IVF & Life Updates

Real Talk: IVF is a crap shoot.

And I just know there are going to be a million responses with the good ole phrase: but it only takes one.

So if you're thinking that....please just keep your response to yourself.

Nobody going through two or more rounds of IVF wants to hear all their works leads up to (maybe) ONE.

If they even get that chance.

I have four. Four IVF chances to bring home the gold.

Round one returned nothing.
Round two is currently in limbo.

I wish I had more exciting news, but the reality is...I am crushed again.

We were so hopeful for this round. I mean, we are hopeful for every round, but our bodies can't seem to quite figure out this nonsense.

The first round they were able to retrieve six eggs.
Of those six, five were mature.
Of those five, three successfully fertilized.
Of those three, none made it to full blast.

This round they were able to retrieve seven eggs.
Of those seven, six were mature.
Of those six, only two were successfully fertilized.

At this point I don't have much hope for those two.
Time will tell, obviously, and I will know early next week.

Regardless, I went ahead and emailed the nurse because at our best, we end up with two this round, but need to bank at least five for testing.

So IVF Round 3 is clearly happening.

I assumed we would be gearing up right away again, but I guess the clinic cycles differently, so we will be required to take a month off, to start up again early July.

We have a follow-up consultation with Dr. Jacobs to go over our results from the first two rounds and see what he has to say about the next one or two.

I am slowly watching my last plan of birthing a late spring baby fade away.

I gave up on most plans going through all of this, but I'm frustrated that I can't even have any say about when we transfer because nothing seems to be working, and I can't force anyone's hand to make it so.

The silver lining is I don't have to take those awful Endometrin suppositories now.
I was just told to call when I get a period early July and we'll go from there.

In the midst of this frustration, we are helping our cat recover from his broken jaw.
He has been on round the clock tube and medication feedings, and I took him to see a specialist this morning because the ER could only fix one of the two broken points.

He is headed back in for another surgery tomorrow, with a (rather lengthy) six week recovery.

Our hope is everything works out and he is back to normal in July.
He has been a trooper, and we are grateful he is letting us tube feed and poke and pry at him as needed.

Finally, my dad had another round of blood work completed for his prostate cancer.
His numbers continue to decline, which is excellent news.
They want them to level out around 5.
Last month they were 6.6, and this month they are 5.7.
I am so grateful that someone in the family is yielding positive results.

I suppose a month of no meds could do me some good.
It gives us a chance to reduce some of the chaos in our lives, focusing solely on the cat and soaking up the summer.

I am trying my best to stay positive.
I really am.

We get two more chances to get it right.
And maybe, just maybe, we'll get to keep a frostie from this round.

Fingers crossed.
Thank you for reading. XO