Well - we have a really nice outcome! (stats at a later date) We're happy!
Now we just sit and WAIT!
I am uber bummed we literally have all our eggs in one basket, and have nothing to freeze. ;-( I was not prepared for this, too optimistic about 10 taken out....
but I am THRILLED that the ones we had to transfer are that great of quality, and are quite comfortable with our decisions.
A million thanks again for all your support, thoughts, advice and love. I appreciate you all. Now we sit low for a couple days, in the shade on the beach... and fly home Wed am.
Stick. Stick. Stick. Something please stick.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
3 Day Transfer Yesterday!!
Hey it's Tico (Christa). I had my ET yesterday! I had 5 eggs retrieved, 3 eggs fertililized (one blast and 2 grade 1's) which is GREAT!!! Adam and I made the decision to transfer all of them. We thought long and hard about how many to transfer and were only going to do 2 the whole time saying we didn't want any more than twins. After hearing the doctors statistics, we decided to transfer them all.
I'm feeling very positive about this cycle for the first time since my CD 7 check when they only found 5 follices (4 of which they thought were going to make it. But, I guess most of me knew that they were FULL of goodness:)
Now, we wait. I'm not good at waiting. But only time will tell at this point. I've done my part, Adam has done his, so we wait.
Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers coming our way, every one is certainly appreciated!!
I'm feeling very positive about this cycle for the first time since my CD 7 check when they only found 5 follices (4 of which they thought were going to make it. But, I guess most of me knew that they were FULL of goodness:)
Now, we wait. I'm not good at waiting. But only time will tell at this point. I've done my part, Adam has done his, so we wait.
Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers coming our way, every one is certainly appreciated!!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Gracias.
Buenos. Tracie here.
On the day before I get to "meet" my "children"... I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm guarded to say the least. Remember, it's not the getting pregnant that's the problem, it's STAYING pregnant. Tomorrow we hear what we've made, and how they've done the past couple of days on their own. So far we're 10 for 10, I can't wait to hear where we're at, and what we'll end up transferring! (and dare I say putting on ice?!)
While I wait, I wanted to take a moment to thank a few people that helped us get here. Because regardless of how this ends up, and what the outcome is, I am most thankful for the following people that helped get me here:
--My "med angels." If it was not for the (3) gals that took the time, love, money and effort to ship me their leftovers, this trip would have been so much more expensive. One of the hard parts of infertility treatments is shooting $100 shots into your belly several times a day for weeks. You have to trust that something so outrageously expensive is going to WORK! I am forever in awe of your generosity, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
--My OB/RE "Dr. Hee" and his adorable (former) nurse Lindsay. It's been a long road getting to this point, and you have both been very patient and kind.
--Dr. Google. What would I do without easy access to medical journals and other info taken with a grain of salt.
--"My girls" on the board. Point blank, I could not have survived this without the pom poms, love, support, slaps in the face, puppies, rainbows and countless "gives it to me straight" advice.
So say "THANK YOU" seems trite. But Thank You.
--Minnesota Community Acupuncture. (http://www.minnca.com/) I am giving acupuncture a HUGE bit of the credit for getting me 10 eggs retrived. I'm old, I make bad eggs. I am a high-stress person filled with anxiety. Kerri helped me not only take that time each week to relax and unwind, but never made me feel dumb for being so anxious about the process. I want to acknowledge their unique business model of "community style" acupunture, and by sharing the space with a couple other people in the room, I was able to afford going there more often than I ever thought possible, financially, and I didn't feel bad about spending the money. Sure, we all had to listen to eachother snore here and there, but the ambiance and 1:1 attention was still there. lol. I am forever grateful for your services, and the affordability you provided. Thank you.
