Well, it's been 1 week since we got back to Grande Prairie. In the last post you were informed that 39 of our embryos were fertilizing. Of those 39, the next day there was 34 that were still growing and then our last and final count before they were frozen was 29. We have 29 embryos and they are very high quality. On a scale out of 20 we have mostly 18 and 19's and nothing lower than a 16+ This is rare because usually you get quantity or quality...we were blessed to have both. So that was the greatest news this week that we have what the embryologist called 29 "spectacular" embryos frozen and waiting for the next step. This week was a whirlwind getting back to routine and I may have overdone it since I had swollen ankles and feet (literally had cankles) by midnight on Friday. Doc said it was just a hormonal thing...since I was on all those drugs..but it was freaky. That's never happened to be before. I'm doing great though..no more cankles...lol
Now we just wait until the beginning of June (hoping for our embryo transfer to be June 1st..looks good so far =) )
Then another 9 months and we'll be parents if all goes well! God has provided and made this journey so successful thus far and I just know he will continue to do so.
Thanks for your prayers and support,
Love you all!
God Bless,
Jenn
Monday, 23 April 2012
Saturday, 14 April 2012
And the good news keeps coming...
This morning we went for our last appointment with Dr. Hudson before we leave Victoria tomorrow morning. I felt awesome when I woke up this morning, and from my ultrasound things look great. Dr. Hudson said I was a Superstar because he poked me with a needle 50 times yesterday and I still woke up feeling great which he thought was incredible. I told him that yesterday it felt like he poked me 50 times we a needle and I was very uncomfortable and in pain...but after resting all day and a good nights sleep...I feel great! Like I said...I'm a trooper..takes a lot more to set me back than a few needle pokes.
So anyways...I feel good...I'm recovering well. I still have to take it easy (which is easier said then done)..but looks good so far.
On top of that good news we found out more about our eggs/embryos.
Turns out there was actually only 46 eggs retrieved yesterday. The 47th was just a clump of cells that looked like an egg. Still a record of course..lol. 46 is a lot!!
Of those 46 eggs that were retrieved.....44 were mature (meaning able to be fertilized). Of the 44 mature eggs....39 are fertilizing (becoming embryos)!! WOAH! 39 babies in the making??? What?! Now of course after 5 days (when they will be frozen) that number will have gone down (i'll keep you all posted on what it is) but still...it's going to be a lot higher than I ever dreamed possible.
Thank you Lord!
You have a plan and you have made a way and I am so very grateful.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me -Philippians 4:13
Jeremiah 29:11-14For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes..
Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts and support.
I'm still recovering a bit....slightly sore but doing well, so please continue to keep me in your prayers.
Next step is not so far away. Aiming for a June 1st transfer date.
Thanks again for your love and support,
God Bless,
Jen
So anyways...I feel good...I'm recovering well. I still have to take it easy (which is easier said then done)..but looks good so far.
On top of that good news we found out more about our eggs/embryos.
Turns out there was actually only 46 eggs retrieved yesterday. The 47th was just a clump of cells that looked like an egg. Still a record of course..lol. 46 is a lot!!
Of those 46 eggs that were retrieved.....44 were mature (meaning able to be fertilized). Of the 44 mature eggs....39 are fertilizing (becoming embryos)!! WOAH! 39 babies in the making??? What?! Now of course after 5 days (when they will be frozen) that number will have gone down (i'll keep you all posted on what it is) but still...it's going to be a lot higher than I ever dreamed possible.
Thank you Lord!
You have a plan and you have made a way and I am so very grateful.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me -Philippians 4:13
Jeremiah 29:11-14For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes..
Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts and support.
I'm still recovering a bit....slightly sore but doing well, so please continue to keep me in your prayers.
Next step is not so far away. Aiming for a June 1st transfer date.
Thanks again for your love and support,
God Bless,
Jen
Friday, 13 April 2012
Is this for real?
Good day all!
Today was the BIG DAY! The egg retrieval and the beginning of our embryos =)
Let me start by saying this fact that is right from the Regional Fertility Program website (Calgary Clinic)
"The average number of eggs retrieved in a good prognosis patient is 12."
