Proud parent to 18 "babies"

Retrieval was yesterday and all went well. We were the first patients of the day and while it was ridiculously early - we had to be there by 6:30am - it was nice to be the only ones there. It felt more private and also that all the attention was on us which was nice for a change with this clinic.

DH and I went over to andrology together and after we took care of that, we went back to the IVF suite (love how they call it that) and met with the anesthesiologist and the doctor. This doctor was mine but I kind of liked her better so it was okay. I really don't like how much limited contact with the doctor they give you during IVF. I only saw him at our consult - otherwise it has just been one random nurse after another. For the amount of money we are forking over, the doctor's presense every now and then would be nice.

At just before 7:30am they took me back to the retrieval room while DH waited back in our "suite". I remember them putting the IV in my arm and that is about it. I woke up IN PAIN!! Wow, I was completely caught off guard at how painful the procedure was going to be. I expected a bit of pain and discomfort but what I woke up to was much more intense. The nurse gave me another dose of morphine in my IV and that took the edge off my left side but my right side was horrible still. It took the maximum amount of morphine they could give me to take the edge off my right (I think it was three or four doses). I was sweating and shaking and miserable until then. I did hear her talking to DH, although I was in and out of being able to concentrate. I heard her say that they retrieved 18 eggs! I was sort of hoping for 20 although I am not sure why but 18 is great and I am really happy with that number. The nurse also told me that there is more pain when they take a higher number of eggs out. I can't believe how much my right side hurt but I also rarely ovulate from my right side and that was the side that had 21 follicles so maybe it was just in freak out mode. Once she got my pain under control, I sipped some water and was told to get dressed. DH helped me out and wheeled me out and down to our car. I think we were on the road by 8:30am.

We had an hour drive home and by the time we arrived home, I pretty much headed to the bathroom and puke my guts out. I think it was all that morphine - ugh! After that, I went right to bed and slept for about 3 or 4 hours. I woke up feeling much better. I ate a little and slept on and off the rest of the afternoon/evening. I have to take four antibiotic pills a day for four days and those are making me pretty nauseous which kind of sucks.

Today, I am back at work but I am still hurting pretty bad and swollen/bloated. I cannot button my pants or it hurts too much. I have to dress up for work so I wore a long sweater and hoping my pants don't fall down. :)

Transfer is Sunday and I am waiting on pins and needles for our first embryo report which will be tomorrow. I really praying that they are growing well and that first phone call brings great news.

It's been a very long road but we are definitely in the home stretch...