Waiting

It's been five days since transfer.  This Thursday, Jenn will go in to get a pregnancy test done, and then we'll know.  We'll know if at least one of these little embryos was successful in its voyage.

In the meantime, I feel like I should update everyone on the fate of our other embryos.  As of transfer day, we still had nine other embryos growing.  Here is the chart I was given of their status.

Embryos #1 and #2 were transferred.  Here, the "1" means Stage 1 blastocyst and the "M's" mean morulas. For  #7, "EM" means early morula, and the rest, "MC's," mean multi-cellular.  As of Day 6, Embryos #3 and #4 had become full-blown blastocysts: Grades 4AA and 4BA.  These were frozen.  We have two great frozen embryos!  As for the others, their growth was so slow that their development was considered "arrested" by Day 6, so they are no more.

So here we are, waiting.  Still four days to go...

Transfer Day

Yesterday was transfer day.  Wow what a big day!  Our transfer was scheduled for 11:30, so we arrived at 11 for Jenn's bloodwork.  After that, we went into the same area where I had gotten ready for my egg retrieval.

This is where they gave me what will hopefully be our first baby pictures (click on image to see both images)!  Introducing... Embryo A and Embryo B (I know, not very creative).  The embryo on the left was a Stage 1 blastocyst when the picture was taken early that morning.  By the time it was transferred into Jenn, it was between a Stage 1 and Stage 2 blastocyst.  The embryo on the right was a morula when the picture was taken, by the time it was transferred it was a Level 1 blastocyst.

Side Note:  Embryology 101 (by Marc, edited by me)

The morula stage is usually reached by Day 3 after the embryo reaches eight cells.  This stage is significant because in order for a morula to become a blastocyst, a large number of genes must be activated and expressed for the *first time.*  Morulas and blastocysts are able to actively replicate their own DNA which causes them to grow and develop.  The difference between morulas and  blastocysts is that blastocysts are able to differentiate (this means the cells are able to form specialized proteins and cell structures that first form the placenta and the fetus, then later specialized body parts such as the heart, lungs, liver, etc.).  

There are about five stages of blastocyst development, where a large, fluid filled cavity is formed within the cell and highly specialized smaller cells and proteins are localized at certain areas throughout the cell.  The first to be developed are the placenta and the fetus. 

Both of our embryos were similar to the early blastocyst stage as seen here.  Once in Jenn's uterus, they should continue to expand until they "hatch" and implant themselves.  This should have happened later the night of transfer or the next morning (yes, it's that fast!).

Later, on the 7-8th day the embryos will "infect" (Marc's word) the uterine wall for implantation.  The embryo will secrete enzymes that will destroy capillaries in the uterus so that it can implant itself inside the uterine wall and latch on to Jenn's blood vessel(s).  The destruction of blood vessels will also promote the uterus to make new and more blood vessels for support.  (This is why they say some spotting is okay around days 7-8)

**end technical stuff here... on to fun stuff**

Here we are, waiting to go into the transfer room, with our nurse Barb and Jenn's Transfer Day gift basket

We had matching green socks for luck..

and matching green fingernails!

Here is the room where the magic happens.  Jenn is talking with the embryologist and being prepped.  This is the same room where I had my egg aspiration.  The window at the back is where they passed the test tubes containing my eggs back to the embryology department.  BTW, girls, this bed had some serious stirrups, not the kind we are used to at our OB/GYN's offices!  No way to move your legs in this one!

Our embryos were wheeled in the transfer room in an incubator.  My eyes burned from trying to hold back my tears.  I couldn't believe they were right there!

Jenn's ready to go!  Her spirits were so high and she was so excited!  Marc and I are just so happy that God chose her to be our surrogate.

This image is difficult to make out, but this is Jenn's uterus just after transfer.  They put two bubbles in the catheter which come out as small bits of light.  It's how they know the embryos are in there, as they are microscopic.  Here, the streak of light can be seen.  Our embies are in there somewhere!

Knocked Up!

Just a note from me, the oven, that we transferred 2 beautiful blasts today around noon :)  HIVF has changed their transfer protocols so no bed rest was mandated, altho couch-potato status was!  Marc & Carrie were kind enough to pick me up and take me home so that Michael didn't have to miss an entire day of work.  So, after transfer, we all went out for a quick lunch at Fuddrucker's before heading back home.

Right before transfer, Marc presented me with an awesome gift basket :)  I have a pic, but until I figure out what is wrong with my computer, I'll be unable to get it off of my phone :(  So, I'll just describe it:  Inside were Lucky Charms, Success rice, Dehydrated pineapple, IM-Planters peanuts (2 varieties), and lots of green shamrocks and a cute cross. And last not but not least, and probably the most important part of the entire basket, was an EPT home pregnancy test!  (they know me so well)  It was awesome and went right along with our shamrock socks and green finger nails...all pics I have, but can't post at the moment.

So, all in all, a great day with what we can only assume will be great results on 9/5 at BETA :)  Until then, I am most definitely PUPO*!!!

