Last week at our ultrasound appointment, our nurse was telling us how estrogen is the "happy" hormone. So I will credit it with giving me some serious hopeful highs along the way. I have a very happy and hopeful heart. We found out yesterday that all 16 of our eggs fertilized thanks to Ken's super sperm (a fact he was VERY proud of) so I'm incredibly hopeful that we'll have at least a few of those fertilized eggs make it to beautiful blatocysts on day five!
Even in the midst of all this hormone driven hope, I still find myself playing devil's advocate and working out our plan B in the back of my head. It can't be helped. It's a defense mechanism and honestly, probably a good one to have. After many disappointments along the baby-making road, I don't want to feel blindsided and gutted if we aren't successful. It's not something I spend much time thinking about, but it's still there. The main thing I think about is a more pressing and annoying problem. I've got the PIO blues. For those of you not into all the infertility acronyms, PIO is short for Progesterone in Oil. It's a viscous liquid medication that your husband gets the honor of injecting into your rear every morning.
I've been lucky to have enough cushion that the actual injection process doesn't hurt. I've read online of tiny little women having some significant pain with the shot itself, so score one for the curvy gals! My problem lies in the after effects. Because I was slow to respond to the PIO in our mock cycle, our doctor upped the dose for the big show. I'm taking 100 mgs each morning delivered in two 1.5" needles. We don't get the luxury of switching sides, it's a double barrelled fun-fest each morning between 5 - 6 am. :) I'm left with some pretty severe soreness afterwards that no amount of massaging, walking-it-out, or heating pads seem to alieviate. I know that this will all be worth it, and that I'll get used to it. (I better! If we get pregnant, I'll be continuing these shots through the first 10 - 12 weeks of pregnancy...YOWZA)
The other thing on my mind is my impending bed rest. Our doctor is all about cutting edge treatment, but he's also conservative in the post procedure department. He's recommended 3 days of bed rest following our embryo transfer. So of course, being the rule follower that I am, I'm prepared to stay comfortably in my favorite PJs and let Ken wait on me. (This is sounding better and better!) I will be fighting my natural urge to bustle. When I'm off work, I tend to whirl around the house sorting mail, cleaning, getting ahead on projects, washing laundry, etc. I'll decide that I MUST clean out our closets and make a Goodwill run or that NOW is the time to steam clean our carpets. So, in order to not go crazy laying around for three days, I need suggestions for time consuming entertainment. What are your favorite books? Great TV series' that can be consumed en masse? Help a busy bee out! :)
Oh wow, 16 fertilized eggs! That's wonderful news! And a totally different oh WOW for the two PIO shots...it will be worth it but man that stinks. I hope you have a sore bum for a long, long time! :) Good books... I am stockpiling for my own bed rest and hiatus from work, and some great ones I've read recently are: The Age of Miracles by Karen THompson Walker, Case Histories by Kate Atkinson, THe Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones, The Cove by Ron Rash (although beautiful it is on the tragic side in case you are avoiding such things in this time of hope), anything by Gillian Flynn, Let's PRetend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (new in paperback and the most HILARIOUS book I've read in a while... there is a chapter about her own baby struggle but you could skip it). I have more if you need them... :)
ReplyDeleteGood stuff! Thank you for the recommendations! They are all new to me other than Gillian Flynn! If you haven't read them, in would highly recommend Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series!
DeleteLinds! I'm sooooo excited for your special stay-cation. For recommendations to unbusy-bee yourself: Ty picked up Dad Is Fat (Jim Gaffigan) at the library today for me. I quickly snapped up the book flap text, dedication, and short foreword, and had already peed my pants and guffawed like a goof. Potential Bossy Pants competitor? I also recently read like an addict The Paris Wife (Paula McLain)--good for Hemingway or Paris lovers. Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn) is an crazy sideways take on mystery thriller. Rules of Civility (Amor Towles) is another 1920s addictive read--set in NYC. I loved the Sisters Brothers (Patrick deWitt). A chunky, hunky classic stay-in-and-read is Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett). Please let me know if I may bring you bedrest goodies, or do your dishes, fold your laundry. Or bring over my version of Step Brothers (since yours is lovingly loaned). Also I have some of these books and can bring them as well! BIG HEART!!
ReplyDeleteOh how I love you Merc! Thanks for the Gaffigan recommendation! Ken and I watched his stand up recently and loved it...Hot Pockets! :) I loved Gone Girl, but am thinking about picking up one of her other books, do you have any other favorites? I've read most of Ken Follett's work, but do have his newest in his trilogy to knock of my list. Thanks for the reminder! Maybe we can meet up once I'm off my bed-rest, but still on PTO? Lunch one day? :)
DeleteOh I love you too! Gaffigan's writing is like watching him, just right in your lap. And that's right on Gone Girl, der, we even talked about how good it is. Intrigued about reading another of hers. Never bought other Ken Follett's except POE. I would love to find time for the Outlander series. Lonesome Dove? Amaze. Couple book club hits: The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern), The Help (Kathryn Stockett), and The Dog Stars (Peter Heller). Daring Greatly (Brene Brown) is a must, I've told you this, yes? Lunch, yes!
DeleteIf you never caught Arrested Development, now's your chance and it's perfect timing - a 4th "season" will be on Netflix about 10 days from now, promoting the soon-to-be AD movie.
ReplyDeleteFor me, PIO was the worst part of this process (physically of course), and bed rest was a-mazing. Loved it. I'm assuming you've seen Downton Abbey. Of course you have. And I was also going to recommend The Pillars of the Earth and The Help, but people beat me to it.
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