4 days down

I'll get right to it.  I'm sure you all already know this, but if you don't, I'll tell you, so listen up: I really love wine.  That being said, I don't love wine as much as these cute little blastocysts growing in my belly so I have not had any since the good ole transfer.  My awesome husband has done a really good job of not rubbing a good glass of cab in my face which has made it much easier.  It's weird because I don't feel pregnant....yet.  I know that will change.

So, instead of sleeping in on Saturdays which we normally do, I was wide awake and ready to go at 6:30 am!  I can't remember the last time I was awake that early on a Saturday morning, but I'm sure that day included a plane ride and a beach.  The only way I could convince Colin to get out of bed was to bribe him with something I knew he wanted:

Breakfast at Oddfellows

Wow, I over-ordered.  I just wanted to try a little bit of everything.

This afternoon we get to pick up these guys (who I'm missing so much!).  They've been at Dog Camp, aka Kinder Kritter, since Wednesday.  Looking at these pictures makes me hope with all my heart that they don't smell like they've crawled up a monkey's armpit for the past few days, but I can almost smell their stench through the pictures.  I'm the eternal optimist as you can see:

On a less smelly note - My best friend in the whole wide world is in town, and I get to see her today!!  Isn't she ugly?!?!  Melissa Spencer:

Pretty nice little Saturday if you ask me...

S

Go big or go home

Yesterday, April 27th, was a BIG DAY.  Colin and I went to have our little baby blastocyst transferred. 

I spent most of the drive to the hospital trying not to cry.  These are the songs that helped me out:

Talking Heads: Psycho Killer

Dr Dre featuring Snoop: Dre Day

Billy Joel: We didn't start the fire (which we only listened to for 2 verses because that song is annoying)

Rolling Stones: Jumping Jack Flash

I’m not sure if Colin was even aware that I was so aware of the music.  I think he might have been nervous himself. 

We got to the office around 11:15, I’m lying, it was 11:05 – our appointment was at 11:30, we didn’t want to be late.   We were immediately taken back to our “holding room,” where I was given a sexy gown that ties in the back, and Colin was given what we’ll call a Hazmat suit.  Just in case of nuclear explosions?  Not sure.

So we hung out in the room and watched HGTV for about an hour.  It was some show where Mario Lopez had his home gym remodeled.  Annoying.  I can’t stand Mario Lopez.  He bugs.  So, about 45 minutes into the show I start wondering if we can change the channel.  Duh, there’s a remote control right in front of me.  Am I smart enough to be a parent?  Wait, don’t answer that.

So we immediately find that the movie Knocked Up is on.  Perfect.  Nothing better than a funny movie about a couple about to become parents when you’re about to become pregnant.  And not in a sexy, romantic way.

The embryologist came in to give us an update on Babies McCartney, and she had the best news.  First words out of her mouth, “You two are so lucky.  You have two grade A, perfect blastocysts.  This is amazing.”  She then asks us how many we’d like to transfer, and

WE SAID 2!!!  Here they are.  Aren’t they cute?!?!

She explained to us that these are such good textbook blastocysts that we should be prepared for twins.  WOO HOO!!

So she left, we cried, and then we waited for Dr Chantilis.  At about 1 pm he came in and got us, walked us to the baby making room, and we were off.  The whole process took about 5 minutes, not bad.  I was then wheeled off on the bed and taken back our holding room where we finished up watching Knocked Up.  Easy as pie.

And then I spent the rest of the day and night doing the following:

 Yay for having kids!!

Stevie

We're looking good

Just got a call from the Embryologist with an update.  At this point they rate the embryos on a number scale 1 being the best, 5 the least desirable.

Here's what we have
3 embryos are on LEVEL 1
3 embryos are on LEVEL2
3 embryos are either LEVEL 3 or lower

This is great news again!!  She suspects that we'll have at least 3 embryos that are able to either be transferred or frozen by day 5 (Wednesday).  AMAZING!!  Quick note - in no universe would we ever transfer 3 eggs on Wednesday...we're not crazy.  We're planning on transferring two and freezing the leftovers.  I feel so weird calling the embryos not transferred "leftovers."  Is this Chinese takeout?

