Snap frozen peas

On Sunday I had two little snap frozen peas in a pod transferred. I say snap frozen becuase my fab technician told me that these little blastocysts had been chilled using a relatively new technique (Vitrification) which meant they were frozen in 3 minutes rather than over three hours. 

A little like the way they snap freeze veges to retain their freshness I would think (or not?) So in theory, these little ones should be as fresh and as sticky as they come! I mean, if these blastocysts were a Birds Eye product, we'd be singing a little ditty by now about how fresh they are...

So here's hoping that both or at least one of these two little peas in a pod decide stay around this time.  To help them along in the decision making process, we took them out on the town yesterday and showed them a good time. 

With their potential grandparents and cousin, we went and had a mango smoothie at Poets Cafe in Montville, then we had a little nap, then we went to the beach and made sandcastles and then we had fish and chips followed by icecream!  Can you seriously imagine a better day on the Coast?

 

I couldn't dream up a more perfect illustration for this post.  Those two little peas look almost EXACTLY like my two blastocysts! Love it. 

Image source: Etsy shop gnomesweetgnome

The Giant 'Sainted' Sperm

I saw an article on smh.com.au today about 'Giant Sperm'. I love the way journo's sensationalise headlines to make us read their story. At first I was thinking oh my goodness they've injected steroids into the poor sperm and he's become so huge and potent the poor little egg doesn't stand a chance!

And then I read that it's really about the magnification levels at which they can view now view sperm at to spot the healthiest little fellas to increase fertilisation chances. The article says ...Fertility specialists at IVF Australia have developed technology which magnifies human sperm by 7300 times its normal size - about 18 times larger than they have ever been seen.

Good work guys!  May you find it that much easier to find that 'Sainted Sperm' that will do the best job.

Image source: blueberrybandit on etsy.com How hilarious is this print! It's called 'Saint Stanley the humble sperm' and  I think it would decorate the walls at my Fertility Clinic quite nicely.  Perhaps I should get them one for Christmas!

An air-ship built for two

I couldn't believe it when I saw this wooden pendant in Etsy shop La Petite Bohème - it couldn't more perfectly describe how I've been feeling the last week!

I am so ridiculously bloated I feel like a blimp - one of those big ones from the world war two movies. And I haven't even had the transfer yet, injected pregnyl or dosed myself on progesterone til it's oozing from my pores.

For this delightful state of affairs I am entirely blaming clomid (we aren't friends although I do acknowledge it has a place in the scheme of things). I'm pregnant with an egg!

Funny thing is that this pendent also reminded me of all the reasons I'm doing this...I'm working hard to create an air-ship built for two (that's me and a little scrap of life - not twins...hmmmm).

Chocolate puddles

Just a short observation.

One piece of chocolate is NEVER enough. I've tried really really hard to stick to a 'one piece of chocolate only' rule if I feel like a little hit of something. And invariably I go back for a second...third...*cough* fourth....

Any tips on how to manage this would be welcome (?)

But then again, why would I want to manage out of my life such a beautiful bit of endorphin anti-oxidant piece of goodness? I would say that without the *cough* occasional piece of chocolate, life would be just a little bit greyer...and who wants that?

These 'chocolate puddle' cookies from Everybody likes sandwiches look absolutely divine. Get ready endorphins, a rush is coming your way!

Image source: Everybody likes sandwiches

A short letter to my right ovary

Dear right ovary

Please stop having a competition with the uterine lining. You are meant to be working in tandem, not in competition.

As much as I love you both, it would make my life a whole lot easier if you two worked in sync.  Because you're racing ahead, leaving the lining a little on the thin side, it just means more blood tests for me over the weekend rather than a nice relaxed and timed ovidrel shot. And I'm sure we would all be happier if we didn't have to wildly guess when you are about to pop your load.

I could have had the transfer date for next week all sorted by today, dear right ovary, but for your contrariness. Regardless, I am pleased that you are doing your job, but if you could please work a little closer with the uterus in future, that would be great.

Much love
Amy

PS The left ovary is exempt from this letter because it is on holidays this month.
PPS Here's a cute little egg cosy you can make to keep those eggs warm and toasty for me in the future.

Image source: homelife.com.au

...Because you're beautiful

One of the things I really want to learn at some stage is letterpress printing and I'm big fan of these guys at Bespoke Press.  They are so creative.

One of their latest prints caught my eye. It says Loving you is easy because you're beautiful.  And I thought what a great statement. We love the people we love because we see something beautiful in them.

So next time I'm feeling a little less than inspired about life,  I'll make sure I take a good look around at the people I love and remind myself of all the beauty that surrounds me.

 

Image source: Bespoke Press

Back into the swing

Am a little on the sleepy side today. Had one of those of nights where your brain just churns with thoughts (and they are crazy thoughts let me tell you) and no matter how tired you are, you just can't nod off. Although it probably didn't help that I was reading til late using my iPad in the dark. 

I've been using it to read books on and it's not too bad actually - I've been pleasantly surprised. Although reading it in the dark isn't so great....when I turned it off I was totally blind with no nightvision whatsoever.  Made for an interesting trip to the loo...

Anyway - today I am back into the swing of IVF round number four - Scan, bloodtest, scan, bloodtest, bloodtest, bloodtest, injection, bloodtest, transfer, injection, pessary, injection, pessary, injection etc etc etc

It has its own peculiar rhythm to it...just need to add some jazz percussion, a bit of sax and keyboard and we have ourselves something to click our fingers to. The smooth tones of the IVF jazz big band!

Isn't this just a great wall sculpture from frivoloustendancies on Etsy? Made me laugh so much and is so appropriate thinking of the somewhat compromised position I find myself in over the course of the month as I visit the clinic.  If I had a music room, this would be on my wall.

Image source: frivoloustendancies on Etsy