"Edited to Add"....

This started as a pregnancy blog when I fell pregnant in May 2009 after four years of finding a donor, doing all the counselling / paperwork / tests and trying.

And now, thanks to a 4WD which skidded onto our side of the road, killing our baby daughter at 34w and injuring me, my partner and two of my stepdaughters on 27 December 2009, it has turned into something else. We didn't want this something else, but apparently it is all we've got to go on with.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Showtime! (and a big sigh of relief)

You know that feeling, when you think, perhaps my life is a little *too* exciting? Thankfully my mum and brother & sister-in-law all weathered Cyclone Yasi well in Cairns - it hit hardest further south, where buildings in Tully and Innisfail were demolished. I think it'll be some time before the full damage is known. Between them, my mum and bro have now escaped the 2008 Black Saturday bushfires, a Bolivian uprising, at least four car crashes and a cyclone. Lucky buggers. Phew.

And it is nearly showtime for the little ovaries that could - I just spoke with our clinic, and I'm scheduled for egg pick up on Saturday morning. The other possible option was Monday, so I'm grateful to be getting it over and done with soon. It is hard to tell if it is from the ivf drugs or a blocked ear (from swimming in Cairns) or general cyclone-related craziness but today and yesterday I've felt very off-balance and tender, with a wierd low-level nausea. If my ovaries made noises, I reckon they'd be making those submarine depth-sounding 'pings'. Quite twingey. IVF veterans, does that sound familiar?

If all goes to plan, it will mean we'll do the embryo transfer on Monday - exactly one year after Z's 40-day memorial & due date. An auspicious day, I think.

I like the idea of a link between her and this new little chain of possibilities. And besides, isn't it always a big sister's job to steal the show?
Posted by Hanen at 7:30 PM

11 comments:

  1. NFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:00 PM

    Auspicious indeed. Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.

    I'm so glad that your family is safe.

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  2. Catherine WFebruary 3, 2011 at 1:22 AM

    So glad your mum, brother and SIL are continuing their run of good luck of escaping sticky situations and are safe. You must have been worried sick.

    Hope that everything goes well over the coming days. I also like the fact that Z will be stealing the show!

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  3. BethFebruary 3, 2011 at 3:28 AM

    i'm glad they're ok. and good luck. that date does sound auspicious.
    xx

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  4. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    Definitely auspicious.

    Thinking about you as you prepare for pickup, and hoping for good results.

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  5. nubreyFebruary 3, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    its good when early warning works isn't it....phew.
    i will send all my good vibes to you guys for sat and monday - go little cells go...
    xk

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  6. ClaireFebruary 3, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    It IS auspicious. I sure hope it works out for you! I am curious having done IVF myself - only a 2 day transfer? It that standard in Aus? In Canada it is 3 or 5 day. Just curious! good luck!!!

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  7. HanenFebruary 3, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    Thanks for all your lovely thoughts for us and those little eggs.

    Claire - I had no idea the 2 day / blastocyst thing was so contentious! Have had a little look - our clinic does a standard 2 day transfer on the theory that it is difficult to tell whether those embryos that don't make it to blast stage would have implanted if transferred: http://www.mivf.com.au/ivf-success-rates.aspx

    It looks like there are quite a few US IVF clinics which prefer blast transfers (eg http://www.sharedjourney.com/articles/3vs5.html).

    But happy to hear if people have any tips either way on this. We are doing icsi.

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  8. SuzyFebruary 3, 2011 at 6:26 PM

    Interesting to read your above comment on 2 day transfers. Thats actually in line with what I personally believe, but our clinic INSISTS on 5 day transfers. We lost SO MANY embryos at day 4 and I truly believe at least some of them would have survived if transferred. So FWIW I think your clinic is doing the right thing and I wish our clinic would have done the same.

    I hope that the stars all align for you and we are hearing good news from you in a few weeks.

    xxx

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  9. JennFebruary 4, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    Goodness, so glad your family is as lucky as they are!

    I'll chime in with the others, yes, auspicious and I hope it means good things. xx

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  10. PomegranateFebruary 5, 2011 at 6:48 AM

    So glad to hear your family is well. As for the day of the transfer, I think there are pros and cons to both approaches. Earlier means more time in the natural environment of the womb. Later means more time to study the embryo quality in the lab. How many will you transfer?

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  11. dotalotFebruary 8, 2011 at 12:29 AM

    wow, i like the connection Hanen, Dot's transfer date was the same as Harvey's transfer date, so maybe it bids good things to follow, glad everyone survived the cyclone, crazy place australia, who'd live here!! sending love xxx

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