Thursday it is!

The egg retrieval surgery is scheduled for 8:30am and should be done by 9am. We should be heading home by 10am. Doc said he can see about 15-20 follicles and is very pleased with the cycle.

I give myself the HCG trigger shot tonight at 9:30pm and then am done with shots until Saturday when I start the progesterone. That shot is done daily for about 2 weeks until the 3rd blood test. Then, there is a transition and done once a week if pregnant.

I will post an update after we get home on Thursday. I will know how many eggs they retrieved at that point. On Friday we’ll learn how many have fertilized and started growing.

Thank you mom for taking the day off to watch Shaun while we are busy!

Almost Ready!

Doc said that I'm almost ready for the retrieval, which will be on Thursday!!! I go back in tomorrow morning just to make sure. It has taken a couple of days longer than the prior 2 times, but all is looking well. I just have to do my shots tonight and tomorrow morning, then I am done with these ones! I am glad because my ovaries are feeling full!!!! I will do the "trigger" HCG shot 35 hours before my appointment on Thursday. I get Wednesday with no shots at all! Then, after the retrieval, it will be on to the progesterone shots, for hopefully a couple months!

I'll post a short update tomorrow to confirm that we are on for sure for Thursday and the appointment time of the surgery!

Follicles about 13

Doc said, "Your ovaries look lovely." Since they are measuring about 13, I go back in on Monday for another check, and may or may not be ready yet for the "trigger" HCG shot to induce ovulation. So, the retrieval is estimated to be Wednesday (if I'm ready on Monday) or Thursday if not. Doc is thinking more likely Thursday. I'm happy as long as everything is looking well! I'll update you all on Monday again!

Shaun’s 2 Year Check Up!

We took Shaun in for his 2 year check up this morning. I went straight from my appointment in Seattle (see previous post on that) to his appointment in Lynnwood. The timing worked out nicely because I thought I was going to have a bunch of time to kill, but did not because I was in Seattle longer than I thought.
Shaun is nice and healthy and growing like expected. He was such a good boy, standing on the scale, and standing against the wall to get his measurements. No more laying down on the weigh scale and using a tape measure for his length. We don’t have to go back for another whole year. He got one shot, cried during/after the poke, but then was fine after he got a cracker and a couple stickers.

Here are his 2 year stats (40-60 percentile is average):
Weight: 29 pounds 3.2 oz., 65.09 percentile
Height: 2' 11.75", 83.16 percentile
Head: 51.9cm, 98.89 percentile!

Also, if you’re curious, here is how Shaun has grown through all his well baby/child checkups:

Age: Height % Weight % Head %
Birth day 1' 9" 7lb 14oz ??
3-5 days 1' 9" 85.73% 6lb 15oz 20.52% 35.7cm 42.05%
7-14days 1' 9" 74.57% 7lb 8oz 24.06% 36.5cm 46.89%
2 months 1' 11" 50.05% 11lb 11 oz 46.93% 40.7cm 65.78%
4 months 2' 2" 86.62% 15lb 7oz 64.23% 43.5cm 83.13%
6 months 2' 4" 93.15% 19lb 10oz 84.86% 45.7cm 93.42%
9 months 2' 6" 91.17% 20lb 1 oz 43.58% 47.6cm 96.40%
1 year 2' 6" 55.95% 22lbs 36.34% 49.4cm 98.86%
15-18 months 2' 11" 98.60% 24lb 10oz 36.21% 51cm 99.36%

Follicles are about 10/11 in size!

Today was another good ultrasound. The follicles are all about the same size, which is good. The retrieval is based on the size of the biggest one, so if one is a lot bigger than the others, there might be some that aren’t mature at the retrieval.

Maturity is when they reach 18 (I don’t know what kind of measurement this is). So, based on the follicles being about 10/11 in size now, they are estimating the retrieval to be about Wednesday, but I will find out even more on Saturday when I go back in for the next ultrasound check! So, check back late Saturday morning for an update.

My estrogen level is progressing nicely too. So, that means that I get to start a third shot for 3 or 4 days starting tomorrow morning (Friday). This is a pituitary suppresser so the eggs don’t ovulate on their own before they are ready to retrieve them.

Follicles/Eggs are starting to grow!

I had the first ultrasound check this morning to see the follicle growth process. Doc said everything looks great for the first check. Doc could see about 8-10 follicles in one ovary and about 6 in the other ovary. The next 2 checks will be to see how they are growing and when they are ready for retrieval. From my recollection of the first 2 times (3 years ago in 2007); there were even more eggs retrieved than were seen on the ultrasounds. We just need one good egg that turns into one good embryo that attaches itself to form a viable pregnancy.

The shots are going well. The second one in the evening kind of stings a little bit, but other than that they don’t hurt at all.

Next ultrasound check is on Thursday. I’ll post another update then.

Suppressed!

I went in today for the suppression check ultrasound. I have a nice thin lining and a good amount of follicles ready to be stimulated in each ovary. My estrogen level was also checked and was in the right range.

I start the shots tomorrow; one in the morning and two in the evening. I go back in for checks on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday of next week. The egg retrieval is estimated to be about Tuesday, February 23, and thus the transfer on Friday or Sunday following. However it is all subject to how my body reacts.

I also wrote out the big check; thinking of Grandma Nairn the whole time: Thank you Grandma & Grandpa for allowing us this last opportunity for another child! We are sure you guys would be happy that we are using it in this way; and am sure are watching down on us!

I’ll post another update on Tuesday!