Out, damned egg! Out I say!

Beautiful girl, lovely dress

I just got off the phone with the lovely lass from Scotland who's currently in Cape Town. That's right, Madame Pamplemousse. She's had horrible internet issues so she hasn't been able to update. She's off to the beach then back home this weekend. I'm not going to spill her beans but all is well and now's the time for holding thumbs, crossing fingers, doing whatever it is that you do to ensure good luck.

I think my thumbs might break off, I'm holding them so very hard.

FET update #2

So today was the big day. I woke up, admired the view from my bed for a bit, had a lovely bubble bath and a lingering breakfast. I ran up the street to Christian Barnaard Memorial Hospital to get my ativan prescription prepared, packed my  ipod and lucky hat and was ready for the day.

The Infertile Gourmets picked me up and we were off to the races. I had a lovely acupuncture session. Dr Z even fit the  Infertile Gourmet in for a treatment session and we were both blissed out with good energy.

We had some time to kill so we stopped by the serene Vineyard Hotel and Spa for a pot of tea and scones for me and other lovely treats for the IGs. Then we were ever so lucky to be joined by Anouf and Mr Anouf. Now I'm a super lucky girl and I had the most lovely dinner with the Anoufs last night. They are just the dearest couple. They've lived in and traveled to so many incredible places and are just so easy to talk to. I'm so very glad I got to meet them.

The Infertile Gourmet got a bit stressed out because she was worried we'd be late to the clinic. I was still being Zen Infertile Patient and just kept saying all would be well. Zen or ativan: you be the judge. Not sure it really matters.

So we headed over to the clinic which was 2 minutes away and the fun started.

I went back into the warm procedure room (the embies like it that way) and Dr Champagne came in with the update.

It seems we have one outstanding very nearly blast. One didn't survive the thaw, the other two didn't grow at all and looked brown and wonky. BUT we have one super star. So that's what we transferred.

The ativan ws incredibly lovely. I didn't cramp at all. It was just so easy. Dr Champagne and Sister K told me lovely stories of success with just such singular stellar embryos. Dr C said we were doing things just like they'd do in Scandanavia (they apparently only like to tranfer one blast). I thought I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere because Stockholm has a whole lot more water than Cape Town. And would be a lot colder now.

So the embie was placed in a really good spot. My lining looked fab (his words---no numbers, just fab). I listed to my Anji meditation. I even threw in a couple of extra songs (Little Miss Magic by Jimmy Buffet and Bubble Toes by Jack Johson just because).

I took a pic of the doc in front of his wall of fame for my friends, tee-tee and aames, paid the bill and said I hope not to see any of them for quite some time. No offense.

So now I'm hanging out in the hotel. Talking it a bit easy. Watching the BBC series Cold Feet and drinking a peartiser. Tonight's dinner will be brought to me by the Savoy Cabbage and will start with the amazing tomato tart, end with the panna cotta and I'm sure they'll be something yummy in the middle.

What a lovely day.

Weekend Update

First of all, I'm a bit disappointed that no one seemed to catch the reference of my last post's title. I know I've gotten a bit off track from song lyrics but I really thought that was a pretty easy one.

Ok, back to the travelogue. (I know you thought this was an infertility blog, right? Or at least I might visit somewhere OTHER than Cape Town).

Yesterday was a fab, fab day. Alex and I headed over to Casa Tertia and got to meet her whole clan. The babes are as adorable as you might imagine. Such sweet spirits and just divine. Rose is super nice and sweet. Marko is devastatingly handsome, besotted with his wonderful wife and so good with the babes. It was sheer heaven just meeting them all and seeing all that loving goodness.

Tertia took us to this lovely wine farm near her house and we had an amazing long, girly lunch. We defined Ladies Who Lunch. It was just so very civilized. As long as you didn't listen to closely to the conversation which got more than a bit ribald. But I'm not the kind of girl who lunches and tells so I'll just leave it at that.

Alex and her lovely husband were crazy enough to put up with me for the rest of the day/evening. Mr Infertile Gourmet even gave me my pio shot and he's a mighty fine shot giver indeed. Any of you infertiles in need of a well done shot, the line forms behind me. Ok, I suppose I'm behind Alex but whatever.

