Day in the Life of an Embryo: 2 & 3

Yesterday, we headed back home but not before having breakfast with one friend (the couple we've been with for all three transfers) and lunch with another. One benefit of going through a clinic is the ability to easily meet up with other embryo adoption families! 13 embryos between five families await their fate. 

I tried going to a community event that evening, once we were home. I got there and felt dizzy and sick so I left. The meds have really gotten me this time! 

We were both back to work today. Luckily D's family helped with transport services because I barely had the energy to make it through work. Luckily, again, we were on the slow side at work so I was able to catch up on desk work (yay! My desk looks like a tornado) and minimize walking all over all day long. 

Now I'm beyond happy for the weekend. The embryos have indulged in Thai and cuddling with my favorite blanket and cuddly cat (his head is rested on my stomach right now). They can look forward to sleeping in, grocery shopping and church this weekend. Maybe not the most exciting life, but they're unfrozen and part of our family. 

Yes

The donors said "yes". We still have to mutually agree on a contact and get everything in writing. But we are matched with six more embryos! And I have my SIS scheduled for Wednesday. It can only get better from here.

I would have never guessed the highs and lows of this journey.

Day in the Life of an Embryo: Days 2 & 3

Time is going by pretty quickly since the transfer. We checked out of the hotel and headed home on Thursday, after spending some time visiting thrift shops and an outlet mall near the clinic. I spoke too soon about the shots not bothering me because I'm starting to get pretty sore on both sides. I don't have any big knots or bruising (yet) but it hurts mostly when I walk or sit in an uncomfortable chair (all the chairs at work).

I returned to work today after two days off. It's good to work only one day before going into the weekend. After this weekend, I will work a 12 day stretch which should keep me busy while I wait to find out the beta results.

Things the embryos have done: see the Smokey Mountains, go shopping, eat out, meet some of their extended family as well as our two cats, read their first couple of books, rest on the couch, and put in their first day of work. Not terribly exciting but not too shabby either.

I hope at least one is still in there multiplying. It has been about 2 1/2 days since our transfer, so by now they should definitely be blasts (embryos with a big bundle of cells, over 100). They may be almost ready to hatch out of their shell (they have had assisted hatching, which is, from my understanding, where the embryologist pokes a hole in the shell to make it easier for them to get out since freezing them at an early stage can harden their shells... totally non scientific explanation). This weekend they could begin the implantation process.

I hope they are still growing. I hope they know for whatever time they are with us, they are loved by many people (us, family, and friends). A lot of people are cheering them on and praying for them.

What embryos may look like today

A blast on the tip of a needle: what embryos may look like today

 

 

Embryo in the eye of a needle, for size comparison

Embryo's First Weekend

The lazy kind of weekends are sometimes the best.

Little embryos were introduced to sleeping in, chores like doing the dishes and laundry, and grocery shopping. They ate Blue Coast Burrito (mmm!). They went to their first Sunday School class and worship service. They begrudgingly sat with me while I studied for a big, upcoming licensure test. They watched "Frozen"  with snuggly cat. I can't be sure, but I think they might be bouncing around inside me singing "Let it goooooo, let it gooooo".   :)

I am 4dp3dt (four days past three day transfer). I mostly feel tired which I am sure is from the progesterone and feel a little crampy. I have my first PIO knot (still fairly small but painful) and my first PIO bruise... both on the same side.

Day in the Life of an Embryo: Day 3

I like to hope and imagine my embryos are still alive and growing in me. In case they are, they had a fun-filled day at work with me yesterday. Our census doubled in the two days I was gone, and I was the only social worker for the two units... which made for a day that flies by... and lots of getting up and down and in and out of chairs- ouch! They helped me lead a relaxation group and diffuse some crises. They ate some Chick-fil-a soup for lunch (I know they can't really eat yet, at least not directly).

I find it easier and easier to do my PIO shots. I imagine part of it is that I have really overcome my fear of needles and part of it is that I have a more tangible reason that I am doing them. I aspirated blood for the first time yesterday morning which was kind of surprising. I didn't think it was that common, and I did it on my 10th shot!

Day in the Life of an Embryo: Day Two

Yesterday was day 2 with our embryos! We woke up and lounged around the hotel room. I hit a blood vessel for the first time with the PIO shot, so it spurted blood and left a little bruise and tenderness. Ouch!

Lunchtime came, and we met up at Mellow Mushroom with two of my friends and their husbands (one who blogs at Baby On Mind, has taught me so much about embryo adoption, and is transferring today [Friday] and the other who transferred the same day as me so has been my cycle buddy!). I joked that we needed a table for 11 since it was six adults and five embryos between us. It was so refreshing and fun to spend time together with people who understand more than anyone else in our lives.

After lunch, we opted to just head home since it was 55* and rainy (compared to 85*+ and sunny the day before!). On the way home, we decided I would get dropped off to my parents' homestead and hang with my mom and nephew for awhile. My mom had tons of quarts of fresh strawberries so the embryos got to have their first experience with hulling and chopping three GIANT bowls of strawberries to make strawberry pies and jam. The embryos also got to hear their first book being read since I brought my nephew a new book home from Knoxville and read it to him a couple times.

After that, it was time to head home and hit the sack. The embryos were able to meet our cats, and the snuggly one of the two cats slept at my feet all night long.

I would say that is a good day 2 for the embryos, because it was a good day for me!

Please continue praying for our embryos but also for my friend who transfers this morning and for my friend who transferred three little guys the same day as us. Also, please pray for my other friend who goes in next week and is hoping to add a sibling for her snowflake son!