Apparently....I'm not a good prognosis patient. I'm also not a patient of the Calgary Clinic...I'm a patient of the Victoria Fertility Clinic and I'm some sort of anomaly in the IVF world because I had 47eggs retrieved. Dr. Hudsons eyes popped out of his head. They have never seen so many eggs retrieved. According to the Lab lady...she said that she sees a lot of mature, viable eggs. And to think that at my last ultrasound I left a bit defeated because the doctor was dissatisfied with the fact that my follicles just weren't growing and my estrogen level had plateaued. When he said he would have to trigger and get ready for retrieval (almost like it was prematurely) I was a bit deflated. Knowing that it had absolutely zero bearing on how many eggs I got or how many good quality ones were found...tells me God was totally in control. Those eggs didn't grow anymore because they didn't need too and my hormone levels plateaued to say "Ok doc, time to bring in the harvest." So 47 eggs retrieved....and I must say...it's a bit painful. The way they retrieve those eggs is with a needle...they use the needle to pierce each follicle and remove the fluid from them which contains the eggs. I had a lot of follicles and a lot of eggs...and during the procedure..I felt fine. It was afterwards where I felt quite uncomfortable, but I'm a trooper. I came back to the hotel room, went to sleep and though I'm still in some discomfort I am quite happy to be on the road to recovery...and over the moon that my embryos are being created this very minute.Tomorrow I have an appointment to discuss how things are going and have gone....then Sunday morning we fly home.
Miss everyone so much.
Pray the pain subsides, not only for comfortable travel...but so that I can work in comfort as well.
Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and support.
I love you all.
You have made this journey so wonderful. God has blessed me with so many supportive friends and family and he has taken care of us on this difficult journey.
It's not over yet. Still have the embryo transfer in the not so distant future...and of course the pregnancy will hopefully ensue...but I know with your prayers and support and the faith I have in our Lord...things are going to go beautifully.
My fortune cookies at the chinese restaurants we've eaten at have said "a newcomer in your life is becoming more important" and "your secret venture will work out brilliantly"
I don't usually read too much into fortune cookies...but I also don't believe in coincidences. They are signs from God. He's indicating that all will work out for the best. I just need to remember that this is for his glory according to his plan...not according to mine...hence, the bumps in road =) They all serve a purpose.
Again, love you all!
Thanks for your prayers
God Bless!
Jen
Today was the BIG DAY! The egg retrieval and the beginning of our embryos =)
Let me start by saying this fact that is right from the Regional Fertility Program website (Calgary Clinic)
"The average number of eggs retrieved in a good prognosis patient is 12."
Apparently....I'm not a good prognosis patient. I'm also not a patient of the Calgary Clinic...I'm a patient of the Victoria Fertility Clinic and I'm some sort of anomaly in the IVF world because I had 47eggs retrieved. Dr. Hudsons eyes popped out of his head. They have never seen so many eggs retrieved. According to the Lab lady...she said that she sees a lot of mature, viable eggs. And to think that at my last ultrasound I left a bit defeated because the doctor was dissatisfied with the fact that my follicles just weren't growing and my estrogen level had plateaued. When he said he would have to trigger and get ready for retrieval (almost like it was prematurely) I was a bit deflated. Knowing that it had absolutely zero bearing on how many eggs I got or how many good quality ones were found...tells me God was totally in control. Those eggs didn't grow anymore because they didn't need too and my hormone levels plateaued to say "Ok doc, time to bring in the harvest." So 47 eggs retrieved....and I must say...it's a bit painful. The way they retrieve those eggs is with a needle...they use the needle to pierce each follicle and remove the fluid from them which contains the eggs. I had a lot of follicles and a lot of eggs...and during the procedure..I felt fine. It was afterwards where I felt quite uncomfortable, but I'm a trooper. I came back to the hotel room, went to sleep and though I'm still in some discomfort I am quite happy to be on the road to recovery...and over the moon that my embryos are being created this very minute.Tomorrow I have an appointment to discuss how things are going and have gone....then Sunday morning we fly home.
Miss everyone so much.
Pray the pain subsides, not only for comfortable travel...but so that I can work in comfort as well.
Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and support.
I love you all.
You have made this journey so wonderful. God has blessed me with so many supportive friends and family and he has taken care of us on this difficult journey.
It's not over yet. Still have the embryo transfer in the not so distant future...and of course the pregnancy will hopefully ensue...but I know with your prayers and support and the faith I have in our Lord...things are going to go beautifully.
My fortune cookies at the chinese restaurants we've eaten at have said "a newcomer in your life is becoming more important" and "your secret venture will work out brilliantly"
I don't usually read too much into fortune cookies...but I also don't believe in coincidences. They are signs from God. He's indicating that all will work out for the best. I just need to remember that this is for his glory according to his plan...not according to mine...hence, the bumps in road =) They all serve a purpose.
Again, love you all!
Thanks for your prayers
God Bless!
Jen
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Pull the trigger...
Big night tonight!
