2 Perfect Embabies!!!!

After a whirlwind of a week...and everything get moved up a day- we got the call Wednesday morning- our anniversary- that we were all set for transfer! At first it was at 11:00 then they changed it to 3:30. Hubby and I were at a loss for things to do- we had literally been everywhere and seen everything in Vegas! So we went to see a movie! HA! We thought we needed a good laugh so we opted for Due Date- it was hilarious and just what the doctor ordered! We had a great lunch at TGIFridays then headed to Sher's office. (Pic of me right before the transfer).



He seemed very pleased with our little babies and said they were perfect. The Egg Transfer was like wham bam thank you ma'am all of ten minutes tops! It was uncomfortable but not painful. They gave us a picture of our two perfect blastocysts! That really gave me a peace of mind- because they do look amazing- the cells are plentiful and that's what we want for good "stick" quality! They just need my uterus to get nestled into and grow grow grow!


Doctor's orders are 24 hours of bed rest, can't lift anything over 10 pounds for two weeks, can't do anything strenuous for two weeks (the no ponytail bob order is still in effect people) and no intercourse for two weeks- Hubby was sad about that one- LOL! I am trying not to worry about what my house is going to look like at the end of this two weeks. With two kids, two dogs and a hubby- things quickly get out of control if I take just ONE DAY off- imagine 14? YIKES!

I was a little apprehensive that the transfer was so late in the day- since they recommend 24 hours of bed rest and we were flying out first thing in the morning. But I went to the hotel and went right to bed and only got up to pee! Hubby had to finish all the packing and getting thing ready to leave- have I mentioned lately that he is the absolute best? Well HE IS! :) We left at 5:30 in the morning and headed to the airport- there was some confusion at check out but after waiting in line an hour and a half we got it straightened out as I tried my best NOT get worked up or stressed out!

We had a 2 1/2 hour layover in LAX, we ate lunch and I layed down in the lobby chairs and took a nap- bed rest right? The flight to Oklahoma seemed like forever! I did my best to rest but the seats in that plane were not sufficient for resting! I was never so happy to the see midwest in my life and before we knew it- we were flying over Skiatook Lake, I could see the dam, Cross Timbers, my in laws house then Skiatook! Yay for HOME! HOME SWEET HOME! I love you! I was so ready to get off that plane and see my babies! As we walked through the terminal I got a glimpse of my Dax and the tears come flooding! By the time I got to my kids, mom and sister I was sobbing! Emotions that there are no words to describe! I missed them so much...I hope I am never away from them this long again in their entire life! Just sayin'!

Daxon said the picture of the babies looked like two "fuzz balls" LOL! The kids are being so sweet and considerate when it comes to me being pregnant. They are just awesome kids and I love them so much! I kept them home from school today so we could have some extra cuddle time! They will be back with their dad next week for Thanksgiving so I am cherishing every minute with them that I can!

I am scheduled for my BETA blood test on November 29th- we will know if the babies "stuck" or not. I am confident that the little fighters are growing and healthy as can be! So please keep praying for us and our little babies- that they grow grow grow! Thank you everyone- what a journey this has been so far! Wow! We are so thankful for the blessing we got and honestly- because we are Christians- we were concerned about having too many good embryos and not being able to use all of them- and what the right thing would be to do with them. God took care of that for us...no worries now- we got the PERFECT TWO! Thank you God for taking care of us once again!

Nobel Peace Prize for Inventor of IVF

This is copied from Dr. Sher's Blog:

"Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe introduced human in vitro fertilization with the birth of the world’s first IVF baby, Louise Brown in 1978. In the ensuing 3+ decades an estimated 4 million IVF births have brought tremendous joy to their blessed parent and hope to millions of other infertile individuals and couples.

The granting of a Nobel Prize to the remaining survivor of the Steptoe-Edwards team, although having come late, is nevertheless highly laudable. I can tell you from personal experience that Patrick Steptoe never believed that he and his partner, Robert Edwards, would ever be recognized by the medical fraternity for the pioneering work they had done.

