Dum Spiro Spero

"While I breathe, I hope." That was what was written on the silver bracelet I was wearing today for my transfer, along with a really awesome pair of purple unicorn knee high socks. Through this journey I've developed many friendships with other women who also struggled to start their families. Despite most of them finding their way to motherhood over the years, they still support those of us in the trenches while we still pursue this dream. Thank you to those wonderful women - this picture is for you:

We arrived at the clinic at 11:20 am, me downing water to try and fill up my bladder, Derek belting out "We're gonna make a baby the expensive way" in a Scottish accent (don't ask). Standing in line to check in, the fire alarm started going off. Despite this, I was calm and confident, and when the alarm was shut off less than 10 minutes later, we were still on schedule.

My acupuncturist was already there waiting for us and we were lead in to a room with a reclining chair. We signed all the paperwork, only then being told that both of our frozen blasts had survived thaw and were in great condition. I relaxed with some needles in various places while my bladder quickly filled up and we waited for the call to go to the transfer room.

You can't see them, but I have needles everywhere, including my abdomen.

 At exactly noon, we were led to the transfer room and given this picture:

Our day six blasts were rated 5BB and 5BA. The clinic uses the Gardner grading system, so these were both "(5) Hatching out of the shell", several celled, loosely grouped, and one was forming a loose epithelium while the other was forming a cohesive layer. But the coolest part was when she showed them live on the screen before taking them up in the catheter. They were both very clearly hatching, and we were seeing it in real time. It was a bit emotional.

Despite issues I've had in the past with doctors getting through my cervix, my very overfull bladder seemed to straighten everything out and the RE got through with minimal cramping. Using ultrasound, they guided the catheter in, prepped the blastocysts, and did the transfer. The green cross over the white spot in this picture is where the blasts landed (the catheter is that white line below and to the left), which we watched in real time. Amazing.

After 10 minutes on the bed letting things settle I was able to go pee (longest pee I have EVER had in my life considering I didn't want to push it out too hard), then back to the recliner for another 20 minutes with the needles before we left at 1 pm. It's all over, after years of waiting. It's happened.

And now we wait. See you on the other side of the two week wait.