ourvacation2007

June 27th 2007
Craig went to Prague on Monday to pick up new couple Melanie and Jack .They came for IVF with donated eggs and had their appointment yesterday.
The doctor explained them the treatment and did an ultrasound - Mel had great lining. They have both great sense of humor. I have to say when all our
couples arrive in the evening to the hotel they are so exhausted because most people can't sleep on the plane (neither can I but I keep trying) and when
they have rest and breakfast at the Pension the next day the whole works is a brighter better place.
Carly and Stan's egg retrieal was scheduled today, Stan provided the sperm deposit, we waited at the clinic for a bit for the result of the spermiogram. Stan
never had one and the result was great - his count was as high as any of the sperm donors in their twenties the clinic has. The embryologist had really a lot
to choose from. We got the information about the number of eggs retrieved. They were very pleased because it was more than they expected and the doctor
recommended to cultivate the embryos till the blastocyst stage.

June 28th 2007
Today was very long day for us. I took Mel and Jack to the clinic where he did a sperm deposit. Jack made the nurse blush because he received the sperm
deposit cup and he looked at her and asked if one will be enough, if he can get two. She got the joke and told him "As many as you want". Let's just say
that when he came out the full waiting room was entertained because he jumped out of the deposit room and screamed:"Three times!" I just lost it. They
are both so much fun.
They got generous amount of eggs too and they have decided to go ahead and have three day transfer and the option of have bunch to freeze.
I drove back home where I had time to have lunch with my family, change few diapers and feed the twins. My husband was on his way from Prague with
new couple Leslie and Ted. Their flight got cancelled yesterday and since today was their donor's egg retrieval, they were happy to be able to catch all their
flight connections and get to Zlin coupled hours before their egg retrieval. We got to the clinic and Ted made his sperm deposit and they were ready to fall
asleep. The doctor made it short so they could go rest. When we took them to the hotel they were so happy to go to bed. They left US at 8AM and they
came to Czech at 8AM without the time difference it was 17 hour trip.

June 29th 2007
Jane had her last appointment today. Nurse Petra explained her the timing of her last shot and reminded several times how important it is to apply it at
specific time. Doctor Anna said that he saw at the ultrasound A lot of follicles tat were the right size which means that the expected egg quality should be
good. However he gave her bad news for her husband who is arriving on Monday - no sex till the pregnancy test. He was bummed. Dr. Told Jane that this
it actually the last time he sees her because he is leaving to Lyon, France for IVF conference. He told her that Dr. Chovanec will be doing the egg retrival
and he transfer. I like Dr. Chovanec because he did our embryotransfer and we had two beautiful girls so I assured Jane that he does great job.
I took Leslie and Ted to Kromeriz -town about half hour outside of Zlin. It is beautiful historical town with castle and gorgeous gardens. It is on the list
of historical places protected by UNESCO. I took them to twon and showed them the bus station and where and when they can get a bus back to Zlin.
They were in love with the town.

June 30th 2007
All of our clients wanted to see our twins so we decided yesterday to get together and go for a lunch. We went to the restaurant down the hill from the
Pension. Jack sold everyone the night before on the Chateubriand - the best cut of steak he had the other day for only $25. It was a meal for two. So
everybody ordered steak, me and Jane had pork steak with blue cheeze and Mozarella. We spent there few hours, laughing and having great time. Jack
wasn't kidding the food was delicious and I wanted everybody who was thinking about transferring more than two embryos get an idea of imagine our
twins and multiply them by two. That's a lot of babies for one to handle. When we went back we took some pictures. One of the couples didn't tell anyone
about their trip and they want to protect their privacy.

July 1st 2007
Jack and Mel had their transfer today. They have decided to transfer more embryos than any other couples based on their infertility history and the quality
of the transferred embryos today. The embryologist thought that the suggestion they made was based on a rational, logic deduction and she had no problem
transferring 4 embryos. We had never had triplets but quadruplets would be real first. They love children and they would be very busy parents if all of
them took.
Mel got all of her meds and I took them to the hotel to rest after the transfer. I had to say my goodbyes to them. It was so sad because these two were so
nice and fun to be around. I really wish that one day we will do a tour around US and visit our past clients.

July 2nd 2007
Craig went to Prague today to take Mel and Jack to the Mariott in Prague. When he showed up in Zlin they loaded the car and were on their way. I
called about half an hour later if they stopped at the clinic to pay the bill. They forgot. :-) They were all so busy with packing and leaving that it just
slipped everybody's mind. I called the clinic and it wasn't a big deal, the payment can be arranged individually and later and that was a big relief for all of
us.
Craig had to pick up another couple and because Dr. Anna projected Jane's egg retrieval day earlier than originally planned, her husband was coming to
Prague today as well. Craig picked up Jane's husband Jose at the airport and since he other couple already arrived day before that he met them at the
hotel.
Jane gave her husband instructions to pick her some cherries along the way because she knew that near by Zlin there are lots of trees covered with cherries.
So on the way back all three of them were jumping up and down to get as many as they could. Craig was protecting them from jumping too under bypassing
cars. They got two bags full.
Carly and Stan had their ET today. There were three great quality embryos waiting for them and a hard decision - to transfer all or not to transfer all o
them. Stan was sweating big time about the idea of having triplets. At the end it was him who told the embryologist to transfer them all as he was walking
behind his wife to the transfer room. Still sweating.
Dr. Anna in Lyon, France on IVF conference and Dr. Chovanec was taking care of our clients. His English isn't very good but he is a great doctor - the one
that did our embryotrasfer and he did transferred the most beautiful girls!