--Micah at Costa Rica Massage in the beach village of Jaco. I was able to contact her prior, and knew she could help me get "back in line" again prior to my travels to Panama for ER/ET. Although she's about 60-90 minutes from San Jose, we happen to be staying in this area, and I saw here for a blissful hour of relaxation. She's open to traveling to the San Jose area if you have a group of you requesting her services. AMAZING massage, very knowledgable acu techniques, and I felt amazing after we met. And she is one of the prettiest souls I've ever met. Just a beautiful person, and I am very thankful to have her on my list of people that helped make this IVF Vacation possible. Her email is michalgm@yahoo.com and her website is at http://www.costaricamassage.com/ . I cannot recommend her enough. She was wonderful.
--I'd also like to thank my friends and family for their amazing support, Mark Semple from Passport Medical for making this all come together, (Christa's) Adam's parents, for their kind and generous lodging donation, and Dr. Perez and his partner and staff. A huge thanks to Christa for her support and pompoms as we went thru this.... I can't wait to be pregnant together. ;-)
This process is hard enough to go through, and it was not easy doing it out of the country. It was stressful and there are many things I would have done differently.
But as we sat in the waiting room, a couple days back... just prior to our egg retrival... it was quiet. Just some (spanish) whispering going on... and the elevator. I had a moment of peace, and a sense of "everything is going to be ok."
Then that moment gone and went, and the panic returned.
As if on cue... someone walked by and whistled really loud, the 1st couple bars to "Don't Worry, be Happy" in perfect pitch. I later learned it was Dr. Perez's partner. He loves to whistle. He had no idea how much I needed that tune. Right then. Right now.
My eyes filled up with tears, and that susie sunshine chit I do so well, returned.
Don't worry. I'm happy.
I'm about to mother others. I just know it!
On the day before I get to "meet" my "children"... I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm guarded to say the least. Remember, it's not the getting pregnant that's the problem, it's STAYING pregnant. Tomorrow we hear what we've made, and how they've done the past couple of days on their own. So far we're 10 for 10, I can't wait to hear where we're at, and what we'll end up transferring! (and dare I say putting on ice?!)
While I wait, I wanted to take a moment to thank a few people that helped us get here. Because regardless of how this ends up, and what the outcome is, I am most thankful for the following people that helped get me here:
--My "med angels." If it was not for the (3) gals that took the time, love, money and effort to ship me their leftovers, this trip would have been so much more expensive. One of the hard parts of infertility treatments is shooting $100 shots into your belly several times a day for weeks. You have to trust that something so outrageously expensive is going to WORK! I am forever in awe of your generosity, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
--My OB/RE "Dr. Hee" and his adorable (former) nurse Lindsay. It's been a long road getting to this point, and you have both been very patient and kind.
--Dr. Google. What would I do without easy access to medical journals and other info taken with a grain of salt.
--"My girls" on the board. Point blank, I could not have survived this without the pom poms, love, support, slaps in the face, puppies, rainbows and countless "gives it to me straight" advice.
So say "THANK YOU" seems trite. But Thank You.
--Minnesota Community Acupuncture. (http://www.minnca.com/) I am giving acupuncture a HUGE bit of the credit for getting me 10 eggs retrived. I'm old, I make bad eggs. I am a high-stress person filled with anxiety. Kerri helped me not only take that time each week to relax and unwind, but never made me feel dumb for being so anxious about the process. I want to acknowledge their unique business model of "community style" acupunture, and by sharing the space with a couple other people in the room, I was able to afford going there more often than I ever thought possible, financially, and I didn't feel bad about spending the money. Sure, we all had to listen to eachother snore here and there, but the ambiance and 1:1 attention was still there. lol. I am forever grateful for your services, and the affordability you provided. Thank you.
--Micah at Costa Rica Massage in the beach village of Jaco. I was able to contact her prior, and knew she could help me get "back in line" again prior to my travels to Panama for ER/ET. Although she's about 60-90 minutes from San Jose, we happen to be staying in this area, and I saw here for a blissful hour of relaxation. She's open to traveling to the San Jose area if you have a group of you requesting her services. AMAZING massage, very knowledgable acu techniques, and I felt amazing after we met. And she is one of the prettiest souls I've ever met. Just a beautiful person, and I am very thankful to have her on my list of people that helped make this IVF Vacation possible. Her email is michalgm@yahoo.com and her website is at http://www.costaricamassage.com/ . I cannot recommend her enough. She was wonderful.
