Sunday, March 21, 2010

ICLW: The Long Week Ahead


I want to start by saying welcome to all visitors from ICLW! This is my first ever ICLW, because I am a slacker and missed the sign up deadline for 2 months in a row, but I am very excited to be involved this month and honestly my first ICLW couldn't be during a more crucial week. You see at the end of this week I will learn whether another of my firsts has succeeded: my first IVF cycle. I need all the distractions I can get this week so I am very much looking forward to reading and discovering your blogs and stories.

Of course you can always read through my past blog entries to catch up on my infertility and subsequent IVF journey, but I will give you the short(ish) version here. My husband, Chad, and I married in March 2007
(I am actually in the car on the way back from our anniversary trip as I write this) and threw out the birth control shortly after. Like most couples we assumed pregnancy would just happen on it's own and didn't really "try" for quite sometime. It eventually became apparent though that even though we were just "not preventing" something should have happened by now so off we went to the OB/GYN in early 2009. I was given some very basic blood work and instructions to start charting BBT and OPKs. We were in full swing with the "sperm meets egg" plan until a few months later when my husband received a promotion that included a move across the country from Orlando, FL to Orange County, CA, where we live now.

After taking some time to get settled and entertain visiting friends and family, we got serious and had the full fertility work-up including a semen analysis, all the important blood work and an HSG. My blood work and Chad's SA came back great, no problems to speak of, it was my HSG that caused concern. My left tube showed no spillage. So my OB put me on Clomid to hopefully increase chances of ovulation on my right side and sent me on my way to continue trying. We were diligent for three months and never missed my fertile window. Progesterone draws each month confirmed I was ovulating but never getting pregnant. Which meant it was time to seek out an RE.

My RE (unlike the OB) actually reviewed the films from the HSG with us and quickly ascertained that my tubes were much more blocked than originally believed. He broke the news that our only real option for a pregnancy was IVF. We talked about it for a few days and decided to jump right in. For the past month I have dealt with the injections, the dates with the ultrasound wand (wandy), and the anxiety that come with this process and somehow managed to stay sane and even smile the entire time.

A little over a week ago I went in for my egg retrieval, where 21 eggs were collected. Of those, 15 fertilized to become embryos and continued to grow right into the day 5 blastocyst stage. On St Patrick's day, I had 2 blastocysts transferred (which you can see here) and the other 13 were frozen. And now after all that activity there is nothing left to do but wait. I have always dreaded the 2ww but this one definitely feels like it has much higher stakes. My beta blood test to determine pregnancy will be scheduled for sometime this upcoming weekend, so if you come back next week hopefully you will get to hear the good news! Or you can give me some comfort and support at a time when I will definitely need it.

I am planning to stay as busy as possible during this week and hopefully stay sane in the process, which means more blog posts to come and lots of time reading and commenting your blogs! So welcome again ICLWers and thank you in advance for your comments. And thank you so much to my current followers for all of the love and support you have given me and continue to provide. The blog community has been such an amazing source of encouragement and friendship and I am so grateful to be a part of it.

22 comments:

Jenna said...

I'm so excited to know you and be able to share your journey with you. I demand to see baby pics and all that good stuff when you get your BFP! :)

Anonymous said...

I don't know if you feel the same way, but for me it's like everything up to the embryo transfer is building and building, and then now it's coasting for 2 weeks. Which feels weird. No updates, no test results.

*hugs*

Anonymous said...

Good luck ! I hope it's the good one.

Suzy said...

Well I certainly hope this is it for you both! We are looking at our first IVF cycle soon as well - it's scary but exciting at the same time.

FX that you are already pregnant now!!

{ICLW}

Adrienne said...

what is iclw?

Jules said...

Good Luck with your 2ww. I'll be lurking to see how you go.

ICLW #145

tara @ the every things said...

good luck on this 2ww!
hoping for a BFP for you holly!!

ICLW #151

Tiffany said...

Yay, this is so exciting! I hope the week flys by for you! Your in my prayers!

Megan said...

I'm so excited for you Holly! I hope this week flies by and you have good news at the end of it!

kimbosue said...

Yay! What a great lucky day for the transfer! Best of luck to you and thanks for the comment!
ICLW

Hannah said...

Oh, I'm hoping with you that you have wonderful news at the end of this week! Thanks for stopping by my blog and happy ICLW!

Myndi said...

Congrats on your first IVF (and hopefully your last, at least for TTC #1)! Wow, I just had flashbacks to mine. I was SO excited!

Best wishes on your upcoming beta!

Patricia said...

Happy ICLW,

I hope you have some good news ahead of you. Hope the time passes quickly, I really hate the 2ww.

ICLW #89

Beth said...

Happy ICLW! The good news about IVF is that by the time you do your transfer you have already eaten up some of your two week wait! Good luck and I can't wait to hear the results...
Beth ICLW #140

Justine L said...

I will keep my fingers crossed for you ... or maybe my toes, since your blog is about little feet. :) *hug* to you ...

And thanks for visiting me, too!

ICLW#52

Rach said...

Here's hoping that the luck o the Irish brings you your BFP.

ICLW
#101
http://thegalwho.wordpress.com/

..al said...

Dear Holly, Belated Happy Wedding Anniversary!

And hey, I am hoping that you have rockstar betas!

It is amazing - the number of eggs retrieved, the fertilization, and the fact that you could freeze the remaining....

Hoping this is it for you!

christina said...

Wow, 15 is a fantastic number! Congratulations on that! I'm wishing all the best for you as you make your way through the week. I know how hard the wait is, but here's hoping that you have fabulous news this weekend!!

Best of luck and welcome to ICLW!

Anonymous said...

Hoping for a BFP for you!! Hoping the 2WW goes by fast!! Praying for you and DH :)

Anonymous said...

oh my gosh, perfect timing to get lots of supportive comments! good luck to you, i hope you get that illusive bfp!

Mrs. Chapman's 2nd Grade Class said...

How exciting! I'll be waiting to see if you get your BFP!! Sure am hopful that you do! :) Thanks for stopping by my blog. Looking forward to following your blog.

ICLW

Basic Girl said...

Hi There!! Here from ICLW, and what an exciting time. Sounds like your IVF cycle went amazing...I'm hoping my can go just as smoothly!! And your blasts are beautiful...I hope they're nice and snuggled in by now and you that that BFP soon!!! Will definitely be stopping back to check!

ICLW #105