It's day 1!

Hello, Hello!

It's day 1!  Yes, we're back to numbering each day.  Only this time it's not my IVF cycle, it's day 1 of the embryo cycle.

Yesterday I woke up, jumped in the shower, brushed my teeth and braided my hair.  I was ready within 20 minutes and I don't think that has ever happened before.  I never realized how quickly you can get ready if you don't put on makeup.  Of course I couldn't put on makeup, I was going in for my egg retrieval.  No makeup, perfume or anything that has a fragrance.  I had to keep reminding myself not to drink anything, because I kept going for the cupboard to get a glass for water, lol.  No food or drink after midnight, and I had a hearty meal before bed as instructed.  The drive to Conceptions was long and I kept looking at myself in the mirror.  We laughed because Mr. Blue Eyes reminded me of the months I went before exposing my natural skin to him, makeup free.  And there we were, driving down the highway before the sun was up and cracking up at how funny looking I was.

We got to conceptions early so we avoided missing my check in.  Check in time was 8:00am and retrieval was scheduled for 8:30am.  Our anesthesiologist Mr. Andrew Higgins M.D. greeted us open heartedly.  He sat with us for a few minutes talking about calculus and how much he hated it.  If you know us, you'll understand how that came up in a conversation.  We paid the man, I hugged and kissed my husband and I followed Higgins to my room.  The room was so welcoming, not the stuffy hospital room you would picture with surgery.  There were two oversized leather chairs, end tables and the "hospital" bed had a wood head and foot board.  Anyway, very cozy.  They brought a heater in for me since it was a bit chilly and the nurses wanted to ensure I was warm coming out from the retrieval.  

Once I changed in the gown (open in the back), Dr. Higgins brought me into the operation room.  I had to put the open in the back, because Higgins said if I had it open in the front we'd be meeting with the psych team, lol.  Anyway, bad joke.  I jumped onto the bed and covered myself with a blanket.  There were little vials (just like the ones from chemistry class) on a tray, an ultrasound machine, a cabinet FULL of drugs and a lot of other monitors and gadgets that I have never seen before.  I talked with Higgins and a nurse that was setting up about the beer festival that comes to Colorado once a year, wine country, and a dream I had a few days prior.  I told the story of a little girl that conducted my egg retrieval while I was wide awake, or at least I think I was awake.  I remember watching her from different angles, so I'd only assume.  Anyway, I said she was able to retrieve 7 eggs and that 5 would end up being mature.  Of course the nurse got a kick out of that dream, and commented on all the pink I was wearing.  Hmmm...  Right after the description of my dream I looked in the hallway and saw Claudia!  She peeked her head into the room to say hi.  She asked if I had taken pictures (of course I had) and said you've got this Nikki!

Soon after, Dr. Swanson (another doctor within the practice at Conceptions) walked in and introduced himself.  At that point they said ok it's time, and I looked to my left as Higgins was injecting a white substance into my IV, and then the room started spinning like I had a little to much to drink.  The next thing I remember is hearing someone tell me to wake up and I saw my best friend.  He was kissing my forehead, telling me how proud of me he was and asked how I was feeling.  Apparently I cried a little and became very talkative and complimentary.  I told the nurse how pretty she was and then wouldn't stop blabbing!  I was thirsty, oh man was I thirsty.  Finally she asked if we knew how many eggs they retrieved, and we answered no.  She said they got 7, and mentioned that she heard about the dream I had . . .  Oh my, was that a number I wanted to hear.  Lucky number 7!

Only a few minutes awake, and had to give a thumbs up!

It wouldn't be until later that day that we were told 4 of the 7 were mature eggs.  Today, Day 1, I got a call from the embryologist that 3 of the 4 eggs fertilized.  Right now the three that fertilized are called Zygotes.  On day three they turn into an eight cell embryo.  Day 5 is imperative, that's when they become Blastocysts (they are ready for transfer).  We will not be doing a day five transfer as some couples have opted to do.  We will be taking one single cell from each embryo, and then freeze them until we are ready for transfer.  The single cell will be sent to a lab to complete PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) testing.  We'll get into this at another time.  

All I know is the next 4 days are going to be some of the longest days of my life.  Please keep your good thoughts and prayers coming my way.  They have been so powerful, thank you all!!!