ONE DOZEN GOOD EGGS!!!

I started my Follistim injections last Tuesday, July 1st.  This is the shot that I take each night to kick my ovaries into overdrive.  By Friday, the 4th of July, I was miserable.  I woke up heavy and sore and swollen and completely miserable.  I was off work that day for the holiday, so I went to meet Justin for lunch since he had to work.  By the time we were finished eating lunch, I felt awful so I came back home, took some Tylenol, and laid down, sad because I knew I didn't have the strength or energy to fight the crowds for our town's firework show that night.  Justin got off work around 8:30, picked me up around 9:00, and we drove (me in my pajamas and flip flops) a few miles down a country road not too far from our house and parked in the middle of a field, that just happened to give us the perfect view from the backside of our town's firework show.  Not another person or car in sight.  It was perfect.  <3

Over the weekend my ovaries continued to be hard at work.  I. Felt. Awful.  (and still do)  I could not wait until our appointment this morning, because I just felt "full of good eggs"!  Also, I was so ready for our appointment because I am so ready to get these things out of me!  My stomach and lower abdomen are so sore and swollen and I'm exhausted from being an egg factory.  

So we went to the doctor this morning, and like always, the first step is to take my blood.  I hate this part because my veins never want to participate.  After searching on my still bruised and sore right arm, she decides to test out my left arm.  Of course, no vein in sight.  So we resort back to my poor little vein on my poor little left hand.  This vein's been a trooper.  This is the most easily accessible spot, so it's constantly being used.  Finally, blood work= done.  Next, we go back in our little room to get ready and wait for the doctor.  I throw all shame out the window once again, and crawl up on the tiny table in nothing but my shirt and paper blanket.  This used to be awkward.  Many, many visits ago.  Dr. Saleh comes in and starts the ultrasound.  He goes back and forth checking and measuring, checking and measuring.  He seems excited.  Finally he says "12 good eggs!  No wonder you're so sore and tired!"  In less than a week's time, I have created one dozen good eggs.  And I feel it.  And I'm exhausted.  But now, I'm excited!  Let's extract these suckers!!!  Next he measured my uterus lining which needs to be around a 9.  Mine's a 12.  Finally, something I'm good at- creating eggs and a thick uterus lining.  He's excited, we're excited!!  My estrogen levels are good, right where they need to be.  This is the point we've been working so hard to get to.  This is the part of the ride where the roller coaster (that you waited so long in line to get on), has finally, clicked-clicked-clicked, slowly, all the way to the top of the first, largest hill... and now... it drops.  Quickly.  

 (last Follistim shot!!!)

• We do our last Follistim shot tonight (praise God!).  
• We go back tomorrow to check eggs and estrogen one more time.
• Tomorrow night I'll do my trigger shot, which is an unfriendly long needle, in my hip, to get my eggs ready to be released.  Justin will be at work and this shot has to be done at exactly 10:30pm, and I can't give it to myself.  Thank God, my mom's nurse friend will be doing the honors tomorrow night.  (-mental note made to make her cookies)
• Thursday, July 10th- egg retrieval scheduled for 8:15am.  Like with the cyst, they'll put me to sleep and use a long needle to extract the eggs from my ovaries.  I used to be terrified of this part.  Now, the time can't come soon enough.  I want these eggs out!!!  They'll also get Justin's sample on this date, then they'll combine everything in the lab and let it grow over the weekend.
• Friday- bed rest.
• Tuesday, July 15th- embryo transfer day.  Dr. Saleh will use a catheter to place the two best embryos back in my uterus.  
• Wednesday, July 16th- bed rest.  
• Then, we wait.  And pray.  For two weeks.