Officially Started

We just got home from Stanford, and I feel some relief and excitement as I sit here typing tonight.  

Gabe couldn't get off work in time to go to my appointment so my Mom took the drive with me, and let me tell you it was just as long a drive as it was last time, but less traffic.  We arrived early and things were smooth sailing.

  

Ultrasound - CHECK

Bloodwork - CHECK

Urine Sample - CHECK

IVF date outline - CHECK

Orientation - CHECK

Injection Training - CHECK

I had 10 follicles on the right side and 6 on the left.  The follicles house the future eggs and these are a good thing, however if either side has 12 or more we would be forced to wait another month as that many eggs could be dangerous and painful.  So we had 16 which was below the 22 and we were set to go forward.  I have to admit that as she was measuring and counting them, I was sweating bullets.  Last time each side had 10 and I was so afraid that maybe one might have 12, but the prayers paid off and the 16 sounds good to me, now lets just hope that we can also get 16 good eggs in those follies.  I had one cyst, which I was assured is not a huge problem and the birth control pills should fix it right up.

We got out tentative schedule for appointments, the retrieval, and the embryo transfer.  The next appointment is scheduled for Friday the 22nd.  This will be our pre lupron (drug to put the ovaries the sleep) ultrasound, a little more lab work, and then we will be given the lupron, syringes, and needles, to begin shots that night.

I sure never thought I would be happy to see these little birth control pills, but I am.  To me they are the symbol of finally starting a new chapter of our journey, a journey filled with ups and downs and happy and scary moments.

After the appointment and bloodwork, Mom and I shared chicken lettuce wraps at PJ Chang's.. Yum.. Yum.  Then it was time for IVF orientation and injection training.  Gabe was able to make it for this, and I was happy to see him and tell him about the appointment and finally being able to move forward.

  

Orientation was good, the training was a bit scary, but the needles weren't all as big as I thought they would be.  All shots will go in my belly and the first will be on Friday the 22nd.  As we practiced I started to get a little scared for the first one, but any pain is worth it... anything at this point is worth it, and someday this will be just a memory of what led us to our dream.

The following statue sat at the front desk of the IVF clinic, I found it fascinating.  Had Gabe been with me and seen my taking a picture he would have probably thought I was crazy, but oh well, I love it!  Cheers to crossing our fingers and looking towards the future, I am off to take my birth control pill and prenatal vitamin... what an oxymoron combination.