Transfer Complete!!!

Well, today was the day! The transfer was supposed to occur on Thursday, but ended up finally happening on this morning, thanks goodness!!! It was quite an experience, let me tell you! The technology that goes into IVF is just amazing.

We got there and the nurses and doctor explained to us that only two of the eleven fertilized embryos were currently big enough for transfer/freezing. This kind of threw me off because I thought with the amount that fertilized we would have more left over to freeze, but I guess that is not the case. We talked about it and decided that we were only going to implant one since the chance of success did not increase with more than one, and because we wanted to have a possible backup in case this one does not take. The doctors will continue to let the embryos grow thru tomorrow, then will let us know next week if any additional embryos grew enough to be frozen as well.

The whole process was very interesting. It was done in an operating room with an ultra sound machine as well as a TV to allow us to watch everything. They even gave us a picture of the embryo they implanted.



We also got to wear some seriously adorable outfits during the process:







They sent me home today with the instructions that I need to relax today and tomorrow, darn =o). Unfortunately my post op instructions specified 'No Housework', sorry Adam! No working out for the next 2 weeks or so, but I can return to work on Monday. We basically get to play the waiting game now. They will have me do a pregnancy test in about a week and a half or two to determine if it took or not. Wish us luck and check back here in a couple of weeks.

Love you all!

The Time Has Come

Hello all, sorry I have not updated this in a while but things have been a little crazy and uncertain.

Well, the donor had appointments throughout the last 2 weeks. She was supposed to retrieve on Thursday of last week, but it got pushed back a couple days because she was not ready. We found out finally this Saturday that she is doing the Retrieval today, YIPPIE!!! This bumps my transfer out to Thursday of this week (8/25/11) pending everything grows as it should. If they have any issues they may bump it out to Saturday, but we are hoping that is not the case. Either way I will be taking Thursday and Friday of this week off of work. It is for the best since I most likely will not be able to focus at all.

These past two weeks have been really tough on me. Okay to be honest, this whole process has. I have been trying to put on my tough girl face, but it has honestly been really rough not being involved in the whole process. It has been really frustrating waiting on the nurses to call me after each of the donors appointments. I seriously think they have been intentionally waiting to the last possible minute to call me specifically for the intention of stressing me out . . . ugh . . . I know that is not the case, but it has been feeling like that for sure =o). Just ask Adam, I am sure he has had a blast dealing with me the last two weeks, I have been an emotional mess, Ha!

On a side note, I finally got my prescription filled for my Lovenox which is the shot I will be giving myself every day for the entire pregnancy and a little while after. I am not going to lie, the needle looks intense, it kind of scares me, see below:


I will not be able to open them until the day after the transfer, but hopefully they are not as painful as they look =o). Guess I will know soon enough.

We should be getting results over the next couple days so wish us luck, we need it right now and excuse me if you call me and I seen distracted or emotional. . . It seems to be a trend lately for me to be unable to focus or to cry for no reason, He He.

Also, I don’t think I can say this enough, but thank you all so much for all your kind words and support throughout this whole process. I can’t even begin to explain to you all how much it means to both of us. I honestly do not think I would have made it this far (while keeping my sanity) without all of your love and support. You all are the best.

I will touch back with you soon, probably after the transfer.

Love you!

Happy Birthday!!

Also . . . I have to send a shout out to my favorite God Baby/Nephew Colt Cantwell! Colt is turning 2 years old today! 2 years ago today I had spent literally all night sleeping in the waiting room of the hospital on two chairs pushed together waiting on him to arrive. I think it is safe to say he is most likely the main cause of my baby fever =o) He He.

This little man and his parents (Valerie & Chance Cantwell) have been such a blessing for me. Whenever I am feeling down and out all I have to do is pay them a visit, or call them up, and I am smiling in no time =o)

Happy Bithday Little Man! I love you and best wishes for many more. I cannot wait to celebrate this weekend!

It's Getting Close!

Hello all! I hope everyone is doing well. Things have been pretty crazy over here at the Casto House lately. I feel like we have been going non-stop for weeks now and believe it or not, everything seems to be coming down to the wire with the next round of IVF. I have been waking up every morning at 6:45am (Yes, even on the weekends - No sleeping in for me anymore!) to give myself my daily shot and following my crazy pill schedule like it is my life, pills for breakfast, lunch and dinner. . . Ha! You would not believe the amount of pills and medicine that are involved in this process, it is insane. Here is a picture of what I currently have, it does not even include the Lovenox that I will get later!




I forgot to mention it before, but a month or so back the docs ran a new round of blood work to double check a bunch of medical stuff I do not understand. When they got the results they discovered an elevated AntiCardioLipin level (My LgM was elevated). I still do not fully understand all this, but from what I understand, this puts me at risk of clotting, which could cut off the oxygen supply to the baby and result in miscarriage. The level is still in the indeterminate level, not quite positive (you want it to be negative), but because it is elevated Dr. Vaughn and the Hematologist I have been seeing talked and decided that they want to take the ‘Better Safe than Sorry’ route, so they are going to put me on blood thinners for the entire pregnancy plus some, which means I now get to give myself a shot everyday for pretty much the next year, yippie!!!!! I am going to be a pro at this kind of stuff by the time I have a child, so if anyone needs any shots, just see me :o). The good thing about taking this ‘Better Safe than Sorry’ route is that the medicine they are putting me on does not cross the placenta, so it should not cause any known harm to the baby . . . whew . . . =o)

I am getting really excited yet nervous all at the same time. This round is so much more hopeful, so it is hard not to get excited, but I still need to approach with caution and expect the unexpected. As of right now, our donor is set to ‘Retrieve’ on the 18th of this month, and the ‘Transfer’ would happen 3 days later, which would be the 21st. But, as I learned from my first IVF cycle, these dates have a tendency to change (mine got bumped back a day). It will on depend on whether or not the donor’s eggs are ready. We will not know these dates for certain until probably around the 16th or 17th. I will try to keep you all updated on any changes if they happen.

On a side note, the family is doing great! Jaxon and Sundae made their first trip out to the lakehouse this weekend and they LOVED it. Jaxon really enjoyed playing in the lake as well as the big field next to the house. They were both in heaven =o). I am sure the cats enjoyed the house without the dogs for a few days as well. They were actually able to lay in the middle of the floor without a dog torturing them, He He!

Well, thanks for tuning in to our life yet again. If you talk to me in the next couple weeks and I sound a little out of it, scatter brained or stressed, it might have something to do with my nerves =o). I am doing everything I can to think positive, but sometimes I fall victim to my brain, ha! I will let you all know how the transfer goes and hope that you all have a great day!