--I'd also like to thank my friends and family for their amazing support, Mark Semple from Passport Medical for making this all come together, (Christa's) Adam's parents, for their kind and generous lodging donation, and Dr. Perez and his partner and staff. A huge thanks to Christa for her support and pompoms as we went thru this.... I can't wait to be pregnant together. ;-)
This process is hard enough to go through, and it was not easy doing it out of the country. It was stressful and there are many things I would have done differently.
But as we sat in the waiting room, a couple days back... just prior to our egg retrival... it was quiet. Just some (spanish) whispering going on... and the elevator. I had a moment of peace, and a sense of "everything is going to be ok."
Then that moment gone and went, and the panic returned.
As if on cue... someone walked by and whistled really loud, the 1st couple bars to "Don't Worry, be Happy" in perfect pitch. I later learned it was Dr. Perez's partner. He loves to whistle. He had no idea how much I needed that tune. Right then. Right now.
My eyes filled up with tears, and that susie sunshine chit I do so well, returned.
Don't worry. I'm happy.
I'm about to mother others. I just know it!
Friday, May 14, 2010
ER and why I'm happy:)
My ER was May 12th, the day we got off the plane for Panama.
We got 5 eggs. I'm very happy with this, I wasn't before, but now I am. I'll probably have just enough to transfer 2 or 3. Part of me doesn't want to have any to freeze cause I'm not sure I would come back for a FET or not. So this is a perfect scenario. Those eggs are full of goodness, I just know it!!
I was pretty sore yesterday to the point where getting up and peeing was a huge challenge, but it's a lot different today, I feel much better.
I cannot wait to be home though. With my embies in me, cuddled up on the couch, watching movies with Adam. Cannot wait.
We got 5 eggs. I'm very happy with this, I wasn't before, but now I am. I'll probably have just enough to transfer 2 or 3. Part of me doesn't want to have any to freeze cause I'm not sure I would come back for a FET or not. So this is a perfect scenario. Those eggs are full of goodness, I just know it!!
I was pretty sore yesterday to the point where getting up and peeing was a huge challenge, but it's a lot different today, I feel much better.
I cannot wait to be home though. With my embies in me, cuddled up on the couch, watching movies with Adam. Cannot wait.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Diez!
Tracie here...
My ER (egg retrival, or "assssspiration" as they say here) was this morning. The most nerve-wracking wait ever, but once I was in, it was quick and easy. I was pretty sore prior, as my ovaries were plump and full of eggs, and afterwards I pretty much was in a lot of pain, but manageable with tylenol and the like.
But the great news is HE GOT OUT 10 EGGS! As he said "a perfect 10!" and as we speak, there's a little place in Panama that's cooking 10 of our kids. Weird feeling. We go back sunday afternoon, and check and see how they're doing. We'll do a "3 day transfer" at that time, or wait a couple more days if we can afford it, quality-wise.
Then we fly home Wed. and wait.
I am happy. I hope they're good eggs. And I hope they grow well.
Then we'll work on the next hurdles.... hoping something sticks.
Christa will post her update soon.
My ER (egg retrival, or "assssspiration" as they say here) was this morning. The most nerve-wracking wait ever, but once I was in, it was quick and easy. I was pretty sore prior, as my ovaries were plump and full of eggs, and afterwards I pretty much was in a lot of pain, but manageable with tylenol and the like.
But the great news is HE GOT OUT 10 EGGS! As he said "a perfect 10!" and as we speak, there's a little place in Panama that's cooking 10 of our kids. Weird feeling. We go back sunday afternoon, and check and see how they're doing. We'll do a "3 day transfer" at that time, or wait a couple more days if we can afford it, quality-wise.
