{9 weeks}

We had our 9 week appointment a few days early on Monday (at 8 weeks 5 days). This was our last appointment with the specialist. We had our 2nd ultrasound and our little peanut actually looks more like a baby now!!! It was so wonderful to see the little one again and see the heart beating (at a steady rate of 166 bpm). The Dr. said the growth rate is right on track and we even got to see a little bit of movement!! He also helped ease some of our anxieties by explaining 'how' we got pregnant (via IVF) will not create any complications or risks throughout the pregnancy and he expects everything to be perfectly normal. He officially released us from his care and I will see my OB for the first time on Wednesday at 10 weeks :)

{Day 8 U/S and B/W}

Today was my Day 8 ultrasound. Everything seems to be progressing well and as planned as far as I have been told. Today I had a much larger number of follicles growing then I did at my Day 5 appointment which is good. As long as I don't have TOO many and over stimulate it will be great to have a lot of follicles that could potential mature when we fertilize them. I will find out this afternoon whether or not my dosage of meds will change, but as it stands now I will be on the same dose and go in again Sunday morning for an ultrasound and blood draw. I will be a pro at all this by the time this cycle is done!! (But I'm crossing my fingers I never have to do it again :)) ...

Well...that's about all there is to update for now. I will post any changes in the next few days and if all goes as planned the Egg Retrieval and then transfer will happen next week!! :)

Suppression Check U/S

I started my first injections last Monday with the Luteal Lupron. I take 10 units of this nightly. The shot hasn't been too bad at all. It isn't very painful and has only caused minimal bruising. So that's a relief..and it makes me realize I can do this!!! I CAN deal with these shots and it will all be worth it in the end when I'm pregnant and we're bringing home our new baby :)

And after my appt today, it's official, I get to start my stimulation meds on Friday night! I went into the Dr. this morning and had an ultrasound to confirm I had no cysts and that my ovaries were 'ready to be stimulated' I guess. Unfortunately my normal dr. wasn't available so I had a different nurse do my u/s. She was really nice, but had a little trouble finding both my ovaries (they were hiding behind my uterus..) so she had to move the wand around and then press on my abdomen which was a little uncomfortable, but overall it went well. She ended up finding both ovaries and from what she could see both looked good, 20 follicles in one and 15 in the other. After the u/s I met with my nurse and we confirmed my schedule and the meds dosages I will be starting on Friday. She said it sounds like the u/s was fine and will call back with any changes. So..next on the checklist: stimulation meds! :)