Of the 14 eggs they harvested, I think 9 fertilized and when the lab left me a message at home on Monday, they told me that the transfer would take place on Friday. YEAH! I had read that day 5 transfers have a better chance of being successful, so I had been hoping for good enough results to go for a day 5, plus, that meant that the transfer would be on Friday, which meant only one day off of work! Ok, so I know I am a bit strange about not wanting to miss work, but that really isn't it - I only have so much time off, and even though I have plenty of time off, if I am REALLY given a choice, I would prefer to save it and take it after the baby is born instead of while trying to create said baby. I also called my acupuncturist, who normally has Fridays off and he told me that he had another patient who's transfer was the same day, but later than mine, so he would come stick me with needles on his way to stick her with needles and then, while her transfer was happening, he would come back and stick me with more needles and then go back to stick her with more needles! Now, my doctor chuckles and shakes his head when I mention acupuncture - he has even said that I will give my acupuncturist all of the credit if/when I finally do get credit. It seems funny to me that he is so uptight about my seeking other means of treatment, that compliment what he is doing, especially, since he is Asian - I know that is a stereotype, but he was born and raised there (I'm not sure where, although, he has books about Japan in his office, but I can't assume) My logic is that western medicine hasn't helped me, so I am giving eastern methods a chance to help. I think he is just jealous and my acupuncturist thinks it is funny! Although, the fellow who was visiting my doctor from the UK was telling him that she has read studies that show that with acupuncture, IVF treatments are more likely to be successful.



So, Thursday my sister/friends send me these beautiful flowers at work, to tell me that they love me and to wish me luck, which, combined with the hormones and nerves, just succeeded in making me cry. I do have pictures of the flowers, but I haven't mastered blogging, nevermind putting pictures in my blog, and since I am not sharing this blog with my IRL friends, I can't ask anyone. Friday dawns and I am nervous. My acupuncturist arrives and starts sticking me with needles and DH arrives home to take me to the hospital. DH and M, the acupuncturist had met before, when M came to give me acupuncture before an IUI that happened to fall on a Saturday last year (an acupuncturist who makes house calls - got to love him!) The needles make DH a bit queasy, though! Then off we went! We arrived at the hospital at 11:05 and there was another couple there. They looked pretty calm - I think it must have been the Valium. And then my Valium arrived. I had never taken Valium before, but after taking it that day, I can tell you that I understand why people love it! It wasn't long before I felt calm, too! :) They called us back (before the calm couple - I felt bad) and I went back into the room where the harvest had happened. The embryo doctor came in (I can't remember what kind of doctor he really is - but he was really nice) and he told us that we had 3 that were 4AA (that is really good) and one that wasn't graded that high (I can't remember what that one was, but I'm sure if it would apply itself, it's grade would have been better - at least that is what they always told me in school) There were also two more that didn't look as promising, but they were still working at getting better grades. We decided to transfer two, so off he went to put them into the catheter. And then I got to go back into the stirrups. In came the doctor and then, quicker than a quickie, in they were and I was technically pregnant... They had me lie there for half an hour and then they let me go home. And I didn't have to come back for over a week and that would be to have my blood drawn for a pregnancy test.


On our way home, I was still pretty mellow. Did I mention that I really like Valium? Well, I do. Haven't had any since, but if I have to do another transfer to get more... It may just be worth getting another transfer. Ok, so the baby would be the best result of having another transfer, but hey, I will take the meds that don't make my butt itch or leave my rear end leaking oil! And then we started using band aids, since the progesterone oil shots were bleeding, and I started reacting to the adhesive on the band aids. On my butt. And, I have to tell the phlebotomists to not use band aids, too, since I am having problems on my arms. Woo hoo...

Now, I am normally a couch potato, but three days of enforced couch potatoness really kind of sucked. Plus my step-daughter was around all weekend and I am sure she was wondering why I didn't leave the couch - not that she asked, but she had to be wondering. I'm not THAT lazy - really - I'm not! And every time I sneezed or coughed, I was worried that I was shaking the eggs loose, since that may have been THE moment that they were trying to implant. And the waiting continued. When I hadn't had spotting by 8 days after transfer, I was hopeful. But I had to poop really badly, but it always seemed like when I pushed to poop right before my period, it would end up bringing on my period, so I was scared to push. Stupid, huh? Well, when I hadn't had any evidence of spotting by day 9, I finally went and I pushed and when I wiped, there was blood - vaginal blood. I cried and crawled back into bed to sulk. And then I realized that I couldn't spend yet another day in bed, so I got up and started doing stuff around the house, debating whether I should actually go get my blood drawn the next morning or not.

to be continued...