Embabies nestle in!!

Well, here they are, the embabies!  We went in for a three day transfer yesterday.  The doctor seemed pleased with the embryos that she was getting ready to transfer.  The 7 cell had perfect clarity, and the 8 cell had only slight fragmentation.  In the ultrasound picture you can see a sliver of white which is a photo capture of the notorious "flash of light" that happens when the embryos and the oxygen around them are injected into the uterus.  That huge black blob above the embryos is my bladder that is completely full (per doctor's orders)!  I was so glad I didn't pee on the doctor.

And here they are, Baby A and Baby B!!!  PLEASE STAY WITH US FOR 9 MONTHS THIS TIME!

Your vote matters!

Well, while there was by no means resounding participation in my little poll this week, the majority voted that I bake a recipe from Martha Stewart's Cookies! So, I did!  They were quite tasty!  I would say they were very similar in both taste and texture to actual carrot cake, the difference being that with these the icing is sandwiched between the caky layers.  I was feeling ambitious, so I also whipped up a batch of this ginger ice cream that I found on Tartlette's blog!  It was very good, but you must like ginger to enjoy it!  It was kind of like a strong ginger snap in cold, silky-smooth form.

Carrot Cake Cookie with homemade ginger ice cream

          Here is the recipe if you'd like.  I substituted grated coconut for the raisins:

• FOR THE FILLING:
• 2 ounces bar cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• FOR THE COOKIES:
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup packed, finely grated, peeled carrots
• 1/3 cup dried currants

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Make filling: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add sugar and lemon juice; beat until combined. Cover; chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make cookies: In a large bowl, whisk together butter, sugars, and egg yolk. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir until combined. Mix in oats, carrots, and currants.
3. Drop dough by level tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheets. Flatten with the palm of your hand. Bake until edges are crisp, rotating baking sheets halfway through, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
4. Turn half the cookies over, bottom side up; dollop each with about 1 teaspoon chilled cream-cheese filling. Top with remaining cookies, pressing gently to spread filling to edges. Serve immediately.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Carrot-Cake Cookies Recipe - MarthaStewart.com 

Retrieved

Well, Wednesday, despite the worries about my high estrogen, my doctors let me go through with egg retrieval!  They were able to retrieve 19 eggs!  I got the call about their fertilization yesterday, and 15 out of the 19 fertilized.  Tomorrow we will get a call in the morning on whether or not we should come in for the egg transfer.  If they don't have us come in tomorrow, the egg transfer will be on Monday.  I am still feeling pretty uncomfortable.  My ovaries are super enlarged (I'm guessing) and causing referred pain to my back and diaphragm areas.  Needless to say, I was walking pretty funny today making it very difficult to hide that something was up from my coworkers!

Here I am before egg retrieval surgery, and before they put in the IV.  I look much calmer than with the first egg retrieval!

Post egg retrieval, not looking as hot.  I was in more pain this time than the first IVF.

I'm hyper

Hyper stimulated, that is.  After my ultrasound and blood work this morning, the doctor called me herself.  Usually it's the nurse practitioner, so I knew something was up.  My estrogen is at 5200, which is not good.  It's way too high, and they are worried about me coming down with Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).  My doctor said she would let me take the hcg trigger shot tonight, despite the high estrogen, but that she was worried.  She suggested that after my retrieval surgery, we freeze all embryos except for 6, in case I am not able to do a fresh transfer due to OHSS.  Last IVF they were really worried about my estrogen being so high too, but it was only at 3500 or so.  I didn't get OHSS last time, but that doesn't mean that I won't this time.  I don't feel horrible yet, just pretty full in the ovary area.  But, I guess at least I get to go through with the retrieval.  At least I didn't develop all of these eggs for nothing.  So, my retrieval surgery is scheduled for 8:00 am this Wednesday.  I get to take the lovely intramuscular hcg shot tonight.

Even thought the poll isn't technically over, it looks as though a recipe from Martha Stewart's Cookies won out!  I will be posting the outcome sometime in the next day or so!  Thanks for participating in getting my butt in gear with the baking!

Vote Now!

Hey guys, I added a polling gadget to the left!  Vote for what you would like to see me bake this weekend!  Vote now or forever hold your peace!

Recommendations anyone?

I have been compiling a list of uplifting, not going to give up, happy, motivational songs for a playlist I like to call "F@#$ Infertility" on my iTunes.  What are your most inspirational, upbeat songs that you turn to when you need your spirits lifted?

I have been listening to my playlist on the way to my RE's office before each ultrasound or blood work appointment!  I definitely feel a more positive attitude this round!!  Maybe the music is working?!

My playlist so far (it's slim, but my RE's office doesn't take long to get to from our house):

Something's Coming -- West Side Story Soundtrack
Accentuate the Positive -- Duke Ellington
Hey, Hey, Hey (It's Gonna Be Okay) -- Stephanie's Id
Free Me -- Joss Stone
Don't Stop Believing -- Glee Soundtrack version

I'd love to hear your suggestions!!

I'm From the Lou and I'm Proud!

This weekend we spent about 20 out of 48 hours at LouFest . . . St. Louis' answer to indie music festivals such as Coachella, Bonaroo, or SXSW.  Of course, it did not reach the magnitude of other, more established music festivals, however, it was awesome!  I am really proud of St. Louis for putting on such an amazing show, with such a great diversity of artists.  I really hope this festival continues annually and only gets bigger and bigger, while maintaining its indie music appeal.

LouFest did a good job with having a variety of foods, including vegetarian and vegan options (as we aren't eating meat unless it is from our CSA.  These were vegan nachos!

There were two stages, and if you positioned yourself well, you were able to view both stages as well as the big screen projection of the concerts!

We LOVED Stephanie's Id (Stephaniesid)!  She was very much the entertainer as well as a great artist.  We ended up buying two of her albums -- I recommend her!

The Carolina Chocolate Drops were another of our favorites!  They played so many unique instruments -- the bones, a jug, a fiddle, the banjo, and a kazoo!

Playing the jug!

They did some great covers -- June and Johnny Cash's "Jackson", Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'em Up Style" -- Amazing!

Built to Spill was another artist we were excited about seeing, and they did not disappoint!

She and Him finished off the festival.  They sounded great, but Zooey was a little lackluster.  Compared to the other groups, they weren't as entertaining, but the music was great!  Although, I must say, the men all around us were oogling over Zooey so much, sometimes I couldn't hear the music.

Other bands at the festival included: Jeff Tweedy (Wilco),  Broken Social Scene (awesome), Airborne Toxic Event, Titus Andronicus, So Many Dynamos, Bottle Rockets, Lucero, Adam Reichmann, Alejandro Escovedo, Corey Chisel, Kim Massey, Fruit Bats, Gentleman Auction House, and Magnolia Summer.

Go StL!!