Fertilization Report Is In!

We have 16 embryos!!! Can you believe it? Of the 19, only 3 did not fertilize. We could not be happier with these results! :)

So, this means we have 16 potential babies! I'm like a mother cat with a huge litter of kittens. :)

Okay, maybe that's not the best analogy, but it is still very surreal for me to think we have 16 embryos growing in the lab. My babies! Ella's sibling(s)! Their lives have officially begun.

I can't really put into words how I'm feeling right now. I feel so excited to think we've finally reached this point. It is so weird to think that our future children are in the lab, thriving, dividing into multiple cells, enduring the beginning stages of life. The first five days of their existence, if you will, is not spent in the natural, warm environment of my uterus, but in a temperature-controlled, strictly monitored lab.

The way God intended for man and woman to procreate is so perfect and beautiful, but our way of having our future child is in no way any less perfect or beautiful. Each appointment at RSC has proven to me just how beautiful the process really is - each day revealing to me just how clever and intelligent our God is. How every little detail of our bodies is hand crafted by Him, molded for a specific purpose.

So, where does the news of the 16 embryos leave us? Well, it means we are definitely going to have a day 5 transfer on Wednesday. Yippee! The doctor who called in the report said that generally 50% of the embryos are expected to make it until day 5, so it's a good possibility that we will have 8 embryos to choose from, leaving the remaining ones available for freezing as an insurance policy in case our first round of IVF doesn't work or to use in the future to further expand our family, should Aaron's sperm qualify remain the same.

The next few days will reveal to us the stronger embryos. All the little guys are going to continue growing and the cells will continue to divide. However, some will stop growing altogether or the cells will divide abnormally. But, some will continue to grow, and of those that make it to day 5, Dr. Weckstein and the embryologists will choose which one(s) are the chosen ones. The ones that will be transferred. The ones that will become our babies! I can't wait to see them on Wednesday!

New Routine

I'm thankful to be done with the stimulation injections. Now, I just have to remember to take all my pills. However, I still have the Progesterone injection to deal with. Yikes!

I had my first one last night and it really wasn't that bad at all for me. Aaron had such a hard time, though. He was shaking afterwards! But, I just iced the target on the back of my upper hip, took the weight off that side of my body, hunched over and prayed. The ice really did numb up the area that I practically felt the needle go in. Aaron, on the other hand, was a wreck, but I know he'll get better as time continues.

After Aaron pierces my skin, he has to withdraw the syringe a little to see if blood flows in. If so, that means he hit a blood vessel and he has to stab me in a new spot. If no blood, then we're in the clear and he can inject the medicine. Fun, right?

My side is really sore this morning, but I was told to expect that.

After prepping the Progesterone shot, Aaron immediately wanted to climb under a rock. I really don't know what's worse - giving or receiving the shot. I think I'd have a hard time sticking that big of needle into somebody! Aaron's been such a trooper, though! :)

Oh my word, no wonder I'm sore!

Look at all those needles I've used. I was given a special container to dispose the used needles in. It sure is filling up quickly.

Last, but surely not any less important, are all the pills I'm popping now. Thank goodness RSC provided a graph as to when to take what because otherwise it'd be very easy to mess up. :)

That's it for now. My doctor called with our fertilization report in the middle of writing this blog post, but I will share the results with you in my next post. :)