My mind goes back to an evening in the latter part of the 80’s when my wife, Charlene and I had dinner with Patrick Steptoe at the Carnelian Room ( a beautiful restaurant atop the Bank of America building in San Franciso) on the very last day he spent in the United States. Dr Steptoe had been attending an American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) congress in the Bay Area. Towards the end of the evening, he broke the news to us that he had advanced prostate cancer and that he would probably never see us again. He went on to express disappointment at what he called the stifling bureaucracy and the political infighting inherent in our field, which had denied him and Dr. Robert Edwards due recognition for their work. He was convinced that they were destined to be overlooked for a long time. I remember telling him that this would not prevail and that ultimately and inevitably he and Dr. Edwards would be recognized for their pioneering work in the IVF field. He insisted that this would not be during either of their lifetimes. We drove him back to his hotel and watched sadly as he waved good bye from the wheelchair in which he was being transported from our car, back into the hotel.

The reason for this story is to highlight the significance of the great honor that has finally been bestowed on the remaining member of the team, Robert Edwards, now 85 years of age and in poor health. It is certainly well deserved, but indeed, long overdue. I can imagine Dr. Steptoe looking down and smiling on this.

What can I add about Robert Edwards that has not already been said? He is a brilliant and honest scientist without whom the advent of human IVF might well have been set back by a few decades. Dr. Edwards can be regarded as the elder statesman of the field. His innovations, guidance and wisdom are legendary. Every time he delivers a keynote address at a medical conference you can hear a pin drop. There is always something new that he has to offer, suggest and contribute. Above all, Robert Edwards is a gentleman and a mentor to many. I recall visiting him at his home in England some time back and discussing some of my own ideas with him. You could just feel that you were in the presence of greatness. And his advice which was always direct and relevant, was invariably delivered gently and in good taste. To this day, I am always uplifted by his presence and his wisdom.

I find it tragic that after more than 30 years and all the IVF babies that now grace our world, there should still be a quarrel between the Roman Catholic church and our discipline. Surely the time has come to start rethinking the premise upon which the prejudice was based and to bury the hatchet. If intent to do good is a hallmark of piety then both Drs. Steptoe and Edwards will receive the ultimate reward. After all, there are at least 4 million humans that have resulted from IVF, many of whom are of the Catholic persuasion, and all of whom are no less precious than any other of God’s creations."

Thank to those men for inventing IVF so that my husband and I have a chance at having a baby of our own!!!

I Believe

I love this! SIRM's new Theme Song! So inspirational for all the couple who have, will, are battling infertility! Keep believing!

A LOT To Take In (Not for the faint at heart or weak at stomach)

I am going to be brutally honest and just say that yesterday when my nurse emailed me with my list of meds and then the pharmacy called to confirm my list of meds- I got a little dizzy and nearly had a panic attack! Just look at the names of these things? When the pharmacy called I was jotting down notes in Microsoft Word thinking the spell check would correct them and I misspelled over half of the meds! I got a little worried when the email came and this is what it said: (Keep in mind my hubby will be the one administering these shots!!!!!)

The Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine

Medication Administration Guidelines

________________________________________________________________

Tips:

• An ml = cc
• Needles are STERILE, do not touch them before using them to inject and only use them ONCE
• Rotate injection sites from one side of the abdomen to the other, and from one thigh to the other
• With a multi-dose medication vial, swab the top of the medication vial with an alcohol swab before each use
• When in doubt about medication dosage or injection, PLEASE call the office for clarification. DO NOT GUESS!
• There is a nurse on call through the service after office hours. Please call 702-892-9696 before 11pm and the service will promptly page the nurse on call
• Read all of the medication labels before taking the medication to ensure that you are taking the correct medication
• Report all medication errors and unusual reactions to your coordinator as soon as possible

Dexamethasone 0.75 mg Tablet or Prednisone 10 mg

• This is a steroid tablet
• This is given to decrease inflammation and reduce the inflammatory response of your body to foreign bodies (your embryo) before embryo transfer
• Take once a day in the morning with your breakfast to decrease GI upset and other potential side effects
• Potential side effects are insomnia, increase in appetite and bloating.