We headed out to Kalk Bay for dinner and ate overlooking crashing waves. So cool. Actually it was quite blustery as the winds had picked up tremendously. We talked and talked and talked. And ordered 3 desserts. Totally my kind of people. I was exhausted by the time I made it home to my little room.

This morning I went on a township tour. It's the one thing I didn't get to do on my last trip that was high on my list this time around. I chose Sunday morning because there's a gospel tour and you get to see things you don't the other days of the week.

I'm so very glad I took this tour. The tour operator is a woman from a township who started this business so she knows everyone and you don't have an icky, voyeuristic feeling that I was worried about. We went through several townships and made many stops. We met with a couple of familes that share an apartment in an unrenovated buidling. There were three bedrooms in the flat and 18 families lived there. Each family (2 adults and up to 5-6 kids) had one bed in a bedroom. Such tough conditions!

People chose to move from the flats to shanties or sheds because that was the only way they could have any privacy at all. Each shed houses one family. The government is now building new buildings with many flats to replace the sheds. The township folks are very excited to see that happen.

There are also very nice residential streets in the townships where doctors, lawyers, business people, and all sorts of other professional live. It's amazing how close the former hostels, sheds and houses all are to each other. We went first to Langu which is the first township built in Cape Town and was constructed in 1940. That's when the big move began and blacks and coloreds were forced into separate townships (we drove by the Cape Flats which is a large colored township but didn't go in there).

We stopped at a couple of memorial sites including one to Amy Biehl, the Fullbright scholar and Stanford grad who was killed in 1993 by militant members of the Pan African Congress student group as she was drivng coworkers home.

The last stop on our tour was a much more uplifting one. We went to most of a church service where we were warmly received. It was quite a large church (more than 800 people) and they seemed to have a great deal more fun at church than I've ever seen before. There was amazing gospel music combined with African dancing. I'd never seen line dancing at a church, much less break dancing by women in formal church clothes and heels. There was even a bit of a mosh pit. The minister gave many intructions to tell you neighbor this and that and indeed we were told. And hugged. And truly welcomed. They told us not to feel at home but be at home. I figured it was as good a way as any to spend part of my day before transfer. Can't hurt, right?

Now I'm feeling quite contemplative. I'm heading out for a long walk along the waterside. Maybe even some sushi. See how much better I'm feeling?

Who would have thought, it figures

Ahhh, the fun of jetlag. I started my day yesterday oh-so-early. I got caught up on some of my favorite blogs, in bed with a great view of a gorgeous mountain. Nice, eh?

I was still a bit nauseous from all the drugs but thought a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs would help. And dry toast. It did but my prenatal vitamins had me even more sick to my stomach after.

I arranged to meet The Infertile Gourmets for lunch at Fish on the Rocks--this fab little hole in wall in a small fishing village not to far away.

I did warn you that this trip was going to be all about food, right? I'd been planning what restaurants I wanted to return to and what other ones I was desperate to try out. I'm not saying I picked my hotel solely because my very favorite restaurant here is just across the courtyard with the best panna cotta I've ever had in my whole entire life (that's the amazing Savoy Cabbage, btw) but it helped clinch the deal. Also high on my return to list are Wakame Sushi which has the most delightful balcony overlooking the ocean, the Belgian fave 0932 located in a bright pink building and serving amazing mussels and frites (more kinds of mussels than you can possibly imagine), the Gainsborough Cafe which is just up the street and great for a lingering lunch and people watching. Of course I had more restaurants picked out than there are possible meals for this trip.

I digress.

So I met up with the lovely and amazing Alex and her fab husband. And she's everything you think and more. So awesome!!! I order up my fish (hake) and chips and that's when it all starts to go down hill rapidly.

I eat some of the chips but just know I can't take the fish. All of a sudden fried fish sounds just horrible. In fact, everything sounds horrible. I'm feeling more nauseous than ever. I rudely excuse myself and rush to the loo where it all comes up. Blechh. Alex and Mr Alex were totally lovely about the whole sordid thing. It probably goes without saying but I'm not really a vomiter. Especially in public. I was just mortified.

