7/17/07 - Mook describes...

So today was the day... 9am. Approximately 68 miles away from our door step; Mook here, for an inside look at the 1st IVF procedure.
The festivities began late last night, as JJ and I headed out for her "last meal." Apparently, the patient isn't supposed to eat or drink anything at least 12 hours prior to the retrieval. We hit a local hot spot and JJ enjoyed a final wish in food terms to satisfy her cravings.
The second gem of said procedure was that both partners are encouraged not to wear deodorant or any other smelly-good items the day of. So, as you may imagine, the summers in the south are not forgiving to this practice...(on my behalf especially)
5:30am came quickly and following a morning shower and the coming to terms with the not-so-fragrant doctors orders, we headed out to the "Big City" for the retrieval. *I'll try to provide you as much detail without detail as I can to keep you up to speed. As mentioned earlier, the appointment was at 9am, so we left early to ensure prompt arrival not to mention the enjoyment of navigation in said "Big City." Nevertheless, we arrived at about 8:30 with plenty of time to have our motivational pow-wow in the car before going in to provide some scientific practice.
Upon entering the office, we submitted our names and were seated.
**SIDE NOTE STORY HERE** Of course, I manage to see an old high school chum here in the office, which was a little odd in that neither of us live or work in this area nor are we from this area. Not that it is an embarrassment to be here in a fertility office, but the mood isn't one of catching up with long lost friends. I managed to keep my distance whilst
making his presence known with the subtle head nod that the male species readers are sure to know and love as their own. Regardless of a response, I wish him the best of luck in this endeavor as well.
Sorry for that...Back to the original story. So we had just gotten comfortable on the doctor prescribed couches. They have to be prescribed since the same couches are in every doctors office in the free world; just with a different fabric covering to match the decor. JJ was reading strategically placed books about embryos and their changes during growth. I had just begun a game on our traveling companion, the Nin.tendo DS, when my name was called. Short introductions and then the fun began.
"Here's a sample cup for you. Have a great time!" said the nurse, while pointing towards the "Andrology Room." Again detail without detail, I did my deed and off I went back to the waiting area. I will mention that the "Andrology Room" perhaps makes things more uncomfortable than they should be.
A few more minutes passed and a different nurse came to call us back. I was sat in a curtain room while JJ was taken to be disrobed and briefed on the upcoming procedure. JJ returned in a hospital gown complete with the ass slit in the back for natural air circulation. She was seated and the normal process began; Insurance? Health history? Allergies, etc? Then the inserted IV which administered the pain medication for her return to consciousness.
I was dismissed after a heart felt kiss was placed on JJ's lips for luck. I returned to the waiting area. JJ, meanwhile was laid out on the operating table with stirrups. Her introduction to the anesthesia was about to begin...That must be some good stuff... It was a matter of minutes before I was beckoned back to the curtain room to see my wife, the woman of my dreams and desires come out of egg retrieval surgery. As I turned the corner, the door to the operating room flew open and what do I see/hear? The nurse was assisting JJ up when JJ achieved a thrill ride posture complete with the howling and hilarity of death defying leaps to safety. The entire nursing staff at this point had all come to pay homage to her journey...or perhaps it was her return...
"It may take her a few minutes to come out of the fog," the nurse instructed me. "She did amazingly well; We were able to retrieve a total of 15 eggs!" I was in awe of the total but extremely happy also. Needless to say, once the fog had lifted, JJ was enthralled as well with the results. Still a bit wobbly, I assisted JJ with her clothing and we headed home. The task was done and another task was done to get us closer to the goal. Once we returned home, we both caught up on some much needed sleep in recuperation for the days events. I have to say that I am proud of JJ and what she has gone through thus far. She is a real trooper and I love her so...