The Retrieval

So today we took a huge step forward in trying to start our family! At 9:30am this morning I had my egg retrieval at Dr. Patel's office. I was a ball of nerves and they told me that I needed to calm down because my blood pressure was a little elevated! But let me go through the day...

My mom came up from Sierra Vista last night. She is known as Mama Wurth to some, Marie to others, but just plain mom to me! I was so delighted that she was able to come up for this procedure because I couldn't imagine going through this without her. So this morning we woke up and all drove over to Scottsdale in morning rush hour traffic! Mom and I were lucky and got to use the HOV/car pool lane, while poor Jay was stuck with the regular single driver's lanes. But we all made it there in time and I was back in my operation gown before I knew it. Jay and I had a chance to sit and chat before they took him away to do his part! Not something fun he likes to talk about, but without his little swimmers we couldn't move forward. So then the nurse came and took me into the operation room and got me all settled in. I was only put on a light sedation because Dr. Patel didn't want my ovaries bouncing all around, which tends to happen with larger women under anesthesia. So I remember bits and pieces and then it was over and I was being wheeled out into recovery.

The best part was that when I opened my eyes both Jay and Mama Wurth were there. Jay had been able to stay and wait to see me after the procedure and that was really a blessing for me. Dr. Patel came in and told us he had got 9 follicles or eggs. He had wanted to get 12 but it was hard to get to my left ovary so he settled for 9. Because he didn't get as many he wasn't as sure how many would be fully mature. He suggested to us that we do a procedure that helps to speed things along. Instead of just letting the sperm and eggs mix together in a petri dish, they took the sperm and injected them right into the egg...or forced dating as my mom called it! Tomorrow we will get a call telling us how many embryo's we have and I start another type of shot. Jay has to do these shots, but he did great with the one on Monday so I have complete faith in him! :) On Saturday we will go in and talk with Dr. Patel about the quality of the embryo's that have been growing and decide whether to transfer them that day or wait until Monday. It's just one of those wait and see things!

Anywho, after all the discussion with Dr. Patel, Jay had to leave for work and it was time to start getting me up. I think I was really lucky that I didn't have to be put fully under because I was awake and alert in no time at all. I didn't have any nausea or trembling and I was able to walk and move just fine. We waiting a few extra minutes again because my blood pressure was up, but it did begin to drop so they were fine with releasing me.

Mom and I came home and she made me soup and gave me crackers and Gatorade and was the perfect nursemaid! I slept for about an hour and then had my mother and sister-in-law come by to say hi, along with a friend. I also had an amazing friend, Nicole, drop by with dinner! She called me over the weekend and asked what we liked to eat and said that she was bringing dinner over the day of the retrieval and that was that! It was really nice of her and it was great to just sit down and eat and not having to worry about dinner at all! I'm feeling good, still a little tired. My plans are to finish writing this and hit the sack! I'm sleepy! :)

It's hard to believe that after all the planning, set backs, re-planning, tears, talking and everything in between...but today really happened. Jay and I are one step closer to become parents and that is a feeling like I've never had before. I know that there are still many things that could happen and that even if the transfer does result in a pregnancy there are still risks that could come up. However, it's out of my hands. I know what I need to do and I'm going to do that and leave the rest up to God. He has a plan for our lives and I need to trust that His plan is going to work and is there for a reason! I feel so blessed by all the friends that have texted and written e-mails and just been there for me and for us throughout the week and especially today. We are so not alone and I know that life is good!