Retrieval is set for Friday at 7:30am and I have to take precisely 2.0cc of the "trigger" shot tonight at precisely 8:30pm to release the eggs at precisely the right time on Friday so they can be 'gathered'...if you will.
It's almost the big day! My embryos are going to be created on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So excited =)
God Bless all of you who are following our journey and keeping us in your prayers!
Love you all!
Jen
Retrieval is set for Friday at 7:30am and I have to take precisely 2.0cc of the "trigger" shot tonight at precisely 8:30pm to release the eggs at precisely the right time on Friday so they can be 'gathered'...if you will.
It's almost the big day! My embryos are going to be created on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So excited =)
God Bless all of you who are following our journey and keeping us in your prayers!
Love you all!
Jen
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Nothings worth having comes easy...
Well it's been a long journey to get here and I've conquered a lot of fears and I have endured a lot and felt very good and been able to enjoy my time in Victoria so far...
Unfortunately...if you look back on my journey (namely the Clomid Saga) you will notice there is a common thread. That thread is my stubborn ovaries. They are quite lazy and don't like to do as they are supposed to...and thus, we are slightly behind schedule. So...my dreams of coming home early on Friday and relaxing and settling in for a couple of days before returning to work is not going to become reality. Retrieval of the eggs will either take place Friday or Saturday so our flights are booked (doctor's orders) for Sunday morning. This means I'll have Sunday afternoon/evening to relax and settle in and then I will be thrust back into the reality of life..lol. Thank goodness I'm a tough cookie and have the faith and confidence to handle it like a champ.
So please pray pray pray! I need those prayers. Pray that things stay on track so we can leave Sunday and that I will have little pain and be able to travel in comfort. I am so homesick so it's hard to think I have to stay a bit longer, but I know that in the end it will all be worth it and that I just need to be patient and endure.
God has it all in his hands and he has brought be this far.
Nothing worth having ever comes easy...
Love you all and God Bless!
Jen
Unfortunately...if you look back on my journey (namely the Clomid Saga) you will notice there is a common thread. That thread is my stubborn ovaries. They are quite lazy and don't like to do as they are supposed to...and thus, we are slightly behind schedule. So...my dreams of coming home early on Friday and relaxing and settling in for a couple of days before returning to work is not going to become reality. Retrieval of the eggs will either take place Friday or Saturday so our flights are booked (doctor's orders) for Sunday morning. This means I'll have Sunday afternoon/evening to relax and settle in and then I will be thrust back into the reality of life..lol. Thank goodness I'm a tough cookie and have the faith and confidence to handle it like a champ.
So please pray pray pray! I need those prayers. Pray that things stay on track so we can leave Sunday and that I will have little pain and be able to travel in comfort. I am so homesick so it's hard to think I have to stay a bit longer, but I know that in the end it will all be worth it and that I just need to be patient and endure.
God has it all in his hands and he has brought be this far.
Nothing worth having ever comes easy...
Love you all and God Bless!
Jen
Friday, 6 April 2012
One week down...
Well we have been here for a week and so far I've had an ultrasound and bloodwork every second day (about that) to monitor the growth of my follicles. Follicles are the little ovarian houses that the eggs live in (lol). Well over this past week I have seen some of my follicles grow from 4 and 5 mm to 11 and 12....so the "miracle grow" Gonal F is working. I do need prayers though because not all of them are growing as quickly as we'd like to see. I have taken 225 units of Gonal F and then switched up to 300 units of Gonal F and today I also started Cetrotide and Luveris which are two other injectable medications that help with the growing process.
We have had a nice week traveling around and enjoying the Victoria area. We've been shopping, we have checked out 3 different churches and we have gone on scenic drives...enjoyed delicious food...and relaxed. It has been great. Not to mention, I have conquered the fear of giving myself needles (which I was sure was going to be the worst part, and maybe it is...but it's not too bad at all).
I feel great so far. A few twinges of pain and a headache here or there but on the whole I feel good.
Have a great Easter everyone!
Thank you so much to everyone for the emails/messages and encouraging words, prayers and support of all kinds. I love you all so much.
God Bless and Take Care,
Jen
We have had a nice week traveling around and enjoying the Victoria area. We've been shopping, we have checked out 3 different churches and we have gone on scenic drives...enjoyed delicious food...and relaxed. It has been great. Not to mention, I have conquered the fear of giving myself needles (which I was sure was going to be the worst part, and maybe it is...but it's not too bad at all).
I feel great so far. A few twinges of pain and a headache here or there but on the whole I feel good.
Have a great Easter everyone!
Thank you so much to everyone for the emails/messages and encouraging words, prayers and support of all kinds. I love you all so much.
God Bless and Take Care,
Jen
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