Lining @ 9.1: PEO & Transfer on the Horizon!

Raise your hand if you've spent/will be spending at least one day of your holiday weekend in stirrups. Anyone? Anyone?

I've gotta give it to the staff of my fertility clinic, because they NEVER get a day off. Of course, mad props to my fellow TTC'ers out there forgoing Black Friday shopping to run to doctor's appointments, to labs to give blood, to pharmacies for their meds, and back home to joyfully inject ginormous needles into their behinds.

In all fairness, I can't complain too loudly. This is basically all that has been going down at our house for days now, and we plan to continue this trend throughout the weekend...

Triscuit has the good life!

Plus, despite the running around, this morning could not have gone any better. I'm happy to report that after only 4 doses of Delestrogen shots, my lining is ready @ 9.1 mm! I'm so glad we requested these shots.

My clinic only requires a 7 mm lining to move forward with IVF/FET, but I REALLY wanted to see it over 9 mm. I will not ever be one of those women who gets a lining in the double digits, and I know that. 9 was my own personal threshold to feeling 100% confident that my uterus is ready to receive our last two remaining embryos. Obviously, there are many moving piece to a successful FET, and the lining is only one of them, but gosh darnit it is nice to not wonder if it's really going to be good enough. It's far enough over the cusp of what's acceptable, that I just feel better mentally about this part of the equation.

Did a P4 (progesterone) blood draw today, and as long as that comes back nice and low (showing no ovulation has taken place) then we get the green light to begin PEO (progesterone in ethyl oleate) injections tonight. We'll do these for 5 days, and the transfer will be scheduled for 12/4....just in the nick of time yet again. Hubby flies out on 12/5.

For anyone who's done PIO injections, you can see that the PEO solution is much different just by looking at it. PEO contains the exact same amount of progesterone medication per dose, but the medium used is different; It's compounded with ethyl oleate rather than oil, which results in a clear lightweight liquid rather than a yellow heavy liquid. The PEO medication is about the consistency of water, thus requiring less effort to plunge into the muscle, a smaller needle, less pain, less lumping under the skin, etc. I have yet to do one (tonight will be the 1st time) but from what I'm told, this is supposed to be easier than PIO.  Make no mistake...the needle is still big and scary, and it's a fair amount of liquid (1 mL), but I'll take whatever I can get in regards to having a thinner solution to inject.

We still have a ways to go, but all in all, things are playing out well thus far. I'm releasing all better judgement to remain guarded out the window and letting in a ridiculous amount of hope in it's place. Yes, I am getting my hopes up super high for this FET to work. I just feel really good about things this cycle, like something IS going to be different. I figure we've got absolutely nothing to lose by expecting something different....that it can REALLY work this time. I can see my hubby get a little guarded as my excitement becomes more apparent, but at this point I'm not worried about protecting my own heart from the possibility of failure. I've decided I will cross each emotional bridge that comes along the way. Staying hopeful and positive and open and expectant for a successful cycle is the ONLY way I am going to be. Period. 

Take a listen if you can use a reminder to stay positive and think good thoughts. Love this song...