Report Cards never looked so good.

Sorry this post is a week late.

With the waiting over, the next step was to see the results of egg extraction and get the all important report card of how our little embryos did. At this point, the waiting was killing us, as we already knew that we had 17 eggs extracted, and only 10 were mature enough to try to become embryos. Of those 10, they already let us know that 8 had successfully become embryos. Then we had to wait five days until last Monday September 1st, to figure out how many, if any, we were be able to call viable.

Due to our situation, we were doing the day 5 transfer as it will allow more time to ensure that the best embryo was choose. But that also means that its more time for the ones that are not as strong to stop growth. That 5 days of waiting was hard as even after 1 day, our 17 become 8, so after 4 more days ... would it become 2? 1? maybe even none? What happens is that on that fifth day, we would receive a report card. We aren't even fully pregnant yet, and already we are getting report cards, yikes. At least there is no major homework, yet.

Finally that fifth day came around. Now the trick for the embryo transfer was to come to the appointment with a full bladder. The appointment was at 9 in the morning, so Kristy had a big glass of water before we headed out, and then had a large coffee on the drive. Apparently that wasn't even close enough, as after we got to the dr's office, they made her drink another huge cup of water, I mean huge like those massive big gulp sodas you always see at gas stations but you are sure no one ever buys because its more like buying a gallon of soda then truly a cup.

So we were back at waiting, waiting 30 minutes or so, to have that water fill up her bladder to the point she was almost ready to do the potty dance. We must have been such geeks at that point as we had brought our camera. We were taking pictures of the drink. Of the day. We wanted to commemorate this day, and every step we have went though on this journey. Finally, after getting a photo album worth of stupid pictures, we got a knock on the door and the embryologist came in. This was the point we were waiting for, we had worried about, we were excited about. Our first report card.

And we heard those dreaded words that have become our blessed words "You guys are so young ....". Immediately I was relieved as i could read on her face, that it was good news. Those same words could be used negatively if she was sad, like you have many more chances, but she was happy. " ... so the embryo's are doing amazing." she smiled looking down at her grade sheet. Of the 8 embryos, its most common to get about half last the 5 days, and then vary in grades. " You have 1, 2, 3, 4, oh my, 5 grade A embryos, and 1 grade B, and 2 that just need a little more time to tell." Whew talk about good news. We have lots of chances, enough chances to not worry. I guess it pays yet again to be young and doing this process.

We even got to look at the embryo that they transferred back into Kristy. We got a picture of it. How many people can show their children that hey, this is you when you were an embryo 5 days old? The transfer went smooth, and the doctor said to try to take it easy for the rest of the day, more for piece of mind then anything else. So we rented a few movies and relaxed like our lives depended on it. By the time we arrived home from the doctor however we got a call from them saying that the remaining 2, that just needed more time, had already become viable, so from our 8, we got 8. WHOO HOO! I mean I don't want 8 kids, but if we did have that many, Kristy could have her own show on TLC about her bakery where all the kids helped make the cakes with her and who doesn't love seeing kids playing with cake right?

So now we are in the waiting game. Waiting to see if it took. Waiting to see if this journey will continue immediately, or if we will have to go to number 2 of our 8 for another shot. Wish us luck, and keep us in your prayers. I loved our first report card, and I'm looking forward to many many more thought the years of our family.