Lupron (Leuprolide Acetate)

• Lupron is taken to suppress your hormones at the pituitary level, it does NOT suppress your ovaries
• Injection to be given subcutaneous in either the upper thigh (up by panty line) or in the abdomen (stay 1 inch away from belly button) in the AM (between breakfast and lunch) with a few hour flexibility between days (See diagram on page 5)
• The medication comes in a multi-dose vial
• Use the insulin syringes with the orange cap to draw up dose and inject
• Refer to your calendar for dosage and measure units (U) on the syringe
• The most common side effect is hot flashes, this will be relieved by the start of your hormone medication (i.e., E2V or Gonal-F or Follistim
  

Ganirelix/Cetrotide

• To be taken like Lupron, subcutaneous in AM
• Also like Lupron, it is being taken to suppress your own hormones and has a better long term effect with fewer side effects
• Given at ½ dose (125 mcg) rather than prepackaged dose of 250 mcg (same as 0.25 mg)
• Ganirelix:
• To split Ganirelix (prefilled in a syringe) use a 1 cc syringe that does not have a needle and pull down plunger to 0.25 cc.
• Then inject 0.25cc from the prefilled Ganirelix syringe into the 1 cc syringe you have just prepared.
• Place a 27 gauge ½ inch needle on the 1 cc syringe to inject.
• Save the remaining 0.25 cc in prefilled syringe for next morning’s shot.
• Keep refrigerated.
• Cetrotide:
• To split Cetrotide fill the vial of powder with the prefilled water (1 cc) in kit.
• Now you will have 2 doses in vial.
• Use same orange cap syringe that you used for the Lupron and withdrawal 50 Units (½ cc) of Cetrotide for first morning’s injection.
• Save the remaining 50 Units (½ cc) in vial for next day’s injection.
• Keep refrigerated.
• Second dose may only measure up to 35 or 40 Units. This is normal, do not mix up another vial just inject whatever is left for the second dose.

E2V = Estradiol Valerate = Delestrogen

• Not all protocols involve E2V, so if this is not on your calendar then omit instructions.
• This is given to “prime” the receptors on the ovaries to improve response the following week to the stimulation medications.
• This is an IM (intramuscular) injection given in the PM (between dinner and bedtime) in the upper outer quadrant of the buttock (See diagram on page 5)
• Give while lying down to relax the muscle
• Verify that your Delestrogen concentration is 20 mg/ml
• Use a 1 cc syringe without a needle (NOT a Lupron syringe) and attach a 18 gauge 1 ½” needle to draw out the medication to 0.2 cc or the dosage in which you have been instructed to take. Switch needle to a 22 gauge 1 ½” to then inject intramuscularly.
  

E2V 2 mg suppositories

• Not all protocols use the Estradiol Valerate vaginal suppositories
• These are given to ensure that the uterus is being supplied with enough estrogen
• Insert vaginally at bedtime
• These may or may not be continued after CD9.
• Make sure you are inserting the E2V 2mg (Estradiol Valerate) suppositories NOT the suppositories used after embryo transfer which are Estradiol Valerate 1 mg/ Progesterone 50 mg suppositories (or E2V/ P4). If you use the latter in error your cycle will be immediately cancelled.
• Keep refrigerated

Folic Acid 1mg tablet

• Prescription strength folic acid dose (over-the-counter dose is only 400 mcg).
• These tablets are taken to prevent Spina Bifida-type problems in fetus.
• No side effects and can be taken anytime.
• You may opt to take a Prenatal Vitamin instead of straight Folic Acid, this is fine as long as it is prescription strength

