The moment we've all been waiting for

Sorry, this blog may be seriously TMI.

Period watch '09 can officially be called off. Yes, that's right, my period arrived this morning. Or, something slightly resembling a period. It isn't quite as, uhm, forceful as I was expecting. It is really more spotting than anything. But I don't give a what, it is close enough and I am deeming today officially cycle day 1. I feel like singing Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This". But I'll spare you all.

So you know the first thing I did was call the doctor. I left a message for my IVF nurse, Beth, with all my stats and vitals and waited for her call. I must say that when she called back she was much nicer than she had been when telling me I had to wait. Or maybe my attitude had changed. Either way I have my official Final IVF appointment scheduled for... February 16th. Yeah, I was a little disappointed too. I was thinking I'd be going in on Monday but no such luck. Yes, after all the waiting to start my period I now have to wait three more weeks. God, could this take ANY longer?!

Joe and I will go in together on February 16th at 10:45 am. I have to fast prior to the appointment so that they can draw blood. I'm sure I'll be in a very pleasant mood after fasting until 10:45am. I also have to arrive with a full bladder so they can do a "mock transfer". I guess they like to make sure they won't have any problems getting the catheter through my cervix. I've already had 4 IUI's and had no problem with the catheter during any of them so I don't know why they need to do it again but whatever. After that we'll meet with my doctor and he'll go over my protocol (FINALLY!) and then we'll spend some time with the nurse going over injections. It makes me so happy to know that I'll finally have all the information I've been waiting for. I don't know what I'm going to do for the next three weeks though. Actually I do, I have to start birth control again on Sunday. Fun, fun.

If you don't mind, I do want to give my opinion on the lady with the Octuplets. When I first heard the story I immediately thought, what kind of irresponsible doctor would allow that to happen? I've heard different reports and rumors that the lady went through IVF. I call total bullshit on that. There is no way, unless she went to Tijuana or something, that any responsible doctor would do an IVF on a woman in her "late twenties" and transfer back 8 embryos. Not a chance. Even if they only transferred 4 embryos and those all split into twins I find the story a little far fetched. The rule in my doctor's office is 1-2 embryos for those under 30. I think the maximum they'll transfer is 4 and that is only if the woman is in her 40's, has had several failed IVF cycles, or has poor embryo quality.

My guess is this woman was on some kind of medication to stimulate follicle growth and was either unmonitored (ultrasounds and blood work) or she was being monitored, her doctor tried to cancel her cycle because she had too many follicles but she didn't listen and had sex anyway. I just find it so irresponsible that someone in her twenties with six children under the age of seven would proceed with fertility drugs anyway. She was obviously capable of conceiving and carrying a baby to term. It just makes me really sad for the babies. After seeing little Pierce and pictures of baby Mia born prematurely and struggling, I can't imagine what those babies are going through. I mean, thank goodness that Mia and Pierce didn't have any long term complications from being premature but there is no guarantee with preemies. And some of those babies weigh little more than a pound! It is just really sad that they are subjected to all of this because their mother was immature and irresponsible. Sad, sad. You can all rest assured that that will definitely NOT be me. I want one (maybe two) not a litter.