicles some more. Either way, we are fine.

I feel a little more groggy than usual, but I'm chalking that up as a side effect from all the meds too.

Off to eat some breakfast. Until next time...

Upping the dosage...

Green light!

It was a good appointment today. Although from previous experience the follicles could have been bigger, the doctor seemed to feel good about what he saw. We have 6 that seem to be responding. Being down one ovary, I have slightly fewer options of course, but as the nurse pointed out, "it's not the quantity, as much as the quality."

We are really looking forward to this weekend and the arrival of momma and papa Terp Tuesday evening. I have spring break next week, so that will allow for some bonding time between doctor visits.

Obviously, the timing of this all, is 'part of the plan'.
:O)

We appreciate all the well wishes and prayers...

Shots = headaches :O(

Shots twice a day I can handle...headaches that accompany them, are another story.
I've worked my way through Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Acetaminophen, lemon water, hot tea, ice packs, and a dark room, and nothing is working - that's how I'm fairly certain it is the unfamiliar stimulants that are in my body.

I know it will pass, and I also know that it is part of the process! One that I am so willing to be a part of!
But after a glass of Braum's milk and a slice of pie, it's off to bed. :O)

Charlie the assistant...

I know we haven't written much lately. Seems as though the videos speak more to what is actually happening. The medications have begun, which makes it feel as though we're moving forward for real this time! Exciting!

This series of meds is to stimulate my follicles. Although the latest concern was that two of them were too big, we're at the stage now where "bigger is better" per se. I will only have to do this type of shot through Thursday. Thursday morning I will head in to the doctor and get a scan. They will look over the follicles and see how they are responding. The follicles look very similar to a soccer ball. The ovary area is surrounded by these quadrants that expand to a certain measurement.

The hope, is that they respond well and we are able to continue. If they are NOT the size they need to be, they will increase the dosage on the shots. That is something that they tried prior to the insemination attempts. Amazing what a little shot can make your body do!

the meds have arrived

We're back on track...