We're all set for Wednesday.  Our appt is at 12:15.  Colin and I are planning on a couple of fun nights.  We're probably just hanging at the house tonight, but on Tuesday we're going to see David Sedaris at SMU.  So funny!!  And gay!  A brilliant combination if you ask me.

Oh and I was also told to definitely have a couple of glasses of wine (if I drink alcohol) the next two nights to keep me calm.  Ummmm ok, smarty pants Doc, no problem.  Those are some orders I can follow.  These people must be my angels.  Cheers!

So excited!  I'm going shopping.
-Stevie

10 Easter Eggs!

Good morning America!!

The Embryologist just called, and out of the 10 eggs that were retrieved on Friday all 10 are alive this morning!  One of the eggs might not have fertilized, but they're keeping it just in case.  This is wonderful news, better news than we were expecting.  I can't believe all 10 of those guys are alive and kicking!  Yes!!!

We couldn't be more excited and hopeful.  Finally some good news back to back!

Boom!

Our baby(s) are cooking right now in a petrie dish.  And I don't even feel pregnant!  ;)

Look Who's Talking

Now I realize that this isn't exactly happening to me, but I think it's appropriate for this morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65BV5dXXxzM

---Stevie

The update

I literally just got off the phone with a nurse at Chantilis' office.  We're now going to be doing the egg retrieval on Friday instead of Thursday.  Tonight will be my last shot of Lupron, and Nastia will be taking her "Trigger Shot."

Wow.  This is happening.  Holy...moly.

The nurse counted 5 mature eggs on the right ovary and 3-4 on the left ovary.  There is no dominant egg at this point (meaning, there isn't one egg that stands out as the best).  They also counted about 10 other developing eggs which they will also fertilize, but those don't look as good.  She assured me that they like to see quality over quantity at this point, and I don't need to worry.  Not everyone starts out with 20 eggs, and it looks like we're some of that don't get to.  It doesn't matter to Colin and I because we just need 1.

So, unless something changes in the next few days it looks like Wednesday is D Day.  Oh my gosh, my heart is pounding, and I'm definitely starting to well up right now.  I just can't believe this is actually happening.

My sister flies into town on Wednesday too.  Wednesday is going to be a good day.

Here's a picture of Jessie and I at the Lady Gaga concert in Kansas City last year.  I can't wait for her to get here and give me a big hug.  She gives the best hugs.

This is me loving on Jess last Christmas

Sleepless in Casa Linda,
Stevie

Whoa there Horsey

If you haven’t got the memo, it’s GO TIME PEOPLE!  We’re doing this little thing called IVF whether you’re ready or not!

After a few days of going back and forth with Nastia’s sub par estrogen level, we heard from nurse Linda that it jumped to over 2,000…whatever that means…well, it’s a really good thing, and we’re doing this!!

It looks like the retrieval day will be Thursday (AS IN THIS THURSDAY!! April 21^st)  So that means that Nastia will be giving up her Easter eggs on that day.  They’ll also be fertilizing said Easter eggs with Colin’s sperm.  So I awkwardly ask that you think positive thoughts for us on Thursday…or you don’t have to, I wouldn’t blame you, it might be awkward. 

So retrieval day is Day 0.  On either Day 3 or Day 5 the Easter egg(s) will be traveling down a little tube to their new home in my uterus.  Then, they’ll hang out there for 9+ months.

Side note: My stress level has reached an all time high.  Wonder why.

Good thing we have our good friends from Kansas City coming to visit us this weekend.  I can’t wait for Katie and Bryce to get here and distract us for a couple of days.  They are HILARIOUS and will no doubt ease our worries with their banter.  Plus, they won't let us sit around our house stressing out.  They would make us run...because they're skinny.  We are also going to the Arboretum with Melissa and Brandon tomorrow night for a concert in the park.   And I have dinner with Julie tonight.  Really, I’ve packed about a month of fun into one week because once the Easter eggs are inside of me, I’m on bed rest for awhile.  I’m going out with a bang.

Another fun thing: Colin and I also got a chance to see Pete Yorn this weekend at the Granda.  We had such a good time singing, dancing, staring at Pete Yorn.  Wait, did I just say that?  Love you Colin!!