SDF (Viagra) Suppositories

• Given to increase blood flow to endometrial lining
• Take vaginally 4 times daily
• No side effects, except possible vaginal irritation from so many suppositories.
• Place the suppositories over the course of a day (with the last at bedtime, unless you are taking E2V suppositories as well) and that it doesn’t have to be exactly a certain amount of hours apart.
• You may wish to wear a panty liner since not all of the wax absorbs and you may experience slight oozing.
• You should try to at least be sitting for 15 minutes after each insertion.
• Keep refrigerated

Terbutaline 5 mg Tablets

• Given to relax the uterine muscle which will allow more blood flow through the uterine vessels
• Starts with SDF suppositories.
• One tablet three times a day
• You will experience the side effects of nervousness, shakiness and a racing heart! If your heart rate is over 120 beats per minute, please skip a dose
• Your body will adjust to the Terbutaline in 2-5 days and you will no longer experience the side effects

Heparin 5,000 IU / Lovenox 30 mg

• Only use if indicated on your calendar
• Twice a day injections, to be given in the AM with Lupron/Cetrotide and in the PM with stimulation medications/hormone injections
• Subcutaneous injection given with a ½ cc or 1 cc insulin (Lupron) syringe
• Verify the concentration of your Heparin. If 10,000 units/ml then your dose twice a day is 5000 units or ½ ml (which is equivalent to 50 units on the insulin syringe).
• You may also use Lovenox 30 mg one a day subcutaneously anytime in the day in lieu of heparin.
• You may experience some bruising at injection site, do not rub vigorously

Gonal F / Follistim

• This is FSH (Follicle Stimulation Hormone) or stimulation medication
• This is given subcutaneously anytime in the evening anytime between dinner time and bed time
• Please refer to packet instructions for reconstitution as can come in multidose vial, single dose vial and Pen form
• Your coordinator will go over instructions with you or you may contact Fertility Lifelines (1-866-538-7879) for Gonal-F product support 24 hours a day
  

Luveris

• This is pure Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• To be given as a separate injection in the PM with your stimulation medication
• This is given subcutaneously
• The dose is always 1/2 vial (37.5 IU) as indicated on your calendar
• Use the 3ml syringe with 22 gauge 1 ½” needle to draw up 1 cc of diluent
• Inject full 1 cc into vial of powder (this is now 2 doses)
• With same syringe/needle, withdrawal only ½ cc (0.5 ml) and refrigerate remaining ½ cc for next evening’s dose
• Change needle to the 27 gauge ½ “ to inject subcutaneously.

Progesterone in oil

• This medication will be given in one of two dosage amounts, 50 mg (1cc) or 100 mg (2cc). See your calendar for your dosage.
• This is an IM (intramuscular) injection given in the PM (between dinner and bedtime) in the upper outer quadrant of the buttock (See diagram on page 5)
• Give while lying down to relax the muscle.
• Use a 3 cc syringe with an attached 18 gauge 1 ½” needle (or 20 gauge) to draw out the medication to the dosage in which you have been instructed to take. Switch needle to a 22 gauge 1 ½” (or 25 gauge 1 ½” needle if your product is made in ethyl oleate oil) to then inject intramuscularly.

Final Comments

• On CD9 (cycle day 9 when monitoring in our office begins) you will be given a new calendar and instructions once we have determined how you are progressing
• There will be medications you have received that are not on your calendar at this point (i.e., Cipro, hCG 10,000 units, progesterone in oil, Clindamycin suppositories, E2V/ Progesterone suppositories). These will be used post CD9.
  

______________________________________________________________________

Injections sites

Intramuscular injection sites

Subcutaneous Injection Site (use upper thigh or lower abdomen)

I WILL DISCUSS HOW I FEEL ABOUT EACH OF THESE AND THE OUTRAGEOUS COST IN MY NEXT BLOG......I THINK I'VE SHARED ENOUGH FOR ONE BLOG POST :)

JUST A LITTLE THOUGHT: "HOW DOES ONE TRAVEL WITH A CARRY ON THAT COULD BE PASSED OVER FOR A DRUG LORD WITH SYRINGES AND ENOUGH FERTILITY MEDS TO KNOCK UP A SMALL ARMY?" JUST WONDERING!!!