*pregnant until proven otherwise :)

Our Baby's First Report Card

So we were up bright and early this morning (again) at HIVF *in case* it was determined we were going to have a three day transfer.  Thankfully, it was decided that it would be a five day transfer.  We needed to be there and ready just in case, as the clinic is only open for two hours on Sundays.

Our embryology report (aka our baby's first report card!) looks like this:

To sum up, there are still eleven embryos.  The last four with four and five cells aren't looking too hot.  I read somewhere that they have a 10-15% chance of surviving, but I don't know if that's if they were transferred today or just in general.  It looks like we have four really good ones (eight cell) and two good ones (seven cell) at this point.  I don't know what the 4 and 4- marks mean since I don't know HIVF's grading system.

After getting there and being sent home, we decided to have breakfast together!

Today is Day 3, and our embryos (ideally having eight cells) should look like this:

The Day They Met

On Thursday, the sperm and eggs finally got to meet each other!  This was the day I had my egg retrieval, and the eggs are fertilized about four hours after the procedure.  We got there early (7:15) and the retrieval was at 8:30.  I was nervous!  I was afraid of ovulating early, though Dr. Hickman seemed pretty sure I will not ovulate until 36 hours after that trigger shot was given.  I was awake throughout, but did not feel anything.  I don't remember much of what was said, but I do remember seeing Dr. Hickman as I was rolled into the OR with a huge smile on his face. I think he enjoys aspirating eggs way too much!  I also remember sweet CJ holding my hand the entire time.  I reacted fine to the anesthesia, but was very tired and very crampy for the rest of the day.

Here I am, pre-op:

The nurse called yesterday with our fertility report. The results were: 17 eggs extracted (which is really good since I had 17 follicles), of those eggs 12 were mature, and of those 11 fertilized.  Marc and I are very happy with these results, and it is a little surreal that we have little embryos that are a combination of mine and Marc's DNA.

The day of extraction is considered Day 0, so yesterday was Day 1 and today is Day 2.  The eggs were fertilized via ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), or the injection of a single sperm into each egg.  By Day 1, fertilized oocytes (or eggs) now become embryos, and they contain two cells.  Disclaimer: These are not my embryos, I wish I had pictures this early on!  We will receive pictures of our embryos before they are transferred.

Day 0,  ICSI

Day 1: Here you can see two pronuclei (the nuclei from the egg and sperm) coming together to create a full set of chromosomes (sperm and egg cells are haploids, and each contain half of the number of chromosomes when compared to a regular cell).

As I am writing this it is Day 2, so this is what our embryos should look like now.  Wow, what a big difference!  They should hopefully have four cells at this point.  The nurse told me that on Day 2, the embryologists do not look at the embryos, they just let them incubate until Day 3, when they make the decision for a Day 3 or Day 5 transfer.  We're all betting money that, because we had 11 embryos as of yesterday, that we will have a Day 5 transfer.  We all still need to be up at the clinic bright and early tomorrow, just in case!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..."  (Jeremiah 1:4)  Although this verse is being told to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, and refers him, why wouldn't it apply to every one of us?  God did know us before we were born, even before we were conceived.  God knew our baby (babies), and what would come to be, even before the day they were fertilized (two days ago!) and came into being.

Is This What a Hen Feels Like Before She Lays Eggs?

I have never been so bloated in my life. I do, in fact feel like I am about to lay eggs... which tomorrow, I will! Or at least they will be extracted and placed into test tubes.
My follicles are huge. My lining is super thick. And my estrogen is sky high. To recap:

Monitoring Appointment from last Friday:
Follicles that were measured ranged from 9.5mm to 14.6mm (that's millimeters in area, I learned)
Estrogen: 953

Monday Appointment:
Follicles ranged from 12.4-19.1mm
Lining: 14mm

Tuesday Appointment:
Follicles ranged from 13.2-23.8 mm
Lining: 18.1mm
Estrogen: (drum roll...) a whopping 4,223

The doctor said it was time to trigger (!) when she saw the 23.8mm follicle (my overachiever). They will retrieve everything they can, but she thinks eggs that are in follicles measuring more than 15mm may be the more mature ones.

I was so relieved when she told me to trigger yesterday! It meant we could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and could schedule our retrieval day for Thursday.

Here's Marc getting ready to give me a shot in my butt. This was the trigger shot that needed to be given at exactly 10pm last night, 34 1/2 hours before retrieval. It contains HcG, which will cause me to ovulate.

Here's my Sharps container, where I've been putting all my used needles. Filled up with over forty needles, I brought this with me to my blood appointment today where they measured my HcG levels, so that they can dispose of it.

Pre-trigger Scans & Labs

Its Jenn:

Just a quick post from me to update on my stats at the moment.  Lining was 12.9 and my estradiol (estrogen) level was 751!  My uterus is ready for its new tiny inhabitants whenever they are ready for their new short-term home :)  We are inching closer & closer....and I'm really excited!

I'll let Carrie update for her side of this equation :)