Then we fly home Wed. and wait.
I am happy. I hope they're good eggs. And I hope they grow well.
Then we'll work on the next hurdles.... hoping something sticks.
Christa will post her update soon.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Update, piks, blah blah blah....
UPDATE:
Christa: my check today was surprising - I had hoped to have more follicles "baking" than I thought, and was disappointed, to say the least, at the 5 (15mm-20mm) I have brewing. Lining was decent at best, and both Tracie and I have started estrogen patches to help us. I'm hoping cetrotide we started will hold things and let the small littles catch up.
Ella is enjoying Costa Rica, and eating/sleeping well. I'm looking forward to laying on the beach in Jacomofeenahnay... and getting a good report on monday!
Tracie: 7th day of stims, gonal 225iu and menopur. 13 follies, sizes 10-13mm, with a decent lining. Adding one dose of menopur, started ganrilex, and keeping gonal dose the same. I was sore the day or two prior, but felt good today. I'm happy with the results, but anxious to know my E2, which didn't get sent to us as expected.
David and I (and Ava) returned from Puntarenas, where we had a nice, albeit super hot, time. We're in San Jose for a couple more days, then onto the beaches near Jaco. We leave for Panama on Wed AM, and looking forward to a country nicer on our wallets. Ava has been having fun, but man is she SPICY! Quick with the tantrums, and very much insistant on her ways. Can't say that's really the travels, more her age. And Irish blood. lol. Oh well. Tomorrow we hope to find a local market to browse and take piks, but it's a huge inagural day for their President, and rumor has it all major highways will be closed until late in the day. Uggh.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Oh La.
Hola! Tracie here.
Costa Rica is great. Costa Rica is HOT. Costa Rica, I'm afraid, is expensive. Denny's. $68 for 3 adult burgers and 2 kids meals. Just sayin'.
But so far, Costa Rica is still a great country in my eyes.
At the moment, I'm thankful for a great cd3 checkup, and an easy-going week of stims. I'm thankful for the GPS we bought off Ebay, all loaded up with CR maps... I think we might have literally DIED without it. Best. purchase. ever.
Our girls are stinkin' cute as bugs together. Holding hands within minutes of meeting, and doing better than I thought (but less than perfect) on the whole idea of SHARING. But since both have attention spans of moths, distraction is still our bestie.
After the much anticipated green lights given by Dr. P last saturday, we have both begun the task of stimming. I'm doing great, feeling FULL after 4 days of it, and expect C is having a bit of the same. (she's a couple hours away for a few days, with less than easy internet connection)
More updates later in the week. Until then... I leave you with the reason we're doing this in the 1st place...
We want some mo' of THESE:
Pura Vida, folks. Keep those good thoughts coming our way!!
Lupe (Tracie)
Costa Rica is great. Costa Rica is HOT. Costa Rica, I'm afraid, is expensive. Denny's. $68 for 3 adult burgers and 2 kids meals. Just sayin'.
But so far, Costa Rica is still a great country in my eyes.
At the moment, I'm thankful for a great cd3 checkup, and an easy-going week of stims. I'm thankful for the GPS we bought off Ebay, all loaded up with CR maps... I think we might have literally DIED without it. Best. purchase. ever.
Our girls are stinkin' cute as bugs together. Holding hands within minutes of meeting, and doing better than I thought (but less than perfect) on the whole idea of SHARING. But since both have attention spans of moths, distraction is still our bestie.
After the much anticipated green lights given by Dr. P last saturday, we have both begun the task of stimming. I'm doing great, feeling FULL after 4 days of it, and expect C is having a bit of the same. (she's a couple hours away for a few days, with less than easy internet connection)
More updates later in the week. Until then... I leave you with the reason we're doing this in the 1st place...
We want some mo' of THESE:
Pura Vida, folks. Keep those good thoughts coming our way!!
Lupe (Tracie)
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