Enough about me, let's talk about you!

So much is going on the lives of my bloggie friends -- don't think I haven't been following along! Here are some folks you may know, and some you may need to visit for the first time (WARNING: pregnancy/babies mentioned, with great joy -- it is so encouraging to see women I started this bloggie journey with pregnant!):

The E's are in the homestretch (last 8 weeks) before their twins arrive!

Elle has graduated to the OB -- big time :)

Nity, Courtney and Jill, who have been some of my biggest cheerleaders since the beginning, are both expecting after FET, medicated IUI and IVF cycles, respectively.

Ashley is rocking a super-cute new haircut and expecting a baby girl after a sucessful IVF cycle.

Strongblonde, who has not had a straight and narrow path (I know, I know -- who has) is "officialy official" with her twin pregnancy.

Barefoot and (Not) Pregnant is getting ready for her transfer tomorrow -- sticky baby dust to YOU!

Some other dear hearts need comfort. I ache for their losses and news they had prayed so hard against. Joannah, Mo and Will -- I've learned so much from you guys, and truly admire your honest. Go over and give Caroline, who's had quite the time with this IVF cycle so far, a hug and some encouragement.

She called early, again!

More good news from Ellen the Embryologist -- all 8 embryos continued to divide overnight! Even though they don't do the grade thing anymore, I asked EE if she thought we were in good shape for Tuesday's transfer, and she said she thought we were in great shape. Whoohoo!

Thanks for all of your comments and support as we wait together. It really means a lot, and I am so very thankful.

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay."
Habakkuk 2:3

I told you she called early.

Just got off the phone with the embryologist, and all 8 of the fertilized eggs divided overnight -- whoohoo! I asked about grades, and she said they really don't pay as much attention to that anymore (since 6 months ago? Okay . . . .) but that they all looked good. We'll take it.

Have a great Saturday!

Fertilization Report

Good news! Of the 10 eggs retrieved, 8 were mature and all 8 fertilized. We are very thankful for this progress. We'll have a (very early) call from the embryologist tomorrow morning, and will fill you in after she calls. Happy Friday!

Count to 10

That's how many eggs we got today -- whoohoo! We got 8 during our first retrieval, so everyone seemed pleased with today's haul.

Everything went well. No IV issues, no nausea, no anything bad. DH was able to stay home all day and hang out (he even tolerated "Twilight" on PPV, but we are keeping that a secret, ok?). We can feel everyone's prayers and support, and for that, we are truly grateful.

We're praying for tomorrow's fertilization report. We'll keep you posted!

It's on.

Trigger at 10:45 tonight, retrieval at 10:45 on Thursday. Thanks in advance for the warm thoughts and prayers.

The things you learn.

I was a touch concerned about my estradiol level after yesterday's tests. Before our first retrieval, it was over 2000, and we were well short of that yesterday (in the 600s). I had the oh-so-obvious idea to ask my RE's office, and got this reply: because I'm on an antagonist protocol this cycle (e.g., the Cetrotide), they look at the follicle size, not the estradiol. Apparently the Cetrotide monkeys with the estradiol, making the results unreliable. So, since my follies look good, I'm in good shape. WHEW. Hope somebody else has the same question at some point and will find this post so they don't have to worry.

More testing in the a.m. -- fingers crossed for a Thursday retrieval. We'll keep you posted.

Even as we seem to be cautiously moving towards retrieval, my heart is heavy for two of our bloggie friends. Mo and Will got a negative Beta, and my heart is just breaking for them. Please go over and give them some support. We're all in this together, peaks, valleys and everything in between.

The Sunday Word

I have a sort of funny, sort of awful history of experiences when it comes to Sunday clinic visits. They never get my blood on the first stick. Ever. The last two visits have ended up with me reclined on a table, butterfly needle in one arm, Sprite in the other hand. Yipes. I even brought DH with me this time, thinking that might change my luck. No dice. At least he was there to witness the festivities!

Enough whining -- everything looked fine today, and we made it out in time for early church (our clinic rocks the early appointments). Somewhere around 16 little follies are doing their thing, estradiol still moving along (in the 600s). Progress is being made, but we're not quite there yet. So, two more nights of shots, check back in with the clinic Tuesday morning, and we go from there.

Thanks for all the posts and encouragement. I think I can, I think I can :)

Thanks, peeps.

You all really get it. Your comments will really get a girl over a hump, you know? As always, I am in your debt.

Tomorrow brings Day 5 testing, acupuncture, and adding Cetrotide to the cocktail -- let's go ahead and anoint it the "Day of Many Needles." Boo-yah.

Until then, my loves.

Dang it.

Just when I think I have coaxed my brain into believing "IVF is nothing but a bunch of needles, don't be a baby," I find myself crying in the kitchen, clinging to DH and sobbing into his sweater that I'm scared we will never have a child.

Nothing about this is simple. Or easy. Nothing.

Thanks for journeying along with us.

And, we're back.

We're back from vacation -- not a real, actual vacation with sand and boat drinks, but a vacation nonetheless. It has been a blessed break from needles and appointments (and, I'm afraid, blogging), leaving us ready, mentally and physically, to tackle round #3.

First shots are tonight. Dosages are the same, 375 Follistim and 75 Menapur. I'll go in for monitoring on Thursday morning and, if all looks good, then we should be scheduling retrieval for the week of the 23rd.

Here. We. Go.