I went by the clinic to get my progesterone shot from on of the sisters there. I was early enough that Dr Champagne was still there so I stopped by to chat with him and Sister K about my horrible side effects from the progesterone this time around.

He looked at me like I was bonkers. I could tell he thought I'd truly lost it but he's so much nicer than that. He asked if I'd been feverish. I said I'd been having hot flashes again for the past day or so but I really didn't think I was feverish.

He very kindly told me I had a stomach virus that was going around. Those weren't hot flashes, just a regular old fever. What I was feeling had nothing to do with my drugs or my cycle or anything like that. Just a bug.

This possibility hadn't even crossed my mind. I'm so obsessed focused on all things cycle related and used to looking for and experiencing side affects from drugs I just figured it was kicking my ass this time around.

A stomach bug. How lovely.

As I was heading back to the hotel freshly stocked up on ginger ale, cream crackers, yoghurt drinks and Panado (I guess it's like Tylenol--some kind of pain reliever to reduce fevers) the mister called. I poured out my heart to him. I didn't want to make him worried but I was feeling so sick and so far away. And so upset that there was no way in hell I was having mussels anytime soon.

He did what every fabulous husband does at at time like this. He totally made me feel better with those three little words: DOOK lost yesterday. Ahhhh, sweet relief. I hadn't seen the news. I hadn't seen some of your comments (thanks btw). I thought nothing could make me feel better. Boy, was I wrong.

With a spring in my step I bounded into the hotel. I bravely ate some crackers, took my drugs and told myself all was right with the world. It would all be better very soon. And until then my arch rivals were crying their way back home on Tobacco Road.

Yes it was my second night without dinner in Cape Town. I hope to begin making up for that today. I'm feeling much better. The hotflashes, err fever, have subsided. I woke up hungry. The Infertile Gourmet and I are off to spend the day with the Gorgeous and Divine Tertia herself. There will be babes and a wine farm involved. Alex is the designated driver so you can bet Ms T and I will get our wine in.

And tonight there may even be panna cotta for dinner. Even a sick girl can eat panna cotta, right?

It's officially fall in Cape Town

This is just a quick post to say that I've finally arrived in Cape Town. All went well, it's just a long haul. I've lost a couple of days getting here this time around. Starting from the west coast this trip added a second red-eye and made it just feel that much longer.

I was super lucky this trip and had a whole row of 4 seats to myself from Atlanta to Joberg. That was totally wonderful. I was able to really stretch out and get some sleep. The bummer is the armrests don't fold all the way back, they kind of stick out a little bit so it's not as comfortable as you might think.

I also saw 4 movies: Derailed, The Weatherman, Shopgirl and Elizabethtown. Well I slept through parts of the Weatherman but it was so bad I didn't want to watch once I was awake. Ok, I also technically didn't see the last few minutes of Elizabethtown but as it is incredibly predictable I'll go out on a limb and say boy got girl. Hope that didn't spoil it too much for anyone.

I've also started my Tiser and Dry Lemon consumption (not to mention SA red wine). All as lovely as I remember.

I was able to connect on an much earlier flight from Joberg so got into CPT a couple of hours early. Much better than hanging out at the Wimpy Burgers in the airport. I picked up my cell phone. The guy remembered me from before (ouch!) and made sure I had the right number this time. The car company met me right at the terminal with a nice small white car waiting. How lovely!

It's a bit harder to switch to driving on the left side of the road when you're completely jet lagged but I managed to make it to the hotel without a single accident. A couple of close calls but no official accidents. Luckily there were some very slow trucks on the road and I hung behind them until I got my bearings.

I've just had an incredibly long soaking bath with some lovely bath salts tossed in and a restorative nap. Now I'm off to find some dinner and maybe hook up with some Americans. You know, because I haven't seen any in a few hours.

Tomorrow is my first clinic appointment and I've also got an acupuncture treatment all scheduled. I'm feeling quite the pro this time around.

This is really happening now. I still can't believe it.

making a list and checking it twice

I should be sleeping right now. I should be in my somewhat uncomfortable bed next to my oh-so-comfortable husband getting lots of zzzzzzs. Instead, I'm trying to finalize a few last minute things for my trip.

