A Year in Review

One year ago today I went in for my egg retrieval. By that point, I had the following under my belt already...

• 1 HSG & 1 SSH
• 6 cycles of Clomid including 1 with an HCG trigger followed by IUI and endometrin
• 3 weeks of BCPs in preparation for IVF #1 (which was canceled)
• 13 shots of Lupron
• 6 shots of Bravelle & 6 shots of Menopur
• 4 shots of Ganirelix
• 1 shot of HCG
• 7 ultrasounds to check for follicles
• Too many blood draws to count!

On April 22, 2012, I was sedated while they retrieved a total of 22 eggs. Of those 22 eggs...

• 18 were mature & underwent ICSI
• 11 fertilized
• 7 began to grow & develop
• 1 big, healthy-looking blastocyst was transferred on April 27, 2012
• 6 remaining embryos were frozen

In order to help ensure that little "Flash" stayed put in my uterus, I endured the following...

• 10 weeks of endometrin
• 3 weeks of PIO shots
• 1 week of Lovenox shots
• 2 pelvic taps to drain 1400 & 800 ml of fluid respectively (due to OHSS)
• 9 OB ultrasounds
• 3 yeast infections (yuck!)
• 2 glucose tolerance tests
• 1 screening for clotting disorders
• Multiple doctor's appointments & more blood draws

Then, on January 20, 2013, I checked into the hospital to be induced. And after...

• 1 balloon catheter
• 3 attempts to break my water
• 15+ hours of labor including 1 hour 20 minutes of pushing...

I delivered a healthy, happy, beautiful, 7 pound 4 ounce baby boy. That little boy is now 3 months old (as of yesterday) and there are times I still cannot believe he is here.

What a difference a year can make.