theres's a light...over at the fertility place

So, first a complaint. You guys write A LOT. A gal goes away for a long weekend and comes home to wayyy too many updates. I wanted to get all caught up with the other blogs before writing in my own. It's taken me more than a day and a half and I'm almost there. Thank goodness for Bloglines. What did any of us do before that?

Hell, what do you people that work for a living do? If I do go back full-time I'm going to have to schedule an extra vacation day at the end just for catching up on all things internet-related.

Now for the good stuff.

We had the most amazing weekend away. First there was the long car drive to Yosemite where we talked and talked...and listened to lots of bands from the beginning of the alphabet with a particular fondness for groups that began with the letter D. I guess that's what happens when you don't have much time to grab cds before hitting the road.

The wedding was lovely. Simply lovely. Under a huge, old yellow pine tree right next to a rushing river. I think it lasted maybe 15 minutes but it was great.

Then we hung out for several hours until our dinner reservations. We explored a bit more of the park and had cocktails on the veranda. Our waitress asked if we wanted our drinks Super Sized...if you've seen the movie you know the first rule is you have to agree if you're asked so the mister and I were very agreeable. Me with a Cosmo, he with a Martini.

Then we had a truly spectacular meal. The four of us were seated a small alcove with an amazing view of Yosemite Falls. What a great year for the falls!! (and for mosquitoes--the only other guests at the wedding, btw).

Best part of the weekend:we were a normal couple in love, much like the bride and groom. It was so incredibly relaxing and awesome to just be with each other and truly happy. It was great to see another couple just starting that newest chapter in their lives and remember how blissful we were on our own wedding day. Normal is nice. It hasn't really happened much for us lately and usually sounds so boring but it was great.

Now back to reality and even that is looking pretty good these days. I finally got off my passive-aggressive high horse and called Dr. SheRE to let her know that I was past CD1 (err, it was actually CD7 when I made the call but I luckily had the perfect excuse of being in a totally remote place with no cell phone coverage). I'm still waiting to hear back with what they want to do to proceed.

I'm also very actively pursuing donor embryos on a lot of fronts. I'm trying to get on Garden State's wait list. I know their list is pretty long but might as well stake out some sort of a claim.

I've got a call into my local clinic to find the status on their as-yet-unstarted-but-should-start-any-day-no-we-really-mean-it-now program. Not holding my breath there but our number in line is pretty good when it finally does start.

And, I'm even playing my ace in the hole. I was waiting to make this call until I was really, really ready. I just got off the phone with a potentially new clinic with a very quiet embryo donor program. I'm grinning from ear to ear. That's got to be a good thing right? I'm so happy I'm about to bust.

I guess I'll call this clinic, HomeTown. I'm not a patient there and they don't advertise their program. In fact, I only found out about it from one of you (BIG HUGS and eternal gratitude to YOU-KNOW-WHO-YOU-ARE, btw). So why yet another new clinic? Isn't this way too many clinics, Millie? Have you completely lost your mind?

This clinic was started by an incredibly sweet and generous doctor who I knew many years ago back when he worked for my alma mater. He died a few years ago but the clinic is still chugging along. I just got off the phone with the new lab director who is very happy to fast-track us and make us a high priority. He said I've paid my dues. Back when I was an egg donor, while not for this program, it was for this medical team.

The nurse and the lab director even sounded like home.  I think it's time to go home.

Comments

[InSpring]

Oh Millie, dear sweet soul. I am glad you had such a loving wonderful (and superdrinksized) weekend, you so absolutely deserved it! I'm glad you're moving forward and have been moved up to the top of the DE list with your old medical team, even if I do selfishly wish you'd use another clinic so I can meet you in real life. I do think it's time for you to go home.

[Suz]

I haven't read anything this upbeat in such a long time and it does my heart good to hear about all the progress that you're making. I'm so glad that you've found this hidden clinic and are finally with people who see and know you as a person. I believe that it makes a difference, I really do.

[ovagirl]

Sounds great, good luck.

[penelope]

It makes such a difference when your pain and suffering are acknowledged, when you are treated with human kindness and not just blood tests and lab reports.

The wedding sounds dead romantic - what a wonderful reprieve from the IF stress.

This is all very exciting!

[Kate]

YAY!!!! If you could put in a good word for me at any/all of your clinics...I'll buy you a stroller when you need it!

Am very happy for you!

Hugs,
Kate

[Julianna]

Such fantastic news! This is very exciting.

[Nina]

I am so happy to hear you had a great weekend. I think the new clinic sounds great too. Good luck!

[wessel]

This is one of those rare posts where it seems as if all is right with the world. I'm so glad that you are "going home again" and will be in a place where you are treated kindly and appreciatively. This sounds soooooo very good, Millie. Loved the description of the wedding, too.

[chris]

Yay! Sounds like everything is going really well.

Take care.

[Emily]

Glad to hear that you're doing well!