Our test was negative. We're not pregnant.

We are so sad right now. I don't even know what else to say.

Waiting

I had my blood test done an hour ago.

Now I'm just waiting for the phone call.

One More Day...

Tomorrow is our beta blood test.

DH and I both had stressful days. We couldn't help but worry.

14 Days Past Retrieval

It's so hard waiting.

Yesterday I had so much to do - I helped organize and run a huge art show for my school district. It was great - I spent the evening talking to students and parents. But here we are again today and I'm back to waiting....

11 Days Past Retrieval/Ovulation

I'm not going to lie - I took a pg test yesterday morning and this morning.
Both tests were negative and it's very early to test. It's just that I read about how so many people get early results and I wanted to be one of those people for once. (Who am I kidding - I just want to be one of those people who gets a positive result, early or not.)

I had a blood test done this morning to check on my progesterone and estrogen. I take an estrogen tablet every night and I also have to be given an injection of progesterone each night. I thought that the other shots were not so bad - not a picnic, but not too bad. These shots are something else.

Progesterone shots are intramuscular, so instead of the medicine going just under your skin you are injecting it directly into muscle. The needle is big and long and it hurts going in, while it's in, and as it is being pulled out. The PIO (progesterone in oil) is also very thick - it's the consistency of vegetable oil (I think it's actually in sesame oil, I remember right.) Not the easiest thing to inject into a muscle.

I have also had a lot of pain at the injection site and around it. I think the PIO must move through the muscle as it's absorbed. I am very sore and tend to lean over when I sit to avoid sitting on my bruises.

We found out today that the 5 fragmented embryos we had definitely did not make it to cryopreservation. I knew that the possibility of them making it was not good, but a tiny part of me hoped at least one would survive. We will have to completely start over with a new IVF if this one doesn't work and that probably won't ever happen.

To say I'm sad about this is an understatement.

I'm going to try to keep busy today. I think I need to be distracted for a while.

9 Days Past Retrieval Day

I am 9 days past my retrieval day (or my "ovulation day.") I have been feeling fine all week until today. Had a headache for most of the day and just feel tired. I felt very warm, too, and I have had some cramps.

I want to think that all of the symptoms are a good sign, but I'm not so sure....I'm still keeping my hopes up, but it's kind of hard when you don't feel well.

A friend of mine wrote me an email and said she was sending positive vibes my way....I told her to keep sending them because I needed all that I could get!

Pictures from our Embryo Transfer

These are pictures from our transfer. The arrow is the ultrasound showing the embryos as they were transferred. The 2nd pic is our 3 grade A blasts.

There are 3 embryos inside me right now!

Our ET went well today. We had 8 embryos but 5 had fragmented by today. She said that the 5 were probably fragmented because of my age and the eggs being older.
We were left with 3 grade A blastocysts. The doctor recommended putting back all 3. Her reasons had to do with my age and with us doing IVF only once. She also said that it was possible that we could put back 2 and freeze 1. However, that one might not make it to freeze or through the thaw. And then it might not become a viable pregnancy. So the three of us decided that 3 was our best option.
We were fairly calm today. I also did acupuncture before and after the ET,so hopefully that will help. DH has been great - he is making sure that I am truly on bedrest! (I'll be on bedrest for 24 hrs. and I'm taking Mon. and Tuesday off.) Our pregancy beta test is scheduled for Friday, March 21st.
Keep your fingers crossed for us! I'm so excited and nervous! I can't believe we have 3!

Embryo Transfer is Tomorrow!

We had a call from the nurse yesterday. Our ET will be on Sunday at noon. We have to be there earlier (11:30am.) The nurse said we still have all 8 embryos! 2 are at 8 cells, 2 are at 7 cells, and the other 4 are at 6 cells. She said that's exactly where they want them for day 3.

I'm getting excited for tomorrow. Wondering how it will all go. We've been so fortunate up to this point - I'm happy with the 8 embryos and happy that they are all growing so well. I hope our luck continues tomorrow.

Thursday's Update

The nurse called today to give us our update:

We still have all 8 embryos.
3 are 5-cells (She said this is "fantastic")
4 are 4-cells (She said this is very good.)
1 is 3 cells (She said that is good.)

We're definitely going to have the transfer done on Sunday.