Plant and Grow...

Here it is - our single embryo.  It was described by the embryologist as their "Gold Standard" for how perfect it looked.  A day five Blastocyst.  The transfer went smoothly and I surprised myself with an abundance of tears.  

Now, we wait.

When I came home I headed straight upstairs to bed and napped for a few hours.  I had been up past midnight last night cleaning the house and doing the windows.  Nervous energy, I suppose.  This morning I took apart our stroller and thoroughly cleaned it.  Of course I did.  Like a total whack job.  So the nap came easily and it helped pass the time.

I did some research when I woke.  While the fertility clinic thought we were taking a huge risk using only one embryo - the research shows that a single embryo transfer has a high success rate.  Especially in women my age!

I've had a lot of people ask me why I share so much about our fertility journey.  My answer is always the same.  When I first started going through fertility issues, it was hard to find people to talk to.  People don't talk about this - like it's a shameful secret.  It's not.  The amount of emails I get from women who open up to me after reading through our journey makes it all worth it.  I don't like feeling alone - and I wouldn't want anyone else to feel that way, either.  I'm happy to be a resource.  I once heard from a stranger who was googling "embryo transfer" at midnight in Alaska and came across our story.  It gave her an idea of what to expect and it calmed her nerves for her transfer the following day.  How cool is that?

Over the next couple days I have some projects I want to work on (including important reality TV investigative work that is totally top secret, I'm afraid).  I'm also expecting visits like the one I had tonight.  After reading "I Wish That I Had Duck Feet" to Brian he told me he wanted to sleep in my bed.  When I said he had to sleep in his bed, he told me I had to come with him.  

It's going to be a long two days.

I can't express enough - truly - how much I appreciate your support.  Here... through emails... and on Facebook, especially!  I don't take it for granted - and it really, truly means the world to me.

And I am so grateful to my Mom.  On what is obviously a hard day for her as we celebrate what would have been my parent's 54th wedding anniversary, she took the time to deliver a dinner to the house.  Zucchini quiche, stewed tomatoes, macaroni salad and cupcakes - total comfort food and a great "baby growing" meal.  Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad.

If you are wondering at all what is going on inside my body, here's a handy chart that will show the process.  I had hoped to show a video of the actual embryo being placed in my uterus on ultrasound...but Ed accidentally took video of me along with the ultrasound monitor.  Trust me, no one needs to see that.  There were stirrups involved.  Need I say more?

5-Day Transfer

Days Past Transfer (DPT)	Embryo Development
One	The blastocyst begins to hatch out of its shell
Two	The blastocyst continues to hatch out of its shell and begins to attach itself to the uterus
Three	The blastocyst attaches deeper into the uterine lining, beginning implantation
Four	Implantation continues
Five	Implantation is complete, cells that will eventually become the placenta and fetus have begun to develop
Six	Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) starts to enter the blood stream
Seven	Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted
Eight	Fetal development continues and hCG continues to be secreted
Nine	Levels of hCG are now high enough to detect a pregnancy

I won't be writing for the next few days - mostly because I won't have much to report!  But I will be sharing my musings on life, what I see out my window and what's on TV during the day on Facebook. You can catch me there.

This baby has been planted!  Now we hope and pray and wish for growth.