In-Vitro Update 3-26-09

Hey guys! Mann, what a gorgeous morning! Little moisture in the air, cool breeze - incredible! Here's the latest:
- Had bloodwork and ultrasound this morning - We have ~ 23 large follicles (the largest one is at 19mm!) ... Dr. Hansard did a 'follicle count' for the embryologist and there were 37 follicles on one ovary and 30-something on the other one =0 Crazy!
- As it looks, we will have bloodwork/ultrasound/injection tomorrow, and then do the ovidrel injection ('trigger shot') Friday night - and the Egg Retrieval would be Sunday morning (I had a type-o in my last update: I meant to say trigger shot Frid (not Sat) and retrieval Sun (you always do the trigger 36 hrs before)). This is all good and exciting!
- As you know from the other updates, there has been an issue of hyperstimulation (with every patient there is essentially a balance between enough meds to stimulate and produce the right follicles, without hyperstimulating - but some are more borderline or at risk than others). Dr. Hansard said that she is concerned of me hyperstimulating - enough that she said we may not get to do a fresh transfer (fresh transfer is when they transfer the fresh embryo(s) 3 or 5 days post retrieval). There is a chance we would have to freeze the embryos and come back a month or two (approx.) and do a frozen transfer. IF we did get to transfer (which there is still a chance of), we would almost for sure only get to transfer 1 embryo, b/c the chance of serious hyperstimulation is too great to do multiples (it magnifies the effect). You know... this could be discouraging... but as we have said many times before: we are committed to be ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING! This is no surprise to our God. He knows! And we trust Him. We do believe He is working in and through every single part of this and that His will will be perfectly carried out!
- So if you could please continue your prayers, we would really really appreciate it. We do petition our Gracious God and ask Him to protect my body, that I would not experience hyperstimulation, and that He would continue to be strong in my body, mind, and spirit. We pray for His continued direction with our doctor. She has made wise decisions every step of this, and we have great trust in her decisions. I pray that the Lord would still my body and my mind and heart - that He would help me to take in deep breaths from my abdomen, and stay well and healthy. We pray for safe travel, for the nurses that keep drawing my blood, and for the embryologist team.
- We will keep you posted. Please pray especially for the Egg Retrieval Sunday! Dr. Hansard said that next week (Sun to Frid) they will be monitoring me really close for the hyperstimulation to make the best call on what to do.

Thank you so much for ALL of your prayers, encouragement, e-mails, and support.

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16