{ Surgery Day }

The day's passed quickly and before we knew it, it was Wednesday, January 18th and we both had the day off and needed to be in Irvine bright and early to prep for surgery.  Shockingly I wasn't nervous at all.  I think I couldn't believe that we were finally at this point in our journey already. 

We got to the surgery center at about 6:45 am.  We had to leave our house around 5:45 to accommodate for traffic.  I think being 1/2 a sleep still helped ease my nerves too.  We checked in, completed our consent paperwork, you know the usual "sign here accepting you could die and we take no responsibility if you do" stuff.  I didn't care, I signed away hoping this was going to be the first step in making us "Mommy and Daddy".

They told me I needed to go down to the surgery lobby now and wait down there.  They asked daddy to stay behind for a while cause they needed to collect his sample of you and all your possible brothers and sisters.  I didn't even once think that when I walked out the doors and down the hall, that would be the last time I saw your daddy.  I didn't even kiss him good bye.  I just assumed he would meet me on the other side.  It wasn't until I sat in the waiting room down the hall that I realized that was it.  The next time I would see him was after I woke up in recovery.  How could that be?  I was alone, and scared and didn't even get a chance to say a real good bye to the love of my life, the man that has been there for me every step of the way.  If I had ever needed him, now was the time.  My nerves started to take over and I started to cry in the waiting room.  I tried really hard to suck it up because I didn't want the nurses, and anyone else for that matter, to think that I was nuts, even though we all know I am!

Within a matter of minutes they called me back to the operating room and gave me my fancy hospital gown to change in to.  The room was tiny and cold, like all hospitals, so I asked them if I was allowed to keep my socks on.  They were these fuzzy red and white socks that I had just received for Christmas.  I was really excited I got to keep them on because they were warm, not like it would matter once they knocked me out in a few minute.  I remember I couldn't stop talking about my stupid socks.  I showed them off to the nurse, the anesthesiologist, and the Dr. like they were some prize possession.  They were socks for pity sake!  I think I couldn't stop talking about them, and everything else, because I was nervous and that was my way of keeping me calm and my mind distracted. 

The anesthesiologist came in and was ready to hook me up.  He was so nice....that's about all I remember of him.  I thought my IV would have to go into my hand, which I hate because I fainted last time I had that done, so I was pleased when he told me he would be running it into the inner crease of my elbow.  After all the blood I had given over the last year, nearly every other day, I knew I was a pro there.

I remember the Dr. coming in and talking to me while having me position properly on the operating table.  I also remember quivering and my legs shaking out of control while they were up in the stirrups.  I know it couldn't have been because I was too cold because I could see my obnoxious "lucky" socks while we were getting ready.  Nerves had finally gotten the best of me and I had realized this was it.  The anesthesiologist placed an oxygen mask on my face and let me know he was passing the "good stuff" through the IV.  I remember tasting something funny and staring at the ceiling watching it spin.  I had told him I was dizzy and I knew it was only a matter of time before I was out. 

I woke up about an hour later with your daddy by my side.  I was cold, groggy, and still tasted that awful taste from the anesthesia.  The nurse asked how I was feeling but I didn't give her the response she wanted.  The only thing I cared about was how the surgery went and how many eggs were retrieved.  Unfortunately she didn't know the answer but said they were with the embryologist and we would know shortly. 

I had some mild cramping and couldn't stop crying for some reason.  I was so scared and wanted this to work so bad.  I am sure the drugs in my system didn't help with he water works either. 

Dr. Lin came back to check on me after a while.  Once again I didn't care about anything else other than those eggs but this time he had an answer.  18!!!!!!!!!!!!!  18 eggs were retrieved, 16 of which were mature and soon to be fertilized!  I was so relieved.  Knowing I had a good number of eggs gave me hope that we had at least one fighter in there. 

After my time in recovery, we got me dressed, shoved me in a wheel chair, and headed to the car to go home. 

Once we got home your daddy helped me get comfortable on the couch and took really good care of me.  I felt pretty good with the exception of the cramping so I tried not to be a total bum, though it would have been a good time to take advantage of it and let Daddy wait on me hand and foot.  While relaxing with your puppy, Lola, and watching TV we received two special deliveries.  Mommy got a beautiful basket of flowers from her work and also a gorgeous bouquet of fresh lilies that had yet to open.

Dr. Lin said he would call and give us updates every day as far as the progress of the eggs.  Now came the beginning of the hardest part of this process...the waiting.

As you can see, your mom was a beauty...

And your daddy had fun recording me as a train wreck...