I woke up last Friday knowing that the wait was probably just a few days longer.  But it was also cycle day one, so I called the IVF nurse to let her know — just like I was instructed.  We typically don’t get a return call until late in the day, so I was not surprised when my phone rang shortly after 3pm.  Ketan and I had agreed that when the results came back from the genetic testing I would let the call go to voicemail and we would listen to it together later that night.  So I picked up the phone expecting it to be Jenni, my IVF nurse just giving me instructions on what to do.  Wrong, it was Dr. Hurst calling.  My heart began beating so fast that I could practically see my chest moving.  My hands began to quiver and my voice cracked.  He starts talking and I am really not sure what he first said because my pounding heart was too loud to hear anything.  Then I hear, “well, you have probably already heard the news from Jenni.”  No, I reply.  He begins to ramble about how she is the only IVF nurse there today and she is probably going to call a bit later.  I finally interrupt and tell him that he is making me really nervous and I am beginning to panic.  He pauses and says “oh its good news, I called to tell you congratulations.”  I start to cry — yes I know you are shocked!  He begins to talk about the results and explains that from the 3 embryos we have ONE that is normal.

I call Ketan and he doesn’t pick up the phone — he is in a mediation all day.  I call my parents and they don’t pick up the phone.  I call my sister — thank God, she picks up the phone.  I honestly don’t even remember what I told her; I just remember feeling thankful that my family has been with us every step of this path.  I was also thankful she picked up the phone so we could celebrate and do a happy dance!

About 2 hours later the phone rings again; this time it’s Jenni.  We both cheered for a second, I cried again and virtually hugged her through the phone.  I really don’t know how these IVF nurses do it.  I seriously believe she rides the emotional roller coaster with us.  So back to business; she walks me through the next drug cycle.  This time its an estrogen patch and pills every morning and night.  Then back to see the doctor on September 23rd for an ultrasound.  If things look good then; injections will begin and we will get ready for transfer sometime between September 26-29.

So with our news it really got me thinking about the power of one:

  • It took just one day for the embryologist to go from, “we have nothing to biopsy.” To the next day she said, “I was able to biopsy three embryos today.”
  • It has been one day at a time with this process.  When you look at the whole journey it is too overwhelming to comprehend.  So it has been one foot in front of the other each day.
  • We have one beautiful little girl that makes our lives entertaining and full.
  • It took one prior cycle to get the hang of this.
  • It has taken one amazing husband to get through this.  I will tell you that it has not been easy and we have had very different experiences through this journey.  But, if there is a perfect balance to me — its Ketan.
  • We now have one more chance in front of us.  Let it be the ONE.