Prayers, prayers, prayers!

The day after my egg retrieval I received a call from the embryologist.  I had prayed for some great news, but I didn't hear what I wanted to hear.  He said we had 17 eggs, 12 were mature, and only 3 fertilized.  I was devastated.  I had hoped we'd have some to freeze.  I had hoped they'd have some to choose the best ones for the transfer.  With only 3 I knew that they had to be good and we'd only have those 3 to transfer.  I began to worry, I prayed, I cried, I worried some more, I thought the worst.  I began to let the devil get into my mind.  I felt sick and depressed all day even though I was praying for embryos with 6-8 cells when we would go in on Monday.  I knew that God could make those 3 the perfect ones for us.  I believed it, but I still let my mind wander.  I had to trust fully in God and know that he knew exactly what he was doing by only creating 3 little lives.

Monday I went in for the transfer.  My appointment was at 10:30, but they were running behind because of something unexpected that happened.  My instructions told me to drink 64oz of water an hour before coming in with my medicine.  Well, drinking 70oz of water and then sitting and waiting was really hard.  Finally I couldn't wait any longer.  They let me go to the bathroom and count until 10 then stop.  I did that once and waited some more.  At almost 11:30 I couldn't wait any longer and went again.  Then they came to get me.  She checked to make sure I had a full bladder and I did...it was too full after emptying a little twice.  She had me go back and count to 12 this time.  Then she checked again...still too full.  I went back again and counted to 8.  Finally we were closer to where I needed to be.  :)  After getting ready, the embryologist came in with the picture of 2 embryos.  They were 8 cells and grade 2.  I praised God for this answered prayer!!  Not only were they exactly what I had prayed for, but they were better than the embryos we had when we got pregnant with Garner.  Then I asked about the 3rd.  She said it was 6 cells grade 2.  Another answered prayer!!  I insisted on transferring all 3.  Of course I had to sign that I knew we were going against guidelines, but I didn't care.  God created all 3 lives and I trust Him fully to continue to grow them into healthy babies!

Top:  two 8 cell embryos

Bottom:  one 6 cell embryo

 The embryos are in!  The large black spot is my bladder...full!  Down below is my uterus.  The white in the middle is the lining and at the top left of it is a darker white spot. That's the babies!

Tuesday after the transfer I was talking with mama.  She told me the neatest thing.  She said that it must have been Saturday after I found out we only had 3 embryos.  She said she woke up and was praying.  Then she said it came as clear as day, "Oh ye of little faith!"  I know that God was speaking to her saying that He had it all under control.  And did He ever!

Why do I write all this down??  Well, at church on Sunday night the passage we read was from Psalm 78.  It said:
1 My people, hear my instruction; listen to what I say.  2 I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past --  3 things we have heard and known and that our fathers have passed down to us.  4 We must not hide them from their children, but must tell a future generation the praises of the Lord, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed.  5 He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children  6 so that a future generation -- children yet to be born -- might know.  They were to rise and tell their children  7 so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God's works, but keep His commands.

I loved this!  Yes, I must pass down all that the Lord has done to future generations!!

Here We Go Again...

We're back into IVF full swing!  I just had my egg retrieval today and we got 17 eggs!  I'm very thankful for that number.  This has definitely been a week I won't forget.  It started off on Monday when I went in for stimulation day 8 and the forecast was for freezing rain and snow for the next couple of days.  I knew that I would have to go in on Wednesday and more than likely have retrieval for Friday.  So, because of the timing and the likelihood that if we stayed at home we wouldn't be able to get to the appointment, Jason and I checked into a hotel Tuesday night and stayed through Friday.  Considering Wednesday was Jason's birthday and Thursday was mine, this was not ideal at all.  We wanted to be home with Raleigh and Garner, but praying that God blesses us again, we know it will all be worth it in the end...and a memory!  We probably could have made it home Thursday night, but with an early retrieval time we decided to stay.  Thankfully some restaurants opened Thursday night and the roads were clear so we were able to get out for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  Now we're home with Raleigh and Garner, resting, and waiting!