Retrieval tomorrrow!

7:30 a. m. is our check in time. 8:30 a.m. is the surgery. I'm getting butterflies!
I keep thinking of this journey as jumping through a series of hoops. After the egg retrieval it will be: are the eggs good? After they fertilize via icsi it will be: will they grow into healthy embryos? Next it will be transfer time (my re will transfer 2-3 embryos based on their quality) and the question is: will they get all nice and cozy and implant? Finally it will be: will the embryo(s) grow into a baby and stay in my uterus for 9 months so we can have a real live baby or babies? I hope and pray that after 4 1/2 years of trying for one more baby that our dreams come true.

Trigger shot tonight

Tonight at 10:30 p.m. I will do my trigger shot of O.vidrel. My us today showed 15, 16, 17, 17, 18, 20, 20, 20 and 21 on the right ovary and 14, 15, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18, 19, 19, 19, 19, 21 and 22 mm on the left ovary. My lining is good. My estradiol (An estradiol test measures the amount of a hormone called estradiol in the blood. Estradiol is the most important form of estrogen found in the body. Most of it is made in and released from the ovaries, adrenal cortex, and the placenta, which forms during pregnancy to feed a developing baby) level is 2, 686. I am off the L.upron and F.ollistim. Wahoo! Wednesday will be the retrieval at 8:30 a.m. I hope they get lots of mature eggs.
I couldn't sleep last night. I don't think this week will be good for me sleep wise. I'm hopeful, excited and nervous. My stomach is a flutter with butterflies. I'm ready for the ride!

Friday's us, blood work and other stuff

My us showed 12 total follicles measuring over 10 mm. On the right there were follicles measuring 13, 14, 15 and 16. On the left I had 11,12,15 and 16. I have to ask tomorrow what they are all measuring. My F.ollistim was decreased from 225 units to 150. My estrogen is right on track. My lining is nice and thick. Tomorrow morning I go for another wanding and blood work. When nurse Grace calls I should know when my retrieval will be. Then of course it's a waiting game for the transfer because it depends on how the embryos are growing.
Saturday I had a baby shower to go to. It was for my good friend J. I'm the babies godmother. It's my first time and I'm very excited ;-) There were about 25 people at her mom's house. It was a beautiful shower with amazing food. My Mom made her ricotta cookies and sugar cookies--they rocked! I made fudgy brownies--delicious also! J and her family are from the Czech Republic and speak Russian. Her mom had friends there that spoke Russian. A girl we worked with at the big OG that J stayed in touch with was there also named A. A brought her mom and they speak Spanish. It was very cool to hear them conversing in their natural languages. My Poppy spoke Lithuanian with his mom, but lost the language when she passed away. I do wish I spoke another language. I would like to be fluent in ASL (American Sign Language). I live near a deaf school and they offer classes. One day I will.
It was a very full weekend. Today was church, CCD classes for E, shopping at Weggie's and laundry. I am pooped. It was very nice though to have Saturday night off. I felt like a regular person.
How was your weekend?

A mixer for you and a friend

Susan over at she's becoming doughmesstic is giving away mixers--one for you and one for your friend.The only thing you have to do to enter is blog, tweet, or facebook the giveaway and then go back and comment only one time that you did. You do have to follow her on twitter or be a facebook fan. When you leave your comment please include my name also ;-0 That way we can both be winners!

Feeling like a pincushion

I gave myself my F.ollistim shot tonight because M goes to the hose company for training and meetings. I'm looking at my poor, bruised belly and thinking it's all worth to give us a shot.
I do have good news--my W.ii fit plus finally came in and I picked it up! I told my Mom and she said all the people she knows that have one love it. I'm going to read the book tonight and have M set it up tomorrow.
I also met up with my M.ary Kay lady and purchased items I needed. She's a great woman. I have been going to her for fifteen years now. After talking with me about my cycle she told me that she had to do infertility treatments to get her daughters. A fellow stirrup queen--you never know when you will meet one!
My nurse called yesterday and left a message that she had a cancellation and I could come in at 7:45 a.m. for my us. I called and left a message for her that I will come in. I am going to the hospital for my blood work before that. They open at 7 a.m. I'm glad I won't be late for work. I really don't like being late. Which is funny--I used to always be late.
I'm off to read my fit plus book and go to bed. I'll update tomorrow about my tests.

Us and blood work

This morning I went in for my ultrasound and blood work. The us showed 4 follicles on my right ovary and 3 on my left. I'm disappointed in these numbers. I was hoping for more. Some of these follicles may not have any eggs. Some may have immature eggs. The nurse called me around 11 am and told me to keep my doses the same (5 L.upron, 225 F.ollistim). My Mom and M asked if there was a "right" number for how many follicles I should have. I don't. I'm guessing it depends on the age of the woman, the meds and the doses. Right? Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
I got stressed out this morning because the phlebotomist came in late. The nurse schedules blood work for as early as 7:45 a.m but the phlebotomist comes in around 8:20 a.m. - 8:25 a.m. I go in Friday for another us and blood work. I had the nurse schedule my blood work at the hospital (they start at 7 am and I can go when I want to) and my us at 8:30 a.m. I will be going in to work late on Friday which I don't like but I can't help it.
I can't believe my egg retrieval is one week away! Holy moly--I've waited years for this and here we are right in the middle of the cycle. I hope and pray that this works.

Day 14

I went in for blood work yesterday and my levels are good. I'm staying at 5 units of L.upron and 225 units of F.ollistim. I go in for more blood work tomorrow and an ultrasound. Yesterday was rough with a severe headache and nausea. I put on my pj's after dinner and camped out on the couch. Today it's just a headache.
I'm thinking positive thoughts through this whole process.