Another Transfer In The Books

Per usual, Noah got sick just in time for my transfer this week. He was running a fever and coughing up a lung all last week, but when I brought him to the doctor on Thursday it was diagnosed as an upper respiratory infection and we were sent home with the advice to try allergy meds to dry out his sinuses. I've been popping vitamin C ever since he got sick back in September, but of course by Sunday I was starting to feel as though I was losing the fight. I woke up yesterday with a yucky feeling in my throat and a runny nose. Perfect timing for transfer day! 

We arrived right on time, but got called back after what seemed like a longer wait than normal. They appeared pretty busy, but I couldn't help but worry a little why it was taking a while. Finally the embryologist called us back. I so desperately wanted him to tell us that our last singly frozen embryo had thawed perfectly. And if not that, I was really hoping that both of the two frozen together were looking good. Instead I got the news I was least hoping for. They had to thaw three to get one that looked ok. The single guy arrested immediately, and one of the other two gave it a good fight but ultimately arrested as well. They had just thawed our embryo so the picture we got shows that it's still barely expanded. The embryologist pointed out something on there that he thought looked promising, and by the time we did the transfer he said it was continuing to expand. I want to be positive, but it makes me nervous that we didn't get to see the embryo fully expand. It just felt like they didn't want to waste our time so they took a shot in the dark. We have two remaining embryos frozen, but seeing how this thaw went, it leaves us with no guarantee for another chance. I want to be positive, but I feel like pretty much nothing about this has gone all that well. 

I think it looks like a frog, with the eye in the upper left corner and legs sticking out on all sides. Frogs are supposed to represent fertility and rebirth, so hopefully that's a good sign. I'll take whatever I can get.

Today I planned to send Noah to preschool so that I could rest. Even though my dad is in town, if I'm around Noah doesn't want help from other people. Well, this morning he woke up and immediately started complaining of a sore ear. Brian couldn't take the time to bring him to the doctor, so instead of resting I drove 40 minutes through fog to the clinic. My heart completely broke on the drive because poor Noah's ear was killing him on the transition down from 9000ft. The doctor ended up being quite late because her other patient was having seizures, so I did take the time to acknowledge how thankful I am that Noah is so healthy and perfect. The poor guy was diagnosed with an ear infection, got his flu shot, and we were sent home. Luckily he passed out on the drive back so he slept through any potential ear pain on the way back up.

I am feeling tired, run down, and very much sick. I can't believe this is the third transfer in a row where Noah got sick, and I'm so bummed I caught it this time. Totally unbelievable! 

Does anyone have success stories with a questionably expanding frozen embryo, a sick kid, and a miserable cold? No? I didn't think so.

Parent FAIL

About a month ago we got a little note from Noah's preschool that his show-and-tell was going to be on Thursday. He really wanted to bring a bell that we have hung in the kitchen, but at the last minute he changed his mind and brought some toy cars instead. Since that day, he has frequently asked if he could bring all sorts of things to show-and-tell. Each time I have told him the same thing, "You already had your show and tell." Then yesterday we got the following note:

Brian and I got a pretty good laugh over the idea that poor neglected Noah has been showing off his jacket every week. I'm sure the teachers and kids think we're the lamest family ever. Today I explained to the teacher that we had no idea this was a weekly thing, and laughed about showing his jacket every week. She made sure to tell me that each week he puts a lot of enthusiasm into it, regardless of how lame it is. Aww, he's such a great kid! Next week he'll have something awesome to share for sure! 

FET Stress

This FET has stressed me out more than the others. The biggest stressor has been moving our embryos again. It felt like the universe completely conspired against me to make this an easy process. Our old clinic sent me the consent form a month ago. We had it signed and notarized at the beginning of October, and mailed it to the lab shortly after. When I called to follow up, the nurse originally told me they didn’t have it. I then faxed a copy of the form to her and she said we could make all of the arrangements. I think that was a Friday. The following week I got a call from her explaining that they finally received my original copy of the form, but that apparently the lab that is holding our embryos changed their consent form and we would need to get a new one signed and notarized. Over the weekend we tried to get that done, but my mom was in town and we ended up being too distracted to remember. Yesterday we had two notaries turn us down explaining that they weren’t allowed to notarize our particular form. I was starting to feel stabby, but we finally found someone willing and capable. This morning I called the nurse from our old clinic to confirm that everything was a go for the transport today, and guess what? She’s sick and out of the office. The one person who can give us the go ahead. In the meantime I’ve got the transport company waiting in the wings to make the move calling me to check the status. I called the actual lab where our frosties were and they wouldn’t help me because it needed to go through my clinic. Rage and panic ensued. Frantic phone calls were made. The sick nurse called me from home with a raspy, awful sounding voice. I had to fax yet another form but their fax machine wasn’t working. Then, finally, clouds parted, sun beamed down, and everything was arranged. Now I’m just waiting for the phone call to tell me that my babies are back where they should be.

The good, non-stressful news? I had a beautiful 9.6mm triple stripe lining this morning and was given my trigger shot. PIO starts tomorrow. (Yuck.) We are 6 days from transfer. Wish us luck!

Fall Color

Having grown up in Minnesota with all of it's maple trees (I grew up in a town called Maple Grove for goodness sakes!), I have often felt a little robbed of the fall colors here in Colorado. But I have to admit, our new town puts on a pretty beautiful show!

Regret

Note to self: next time things go south, listen to your brain and not your heart.

I have so much regret about switching doctors. And I don't mean away from Dr. A. I mean for switching back to him. He messed up all the blood tests. Guess what? I don't have Rh antibodies, either. They just tested me too soon after my last Rhogam shot. His lab killed off half of our remaining embryos. Why did we waste our time and opportunities there? So alas, here we are with what seems like a far more competent crew, but just 2 or 3 more chances. And we are also facing conversations of transferring 2 because 4 of our 5 remaining are frozen in doubles. It's a place we don't want to be. (Although yes, I do totally realize how lucky we are to have anything left after 1 IVF and 3 subsequent FETs all from the same batch.)

In other news, I love this kid!

He was super excited about our first snow. Seriously, how gorgeous is it?