Here you go ladies

We also went to Six Flags on Saturday.  Here's an impromptu Olan Mills moment while waiting to ride the Titan.

That's the future father of my children.  Step back, ladies.  He's taken.

Love,

S

AHHHHH!

We found out yesterday that Nastia’s estrogen levels are low…which means that she’s not going to produce as many eggs as hoped.  Instead of the 20 we would normally have to work with, we’re looking at about 10.  This will be confirmed with a sonogram on Saturday, but we won’t hear the results of that sonogram until MONDAY!!  I mean, are these people crazy?!?!  How am I supposed to wait 2 whole days?!?!  So I’ll be biting my fingernails, pacing around my house, and generally bugging Colin this weekend.

But here’s what I do get to do today that will make me feel better.  Thanks Colin!!

1. Body Polish

2. Hot stone massage

3. Organic facial

YESSSSSSSSSSS!

Another thing I found out yesterday that is bumming me out: All my Children is being cancelled.  My guilty pleasure is being stripped away from me.  My mom and I watch this show and talk about it.  It's kind of like a secret club we've created and won't let anyone else in...or maybe we're the only two that actually watch the show.  We think it's hilarious that we really get into it and talk about these people like they're real.  What will we do without Erica Kane and Jackson Montgomery, without Ryan and Greenlee, without Kendall and the new hot doctor????  Ug.  Oh well, time to move on I guess.  Very slowly though, I would hate to have withdrawals.  Man, this massage is going to feel good.

PS - Maggie got a haircut yesterday and looks horrible.  It's pretty funny.

Nastia Liuken

Most of you know Nastia Liuken as the United States women’s gymnastics 2008 Olympic gold metal champion and current SMU (go ponies!) student.  This is also how I know her.  I also know another Nastia Liuken, our egg donor.  Every egg donor is anonymous.  We get to see a picture, view medical records, but we’ll never know her name.  Instead of calling our donor Donor 45683, we like to name her.  The first obvious choice was the name Nastia Liuken.  Who wouldn’t want their donor to be the Olympic underdog?!?! (Shout out to our friend Babo for this idea!)

Let’s make this clear: our donor is not the actual Nastia Liuken, but FUN FACT: our Nastia was on the women’s junior Olympic gymnastics team as well!  So I could have a gymnast in my belly…in about a month…

Because….

Colin and I got the best news yesterday!  Nastia had her 2^nd sonogram and her ovaries look great!!  We’ve never been able to get to this stage of the IVF yet.  Nastia will be starting stimulation medication on Sunday.  This medication makes her produce (hopefully) 15-20 eggs, which Dr Baby Whisperer will take from her and give them to me.  J  This is just so amazing, and I couldn’t be more excited and nervous.  I want to sing on top of a hill Sound of Music style but actually have Julie Andrew’s voice so I don’t scare anyone.  And I hate musicals, people.   That’s how excited I am.

The Hills Are Alive,

Stevie

Moving right along

Yesterday was full of good news and fun.  It was my birthday, and I had an AWESOME day.  I shopped with my mom, ate a burger and fries at a drive-in, and went bowling.  Not too shabby, not too shabby.

In the morning I had to go to see Dr Chantilis, baby whisperer,  for a last minute appt because something was off with me.  (Here comes some TMI...fair warning)  I was supposed to start my period last Tuesday March 29th, but it never came.  Soooo, my birthday present from Dr C was a sonogram!  Woo hoo!  Good times.  Well, it turns out I did have a period and my uterus looks great.  I guess I've been so hopped up on hormones coupled with the fact that I'm going through menopause that...well, whatever, I'm fine.  That's all that matters.  So, in two days I get start taking Estrogen again, and hopefully these hot flashes will calm down a bit.

Speaking of hot flashes...

Here's a picture of Colin and I in our bowling gear (talk about a flash of hotness).  His parents' bought us these shirts for Christmas because I had given Colin a bowling ball (What are you supposed to get the guy who has everything???)

Here we are, Team Stirkeforce.  Winning.
More good news: If we ever enter a bowling tournament on St Patrick's Day, we'll be set.

Here is something else that I loved about yesterday: my pretty cake in my awesome new cake stand!

JLo would be jealous of that bling.

My love don't cost a thing,
Stevie