I think I'm mostly good to go. Hotels? Check. Rental car? Probable check. Phone? Yep. Doctor? Yep. Drugs? Yep. Including Ambien to pass the long flight? Yep. Passport? Yep. Trashy books and sudoku for the plane? Yep. Noise reducing headset? Hell yes.

I'm exhausted from a weekend away. In the company of women. A herd of about 30 women. Maybe more of a murder, like crows. It was fun and exhausting all at the same time. We accomplished a lot and I've got some important stuff to follow up on but I just need some very quiet time with no one else around.

My short flights this weekend were more annoying and harder to deal with than flying to Cape Town. I only had to fly to the southern part of our state but it took forever and a day. There were delays due to bad weather and air traffic control in LAX. There were delays due to traffic and a long shuttle ride that caused me to miss dinner Friday night. But I was secretly thankful because I got to eat at the hotel bar and watch my team win a basketball game.

It is so surreal that I'll be leaving in under 24 hours and flying so far away. Cape Town just seems so close now. There's no way it's really that many miles away.

Ok, my man is calling to me in his sleep. I'm sure it sounds like snoring to y'all but I might even miss the noisy man and dogs in the week to come.

These are a few of my favorite (Cape Town) things

So for obvious reasons I've got Cape Town on my mind. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, even dreaming about it.

My last trip made quite the impression on me and I remember so many things so vividly. I don't know if it's the fact the trip was so recent or that we stayed so long or maybe it's because we did so much driving and normal things.

When I close my eyes I see so many things so clearly and vividly. I remember the roads and routes to get to places, the shops and restaurants and most of all the people.

Here's a list of some of my favorite things, in no particular order:

• The Tisers: Apple, Grape and the lovely Pear. I can't wait to start drinking them again. I don't know why we can't get them here. I've looked at beverage stores where they import all kinds of sodas but no Tisers. We can even get Cheerwine and Diet Cheerwine here in the Bay Area but no Tisers. I'm threatening to fill up my suitcase with many cans of these.
• Same for the Dry Lemon and Lemon Lite. They are just so perfect.
• Chutney flavored Crisps. This is the best flavor for potato chips EVER. We can get lots of other imports, even crisps, but not chutney.
• If I'm sticking to food then the Panna Cotta at the Savoy Cabbage. This is seriously to die for. Y'all know I'm a complete dessert snob and I was not really wowed with any until we went to the Savoy  Cabbage. ( I suppose it's no wonder that I'm staying in the same block as this restaurant on my next trip?) I wonder how many panna cotta's I can eat in 6 days. Maybe they'll let me work with them for a day in the kitchen. Since I don't have a donor to take a gift to this time, I'm take a chef gift. Seriously.
• Sundowners. I love the expression. I love the drinks. So much more descriptive than cocktails. The Sundowners at the Winchester Hotel were some of my favorite. Gorgeous view, strong drinks and yummy dry roasted corn kernels instead of nuts. Divine.
• Air fresheners in the bathrooms. Every bathroom I used had a little bottle or can of some air freshener in the bathroom. So nice!
• "It's a pleasure" or just "Pleasure". Said in that yummy accent. I love hearing this when ever I said thank you or something in a store, restaurant, hotel. So very civilized.

i'm blaming everything on the drugs...

The big shot is officially making itself known. The afternoon headaches are here, full force. Hot flashes throughout the day anyone?  Too much fun for one person so I'm more than happy to share.

I'm already taking (and increasing) estrogen so the headaches should get better in a few days. The mister is hoping so because he's getting tired of my grouchy self.

Yesterday I was a lady who lunched. It had been planned for a couple of weeks but the timing was perfect. It felt like a royal send off. There were four of us: two are moms from their own trips to South Africa and the other two of us will be moms that way one day.* I had such a lovely time. I know I've said it before but I'm incredibly lucky to have these women in my life.

Amazingly enough I'm pretty ready for my trip. I had to go to the airport yesterday to get my ticket because while a certain airline may 'love to fly and it shows' they don't love to be progressive with their internet site. If you don't fly them much anymore, and are on your fourth laptop since you last booked flights online (with none of the right cookies) and are old and addled and can't remember your pin. They'll be happy to help you out. By snail mailing it to you in five days. Yup. No way to ask for it online. No one can reset it on the phone. You've got to rely on the US Postal Service. Nice, eh?