July 3rd 2007
Today was one of the longest day I ever had. The nurses were joking why I don't get the blue uniform since I am there just as long as they are. I have fun
with them, they are all so nice and they always crack me up when they are telling me how their English lessons are coming along. They are learning basic
words and they are too shy to even say them. So they stick with their Czech and I am doing all the translation.
Jane had her egg retrieval today. She didn't drink or eat anything past midnight the previous day as instructed. She had her procedure scheduled for 7 AM.
The retrieval went without any complications and the number of really good looking follicles was pleasing. By the time she was ready to go back to the
hotel was about 10 AM and she was starving. So was Jose. We grabbed Leslie and Ted because they didn't eat anything yet and they had their embryo
transfer scheduled for 1 PM and we went to the favourite yellow restaurant. I went to the ATM with Stan. His bank blocked his account although he
called beforehand and told them where he is travelling and even gave them more details. He called again last night and it didn't work again. He was upset
and we all understood why. The waitress rushed the food for us and we were out of there in no time and back at the clinic. Leslie and Ted transferred two
blastocysts and They were instructed on how to take the progesterone, baby aspirin and Prednison. Leslie was afraid to get out of the bed after the trasfer
and if it would be possible she wanted to wheel her to the hotel on the bed she was.
I was home by 5 PM. Bathed the girls, made formula and put them to sleep. It is so sad not to see them the whole day because they are crawling, standing
and recently they started to do their first steps.

July 4th 2007
There is national holliday tomorrow and Friday and the clinic is closed for regular appointments -just for trasnsfers and retrievals on Firday. Dr. Chovanec
had about 1,000 patients at the waiting room (it certainly looked that way). Two of our new couples who arrived - one on Sunday and one on Tuesday had
their first consultations today. One for egg donation treatment one for their own stimulation. I was translating to the doctor and he set Stimulation protocol
when he received the blood results for Bea and Marc and because the nurse took us before some Czech patients it took less time waiting than we
expected.
Stan got their progesterone squared away - although his bank still didn't unblock his account but we helped him with paying through Pay Pall to the hotel
and I exchanged him some Czech Crowns for $ at the clinic. That way they got almost all the progesterone for the first trimester and the rest they can order
on IVFmeds when the time comes.

July 6th 2007
I had a day off yesterday. Well not really, I spend a lot of time writing e-mails. It looks like our September will be super busy. I went shopping with my
sister, and me and Craig spent the day with my family and the babies.
Jane and Jose had their embryo transfer today. They were able to freeze some grade 1 embryos and still have plenty to transfer. Jane was at the begin
skeptical about the number of retrieved eggs but she was really pleased today. She might be next mommy of triplets. She had a great point though when
she said that she will much rather have three babies than none. They also purchased progesterone until the end of 12th week of pregnancy. About 50% of
our clients take it because they know that their insurance doesn't cover a dime one.

July 7th 2007
Today was our last day to go to the clinic with our clients. We wanted to take our girls to be checked by their doctor since when we took them about three
weeks ago to Zlin it didn't work our due to our busy schedule. We took my step sister Zuzka who is taking care of our clients in our absence and
introduced her to everybody. One client who came with her daughter -Lets' call her Karen -the previous day already knew her and I was actually the new
one introduced to her.
My husband stayed behind at the hotel with the twins and I drove all 4 couples to the clinic. Jane and Jose were paying, One couple had their IVF check
(blood and ultrasound consultation), Karen started her stimulation and the last couple had their embryo transfer. Speaking about busy day! It worked out
all great up till the point where Craig started to feel sick. He got the kidney colic and all the sudden he started to pass a stone. I got back to the hotel
where he was fighting it, saying he is OK, So I sent him to pick Jane and Jose up and bring them to the hotel. He got there but was unable to drive back.
Luckily Jose knew how to drive a stick shift (Craig said that Jose hadn't driven stick for 2 years and he was great!) and got them back to the hotel. Craig
was in so much pain that he wasn't able to get to the car and drive back. Zuzka was there with all the remaining three couples - I was so happy we took
her with us. Needless to say we didn't make to the doctor again. We got back home and my grandma gave Craig some drops and couple hours later the
stone passed, and he felt much better. At the end of the day he felt like nothing ever happened.
We said our goodbyes to all the couples that were there and wished everybody luck, gave Zuzka all the information about everybody and the deposits for
the cell phones and said our goodbyes at the clinic. It was a very sad day but Craig was OK and that is what matters.

July 12th 2007
We just got back to US today. I have been so busy with packing and the trip back was so long. I got message today from Carly and Stan, they are
pregnant! The other day email from Mel and Jack, pregnant too!! Unfortunately it didn't work out for Corrie and Dean but they are coming back for second
try. I am so sorry, you two were great! I am still waiting for results of PG tests from several clients.
There was a TV show about us today on FOX. The Morning show with Mike and Juliet at 9 AM ET. You can watch it at
http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/fertility-tourism/ One of our couples was there - Brian and Kathy talking about their experience with us, they are
talking about their life story and how they found us. Thank you so much for taking your time and telling the world your story.
I will make updates as soon as I get used o the time change. Thanks everybody for your support this trip was over all very successful and it was so great to
meet everybody and see my family, the nurses and doctors at the clinic and have a vacation..
I will give updates on everybody once I got all the PG test results. Keeping our fingers crossed!!!

We took some pictures on our way to the hotel.
The camera adds 5 lbs and everybody had one!

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Read the whole IVF vacation trip of 2007 from the begin here.