Positive YES+

  I am officially pregnant for the first time ever!

I got the news today via phone call from Dr. Schmidt in the middle of Costco. He said " Are you shopping?" and I said "Yes, I am at Costco" He said " You better buy some baby clothes!!" WHOOO HOOO It is very exciting news!  

My date at Costco today was with Maryanne and Matty, so of course, we hugged, jumped up and down and cried in the middle of the Costco eye department. Then we got to texting our peeps- Maryanne was double fisted!

Baby Beier also got his/her first gift from Auntie Maryanne and Matty, DUCKY PJ's!

I am confident this will be a successful pregnancy, although there is always the little voice in the back of my head saying be cautious. Dr. S said my numbers were right in the middle of being able to tell if it is one or two. Maybe at the ultrasound we will get an answer! Stay tuned!

MMM,MMM Good

Recently I have discovered un-refrigerated butter. Several months, maybe even years, Alyssa wrote a blog about the debate between whether or not you can keep your butter on the counter and out of the refrigerator. Back then I was an avid believer that you MUST keep butter in the refrigerator! I mean this IS a dairy product! My Mom always kept the butter in the refrigerator.

I decided that I am no longer going to eat spreads and butter-like products. I am going to eat the real thing, and  I have taken quite the liking to eating toast. Butter from the refrigerator, does not spread on toast. However, butter that has been sitting on the counter not only spreads perfectly, but melts perfectly and tastes a little extra salty (which I love). So, I am on week two of unrefrigerated butter, I smell it everyday to see if it smells weird and I examine it for any other weird findings. The only thing I discovered is that I love my counter top butter!

On another note, I made coconut, walnut pancakes yesterday morning and they were SO yummy!

200,000

 

My car has hit the 200,000 mark and is still kicking! I love my car, although sometimes I wish I had all the new bells and whistles he new cars have I have to admit my car is still pretty nice! Thanks Car!

Other news... My pants fit again! YAY My bloating has subsided and I am feeling pretty good. Now we are just waiting, and waiting and waiting until Tuesday. I looked up all the signs of early pregnancy, and OF COURSE I have them ALL!  I try and push down the CRAZY but there is just so much! hehehehehe

Picked up the Embryos

 

We have picked up two of out strongest embryos today!

They both had 8 cells, 2-5% fragmentation, and were both perfectly spherical.

Grow babies Grow!!

Our pregnancy test is 7/26. I made a joke and asked for the first available appointment. He said 7:30AM? So we will be up quite early on the 26th. I should really keep my mouth shut.

14!

That is right people we have 14 embryos!
Of the 16 eggs they removed,
7 attempted fertilization via ICSI* and 6 FERTILIZED!,
the other 9 attempted fertilization via IVF** and 8 FERTILIZED!
We have 14 embryos growing in Palo Alto (I hope they don't miss me).

I am VERY VERY happy as when the doctor left yesterday he told me expected 8 good fertilized eggs, and we almost doubled it! We ARE over achievers!

*With ICSI, the eggs are retrieved the same as if you were doing conventional IVF. However, the eggs and the sperm are then fertilized in the laboratory, by direct injection of a single sperm into each egg.
**The eggs are fertilized in  a Petri dish by allowing to sperm to penetrate the egg 'naturally'.

They've been gotten

Eureka! We've struck gold!
I went in this morning at 9:45 and was back home by 12:00 resting in my cozy bed. While I was away, I adorned a beautiful and gown and stunning headdress. I was joined by my court who were also outfitted quite nicely.

The procedure took about 5 minutes, Dr.S extracted 16 eggs! He said 12 of them looked really good, and that we could expect about 8 to fertilize really well! Tomorrow he will call with the fertility results, and we are expecting to return on Thursday for the transfer.

Thanks to Julie for babysitting me today and Maryanne and Matty for the visit!

Here little eggie, eggie, eggieeess

Our egg retrieval is Monday!
I did not have an ultrasound today, but as of yesterday we had 10 (Ideal is 8-14) good, mature (mature between 15 - 19 in size, I do not know the measurement) eggs to remove.  Likely, by Monday, I will have a few more. Only one more injection tonight and finally I am done sticking myself!

Also, had my best Gold Party last night, well $$$ wise!  Whooo Hooo! I think it is time to retire!

Slowly but Surely

Today's ultrasound shows 7 good eggs growing ideally. My estrogen doubled = good! The best case scenario would be us having over 8 eggs to remove at retrieval. Dr. S 'narrowed' it down to Sunday, Monday or Tuesday- with Monday looking the most promising to get those suckers out.
Another ultrasound tomorrow to see where we are at, hopefully more than 8!!
Get get this baby started...

P.S. He reminded me I need to be getting up at night to drink water. (I kind of stopped doing that - I LOVE to sleep) So, I was called out. CRAP back to sleepless nights. (I know this will be Melissa's favorite part-stop laughing)

What a week!

Hope everyone had a great 4th! 

I love to see everyone's postings with bright eyed kids watching fireworks, dressed in their red, white and blue! Keep them coming.

So this week, started out pretty OK- I am even over Keith's smart ass comment. 

The FSH did help to reduce my headaches, but in exchange brought on 'some' bloating. I have even already used the 'rubber band method' on my jeans (thanks Nadein & Michelle) because the button will not reach the hole. 

I did, however, throw out my back; the one thing I hoped would not happen since my "good drugs" are off limits. But, it happened, and were getting through.  

Today was a different story. Today I woke up feeling like my back was on the mend and I would soon be as good as new. WRONG- 

I am broken, not only has my reproductive area been hijacked, but something is very wrong with the the functions of my body and brain. I went out to get the mail, in my pajamas, so of course a take a quick look to see if anyone is outside and will see me. As I scan my surroundings, I take the first step over the threshold and the next thing I know my pajama wearing, bloated self is on her butt on the front porch.

SOOO, in addition to my back being pissed off over the fall, I have now twisted my ankle and am limping around my house. Yes, I have RICEed it. Basically I am still a mess!

I did not have an ultrasound this morning, just some blood work. My estrogen level was 330 today (Day 7) and I will continue on the same dose of FSH. Things are looking good! Ultrasound is on Thursday- I like to see the eggs in there growing. Maybe I can even get a picture!

Really!?

How about this...

When your wife is on a crap load of Meds and is trying to create large heathy eggs, you DON'T say: 

"Hey babe, you have gained some weight!"

No shit dumbass...thanks for pointing it out - I realize my jeans don't button!

GRRRRRRR!