PUPO!

Ladies, please allow me to introduce you to my two little embabies!!

On the left -- early blast.  On the right -- expanded blast that is starting to hatch

My husband keeps referring to them as "the ticks," (because we hope they'll latch on and start acting like parasites) but we've got to come up with a better name than that when (yes, I said WHEN) these stick.

Today we had four growing embies left.  We transferred a Grade I early blast and a Grade I/II expanded blast that has started to hatch.  (The embryologist said she had to call it a II because it looks like there are a few dark spots/dead cells in the center, but she thinks it's actually good otherwise.)  (Again, Grade I is the highest for my clinic -- why can't these places be consistent?  My husband was convinced we were doomed because he was reading a website where a Grade I was the lowest...)

Tomorrow we'll hear the status of our other two embies -- one is a Grade I morula and the other is a Grade II/III early blast.  If we're lucky, we'll be able to freeze at least one.  

The transfer went really well.  I listened to C+B on the way down so was super-relaxed when we got there.  The wonderful IVF nurse (who I love) led us back and gave us our outfits.  My DH highly enjoyed his hat, mask and shoe covers and has taken them home for a Halloween outfit.  He looked hilarious in shorts with shoe covers over his Keens (it's really warm here). I got changed and we took pictures of each other while we waited for the embryologist.  She came in and told us about the embryos and gave us the picture.  I felt like I just wanted to hold it and  keep staring at it.  Can you love a microscopic bunch of nondescript cells?  

A few minutes later, the nurse came back and said "well, it's noon. Dr. Smiles should be rolling into the office soon."  My DH calls him Elvis.  For both the ER and ET, everyone else -- multiple nurses, embryologist, etc. -- are there for a few hours ahead of time getting everything ready.  Then, at the last moment, he runs into the office, says lots of positive things, then does whichever deed needs doing.  You get the feeling that he psyches himself up for these things and needs to be separate from the preparation part.  He told us today that last night he was watching youtube videos with inspiring messages about excellence.

We went into the operating room and I got set up in the stirrups.  There's something very disconcerting about sitting in the middle of a room with your legs spread out up high in the air with three or four people just wandering about.  And, of course, every single one of these people has already seen everything there is to see about me down there...but still.  You feel a little weird.  Especially when your husband and the doctor are just having a casual chat about Big 12 football and how they both wish Nebraska had lost to Ohio State yesterday because they are so angry at them for starting the disintegration of the Big 12...

My bladder was properly full and Dr. Smiles was incredibly excited about the view he had of my uterus.  (He was incredibly excited in general.)  I overheard the embryologist in the back room saying my full name multiple times.  Then the nurse said it, too.  Then Dr. Smiles said it.  Then, he got everything into place and I closed my eyes and started breathing deeply because I didn't want to cramp up.  Then, I saw the embryologist come back out and she said "I've got two embryos for Rebecca _____".  (It's nice to know that they have about fifteen checks in place to make sure that they gave us our actual embryos.)  

Then, on the u/s screen, they watched the fluid deposit right at the top of my uterus.  The nurse moved a bit so I could see what was going on.  I started to tear up a little.  I didn't think that would be so emotional, but it was.  

Dr. Smiles was beyond excited about how it went.  He told us it was perfect and said to the nurses "That's worth coming in on a Sunday for, isn't it?"  (I had totally forgotten it was a Sunday by this point...)

They sent they embryologist back with the catheter to rinse it a few times to make sure the embryos had made it out.  After she confirmed it was empty, it was done.  And, I just felt relief.

They moved me back to the recovery room and I settled in with my C+B, again.  After, that is, my DH kissed my tummy.  Twenty-five minutes later, the nurse came in and let me go to the bathroom.  Then, we settled back in for another half hour of resting.  It was so nice.  Just a quiet, dimly lit room with my DH reading the paper and me calmly bopping along to the 80s channel that was playing in the background.  

We scheduled my beta for October 18th (14 days post retrieval).  The nurse said it was the best day of the year -- her birthday.  (I've got to remember that when I go down there.)  Because it's a Tuesday, I can't get there until the afternoon due to work requirements. (They offered to let me do the beta up here, but I just don't trust anyone but them nor do I want to hear the results from anyone else.  I'd rather make the drive.)  I have a feeling I'm going to be a bit of a nervous wreck at that point.  My plan is not to POAS.  We'll see how that goes.

The amazing thing is that October 18th is the day, 3 years ago, that AF showed up for the first time after going off the pill.  So, just like Amanda, my beta is scheduled for the exact 3 year anniversary of when we started trying.  Our 3-year wedding anniversary is this coming Tuesday the 11th.  Seems like just the time when our little embies should be snuggling in.  

Meanwhile, I'm camped out on the sofa.  I've got some pineapple I cut up yesterday and some Brazil nuts that my husband carefully separated from two bags of mixed nuts last night because he couldn't find any by themselves (he's adorable).   I've got my C+B meditations and a bunch of funny movies and sitcoms.  (Later today, I'm DVR'ing the Friends episode where Phoebe becomes a surrogate.  I figure it will definitely be good for a few laughs at all the errors!  What did they transfer, 5 embryos?  That they left in a petri dish on the table in front of her?  And she tested positive later that day or the next, didn't she?)  I keep putting my hand on my belly and sending all the love I have to my uterus.  

Just nine days until we know. 

Thanks to all of you for the support!!