So I won a free trip to my local airport where I don't think they do much ticketing of international flights on partners using ff miles. Let's just say it took a while. I was able to chat up a couple of youngish road warriors who were trying to get on an earlier plane to my old town in that state known mostly for Mormons. Ah, I remember the old days so well. Friday afternoons trying to get home just a couple of hours earlier than expected. Stuck in some random airport with no 'club' to hang out it and enjoy a bit of piece and quiet while drinking free drinks.

Anyway, I've got my tickets in my grubby paws. My favorite hotel in Cape Town is anxiously awaiting my arrival. I've got an appointment at the clinic the day after I arrive and transfer is tentatively set for the day before I leave.  I've got a car nearly booked.  Just need to make a cell phone reservation and I'm done with the planning.

*Actual true optimism, right there folks. It will happen for us, sooner or later, but it will.

i need to be there WHEN?

Man, what a day. I'm still so sad and drained from Liana's news. I so wish I lived closer to her.

I'm also trying to whip a trip to South Africa together. I didn't sleep much last night so I was able to email Dr Champagne several times.

Upshot is: I leave for Cape Town in 12 days. Technically 12 days and 7.5 hours at this point.

Yup. You read that right. I'm SA bound on March 20th.

Dr Champagne has already scheduled me for an ultrasound/lining check on March 23. Transfer will be March 27th. I left to return home on March 28th. What a whirlwind trip this will be!

The craziest thing is I don't have a long to-do list. I was miraculously able to get a free ticket using frequent flier miles. I'm trying not to totally be a brat because I really wanted at least part of the trip back to be in business class but did I mention it was FREE? And I got the dates I wanted?

I've already got a lovely room waiting for my at my fave hotel. Now I can just firm up the dates. I think I'll have a driver pick me up but get a car for at least a few days. How am I going to make it to Casa Tertia if I don't have a car?  Since my flight is FREE maybe I should get a really fun car?

I want to pack fairly lightly. I won't be there long and I'll have to shlep my own bag back (not too thrilled with that but what are you going to do?) so I don't want it to be too heavy.

Oh and that lupron shot last night? Y'all can  keep a secret, right? Don't tell anyone but it actually happened this morning. Turns out the American depot shots FORCE you to do it intramuscularly and I wasn't up for that. Or waking up the mister very late to have him give me a shot. So he gave it to me when I was barely awake this morning. Soooooooo less painful that way. I guess the headaches will be here soon, right?

Oh and did I mention I'll be out of town March 17-19? Just to make things extra fun?

12 days. 7 and a half hours.

let's get this party started

Today is cycle day one around here. I'm so relieved. Apparently just the threat of unnecessary and expensive bloodwork was enough to whip this old uterus into shape.

I hadn't posted about it but I was starting to freak out a bit. See, I was late. Really, really late. A dear friend treated me to a fabulous lunch yesterday and talked me down from the ledge. She said that it was common to be about 10 days late after a failed cycle. Dr Champagne wanted to see progesterone and estrogen levels and I was all prepared to spend my day driving into the city and waiting around but that was unnecessary.

The drugs came last week. I used my old, old dealer. From the east coast. There was a tiny screw up with the package (wrong zip code due to poor handwriting) and this time there was no sexy Howie to straighten it all out. How I miss Howie already! I cheated on him this time because I foolishly thought time was of the essence.

So I've got a big shot in my near future. I suppose I technically have until midnight. I'm dreading the lupron. I'm totally procrastinating by trying to stretch this post out wayyyyyyyy more than it needs to be.

Now I just need to firm up the dates. I don't think there's anyway I can go in two weeks so it's likely to be in mid April. I've just asked Dr Champagne and if he wants me there sooner then I'll get my soon-to-be-sore butt on a plane sooner. My 'rents are planning a trip to see the new kitchen (and I suppose me and the mister) the first weekend in April so I can't go until the following week. I'm not planning on telling them I'm headed back to SA so we'll see how all this timing works out.

Ok. Enough stalling. Time for the shot. Wish me well.